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May 31, 2004

38th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2004-May-31 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 31 May 2004 Lundi 31 mai 2004

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBER

FOR HAMILTON EAST

REQUEST TO INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

CONDUCT OF HOUSE PROCEEDINGS

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HEALTH CARE

BY-ELECTION IN HAMILTON EAST

EVENTS IN

GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL /

ÉVÉNEMENTS À

GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL

EVENTS IN DURHAM

DRINKING AND DRIVING

HEALTH PREMIUMS

SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE

TOBACCO CONTROL

FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

TAXPAYER PROTECTION AFFIRMATION ACT, 2004 /

LOI DE 2004 CONFIRMANT LA PROTECTION DES CONTRIBUABLES

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

HOUSE SITTINGS

TYLER BOUTILIER

VISITOR

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

HEALTH PREMIUMS

TAXATION

HEALTH CARE

SEXUAL ASSAULT

DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL

BUDGET SECURITY

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

ONTARIO BUDGET

HEALTH CARE

PETITIONS

FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

PORTLANDS ENERGY CENTRE

TOBACCO CONTROL

DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA

OPTOMETRISTS

AJAX-PICKERING HOSPITAL

FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

TTC RIGHT-OF-WAY

WATER QUALITY

GARDERIES D'ENFANTS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

PROPERTY TAXATION

WATER QUALITY

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2004 /

LOI DE 2004

SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBER

FOR HAMILTON EAST

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the Chief Election Officer and laid upon the table a

certificate of the by-election in the electoral district of Hamilton East.

Clerk of the House (Mr Claude L. DesRosiers): I have a letter addressed to:

"Mr Claude L. DesRosiers

"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

"Room 104

"Legislative Building

"Queen's Park

"Toronto, Ontario

"M7A 1A2."

It reads as follows:

"Dear Mr DesRosiers:

"A writ of election dated the 14th day of April, 2004, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to E. Joyce

Newman, returning officer for the electoral district of Hamilton East, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Hamilton East in the Legislative Assembly of this

province in the room of Dominic Agostino, who, since his election as representative of the said electoral district of Hamilton East, hath departed this life. This is to certify that, a poll having

been granted and held in Hamilton East on the 13th day of May, 2004, Andrea Horwath has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 21st day of

May, 2004, which is now lodged of record in my office.

"John L. Hollins

"Chief Election Officer

"Toronto, May 25, 2004."

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and the House Andrea Horwath, member-elect for the

electoral district of Hamilton East, who has taken the oath, signed the roll, and now claims the right to take her seat.

The Speaker: Let the honourable member take her seat.

REQUEST TO INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): I beg to inform the House that I have laid upon the table a request by the member for Whitby-Ajax to the

Honourable Coulter A. Osborne, Integrity Commissioner, for an opinion pursuant to subsection 30(1) of the Members' Integrity Act, 1994, on whether the Honourable Gregory Sorbara, Minister of

Finance, in his responsibility for the budget and budget secrecy, has contravened the act or Ontario parliamentary convention.

CONDUCT OF HOUSE PROCEEDINGS

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): I want to inform the House, that due to the change in the membership of the House following the by-election in

Hamilton East, December 16, 2003, recommendation to the Speaker on how to conduct the proceedings of the House will no longer apply. Specifically, since the nine members' statements are allocated

in proportion to the number of private members of each recognized party, I want to advise that the members of the government will be entitled to five members' statements, the official opposition

will be entitled to three members' statements and the New Democratic caucus will be entitled to one member's statement each day.

As well, the oral questions will be conducted according to the April 28, 1986, recommendation to the Speaker, as follows.

The official opposition will be entitled to a leadoff question with two supplementary questions, and a second leadoff question with another two supplementary

questions.

The third party will then be entitled to a leadoff question with two supplementary questions, and a second lead-off question with another two supplementary

questions.

Questioning will then proceed with one question and one supplementary question, on the rotation of official opposition, the third party and the government, to

the conclusion of oral questions.

As a recognized party, the New Democratic caucus also has certain entitlements as set out in the standing orders, and these too will be observed from this

point.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HEALTH CARE

Mr Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): Last week was constituency week, and as a result I had the opportunity to speak to a great number of people in my

riding. I have to say that people were very clear about how they felt in regard to the recent provincial budget. My constituency office was inundated with walk-in traffic, protest letters and phone

calls by people who couldn't believe that this government is asking them to pay more for less service in health care. Then, last Wednesday, I attended a rally in my riding about delisting OHIP

services. I have to say my riding is not the type that holds rallies, but they think health care is the most important service the government controls.

That's why I'm shocked that this government would attack it the way they have, and the people in my riding are shocked too. They're shocked that the government

would think they'd accept taking away needed services, and yet ask for more money. They're shocked the government made the decision that physiotherapy, chiropractic services and eye examinations

were not considered essential services. And they're shocked that the government didn't think about how the delisting of essential health care services would affect the daily lives of real people

like them before they grabbed the money. The people of my riding are shocked that the government that constantly spouts rhetoric on preventive, not crisis, health care would now make it harder, if

not impossible, for people to access the services; that the government that promised not to raise taxes so blatantly raises taxes, and it has made them very angry.

If this is how I experienced constituency week, I wonder how it went for my colleagues across the floor.

BY-ELECTION IN HAMILTON EAST

Ms Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): I'm pleased to rise today to deliver my first member's statement as MPP for Hamilton East. I want to begin by

thanking the voters of Hamilton East. The extensive support I received on May 13 was very humbling and overwhelming. Residents of my riding spoke loudly and clearly, and I look forward to bringing

their concerns to this Legislature at every opportunity.

Who are these Hamiltonians? They are women and men from every walk of life and from every ethnocultural background and every political stripe. They are people

who shared with me their concerns about the direction in which this province is headed. They are worried about their standard of living and their ability to make ends meet. I'll be speaking out on

their behalf with great passion and commitment.

I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers and workers who helped on my campaign. The thousands of hours you contributed brought us to victory. The efforts of

each individual are very much appreciated. I see in the gallery some of my friends from the South Asian community of Hamilton East who have taken the time to join me today. I want to thank you for

your support and confidence and I look forward to our growing friendship.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my partner, Ben, and my son, Julian. You have encouraged me and believed in me unconditionally. You are my touchstones

and my equilibrium. To my family and friends, amongst whom I count several members of city council, my former colleagues, my thanks and gratitude for all your support, advice and confidence.

In closing, I believe it's fitting to pay my respects to the former MPP Dominic Agostino, who represented the constituents of Hamilton East with passion and

vigour. His passing was a terrible loss for the city of Hamilton and this Legislature. Dominic was a champion of the people and a fighter for justice. I look forward to carrying on that tradition

for the people of Hamilton East.

EVENTS IN

GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL /

ÉVÉNEMENTS À

GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL

Mr Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): The tourist season is just around the corner. Glengarry-Prescott-Russell is the eastern

gateway to Ontario. Please allow me to share five major events that will take place in the beautiful riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.

Premièrement, L'écho d'un peuple de Francoscénie, est un spectacle avec plus de mille personnages, qui portera sur quatre siècles d'histoire

Francoscénie prévoit donner 28 spectacles à l'été 2004, dans un théâtre en plein air à la Ferme Centenaire Drouin, à

partir du 26 juin.

Furthermore, I'm proud to share with my colleagues that three of the most important festivals in my riding have joined forces to become one single event. Le

festival de la curd de St-Albert, le festival Country Western d'Alfred et le festival Country Music de Wendover seront dorénavant connus sous la bannière « Commune de

destination festivals -- porte d'entrée de l'est ». Ces trois festivals se tiendront dès le 8 juillet.

The Glengarry Highland Games, which were first held in 1948, have since welcomed close to a million visitors from around the world who are drawn to Maxville to

witness one of the largest Highland games in the world.

This year's games will take place July 30 and 31. I encourage everyone who wishes to visit the beautiful and unique riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell to

contact my office for more information on these wonderful events.

EVENTS IN DURHAM

Mr John O'Toole (Durham): I'd like to share with the House some of the events of my riding over the past week. Saturday, May 29, I was pleased

to attend the sod turning of the new secondary school in Bowmanville. Staff, students, parents and, indeed, the entire community look forward to the completion of this new high school. It is the

latest in approximately 20 new schools or major renovations in my riding over the past decade. However, educators in Durham riding have concerns over the benchmark funding formula issue, and I will

be bringing that to the attention of the Minister of Education.

Saturday was also the annual Kids' Fishing Day, co-hosted with my colleague Gerry Ouellette, MPP for Oshawa. This event gives youth in our riding of Durham a

chance to enjoy the great outdoors and learn more about Ontario's natural resources and environment.

Finally, I'd like to mention the official opening of the new baseball diamond, along with playing fields and trails, at Cartwright Fields in Nestleton. This is

the culmination of several years of hard work by Cartwright Sports and Recreation and many community volunteers. Funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2001 provided $75,000 toward the

project, with assistance also provided by the township of Scugog and many local fundraisers.

I'd like to congratulate Wilma Wotten, president of Cartwright Fields, as well as the original board members: Dave Frew, Colin Kemp, Patti Alpe, Garry Beechy,

Dave Dietlein, Fred Ford and Ingrid Larmer. Congratulations also to the more recent board members, including Terry Stephenson, Nancy Stinson, Diane Grieve, Scott Heard and Tye Parent.

In my riding, I also heard concerns wherever I went about the new health tax, the cost of insurance, and the cost of electricity. The constituents of Durham need

to be listened to.

DRINKING AND DRIVING

Mr John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): It gives me great pleasure to rise and pay tribute today to members of my community who are working to

increase the safety of Ontario's roads through the creation of a drunk driving prevention tool called the Matrix driving simulator. The simulator illustrates the effects of alcohol behind the wheel

in a safe environment. It literally allows students to see what it is like to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by having them wear special goggles which simulate the visual experience of

someone who has been drinking.

The Matrix is the first interactive prevention tool of its kind in the province and it is available to local schools throughout the Waterloo region through the

police's high school liaison program.

This fusion of technology was made possible through community partnerships consisting of Ray Tanguay, the president; Greg Mordu, general manager of Toyota Motor

Manufacturing Canada; Staff Sergeant Scott Diefenbaker from the Waterloo Regional Police Service; Tim Funk and Randy Dyke from Elmira District Secondary School; Louis Chong, University of Waterloo;

Steve Harper, Edcom Multimedia; the region of Waterloo Community Health Department; and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

I had the pleasure of recently welcoming the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services to the region for a demonstration of this simulator, and I am

sure he will agree that it is an excellent example of how a community can work together to improve road safety in our province. I'm certain that all members of this Legislature join me today in

congratulating all those involved with this worthwhile project, which will undoubtedly save many young lives.

