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March 23, 2009

39th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2009-Mar-23 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 23 March 2009 Lundi 23 mars 2009

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBER

FOR HALIBURTON–KAWARTHA

LAKES—BROCK

SPEAKER'S RULING

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO ECONOMY

TAXATION

PROVINCIAL PURCHASING POLICY

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

TAXATION

CHILD CARE

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

ONTARIO BUDGET

PROTECTION FOR WORKERS

AFFAIRES FRANCOPHONES

HOSPITAL FUNDING

UNIVERSITY FUNDING

HEALTH CARE

PUBLIC TRANSIT

SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

WHITNEY BLOCK

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

DAYCARE

SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

EDUCATION FUNDING

DEADSTOCK INDUSTRY

OAKVILLE PROVINCIAL

ECONOMIC COUNCIL

ONTARIO BUDGET

LEADING WOMEN, BUILDING COMMUNITIES AWARD

DAVID BENNINGTON WEATHERHEAD

NOWRUZ

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONS ACT, 2009 /

LOI DE 2009

SUR LES PROFESSIONS COMPTABLES

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

PETITIONS

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

SALES TAX

PROPERTY TAXATION

ROUTE 17

HOSPITAL FUNDING

PROTECTION FOR MINERS

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY FRANCHISE

CHILD CARE

CHILD CUSTODY

HOSPITAL FUNDING

FIREARMS CONTROL

ASSISTANCE TO THE DISABLED

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT

(KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE

AT SCHOOL), 2009 /

LOI DE 2009 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L'ÉDUCATION

(SÉCURITÉ DE NOS ENFANTS

À L'ÉCOLE)

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Good morning. Please remain standing for the Lord's Prayer, followed by a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBER

FOR HALIBURTON—KAWARTHA

LAKES—BROCK

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the chief electoral officer and laid upon the table a certificate of the by-election in the electoral district of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): I have received a certificate of the by-election, addressed as follows:

"Mrs. Deborah Deller

"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

"Room 104

"Legislative Building

"Queen's Park

"Toronto, Ontario

"M7A 1A2

"Dear Mrs. Deller:

"A writ of election dated the 4th day of February 2009 was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Jerry Ford, returning officer for the electoral district of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Laurie Scott who, since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, has resigned her seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock on the 5th day of March 2009, Rick Johnson has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 16th day of March 2009, which is now lodged of record in my office.

"Greg Essensa

"Chief electoral officer

"Toronto, March 23, 2009."

Mr. Johnson was escorted into the chamber by Mr. McGuinty and Ms. Smith.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House, Rick Johnson, member-elect for the electoral district of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, who has taken the oath and signed the roll, and now claims the right to take his seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Let the honourable member take his seat.

SPEAKER'S RULING

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): On Wednesday, March 11, the member from Kitchener—Waterloo, Mrs. Witmer, rose on a point of order with respect to a transit shelter advertisement sponsored by the member from Toronto Centre, Mr. Smitherman, a topic that was also raised in that day's question period. The member from Kitchener—Waterloo asserted that the advertisement is inappropriate because it refers to features of a bill that is still before this House, a bill that the member for Toronto Centre is carrying in his capacity as Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and that the ad conveys the impression that it is presented by the government of Ontario.

While the member was not specific in her reasons for the latter assertion, a review of the ad and her remarks earlier that day in question period lead me to assume it is the appearance of the Ontario coat of arms that the member finds objectionable in this regard. The House leader for the third party, Mr. Kormos, contributed to the point by offering the view that as the piece promotes a policy of the government, it is partisan in nature and therefore runs afoul of the guidelines for acceptable, assembly-funded MPP communications to constituents.

How to address this has given me a bit of pause of thought. Approached from the perspective of communications funded by an MPP's budget, this would simply be an administrative matter of no concern to the House assembled. Simply put, the member for Kitchener—Waterloo does not have a valid point of order, for this matter impacts in no procedural way on the House.

However, the arguments relating to the references in the ad to a bill not yet passed by this House were more in the nature of a point of privilege, though it wasn't raised as such and proper notice was not given, in any event. Nevertheless, I undertook to review the issue and so will report to the House.

I have reviewed the advertisement very carefully, and let me say that the member for Toronto Centre's role as a minister of the crown should not prohibit him from communicating with his constituents on matters that fall within the purview of his ministerial responsibilities. Naturally, though, if he were doing so with his MPP budget, the communications must be neutral; otherwise, as the member for Welland put it, the "people across the road" may not remit payment for it.

With respect to the issue of the ad leaving the impression that it is presented by the government of Ontario, the ad does not refer to the member's ministerial role at all, and though many of his constituents would know he is the Minister of Energy, the ad does not convey it. The use of the provincial coat of arms is perfectly acceptable. I know that many members on both sides of the House use it in their householders, on their business cards, in various print communications to their constituents, on their websites and on their letterhead.

I will end by emphasizing the obvious and justifiable scrutiny that an MPP's communications must stand up to. Carefully erring on the side of probity and caution in these publications is most likely always the best course of action.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Peter Kormos: I want to introduce Brother Wayne Hanley, president, United Food and Commercial Workers; Brother Bob Linton, director of government relations and political action, United Food and Commercial Workers; and Brother Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I'm very pleased to be able to introduce a whole host of people who are here supporting Rick Johnson, our newest MPP. Rather than trying to get all the names that I don't know, I would like to point out that Terri Crawford, Rick's wife, is in the gallery. Trish Johnson, his daughter, and Michael, his son, are in the gallery, as are a host of other family members. Up in the public gallery we have a lot of family, friends and supporters, including Gail Anderson, who's the executive director of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. Rick has just finished being their past president.

Mr. Paul Miller: Today I'd like to introduce Sheila Alexander, from West Vancouver, who is visiting my executive assistant, Margo Duncan, both of whom are celebrating their birthdays today.

Hon. Jim Watson: I'd like to introduce in the gallery behind me, from the great community of Kingston, Paul Gerretsen.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO ECONOMY

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): It is now time for oral questions. The Leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition.

Applause.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Okay.

Applause.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Okay. You're cutting into my time. Thank you very much.

My question is to the Premier. With each passing day, Ontario keeps hitting milestones and, regrettably, all of them are bad. As reported in this weekend's Financial Post, and for the first time in 30 years, Ontario's jobless rate, at 8.7%, is higher than Quebec's. What's more alarming is that Ontario's unemployment rate is now higher than that in the United States. In the US, where the recession is said to have started, where the recession is expected to hit hardest, they have an unemployment rate that's lower than our province's. Premier, as leader of this province, do you accept any responsibility for these staggering figures?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the question and the enthusiasm which attended its delivery.

I think that Ontarians are on to the notion that what we are grappling with is global in nature. There was a report recently released by the UN saying that we're going to lose between 30 million and 40 million jobs globally as a result of this worldwide economic recession. That recession is affecting virtually every country, virtually every subnational jurisdiction, including the province of Ontario. We are not immune to its consequences. It is affecting our families; it is affecting our businesses. I will not deny that. But I will say that I think that Ontarians are on to the notion that it is very big, it is very broad, and it's affecting us on a worldwide basis.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: That sounded like, "My hands are clean." The sign on former US President Truman's desk read, "The buck stops here," but in this Premier's case, it might read, "Hey, don't look at me."

An economist at Laurentian Bank Securities says Ontario's unemployment rate is expected to hit 10% next year. That means Ontario families haven't seen the worst of this.

Premier, this Thursday, Ontarians are going to expect to see a plan that's going to get them back to work so they can provide for their families and have hope for their future. Will they see that, Premier, or is that something else you're not responsible for?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We look forward very much to presenting the budget in this Legislature. We have indicated in the past that we have two overriding objectives for our budget: One of those is to help Ontarians weather the storm today, and the other is to ready ourselves collectively for the recovery.

While there is considerable debate among economists as to when the recovery is going to take place, there is an overwhelming consensus that a recovery will come. We hope it comes sooner rather than later, but we believe there are specific things we can and must do to strengthen Ontarians, to strengthen our businesses so that we are better prepared to seize new opportunities in the face of that recovery.

One of the things that I just announced last week was more support, for example, for our children growing up in poverty in the province of Ontario. We are doubling the Ontario child benefit from $50 to $92 a month. That is going to have a significant impact in those households which have to struggle with poverty on a daily basis.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Given the government's performance over the past six years, I think Ontarians have every right to be skeptical about your ability to deliver long-term, sustainable jobs. The Premier's private sector job creation, his record sits at a paltry 2%.

A year ago, in the face of 230,000 manufacturing job losses, the Premier responded with a retraining program that has fewer than 5,000 people in it. I think we'd all describe that as inadequate.

Premier, this past weekend, a number of financial analysts suggested that given the economic crisis Ontario is in, this week's budget requires a complete about-face from your previous tax-and-spend agenda. Premier, will we see that about-face this Thursday? Are you capable of changing the disastrous course you've been on for the past six years?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We will do what is needed. We will do what is essential to better protect our families from the ravages of this recession, and at the same time, we will continue to invest in the kinds of initiatives that strengthen Ontarians and strengthen our businesses. It would be nice to know that at some point in time we'll have support from the opposition in this regard.

We are in the process of cutting our business taxes, for example, by $3 billion. The opposition opposes that.

We've invested billion and billions of dollars into infrastructure. We're building schools and roads and hospitals, hundreds of projects province-wide right now, employing nearly 100,000 Ontarians. The opposition does not support that.

We continue to invest in innovation. Ontarians are very creative, very innovative people. They're coming up with ideas that we want to commercialize, turn into new products, new services and new jobs for the future. Again, the opposition doesn't support those kinds of initiatives.

Our budget will continue to build on the strong foundation we have laid to date.

TAXATION

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Back to the Premier: The Premier clearly wants Ontarians to believe that he bears no responsibility for the staggering unemployment rate—not his fault—or that he bears no responsibility for the 25% drop in corporate and land transfer tax revenues.

But, as the Financial Post pointed out this weekend, in the last five years the Premier neglected Ontario's changing economic landscape, raised corporate taxes, slapped a health care levy on households, and to quote the Post, "helped cement Ontario as one of the least attractive places for companies to invest."

Premier, recently you said that government has to stop being a brake on businesses. If your words are not just rhetoric, does that mean that this Thursday's budget will finally see an end to the job-killing capital tax and a plan to speed up corporate tax reductions?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, one of the initiatives that we have put forward and have adopted as a government is a reduction in business taxes: $3 billion in cuts and rebates. We've eliminated the capital tax for manufacturers in the resource sector, retroactive to January 2007, and that meant $190 million in rebates for our businesses in those categories.

