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May 3, 2010

39th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2010-May-03 (PDF)

L025 - Mon 3 May 2010 / Lun 3 mai 2010

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 3 May 2010 Lundi 3 mai 2010

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

WEARING OF RIBBONS

MEMBERS’ ANNIVERSARIES

VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

TAXATION

HEALTH CARE

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

HYDRO RATES

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CHILDREN’S MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES

TAXATION

POLICE

TAXATION

PEDIATRIC FORENSIC

PATHOLOGY INQUIRY

TAXATION

TOURISM

RENEWABLE ENERGY

MANUFACTURING JOBS

BUILDING CODE

USE OF ELECTRONIC

DEVICES IN HOUSE

VISITORS

DEFERRED VOTES

ELECTION STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE LES ÉLECTIONS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

POLISH COMMUNITY

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

VICTIMS OF CRIME

COMEDY FESTIVAL

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

SPORTS AWARDS

DISASTER RELIEF

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

EDUCATION WEEK

REPORT, ENVIRONMENTAL

COMMISSIONER OF ONTARIO

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

JUSTICE POLICY

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

VICTIMS OF CRIME

AWARENESS WEEK ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LA SEMAINE

DE SENSIBILISATION AUX VICTIMES

D’ACTES CRIMINELS

CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LA SENSIBILISATION

À LA SANTÉ MENTALE

DES ENFANTS ET DES JEUNES

MOTIONS

SIGN-LANGUAGE

INTERPRETATION

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

HEALTH CARE

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK /

SEMAINE DE LA SANTÉ MENTALE

DES ENFANTS

HEALTH CARE

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

HEALTH CARE

PETITIONS

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

SALE OF DOMESTIC WINES

AND BEERS

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

PUBLIC TRANSIT

SERVICE CENTRES

SCHOOL CLOSURES

CLIMATE CHANGE

WIND TURBINES

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

TAXATION

CHANGEMENT DE CLIMAT

TAXATION

ORDERS OF THE DAY

LOWERING ENERGY COSTS

FOR NORTHERN ONTARIANS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LA RÉDUCTION

DES COÛTS D’ÉNERGIE

POUR LES ONTARIENS DU NORD

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Good morning. Please remain standing for the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the nondenominational prayer.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. Michael Chan: Today is a special day. It marks the second annual Tourism Day at Queen’s Park.

Joining us in the members’ gallery are Bill Allen, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario; Cheryl Sutton, Ontario Northland; Susan Cudahy, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation; Heather Ford, Green Acres Inn; Don Obonsawin, Direction Ontario; Beth Potter, Camping In Ontario; Emily Harper-Hawkins, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario; John Winston, Tourism London; Tim West, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs; Tanya Southwick, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs; Terry Mundell, Greater Toronto Hotel Association; Troy Young, Attractions Ontario; Phil Casey, Attractions Ontario; and Gary Masters, Festivals and Events Ontario.

WEARING OF RIBBONS

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I’d like to ask for unanimous consent to wear a green ribbon in recognition of children’s mental health awareness.

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

MEMBERS’ ANNIVERSARIES

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate two members of this House who as of yesterday, May, 2, 1985, had been members of provincial Parliament for 25 years. Congratulations to the member from Timiskaming–Cochrane, David Ramsay, and to the member from York Centre, Monte Kwinter, on 25 years of service to this chamber.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): We have with us today, seated in the Speaker’s gallery, a group of interns from the National Assembly of Quebec, who are visiting the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. They are: Laurie Comtois, Maxime Fortine, Laurence Fouquette-L’Anglais, Pierre Lessard Blais and Martine Sirois. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a very special delegation from the Republic of Poland, led by his Excellency Bogdan Borusewicz, the Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Poland. The delegation is accompanied today by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Canada, His Excellency Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz. Please join me in warmly welcoming all of our guests to Queen’s Park today.

I just would point out to the members that this isn’t the complete delegation. Many of the delegation were lost in the tragedy that took place in Poland. I would like to take this opportunity, if you’re available today, to invite all members of the Legislature to join me in a memorial and a wreath-laying service that has been organized by the embassy of the Republic of Poland to honour those who tragically lost their lives on April 10 of this year. The ceremony will take place today at 2 p.m. at the Toronto Katyn Memorial. Please contact Parliamentary Protocol and Public Relations for information.

Mr. Speaker, once again, on behalf of this assembly, our condolences to the people of Poland.

Mr. Peter Kormos: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Of course the government has adopted the protocol or maintained the protocol of advising us of ministers away. I see that some are merely going to be late. We’ve got almost 40% of the cabinet not here. Perhaps we could delay the commencement of question period until the ministers who are going to be late in fact do arrive so that we could have a complete and thorough interrogation of ministers, and hold the government accountable. A 40% absence is a pretty dramatic number. Perhaps it’s only 37%—

Interjection.

Mr. Peter Kormos: There we are. A brief adjournment might be helpful.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Are you seeking unanimous consent?

Mr. Peter Kormos: Of course, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I heard a no.

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

Mr. Tim Hudak: My question is to the Acting Premier. Last week the McGuinty Liberals had six or seven or eight different positions on the new sex education curriculum that would start classes as early as with six-year-olds trying to tie their shoes. We would see the minister say one thing, and then the Premier saying something entirely different two hours later. Quite frankly, it looked more like a circus than a government.

That bungling continued this weekend when their HST tax grab hit consumers two months early. I ask you, was it incompetence, or were they desperately trying to sneak in a tax grab while Ontario families were unprepared?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think the Leader of the Opposition knows full well that what this government is doing is creating an environment in Ontario where our economy can grow. That’s what we are doing. The restructuring of the tax system is one part of that open Ontario.

We are focusing on bringing jobs to Ontario, whether you look at the Green Energy Act or the restructuring of the tax system that actually will support manufacturing, will bring jobs to Ontario and will help us to continue to grow out of this economic downturn.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Well, the only growth crop in the province of Ontario is more taxes, fees and hydro hikes on Ontario families.

Minister, this week alone, on May 1, you launched a sneak attack with your HST, so that some poor, unlucky Ontario family paid Dalton McGuinty’s HST tax grab for the first time. At the same time, you increased hydro rates in our province. Combined with fees and their sneaky green tax, it will hit Ontario families by $350 more per year. They’ve handed out sweetheart severance deals to HST tax collectors who won’t lose a day on the job.

I ask the Acting Premier: Why is it that Ontario families always pay the price for McGuinty government incompetence?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know my colleague in revenue will want to speak on the next supplementary on the HST, but I want to just frame this conversation. The frame is that we are operating in what we want to be as open an Ontario as possible—so, building a competitive tax system, building a clean energy industry, building a clean water industry; building a strong workforce. Our full-day learning program is a fundamental underpinning of that. If we don’t make those changes, if we don’t open Ontario and support our manufacturing, support our students and support our families, then we will fail. We are opening Ontario, and that’s what these changes are about.

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: This McGuinty government has been anything but open: a sneaky HST tax grab this weekend; sneaky hydro fee increases that, in total, will result in $350 out of the pockets of average Ontario families in one year alone; and then buried on the Internet somewhere, these out-of-the-mainstream sex ed changes that would start sex ed classes with six-year-olds—government on the run, trying to bury these issues from Ontario families who they know will fully reject them.

So, a back-door energy tax going to general revenue, 350 bucks more a year from hydro rates, a health tax funding US health brokers to help you get into an American hospital, an HST that snuck in two months early—Minister, my goodness, what do you have planned next?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Every one of the initiatives the Leader of the Opposition has raised are initiatives that have been talked about. The Minister of Revenue has been going around this province talking about the HST for what seems like years now. There has been a robust discussion about the Green Energy Act and our incentives for green technology and the development of green energy in this province. Our changes to curriculum are open to the community. There has been consultation.

Every single one of those initiatives, whether it’s a piece of legislation which has gone to public hearings or whether it’s a policy change that has been talked about around the province, has been transparent to the public. That is the process of building an open Ontario. The policies of building an open Ontario are the stuff of that discussion.

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Acting Premier: I think the minister knows full well that parents knew nothing about your changes to the sex ed curriculum that would begin sex ed classes with six-year-olds, who are barely able to spell. And consumers knew nothing about your HST sneak attack this weekend, which forced some poor, unlucky Ontario family to pay your HST two months early. I think they’re trying to address this bungled implementation of their HST tax grab. They sent out a senior revenue official to try to explain what they’re doing.

So I ask the minister: Can you explain why loud laughter erupted when the tax man you sent to Brockville to speak to businesses said, in the last slide, “I’m going to tell you why the HST is such a good thing”?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Revenue.

Hon. John Wilkinson: Because it’s a very good thing that we have 591,000 more jobs coming to the province of Ontario, because of $47 billion more investment coming to the province of Ontario, because we have taken the bold step, the radical step, of working closely with the federal government to make the business climate in this province the most competitive in North America. That is our goal because we want to compete for and win those jobs.

There are parties that have voted against lowering personal income tax for people. There is a party over there that voted against lowering corporate taxes and small business taxes. They voted against eliminating the capital tax. They voted against eliminating the small business surtax. What they voted for was the status quo. On this side of the House, we know that we have to make a change so that there are more jobs here in the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Minister of Revenue: Just like we saw a political circus across the floor when it came to your changes in the sex ed curriculum, similarly, across Ontario, we’re seeing a circus erupt when it comes to your bungled HST tax grab. Let me give you another quote from your revenue official. We’re calling him the most honest official in the McGuinty government. The revenue official you sent to Brockville is quoted as admitting the hush money you are sending out will “arrive magically in the mail” just before the next election.

I ask the minister, what makes you think you can use Ontario families’ own money to try to bribe them in your HST implementation?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I ask the honourable member to withdraw that comment, please.

Mr. Tim Hudak: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I thank the people of the Ministry of Revenue for the great job that they’re doing, collecting some $100 million a day to pay for the hospitals and the schools and all of the things that we value as public servants and the public whose services we provide.

I say to the members opposite, history will record that when we entered into the largest tax reform in over 40 years in this province, you voted against it. You need to be very clear with people—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I just ask the members to come to order, please.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock.

Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: On this side of the House, we are permanently cutting income taxes so we now have the lowest personal income tax rate of any province in Canada on the first $37,000 worth of income. You voted against the fact that we’re providing the HST rebate for those people in this province who have the least. People will remember that, but they’ll particularly remember that there was one government that decided to take action to make sure that there are 600,000 more jobs in this province.