HEALTH PREMIUMS

Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): "I will not raise your taxes." Guess who said that over a 28-day period last fall, actually thousands of

times right on the TV screens of the 12 million people who populate our province? Guess who also signed the Taxpayer Protection Act, another great photo op? It was Dalton McGuinty, the man who was

desperate to win the 2003 provincial election.

Anyone who might have read the Liberal campaign document also never read anything about a health premium. Why would anyone betray the citizens of Ontario by

promising not to raise taxes and yet turn around and bring forth a budget with a health premium that is in stark contrast to anything the Liberal Party campaigned on? A complete betrayal.

The same man who, in eight years of the Harris-Eves government, never once lobbied his federal cousins for a fair share of the federal health care dollar; the

same man who settled for over $600 million less in federal disaster relief as a result of SARS; the same man who wouldn't sign a resolution that both Mike Harris and Howard Hampton signed, calling

on the federal government for a fair share of health care funding; the same man who never thought of mentioning a health care premium to Prime Minister Martin; the same man -- Dalton McGuinty --

who lives in fear of Prime Minister Martin, has now decided that Ontario's working families should bear the brunt of this draconian tax.

Our constituency week just ended. I talked to hundreds of people last week, and not one person supported the health premium -- a huge tax raise. Instead, people

were questioning why Ontario does not have recall legislation. They want McGuinty tossed out. Paul Martin now considers McGuinty a serious risk and is feverishly running to distance himself. Fair

health care funding --

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): The member for Mississauga West.

SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE

Mr Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): On behalf of the member from Mississauga South, I rise today to ask all members in the House, and the public,

to record in their diaries the dates September 9, 10, 11 and 12. These are the Thursday through Sunday dates of the Southside Shuffle. The Southside Shuffle is a four-day extravaganza of more than

120 blues and jazz bands in the town of Port Credit, in the exotic riding of Mississauga South.

The Southside Shuffle was founded five years ago by Chuck Jackson and David Voice. Chuck is a two-time Juno nominee and the winner in the year 2000 of the Maple

Blues Award as the best male blues vocalist in Canada. He has been the lead singer of the Downchild Blues Band for 30 years and plays more than 15 engagements a year, as well as organizing the

Southside Shuffle.

In its fifth year, 2003, the Southside Shuffle attracted more than 50,000 visitors to the town of Port Credit. While it may be too early to compare this to Mardi

Gras in New Orleans, it is also important to note that visitors come all the way from Florida and Louisiana to attend this musical extravaganza.

I say to all members who appreciate good music, come to the Southside Shuffle on Thursday, September 9, through Sunday, September 12, in the town of Port Credit,

where the rivers flow into Lake Ontario.

TOBACCO CONTROL

Mr Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North): I'm pleased to draw attention today to World No Tobacco Day, May 31, on a worldwide basis.

As you know, the effects of tobacco use are widespread and devastating. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, tobacco will become the leading

cause of death, killing more than 10 million people each year around the world.

Here in Ontario, the chronic health problems directly resulting from smoking are a huge drain on both our health care system and our economy. At least 6% of

Ontario's $30-billion health care costs are directly related to smoking -- approximately $1.8 billion of our health care bill each year.

The real cost of tobacco cannot be measured merely in dollars and cents but extends to lives lost and families shattered. As an example, tobacco kills about 50

Ontarians daily. That is why the McGuinty government intends to transform this province into a Canadian leader, with an aggressive plan against tobacco.

We're going to prevent young people from taking up smoking. We'll do this by making cigarettes more expensive and harder to purchase, having increased the

taxes on cigarettes now by $5 a carton. Young people will be an essential element of our strategy. Those who smoke will be informed directly of the ill effects this universal evil perpetrates on

the health of Ontarians and Canadians.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA

Mr Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I rise today to inform members that Ford of Canada will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on August 17,

2004. Ford of Canada, as many will know, was established in Windsor, Ontario, in 1904 at the Walkerville Wagon Co, making Ford of Canada the country's longest-established automaker. As well, this

was the Ford Motor Co's first international expansion.

Since that time, Ford has grown to be one of the largest employers in our country, with 16,000 employees and 11,000 retirees, the vast majority of whom reside

in Ontario. Ford of Canada also has a dealership network with approximately 500 dealers, which employs an additional 22,000 Canadians.

Over the last decade, Ford has invested over $9.5 billion in its Canadian operations, and in 2003 alone Ford of Canada sold 240,000 vehicles. Since its

inception in 1904, Ford of Canada has produced approximately 25 million vehicles. Ford of Canada's Windsor operation produced over 1.1 million engines last year, making Windsor the engine capital

for Ford Motor Co.

Please join me in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ford of Canada, from its Oakville head office to its assembly plants in both Windsor and St Thomas.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

TAXPAYER PROTECTION AFFIRMATION ACT, 2004 /

LOI DE 2004 CONFIRMANT LA PROTECTION DES CONTRIBUABLES

Mr Klees moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 85,

An Act to affirm the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 / Projet de loi 85, Loi visant à confirmer la Loi de 1999 sur la protection des

contribuables.

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

Mr Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): This bill affirms the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999, as it read the day before Bill 83 was introduced. Bill 83,

as you know, proposes to amend the Taxpayer Protection Act so that tax measures like the health premium can be introduced into the House without a referendum. That goes against the law of the

Taxpayer Protection Act.

What this bill will do is reverse that amendment contained in Bill 83. In addition to that, it allows individuals who may have been charged by the crown prior

to this bill to offset any funds that have been recovered by the crown.

So I would expect as well that members of the government be given a free vote to exercise their opinion on this bill.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding

private members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Do I have the members' consent to put forward that motion? Agreed.

Hon Mr Duncan: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 96(d), the following changes be made to the ballot list of private members' public

business: that Mr Ouellette and Mr Tascona exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr Ouellette assumes ballot item 58 and Mr Tascona assumes ballot item 25; that Mr Brown and Mr Crozier

exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr Brown assumes ballot item 64 and Mr Crozier assumes ballot item 29; that Mr Mauro and Mr Lalonde exchange places in order of precedence such that

Mr Mauro assumes ballot item 74 and Mr Lalonde assumes ballot item 27; and that pursuant to standing order 96(g), notice be waived for ballot items 23 and 25.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from

6:45 pm to 9:30 pm on Monday, May 31, 2004, and Tuesday, June 1, 2004, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Mr Duncan has moved that, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm on

Monday, May 31, 2004, and Tuesday, June 1, 2004, for the purpose of considering government business. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. All those in favour of the motion, please say "aye."

All those against, say "nay."

I think the ayes have it. Call in the members. There will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1400 to 1405

The Speaker: The government House leader has moved government notice of motion number 114. All those in favour of the motion, please rise one

at a time and be checked by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brown, Michael A.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Craitor, Kim

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Flaherty, Jim

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jeffrey, Linda

Kennedy, Gerard

Klees, Frank

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

McMeekin, Ted

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

O'Toole, John

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Sorbara, Greg

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those against, please rise and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Churley, Marilyn

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Murdoch, Bill

Prue, Michael

Clerk of the House (Mr Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 66; the nays are 8.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

TYLER BOUTILIER

Hon Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I believe we have unanimous consent for each

party to speak for up to five minutes in memory of OPP Constable Tyler Boutilier, who was killed in the line of duty.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Do we have unanimous consent that each party speak for up to five minutes? Agreed. The Minister of Community

Safety.

Hon Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I rise in the House today with the unanimous consent of all

parties to offer words of respect and tribute on behalf of the province of Ontario in memory of Constable Tyler Boutilier.

Constable Boutilier died on Sunday, May 23, while responding to an emergency call. He had been a member of the Ontario Provincial Police since September 2000

and was attached to the OPP's Grenville detachment. His shift partner and best friend, Constable Rick Foley, remembered a young man who had excelled at his job and supported his friends. Constable

Boutilier was just 32 years old and had been married for only eight months.

The magnitude of this tragedy was reflected in the outpouring of grief and sorrow in his hometown of Havelock, where Premier McGuinty and I, as well as other

members of this Legislature, attended his funeral last Thursday. The Havelock United Church was filled to overflowing with family, friends and police officers with whom he served. About 1,500

police officers from the OPP, the RCMP and municipal services across Canada lined the street outside the church eight rows deep. But most touching of all was the sorrow expressed by the residents

of Havelock, a community of just 600, who considered Constable Boutilier a hero. The main street was deserted and black ribbons were tied to trees in silent tribute.

The men and women who wear the badges of police officers know the risks they run. They know that each day they report to duty could be their last. And yet,

they do this willingly. They do it because they love their jobs and are proud of the role they play in keeping our community safe. This sense of duty and pride ran strongly in Constable Boutilier.

His sister, Kari Dart, who is also an OPP officer, said that he loved his position in the OPP and was extremely proud on the day she presented him with his badge -- a badge he wore with distinction

and courage.

One cannot imagine what the loss of this young man's life will mean to his wife, Lori; his parents, Sharon and Lewis Boutilier; his fellow officers of the

Grenville detachment and his friends, but I know they will always remember him as the fine and honourable man that he was.

Next year, Constable Boutilier's name will be added to those on the police memorial on the OPP's wall of honour. In this way, he and the ultimate sacrifice he

made will be remembered forever.

Let us remember that he was a hero the day he assumed his badge. Let us remember that he died doing what he loved. And let us remember that he died making the

world a little safer for all of us.

Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): It is an honour to stand today on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus and respond to the comments

made by Minister Kwinter with respect to the untimely death of Constable Tyler Boutilier of the Grenville county detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.

On the Victoria Day weekend, Constable Tyler Boutilier was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident while serving our province. Constable Boutilier joined

the OPP just four years ago, in September 2000. By 2003, Tyler had become a member of the emergency response team, a goal he had set for himself since the beginning of his short career in the

OPP.

It was an honour to join former Minister Runciman, Minister Kwinter, the Premier and other members of all three provincial parties at the funeral of Constable

Boutilier at the Havelock United Church last Thursday. Police services from across our province were on hand to pay tribute to the life of Constable Tyler Boutilier.

In the last two weeks we have been reminded twice about the sacrifices the members of our police services provide to the citizens of our great province: first,

the brutal murder of Constable Chris Garrett of the Cobourg Police Service, and then the tragic automobile accident that took the life of Tyler Boutilier. Each and every day of the year, the men

and women who make up the police services of Ontario put their lives on the line. Many are fortunate and spend their careers unharmed, while others like Chris and Tyler pay the supreme sacrifice.

We as members of this House respect and honour all those who are committed to making our roads, highways and communities more safe and secure so that we can live, work and raise our families

without fear.