The opposition didn't support those tax cuts. Some days they tell us they are in favour of tax cuts, and other days they tell us they're in favour of more spending on hospitals and our schools. We've been consistent from the outset. It is very difficult from one day to the next, in fact, if we pay close attention, sometimes from one question to the next, when it comes to the opposition, to know where they are coming from. Do they want us to spend more or cut more in taxes? It's hard to determine from one question to the next.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Again, the Premier's record truly speaks for itself. His government has increased spending by a staggering 48%. He has maintained taxes on job-creating new investment at 35%—that's 6% above the national average and ninth highest in the world. Even with a three-point drop projected for 2012, taxes on new investment will still be the highest in Canada. Jobs have disappeared because it was cheaper for businesses to close up and relocate outside of this province.

Premier, will you show that actions match words, set things right in this week's budget, follow the lead of your New Brunswick counterpart, and commit to making Ontario's business taxes competitive with other jurisdictions?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, we're trying to bring a balanced approach on this side of the House. We have been cutting taxes, but when we do that, we don't get the support of the opposition.

They tell us that we should have only spent at the rate of inflation. If we were to have adopted the approach that they are now advocating, that we should only have raised our investments, our new expenditures, at the rate of inflation, we would have spent $17 billion less. That would have meant that, in health care, we'd have 10,000 fewer nurses today, we'd have 1,794 fewer doctors today, we'd have no family health teams—that means 200,000 fewer patients being seen—and we'd certainly have no new nurse-practitioner-led clinics. That's what they are advocating.

They like to play with numbers, but they don't like to talk about the consequences on people. Over here we bring a balanced, thoughtful approach. We continue to cut taxes, we continue to invest in the services—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Premier. Final supplementary.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: What you're really doing is putting Ontario in a dreadful position for the future.

Analysts and economists all agree that it's time for you to get the fundamentals right in order to get Ontario's economy back on track. Business taxes that attract job-creating investments provide the wealth that pays for the services that Ontarians rely upon, and with high taxes, Premier, you've chased away businesses that provided long-term private sector jobs. In effect, you've put hundreds of thousands of Ontarians out of work by your policies. As a result, tax revenues are way down, and you have to take out an $18-billion mortgage on Ontario's future just to pay for basic services.

Premier, to a significant degree you have put yourself in this box, and Ontario families are paying the price. Will you ensure that this week's budget doesn't make Ontarians suffer even more?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Speaker, they are just trotting the same old one-trick pony out of the barn once again: "Business tax cuts will solve everything." We just don't see it that way. We're bringing a balanced approach.

We have cut business taxes. We continue to cut business taxes, to the tune of $3 billion.

We continue to invest billions and billions into infrastructure because we think it's important to invest in new schools, new roads and new hospitals. Our plan, just recently announced, was to invest $1.2 billion more, together with the federal government, in social housing and affordable housing in the province of Ontario. We think that's a real priority for families struggling with poverty. We continue to support innovation: Witness our new $250-million emerging technologies fund. We continue to partner with businesses, including in the auto sector, and we continue to invest in the skills and education of our people.

That's a balanced, thoughtful, progressive, comprehensive approach which stands in stark contrast to their one-trick pony.

PROVINCIAL PURCHASING POLICY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: To the Premier: Municipalities across Ontario are implementing buy-Ontario policies as a way of sustaining jobs and reviving their local economies. Gary McNamara, the mayor of Tecumseh, said this about his town's decision: "This is something that is important for our community. We buy Tecumseh, we buy Windsor, we buy Essex, we buy Ontario, we buy Canada. It's not difficult for us to put it in writing."

Apparently, though, for this government it is difficult to put in writing; otherwise, we wouldn't have Ontario flags and MTO uniforms manufactured overseas. So instead of letting Ontario tax dollars create jobs elsewhere, will this Premier commit to buy-Ontario legislation in this week's budget?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I know that my honourable colleague raises an important issue, and it's been the subject of much debate. Not only here in Ontario and in other provinces but indeed in many parts of the world now, people are wondering what they can do to better support their domestic economies. I think that we all have a responsibility to see where we can do that in a reasonable way.

But I just want to remind my colleagues that there aren't many places that are as trade-dependent as we are here in the province of Ontario. I mentioned late last week that when I was travelling, for example, to China, I was promoting our BlackBerry. What I was really promoting was the thousands of jobs connected with that BlackBerry. I was promoting Ontario icewine, for example, as well.

I know that we need to do as much as we possibly can to promote Ontarian products and Canadian products, but at the same time, I wouldn't want to go so far as to compromise our ability to continue to trade with the world, because there are so many Ontario families that depend for their livelihood on that trade.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier knows that investing in infrastructure is key to sustaining jobs in Ontario. It takes a staggering 60 minutes or more for a one-way commute from Hamilton to Toronto. That leaves working parents with less time to spend with their kids. It's clear that Thursday's budget must make significant infrastructure investments, investments that are going to create good, long-term manufacturing jobs in this province.

A 50% buy-Ontario policy for transit coupled with strategic investments could transform Ontario's economy, from north to south, into a global hub for light rail systems. Why won't the Premier commit to a 50% buy-Ontario transit policy so that infrastructure investments also help to reinvigorate our struggling manufacturing sector in this province?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My honourable colleague makes reference to 50%, but we've actually settled on 82%. That's the amount of funding, when it comes to our public transit projects, that's translated into Ontario-based economic activity. We're proud of the stimulus that we've injected into the economy, and obviously we've indicated that we'll have to do more with our budget.

One billion dollars in infrastructure for our smaller communities was something we announced recently, together with the federal government. Together with Prime Minister Harper, I had the opportunity to make this announcement: $500 million for GO Transit improvements. I just announced that a couple of weeks ago. There will be more to come in that regard. We're going to do more, together with the federal government, to stimulate the economy. This creates jobs on a short-term basis, exactly when they are needed, but that kind of infrastructure also has the long-term benefit of enhancing our economic productivity.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier knows very well that his 82% number talks about construction, and of course those jobs are going to be Ontario jobs. I'm talking about the manufacturing of the components that rail systems are made from, and he knows I'm talking about that.

Ontario has the skills and the industries to support a light rail strategy. Manufacturing powerhouses exist in Thunder Bay, Windsor, Oshawa, Niagara and Toronto. High-quality steel is manufactured in Sault Ste. Marie and Hamilton, plastics in Sarnia.

Infrastructure spending and deficits won't automatically lift us out of one of Ontario's worst recessions, and I think the Premier knows that. We need an Ontario plan for long-term growth in this province. We can make Ontario a light rail hub by building on the capacities that already exist here, making strategic investments and tying a buy-Ontario policy to new infrastructure spending in this province.

Why won't this Premier commit to a real 50% buy-Ontario—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, this is not unlike the kind of debate that's taking place in many other parts of the world, and I understand where the honourable member is coming from. Our number is 82%. We won't back away from 82%. That's how much of the money is actually going to translate into economic activity in the province of Ontario, how much is spent when it comes to our investments in new public transit.

I want to reassure Ontarians on another score: 95% of our almost 45,000 government suppliers are located in the province of Ontario. That's another number for us to keep in mind. Again, it's not 50%; it's 95%. We'll do as much as we reasonably can to invest Ontario dollars inside the province of Ontario without compromising our ability to continue to trade with the rest of the world, upon which so many Ontario families are very much reliant.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Again to the Premier: Today marks the 37th anniversary of Canada's ratification of the International Labour Organization's convention 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize. This convention states that collective bargaining should be a fundamental right in every corner of the world, and we've signed on to it.

Today, United Food and Commercial Workers of Canada will be filing a formal complaint against this government with the ILO to protest its failure to pass legislation guaranteeing farm workers the right to bargain collectively in this province. Why has this government defied an international body and refused to give farm workers the right to bargain collectively in Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: The honourable member would know that at this point in time, this very issue is before the courts, so that would prevent me from making any comment on the particulars that she has asked about.

What I can say is that this government, I believe, has a very solid record in terms of valuing the work of farmers and those who work on farms; they provide us with the very best-quality, safest food in the province of Ontario. We have done and we'll continue to work with that sector to ensure that it's a viable, strong industry going forward. It's the industry that feeds our people. It's the industry that we have worked with, and we'll continue to do so.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The minister knows very well that the only reason it's before the courts is because this government is dragging it before the courts once again instead of doing the right thing by farm workers in this province.

Here are the facts—and it's interesting that we choose the Minister of Agriculture as opposed to the Minister of Labour when this is a labour issue: The complaint charges that Ontario's ban on agricultural unions violates the human and constitutional rights of Ontario agricultural workers. In other words, your government is denying thousands of Ontario agricultural workers the fundamental right granted to farm workers in most other advanced jurisdictions around the world. Why is this government denying a fundamental right to some of Ontario's most exploited and vulnerable workers?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: To the Minister of Labour.

Hon. Peter Fonseca: I want to thank the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The health and safety of all Ontario workers is our number one priority. What I can tell the honourable member is that our government extended occupational health and safety to our farm operations. This was our government that brought that forward.

Yes, there is an appeal, and it's around ensuring that farm workers are safe, are protected and are being treated fairly, and that's what our government has done. We have listened. We have worked with farmers. We have worked with farm workers. I acknowledge that the UFCW is here today. I have met with—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: One of the best guarantees for a safe workplace is a strong union that's looking after the back of the worker. I'll let the minister know that.

Today's ILO complaint follows a November 2008 decision by the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and everybody across the way knows it. That court ruled unequivocally that Ontario legislation that prevents farm workers from unionizing is unconstitutional and it ordered the Ontario government to change the legislation within 12 months. Instead, the Ontario government has applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada to review the decision. Why does this government continue to do everything within its powers to deny a basic right to some of the most exploited and vulnerable workers in this province?

Hon. Peter Fonseca: As I said to the member, our number one highest priority is the health and safety of all Ontario workers, including our farm workers. That's why our government extended the Occupational Health and Safety Act to farming operations.

Also, I want to say to the member that the Ontario government believes that the Court of Appeal's decision raises issues that should be considered by the Supreme Court of Canada. So we feel that these issues need to be looked at. The Supreme Court will be able to do that.