People with good-paying jobs paying their taxes and contributing: That is the most important thing that we can do on this side of the House to make sure that, after the great recession, we have a great recovery.

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: Ontario families and the Ontario PC Party know where this is all coming from. Dalton McGuinty wanted to ram through his greedy HST tax grab to spend on his Liberal friends like the Courtyard Group, among others.

But don’t take my word for it. McGuinty’s most honest revenue official also admits that you rammed this HST legislation through. The revenue official says, “Generally, it takes us five years to decide which envelopes we’re going to buy, and they rushed this through in one year.”

I can see the minister’s face, and I ask him, please do not take any repercussions on this person at revenue because he’s the most honest official that we have seen to date in the McGuinty government.

I ask the minister: Why should Ontario families have faith in this government when your—

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I say to the members opposite that it’s duly noted by the business community that on July 1 we’ll be eliminating 7,000 pages of regulation in regard to the PST, and you voted to keep them. Your advice was, “Oh, my God, we’d better hang on to the status quo.”

The good people of Ontario will one day have the opportunity to look about this—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: As we are cutting the burden on small business, there is a party that purported to represent them that said, “Whatever you do, don’t change anything. God, don’t make our business community more competitive.” We listened to them, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

It is important that this province recover from the recession that started south of here and that we compete for and win the jobs that our children and our grandchildren need. That’s the most important thing we can do.

We will continue to focus, under our Open Ontario plan, on ensuring that there are jobs for people today, for tomorrow—

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

HEALTH CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Acting Premier. Ontario needs to see increased accountability and transparency in our health care system. The McGuinty government had the opportunity to make that happen today.

My question is a simple one: Why isn’t the government extending Ombudsman oversight to Ontario’s hospitals?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I am in complete agreement that accountability is a vitally important part of how we will strengthen our health care system as we go forward. Later today, I will be introducing legislation in this House that, I think, takes us an important step forward when it comes to improving accountability for quality in our health care system.

Our health care system is so very precious to us. We need to take steps today to ensure that our health care system is going to be there for us and, more importantly, for our kids and our grandkids.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: If the government were truly interested in real oversight and transparency to protect patients, there are a number of steps that they could take. They could make hospitals accountable under the Freedom-of-Information act. They could set some real limits on sky-high executive compensation. They could grant the Ombudsman real oversight in our hospital system. Why have they rejected all of these options?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The health care system that we have today is—we’re at a crossroads, I would say.

We have spent the last six and a half years of our time in government really strengthening the foundation of our health care system. We have enormously improved access to health care. Over 900,000 more patients have access to family health care than did when we were elected just six and a half years ago. We’ve been able to drive down wait times for important procedures like cataract surgery, hip replacement, cancer surgery and so on.

Because we have really focused on rebuilding access to our health care system, it is now time to turn our attention to enhancing quality and, yes, accountability for quality in our health care system.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The minister likes to talk about the crossroads that we’re at, yet the government continues to take tiny little baby steps in terms of progress.

Patients want to see real protection of their health dollars. Today we watched a press conference hosted by a CEO who takes home more than $800,000 a year while nurses across Ontario are losing their jobs.

The government could have announced a plan today for real accountability, real oversight and real transparency in Ontario’s hospitals. Why did you not do it?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Today is, I think, a pretty important day in our health care system in Ontario because we will be introducing legislation this afternoon that really strengthens accountability for quality.

At the announcement of that this morning, I was joined by members of the University Health Network quality improvement committee. It is an interdisciplinary group of people who drive the change in that hospital that is so essential to our health care system.

Today we will be broadening the requirements of hospital boards to be accountable for quality indicators and quality improvement. It’s important to note that we have extended the powers of the Auditor General to look at hospitals, to oversee hospitals and ensure that we’re getting the best possible value for money in our health care system.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Again to the Acting Premier: While the government thinks of new ways to describe health care cuts in this province, effective ways to control health care costs and protect patients are falling behind. Eleven nurse-practitioner-led clinics have been announced between February 2009 and today. Why have none of them opened?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m very happy to have the opportunity to talk about a new innovation in Ontario: the nurse-practitioner-led clinic. As the member opposite would know, I’m sure, the member from Nickel Belt has talked about the NP-led clinic in Sudbury that really has led the way and has shown us how it can work. Nurse practitioners can offer excellent primary health care. All nurse-practitioner-led clinics are affiliated with a family doctor so that there is a continuity of care.

We are excited about the opportunity to have more nurse-practitioner-led clinics across the province. I know that the one in Belle River is up and running. This is a new innovation, and it does take time to get everything in place so they will be open and working to their maximum capacity.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m sure the minister knows that in Lively, just outside Sudbury, there’s a clinic that is literally sitting empty. It’s built, it’s ready to go, but it is sitting empty because there’s no money to operate it.

If the government is concerned about proper use of our health care dollars, does it make sense to build clinics and then leave them empty?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Of course, we are anxious to get the nurse-practitioner-led clinics operational as quickly as possible, but we think it’s important that they do the foundational work that is important before they open their doors. So while I cannot speak directly to that one particular satellite, what I can tell you is that when I made the announcement several months ago of the next wave of nurse-practitioner-led clinics, it was a very exciting and happy day. We will be able to improve access to quality of care; we will be able to provide care that has a slightly different nuance to it.

I truly believe in the value of nurse-practitioner-led clinics. It is an Ontario innovation, and I’m very excited about the future for them.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, this minister’s announcements don’t care for patients. Patients are waiting for innovative health solutions that ensure the front-line care is there when they need it. Instead, they see cuts to front-line services and new clinics sitting empty due to lack of funding. When will the government put the needs of patients first?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I have to say that I think the member opposite is not talking to patients in this province and is not talking to health care providers. Our health care system is significantly stronger than it was when we took office six and a half years ago. We have more services. We’ve got 900,000 more patients attached to primary health care. We’ve got 10,000 more nurses working today than six and a half years ago. We’re seeing better outcomes. We know there is more to do, and we are determined to do the very important work to strengthen our health care system.

Part of that work is getting our drug system reformed. I would welcome the support of the member of the third party as we proceed on strengthening our drug system—

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

HYDRO RATES

Mr. John Yakabuski: As a member of Polish descent, I know this is a national holiday in Poland. It appears half of the Liberal cabinet is taking the day off as well.

My question is to the Minister of Energy. Will the McGuinty Liberals send Ontario families transitional funding to help them cope with the $350 a year more you have added to their hydro bills in rate hikes, secret taxes and new fees?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. If he read our budget, he would know that there are provisions within that budget that indeed move forward with a tax credit in the amount of $455 million that will flow this year at tax time: a property and energy tax credit that will, subsequent to the end of this year, flow three times a year to lower- and middle-income Ontarians to help offset what certainly are rising energy costs.

Why are energy costs rising? They’re rising because we’ve had to invest in infrastructure over the next six years because your government failed to make the necessary decisions to build an infrastructure energy system in this province. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do because of the failure of your government to make those tough decisions, but we are determined to ensure —

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: The McGuinty Liberals have opened up multiple fronts in their attack on family budgets. They are attacking the energy budget with $350 a year more in rate hikes and taxes on power. They’ve attacked Ontario families by making them pay more for car insurance, tuition fees, property taxes, plastic bags, tires, electronics, the health tax and, now, there’s your greedy HST tax grab.

When you add up all of Dalton McGuinty’s new taxes and fees, there’s nothing left of the cheques you’re sending out before the next election. In fact, families will be in the hole. What made you launch your attack on Ontario families?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The member’s all over the map with his questions today, but that’s fine. When you were in power, you failed to recognize the importance of investing in a stable electricity system for this province. When you were in power, coal generation went up 127% during your years in power; we’ve brought it down by 70%.

We’re investing, and energy costs are going up as a result. We’ve had to invest in our energy infrastructure. We’ve had to build up energy infrastructure in this province, and we’re doing that in a way that’s responsible, that’s environmentally responsible and that takes into consideration the health of future generations.

There is a cost to doing that. But the cost of not doing that is an unstable energy system that is polluting our air and impacting the health of our kids. That’s what you stand for. That’s what they stand for; that’s not what we stand for.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Minister of the Environment. Today’s report by the Ontario Environmental Commissioner indicates that transportation is the largest and fastest-growing source of energy use in Ontario. More and more gasoline and diesel are being used for personal and freight transport. This is polluting our air, hastening climate change and making people sick. Does the McGuinty government have a plan and targets for reducing gasoline and diesel use in Ontario?

Hon. John Gerretsen: First of all, I would like to thank the Environmental Commissioner for coming up with an excellent report. We work very closely within our ministry with the Environmental Commissioner, and we look forward to doing that in the next six months while he’s still on the job, since he has been extended for at least six months. Of course, he’s going through the process together with everybody else who has applied for that position as well.

We have done an awful lot over the last six years with respect to our whole climate change agenda, not only with respect to transit in which we’ve invested some $9 billion. We’re in the process of implementing a cap-and-trade system. We are looking at fuel efficiency standards in this province as well. We’ve done a lot of work. A lot of work needs to be done, but we are absolutely determined to meet our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6% by—

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: That certainly is an answer that confirms what the Environmental Commissioner said in his report: “Ontario does not have energy reduction targets for the conservation of transportation fuels.” If we had them, this minister would have been reciting them ad infinitum.

Vehicle use is increasing faster than population growth. In his report, the Environmental Commissioner urges the government to “expand … [the] modal shift to public transit.” Why is the government going flat out against the recommendations of its own Environmental Commissioner by cutting Transit City funding and reducing access to affordable transit?

Hon. John Gerretsen: First of all, we did not cut transit. It was the previous government that invested absolutely nothing in transit. Secondly, let me just quote to you what the Environmental Commissioner had to say in a question that he was asked this morning. He said, “Generally we’re pretty good. We’re one of the better provinces in that regard ... on conservation there are other programs in other provinces but I still say that Ontario’s still at the front.” That’s what he said today.

We all recognize on this side of the House that a lot of work has been done over the last six years. A lot more work needs to be done, but we’re on the right track. We want to meet those targets and, with everyone’s help in this House, we will be able to do so.

CHILDREN’S MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES

Mrs. Liz Sandals: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. As you know, this week is Children’s Mental Health Week in Ontario. One in five children between the ages of 13 and 17 faces mental health challenges, which can have devastating effects on children and their families. I know from my work on safe schools tha,t left untreated, mental health issues can become very serious and can lead to bullying, dropping out of school, and tragically, even to suicide.