On behalf of our caucus, I want to pay our condolences and deep-felt loss to Tyler's wife, Lori; his parents, Lewis and Sharon; his sister, OPP Acting

Detective Sergeant Kari Dart; her husband, Craig, and their children; to all of Tyler's colleagues in the OPP family in the Grenville county detachment and all of those other officers who serve our

province on a day-to-day basis.

Mr Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I'm pleased to be able to speak on behalf of New Democrats as we pay tribute to this bright, committed,

young police officer.

As you travelled east on Highway 7 through the heartland of Ontario -- this is small-town Ontario -- and you saw the sign announcing, "Havelock, population

1,300," with the red ribbon tied around the signpost, it struck everyone travelling to that funeral that there wasn't a single person in that town who wouldn't have been touched by the death of

this young man, their native son. Similarly, there wouldn't have been a single member of that town who didn't explode with pride upon realizing that one of their own, their native son, just a few

brief years ago was sworn in as an Ontario Provincial Police officer. That's small-town Ontario.

Things are very different in small-town Ontario. All of us who were honoured to be able to attend that magnificent service in that small town of Havelock in

that small United Church observed townsfolk lining the streets before, during and after that funeral as they watched that procession. When we observed thousands upon thousands of not just police

officers but front-line emergency response personnel from across Canada standing in formation, at attention, outside that church throughout that service paying tribute to their fallen comrade, we

understood, oh so viscerally, the regard and the esteem in which Tyler Boutilier was held by his family, his community, and his friends, but also the regard that all Canadians have for those

front-line emergency personnel, police officers, who put their lives on the line each and every time they report for duty, having no realistic anticipation of what they may encounter during the

course of that shift.

So I say this: Tyler Boutilier and his sister, who gave a moving eulogy; his comrade Rick Foley, another Ontario Provincial Police officer from the same year

as Tyler Boutilier -- I say that Tyler Boutilier was recognized, yes, as a hero, but also as a son of two very caring and grieving parents, as a caring brother, as an uncle, because we heard about

the close and intimate relationship he had with his sister's two children, and by his young, beautiful wife, who, just as his parents had their son stolen from them far too soon, had her loving

husband stolen from her far too early in their lives.

So we join in tribute to this young man, this young police officer. We join in expressing condolences to his grieving family and to his colleagues in the OPP

detachment in which he served and to police officers who knew him throughout the region. And we join in saluting all police officers who, in the course of courageously fulfilling their

responsibilities and obligations, risk their lives and, all too tragically, indeed surrender their lives.

As we pay tribute, let's commit ourselves to this: Let's all commit ourselves to giving our police officers, called upon to do incredibly difficult, incredibly

dangerous and increasingly complex jobs, the support they need to do those jobs. Let's commit ourselves to ensuring that they have the tools and the resources to do those jobs as safely as

possible, because to do anything less is to deny the incredible contribution to policing in Ontario of Tyler Boutilier, and to do anything less is to show less than appropriate regard for the

incredible role that these women and men play in safeguarding ourselves, our families, and our communities and making them healthier, stronger and better places to live.

The Speaker: May we all rise for a moment of silence in respect for the life of this great individual.

The House observed a moment's silence.

VISITOR

Mr John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): It is a privilege for me to recognize in the gallery Darbara Singh Randhawa, the magistrate registrar of

marriages from Jalandhar in the province of Punjab, India, who is with us today. Welcome.

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Mr John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): My question is to the Minister of Finance. Working families in Ontario were shocked to learn that Dalton

McGuinty hired Paul Martin's campaign manager to help him, and help you, prepare the budget and sell it to Ontarians -- the budget where you broke your promise not to raise taxes and where you cut

health care services to the people of Ontario. Essentially, Paul Martin's strategists helped you write the budget.

Will you table today all the information from this Liberal consulting contract and will you tell us how much Paul Martin's campaign manager was paid to help

you break your promise not to raise taxes to the hard-working families and the people Ontario? Will you do that, Minister?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I would be pleased to provide that information to my friend and to the House when the final bills are

in and all the addition is done. I would simply say to him, though, that he should preface his question by acknowledging that governments in this province, Ministers of Finance, have contracted for

pre-budget research for 10 or 15 years. In fact, in the budget presented by Ernie Eves, the leadership campaign manager for Mr Eves, John Laschinger, was hired at a sum of $120,000 for his

pre-budget work and we don't complain about that. What we do complain about is the fact that after the last budget, the great Magna budget, those folks spent $1 million sending highly partisan

mailings to every household in the province. They should be ashamed of that. You can be sure there will be none of that on this side of the House.

Mr Baird: The question working families have is, before you entered into a contract with Paul Martin's campaign manager to help you break your

promise not to raise taxes, there must have been a dollar figure established. Taxpayers in Ontario are entitled to know that before they vote on June 28. They're entitled to know that today,

Minister. You should table that information today. I'd like you to stand in your place and tell us -- tell all the taxpayers of Ontario -- how much you paid Paul Martin's campaign manager to help

you craft your budget.

I'd like to note that there are 58 full-time communications staff in your ministry and in the cabinet office. I'd also like to know, why couldn't the

hard-working members of Ontario's public service have been put to use before you contracted Paul Martin's campaign manager to help you break your promise to working families in Ontario? Will you

tell us that, Minister?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I can tell my friend from Nepean-Carleton that the communications department in the Ministry of Finance worked flat out. I

have never seen people work as hard as the people in my ministry over the course of the two months before the budget was presented.

I think the important thing here is that this budget will bring about a transformation in health care; this budget will bring about Ontario having the best

system of public education on the continent; this budget will begin to put the province back on a course toward financial health. That's really the message that came out of that budget, and every

one of those communications people were anxious to get that message out. They've done so magnificently, and I'm very proud of them.

Mr Baird: Diane Flanagan, a spokesperson for you at the Ministry of Finance, confirmed to Alan Findlay of the Toronto Sun that the government

never held a public tendering process for the contract that was given to Paul Martin's campaign manager, David Herle. She went on to say that Flanagan confirmed that the subcontracting idea came

from you and your ministry itself. The people of Ontario want to know, how much did you pay Paul Martin's campaign manager to help craft this budget? Frank Graves, of a leading polling company,

said, "It may well have been the most poorly received budget in contemporary political history in Canada." Will there be a value-for-money audit done on this con job that's been perpetrated on the

people of Ontario? Stand in your place and tell us how much.

Hon Mr Sorbara: Once again my friend from Nepean-Carleton is trying to build a case that simply doesn't exist. He knows; he was in government

for a while. He was an energy minister. Do you know that huge mess we had in energy in Ontario? He was the author of that.

I want to tell my friend that every single rule relating to contracting was abided by in our contract with Earnscliffe -- every single rule. I do not believe

that my friend would want to stand in his place and talk about the $1 million dollars that was spent in the last Tory budget to try and flog that piece in every household. In addition to that $1

million, they spent almost -- I have the figures here; he wants exact figures -- $246,000 on radio ads promoting the Magna budget. I want to tell you that would never happen over here.

HEALTH PREMIUMS

Mr Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I have a question to the Acting Premier: Just this past week, Paul Martin joined the other two major political

party leaders in pledging a significant increase in health care funding to the provinces. Dalton McGuinty's response: "What we have here is a promise made in the heat of a campaign, sir. The irony

is off the Richter scale."

In light of these commitments from the three public leaders, will you now announce the cancellation of your new health tax, or are you planning the same test

of Paul Martin that people out there are applying to Dalton McGuinty? They don't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth.

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): Let me tell my friend from Erie-Lincoln that all of us on this side of the House are very encouraged

by the quality of the debate in the federal election campaign, particularly on health care. Each of the three parties understands that there is a serious crisis in the funding of health care in

this country and indeed in this province.

The reason we brought in the Ontario health premium is that the crisis in Ontario was immediate. The financial mess and mismanagement left by the previous

administration left us no alternative. But I want to tell you that I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing. The fact is, however, and my friend from Erie-Lincoln knows this, that those health care

accords between provinces and the federal government could take several years to negotiate. We are ready to start the day after that campaign is over.

Mr Hudak: Acting Premier, this is what we heard this past week. Your new Dalton McGuinty health care tax is going to impose an over $1,000 tax

hike on working-class families in Ontario -- over $1,000 for middle-class families. At the same time, you're delisting services for chiropractic, physiotherapy and optometry. You may not know that

insurance rates are going up, hydro is going up and gas and fuel taxes are going up. Your new tax hike is absolutely merciless.

Dalton McGuinty's name is like political poison across the province. At least a half dozen of your own backbenchers are coming out and publicly criticizing

your budget. Will you put an end to this political poison? Will you back away from your delisting? Will you back away from this merciless tax hike on middle-class families?

Hon Mr Sorbara: My friend from Erie-Lincoln suggests that a premium on a middle-class family could be $1,000. He knows. He was here. He could

reread the budget. The highest Ontario health premium is $900 per year. I want to tell my friend that, by contrast, in the province of Alberta, for example, even the lowest wage earners, in the

area of $55,000 per family, pay over $1,000.

But that's not the point. The point to emphasize is that we are on the road to transform health care in this province. We are on the road to 36,000 more

cardiac procedures by 2007-08. We are on the road to 8,000 more nurses in this province. We're on the road to 2,300 more joint replacements. We are on the road to creating a health care system that

the people of Ontario want and are willing to pay for.

Mr Hudak: I don't know where the finance minister is coming from. Back where I come from, because taxes are so high, most of the time both

spouses are working, which sends that tax rate over $1,000. If you don't know that, you're so far out of touch, you must be coming from another planet.

If you don't care about this merciless tax hike on taxpayers in the province of Ontario, if you don't care what your own backbenchers are saying about the tax

hike and the delisting, maybe you care about Paul Martin and David Herle. That seems to be where your priorities are.

I'll ask you one more time. Paul Martin is putting so much distance between himself and Dalton McGuinty, it's looking like he and Alfonso Gagliano were best

buddies all over again. Dalton McGuinty's name is political anthrax on the federal campaign.

One more time, because if you can back down today, you can back down down the road: Will you take away the delisting? Will you cancel your merciless tax hike

on working families in Ontario?

Hon Mr Sorbara: Talk about delisting: That member was part of a government that said, about water inspectors, "Let's fire them." Nurses,

20,000 of them: "Let 'em go. We don't need 'em." Meat inspectors: "Let 'em go."

Interjection.

Hon Mr Sorbara: I'll tell my friend over there, my noisy friend from Nepean-Carleton, that the government he was a part of left a legacy of

mismanagement and misrepresentation of the finances of this province which reached a new high-water mark right across the country. They will pay for it for decades.

TAXATION

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My first question is for the Acting Premier. Ontarians are furious with your tax grab on working

families. They're furious that a single mom, making $30,000 a year, will see a shocking 24% increase in her provincial income tax. Meanwhile, someone with an income of $100,000 a year sees only a

6% increase.