As I say to the member, this government continues to meet with labour groups. I've had all the labour groups in my office. We've had discussions. We meet with farmers and farm operations. We want to ensure the greatest health and safety for all our workers.

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: A question to the Premier: While other provinces have acted to help create jobs and assist families during these tough economic times, Dalton McGuinty seems absolutely paralyzed in the face of economic crisis. Working Ontario families have given up to $2,000 more per year in higher taxes, user fees and energy costs. What did they get in return? Record job losses and massive provincial deficits.

Last week, Liberal Premier Shawn Graham of New Brunswick announced some of the biggest tax cuts in the province's history to put more money in working families' pockets and to stimulate job creation. Premier, on Thursday, will you finally do the same?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the question. It's passing strange that the honourable member is telling us that he wants us to cut business taxes, but when we've been cutting them by $3 billion, he has failed to offer his support in that regard.

I think the member has made it clear, though, of late in particular, that he does not believe that we should have made investments in new nurses in the province of Ontario, he does not believe that we should have made investments in hiring more teachers in the province of Ontario, he does not support reduction of wait times in the province of Ontario, and he does not support the investments we made in new water inspectors and meat inspectors and those kinds of things which our families absolutely have to be able to count on.

We're bringing a thoughtful, balanced, comprehensive approach. We will continue to find ways to support businesses and to support our families at the same time.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: While Premier McGuinty stands paralyzed, this is what Finance Minister Boudreau in New Brunswick said: "This plan will leave more money in the pockets of New Brunswickers.... It will help ... companies stay in the province to grow and attract outside investment, and help create meaningful jobs for our children to ... work right here in our province." There's nothing of that kind from Dalton McGuinty. In fact, what is the McGuinty record? It's 300,000 manufacturing job losses, runaway deficits—and, sir, under your watch, you have turned Ontario into a have-not province. What passes for an economic plan has been a spectacular failure in the province of Ontario.

Premier, it's time to chart a new course. Will you follow the example of New Brunswick and other provinces and what the Ontario PCs have called for to stimulate job creation in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It's the same old story, it's the same old movie, it's the one-trick pony. There is a utopia; there is a magic elixir; there is a silver bullet. Pick your favourite metaphor; they're all to be found in simply cutting business taxes. That's all we have to do.

The other part of the story they don't like to talk about is the corresponding cuts to health care, cuts to education, cuts to environmental protections, and cuts to support for our most vulnerable Ontario families. We've seen that movie before; we don't want a rerun.

We will continue to move forward with a thoughtful, balanced, comprehensive, progressive approach. We'll find a way to support the economy and support our families at the same time.

CHILD CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: To the Premier: Today the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care members are delivering thousands of petitions from across the province directly to the Minister of Finance, calling for an increase in child care funding. Shamefully, only 12% of Ontario families have access to licensed child care. Without additional funding in Thursday's budget, at least 22,000 child care spaces are on the chopping block in this province.

What does the Premier have to say to those tens of thousands of parents and concerned Ontarians who signed those petitions, pleading for better child care in this province?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think the leader of the third party knows that this is a party that is absolutely committed to giving kids the best start in life. Since we were elected in 2003, we've increased the number of child care spaces by 22,000. That is despite the federal government slashing the early learning and child care agreement.

We are calling upon the federal government to restore funding for child care because it is a very important component of the well-being of our children. We would welcome support from all members of this House to encourage the federal government to get back into child care. We need them at the table.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Shame on the minister for not acknowledging that child care is a provincial responsibility. What happened to their $300-million promise on child care?

Ontarians still need adequate, affordable, not-for-profit, licensed child care in this province. The child benefit that they've announced recently—and congratulations on that—took so long to get here, didn't it? But that's not going to bring child care spaces into the province. That's what your obligation is as a minister.

The number of spaces in this province is woefully short already on what is needed and what is necessary to provide the services for families and kids. Child care is an economic necessity so that parents can go to work or they can go to school. Will the Premier treat it as such and commit the minimum $300 million in new money for child care in this Thursday's budget?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I suspect that the member understands that the budget is on Thursday and I certainly am not going to be speaking to what's in the budget today. So we are going to have to wait.

But let's keep this in perspective. We are working very hard to sustain the spaces that we have created. It's very important. At the same time, we are moving forward on full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds. That's going to make a remarkable difference for families and kids in this province. So as we work with the federal government to get them reinvesting their money here, we will continue to fund.

Just for your information, I think it's important that people understand what we're talking about. We spend, in this province, $869 million on child care; $63.5 million is what we are fighting to get from the federal government. So we are concerned, we are working hard, but let's not be alarmist about the numbers that we're talking about.

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

Mr. Rick Johnson: My question today is for the Minister of Transportation. Minister, I recently had the opportunity to travel in my riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock fairly thoroughly. In those travels I had the chance to meet thousands of constituents. I spoke with them and heard from them about what they think this government is doing right and where they have concerns. Transportation is a topic that arose often, from the desire to have more public transit to requests for further improvements to roads and bridges in the area.

I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation about transportation issues in my riding, specifically about Highway 35. Four-laning Highway 35 is something we have seen in the books for years. It is an important economic link for those in Lindsay, Pontypool and surrounding municipalities. I've heard from my constituents that this is something that they want to see happen and happen soon. I'm wondering why it is taking so long to move forward with the four-laning of Highway 35 from Highway 115 to Lindsay, and I'm hoping the minister can share with this House the next steps in moving forward on this project.

Hon. James J. Bradley: I thank the member for his question. He has met with me on this matter and other important matters already. He will know that I've also met with the local municipalities that he represents at this time.

Everyone agrees, I think, that the improvements to Highway 35 are important to those living in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock. That is why the ministry completed what we call a transportation environmental study report, which was made available for public review. I've spoken with the staff on this matter, and I'm pleased to tell the newest member of the House that any outstanding concerns raised have been resolved. We're looking forward to the release of an addendum to the TESR in the coming weeks. It'll be made available for public review within 45 days.

Public consultation will continue to play a vital role as we move forward with this extremely important project that the member has brought—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Johnson: I would like to thank the minister for his answer. I will let the constituents of my riding know that there's some opportunity for public comment when the addendum is made available. Improvements to Highway 35 will help with alleviating congestion in the area, both from local residents driving to and from work and from the many tourists who visit our beautiful riding throughout all seasons of the year.

While it's important to continue with improvements to roads, I know that it is also a priority of this government to get people onto public transit. It's important that people have the opportunity to change their travel behaviours and be encouraged to use things like public transit and carpooling to do so. I understand that this government is invested in my riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock to do just that.

I was hoping that the Minister of Transportation can share with the House and with the constituents of my riding some of the details of the proposed four-laning of Highway 35, as well as what else the ministry has done to improve transportation throughout Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

Hon. James J. Bradley: That's an excellent question. The Ministry of Transportation staff, as the member will know, have worked hard to listen to the residents' concerns when it comes to the improvements to Highway 35.

The plan includes the following:

—four-laning;

—10 new interchanges;

—interchange improvements at Highway 35/115;

—realignment of Highway 7A to connect with Highway 35; and

—a service road network that facilitates continuous movement.

Public transit is also a priority, as the member appropriately points out. He'll be pleased to know his riding has benefited from our commitment to increasing and improving public transit. Recently, Haliburton was the recipient of a transportation demand-management grant for almost $32,000 for building capacity for active transportation, and Kawartha Lakes recently received their fifth instalment of gas tax funding, for a total of $2.6 million since the—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister. New question.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Premier. Last week in Ottawa, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing consciously and deliberately leaked privileged budget information when he announced over $600 million of new social spending. Does the Premier condone and did he authorize this wanton breach of budget secrecy?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: First of all, I want to begin by assuring and reassuring members of the Conservative Party, in particular, that the budget will be presented in this Legislature. I want to provide that level of comfort.

I also want to say that we are proud to work with the federal government to invest together $1.2 billion in repairs to some 50,000 social housing units. At the same time, we're going to invest in building some 4,500 new, affordable housing units, which we think is great news, especially for families who are struggling to get ahead, finding it particularly challenging at this point in time, given this worldwide recession. We think it's important news, and we're proud to have gotten it out to Ontarians, who know it's on the way.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Arnott: What's at issue here is not the merit of any particular program or line item in the budget; it is instead the parliamentary convention of budget secrecy. That convention is based on two important principles: First, no one should have privileged access to budgetary information in advance of the budget such that they're in a position to gain financially from that information. Second, it is a matter of courtesy and respect for this institution that all important announcements be made here first.

It follows that members of the Legislature, assembled together, should be the first to hear the contents of the budget and respond on behalf of their constituents. This is our fundamental role as an elected Legislature, which is being usurped by the government's deliberate strategy to leak budget information to its own political advantage.

Will the Premier commit to this House that there will be no further breaches of budgetary secrecy?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Jim Watson: I was very proud to be at 20 Rochester Street talking about this government's track record in supporting affordable housing in the province of Ontario—a stark contrast to the sad story of the Conservative Party, who shut down housing projects throughout the city of Ottawa and throughout the province of Ontario.

Let me just read you from Jo-Anne Poirier, the CEO of Ottawa Community Housing, who said, "The province is opening its wallet once again, supporting its commitment to improve the quality of life for the residents of social housing and assisting in the sustainability of Ontario's housing infrastructure…. 'We see this as a significant advancement and very welcome news.'"

We're not turning our backs on some of the most vulnerable people in our community, and we were proud to stand with housing leaders from across Ontario and announce that we're investing in affordable housing in the province of Ontario.

PROTECTION FOR WORKERS

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Labour. More evidence emerged last week of exploitive recruitment practices of foreign workers, specifically of vulnerable foreign women workers, under the live-in caregiver program. This has highlighted a desperate need for action. Will the Minister of Labour take immediate steps to protect these workers?

Hon. Peter Fonseca: I'll let the member know that on this file, I've met with the Undersecretary of Labour of the Philippines, and I've met with Alejandro Mosquera, the Consul General of the Philippines, here in Ontario.

This is a very complex issue. It is the responsibility of the federal government with the live-in caregiver program. I've imparted to Minister Kenney that they should look at making amendments to this program to safeguard those workers. I will continue to do that. I know that Minister Chan has done the same. We want to ensure that those workers are protected. But this is the responsibility of the federal government. We do not want a patchwork across the country. We want the federal government to take an umbrella approach to—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: The Minister of Labour should know that employment standards is a provincial matter. It's his responsibility to act. In fact, Manitoba has acted. On April 1, Manitoba's Worker Recruitment and Protection Act will come into full effect. Among its provisions, the act will improve protection for foreign workers by prohibiting recruiters and employers from collecting fees from workers, require employers involved in international recruitment to register with the province, and require new provincial licences for agencies and individuals, because licensing is also a provincial responsibility.