I know that the government is committed to connecting Ontarians of all ages with needed mental health programs. It’s a difficult task that this government has been working to achieve since our election in 2003. But I still hear from families about their ongoing challenges in accessing services. So as we begin Children’s Mental Health Week, can the minister tell the House about the government’s efforts to support—

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

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I want to thank the member for her advocacy on this issue and her commitment to her community on this issue in particular.

She’s quite right that a number of steps have been taken since we came to office in 2003, and that is because, under two previous governments, there were no increases to children’s mental health from 1992 until 2003. That’s why since 2004, we’ve invested an additional $64 million to support and expand children’s mental health services. We’ve created the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health to promote research and to improve quality. We’ve expanded and funded the Ontario child and youth telepsychiatry program.

Very recently, we’ve started our work with parents for children’s mental health: to develop better ways for parents to navigate the system and help their children and to support parents in the journey that they follow along with their children.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Liz Sandals: These investments and improvements to service are very important; Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services in Guelph was thrilled to get access to telepsychiatry for children and youth. But what matters most to families is that these programs are working and helping their children. We’ve heard frequently at the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions that there is a stigma that keeps people from talking about mental health in the way that they speak about other health issues. Part of that stigma comes from the fear that mental health cannot be properly treated.

Can the minister tell the House about some of the successful programs that we do have for children and youth with mental health issues?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I do want to thank the select committee for the important work that they’re doing on behalf of the entire Legislature and the province of Ontario.

We do know that this week in particular, raising awareness with respect to children’s mental health is critically important, and that is because there are many programs that can help kids turn their lives around. I have seen those programs firsthand. I was at the York Centre, where children and youth who could not function in a mainstream classroom were learning. I saw those kids stand up and give speeches and talk about how important and impactful the service and the help that they were getting was to build confidence and turn their lives around.

At Niagara Child and Youth Services, children are getting the services that they need to have the best practices for new service delivery models and ensuring that they’re getting the help that they need.

Simon Davidson at the centre for excellence is driving innovation and more, in fact, of—

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

TAXATION

Mr. Norm Miller: My question is for the Acting Premier. In 59 days, Dalton McGuinty will broaden his attack on family budgets by making us pay 8% more for hydro, heat for our homes next winter, gas for our cars and a whole range of things. The constituents of the member for Nipissing get it. One of them writes, “With people having even less cash to spend, they will buy less and the economy will tank even further.”

The cheques you’re sending out will be long gone by the time Ontario families have to pay for energy, car insurance, tuition, tires, electronics and property and health taxes. My question is, what made you stop caring about family budgets?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Revenue.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I’m delighted to talk about the permanent tax credits and the permanent nature of our tax reform. Yes, indeed, courtesy of the federal government, there will be transitional money that will be coming to Ontario families and businesses starting in June of this year, as long as they file their income taxes, but there are so many permanent tax cuts that are coming.

First of all, we lowered personal income tax for 93% of people on January 1. Second, we’re bringing in the new HST rebate, which will be paid on top of the GST rebate for families with low incomes. We are doubling the property tax credit for seniors by an additional $250. More property owners, people who own a home or are also renters, will receive the enhanced property tax credit as well. All of those measures, I say to the member, supported by Tony Clement, are permanent.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Norm Miller: What the minister forgets to say is that the first thing this government did upon being elected was raise corporate taxes, raise small business taxes and bring in the health tax.

John Bell of Hamilton township in Northumberland is looking at what the Liberals’ greedy taxes mean for him today, and worries about the 8% more that Dalton McGuinty will collect on hydro on top of hiking hydro rates by 10%. He says:

“Still not upset about this pending fleecing of our electrical pockets? Then you must either be extremely young, extremely well off financially, or you just don’t care.”

The member for Northumberland won’t ask John Bell’s question, so I will: Are you attacking family budgets because you are out of touch or because you just don’t care?

Hon. John Wilkinson: Both the member for Nipissing and the member for Northumberland–Quinte West have been doing a wonderful job making sure that their constituents understand the facts.

I say to the good people in those ridings and all ridings, particularly the ridings that are covered by the members opposite, that there is a resource at ontario.ca/taxchange where there is a comprehensive list of those things that will be changing and the vast majority of things that will not be changing.

I am particularly proud of my colleagues because they understand that what their constituents have said clearly is, “We need more people working in this province.” That’s not going to happen unless our private sector is even more competitive in an increasingly competitive global economy. So we have taken action to ensure that in this province we will lead North America in being the most competitive when it comes to taxes. It’s that job creation—

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

POLICE

Mr. Peter Kormos: Mark Bonokoski’s Sunday Sun column concludes that police concerns about—

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Who are you talking to?

Mr. Peter Kormos: This is, of course, to the Acting Premier. This column concludes that police concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder are being swept under the rug. Why won’t this government—

Interruption.

Mr. Peter Kormos: I’ll wait, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Members will please come to order.

I remind the members again about technological devices in this chamber. Perhaps they should all be best banned.

Member?

Mr. Peter Kormos: The Speaker’s wisdom about cellphones and BlackBerrys is unassailable.

Again—it’s a serious matter; this is to the Acting Premier. Bonokoski’s Sunday column compels the conclusion that police concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder are being swept under the rug. Why won’t the government respond to the needs of police officers suffering from PTSD?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think we can absolutely agree that police officers have very difficult jobs, with high levels of stress, working under hazardous conditions. That’s why, in fact, WSIB has provided support to police officers suffering from PTSD. I think the other reality is that we know a lot more about what PTSD is today than we did years ago.

It’s an ongoing improvement of services: case managers trained in police officer post-traumatic stress disorder claims; a new fast-track appeals process; and appeals resolutions officers to deal with any police sector appeals. We are working with police services. We know this is a very serious issue and we know there’s more that needs to be done.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Kormos: The five-part series by the Sun told story after story after story by a police officer in this province who is being failed, who continues to suffer from PTSD. The Bonokoski column reports that retired Detective Inspector Bruce Kruger has referred the matter to the Ombudsman.

This government has taken great pride in its compliance with Mr. Marin’s recommendations in the past. Will the government join in encouraging Mr. Marin to launch a full-scale investigation into this serious matter so that there can be standards and guidelines that can be complied with?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: First of all, I’m not going to comment on a specific case, obviously, and I’m not going to instruct any officials on how they should behave. What you need to know is that we take this very seriously. The WSIB, the Police Association of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and police services boards are looking at what more can be done, how we can prevent post-traumatic stress disorder from happening in the first place.

The WSIB provides benefits to more than 500 workplace victims of PTSD each year. In fact, since 1998, the WSIB has reduced the decision time on PTSD claims from 192 days to 41 days. So there is progress.

We know more about what needs to be done. The relevant groups are working to prevent—

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

TAXATION

Mr. David Zimmer: My question is for the Minister of Revenue. The Jeff Allan radio talk show is a talk show in Kitchener, Ontario. Last week, the member for Cambridge was on the show. A call came in from a questioner asking the member for Cambridge a question. He refused to answer the question. Here is the question from the caller:

“I have a small business, a coffee business, here in Cambridge. And I have a concern related to the opposition to the HST.

“My accountants and the rest are pointing out very clearly that I’m far better off with the HST. I will get all of my inputs back, my bookkeeping is a lot easier, it’s one set of books. I’m going to be able to, it looks like, hire probably two or more part-time employees”—

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

Hon. John Wilkinson: I was delighted to be on Jeff Allan’s show just this morning, because there seemed to be an issue. I appreciate the fact that the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has confirmed that the smartest thing we can do to get our economy growing, particularly in the KW-Cambridge area, is to reform our tax system. It’s something that the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has been calling for for some five years.

I say to my friend opposite, it is important to understand that this is something that the business community, which I remember you used to try to represent, has said is the best thing that we can do to create jobs. It’s the private sector that we need to be going back and creating jobs, and the single most important thing we can do is to make sure that we are not just competitive in Ontario, not just in North America, but around the world; that our products, our goods and services are—

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

Mr. David Zimmer: Tim Hudak, the leader of the Conservative Party, has said this about HST: “Now, I know that some business leaders support the harmonized sales tax, and to be clear, I believe that there’s little sense in allowing two separate governments to apply”—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. Please continue.

Mr. David Zimmer: —“two sets of taxes and policies and collect two separate groups of sales tax.”

What did Mike Harris say about the HST? “We always said there should be one sales tax ... we would like to work with the federal government to make that happen.”

What did John Tory say? “I think it’s something that many people in business and elsewhere say is going to enhance the competitiveness of Ontario and create jobs” in Ontario.

Minister, can you help explain to the Tories—

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

Hon. John Wilkinson: They used to be in this House talking about lower taxes, and when we lowered taxes they voted against it. They used to talk about small business being the number one generator of new jobs in Ontario, and when we moved to improve their business climate, when we moved to eliminate the small business surtax, they voted against it.

There was a time when that party stood for the private sector but they’ve walked away from that, and they’re very proud about the fact that they do not believe that we should improve the competitive position of the business community in this province.

We know that that is the source of the new jobs that our children and our grandchildren need in the 21st century.

PEDIATRIC FORENSIC

PATHOLOGY INQUIRY

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: My question is to the Attorney General. Last week, I asked about the status of the legal review and compensation committee you formed after the release of Justice Goudge’s report. I was told that you’re acting “expeditiously,” but it has been a year and a half of silence. I wasn’t told when victims will have answers.

Brenda Waudby was convicted of killing her daughter based on false evidence provided by Dr. Charles Smith. It took over two years for her child’s babysitter to confess.

Minister, 12 wrongful convictions were identified as a result of Dr. Charles Smith’s reports. Again, when will you have answers for Ms. Waudby and victims like her?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Very, very important questions. There are two tracks that I want to speak to. First of all, with respect to those criminal cases—potential wrongful convictions—the crown has been moving very fast, very quickly, to expedite these to get into the court system. In fact, the crown has done everything possible to get these heard by the court as quickly as possible to make sure that any wrongful convictions are righted. That’s one track.

Secondly, Justice Goudge recognized in the report that there were a lot of individuals who might have potential claims but they were all maybe at different stages, maybe different facts. So what he asked us to do was to see if we could come up with a compensation approach, which I will speak to in a few moments in the supplementary question, and we’ve been working to do that.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: A year and a half isn’t very fast, Minister. Brenda Waudby’s child was murdered, and for many years she was falsely accused of being responsible. Her nightmare continued for nine whole years. Recently, Ontario’s Criminal Injures Compensation Board denied her compensation, so she turned to you. You should have had an answer.