Is this your definition of fairness? Is this what Dalton McGuinty meant when he said to working families, "I won't raise your taxes"? He won't raise the taxes

of high-income people, but he's going to whack working people by 24%. Is that what you meant?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I am extremely proud of the fact that, for the first time in Canada, this province has instituted a

health care premium that is geared to income, so that those at the lowest levels of income, those earning $20,000 in all, don't pay a thing. If you compare that, for example, to income premiums

that --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Order. I'm having difficulty hearing the member. I would like to hear the minister. If I could get less

shouting on the other side, maybe I'll be able to hear that.

Hon Mr Sorbara: What I think is more important is what the premium pays for. The premium pays our bills so that we can be strong enough to

acknowledge that we need to pay for the health care system that we have. The previous administration, during eight and a half years of very vibrant economic growth in Ontario, allowed our revenue

base to deteriorate, so that revenues actually declined by 6%. We've turned that around with a progressive and fair premium system.

Mr Hampton: All those working families who are struggling on $30,000 a year, who can't pay the 20% increase in auto insurance premiums, who

can't pay the 20% increase in hydro premiums, who can't pay their natural gas bills are going to be really happy to learn that the McGuinty Liberals think it's fair that that single mom gets a 24%

increase in her provincial income taxes while Greg Sorbara, the Minister of Finance -- what do you get, Greg, a 2% increase? Is that the Liberal definition of fairness in Ontario?

Hon Mr Sorbara: My friend from Kenora-Rainy River has one note to sing throughout his political career: Every problem can be solved by taxing

the rich. Let me tell my friend from Kenora-Rainy River that the premium system we have introduced, the Ontario health premium, is the only health care premium in the country that is geared to

income. That single mom he talked about who is paying that premium will now get, for her children, free vaccinations for pneumonia, meningitis and chicken pox. That single mom is going to have a

community health care facility that will be there for her 24/7 in her community. That single mom, if her elderly parent is in long-term care, will get a much higher quality of long-term care.

The Speaker: Final supplementary.

Mr Hampton: The tax-the-poor Acting Premier wants people to believe that somehow the promises you make in your budget are worth more than the

promises you've already broken. You remember those: the promise to freeze hydro rates, the promise to roll back toll increases on the 407, the promise to do away with the P3 hospitals -- all those

promises you've broken.

Here's the reality: Under the Conservatives, individuals with incomes over $100,000 a year got a 35% tax cut, and now you come along and say to those folks,

"We'll give you a 6% tax increase." Meanwhile, a single mom struggling on $30,000 a year gets whacked with a 24% increase. Is that what Dalton McGuinty meant when he said, "I won't raise your

taxes?" "Don't worry, you who have a high income, I won't raise your taxes, but I'm going to stick it to the poor." Is that what he meant?

Hon Mr Sorbara: One of the things my friend from Kenora-Rainy River does not want to do is acknowledge in this House that we have a relatively

progressive tax system in Ontario. Let me give you an example. An Ontarian with one child making $24,000 a year will pay $1,230 in provincial income tax, including this premium. On the other end of

the scale, in 2004 an Ontarian earning $1 million a year will pay a total tax of $447,295, including this premium. I'm proud of the tax system we have. I'm proud of the premium we brought in, but

I'm more proud of what that premium will do to transform health care in Ontario and make us a leader in community-based health care.

The Speaker: New question.

Mr Hampton: To the minister and Acting Premier, the millionaire gets less than a 1% increase in his income taxes as a result of your budget

and a single mom on a $30,000-a-year income gets a 24% increase, and Liberals are proud of that? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

This single mom works as a teller at a bank. That's where she gets $30,000 a year, and her income tax is going up by 24%. When she works at the Royal Bank,

which had profits of $750 million in just the last three months, do you know how much the taxes are going up for the Royal Bank as a result of your budget? Zero. Again, is that your definition of

fairness? You go after the bank teller. You raise her income taxes by 24%, and you say to the Royal Bank, "You get off scot-free." Is that the Liberal definition of fairness?

Hon Mr Sorbara: My friend's line of questioning this afternoon just verges on scandalous. He knows full well that in the fall we introduced a

bill, Bill 2, in this Parliament dealing with corporate income tax that increased our revenues for corporate income tax, on an annualized basis, by almost $3 billion. It should also be noted for

the record that my friend from Kenora-Rainy River voted against that bill, as did every member of his caucus. Apparently, when it comes to voting, he will not vote for increased taxes on the Royal

Bank. But when it comes to question period, he's only got one idol, and that is to raise corporate income taxes. I tell my friend he cannot have it both ways.

Mr Hampton: I'm learning more about the Liberal definition of fairness every minute here.

Let's take the accounting clerk at the Bank of Montreal, who is going to shell out an extra $450 on her income taxes. Meanwhile, the Bank of Montreal, which

had a $602-million profit in the last three months alone -- what did you do for them? Did you say they have to make an additional contribution to health care? No. In fact, you're going to give

them, when your budget is fully implemented, a $1-billion tax reduction because you're doing away with the capital tax.

Is that the Liberal definition of fairness? You go after working families, you whack them again and again, and you say to banks like the Bank of Montreal,

"Don't tell anybody, but we're giving you a $1-billion tax reduction when we eliminate the capital tax." Is that the Liberal definition of fairness?

Hon Mr Sorbara: My friend's rant is worthy of Jack Layton and his campaign on homelessness and the Clarity Act.

I simply tell my friend from Kenora-Rainy River that we are the first province in Canada that has made sure a health premium is geared to income, so that those

with incomes under $20,000 pay absolutely nothing and the highest-income earners pay as much as $900 a year. We are proud of the premium, sir. We're much prouder of what those resources are going

to do in terms of better long-term care for seniors, better home care for those who can avoid hospitals by being treated at home, better community-based care, and clinics that are open and

available 24 hours a day. We are very proud of that and our Ontario health premium is going to help fund that.

Mr Hampton: I have news for you, Acting Premier. The people of Ontario don't believe your promises any more. They know you will promise

anything to get a vote and you will promise anything to get a headline, and people don't believe it.

I want to ask just one further question. You could have gotten about $700 million simply by plugging the employer health tax loophole for the largest

corporations. There could have been some fairness there, but you didn't even do that. You're taking $2 billion out of the pockets of working families, and banks and corporations aren't paying

anything additional as a result of your budget. Is that what Dalton McGuinty meant when he said, "I won't raise your taxes"? Was he speaking to the banks and the corporations? Is that what he meant

when he went after working families and you whacked them to the tune of $2 billion a year? The tax freeze was only for corporations. Working families get whacked. Is that what you meant?

Hon Mr Sorbara: My friend apparently wants evidence. I should suggest to my friend that he be in this House when the estimates for this year

and this budget are presented and he will see hundreds of millions of additional dollars being directed toward home care and hundreds of millions of additional dollars being directed toward better

community care. I suggest that he be here when he sees in the estimates the funds that will go toward educating more nurses and the funds that will be available to allow foreign-trained doctors to

be able to begin to practise medicine. I suggest that he come here and look at those estimates when he sees the increased funding that is going to help hospitals all over the province reduce

waiting times. I suggest that he pay attention for a change.

HEALTH CARE

Mrs Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): My question is for the Acting Premier. Your Liberal health plan, which I have right here,

guaranteed all Ontarians "access to ... health care services based on need, not ability to pay."

In fact, you've used the Romanow report as a framework, and I quote from page 3 of your plan, where it says -- and you're quoting Roy Romanow: "I challenged

those advocating radical solutions -- user fees ... delisting services, greater privatization.... There is no evidence that these solutions will deliver better or cheaper care, or improve access

(except, perhaps, for those who can afford to pay out of their own pockets)."

Can you please tell working families today why you have broken your promise to guarantee access to health care and you are now advocating these radical

solutions such as greater privatization and delisting services such as optometry, physiotherapy and chiropractic? Why have you broken your promise?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): My friend, who is a former health minister, knows full well, and might have acknowledged in the

preamble to her question, that none of the three services where we are reducing support -- not delisting -- are covered by the Canada Health Act.

Let's take them one by one. As far as optometry is concerned, we are simply no longer going to be paying for routine eye examination for those people between

the ages of 20 and 65. That is the only part of optometry that is affected by our budget.

She knows as a former health minister that there are often difficult decisions about what should be covered and what shouldn't be covered. She knows that

resources are needed to bring down waiting list times. She knows the horrible reality when those who are suffering from cancer cannot get appropriate treatment, when those who are suffering from

serious heart problems cannot get treatment in hospitals in a reasonable amount of time. She knows that in our budget we are going to be able to provide much better access to these critical

services, and as a result we have had to delist some less critical services.

Mrs Witmer: I say to the Acting Premier, your budget has ignited an anger that is going throughout this province like a brush fire. I have

never, in all my years of elected office, received so many e-mails, faxes, letters or visits. In fact, your broken promise, your new draconian health care tax, is different --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Order.

Mrs Witmer: Your new health care tax and your broken promise are different than anything before.

I want to quote the Kitchener-Waterloo Record in an editorial on Saturday where they state that this most basic promise of not raising or implementing new

taxes was a different broken promise than the others since "it was nothing less than his most fundamental pledge, the beating heart of his contract with the people."

Then they go on to say:

"Viewed in this light, McGuinty's lie is of historic proportions" --

The Speaker: I know that the member would like to withdraw that.

Mrs Witmer: On behalf of the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, I would withdraw that.

Interjections.

The Speaker: I ask the member to withdraw.

Mrs Witmer: I'll withdraw that.

I say to the Acting Premier, will you now acknowledge that you have broken your contract with the more than 12 million people in the province of Ontario? Will

you cancel the health care tax and restore the delisted services?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I'll tell my friend that we will begin to rebuild this province out of the chaos left to us on October 2. You fired 20,000

nurses; we're going to start hiring them back. When there was an opportunity to invest --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. I'm not quite sure you're prepared for the answer, because I can't hear the answer. Minister, 10 seconds to wrap up.

Hon Mr Sorbara: When you had an opportunity to invest in public education, you did the tackiest of all things: You spent $1 billion sending

$200 cheques to every citizen in the province. You fired water inspectors. You left this province with a structural deficit of $5 billion a year every year for the rest of our future. We're going

to start to turn that around, and we're going build a province that is based on sound financial premises and high --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

Ms Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is to the Acting Premier. On May 13, the people of Hamilton East delivered a message to your

government. They're tired of your broken promises, and they elected me to bring that message to you. But you just haven't learned and you just haven't listened. How else to explain a budget that

slams low- and modest-income households with hundreds and hundreds in new taxes? It's another broken promise. Your delisting of eye tests, physiotherapy and chiropractic services means that those

same people will again have to dig deep into their pockets to pay for them. Minister, will you immediately relist those services so that OHIP covers them once again?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I want to welcome the new member from Hamilton East and tell her that I think she is going to have a great future in this

Parliament until the next election, and I want to wish her well.