Ontario can do this too. It is within the reach of Bill 139. You could do this, Minister, simply by making amendments to Bill 139. Will the minister make the necessary amendments?

Hon. Peter Fonseca: I can say to the member that she's right on one thing. Yes, the Employment Standards Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act do cover all those workers in Ontario. They are covered. This Friday, I met with the reporters at the Toronto Star who have done those pieces. I talked to Rob Cribb. I spoke to Dale Brazao. I explained to them that those workers are covered. We asked those workers, if they are in precarious situations, to call our employment standards, to call our inspectors. We want to ensure that they are protected.

But to the member, again, this is a federal program. The live-in caregiver program is a federal program. Minister Kenney, I understand, is bringing forward some amendments in the next two weeks. We hope those amendments will help ensure the protection of those workers.

AFFAIRES FRANCOPHONES

M. Phil McNeely: Ma question est pour la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones.

L'année prochaine, Orléans va célébrer son 150 e anniversaire. Je soutiens fièrement la communauté francophone de ma circonscription, et en tant que francophile convaincu, je crois que cet anniversaire sera une date importante pour toute la francophonie ontarienne.

Madame la ministre, pouvez-vous me dire de quelle manière—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

M. Phil McNeely: —d'organismes culturels comme le MIFO soutiennent l'expression—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister.

L'hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Je voudrais remercier le député d'Ottawa—Orléans pour son soutien de la francophonie ontarienne.

De plus, je suis très fière d'avoir eu l'occasion de réaffirmer la position de notre gouvernement à l'occasion des audiences du CRTC en janvier dernier sur l'importance des médias francophones dans l'épanouissement culturel de notre communauté. De plus, nous avons fait un grand pas lorsque nous avons donné l'indépendance à TFO—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Merci. Supplementary?

M. Phil McNeely: Je suis heureux d'entendre que le gouvernement participe activement à la protection et à la promotion de la culture francophone à Orléans et dans toute la province.

Comme vous le voyez, notre gouvernement a dit qu'il allait agir, et il a agi—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Merci. New question.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: My question is to the Premier. According to Dr. Michael Lawrie, president of the medical staff at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, the hospital is "sadly underfunded." Yesterday, my colleague Gerry Martiniuk and I, along with 500 people, attended a rally, and these people said that they agree with the doctor. They are demanding that your government not only give them fair funding for their hospital in a fast-growing community, but that you not cut oncology, pediatrics and obstetrics.

Premier, you told the federal government you need more health care; you need to share it equally. You now have more funding. Will you also share with Ontarians and give Cambridge Memorial Hospital its fair share—about $280 more per resident—and protect their hospital services?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the question from my honourable colleague, and I'll speak to it momentarily, but in passing, I would recommend that she speak to her colleague Mr. Hudak, who says that we've invested too much in the course of the past five years in health care generally.

Just by way of specific contrast, we've increased funding for hospitals in Waterloo by 24%. Her colleague says we shouldn't have gone beyond 10.3%, just so we're clear on that score. We've increased funding for St. Mary's hospital by 31%, Grand River Hospital by 30%, Cambridge hospital by 16%, and $8 million invested in the region to reduce wait times specifically, which is working in a number of ways. We have come to the table, and I assume from the basis of the question that my colleague is asking us, in the coming budget, to make sure we continue to invest in health care for Ontario families.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk: What happened to Cambridge and the half million citizens of Waterloo region, one of the fastest-growing areas in Ontario? We have been forgotten. Not one cent for fast-growth funding in Grand River Hospital—not a cent—not one cent for fast-growth funding in Cambridge and only a pittance for St. Mary's in cardiac care.

Cambridge's hospital was ordered to be expanded 10 years ago. John Milloy, on behalf of George Smitherman, put a shovel in the ground on December 21, 2005, and not a thing has happened since. The feds gave you almost half a billion in new health dollars. Giving you money like that is a waste of time; they might as well have given it to AIG. Stop playing politics with the lives of the people of our region. When will the expansion of Cambridge Memorial Hospital be built?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the passion, but I wonder where it was when the member sat in government and when the government of the day cut funding to health care in the province of Ontario.

Again, when it comes to the community—Waterloo health care—we have increased funding for St. Mary's hospital by 31%, Grand River Hospital by 30%, Cambridge Memorial Hospital by 16%. The community is now home to nine family health teams serving 183,000 patients.

I take it from the member's question, once again, that he's asking us to ensure that our budget includes more supports for our families, more supports for their schools, more supports for their health care. At the beginning of question period, they asked us to do one thing alone, which is to cut taxes for business. I want them to know—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Premier. New question.

UNIVERSITY FUNDING

Mr. Rosario Marchese: A question to the Minister of Training: Despite the fact that the Premier himself has aligned the economic recovery of this province with the knowledge economy, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations report released today shows that our universities are in serious trouble. The report confirms what we've been saying for a long time: oversubscribed courses without enough seats for students, larger classes, classes folded into other classes when faculty members retire, fewer full-time professors, less student-faculty interaction, fewer labs and individualized assignments.

When will you pull Ontario out of the cellar in terms of funding and allow our universities to lead us into the knowledge economy and out of the current recession?

Let the statistics speak for themselves: Operating funding at colleges and universities has increased by 57% since 2003. On the infrastructure front, on my watch alone, this mandate, since 2007, we have invested nearly $1 billion in terms of upgrading—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: Just once, I want to see you stand up and say we are not number 10 any longer. Then your numbers and your stats would mean something, because they don't at the moment.

Based on the polling of 2,000 faculty members and librarians, this report states: "The continued neglect of our universities through swelling classes, detrimental hiring practices, and deteriorating facilities will prove disastrous to our province's ability to provide quality education and deliver a strong research capacity."

If your ministry is not prepared to lead us into the knowledge economy, who will?

Hon. John Milloy: For once I would like that honourable member to stand up and admit what everyone in this Legislature knows, which is that Ontario has one of the finest post-secondary education systems in the world.

Last year, over 37,000 students from around the world chose Ontario universities.

Let me tell the member a few facts about the Ontario system. Two of Ontario's universities scored within the top 100 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Five of the world's top 200 universities, according to the Times Higher Education Supplement, are from Ontario. The University of Toronto, which the honourable member helps represent, and the University of Waterloo, made Newsweek's top 100 global universities index. York University's Schulich School of Business is ranked first among Canadian business schools and ranks eighth in the world for financial services.

We continue to make post—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. The member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan.

HEALTH CARE

Mr. Bill Mauro: My question is for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

In my community and communities across Ontario, health care is a key issue. My constituents want to know that are we doing everything we can to ensure that their families have access to quality health care. In these times of economic challenges, people are anxious to know that the public institutions they have come to rely on will continue to serve them well.

In order for our health care system to continue to thrive, the government must ensure that an adequate supply of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are being trained to meet increasing demand. I often hear from constituents who do not have a family doctor or access to a primary health care provider.

Speaker, through you to the minister, can you tell me what are you doing to ensure that Ontario's families have access to doctors and nurses in their communities?

Hon. John Milloy: I thank the honourable member for the question and for his advocacy on behalf of this important issue. The post-secondary education system has been expanded to allow for the training of more doctors and nurses under our watch. In fact, we've increased the number of first-year medical spaces by 160 new spots since 2004. We've also expanded medical education to bring it closer to more communities, supporting the creation of four new undergraduate satellite medical campuses in St. Catharines, Waterloo region, Windsor and Mississauga.

We're also taking steps to train more nurses. Last year our government provided colleges and universities with over $81 million to support nursing degree programs in Ontario. This helped over 3,700 new full-time entrants enrol in nursing degree programs.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Bill Mauro: In northern Ontario, we face unique challenges when it comes to training and recruiting health care professionals. Studies show that students are more likely to stay and practice where they study. That is why my community was delighted by the news that Thunder Bay would be home to a new campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, more commonly known as NOSM. I can recall clearly the decision by the government of the day not to award a campus for the medical school to Thunder Bay.

It was a fantastic effort on the part of many people in our community that ultimately forced the change in the publicly announced decision that only Sudbury would be home to Ontario's newest medical school. NOSM will play a pivotal role in encouraging more doctors to practise and settle in Thunder Bay, Sudbury and elsewhere in the north.

Minister, you know NOSM has just passed its fourth anniversary. Could you please update us on the progress made by NOSM so far?

Hon. John Milloy: I congratulate the member for the support that he has offered and that of his community for NOSM. I'm pleased to report to the Legislature that last week, NOSM was granted full accreditation by the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. These two organizations work together to set, maintain and improve the standards for undergraduate medical education at all Canadian medical schools. Receiving full accreditation for NOSM's MD program is the final step in a multi-year process aimed at ensuring the school meets all the required standards.

Accreditation is yet another milestone in a year of many for NOSM. This spring, the school will celebrate its first graduation of medical school undergraduates and the completion of the first group of family medicine residents from the family medicine residents of the Canadian Shield program.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Frank Klees: To the Minister of Transportation: At a time when people can least afford it, two of the largest providers of public transit in this province are hiking fees for commuters. The TTC is slapping a new parking fee on Metropass holders that will translate into a increased cost of some $1,400 a year. GO Transit hit its riders with a fare increase this month. Surely, the minister agrees that these increases couldn't come at a worse time.

My question to the minister is this: Why does he remain silent, as the Minister of Transportation, on these fare increases? And will he step in to ensure that, at this time, not only will those fare increases contradict his government's stated policy of expanding public transit and protecting consumers—

Hon. James J. Bradley: Of course, I say to the member, you know that an unprecedented amount of money is being invested in GO Transit services and all public transit services in this province. He will recall when the government, of which he was a part, cut funding completely. For three years, I believe it was, there was absolutely no capital funding that came from the Conservative government. They totally abandoned—I know he spoke against it; I know that, secretly, he spoke against it—any expenditures on GO Transit in terms of capital. It was down to a measly $30 million, measly in terms of what we expend today on GO Transit in terms of operating.

In order to be able to ensure that we are going to have vast improvements taking place, we have those who use it contributing and the general taxpayers contributing. So I guess this is a spend question, because he would like the government—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?