Mrs. Waudby’s lawyer wrote that it seems “absolutely nothing has changed for those most directly affected by the significant systemic failures” that Goudge identified.

Minister, I can think of nothing worse than losing a child and then being falsely accused of her murder. Why is Ms. Waudby still waiting?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Nor can I, nor can any of us. We cannot do anything to change those horrible circumstances, so we do whatever we can to try to get as close as possible.

The criminal system, as I said, is moving very quickly to right the wrongs. Just remember that there are different parties representing different ones of the accused. On the compensation side, Justice Goudge asked us to see if we could come up with a standardized approach so that those individuals wouldn’t have to go into the traditional, often lengthy civil court process. I’ve been getting that legal advice. It is ongoing. I should be in a position to speak to that very soon. We have been working very hard on this to make sure that individuals who have been wronged—

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

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. For people in northern Ontario, the HST on home utilities, including heat and hydro, and gasoline for the cars is going to make life a heck of a lot less affordable. After all, winters are colder there, prices are higher, and people can’t just jump on a subway to get to work.

The finance minister will be in Thunder Bay later today to sell his northern energy credit. Before the finance minister does his dog-and-pony show up north, will the Acting Premier tell the Thunder Bay families exactly how much the McGuinty government’s HST will cost them on utilities and gasoline alone?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Revenue.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I thank the member for the question. It is important that we recognize that Minister Duncan is in Thunder Bay today to share with people the latest initiative coming out of the 2010 budget.

In 2009, we were able to pass in this House a piece of legislation that will ensure that there are going to be more jobs. I can’t think of anything more important in northern Ontario today than opportunities for more jobs in the north.

In his recent budget, he also talked about a new revised energy and property tax credit, particularly about the new parts of the credit that have to do with families in northern Ontario.

I want to thank the Minister of Finance for understanding the tremendous advocacy of the northern caucus mates that we have here on the government side who went to him and explained how important it was that we’re able to—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Last summer, I was in Thunder Bay, where I met with Milton and Anne Marion. The Marions are seniors who pay as much as $600 a month for furnace oil. They’ll be paying an extra $50 a month when the McGuinty government’s HST kicks in.

Will the Acting Premier tell the Thunder Bay families how much the HST is going to cost them, and admit that the energy credit won’t even come close to covering the costs on home heating alone?

Hon. John Wilkinson: It’s important that we look at all of the benefits that will accrue to the couple that you talk about.

First of all, we cut their income taxes on January 1. Second, we’ve improved the property tax credit for seniors. Third, we’ve enhanced the property tax credit for more Ontarians, and in our latest budget we’ve improved that even more, as well as provided a new credit in regard to energy for those who are up north.

We’ve also made sure that the people who are the most vulnerable, who today receive the GST rebate from the federal government, will continue to receive that as well as the new HST rebate.

Finally, we secured a historic agreement with the federal government that sees some $4.3 billion transferred. We’re taking that money and we are putting it right in the wallets of consumers.

We know that this is not easy, but 591,000 more people working in the province of Ontario is worth it.

TOURISM

Mr. Bruce Crozier: My question is for the Minister of Tourism and Culture.

Minister, the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is at Queen’s Park today. TIAO, as it’s known, is the voice and advocate of Ontario’s tourism industry. Today they are here to discuss the future of their industry and to see how the industry can work with government to ensure that it remains competitive and sustainable.

However, a strong industry is also one that can efficiently promote Ontario, one that can create excitement and interest in Ontario.

Minister, what is the government doing to support the tourism industry to generate interest in Ontario so that we can attract local, national and international visitors?

Hon. Michael Chan: I want to thank the honourable member from Essex for the question. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about tourism in Ontario.

Ontario festivals and events play an important role in bringing excitement to the families travelling through Ontario. Promoting festivals and events generates interest and keeps tourism competitive here.

This is why we invest so much in our festivals and events. Since 2007 our government has invested almost $37 million, through Celebrate Ontario, to support over 500 festivals and events.

This investment helps enhance celebrations, increases visitors and brings jobs and tourism dollars to local communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Bruce Crozier: Minister, investments in the hundreds of festivals and events across the province are undoubtedly important. However, in order to generate greater interest in Ontario, marketing needs to be more efficient and better coordinated at all levels. Marketing should not be a one-off effort. In order to generate greater interest in Ontario and to ensure that it is a destination of choice, our efforts in marketing need to be maximized.

Minister, what is the government doing to create an environment where the industry can generate greater interest in Ontario through enhanced efficiency and coordination in marketing?

Hon. Michael Chan: I agree with the member from Essex: Marketing needs to be more efficient and better coordinated. This is why, with industry input and many, many consultations, we are moving forward with the implementation of the 13 new tourism regions. These regions will better coordinate marketing, attract jobs and stimulate the economy.

Since 2003, we have invested $450 million in the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corp. There is also great efficiency here. The results speak for themselves. Third quarter numbers indicate that for every dollar spent, there has been a $17.50 return on investment. We are really on the right track, and we want to move forward in that direction.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is for the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Last month, you announced 184 energy projects that will proceed without municipal approval. How many more energy projects do you expect to site this fiscal year?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The feed-in tariff program, for the most part, when it comes to the large projects, has been allocated. The 184 are the bulk that is approved as of right now. In terms of approved, I mean that they’ve been given contracts. They still have to go through an approval process.

I thank the member for raising that question, because I want to ask her whether she feels comfortable with her own policies in this respect. Just last week here in this Legislature, we had an opportunity—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order.

Mr. John Yakabuski: We’re trying to help him out, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): You can’t be helpful from the seat that are you’re in, honourable member from Renfrew.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. Stop the clock.

Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Just last week, this Legislature had an opportunity to choose between their policy of relying on dirty coal and our policy of moving towards renewables such as wind energy, water and solar. I want to thank my colleagues here in this Legislature for choosing wisely. We have to move forward into the future with cleaner and healthier sources of energy. Your side would—

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

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Minister, not one of those 184 projects received municipal approval. None was necessary, and that’s what I would like to talk about and get your answer on now.

Municipalities across Ontario are planning jurisdictions for landfills, for industrial areas and for residential sitings, yet you feel they are incapable of being part of the municipal planning process for renewable projects. Why do you not think the municipalities are up to the job, Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The member knows full well that municipalities must be engaged in these decisions. They must be consulted, and communities must be consulted. We’ve said that in this Legislature—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The members will come to order. The honourable member from Dufferin–Caledon knows the rules: If she’s not satisfied with the answer, she can file a late show.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Oxford. Order. The members from Leeds–Grenville, Simcoe–Grey.

Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Not only does the other side want to bring us back in time, they want to bring us back in time even further behind the Harris government. Let me quote one of my predecessors as Minister of Energy. Mr. John Baird said “the government wants to move quickly in getting environmentally friendly projects for wind, solar and more hydroelectric power on stream. ‘Conservation has got to be part of the equation and alternative fuels has got to be part of the equation.... We don’t want to study the issue, we want to move forward on it.’” That was your Minister of Energy during the Harris days. You’re not only moving back to their period of time, you want to move even further back—

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

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. Paul Miller: I guess my question is to the Acting Premier, because the minister—okay. Foreign ownership of Ontario industries has not always ended up being good for the workers and communities of our province. These foreign owners often end up in lockout positions or strikes due to the situations. Then our natural resources, our raw materials and our jobs leave Ontario to be processed elsewhere.

When will this government take action to ensure that our natural resources, our raw materials and our jobs stay in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: It is absolutely a high priority, our top priority in Ontario, to make sure that we have jobs in this province. Pretty much all that we’ve been doing, and the focus that we’ve put on Open Ontario, is about making sure that we have jobs. Whether we talk about tax restructuring or whether we talk about support for the auto industry, what we’ve been doing over the last number of months is making sure that we’ve got those supports in place. In February, jobs were up by another 7,000 in Ontario. Since last May, 91,700 net new jobs were created. Manufacturing is up over 32,000 net new jobs.

I think that’s the most important thing we can do: make sure that jobs are here, that innovation happens in Ontario and that we have people working in this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Paul Miller: The workers at Stelco were laid off. Raw materials and our work were taken to the States. Steelworkers at Nanticoke were locked out, and their work was taken to the States. I suspect this is part of US Steel’s plan to drive Ontario’s steel working families to near economic ruin and then force them into inadequate contracts—the classic divide and conquer, just like Vale Inco and their scab labour.

Now we have Max Aicher buying up a steel plant in Hamilton, a deal that still needs government approval. When will this government push the federal government to ensure that their approval contains requirements that our natural resources, our raw materials and our jobs stay in Hamilton?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I said, job number one for us is to make sure that we have more jobs in Ontario, and Hamilton is part of Ontario, so we want to make sure that we have the jobs here. What we know is that closing our borders to the world won’t work. It will cost Ontarians jobs, not preserve them. There are no other Canadian provinces that close their borders to ore. We’re proud, for example, that 100% of nickel mined in Ontario is smelted here, and 85% is refined in Ontario.

It is our responsibility as the government, and it is our hope that members of the opposition will work with us, to make sure that we do everything we can to create jobs in Ontario and support industry. That’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re going to continue to do, I hope working with the opposition.

BUILDING CODE

Mr. Phil McNeely: My question today is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The Building Code Act, 1992, is the legislative framework governing the construction, renovation and change of use of buildings. I understand that the building code itself is a regulation of the act and that it is the responsibility of municipalities to enforce Ontario’s building code. That being said, it is the government of Ontario which sets forth what is the actual act and code.

I’ve been asked by constituents in my riding what role energy and water conservation play in the building code. I know that conservation is a priority for the government, as seen in the Clean Water Act, the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. What I’m looking for today is information that I can bring back to my environmentally concerned constituents on what the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has done, through the building code, to require energy and water efficiency.

Can the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing please share with this House how the building code is making Ontario greener?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I’m pleased to be able to share with the member that, in fact, the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, brought significant conservation-based changes to the Building Code Act. These include clarifying that energy and water conservation are purposes of the building code, requiring regular five-year reviews of the code’s energy conservation provisions and mandate the creation of a Building Code Energy Advisory Council. That council was established to provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with strategic advice on the future direction for the building code energy conservation requirements.

The building code also supports the protection of drinking water supplies and environmental integrity through regulating septic systems.