In answer to her question, I want to refer her back to her many years of excellent work on Hamilton city council. You've done budgets for a government. You

understand the pressures that confront cities like Hamilton. You know that your council, the one you just left, was facing a financial crisis. You know that when you made your budget for this year,

you delisted services. You said to the people of Hamilton, "We'd like to do that, but we can't do that anymore without raising taxes unacceptably." I want to tell my friend from Hamilton East that

we do the very same thing in this Parliament that you did at Hamilton city council and that governments do right around the country.

Ms Horwath: Minister, maybe you don't know the people who live in Hamilton East the way that I do. The people in that riding have some of the

lowest incomes in all Ontario. Many of them are out of work. Many of them had to retire early. Many of them have health problems that are very significant. They can't afford to pay for eye tests or

physiotherapy or chiropractic services, but they sure do need the services. I've already got petitions from people coming in and telling me they need to have those services back in OHIP. Will you

bring these critical health services back into OHIP, please?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I'll tell my friend that the people of Hamilton have also said to us, "Your investment in children's mental health will make a

real difference." They have said to us, "Your investment in new nurses is going to help us to open a new community health care centre." They have said to us, "What you're going to be investing in

long-term care is going to make a real difference to my mom or dad in a long-term-care facility." And what they have said to us in Hamilton -- and I'll tell my friend, you know this very well -- is

that the investments we're going to make in home care are going to transform the way in which our health care system responds positively and compassionately when one of us is sick and needs care

urgently. I am very proud of those reforms.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Ms Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): My question is to the Attorney General. Hamilton was deeply saddened this past week by the brutal attack on

an innocent victim as she opened her store in Jackson Square. I understand today that the Ministry of Community and Social Services has invested in enhanced programs for victims of violence and

sexual assault. I know in my own riding of Hamilton West, the sexual assault centre will be receiving much-needed funds to create a peer support network for victims of assault. Minister, can you

tell me, please, the other ways this funding will assist these victims of assault across the province?

Hon Michael Bryant (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): Yes, to the

honourable member for Hamilton West: This is, I think, news of hope for victims of sexual assault and sexual violence. The announcement today is going to affect communities across the province.

Eighteen communities will be receiving these funds from the victims' justice fund. They will be used for everything from counselling to peer support networks to ensuring that children are well

served, that women are getting the treatment they need immediately and that victims of sexual assault and sexual violence are never revictimized.

They need to know that the government of Ontario is doing everything they can to prevent sexual assault and sexual violence from happening in the future. They

also need to know that there are services in place that reflect the diversity of victims and communities in Ontario, that there is no cookie-cutter solution and that we are trying to respond to

each community's needs. This is good news and, I think, positive hope for those wishing to get their lives back after the horrific crime of sexual assault and sexual violence.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Supplementary?

Ms Marsales: To Minister Pupatello: You mentioned money earmarked for victims of sexual violence. This is great news for women and, more

importantly, a great example of this government's commitment to addressing violence against women as we mark the end of Sexual Assault Prevention Month. We know that right now an estimated 500,000

women in Canada are sexually assaulted in one year, but less than 10% of those women actually report this violence to police. Can you tell us what today's announcement means to women who are

victims of sexual assault?

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

question. I can tell you that today's announcement of 18 different programs is particularly for front-line work by those dealing with those who have been sexually assaulted.

I can tell you, as a finale event while we promote Sexual Assault Prevention Month, it was a fine morning. Our Attorney General committed funding in 18

different municipalities for 18 different programs that involve one-on-one counselling and a handbook to be created, in one case, for parents and their young children -- very progressive and

innovative projects. We were pleased to do that today at the Toronto abuse council.

Let me say, as we go forward as a government over these next four years, we intend to develop a solid, workable plan for domestic abuse in general. Today was a

wonderful example of that.

DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL

Mr Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): My question is for the Acting Premier. Promise number 152, thanks to Lorrie Goldstein and his handy compilation

of promises, says, "We will make our institutions more democratic by freeing your MPP to represent you." That was by Mr McGuinty last year. I was shocked, therefore, to read in the CanWest News

Service this weekend that one Andrew Steele, the Liberal caucus director, strategic research and policy -- a big title -- who I don't believe is a member of this Legislature, has written a memo

directing all the MPPs on the other side, and a few on this side, about certain lines they are to use with respect to the budget bill. I know, Acting Premier, that you would not have let this

happen, that you would not let an unelected person direct the elected Liberal MPPs, and that you would want to be consistent with your promise of "freeing your MPP to represent you." Please assure

the House that you are going to free your Liberal MPPs.

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I'll tell my friend from Whitby-Ajax that the budget we presented had the input of every single member

of this wonderful Liberal caucus. The fact that in our budget, for the first time in 12 years, we give social assistance recipients a raise is something that every single member of this caucus

supports; the fact that for the first time in years we have put specific provisions in our budget to assist the economy and communities in northern Ontario is supported by every single member of

this caucus; the fact that we made sure to do something specific for children's mental health, an area that caucus and that government ignored for years, is supported by every single member of this

caucus. We are very proud of the work we have done in that regard.

Mr Flaherty: That's OK. Promise number 152 is broken. Thank you, Acting Premier.

Now we'll move on to promise number 160: "We will give your elected representative more power.... We will make sure non-cabinet MPPs" -- all you non-cabinet

MPPs, pay attention -- "are free to criticize and vote against government legislation" -- but there's an exception -- "with the exception of explicit campaign promises and confidence matters."

Here's the problem, Acting Premier: explicit campaign promises number 65, "I will not raise taxes," 69, "I will hold the line on taxes" and 70, "I will live by

the balanced budget law." Remember those explicit promises? Here's the dilemma: You've got a budget bill that the non-cabinet MPPs are supposed to vote for -- it's a confidence matter -- but you

have explicit campaign promises that the non-cabinet MPPs are supposed to vote for. Which is the correct one? Are they supposed to vote to break the explicit campaign promises, or are they supposed

to vote against the budget?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I will tell you, Mr Speaker, what they should do and what they are doing. They are working as a strong, powerful, dynamic,

articulate caucus to help in the job of rebuilding this province. They are working in committees of this Legislature. For the first time ever, they are working in committees of cabinet to start to

rebuild Ontario.

My friend was once a finance minister. It will sit on his head and his political future that, during a time of vibrant economic growth in Ontario, he allowed

this province to fall into serious financial trouble such that by the time the election was called, we had a structural deficit of almost $5 billion in this province. That's a credit to the

horrible work he did while in government.

BUDGET SECURITY

Mr Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Deputy Premier. This past week has proved an old adage -- and we've actually seen

it -- that the Liberals in Ontario are directly tied to the hip of the Liberals in Ottawa. How else can you explain the phone call from the Premier to the Prime Minister with a heads-up for some 20

seconds or 20 minutes, whatever it was, on your regressive health tax? The convention on budgets is quite specific. It says that the budget details cannot be released to anyone outside of cabinet,

and that includes Prime Ministers. That's why you had, and I participated in, a very elaborate lock-up. Quite frankly, I think you broke the rules and I think the Premier broke the rules as well.

My question to you is, with whom else was this privileged and secret information released prior to budget day?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I know the Premier has had a number of conversations over the course of many months with the Prime

Minister. I am delighted that the Prime Minister has made health care in Canada one of the major components of his campaign. I am very impressed with the analysis the Prime Minister has done in

taking through some of the challenges that we face right across the country, and that he understands as a former finance minister that we are going to have to work together to find the resources to

finance the health care system we need. I am delighted that in his campaign he has put specific figures on the table. It certainly will take some time after the election to sit down and negotiate a

deal, but I think the table is set for better health care in Canada, and better health care because of what we've done in our budget and what the Prime Minister is proposing after this

election.

Mr Prue: My question is not what the Prime Minister is going to do; it's how he got his hands on that information, which was privileged and

secret to all people, including him. There's another one, a Mr David Herle, the Prime Minister's campaign chair. He was a key advisor to your budget. I heard the earlier questions where you were

not willing to say how much money you're going to pay him. And we're not even going to ask if it was an untendered contract, because it was.

Here we have an example of the Premier breaking other rules. He has divulged sensitive information about new tax measures. It reminds me a little bit of that

old movie Dr Dolittle with the animal, the push me-pull you. They're both saying the same thing but they're going in opposite directions, just like the federal and provincial Liberals. In the past,

ministers have resigned for leaking budgets, and this is a leaked budget. It gave an unfair advantage to those people in the federal Liberal circle who were privy to information they should not

have known. My question to you is twofold: To whom else were the details leaked, and why should Paul Martin have known about the budget before the members of this Legislature knew about it?

Hon Mr Sorbara: The fog started to set in around the Dr Dolittle part, but I think we got to the other side of the pond. He knows that in the

creation of every budget, every jurisdiction, consultations take place in anticipation of making decisions. I think the Premier answered the question yesterday with respect to his conversation with

Mr Martin. Other than that, I can tell him with absolute certainty that the security and management of budget confidentiality during this past budget were of the very highest standard and we met

the requirements 100%.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Mr Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. In the wonderful riding of Oakville, we

have a prosperous business community. We're also home to many large businesses, including some valuable members of the Ontario auto industry. One of the largest and best employers in my riding is

Ford of Canada and the Oakville assembly plant. Last week, Ford announced that it would idle its Freestar assembly plant for one week in early June. This announcement affects many people who live

in my riding of Oakville. Can you tell me what this government is doing to help auto workers in Oakville?

Hon Joseph Cordiano (Minister of Economic Development and Trade): Ford is making what amounts to a business decision with respect to idling

its workers. Let me tell you that our government is very proud of the fact that we are doing a lot for the auto sector, and auto workers in particular. We announced, as you know, the Ontario

automotive investment strategy, which is designed to leverage $500 million into $5 billion worth of investments across this province. We have every reason to expect that things will go very well in

the future for the auto sector. It is strong; it is the linchpin of our economy. This McGuinty government is very much committed to making the auto sector even stronger than it is.

Mr Flynn: While the Ford plant is a big part of Oakville's economy, it's not the only part. Oakville has over 260 head offices and more than

45 other businesses located in the community, the majority of which are small businesses. These businesses include over 100 in the information technology sector, another 100-plus in the engineering

sector and over 120 in the financial sector. Minister, can you tell me what the government is doing to help these businesses and, by extension, the economy of the town of Oakville?

Hon Mr Cordiano: The small businesses of our province are the lifeline of every community, the very heart and soul of it. I'm very proud of

the fact that this government recognizes that small businesses create many of the new jobs in our province. To that end, the Minister of Finance is ensuring the health of small businesses by

increasing the limit for small business income from $320,000 to $400,000. That's certainly going to help many small businesses.