Mr. Frank Klees: Actually, it's not a spend question at all; it is an accountability question. What I'm asking the Minister of Transportation to do, which I know he can do if he chooses to, is to hold both GO Transit and the TTC accountable for how they're spending the money that is transferred to them by the province. What he should be doing as the Minister of Transportation is saying to GO Transit and to the TTC, "At this point in time, with the economy what it is, we cannot download additional costs on commuters," and they should look to their own budgets, balance them and deliver efficient service without downloading it on commuters.

Interjection: The duke.

Hon. James J. Bradley: As my colleague says, you were part of a government that was the duke of downloading, as far as municipalities were concerned.

I know on one hand that the member legitimately asks, as do his colleagues, that we improve GO service in the province of Ontario, that we undertake major projects to get out of the traffic jams we're in at the present time. I agree with him, whenever he or his colleagues ask that. What it requires is an investment both on the part of the general public—and that's why I say it's a spend question in this particular case, because he's implying that the general taxpayer should pay more and more—but also, a contribution is asked from those who actually use the system.

I know that the member would never want to see a diminishing of GO service. He'll be supporting our vast expansion of it and he's happy, I'm sure, that the provincial government is back in the public transit business.

SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

Mr. Paul Miller: My question is to the Premier. Last week I travelled to Windsor to support Aradco and Aramco workers, whose plants had recently closed. They were forced to lock themselves in their plant to protest the fact that they did not receive the back pay, vacation pay and severance pay they were owed. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to pass my Bill 6, the legislation I introduced in December 2007, which would create a fund to provide laid-off workers monies owed if their company went under.

While they eventually reached a deal, they only received about eight weeks' vacation pay, a lot less than the $1.5 million they were owed. This would never have happened if this government had passed Bill 6, or even dealt with it. Why won't this government pass Bill 6?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Labour.

Hon. Peter Fonseca: I'm not sure if the member is aware of this, but he should be aware of this. This province, the province of Ontario, has the best severance protections in the whole country. My predecessors and I have written to Minister Blackburn and we have written to Minister Ambrose about the wage earner protection program. We continue to advocate to include termination severance. They have done that. We've asked them to ensure that it rolls back to when they brought forward the wage earner protection program, and that was July 2008.

This Premier has continued to advocate for fairness when it comes to Ontario workers and employment insurance. Ontario workers should—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister.

There being no deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1143 to 1300.

WHITNEY BLOCK

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Before we move to introduction of guests, we're having some difficulties with the bells working over in the Whitney Block right now. We're attempting to correct that. So I would just say to the members who are here and the others who may be back in their offices, and to their staff as well, that in the event of any division, I would hope that you'll be watching the televisions closely today. Hopefully, the bells will be working in Whitney tomorrow, but I will keep you informed.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I'm delighted to welcome Merv Hillier, Katharine Harvey, Angie Brennand and Sharon Armstrong from the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario; Ted Wigdor from the Certified General Accountants of Ontario; and Tom Warner and Chris May from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. Welcome.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

DAYCARE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: When is this government going to keep its promise to the Treasure Island Daycare Centre?

In a January 28 letter, Minister Matthews states: "I appreciate the urgency of your funding requests and recognize the difficulty you face in having to relocate your child care centre from the OPP headquarters in Orillia. However, given the unique situation you face, our government will work with you to ensure there is adequate funding available to help Treasure Island and the families and children you serve move smoothly into a new site, based on its detailed business plan." That was two months ago.

Today, I got another letter from Scott Beaumont, the chairman of the board of Treasure Island Daycare Centre. He says, "It is with great urgency that we, the board of directors of Treasure Island Daycare Centre, appeal to you for financial support for our relocation project. Despite the commitment you made to assist Treasure Island in your January 28 letter, funding has not been confirmed."

There are a number of reasons they add here.

In conclusion he says, "Every family needs to feel secure in their child care arrangements. Every employee needs to feel secure that their job will be there tomorrow. I urge you to act without delay and provide funding to support Treasure Island's relocation proposal."

It is your OPP, it is your Ontario Realty Corp., it is your Ministry of Children and Youth Services. I want the government to commit today to resolve the crisis that they have created at the Treasure Island Daycare Centre in Orillia. People should not be suffering for the mistakes made by this government.

SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

Mr. Paul Miller: On Saturday, I participated in a Hamilton rally to protest the inaction of the federal and provincial governments in the face of layoffs and the current economic crisis. The rally saw 2,000 people meet at the convention centre and march through downtown to the federal building.

It is unacceptable that the McGuinty government does nothing while thousands of Ontarians lose their jobs. Many people at the rally were former Stelco-US Steel workers who are now unsure of how they will manage to pay for their mortgages and how they will afford to send their kids to college.

Similarly, laid-off workers in Windsor had a rally last week to demand payment of their vacation and severance pay. They have still only been guaranteed a fraction of what they are owed—and they had to actually occupy the plant to get attention.

The government should listen to the demands of these workers. They need an immediate influx of stimulus for infrastructure projects in Hamilton and Windsor and many other areas of Ontario. They need the government to stop the erosion of our base industries.

Ontario workers deserve Bill 6, to protect the vacation and severance pay that they have worked long and hard over the course of a lifetime to earn.

As Saturday's rally showed, workers from across the province are demanding legislation to protect them. It is time for this government to start listening.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

Applause.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Rick Johnson: Ontarians know that education is a key builder of both strong citizens and a strong economy. That's why it gives me great pleasure, as the former chair of the Trillium Lakelands District School Board in the riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, to stand in appreciation of this government's dedication to our children's future.

The McGuinty Liberals are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential. I have seen this commitment first-hand in our schools and in my community.

We have been working hard for Ontario's students, and the results are already showing. Overall education funding has increased by almost 32% to the school boards that collectively serve my riding. This means more money for special education, transportation services and language programs.

We have hired more primary school teachers, more library staff and additional educational support staff, reducing class sizes and ensuring that each student gets the attention and resources needed to succeed.

Funding through our safe schools strategy is helping to provide a safe learning environment for all students in my riding. Our community use of schools funding also provides an opportunity for all students to participate in after-school programs and build essential life skills.

These funding initiatives underscore the McGuinty Liberals' commitment to the educational success of Ontario's students. I applaud these initiatives and will continue to work hard to ensure that education in this province is the best that it can be.

DEADSTOCK INDUSTRY

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: The Minister of Agriculture has created a health and environmental hazard that could have been avoided. Farmers rely on the companies which collect deadstock to ensure safe disposal of dead animals. BSE regulations made it more expensive to dispose of deadstock. These companies have relied on government support to continue dealing with the dead animals safely. But the Minister of Agriculture has cut the funding without putting a plan in place. She says there are new regulations, but now it turns out that they will not be ready until later this spring. In the meantime, farmers are stuck with dead cows they can't afford to dispose of.

Why would anybody destroy the old program before the new one is ready? Perhaps the minister needs to get out of Toronto and talk to those farmers, or start listening to the agriculture groups. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture said, and I quote: "The alternatives are dangerous and unacceptable to the farming industry and to the rest of society. We cannot allow dead and decaying animals to collect in out-of-sight locations, because of the dangers of disease and the attraction of wildlife." The Ontario Cattlemen's Association said: "We hope the ministry will continue to support the collectors.

On-farm disposal is not our preferred option." The Dairy Farmers of Ontario said that on-farm disposal isn't practical and that the issue must be addressed.

In fact, it seems that the minister is the only one who doesn't know we have a problem. The McGuinty government must restore this funding in this week's budget to make sure that the problem doesn't become worse.

OAKVILLE PROVINCIAL

ECONOMIC COUNCIL

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I rise in the House today to recognize a local group that I've recently created in my own community of Oakville. The Oakville Provincial Economic Council, whose membership is composed of business and community leaders from all across Oakville, was created to discuss new ideas and best practices that are going to help to see our community through these challenging economic times.

I'm really fortunate to have such a wealth of talent in my local community of Oakville. I'd like to thank the following individuals who attended our first inaugural meeting. There was Tom Adams, who is a regional and town councillor; Aby Alameddine, chair of the board of directors for the chamber of commerce; and Mike Gallagher, the business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793. There was Gary Gregoris, who is the vice-president of land at Mattamy Homes; Sanjiv Joshi, branch manager at Scotiabank; Ken Nevar, executive vice-president of Cooper Construction; and Jill Birch, the vice-president of business development at Sheridan College.

I'd also like to extend a sincere thank you on behalf of all the members of the group to Premier McGuinty, who was able to join the meeting and listen to some of the group's ideas.

I'd like to thank all the participants who were able to join our first meeting. I look forward to meeting with them again on a regular basis. Rest assured that I'll be bringing their ideas and their concerns back to our government, and their input on the economic supports and programs we're providing, so that local voices in my community can be heard.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. Ted Arnott: This government is leaking like a sieve. It is repeatedly defying our important parliamentary convention of budget secrecy. That's why I asked this morning whether the Premier condoned or authorized a serious breach of budget secrecy committed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. The non-answer I received was meaningless and, indeed, disrespectful of all members of this House. Instead of showing courtesy for members of this Legislature, the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs have shown utter indifference, both in their politically motivated budget leaks and their weak response to a very serious question this morning.

But the leaks began almost three weeks ago, when the Minister of Finance broke the news to an elite Toronto audience that Ontario is facing a staggering $18-billion deficit. Why did he bypass the elected members of this Legislature to break the news, and why, if he knew this number three weeks ago, did he delay the budget?

This government's cynical media manipulation just won't work. It won't work in this Legislature, which they seem content to ignore; it won't work with the news media, which can't be fooled; and it won't work with the public, which the government consistently underestimates.

I'm confident that Ontario will overcome the government's feeble economic record, but we need a serious budget that respects our traditions and our institutions. What we don't need are more leaks, more manipulation and more contempt for this Legislature.

LEADING WOMEN, BUILDING COMMUNITIES AWARD

Mr. Phil McNeely: On March 12, I was joined in my riding by the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services and minister responsible for women's issues. Together, we presented seven community activists from Ottawa—Orléans with the Leading Women, Building Communities Award.