We recently posted proposed regulations on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry that require re-inspection of such systems and certain vulnerable areas.

USE OF ELECTRONIC

DEVICES IN HOUSE

Mr. Peter Kormos: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: This issue around cellphones and, indeed, BlackBerrys I think they’re called, has been raised numerous times. I know the Speaker from time to time has said, “Well, it’s for the House to decide.” The House could decide, I suppose, many things. Perhaps we could have portable televisions at our desks. We could be watching—

Interjection.

Mr. Peter Kormos: See, we could be watching Kathy and Regis or whoever at 9 in the morning.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order.

Mr. Peter Kormos: Speaker, however, as many times as you’ve admonished people not to bring cellphones in here, people continue to do it, especially during question period, which is probably the single most important—at least the single most focused or intense period of the day.

It’s called Parliament because—well, we all know the derivation: “to speak.” I don’t mind being heckled because at least it demonstrates that somebody’s listening to what I’m saying. Think about it. I don’t mind other people heckling other members and interrupting in that way because at least they’re listening to what that member has to say, and that seems to me to be an incredibly important thing at the very least during question period.

I appreciate that on a Wednesday afternoon at 5:30 things can get pretty tedious in here and people may be inclined to read a newspaper or a paperback novel. But, Speaker, we need you to exercise your authority, your control, your jurisdiction to control what happens in this House. You will, for instance, call upon people who use unparliamentary language to withdraw. The fact is that now the Sergeant-at-Arms purports to seize a telephone that rings audibly and loudly during the course of a rather serious question and then the phone is returned.

May I submit to you, Speaker, at the very least that if you’re not inclined—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order.

Mr. Peter Kormos: —if you’re not inclined to impose a complete ban on these devices, then at the very least you identify the offending party so that there is a record of people who hold this chamber in such low regard that they would allow a telephone of theirs to ring while they’re in here. Obviously they don’t think this is particularly important if they’re ready to receive phone calls.

I submit to you, Speaker, you should at the very least identify the member. I also submit that it would be incumbent upon that member to apologize to the chamber for violating a direction of the Speaker, otherwise your directions have zero impact, and the failure of members to apologize and the failure of the Speaker to identify them, in effect implying upon that apology, renders the Speaker somewhat impotent and mocks the Speaker’s authority. You’re a Speaker in name only, and if people want to mock your authority, then you don’t serve the valuable role that we’ve called upon you by electing you to serve.

I say it’s a relatively simple proposition. I plead with you. This is a hortatory address to the Speaker. I plead with you to do something meaningful in response to these breaches of your guidance.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I thank the honourable member from Welland. As the members are aware, the use of electronic devices is prohibited. We have tolerated, collectively, the use of BlackBerrys being in silent mode, but even BlackBerrys in silent mode, I have warned you, are a health and safety issue for our good friends the interpreters sitting over in the corner. I frankly don’t get it. I can survive an hour and 15 minutes without looking at my Blackberry and not answering the cellphone. I agree with the honourable member from Welland: I don’t know why members can’t.

We can go back to the old-fashioned way: If there’s something of urgent importance that your staff needs to send to you, send a little note in. That’s why the pages are here: to provide that service to us. I agree with the point that it is disrupting. Here, you had an honourable member today asking a very serious question, an important question of public interest. In the middle of it, a cellphone goes off. That is not respectful to the member who was asking the question; quite honestly, it’s not respectful to anyone in this House.

I will take the point under advisement. I don’t want to be described as the honourable member described me. With respect, I appreciate it, but speaking of respect, I think we need to be respectful of one another. You know what? For an hour of every day, when it’s the most important time, when it is showtime for you as members, it is showtime for the Speaker and it is showtime for everyone, show some respect for one another and leave the cellphone outside or leave it in your office. Thanks.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I would like to take this opportunity to welcome, in the west members’ gallery, Richard Nancarrow, Karen Nancarrow, Anneke Van Heuven, Molly Van Heuven, Sophie Nancarrow, Carleigh Chambers, Jemma Waddell and Hanna Cordoso. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

DEFERRED VOTES

ELECTION STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE LES ÉLECTIONS

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 231,

An Act to amend the Election Act and the Election Finances Act / Projet de loi 231, Loi modifiant la Loi électorale et la

Loi sur le financement des élections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1147 to 1152.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): All those in favour will rise one at a time and be recorded by the Clerk.

Ayes

Aggelonitis, Sophia

Albanese, Laura

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Bailey, Robert

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bentley, Christopher

Best, Margarett

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brown, Michael A.

Carroll, Aileen

Chan, Michael

Chudleigh, Ted

Clark, Steve

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Dunlop, Garfield

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Gerretsen, John

Gravelle, Michael

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoskins, Eric

Hudak, Tim

Jeffrey, Linda

Johnson, Rick

Jones, Sylvia

Kwinter, Monte

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Moridi, Reza

Naqvi, Yasir

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Phillips, Gerry

Ramsay, David

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Sousa, Charles

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Those opposed?

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Gélinas, France

Hampton, Howard

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Miller, Paul

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 57; the nays are 7.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I declare the motion carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): There being no further business, this House stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1155 to 1300.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I’m delighted to introduce my daughter, Allison Dawes, from Mr. Miller’s riding, the fine riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I would like to welcome some people who are joining us as I speak. They’re my guests in the House today: Dr. Mark Macleod and Robyn Cassidy from the Ontario Medical Association; Kevin Smith, chair of the Ontario Hospital Association; and Ben Chan from the Ontario Health Quality Council.

Also, I would like to take the opportunity to recognize some of the Ministry of Health staff who have made today’s introduction of legislation possible: Tai Huynh, Sylvia Moustacalis, Paul Kaufman, Vanessa Ciolfitto, Julia Gallo, Barry Monaghan, Fannie Dimitriadis, Jennifer Baker and Stirling Lafrance. These are all very hard-working members of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. I’m very, very proud of the work they have done to make today’s introduction possible.

Mr. Norm Miller: It’s my pleasure to introduce, in the members’ west gallery, Dawn and Ed Novak, who are accompanied by Ron Jacques and Joy McCormack. Dawn and Ed are here today to present a constructive analysis of the murder of their daughter.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I want to acknowledge those who have joined us in the galleries today from Parents for Children’s Mental Health and Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I just want to take this opportunity. Many of you know George, the CTV cameraman. Some of you are aware that we’ve had a pair of red-tailed hawks that have been nesting here at Queen’s Park for a number of years. We have two new residents of Queen’s Park as of today. George just informed me that there are two baby chicks in the nest out front right now. So keep an eye out for the red-tailed hawks.

By the way, have a look at the garden out front. There are Ontario white trilliums now growing at Queen’s Park.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

POLISH COMMUNITY

Mr. John Yakabuski: I would be remiss on this day of commemoration of Poland’s constitution not to mention the recent tragic plane crash that took the life of the President, his wife and so many other government officials, and the vacuum it left in Poland’s leadership.

To Poles and their descendants, May 3 is a national holiday, for it bestows upon them a priceless heritage of humanitarianism, tolerance and freedom, conceived at a time when most of Europe lived under the existence of unconditional power and tyranny. The tyranny deemed the Polish Constitution too dangerous, and Poland lost its independence; its territories annexed by Austria, Russia and Prussia. In terms of a national life, Poland lost the entire 19th century, being reborn in 1918.

In 1868, the ancestors of my father, Paul Yakabuski, emigrated to Canada from the Kashub region of Poland. In 1963, he became the first person of Polish descent to be elected to the Ontario Legislature.

My riding is home to Wilno, Canada’s first Polish settlement, where each year the Wilno Heritage Society gathers to celebrate our Kashub Polish heritage on the first Saturday of May. I was again able to join them in their celebration this year.

In spite of the recent tragedy, this will be a day of celebration for Polish people everywhere, as they mark the 219th anniversary of their constitution. We join them in that celebration.

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

Mrs. Liz Sandals: May is Huntington Disease Awareness Month, and I believe we have unanimous consent to wear the Huntington Society of Canada lapel pin to support this campaign and to spread awareness of this devastating disease.

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

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I believe the pins are in the lobbies.

Huntington’s disease is an inherited brain disorder that affects both mind and body. Huntington’s disease affects thousands of Canadians across our country, leading to profound cognitive and emotional impairment and eventually incapacitation and death. The disease remains incurable, and there are no known effective treatments.

May is the official month when the society educates the general population about Huntington’s disease. Many special functions, raising funds, happen in the spring, along with the launch of their Amaryllis Campaign. The amaryllis, which appears on the pin, is the signature flower for the Huntington Society of Canada. The society’s volunteers have been selling amaryllis plants since 1985 and have raised over $1 million to fight against this terrible affliction.

Today, I encourage my colleagues in the House to join me in supporting the Huntington Society of Canada.

VICTIMS OF CRIME

Mr. Norm Miller: I wish to introduce Dawn and Ed Novak, who are here today to present their brief, A Constructive Analysis of the Murder of Natalie Novak. They’re in the west members’ gallery.

May 15 will forever be a day that Mr. and Mrs. Novak remember with great sadness. On that day in 2006, their daughter Natalie was stabbed to death by her former boyfriend, Arssei Hindessa.

The Novaks’ brief puts this very personal act of violence into a context of what they see as a series of missteps and deficiencies in the way we deal with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. They reveal a pattern of Mr. Hindessa’s arrest and release, his failure to appear at court dates and meetings with his probation officer and psychiatrist, and his failure to comply with no-contact orders.

The culmination of these events was when Mr. Hindessa was arrested for again breaching a no-contact order regarding Natalie. After this arrest, he was released into the Toronto bail program. Less than a month later, he brutally murdered Natalie in her Toronto apartment.

None of us can bring Natalie back to her parents, but Dawn and Ed Novak ask us to take something positive from their loss. They ask us all, as legislators, to learn from Natalie’s experience.

I thank Dawn and Ed Novak for travelling to the Legislature today to present their brief. I also commend them for having the courage to share their story of Natalie’s life and death so candidly with us.

I would ask a page to come over, so that I can have their brief delivered to the leaders of all parties, the critics, the Attorney General and other relevant ministers.

COMEDY FESTIVAL

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On Tuesday evening last week, I had an opportunity to join a number of residents in the city of Timmins who went to a very special occasion which was sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association, and that was a comedy fest, where people suffering from mental illness went through a program of learning how to develop stand-up comic routines and had the opportunity to deliver those routines to a pretty packed house at TH&VS last Tuesday.