As well, we are creating a one-stop access Web portal for small businesses, and we are going to see the advent of a new small business agency to assist small

businesses directly. My parliamentary assistant, Tony Wong, has been working with the small business community.

But let me say this as well: The recent budget announcement with respect to critical investments that we're making for our health care system -- I say to my

colleagues opposite that we have one of the greatest competitive advantages in this province, something you forgot about when you were in office: our health care system. It gives our businesses a

competitive cost advantage. It allows us to compete internationally. That's why the Minister of Finance is allowing us to invest in our health care system: to make certain that we continue to have

that competitive advantage. It had fallen on hard times. We were not making crucial investments in our infrastructure. That's why --

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Thank you.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Deputy Premier. The Prime Minister, just two hours ago, joined 12 million Ontarians in

condemning your government for breaking its promises. Just two hours ago, Canadian Press: "Martin said politicians must plan for economic surprises as they roll out their campaign promises.

"`It's not enough to say how you're going to be able to pay for them under the best of circumstances,' he said.

"`You've got to say how you're going to pay for them under very differing circumstances.... If I come to you and ask you to vote for me because I'm going to do

certain things, and I don't do them, then I have broken faith.'"

Deputy Premier, based on Paul Martin's definition of breaking trust, has the Premier of this province broken trust with the people of Ontario?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I tell you that what we've done is ensure that the environment of financial circumstances, as

presented before the last election, can never happen again. This Legislature, in its wisdom, will pass the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Act because, rather than an election taking place

around the fantasy of the Magna budget, that bill, if it becomes law, will require that the government of the day put forward the real financial circumstances of the province and that that report

be certified or rendered by the Provincial Auditor. That will ensure that we have a stronger democracy and that no government ever will be able to do what happened last time around with the Magna

budget and the events that followed.

Mr Klees: I don't believe the Deputy Premier even believes his own words today. The fact of the matter is that the Premier made the promise

not to increase taxes even after he got the Peters report. Peters reported that there was a deficit. Even after that, on numerous occasions, he said, "I will not raise taxes."

I have travelled this province for the last week. It doesn't matter whether it was Ottawa, Cornwall, Kingston, Toronto or York region, here is what people are

very, very concerned about: On the one hand, they know they've been deceived by this Premier. More important than that deception is the fact that they now see this government willing to put aside

the law of the province and increasing taxes without a referendum. I want to know whether this Premier is prepared --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Order.

Mr Klees: -- to put in place a referendum to justify what he's doing to the people of Ontario.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Could I ask the member to withdraw the unparliamentary word.

Mr Klees: Speaker, if you're asking me to withdraw the reference to deception --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Could I ask the member to withdraw the unparliamentary word.

Mr Klees: I'll withdraw.

In that case, what I would like to do is rephrase my question.

The Speaker: Sorry. I think the question has been asked.

Mr Klees: Do you think --

The Speaker: The question has been asked.

Hon Mr Sorbara: I have a very good idea of where the member was going with his question. I find it totally unacceptable. I tell my friend from

Oak Ridges that the health premium that we brought to this province in the budget will be presented in a piece of legislation which will be entirely consistent with the rules and the laws of this

province. For my friend to go on about "illegal," "deception" and all that stuff, I reject it entirely. It's unacceptable. It's not worthy of you. You shouldn't be doing it.

What you should be talking about, in your riding and across the province, is that finally we are getting on with rebuilding our health care system, rebuilding

our education system and putting this province back on a strong financial footing. I'm very proud of that.

HEALTH CARE

Ms Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a question for the Acting Premier. Minister, on May 28 your Premier received the following letter,

which reads:

"Dear Premier,

"Ever since your Minister of Finance tabled his budget, I have had a great number of constituents express their dismay at the cancellation of the chiropractic

subsidies."

He goes on to describe that in northern Ontario, where there is mining and forestry, many back and neck injuries occur. It's as a result of an intervention by

a chiropractor that people return to work much more rapidly. The writer says, "I am therefore adding my voice to those who, for one reason or another, cannot afford to pay for such services. I also

trust that your government will respect the universality of health care services in Ontario."

It's signed by Rég Bélair, who is the federal MP for Timmins-James Bay. It's probably the first time that I've ever agreed with Rég Bélair.

Minister, will you stop the delisting of chiropractic services?

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I think that perhaps there is some possibility of salvation for my friend, now that she's agreeing

more with Liberal members and Liberal candidates. Let's get it straight on chiropractic, OK? The maximum impact that delisting could have on an individual is $150 -- not one penny more in personal

payments.

But my friend, who is very familiar with the workers' compensation system, knows that there is no delisting for any chiropractic service that is required by

the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board; that there is no delisting of chiropractic required as a result of an insured accident; that there is no delisting of services in physiotherapy for

seniors; that there is no delisting of optometry for young people and seniors. So my friend ought to put this in some perspective. There will be a minor impact, the trade-off for services that will

be enhanced.

Ms Martel: I should just point out that Rég Bélair is so angry, he's not even running again. I wouldn't use that as a very good

example of me supporting the Liberals in some way, shape or form.

Listen, he's not the only one who is angry. I received over 280 letters and faxes in my constituency office last week. Many are from people who are on a fixed

income. They aren't covered by private insurance and cannot afford to pay the additional costs for chiropractic services. They are already paying for health care through their taxes. They are going

to pay again because of your new, aggressive health tax. They should not have to pay a third time, out of their own pockets, for chiropractic services, for eye care or for physiotherapy.

I say to you again: These are important health care services. They should continue to be covered under OHIP. Will you reverse your decision to delist,

privatize, these important health care services?

Hon Mr Sorbara: I will simply tell my friend that the added benefits that we will bring to children's mental health, to shorter waiting times

for cardiac procedures, for shorter waiting times for joint replacements, for the other investments that we are making, even today in the north in hospitals in Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie -- all of

which comes out of a health care budget -- the additions that we are going to be making to community care and home care: These, I tell my friend, are very tough decisions, but I'm absolutely sure

that they are the right decisions. I'm very proud of the way in which we are going to transform health care, particularly in the northern part of this province.

PETITIONS

FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

Mr Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads as follows:

"Whereas the Ministry of Natural Resources' provincial fish hatchery program annually stocks over 10 million fish into 1,200 water bodies within the province

of Ontario; and

"Whereas provincial fish hatcheries contain unique genetic strains of indigenous fish species; and

"Whereas recreational fishing is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a huge contributor to tourism and the economy throughout the province of Ontario; and

"Whereas the world-class Great Lakes salmon fishery, as well as many local fisheries throughout the province, are dependent on the Ministry of Natural

Resources' fish stocking program;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government of Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources to refrain from any

cutbacks or cancellations to this provincially significant program."

I sign my name in full agreement.

PORTLANDS ENERGY CENTRE

Ms Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I have a petition which reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Ontario Power Generation and TransCanada PipeLines propose to build the Portlands Energy Centre (PEC), a 550-megawatt power plant in the port lands

near Cherry Beach in Toronto;

"Whereas PEC is promoted by proponents as an alternative to coal-fired power, an interim step toward the transition to greener energy infrastructure for

Ontario;

"Whereas at the same time there is no stated guarantee that its construction will lead to the necessary closure of coal-fired power plants;

"Whereas at the same time it is unclear that the proposed project will proceed to be built as a co-generation facility that produces both hydro and steam

through cleaner and efficient technology;

"Whereas at the same time there are critical questions that have to be answered about how the proposed plant will impact the local air quality, climate change,

local water and wildlife of Toronto and subsequently southern Ontario, areas that already are severely affected by poor air quality and other environmental damage;

"Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario urge the Minister of the Environment to support the community's call for a

full, individual environmental assessment of the Portlands Energy Centre to be conducted to resolve these crucial questions."

I affix my signature to this petition.

TOBACCO CONTROL

Mr Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario signed by a number of small retail

business owners from the riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas

section 3.1 of the Tobacco Control Act suspends a retailer's licence to sell tobacco products for a maximum of one year, we petition the assembly to

amend

section 3.1 to use fines in place of suspensions;

"Whereas, under the Tobacco Control Act, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to a person under the age of 19, it is legal for a person under 19 years to

purchase tobacco products. We petition the assembly to make it a legal offence for a person under 19 years to possess tobacco.

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

"Amend

section 3.1 of the Tobacco Control Act, using fines instead of suspensions for penalties.

"Amend the law to make it an offence to possess tobacco products under the age of 19 years."

I too affix my signature.

DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA

Mr Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a petition, with hundreds of signatures from my constituents in Parry Sound-Muskoka, to keep

Muskoka as part of northern Ontario.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the district of Muskoka is currently designated as part of northern Ontario; and

"Whereas the geography and socio-economic conditions of Muskoka are very similar to the rest of northern Ontario; and

"Whereas the median family income in the district of Muskoka is $10,000 below the provincial average and $6,000 below the median family income for greater

Sudbury; and

"Whereas removing the district of Muskoka from northern Ontario would adversely affect the hard-working people of Muskoka by restricting access to programs and

incentives enjoyed by residents of other northern communities; and

"Whereas the residents of Muskoka should not be confused with those who cottage or vacation in the district; and

"Whereas this is a mean-spirited and politically motivated decision on the part of the McGuinty government;

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

"That the McGuinty government maintain the current definition of northern Ontario for the purposes of government policy and program delivery."

I support this petition and affix my signature to it.

OPTOMETRISTS

Ms Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the last funding agreement between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Association of Optometrists 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 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 Minister of Health and Long-Term Care resume negotiations immediately with the" association "and appoint a mediator to help with the negotiation

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

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

AJAX-PICKERING HOSPITAL

Mr Wayne Arthurs (Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from a thousand of my constituents. It

says:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas at the time the Centenary Health Centre and Ajax-Pickering hospitals amalgamated under the umbrella of the Rouge Valley Health System, a commitment

was made by the Health Services Restructuring Commission that the communities of Whitby/Pickering/Ajax, according to the amalgamation agreement, would not lose a full-service hospital and would

maintain all existing services; and

"Whereas municipal governments in the region of Durham have provided financial support to the Rouge Valley Health System on the understanding that

Ajax-Pickering hospital would continue as a full-service hospital; and

"Whereas numerous service clubs and other organizations have also raised money in support of the expansion of the Ajax-Pickering hospital and services provided

therein such as the maternity unit on the understanding that the Ajax-Pickering hospital would continue as a full-service facility; and

"Whereas the Rouge Valley Health System has changed its strategic plan without consulting its key stakeholders, such as the residents who use the hospital, the

doctors, nurses and other professional staff that work within the system and the local governments and organizations that fund the hospital; and

"Whereas this has led to a decrease in the level of service provided by the maternity unit and the number of acute care beds;

"We, the undersigned concerned citizens of west Durham, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That a full-service hospital with all the existing services at the time of amalgamation be maintained at the Ajax-Pickering site and new services added as the

population continues to grow and age, as agreed to by the Ajax-Pickering General Hospital and Centenary Health Centre in the amalgamation agreement signed May 31, 1998."