I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize the recipients:

—Christine Tremblay, the executive director of Arts Ottawa East, who has spearheaded the local arts council's efforts to bring the Orléans Shenkman Arts Centre to fruition. Our grand opening will be in June this year;

—Judith Cane, the president of Antara Financial Group, who never ceases to stay involved in our community. She's a past chair of the Orléans Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Women's Business Connection and much more;

—Sandra MacInnis, the former executive director of Team Ottawa—Orléans, our local socio-economic development agency, brought together all three levels of government to work together on Orléans' key issues;

—Sharon Lawrence and Pierrette Woods, the co-chairs of the Innes Re-zoning and Development Group, formed the IRDG to reach out to the community to form a consensus on the development of the Innes industrial park;

—Zybina Richards, the president of the Fallingbrook Community Association, has boosted community spirit through several events every year, including Canada Day, Summerfest and several other events that have benefited the community; and

—Janise Johnson, the chairwoman of the Team Ottawa—Orléans Health Working Group, has brought about real change to our community in regard to health care. Through her hard work, Orléans has a family health team.

I was proud to honour these seven outstanding women and thank them for their continuous contributions and dedication to our community.

DAVID BENNINGTON WEATHERHEAD

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: It is with great pleasure that I rise to pay tribute to a former member of Parliament for the former riding of Scarborough West, Mr. David Bennington Weatherhead. Upon learning of Mr. Weatherhead's hospitalization, I paid him a visit at Providence Healthcare Hospital, where he was recuperating following surgery. He had recently turned 81 years young on February 19, 2009, and he is getting better every single day.

I just wanted to tell the House that Mr. Weatherhead was elected to the federal House of Commons on two separate occasions, in 1968 and again in 1980, as MP for Scarborough West. He served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs and then, later on, as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. Mr. Weatherhead also served as chair of the health, welfare and social affairs standing committee and was a member of other committees in the federal government. The greatest contributions of Mr. Weatherhead's tenure as committee chair include the passage of the Unemployment Insurance Act and the national medicare act of 1984.

Too often we forget that public service involves tremendous sacrifice by members of our public. Mr. Weatherhead is one of these individuals. He himself forward on several occasions during elections, got elected, made a difference and helped to make Scarborough and Ontario and Canada a better place. Our children need to know that the contributions of our former politicians matter, especially while they're still here in our midst.

I wish, on behalf of our government and all members of this House and the people of Scarborough, to express our deepest gratitude to former MP David Weatherhead and wish him a swift recovery.

NOWRUZ

Mr. Reza Moridi: This past Friday, March 20, at 7:44 a.m., marked the first day of Nowruz. Nowruz is a rich tradition followed by many countries and marks the first day of spring. Nowruz literally means "a new day." It is a celebration of the spring equinox.

Nowruz is widely celebrated in various central Asian countries, such as Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan and in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq and Syria. The Baha'is, Zoroastrians and Ismaili Shia Muslims, who trace their origin to Iran, also celebrate Nowruz.

Nowruz has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years. It is the rebirth of nature and can be easily celebrated by all people in the world. About 200,000 Ontarians from various ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds celebrate Nowruz each year.

Numerous celebrations were organized by the Iranian community throughout the GTA, which were attended by a few of my colleagues: Deputy Premier Smitherman, Minister Wynne, Minister Chan and MPP Zimmer and MPP Jaczek. I wish to thank all of my colleagues in this House again for passing my resolution last year proclaiming the first day of spring as Nowruz in Ontario. I would like to extend my warmest greetings and best wishes for a festive Nowruz.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONS ACT, 2009 /

LOI DE 2009

SUR LES PROFESSIONS COMPTABLES

Mr. Bentley moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 158,

An Act to repeal and replace the statutes governing The Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario, the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario and The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario / Projet de loi 158, Loi visant à abroger et à remplacer les lois régissant l'Association des comptables généraux accrédités de l'Ontario, les Comptables en management accrédités de l'Ontario et l'Institut des comptables agréés de l'Ontario.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The minister for a short statement?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I am pleased to introduce legislation that would, if passed, help ensure greater public transparency for the accounting profession while providing their governing bodies with new powers to protect consumers.

Si le projet de loi est adopté, il modernisera et harmonisera la gouvernance des trois principaux organismes comptables dans la province : l'Institut des comptables agréés de l'Ontario, l'Association des comptables généraux accrédités de l'Ontario, et la Société des comptables en management de l'Ontario.

The bill would harmonize and modernize the governance of the three main accounting bodies in this province: the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, the Certified General Accountants of Ontario and the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, and I ask everyone to support the legislation.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion regarding committee membership.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I move that, pursuant to standing order 113(c), the following changes be made to the membership of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills: Mr. Johnson is added.

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

Motion agreed to.

PETITIONS

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Mr. Mike Colle: A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario entitled Fairness for Ontario Workers.

"Whereas the federal government's employment insurance surplus now stands at $54 billion; and

"Whereas over 75% of Ontario's unemployed are not eligible for employment insurance because of Ottawa's unfair eligibility rules; and

"Whereas an Ontario worker has to work more weeks to qualify and receives fewer weeks of benefits than other Canadian unemployed workers; and

"Whereas the average Ontario unemployed worker gets $4,000 less in EI benefits than unemployed workers in other provinces and thus … not qualifying for many retraining programs;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to press the federal government to reform the employment insurance program and to end the discrimination and unfairness towards Ontario's unemployed workers."

I sign this petition, along with thousands of other Ontario workers.

SALES TAX

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a petition to do with the auto industry and it reads:

"Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the auto industry in Ontario and throughout North America is experiencing a major restructuring; and

"Whereas the current economic crisis is affecting the auto manufacturers and the front-line dealerships throughout Ontario; and

"Whereas many potential automobile purchasers are having difficulty accessing credit even at current prices; and

"Whereas a three-month tax holiday of the PST on the purchase of new cars and trucks would stimulate auto sales;

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

"That the government of Ontario implements a three-month PST tax holiday on new vehicle purchases, and that the Ontario Minister of Finance include this PST holiday in the next provincial budget."

I support this petition.

PROPERTY TAXATION

M me France Gélinas: I have a petition signed by the people in Nickel Belt and Sudbury, and it goes as follows:

"Whereas 2009 is a reassessment year in the province of Ontario; and

"Whereas the assessments will be phased in over a four-year period from 2009 to 2012; and

"Whereas the assessed values for current value assessments collected as of January 1, 2008, were obtained during years of high real estate activity in the province of Ontario; and

"Whereas the downturn in the current global economic climate has greatly affected the real estate market, and subsequently, the assessed values in the province of Ontario;"

They ask the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That the Minister of Finance for the province of Ontario roll back assessed values to the base year of January 1, 2005."

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the Clerk with page Olivia.

ROUTE 17

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde: Une pétition à l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario :

« Attendu que la route 17/174 a besoin d'être élargie à quatre voies, du chemin Trim à la route régionale Prescott-Russell 8 afin d'améliorer la sécurité routière;

« Attendu que la route 17/174 a été reconnue par le passé pour sa condition dangereuse ainsi que le taux d'accidents annuel notable;

« Attendu que cette route représente la principale voie d'accès à la capitale nationale pour la population ouvrière de Clarence-Rockland, Alfred et Plantagenet et Hawkesbury;

« Attendu que les comtés unis de Prescott-Russell ont manifesté leur intérêt à effectuer une étude environnementale destinée à l'agrandissement de la route 17/174 en passant une résolution au conseil;

« Attendu que la ville d'Ottawa a passé une résolution au conseil demandant soit à la province ou aux comtés unis de Prescott-Russell de prendre l'initiative de l'étude environnementale pour la route 17/174;

« Attendu que le gouvernement fédéral et le gouvernement provincial se sont tous deux engagés à fournir 40 $ millions pour l'élargissement de la route 17/174;

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

« Nous demandons que les fonds nécessaires soient alloués aux comtés unis de Prescott-Russell afin de réaliser l'évaluation environnementale obligatoire à l'élargissement de la route 17/174 de deux à quatre voies, du chemin Trim à la route régionale Prescott-Russell 8. »

J'y ajoute ma signature.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Robert Bailey: I have a number of petitions here, 10,600 and some, actually, from the Save Our Sydenham Committee, addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the citizens of the area serviced by the Sydenham District Hospital, which includes Wallaceburg, Walpole Island, Dresden, Port Lambton and surrounding rural areas, have been advised by the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network that Hay Group Health Care Consulting has recommended the closing of the emergency department in Wallaceburg..., and;

"Whereas the citizens repeatedly hear from the CEO of the Erie St. Clair LHIN that (1) it is only a recommendation; (2) that the recommendation is not about money; (3) that the LHIN is engaged in community consultations; and (4) that no decision has been made; and

"Whereas the Chatham—Kent Health Alliance commissioned a study which clearly reported that the CKHA is in a deficit position. One way to save money is to close the Wallaceburg ER and realign the ... beds to Chatham. This report was made public on January 28, 2009, which was exactly five days after the Hay report; and

"Whereas the CKHA has undermined all efforts to keep the emergency department in Wallaceburg open. Sydenham Campus Hospital physicians and nurses have been advised ... that the entire medical floor will be closed and some beds will realign to Chatham hospital as of July 27, 2009...;

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

"To take the necessary steps to ensure that the emergency department of the Sydenham Campus Hospital in Wallaceburg remain open and continue to operate as a full emergency department, and to direct the Erie St. Clair LHIN to re-examine CKHA operational budget and sufficiently fund the CKHA in order to keep" this hospital campus open.

I agree with the petition and add my name.

PROTECTION FOR MINERS

M me France Gélinas: I have a petition from the people of Mattawa.

"Whereas the current legislation contained in the Ontario health and safety act and regulations for mines and mining plants does not adequately protect the lives of miners, we request revisions to the act;

"Lyle Everett Defoe and the scoop tram he was operating fell 150 feet down an open stope (July 23, 2007). Lyle was 25 years and 15 days old when he was killed at Xstrata Kidd Creek mine site, Timmins.

"Section R-60 (page 60 of Mining Regulations) ... states that, 'A shaft, raise or other opening in an underground mine shall be securely fenced, covered or otherwise guarded.... The stope where Lyle was killed was protected by a length of orange plastic snow fence and a rope with a warning sign. These barriers would not have been visible if the bucket of the scoop tram was raised. Lyle's body was recovered from behind the scoop tram.

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

"Concrete berms must be mandatory to protect all open stopes and raises;

"All miners and contractors working underground must have working communication devices and personal locators;

"All equipment involved in injuries and fatalities must be recovered and examined unless such recovery would endanger the lives of others; and

"The entire act must be reviewed and amended to better protect underground workers."