I’ve got to say it was one of the most delightful events I’ve been to in a long time, not only because my only sister was there and I thought she was the funniest of the presenters, but quite frankly I thought it was rather interesting as far as an approach of using humour to look at the lighter side of life in order to try to deal with some of the issues caused by schizophrenia and other mental health diseases.

To those who participated along with Louise Bisson, my sister, in both Timmins and Timiskaming as part of this event, I say congratulations. In fact, it was probably the funniest comedy show I’ve been to in a long time, because I learned what I’ve always suspected to be true: Humour can be extremely funny if you don’t use vulgarities in that humour. All of the comics did an excellent job and we were all well entertained. We hope this becomes an annual event in northern Ontario.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Mr. Wayne Arthurs: There have been many assertions from the opposition about how the Ontario government is letting patients down with our reforms to Ontario’s drug system. Let me take this opportunity to set the record straight.

This government recognizes and appreciates the valuable contributions that Ontario’s pharmacists make to patient care. In fact, patient care is what these reforms are all about. Our plan is focused on providing patients with better access to lower-cost prescription drugs. It’s unfortunate that big pharmacy chain owners are putting patients in the middle of a policy disagreement with the government.

We are building on our commitment to pharmacists through measures that will increase dispensing fees, representing about $124 million, as well as new funding of $100 million to compensate pharmacists for additional services they provide to patients. We’re also proposing more than $20 million in new funding to boost financial support for pharmacies in rural communities and underserviced areas.

The opposition members who are against these reforms are on the side of the big pharmacy chain owners, who are only interested in increased profits.

This government will continue to fight to improve patient care in Ontario with these drug reforms.

SPORTS AWARDS

Mrs. Christine Elliott: Thank you for the opportunity to speak about an important event that happened in my riding on April 24. The 13th annual Whitby Sports Hall of Fame awards gala celebrated the achievements of four people from our town who have achieved excellence in sport: Samuel Dempster, Joe Jones, Andrea Lawes and Gary Roberts.

Samuel Dempster started his baseball coaching career as a coach in Whitby and Oshawa and was instrumental in the creation of the LOSSA high school baseball league in Durham region. He went on to become a major league baseball coaching envoy, and is currently an associate Canadian scout for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Joe Jones achieved great success in the sport of cycling. Canadian Cyclist magazine cites Joe’s 10th-place finish in the prestigious British Milk Race, a gruelling 1,500-mile race, as a significant achievement, and Joe was the first Canadian ever to be invited to compete in this event.

Andrea Lawes was recognized for her long and distinguished curling career. She played in 25 various provincial championships, winning 10 of them. Internationally, Andrea represented Canada at the 1990 world curling championships in Sweden.

Gary Roberts needs no introduction. His long and illustrious hockey career started in Whitby, where he played minor hockey under coach Benny LaHaye. He went on to play for 21 seasons with the National Hockey League, starting with the Calgary Flames, on to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers. His NHL career closed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008-09 season.

Congratulations to all of the award recipients. We’re all very proud of you.

DISASTER RELIEF

Mr. Jim Brownell: As we all know, a series of earthquakes devastated the country of Haiti on January 12, 2010. About three million people have been affected by this disaster. Approximately 200,000 people lost their lives, not to mention the damage to their infrastructure.

It has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of help and support in Canada, in this province and from around the world. Although the earthquake which devastated Haiti took place in mid-January, the need to aid survivors remains as strong as ever.

I want to recognize and thank Bob Lauzon, the organizer of the Rockin’ for Haiti benefit in my riding of Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry. This event took place this past Saturday in Cornwall, with all proceeds donated directly to the Sisters of the Holy Cross to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

It does not end there, as students from schools in my riding—East Front Public School, Central Public School, Gladstone Public School, Viscount Alexander Public School, Eamer’s Corners Public School and Kinsmen/Vincent Massey School—raised an amazing $6,700, which they donated to the Canadian Red Cross for the relief effort.

There are many more stories like this, in my riding, of people lending a helping hand to those in need. I want to thank all organizations and people who have been so compassionate during this difficult time in history for the people of Haiti. More support is needed, and I challenge organizations and businesses in my riding and across this province to join in the efforts in helping the people of Haiti through fundraising efforts such as Rockin’ for Haiti.

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

Mr. Jeff Leal: Canada’s navy was officially established on May 4, 1910. Since then, around a quarter of a million men and women have served in the navy and the country has sent nearly a thousand ships to sea. Sailors have come from every province and territory, and ships have ranged from the size of in-harbour vessels the length of two or three cars, to aircraft carriers longer than 17 school buses.

When the First World War broke out, the Royal Canadian Navy had two warships and fewer than 350 sailors. By the end of the Second World War, it had grown into the world’s third-largest navy, with roughly 100,000 men and women and 434 commissioned vessels.

Throughout both world wars, Canada played a critical role in the success of many strategic objectives. One in particular was the navy’s contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign of the Second World War, starting at the beginning of the war in 1939 and ending with the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

By July 1940, all ocean-going shipping had to be rerouted around the north of Ireland and through the Irish Sea. Even this route was seriously threatened, and Canadian ships in British waters strove to fend off submarine attacks while rescuing survivors of torpedoed merchant ships.

In the spring of 1941, the number of attacks and shipping losses escalated. In June alone, over 500,000 tons of shipping was lost to U-boats. Canadians showed their resilience by developing new methods of locating and destroying the German submarines. By maintaining the Atlantic lifeline through convoy protection, the Canadian Navy played a vital role in this battle.

On May 28, 1945, at one minute past midday, all Canadian ships at sea turned on their running lights to signal the end of the battle of the Atlantic. This battle is commemorated every year on the first Sunday of May wherever the Canadian Navy is present.

EDUCATION WEEK

Mr. Rick Johnson: Today marks the start of Education Week in Ontario. Our theme for this year is Preparing Our Students for Future Success. This theme reflects the great results we already see in Ontario’s publicly funded education system, such as rising graduation rates, and the great results we expect to see from the implementation of full-day learning this fall.

More students than ever before are staying in school, graduating and finding the right career path. As a result, more students are gaining the skills they need to be successful and make a difference in our world. Our educators and school staff work with our students each day to enrich their lives and set them on a path to success.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the educators and staff in Ontario’s schools and the school boards for their continued commitment and passion. It is our educators who truly are preparing our students for future success. Please join me in celebrating Education Week and expressing continued dedication to making Ontario’s education system the best in the world and for the world.

REPORT, ENVIRONMENTAL

COMMISSIONER OF ONTARIO

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I beg to inform the House that I have laid upon the table a report from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario entitled Rethinking Energy Conservation in Ontario: Annual Energy Conservation Progress Report—2009 (Volume One).

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

JUSTICE POLICY

Mr. David Zimmer: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

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): Shall the report be received and adopted? All those in favour?

Mr. Peter Kormos: On division.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): On division.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

Ms. Matthews moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 46,

An Act respecting the care provided by health care organizations / Projet de loi 46, Loi relative aux soins fournis par les organismes de soins de santé.

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. Deborah Matthews: I will wait until ministerial statements.

VICTIMS OF CRIME

AWARENESS WEEK ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LA SEMAINE

DE SENSIBILISATION AUX VICTIMES

D’ACTES CRIMINELS

Mr. Chudleigh moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 47,

An Act to proclaim Victims of Crime Awareness Week / Projet de loi 47, Loi proclamant la Semaine de sensibilisation aux victimes d’actes criminels.

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 member for a short statement?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Recognizing victims of crime each year reminds us that all victims deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We keep in mind the impact crime can have on victims of families and on friends. We pay tribute to those who have been victims of crime and those who have lost as a result of crime. We acknowledge the work of those people in our province whose commitment helps support victims of crime.

CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LA SENSIBILISATION

À LA SANTÉ MENTALE

DES ENFANTS ET DES JEUNES

Ms. Horwath moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 48,

An Act to proclaim Child and Youth Mental Health Day / Projet de loi 48, Loi proclamant la Journée de la santé mentale des enfants et des jeunes.

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 member for a short statement?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: As per the explanatory note, the bill proclaims Friday, May 7, 2010 and the Friday of the first full week of May in each subsequent year as Child and Youth Mental Health Day.

MOTIONS

SIGN-LANGUAGE

INTERPRETATION

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding sign-language interpreters for certain proceedings.

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

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I move that during introduction of visitors, oral questions and members’ statements on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, sign-language interpreters may be present on the floor of the chamber to interpret the proceedings to guests in the gallery

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

Motion agreed to.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

HEALTH CARE

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I had the opportunity of introducing some guests earlier, and three more have come. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Adalsteinn Brown, Susan Fitzpatrick and Sophia Ikura, also people who were instrumental in formulating this legislation.

I rise in this chamber today to speak to legislation that would, if passed, improve the quality and value of health care being delivered to Ontarians, and it will put the patient first. It is called the Excellent Care for All bill.

Earlier today, I met Robert Hawke. Robert is an actor who survived cancer. Through his experience, he learned how difficult it can be to navigate our health care system. He’s developed a hilarious one-man play titled Norm vs Cancer about his experience. More importantly, he is the co-lead of the patient empowerment program at the University Health Network. Robert gets it. He understands how empowering patients and ensuring that they have a voice in the system matters, and giving patients a voice is exactly what we intend to do.

As my colleagues will know, our government committed in the recent throne speech to make Ontario health care providers and executives accountable for improving patient care; to ensure that, for more and more services, money follows the patient; and to have an independent expert advisory body that provides recommendations on clinical practice guidelines, based on the best available evidence, to ensure that future investments get results and improve patients’ health. The legislation I’m introducing today, the Excellent Care for All Act, is intended to lay the groundwork for all of those things. I urge my colleagues to see the importance of supporting it.

The demands being placed on our health care system are virtually infinite, and as everyone here knows, government resources are not. Just 20 years ago, 32 cents of every dollar spent on provincial government programs were spent on health care. Today it’s 46 cents, and in 12 years, it could be 70 cents if appropriate action is not taken. We simply can’t let that happen, not if we value our universal single-payer system and not if we’re committed to ensuring that that universal single-payer system is there for generations to come. So what do we do?

And no, the answer is not to cut services, to increase wait times or to limit access to care for patients. Governments have tried that before, and we’ve seen the consequences. We have a different approach—a smarter, fairer approach.