I affix my signature to this petition.

FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM

Mr Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Ministry of Natural Resources' provincial fish hatchery program annually stocks over 10 million fish into 1,200 water bodies within the province

of Ontario; and

"Whereas provincial fish hatcheries contain unique genetic strains of indigenous fish species; and

"Whereas recreational fishing is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a huge contributor to tourism and the economy throughout the province of Ontario; and

"Whereas a world-class Great Lakes salmon fishery as well as many local fisheries throughout the province are dependent on the Ministry of Natural Resources'

fish stocking program;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government of Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources to refrain from any

cutbacks or cancellations to this provincially significant program."

I've signed this.

TTC RIGHT-OF-WAY

Mr Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): I have a petition to the Parliament of Ontario and the Minister of the Environment that reads as follows:

"Whereas an environmental assessment is underway on St Clair Avenue West to study potential transit improvements, including the possibility of installing a

dedicated TTC right-of-way;

"Whereas the consultation process so far has been in bad faith, top-down and rushed, which has disappointed and angered the local community almost entirely,

and not been up to any acceptable public standards;

"Whereas comments by the chair and the members of the Toronto Transit Commission have made it clear that there is a predetermined outcome to the environmental

assessment process, regardless of the objections of the local community;...

"Whereas a dedicated right-of-way would force significantly more traffic on to our local streets;...

"Whereas traffic bottlenecks at certain intersections and underpasses are already terrible...;

"Whereas the right-of-way will have substantial negative economic effects on local businesses;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, strongly urge the Minister of the Environment to order a full environmental assessment on St Clair Avenue West, one that

genuinely consults and takes into consideration the views and opinions of the local community."

Since I agree, I'm delighted to put my signature to it.

WATER QUALITY

Mr John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): I have a petition concerning the new Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, Ontario regulation

170/03, and I have several thousand signatures here.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Ontario government is implementing regulation 170/03, and in doing so will affect town halls, churches and private property owners including small

businesses, local community centres and campgrounds; and

"Whereas meeting the requirements of regulation 170/03 has meant and will mean excessive costs and financial burdens for all drinking water system owners;

and

"Whereas there is no demonstrated proof that this new regulation will improve drinking water that has been and continues to be safe in rural municipalities;

and

"Whereas Ontario regulation 170/03 was passed without adequate consultation with stakeholders throughout Ontario; and

"Whereas stakeholders should have been consulted concerning the necessity, efficacy, economic, environmental and health impacts on rural Ontario;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario abandon the implementation of and immediately repeal regulation 170/03, as well as amending

the pertinent enabling legislation."

I support this petition and sign my name to it.

GARDERIES D'ENFANTS

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): « À l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario :

« Attendu que les gardiennes en résidences privées sont limitées à cinq enfants à la fois, selon la

Loi sur les

garderies;

« Attendu que les enfants scolaires ont besoin d'un toit avant et après l'école pour 90 minutes à la fois et que ces enfants

âgés entre quatre ans et 10 ans servent d'un heureux modèle pour les jeunes;

« Attendu que les programmes avant et après l'école sont complets, et que les parents ont un urgent besoin d'un endroit supervisé pour

les enfants d'âge scolaire;

« Attendu que les parents auront une place assurée pour les enfants scolaires auprès des gardiennes qu'ils fréquentent depuis

longtemps;

« Attendu que les gardiennes en résidence privée ne sont pas syndiquées et qu'elles ont besoin de travailler au même

titre que

les personnes travaillant dans les garderies syndiquées;

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

« Que le gouvernement de l'Ontario apporte la modification suivante sur la définition de la garde d'enfants en résidence privée

comprise dans la

Loi sur les garderies permettant un nombre plus élevé de cinq enfants de moins de 10 ans. »

J'y ajoute ma signature. La pétition provient de la région d'Embrun.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I'm pleased to present a petition on behalf of the people in Dr Peter Seca's office in Beamsville, like Margaret

Guay from Jordan Station and Ada Laws of Vineland. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Dalton McGuinty Liberals promised a health care system that gives us all the care we need when we need it; and

"Whereas chiropractors, optometrists and physiotherapists provide the necessary health care to the people of Ontario to maintain healthy and active

lifestyles;

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

"The Dalton McGuinty Liberals should keep their promise to invest in health care and restore funding to cover optometry, physiotherapy and chiropractic care

under OHIP."

In support, I add my signature.

PROPERTY TAXATION

Mr Jeff Leal (Peterborough): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas recreational trailers kept at parks and campgrounds in Ontario are being assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corp (MPAC) and are subject to

property taxes; and

"Whereas owners of these trailers are seasonal and occasional residents who contribute to the local tourism economy without requiring significant municipal

services; and

"Whereas the added burden of this taxation will make it impossible for many families of modest income to afford their holiday sites at parks and

campgrounds;

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

"That these seasonal trailers not be subject to retroactive taxation for the year 2003; and that the tax not be imposed in 2004; and that no such tax be

introduced without consultation with owners of the trailers and trailer parks, municipal governments, businesses, the tourism sector and other stakeholders."

I'll affix my signature to the petition.

WATER QUALITY

Mr Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the Ontario government is implementing regulation 170/03, and in doing so will affect town halls, churches and private property owners including small

businesses, local community centres and campgrounds; and

"Whereas meeting the requirements of regulation 170/03 has meant and will mean excessive costs and financial burdens for all drinking water system owners;

and

"Whereas there is no demonstrated proof that this new regulation will improve drinking water that has been and continues to be safe in rural municipalities;

and

"Whereas Ontario regulation 170/03 was passed without adequate consultation with stakeholders throughout Ontario; and

"Whereas stakeholders should have been consulted concerning the necessity, efficacy, economic, environmental and health impacts on rural Ontario;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario abandon the implementation of and immediately repeal regulation 170/03, as well as amending

the pertinent enabling legislation."

It is signed by a great number of constituents in Ontario, and I add my signature to this petition.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2004 /

LOI DE 2004

SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES

Mr Sorbara moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 83,

An Act to implement Budget measures / Projet de loi 83, Loi mettant en oeuvre certaines mesures budgétaires.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Mr Sorbara has moved second reading of Bill 83. Is it the pleasure of the House -- Mr Sorbara.

Hon Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I thought for a moment we were going to just have second and third reading without further debate.

The Speaker: It will be a pleasure to hear you.

Hon Mr Sorbara: It is an honour, a privilege, and I am delighted to be beginning the debate on this very important bill, which is really one

of the foundation stones of the budget that we presented in this House just over a week ago, on May 18.

I should let you know that I'm going to be making some introductory remarks about the budget and then I will be sharing my time with my colleagues from

London-Fanshawe, Kitchener Centre and my parliamentary assistant, the wonderful member from Eglinton-Lawrence, who has been so incredibly helpful over the course of these many months that we've

been working on this budget.

Every budget in every Parliament brings about a debate that will span the province and sometimes the country. Although there is a lot of politics -- and we're

in the midst of a federal election campaign, so that expands the politics -- there really are five important things about this budget that I think the people of Ontario need to know about.

The first one is that we are taking enormous steps to make sure that we have a health care system that the people of this province can rely on. We're investing

more money in health care, but that's not the important thing. The most important thing is the changes that those additional revenues will bring about.

In health care, we are investing in the movement from hospital care and care in doctors' offices to a more community-based care. Significant new funds are

going to go to community health care centres, and we will open some 150 new facilities that will have family health care teams practising and providing care 24/7 -- around-the-clock health

care.

We're going to be investing in a higher quality of home care. I remember, from the day I was re-elected to this Parliament in the by-election of June 2001, how

I heard about the shortcomings in home care in every single community. It was a chorus in unison: "We're not funding home care, and that's putting additional pressure on our hospitals. Those who

could be treated in homes are staying in hospital beds, and that's having a negative effect on our emergency wards." So we're going to invest in home care.

We're going to invest as well in long-term care, because our seniors deserve a quality of care that respects what they have given to their province and their

country over the course of their lives. I remember the debates in this House about how long-term care had deteriorated in Ontario over the past number of years. The debate centred around one bath

per week, and when you think about that, it's just irresistible to say in a budget of a Liberal government that we're going to get on with reforms in the quality of long-term care.

So the first important thing you need to know about this budget is what it will do to improve the quality of health care in Ontario from, as I said, the

movement toward care in the community to a much better level of care for our elderly.

But the thing that lifted my spirits was the ability in this budget to say something about children's mental health and to be able to allocate some $25 million

to improve children's mental health. I hear my wonderful friend the Minister of Children's Services banging her desk in delight, and I have to tell her publicly in this chamber that her passionate

plea to get on with some additional resources in this area was one of the things that took the bucket.

When you hear about the real problems in our community, particularly -- mental health is something we don't like to talk about. We do not like to admit that

these problems exist. When it's with our kids, the notion that we, as a government and as a political party, can do something about that -- the heart just leaps for joy. It's not a lot of money and

it's not everything we need to do, but it's a really important start. So we're transforming health care. That's number one.

Number two, we are making historic investments in education. Those who follow Ontario politics know that for the past 10 years our schools have been a war

zone. A huge disservice to our children, the battle between a Conservative government and teachers, and between Conservative governments and administrators, was an embarrassment to all of us.

That's coming to an end, and we're making the investments in education that our children need and deserve. We are not going to stop until we have North America's leading public education system,

because that is the very best way to invest in the future. So the second thing you need to know about is what we're doing in education.

The third thing you need to know about is how we're going to transform support for our communities, large and small, north and south, east and west. What we

were left with in funding of municipalities -- it will drive you to distraction if you get into the details, but all you have to do is talk to any mayor or any councillor about how it has not been

working.

In the city of Toronto, we're making historic investments in public transit. In the smallest northern community we are going to put forward resources that will

help those communities provide good-quality local services. So the third thing you need to remember is that we are changing the way we fund our communities so they can thrive and provide a high

quality of life in terms of municipal services to their residents.

The fourth thing you need to know is that, for the first time in almost nine years, a budget in Ontario speaks to Ontario's most vulnerable, that we are

finally doing something for those who, because of circumstances, have only the Ontario disability support program for all of life's necessities. What we allot to them on a monthly basis hasn't gone

up in 12 years, and that's an embarrassment in a province that is one of the richest jurisdictions in all of the continent. What we're doing for Ontario's most vulnerable sends out a powerful

signal about our values as a Liberal government.