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the clerks with Emily.

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY FRANCHISE

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I've got a petition today from people from Nanticoke, Hamilton, Binbrook and Ancaster, and it reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has the highest average ticket revenue per game in the National Hockey League; and

"Whereas the Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked the most financially valuable team in the NHL; and

"Whereas many Hamilton and greater Toronto area hockey fans are unable to attend professional hockey games due to a lack of adequate ticket supply; and

"Whereas the Hamilton and greater Toronto area boast the biggest and best market in the world for hockey fans, with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment bringing approximately $2.4 billion to the local economy over 10 years; and

"Whereas a new franchise in the Hamilton and greater Toronto area is valued at $600 million by some economists; and

"Whereas competition in both business and sports is healthy for both the Hamilton and greater Toronto area economy and sports team performance; and

"Whereas despite having the most loyal fans in the world, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup in over 40 years; and

"Whereas Hamilton and greater Toronto area fans deserve competitive professional hockey teams;

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

"To request that the government of the province of Ontario express its strong support to the board of governors of the National Hockey League for the relocation or expansion of a second NHL hockey team in the Hamilton and greater Toronto area in order to realize the economic advantages to the taxpayers of the province of Ontario and to provide healthy competition to the existing Toronto NHL franchise."

As a season ticket holder, I agree with this and will affix my name thereto and send it to you with Everett.

CHILD CARE

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services, Madeleine Meilleur, has decided that grandparents caring for their grandchildren no longer qualify for temporary care assistance; and

"Whereas the removal of the temporary care assistance could mean that children will be forced into foster care; and

"Whereas the temporary care assistance amounted to $231 per month, much less than a foster family would receive to look after the same children if they were forced into foster care;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately reverse the decision to remove temporary care assistance for grandparents looking after their grandchildren."

I support this petition and am proud to affix my name to it and give it to page Megan.

CHILD CUSTODY

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde: I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"We, the people of Ontario, deserve and have the right to request an amendment to the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents, as requested in Bill 33, put forward by MPP Kim Craitor.

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

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

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

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a petition to do with the Burk's Falls health centre.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Burk's Falls health centre provides vital health services for residents of Burk's Falls and the Almaguin Highlands of all ages, as well as seasonal residents and tourists; and

"Whereas the health centre helps to reduce demand on the Huntsville hospital emergency room; and

"Whereas the operating budget for MAHC"—Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare—"is insufficient to meet the growing demand for service in the communities of Muskoka—East Parry Sound; and

"Whereas budget pressures could jeopardize continued operation of the Burk's Falls health centre;

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

"That the McGuinty government and Minister of Health provide adequate increases in the operating budget of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare to maintain current health services, including those provided by the Burk's Falls health centre."

I support this petition.

FIREARMS CONTROL

Mr. Mike Colle: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas there are a growing number of drive-by shootings and gun crimes in our communities; and

"Whereas only police officers, military personnel and lawfully licensed persons are allowed to possess handguns; and

"Whereas a growing number of illegal handguns are transported, smuggled and being found in cars driven in our communities; and

"Whereas impounding cars and suspending driver's licences of persons possessing illegal guns on the spot by police would make our communities safer;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 56 … entitled the Unlawful Firearms in Vehicles Act, 2008, into law so that we can reduce the number of drive-by shootings and gun crimes in our communities."

I support this petition and affix my name to it.

ASSISTANCE TO THE DISABLED

Mr. Ted Arnott: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, on October 30, 2008, unanimously passed Wellington—Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott's resolution, which called on the provincial government to add attendant services to the provincial wait times strategy and to allocate funding according to how many individuals actually require services; and

"Whereas the Ontario Community Support Association has long advocated for these steps; and

"Whereas some disabled Ontarians remain on waiting lists of four to 10 years for necessary attendant services; and

"Whereas Ontarians with disabilities would have so much more to contribute to their communities and their province if they had the attendant services they require;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to allocate the necessary resources in the 2009-10 provincial budget to provide full and timely access to attendant care services."

This is signed by literally hundreds of Ontario residents. I, of course, support it as well and will affix my signature to it.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT

(KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE

AT SCHOOL), 2009 /

LOI DE 2009 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L'ÉDUCATION

(SÉCURITÉ DE NOS ENFANTS

À L'ÉCOLE)

Ms. Wynne moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 157,

An Act to amend the Education Act / Projet de loi 157, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'éducation.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Ms. Wynne?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I'll be sharing my time with my parliamentary assistant, the member for Guelph. I just want to say at the outset that she has been very instrumental in bringing issues of school safety to the floor, has led the safe schools action team and has demonstrated the power of bringing together a group of people who are familiar with an issue and who can then recommend to government the next steps that provide for good policy-making. Thank you very much to her.

We know that even one incident of bullying or harassment in our schools is disheartening and is too many. I know that this is an issue that really transcends party lines. I'm looking forward to members of the opposition being supportive of this legislation that will, I believe, take another step towards making our schools safer.

Nous savons que ces incidents peuvent avoir un impact durable sur le bien-être des jeunes concernés et de leur famille. Il est évident que nous devons agir, et dès maintenant.

Our schools must be places where everyone—staff, students, parents and the community—feels welcome, safe and respected. Students need to feel safe and comfortable at school so that they can focus on learning. This is, in absolute terms, an issue of keeping kids safe at school and making sure that they are physically, emotionally and socially safe. But it's also about their achievement, because if students don't feel safe, if they don't feel respected and comfortable, and that they belong, then their learning will not be facilitated.

If we're going to keep moving forward as a province in terms of our excellent education system, then we're going to have to make sure that our kids feel that safety at school.

In order to move forward, we have committed to, and stay committed to, the goals of increasing student achievement, of closing the gaps between kids who are achieving and kids who aren't, and of increasing public confidence in our publicly funded education system. These goals have not changed, and because they have not changed, we remain committed to helping all kids reach their potential.

As I said, the safe schools action team has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in moving us forward on this agenda. I want to thank all of the members of that team. I noted Liz Sandals, who's the member for Guelph; my colleague Leeanna Pendergast was also part of that team; and also members of the action team: Stu Auty, Dr. Inez Elliston, Ray Hughes, Dr. Debra Pepler and Lynn Ziraldo.

All of these folks helped us to come up with the steps that we need to take in order to make our schools safer. They looked specifically at gender-based violence, homophobia, sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Those issues, as we know, are very difficult ones. The action team's findings were sobering. They heard some positive stories of schools working with community agencies and students being supported, but they also heard too many stories of students feeling unwelcome and unsafe at school. So there are actions that we all need to take.

Everyone has a role to play. Government has a role to play. School boards have a role to play—schools, parents, students and community agencies. The only way that we will ensure safety for all of our students at school is if all of those people involved in students' lives take responsibility and work together.

I want to make it clear that in introducing this legislation, I am in no way suggesting that there is one piece of legislation or one action that government alone can take to right any wrong that is happening in our school system. It is imperative that we find ways to work together, and that's indeed what the safe schools action team said. Creating and maintaining a positive school climate is a critical condition if we want our kids to learn and to achieve, but there are no simple or simplistic answers to that creation of a positive school climate.

This legislation is one part of making that positive school climate a reality in every school in the province. Remember, we are talking about in the order of 5,000 publicly funded schools in this province. It is a huge endeavour.

We've done a lot, and a recent study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health revealed that, indeed, we are on the right track. What they found is that nearly 93% of students reported feeling safe in their school. So the reality is that the vast majority of kids do feel safe in their schools, feel that there are people they can talk to and feel that they belong. But we can't rest as a government and we can't rest as a society until every single student has that same sense of security.

The Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Act, Bill 157, is an important step. This proposed legislation was introduced two weeks ago. If passed, as I said then, this legislation would require school staff to report to the principal any incidents when students could be suspended or expelled.

The Education Act already explains when student suspension and expulsion must be considered by the principal for activities such as bullying or assault. Principals can't act on the behaviours if they don't know they're happening. So it's important that staff be required to report to principals.

Now, we know that school staff in Ontario are committed to student safety. This legislation would indeed help to clarify the role of all school staff in reporting serious incidents to the principal. I just want to be clear that these changes will formalize what already takes place in the province, what is already common practice. But I've spoken in this Legislature many times about having asked the safe schools action team to look at where there might be legislative gaps. This is one of the gaps they found, and so we are putting this legislation in place. I don't want to imply that that kind of reporting of staff to principals is not already happening; it is common practice.

The policy requirement already exists for principals to report specified violent incidents to the police; that's already in place. Students should feel comfortable reporting incidents to staff, knowing they'll be followed up on. Parents should also feel comfortable, knowing that these incidents will be responded to appropriately.

What this legislation would also require is that principals contact the parents of victims of student incidents in those cases when suspension or expulsion can be considered. We know that parents have a right to know when a child is a victim of such behaviour. This legislation fills another gap where principals have, until now, been required to report to the parents of the perpetrators of these serious incidents, but there hasn't been the equivalent requirement for the parents of victims.

I would just say that the legislation would require that reporting to the parents of victims, except in cases when it would cause the student harm to do so. I think we have to recognize that there is a need for principals to have the discretion, when there is a situation where they think that reporting to the parents of a victim could in fact worsen the child's situation, not to do that. That is entirely consistent with our belief and our contention that our principals in all our schools are very responsible leaders.

We want to make sure there is a clear definition of the requirement, which is to report to parents of victims, but that there is the notion that if there is potential harm, principals have the discretion to make that decision.

If passed, this legislation will be the first in Canada requiring school staff to report serious student incidents to the principal and requiring principals to notify parents of victims. We're taking a leadership role in making clear what everyone's responsibility is.

Finally, the legislation would require staff to intervene to address inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour among students—such as racist or sexist comments—that is unacceptable in our schools. We'd only require staff to intervene if it was safe to do so, and I think that is consistent with what we've heard from the community and certainly from teachers.

Again, I would just say that this would put into legislation what we know is already common practice in the vast majority of our schools. What it may mean is asking a student to stop the behaviour, identifying the type of behaviour and why it's inappropriate and/or disrespectful, and asking the student for a change in future. We know that teachers in our schools do this every single day. What we're clarifying here is that it's an expectation that there would be that kind of intervention.

We know that this legislation is just part of the solution, and I have said that. We're moving ahead in many other areas, based on the action team's recommendations. The team recommended changes around the curriculum. They heard from participants that the school curriculum is one of the most effective ways for students to learn about healthy and respectful relationships. It's important to note that the safe schools action team, in conversation with me, made it clear that we need to find ways to support teachers and the school to focus on the discussion around what healthy relationships are.