The McGuinty government has focused the last six and a half years on rebuilding a system that was badly neglected by the previous government. The results have followed: lower wait times, more doctors and more access for all Ontarians. I stand here today knowing that we are at an important juncture when it comes to health care in this province. Thanks to this government’s efforts to rebuild the foundation of our system, we now have a tremendous opportunity to refocus our priorities: to refocus on the patient.

By focusing on patients, we can make the overall experience for patients in the health care system that much better, and we get better value for money. For example, we know that there were roughly 140,000 cases of patients last year who were readmitted to hospital within 30 days of their original discharge. That’s far too many. It’s bad for patients and it’s costly. We all have to work together to change this. The McGuinty government will lead the way. The government’s Open Ontario plan includes improving the quality and accountability in health care by ensuring that health care professionals work together in the best interests of the patient.

Here is what we are proposing doing: Our proposed bill would ensure that the quality of the patient experience is measured in a standardized way and reported publicly. We would hold executives accountable for the quality of care delivered. We would listen to patients and ensure that quality committees in each health care organization use the results of patient surveys to create benchmarks for improving the standard of care. Also, patients would have a formal mechanism to have their questions and concerns addressed through a patient relations process.

It is really very simple. If we want a health care system that delivers the best possible care today and is able to do so in the future, we have to act now. What we have to do is focus health care leadership on the task of changing the culture so that quality care for patients is the most important job that every single person in the organization does.

If this legislation passes, the following changes would begin to take effect in our health care system: Health care organizations, beginning with hospitals, would have interdisciplinary quality committees that would report to the board on quality-related issues. Health care organizations, starting with hospitals, would have quality improvement plans which would be publicly posted, and executive compensation would be linked to the achievement of outcomes identified in those plans. Patients would have access to a patient relations process and regular reporting of patient surveys.

The results of those surveys would be used to inform an annual quality improvement plan and would be taken into consideration when determining compensation for executives.

We would also expand the mandate of the Ontario Health Quality Council to enable it to provide recommendations on clinical practice guidelines for services delivered by health care providers. They will also provide advice on the services we fund provincially to reflect the best available medical evidence.

Through associated policy changes, we would gradually reform how hospitals are funded to create greater transparency.

Our current funding model penalizes hospitals when their volumes increase. Global budgets deliver a set amount of money for a year, and any increase in the number of patients coming into the hospital is a cost or financial liability. The result is that hospitals may delay or deny care in order to balance their budgets.

Along with our increased expectations of accountability for quality, we’re introducing a new funding plan for large hospitals that has built-in incentives to encourage the delivery of high-quality, evidenced-based care. In this model, the funding will follow patients to the hospitals where they receive services, and hospitals will be compensated based on the services they provide.

I want to be very clear that we recognize the unique character of small and rural hospitals, and these funding changes will be focused on hospitals with large volumes.

The proposed bill is a reflection of this government’s strong commitment to the future of health care in this province. Health care is too important for us to allow inefficiency, it is too important for us to allow a lack of transparency, and it is much, much too important for us not to ensure that every single dollar we put into the health care system is having the desired effect and benefiting patients.

If passed, this legislation would reward high-quality care and would create a more positive patient experience within the health care system. In the process of doing those critical things, it would ensure the sustainability of our publicly funded health care system that we all cherish.

I know my colleagues care as deeply about the future of health care in this province as I do. I’m asking them to support this bill and to support excellent care for all.

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK /

SEMAINE DE LA SANTÉ MENTALE

DES ENFANTS

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I’m pleased to rise in the House today to acknowledge Children’s Mental Health Week, which is marked the first full week of May each year. This important week is about increasing awareness of the signs of child and youth mental health problems, decreasing stigma, and understanding that help is available and that it works.

Les statistiques révèlent qu’en Ontario, un enfant et un jeune sur cinq a un problème de santé mentale. Cela représente environ 500 000 enfants. Les problèmes de santé mentale incluent aussi bien l’anxiété et la dépression que l’hyperactivité avec déficit de l’attention, les troubles alimentaires et la schizophrénie, pour n’en nommer que quelques-uns.

Aujourd’hui, j’encourage chacun à porter ce ruban vert pour promouvoir la sensibilisation à la santé mentale des enfants.

Statistics tell us that one in five Ontario children and youth has a mental health illness; that’s about 500,000 kids. Illnesses range from anxiety and depression to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia and more. Today, I encourage all of us to wear this green ribbon to promote awareness of children’s mental health.

We all need to talk about this important issue in our families, in our communities and across the province. When a child has a mental health challenge, it can take an enormous toll on the entire family. A child suffers stigma, has trouble in school, and may be ostracized by friends and feel isolated. For the family, a child in crisis creates complete upheaval, and too often families feel there is nowhere to turn.

Étant moi-même parente, je peux seulement imaginer la difficulté et l’isolement que ressentent les parents que j’ai rencontrés et qui m’ont raconté leur histoire. Je tiens à dire à ces parents et à tous les parents de l’Ontario que notre gouvernement partage avec vous les aspirations que vous avez pour vos enfants.

As a parent myself, I can only imagine what a tough and lonely road it must be for the parents I have met and who have shared their life’s journey with me. I want to say to those parents, and to all Ontario’s parents, that this government shares the aspirations you have for your kids. We have dreams for your kids too, and that is why in 2004 we provided the first base funding increase in over a decade into children’s mental health, and in 2007 we invested another $24.5 million. We have also doubled the funding to the telepsychiatry program and expanded access in rural, remote and underserved communities.

In 2004, our government established the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO in Ottawa. In 2008, we put in place the student support leadership initiative, which provides $3 million per year to build partnerships between mental health agencies and school boards. And this year, we will fund the development of the navigator, a program where parents with lived experiences help parents to get the services and supports they need for their kids.

L’un des côtés à la fois les plus enrichissants et les plus déchirants de mon travail est d’entendre directement les témoignages des familles de l’Ontario, de comprendre leur vécu et de connaître l’impact positif et le pouvoir de transformation des programmes novateurs en santé mentale.

I am reminded of a visit I made to Niagara Child and Youth Services, where I saw first-hand the impact of art therapy. For kids who have undergone traumatic life experiences and are unable to verbalize their thoughts and feelings, art therapy allows them to express their views of themselves and the world around them. But perhaps most importantly, it allows them to heal. Through art therapy, I witnessed the progression of one girl’s journey from self-hatred to self-worth through paintings of herself.

Although our government has undertaken some very important work, there is still much more to do. We take up the call of Children’s Mental Health Ontario’s latest graffiti campaign, and we will not write these kids off.

As Iris the dragon tells us in Gayle Grass’s groundbreaking children’s book depicting one child’s struggles with mental illness and journey to healing, “Just keep believing in yourself and know that there are people around to help you. And when you grow up and see a falling star, catch it, shine it brightly, and throw it into the sky as high as you can.”

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Responses?

HEALTH CARE

Mrs. Christine Elliott: I am pleased to make a few comments with respect to the new bill that was introduced in the Legislature today by the Minister of Health, the so-called excellent health care for all bill.

Let me say at the outset that we in the PC Party are in full support of the concept of full transparency and accountability in health care. It’s imperative that we ensure that best value is received for each precious health care dollar spent. It’s also important to note that the Progressive Conservatives stand squarely behind the principle of universal access to an excellent, publicly funded health care system.

But I also think it’s rather rich that the McGuinty Liberals are pointing a finger at health care executives and professionals with this legislation. In our view, the problem lies not with our excellent health care professionals, but with the McGuinty Liberals. They should be looking at their own practices and priorities. We have, and it’s a pretty sorry record. I’d like to give a few examples.

Let’s look, first of all, at their practice of raiding hospital budgets to pay the half-million-dollar salary of the former health deputy minister. That’s hardly open and transparent, I would suggest.

What about the eHealth fiasco, in which $1 billion was completely wasted, according to the Auditor General of Ontario, with no further progress made toward the development of electronic health records, which are absolutely vital to the best-quality health care for all Ontarians and also to achieve the kinds of efficiencies that we need to be achieving in order to make sure that each health care dollar is wisely spent?

As much as I look forward and support the idea of focusing on excellent health care for each and every patient in Ontario, I don’t hold out too much hope that that’s going to be attained under the McGuinty Liberals, given their past dismal record in this area.

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I just met with the Parents for Children’s Mental Health, and I’d like to use their words to respond to the minister’s statement.

“As shown in multiple reports and studies, the devastating effects of having a child with mental health issues, the impact it has on the family and surrounding community has reached its breaking point. It is time for a call to action and time for all of us to come together in easing the pain and suffering for our children.”

Auditor General Jim McCarter in 2009 indicated that the estimated total economic cost attributed to mental illness in Ontario was $22 billion per year. This includes things like health care, law enforcement, motor vehicle accidents, crime, and indirect costs resulting in loss productivity.

Again from the Parents for Children’s Mental Health briefing that I just came out of: The recently released Ontario budget once again provided no increased funding for children and youth mental health services, meaning another year of no core funding increases, for three years consistently. This lack of investment has caused immediate closures of services, staff layoffs, and realignment of many programs for children and youth mental health services across the province, further adding to the fragmentation of services available to the more than 656,000 currently suffering from mental health illnesses across the province.

The Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, of which I am a member, has also released its interim report based on the numerous consultations held with agencies, professionals, researchers and consumers across the province. Throughout the report, the fragmentation of services, silos, and difficulty navigating the system is referred to.

It is imperative that Ontario begin to actively address the crisis of child and youth mental health services in Ontario. Families, children, and youth across the province are in acute need of accessible services, resources, support and assistance. Again, from Parents for Children’s Mental Health: I couldn’t agree more.

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m responding to the Minister for Children and Youth Services for her statement earlier today. I have to say first and foremost that New Democrats commend Parents for Children’s Mental Health and their partners for the attention that they draw to the unmet needs of Ontario’s children and youth who have mental health issues here in the province. Of course, across Canada there is a drive to have a day designated as child and youth mental health awareness day in every province—and, of course, I just introduced a bill to hopefully have that happen here in Ontario. But I have to say, and I think we would all agree, that we need more than a day of awareness and recognition.

The minister, I would have to say, is disingenuous to suggest that the McGuinty government is responding properly to the crisis in children’s mental health. How dare she say that help is available and that it works? Help is not available. That is why these parents are here. That is why awareness continues to have to be made about this issue.

This government has frozen funding for children’s mental health for three years straight. That means that the help is not available because the services are not there for people. To avoid more service cuts and layoffs, Children’s Mental Health Ontario recommends a regular 3% annual increase in the budgets. Families want much sharper government focus on filling the needs of children and youth and their families, and we agree with that.