For our senior citizens, we are adding to financial support an increase of 25% to the Ontario property tax credit for seniors, because we are very concerned

that seniors in their homes do not have the ability to go and get a second job or find additional resources, more income. They can't do it. I heard so many seniors during the election campaign say

to me in their own wonderful way, "Having trouble staying, paying the bills, taxes, gasoline, all that sort of stuff." We're making a significant new investment to help our seniors continue to have

vibrant lives in their own homes, and I'm very proud of that. That's the fourth thing you need to know about this budget.

The fifth and, in a sense, the most important thing that you need to know is that this budget will bring Ontario back to sound financial health. I don't need

to go on about what those guys over there left us. It was a financial calamity of historic proportions, particularly because we created in the Ontario government this structural deficit during

really good economic times. I contrast this with what the Bob Rae government had to cope with when, shortly after they came to government, the province, the country, the continent went into very

serious financial times, and they did run large deficits and they did create huge financial challenges for their successors. But to be fair to them, they were difficult economic times. From 1994 to

2003 it was pretty good. We've got a growing economy. We've got resources in Ontario, in our workforce -- our abilities are just at an historic high. Yet when we came to government, we had a

$5.6-billion problem. And it's not just one year; it's structural. That is, if you don't make changes, it will last forever. That's what that means. The fifth and perhaps most important thing that

you need to know about this budget is that it will get Ontario on the road to financial health.

How are we going to do that? Straight forward. We're going to run a tight ship. We have the courage to raise the revenues that we need to pay for the health

care that we want. We're going to invest in our province, particularly in those areas where we have some weakness. I just came back from northern Ontario. They are thrilled that, for the first time

in years, a budget spoke to their specific needs.

I could go on about this thing. I've been talking about only this for the past 12 days, but I want to cede my time to my colleagues who are going to

participate. I just want to encourage this House to examine Bill 83 in fine detail and I hope, having done that, this House will give it unanimous support.

Mr Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): I'm honoured, as usual, to stand up in this place and speak on behalf of my great constituents in

London-Fanshawe.

Today we listened to the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Greg Sorbara, start talking about the budget, give us some lead on the budget. It definitely is a

very crucial time. The timing for the budget came in the midst of a federal election, which gives the budget a lot of political analysis, a lot of talk in the backrooms and the papers, which have

been used by many parties in this province and across this country to slash the Liberal Party, whether provincially or federally. We get the chance, after the announcement of the budget, to go back

to our constituents, which we call constituency week.

First, I was honoured and proud of the government, which is led by the Premier, Dalton McGuinty, when they decided to announce and launch the budget from this

place, not from private places. Traditionally, this place is meant to be the House of the people of this province. All the main issues should be discussed, and should be started, from this place.

This was a very good start and a very positive move on behalf of this government.

As I mentioned, we went to our ridings. We talked to many constituents. We received many different calls. We talked to the media. We held meetings. We called

people in to listen to their opinion, their reaction to this budget.

There certainly was a mixed reaction, because many people in this province were misinformed. They've been listening to different signals and messages from

different parties, not for the sake of the people of this province, but for the sake of gaining some cheap political advance over what's going on in this province.

I'm one of the people of this province who got the chance to serve and advocate on behalf of a certain area in this province. Let me tell you, the health

premium wasn't my first choice. I would say it was not the first choice of any of my colleagues either. Even for the Premier of this province, it was not his first choice. But when you take over on

October 2, take over a government, take over a budget suffering a $5.6-billion deficit -- add to it a social deficit of between $2 billion and $3 billion, which is money we owe to municipalities,

boards of education and hospitals across the province -- you're left without any choices. You're left without any choices unless you use some kind of measurement to live up to your promises.

Our health care in this province was suffering. It was in chaos stage. There was a shortage of doctors. About 1.2 million people in this province have no

family doctor to go to. Waiting lists, waiting time to see a specialist was even longer.

I'll give you a life example from my family. My mother was suffering from some kind of medical problem -- basically, her varicose veins -- and wanted to have

surgery. She had to wait two years to see a specialist to do the surgery. In the meantime, within two years' time, her varicose veins exploded twice. She was lucky my dad walked in the house. He

found her swimming in her blood. It's not what we're looking for. It's not what the people of this province are looking for.

They're looking for good service. They're looking for good health care when they need it. It wasn't found anywhere in this province. People like my mother are

like others suffering from the same problem. Some people with cancer problems have to wait to see a specialist. They're lucky if they're still alive to see that specialist; and in the other

systems, people with heart disease etc, the list goes on and on.

That's what we have in this province. Besides that, we have a shortage of nurses. Nurses were leaving the province, going away, because they were mistreated by

the past government, mistreated and put on a part-time, not full-time, basis. You know that you cannot raise a family working part time these days. They've been forced to work different jobs, three

full-time jobs sometimes, to raise their families. Some of them decided to leave this province for other provinces, and sometimes went across the border.

Shortage of family physicians: As I mentioned, many doctors in this province won't accept new patients. At the same time, we have 2,000 foreign-trained doctors

driving taxis, delivering pizzas, doing different jobs not related to their expertise. We don't know the reasons. I spoke with many of them. They passed all the required exams to be eligible to

practise in this province and then they are not given permission, the chance to go to residency, which would allow them to be family physicians in this province. I was proud when I heard the

Minister of Finance say in this budget that about 200 foreign-trained family physicians will be permitted, will be financed, to enter the profession in this province.

Also, our health care was suffering from lots of problems -- all institutions, all buildings, all technology -- and this budget will finance nine MRI and CT

scanners across the province to help lower the waiting times.

Other things: They were going to hire 8,000 nurses on a full-time basis in order to deliver good service for the great people of this province. I got the

chance last week, with the Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Steve Peters, to visit one of the senior citizens' homes in my riding of London-Fanshawe. We spoke with the seniors and with

management, the administration, and it felt so great when they told me that this was the first time in the last 17 years that they got an increase of 3%. Over the last 17 years, this is the only

time they got a 3% increase to support their needs. The minister said, "I know 3% is not enough, but it's a good step toward increasing support for the people who work hard in their lifetime to

create this beautiful province of ours."

The story goes on. The people in this province deserve great attention. They deserve great respect because they work hard for their money. They deserve good

health care. They deserve a good institution and a good nursing home and good facilities, when they get old, that they can go to and get treated with respect and dignity. It's not what we heard

from the news. I guess everybody heard about how much abuse was going on in many seniors' homes across the province, and about how this government stepped in and hired the honourable member Monique

Smith to create a report about these institutions, about this segment of our government's responsibility. That report came after great consultation throughout the province, listening to many

citizens, many senior citizens, many administrators on how to tackle the issue. All of us were astonished when we heard about the abuse that was going on in these senior citizens' homes.

Also, we didn't launch the budget -- because we wanted to launch a budget -- without respect for the people of this province. This government started a new

process that is unique in the history of Ontario: We consulted the people of this province before we launched this budget. We went from city to city and town to town holding meetings. We listened

to the people of this province and what they were saying about tackling the deficit, about this budget, about how we can improve our life, how we can have a responsible government and good finances

in this province.

After listening to many speakers, many constituents, many people of this province, we learned a lot. We learned about the concerns of this province. They told

us they wanted good health care, good education, good social programs. They told us they wanted us to look after vulnerable people in this province. That's how the budget came about, to answer the

requests of the great people of this province.

Any government, any nation, won't grow, won't prosper, won't advance unless they have a good education system. Our education in this province was suffering

from a lot of problems: living in chaos, living in a war zone between parents and government, with a government that treated teachers like criminals. The three pillars of the education system were

in chaos. It was a war. There was no respect from government to teachers, from teachers to parents, from parents to teachers. It was a mess. It was chaos.

This budget answers the teachers' questions. I got a chance last week to go with the Honourable Chris Bentley, the Minister of Labour, to the Catholic board of

education in London. We listened to them and we announced the support this government is giving to the boards of education across this province. I listened to them. They said to us, "We're not

looking for money; we're looking for respect. It's about time this government placed respect before money." That's what we're delivering. We're talking about respect. We're talking about respecting

people who give their life and their time to educate our young children, to prepare this nation for the future. That's what this budget is all about: strengthening the education system and

strengthening our commitment to the people of this province.

One of the most important commitments we made before the election, and delivered after the election, was the 20 students per class from kindergarten to grade

3. It was very important to lower that class size to allow teachers to give a good and proper education to our young kids.

Also, I was reading in the paper last week about a school in St Thomas, a city beside London. The school is more than 100 years old and is collapsing. They

have no proper utilities, no proper classes. In the wintertime it's chaos because they have no heat, or the heat is just poorly distributed in this school. Also, in the summertime you cannot live.

It's like an oven. That's not the kind of facility we're looking for in this province. As the Minister of Finance said, we live in the richest province in North America. We deserve better

attention. That's why our government addressed this issue. We're going to deliver, to strengthen those schools and make sure they're equipped with the proper equipment to help our students learn

more and advance in this life.

Also, I had the honour to visit Fanshawe College with our Premier last week, to talk to the teachers, the educators and the administrators in that college. As

you know, Fanshawe College is one of the finest colleges in this province and delivers a very good education. But they were suffering from lack of support, lack of funding.

Mr John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): Did you fix that?

Mr Ramal: Definitely. We're working on it by creating good communication. When the Premier went to visit that school and listened to the

concerns of the administrators and the teachers, I think that was a very good step toward fixing that situation, and also pushing our students to apprenticeship, recognizing the economic future of

this province, to create talent and to create technical people fit for any growth in this future.

Let me tell you, from that visit, all the teachers and administrators were very happy. They were very pleased to listen to the Premier talking about his

commitment to the education system in this province. I thank them.

I'm honoured to have the chance to speak on this budget. Hopefully, by talking more about it, it becomes very clear to all the people in this province that

they can see the good in this budget. It will be the first time that people in this province work with the government in order to reconstruct our health care, our education system, our social

programs, and help us support the vulnerable people in this province.

Mr John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): I just want to say what a pleasure it is to stand in this Legislature today and speak in favour of Bill 83,

the centrepiece of the budget, the piece of legislation which is going to implement so many of its measures. I want to begin by publicly congratulating both the Minister of Finance and his

parliamentary assistant, the member from Eglinton-Lawrence, for the hard work they put into this budget.

Like all members of this House, I've had a chance to be in my constituency over the last week, not only to speak with people about the budget but also to read

the analysis in the newspaper and listen to the discussions on television and radio.

It's interesting that there are two views of this budget. One, which we heard today in question period -- and I anticipate some of my colleagues from the

Conservative Party will be raising this -- is the "gotcha" view of the budget. They say that in the campaign -- and this is correct -- we said that we had a plan we were going to implement without

asking Ontarians to pay more directly. Then our bud