That's something that can be done within the school and also in connection with other partners in the community, such as public health, to make sure we have the information and the resources in the schools to support teachers in that discussion with students. Again, these are not always easy conversations, so we need to make sure that our teachers have the support they need. We're moving ahead on those changes around the curriculum.

They also heard from participants that we needed to be sure that organizations work together.

En effet, l'équipe d'action avait eu vent de cas de bonne collaboration entre des écoles et des organismes communautaires. Ces organismes peuvent faire bénéficier le personnel scolaire de leur expertise pour soutenir les élèves et leur famille face aux problèmes complexes et souvent délicats. Les recommandations reflètent la nécessité de maintenir et de renforcer ces partenariats.

At the ministry, in fact, we're already providing support to school boards, through the student support leadership initiative, to help build partnerships with community agencies, including ones that provide mental health services to children and youth.

The student support leadership initiative is consistent with our belief and our actions within the Ministry of Education and across ministries that say that if we put children, our students, at the centre of a circle of care and we make sure that all of the adults involved with the student's life are talking to one another, then we are going to see better results for that student, whether those are social/psychological/emotional results or whether they are academic results. We need to make sure that in every board in every community, that collaboration is happening, so we've put money into the system to help to build those partnerships. Those networks are extremely important.

The action team also made some recommendations around data collection. They heard that sometimes schools don't know the extent to which the types of behaviours they were concerned about are occurring and how often they are occurring. The team recommended that the ministry expand its school climate surveys so that we could get information from those affected. Those anonymous surveys will help to gather that data. We're working to expand the existing school climate surveys. That's already happening; that work is under way.

As well, the ministry will be expanding the online bullying prevention registry to include resources that promote safe and inclusive schools. Before we came into office, those resources were not available in any systematic way to schools in the province. We've made them available, and we're going to be expanding that. We're going to be providing $4 million for resources, training or activities that help promote safe, equitable and inclusive schools.

There may be questions about the need for training. What we need to make sure of is that everyone is on the same page. When I say "training," it is as much about making sure, if the new legislation is passed, that everyone is aware of what the expectations are and that everyone within school communities can find ways to work better together in that new context. This work is really key to providing and promoting positive school culture and healthy and safe relationships.

The other issue is to make sure that we engage students. We have to be sure that through student councils, student-led clubs like gay-straight alliances, and opportunities for leadership, students can be a central part of the solution. We all know, from having been in high school, that students, especially in high schools and middle schools, need to be part of the solution. Programs like the Parents Reaching Out grants and the Student Voice project are already working to engage parents and students in that process.

And we're not finished. The action team made a number of other valuable recommendations in December in areas like collaboration with local police, prevention work and further training. We'll continue to provide a comprehensive response to the report.

It's an ongoing work. I think that if I were to stand here and say that the legislation we have introduced is the end of the journey and that if that legislation passes, we will have done everything we can do to make our schools safe, then everyone in and outside of this chamber would know that I was not being fully truthful. What I need to say to you and to the folks who are very concerned about this, which is every parent in the province, is that this is an ongoing journey.

This is something that we have to be vigilant about, as parents, as legislators, as teachers and principals and support staff in all of our schools. Together we will find the solutions. We will find ways to make kids safer.

This legislation is part of that solution, but it is much broader. There are no simplistic answers here. We have to be vigilant. We have to continue to work together to make sure that our communities have the resources they need and that our staff have the clear understanding of what the expectations are. If we can do that, that will take us one step closer to making our schools as safe and secure as they can be.

I look forward to working with the school communities to ensure that that is the case. I also look forward to the support of the Legislature on this legislation, because it is an important step towards that safer and more secure school community setting.

I'd like to share the rest of my time with my parliamentary assistant, the member from Guelph. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The Chair recognizes the member for Guelph.

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I'm delighted to be able to rise in the House today to support second reading of the Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Act and perhaps to provide context of how the act fits into the work of the safe schools action team.

I realize the time for introductions has passed, but I'm delighted to note that we have a lot of members of the retired teacher organization from Hamilton, Wentworth and Haldimand, I believe it is, in the gallery with us today, who just happened to be here for lunch. It's great that they can drop in on an education debate. So welcome to those folks.

There are few things more important than the health, safety and well-being of our young people. Students must feel safe and welcome at school so that they can focus on learning. A safe learning environment is essential to their well-being and success at school. As part of our safe schools strategy, this bill will be one more step towards ensuring just that. Sadly, we know that there are young people who do not feel safe and welcome at school, and that is unacceptable to us.

Last year, Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne re-engaged the safe schools action team. I'm proud to have chaired that team, and it has been a real privilege to work with the folks who are members of that team. I'd like the people who are listening in on the debate this afternoon to understand that the safe schools action team is not a travelling gaggle of politicians, if you will. I'm obviously a politician. My colleague Leeanna Pendergast from Kitchener—Conestoga is also on the team, but she was a vice-principal of a secondary school before she became an MPP.

The other members of the team: Stu Auty, president of the Canadian Safe School Network; Ray Hughes, who has worked in the area of teaching students about healthy relationships out of the Centre for Prevention Science at CAMH in London; Lynn Ziraldo, who has a huge amount of experience with special education issues; Deb Pepler, who is one of the pre-eminent researchers on bullying in Canada and works with York University and the Hospital for Sick Children; and Inez Elliston, who has a host of experience working with race relation issues and is herself a retired educator.

I just want to emphasize that these were people who had professional qualifications to look at the issues that we were dealing with and brought a wealth of experience to the table with them.

The minister asked us this time out to address issues of student-to-student gender-based violence, homophobia, sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual behaviour in schools. We also looked at barriers students faced to reporting these issues and reporting requirements for school staff. We participated in a review of local school board police protocols. We presented our final report to the minister in December. The report recommends actions that can be taken by government, by school boards and by school staff to make a difference for our students.

During our consultations, we met with people all across the province, including students, school staff, parents, police, community agencies and other members of the school community. I want to share with you some of the things that we heard during those discussions. We heard the statistics. A recent report from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in London states that the rate of sexual harassment in schools are significant. Some 36% of boys and 46% of girls in grade 9 reported that someone made unwanted sexual comments, jokes or gestures at them.

The same study showed that 38% of grade 9 boys and 26% of grade 9 females have used homophobic insults against other students. A third of both grade 9 boys and grade 11 boys have been victims of homophobic slurs. And we heard that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth have one of the highest rates of suicide. In fact, it was the police that talked about that, and of course it's the police that are called on to investigate.

Clearly, these statistics are unacceptable. Bullying and harassment can make students feel that they do not want to come to school. It can affect their health, mental well-being and school success, because as teachers know, time on task is a determinant of how well you do at school, and if you don't come to school, you can't succeed at school. So it's important that all our young people want to come to school and want to be engaged in what's happening at school. Incidents like these can have long-lasting effects on the students involved, their families and the school community; they are unacceptable in our communities, and they are unacceptable in our schools.

More moving than the statistics were the individual stories we heard, many from the students themselves. The stories were difficult to hear, and I'm sure that they were not easy to tell, but the students, the courage that they showed and the insightful feedback we received from all of the consultation participants helped us to shape strong recommendations.

We heard from and about students who feel that school is not a place where they feel welcome. We heard stories of bullying, harassment and even violence directed at students. Some students feel isolated, invisible and all-too-often victimized to the extent that they are not only disengaging from their studies, but they are completely leaving school and in many cases even the community in which they live. One student told us that it is easy to withdraw if you don't feel like you fit in anyway.

Some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students told us they left their home communities and ended up living on the streets in Toronto hoping to find connection, compassion and service. This is not the future we want for our young people.

It was interesting to me that in one group of students we spoke with who were attending the alternative school here in Toronto that the Toronto District School Board runs for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, I don't think any of them actually came from Toronto; every one of them had come from somewhere else. They'd either been disconnected from their school, sometimes they'd been thrown out of the family home, but every one of them had had to leave the school to which they had been assigned—clearly not the way that we want our schools to run.

Our schools should be able to provide an environment where all young people feel welcome and safe so that they can focus on learning. We have heard from students who have found that environment. I mentioned the alternative program here in Toronto, but there are many other settings in schools around the province where staff and community have worked to make supportive environments, both for students who—I've been talking about students who are gay and lesbian, but also students who have been bullied.

We found many positive stories where schools are working to create that positive environment, and once students feel safe and welcome, then they can re-engage in school and succeed, which is what we want them to be able to do.

That is the good news in this, that there are things we can do to improve the situation. There are actions we can take to help make our schools safer and prevent these types of behaviours.

We heard about initiatives in schools that are helping. We heard about communities coming together. We heard about the resources that community agencies can provide, because in many cases there are agencies in the community that are equipped to provide support to students who are struggling, and they just need to be invited into our schools to work in partnership to make sure that students can take full advantage of the resources that are in the community, but of which the students may be unaware.

We heard that sometimes solutions can be simple, that something is better than nothing—a rainbow poster in a school that identifies a safe place to come, such as a gay-straight alliance where students can talk about the issues that concern them; an adult intervening when disrespectful or discriminatory language is used.

We heard directly from the young people that they notice; they notice action and they notice inaction. In the words of one student, "If the teachers don't call us out when they hear something happening that is wrong, then we assume it's okay." Over and over, we would hear this from the students: "If you don't correct us when we misbehave, the assumption is that the behaviour is permitted." Hence, in the legislation that we are debating this afternoon, intervention will be required.

We know that the majority of school staff already intervene. It's important to understand that in many, many schools, the staff do routinely intervene when they come across misbehaviour or disrespectful behaviour. But we want to make sure that that is the situation in every school, so we will be requiring intervention on the part of school staff when they run across disrespect and misbehaviour.

We have made a number of other recommendations. The report recommends actions that can be taken by government, boards and school staff to make a difference, but we know that there is no one simple solution. But I'm certain that with the proposed legislation, we will improve the situation. I think the one thing that we want everyone to understand is that everyone is part of the solution: As adults, we have a role to play; as government, we have a role to play; as the school board and the school administrators, we have a role to play; school staff have a role to play; and students have a role to play.

Everyone has a role to play in making a safe, positive and healthy learning climate in schools.

I mentioned that this was the third report of the safe schools action team, and I'd like to give you a little bit of the background o