Due to the government’s shortfall, almost half of our community mental health agencies in Ontario had to cut programs during this year, eliminating a range of counselling and support services for approximately 1,000 children and youth. That means 1,000 children and youth for whom services are not available, and of course, therefore, it’s not working.

More than half of these agencies—54%—anticipate further program cuts this year; two out of every three agencies had to lay off staff; and one third of them had budget deficits as the needs outstripped the resources. The cuts meant less residential care for young people, fewer in-home services, less help for teens with both addiction and mental health challenges, and less help for families.

Is this the kind of Ontario that the McGuinty government wants—a province where children languish without services? Sadly, only one in four families who need mental health services for their children have access to those services.

I could go on and on, but I know that my colleague has something to say about the Minister of Health’s statement, so I’ll end with that.

HEALTH CARE

M me France Gélinas: I will be responding to the Excellent Care for All bill. New Democrats are worried about the future of medicare, but we are especially concerned about the exponential growth in hospital executive salaries under the McGuinty government. This year’s sunshine list revealed a new club, the $700,000 club, which is filled with hospital presidents and CEOs whose salaries have continued to grow by 7% last year alone. No other working group got a 7% increase in 2009, but hospital CEOs did.

Since this government took office, hospital executive salaries have increased by 40%. How can it be that we have Premier McGuinty making $208,000 a year and managing a budget of close to $100 billion, and yet hospital CEOs make four times that amount to manage one one hundredth of that budget? It makes no sense.

We need the Minister of Health to stand up and send a clear message that this is not acceptable, and that those salaries have to be rolled back, but none of that is in the Excellent Care for All Act.

We’re also very concerned about the failure to implement basic transparency and accountability. The minister talks about a new patient relations process. When a patient has a complaint with the hospital, they go through the hospital complaints process. Once this fails, they call the Ombudsman. But the Ombudsman can only say, “Sorry, I can’t help you.”

What people and patients really want is access to the Ombudsman. But, here again, this bill does not give the Ombudsman oversight of our hospitals. It’s the same thing with freedom of access to information. If you want transparency, if you want accountability, why can you not have the hospitals under freedom of access to information?

We’re also concerned that the interprofessional advisory committee will take second place to the long-established medical advisory committee. It will be interesting to see how the recommendations of those two groups play out and who will get the upper hand.

We have been told for months that this legislation could correct many long-standing problems in the hospital system. I’m afraid I may be disappointed. But I do like very much that the Ontario Health Quality Council’s role has been expanded. They do tremendously good work.

PETITIONS

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

Mrs. Julia Munro: My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Ontario government is cutting front-line health care at pharmacies, which could mean higher prices, less service and even store closures for us;

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

“Stop the cuts to front-line health care at our pharmacy now.”

I am in agreement with this, and I will give this to page Sarah.

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mr. Paul Miller: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas all Ontarians living with life-threatening iron overload from regular blood transfusions have the right to the best available medical treatment, regardless of their financial means;

“Whereas the only publicly funded treatment for iron overload in Ontario, for patients with MDS and other rare anemias, is delivered through painful daily infusions lasting between eight to 12 hours, five to seven days a week, which many patients can’t tolerate;

“Whereas an effective and well-tolerated oral once-daily treatment for iron overload, Exjade, is now available that addresses an unmet medical need for another treatment option, but Exjade isn’t publicly funded in Ontario for patients with MDS and other rare anemias;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to act now to ensure that patients with MDS and other rare anemias in this province have access to Exjade. We urge the government of Ontario to provide funding for Exjade through the Ontario public drug programs for all patients who require this treatment option, without further delay.”

I agree with this petition, and I’ll sign my name to it.

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

Mr. Rick Johnson: I’d like to read a petition that was collected at a pharmacy in Minden, Ontario. I will read the whole text.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government is cutting front-line health care at pharmacies, which could mean higher prices, less service and even store closures for us;

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

“Stop the cuts to front-line health care at our pharmacy now.”

And in very tiny font:

“By signing this petition, you are authorizing the coalition of CACDS, OPA and IPO to use the personal information you have provided to us, particularly your name and email address, to send you additional information and updates about the Ontario government’s proposed amendments to pharmacy and drug reform. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please put an ‘X’ in the box next to your email address.”

I turn this petition in to page Michelle.

SALE OF DOMESTIC WINES

AND BEERS

Mr. Robert Bailey: This petition is to the Ontario Legislative Assembly and it’s titled “Say Yes to Beer and Wine Sales in Convenience Stores.”

“Whereas the province of Ontario restricts the sale of beer and wine to the LCBO, a few winery retail stores and the Beer Store, and the three large beer companies are owned by multinationals;

“Whereas other provinces (notably Quebec) have been selling beer and wine in local convenience stores for many years without any harm to the well-being of the public; and

“Whereas it is desirable to promote the sale of beer and wine in a convenient manner consistent with a contemporary society;

“Whereas it is essential to support local convenience stores for the survival of small businesses;

“Whereas it is obvious from the current market trends that the sales of wine and beer in convenience stores is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’;

“We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Liquor Control Act to permit the sale of beer and wine in local convenience stores to the public throughout the province and to do it now.”

I’ll send it down with Nicole.

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that reads as follows:

“Whereas a company’s resumption of production with replacement workers during a legal strike puts undue tensions and divisions on a community; and

“Whereas anti-replacement legislation in other provinces has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to enact legislation banning the use of replacement workers during a strike.”

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

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Mike Colle: I’ve got a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from the Friends of the Eglinton LRT.

“Whereas investing in public transit and infrastructure is important to Toronto and to Ontario to help reduce gridlock, improve air quality and create jobs;

“Whereas Toronto has the worst gridlock in the world, as noted in a 2010 study; and

“Whereas the Eglinton rapid transit line is a much-needed link that will travel along Eglinton Avenue, from Kennedy station” all the way “to Pearson airport ... connecting Durham region with Peel region...;

“Whereas the Eglinton rapid transit line would create 10,000 green jobs in construction, engineering and public transit;

“Whereas the Eglinton rapid transit line would be a boost for neighbourhood improvement, promoting local business and increasing property values for current retailers and homeowners;

“Whereas a rapid transit line has been supported” and promised to Eglinton Avenue “since 1975;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the building of the Eglinton rapid transit line as soon as possible, and to say no to gridlock on Eglinton.”

I support this petition and I affix my name to it.

SERVICE CENTRES

Mr. Steve Clark: I have a petition from the good folks from Leeds–Grenville. It reads:

“Whereas 401 service centres at Mallorytown, Ontario, were closed in September 2009 and 250 jobs were lost; and

“Whereas the community has identified the need for a staffed full-service tourist kiosk as part of the redevelopment of the Mallorytown service centres; and

“Whereas the completion date for reconstruction of these centres could be delayed past spring 2011; and

“Whereas the reeve and council of Front of Yonge township have passed a resolution giving the government approval of construction 24 hours a day, seven days a week to expedite the project;

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

“That the Ministry of Transportation accelerate reconstructions of the Mallorytown service centres based on the local council’s wishes and commit to enhanced tourist service improvements at these sites.”

I certainly agree with the petition, will affix my signature and send it with page Sarah.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Mr. Peter Kormos: A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario Ministry of Education’s accommodation review process, used by school boards to accommodate students, and which includes closing schools, is flawed, lacks transparency and accountability;

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

“Immediately stop the closure of Crowland Central Public School and any disputed closures. Develop policies where school boards are more accountable and the ministry, school boards, municipalities and community members work together openly and transparently to deal with funding, schools and declining enrolment.”

It’s signed by Craig Hyatt, Nicole Jones, Mary McCutcheon, Margaret Taylor and hundreds of others, and I of course have signed it as well, and it has been certified. This is a certified petition that I present to you, sir.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Mr. Phil McNeely: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from St. Matthew’s high school. Sarah Conway, Lisa Cater and Lindsay Leonard signed it.

“Whereas the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its 2007 report, concluded that without dramatic reductions in human-induced carbon dioxide emissions, climate change may bring ‘abrupt and irreversible effects on oceans, glaciers, land, coastlines and species;’ and

“Whereas no one group, country or continent is responsible for climate change, but where all human beings are collectively responsible for solving the problem; and

“Whereas the production of greenhouse gases in Canada has increased by 27% over 1990 levels; and

“Whereas our elected leaders have a responsibility to report to the public on their actions with respect to halting climate change for the sake of accountability; and

“Whereas youth in particular have a special interest in this issue, being those that will inherit this earth, our only home;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario swiftly pass Bill 208”—now Bill 6—“An Act to increase awareness of climate change.”

I will sign this petition and send it up with Michelle.

WIND TURBINES

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

“Whereas multiple industrial wind farm projects are being considered by the government of Ontario in the absence of independent, scientific studies on the long-term effects on the health of residents living near industrial wind farms;

“Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government of Ontario to put a moratorium on any renewable energy approvals for the construction of industrial wind farms in the province of Ontario until such time as it can be demonstrated that all reasonable concerns regarding the long-term effects on the health of residents living near industrial wind farms have been fully studied and addressed.”

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition from the people of Sudbury:

“Whereas the Ontario government” has made PET scanning “a publicly insured health service available to cancer and cardiac patients...; and

“Whereas” since October 2009, insured PET scans are “performed in Ottawa, London, Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay; and

“Whereas the city of Greater Sudbury is a hub for health care in northeastern Ontario, with the Sudbury Regional Hospital, its regional cancer program and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to make PET scans available through the Sudbury Regional Hospital, thereby serving and providing equitable access to the citizens of northeastern Ontario.”

This is also a fully certified petition. I fully support it, will affix my signature to it, and send it to the Clerk with Caroline.

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

Mr. Jeff Leal: I have a petition today from folks in Windsor, Burlington and Toronto, and it is indeed certified.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberal caucus support public health care and protecting access to front-line care;

“Whereas Tim Hudak’s Conservatives’ policies would stop access to affordable prescription drugs being available to Ontario families and seniors;

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

“To continue to pursue legislation that will put an end to this flawed system of professional allowances for generic drugs in order to reinvest the savings to the benefit of all Ontarians.”

I agree with this petition and will affix my signature to it and give it to the page.

TAXATION

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas residents in Dufferin-Caledon do not want a provincial harmonized sales tax (HST) that will raise the cost of goods and services they use every day; and

“Whereas the 13% blended sales tax will cause everyone to pay more for gasoline