role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

March 21, 2011

39th Parliament, 2nd Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2011-Mar-21 (PDF)

L094 - Mon 21 Mar 2011 / Lun 21 mar 2011

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 21 March 2011 Lundi 21 mars 2011

RAYMOND WALTER

AND KENNETH REA

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

ENERGY POLICIES

ENERGY POLICIES

TAXATION

NUCLEAR ENERGY

COMPENSATION FOR

VICTIMS OF CRIME

CANCER TREATMENT

NUCLEAR ENERGY

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

SCHOOL EQUITY POLICY

TAXATION

COMMUNITY SAFETY

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

FOREST INDUSTRY

ABORIGINAL RIGHTS

ROAD MAINTENANCE

VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

TRILLIUM HOSPITAL

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB

R.J. BURNSIDE AND ASSOCIATES

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

FIVE DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS

CARREFOUR DES FEMMES

DU SUD-OUEST DE L’ONTARIO

NOWRUZ

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

DUTCH HERITAGE MONTH ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LE MOIS

DU PATRIMOINE NÉERLANDAIS

SUPPLY ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE CRÉDITS DE 2011

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

LA FRANCOPHONIE

PETITIONS

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

PARAMEDICS

OAK RIDGES MORAINE

PARAMEDICS

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

TRAVAILLEURS SUPPLÉANTS

LONG-TERM CARE

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

HYDRO RATES

TAXATION

PARAMEDICS

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO FOREST TENURE MODERNIZATION ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LA MODERNISATION

DU RÉGIME DE TENURE FORESTIÈRE

EN ONTARIO

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA SANTÉ

ET LA SÉCURITÉ AU TRAVAIL

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

RAYMOND WALTER

AND KENNETH REA

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d like to ask all members and our guests to please rise as we observe a moment of silence for two firefighters killed in the line of duty on March 17: firefighter Raymond Walter and Deputy District Chief Kenneth Rea.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): On behalf of the Legislature, our condolences go to the family. The flags here at Queen’s Park are flying at half mast.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I’m pleased to be joined today in the east gallery by my big sister, Susan Houghton, and her husband and my brother-in-law, Roy Houghton. Welcome, Susan and Roy.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I’d ask everyone to give a warm welcome to Ms. Brenda Jenkins, who’s a health care professional at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and her niece Imogen Jenkins, who’s in her last year as a student at the University of Toronto Schools.

Hon. James J. Bradley: I would like to introduce the following individuals from the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards: Alok Mukherjee, Kevin Eccles, Brenda Harper, Fred Kaustinen, Henry Jensen, Uly Bondy, Kathy Wallace, Bob Maich, Vaughn Stewart and Sarbjit Kaur.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ENERGY POLICIES

Mrs. Christine Elliott: My question is for the Premier. You’re making Ontario families foot the bill for the expensive mess you’ve made of hydro. Six years ago you created the Ontario Power Authority, saying it was a transitional agency and promising it would produce your long-term energy plan, but all you have to show for it are skyrocketing hydro bills, a record of backtracking from the offshore wind experiment and the screwed-up microFIT experiment the OPA produced for you. Will you give some relief to Ontario families here and now and scrap the OPA before it does any more damage?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Speaker, it’s good to be back. I welcome the question from my honourable colleague.

I can say that, in contrast to the party opposite, we in fact have a considered, thoughtful, responsible plan. We were dangerously close to running short of electricity back in 2003. We have since put in place a long-term plan. In fact, we are rebuilding 80% of our energy system over the course of the next 20 years. We’re cleaning up our air. We’re creating thousands of new jobs.

When it comes to matters of providing rate relief for Ontario families, we put forward an initiative adopted by this House but opposed by my colleagues opposite. We’re reducing energy bills by 10% on each bill over the course of the next five years. If they are, in fact, in favour of supporting families and helping relieve them of some of the burdens associated with rebuilding this electricity system, you would think they might want to support our clean energy benefit, which is cutting the cost of bills by 10%.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: I guess the answer is no. But in point of fact, the only transition the OPA has been doing is to go from being a small agency of 15 to a bloated bureaucracy of over 300 employees. The operating budget for your planning agency has bloated from $14 million to $79 million a year but has yet to produce a plan that you’re going to stick with. The sunshine list has been bloated from six to 75 bureaucrats. Executive salaries have gone from $1 million to $12 million a year. The CEO alone is making over half a million dollars.

Premier, will you give relief to Ontario families and scrap the OPA here and now?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Brad Duguid: I could understand why the members opposite might be opposing the work that the OPA is doing, because much of the work they’re doing is implementing our conservation programs that they oppose. Much of the work that they’re doing is engaging in energy planning, something they never did when they were in office and that they have opposed every step of the way. Much of the work they’re doing is replacing coal generation, once again something that member after member over there has come out in opposition to.

But we’re determined to build a clean, reliable, modern energy system. We’re determined to get this system out of coal. We’re determined to clean our air and build a healthier future for our kids and grandkids. And, yes, the Ontario Power Authority has a very important role to play in helping us reach that goal.

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

Mrs. Christine Elliott: The Ontario Power Authority is the poster child of the expensive mess the McGuinty Liberals have made of hydro in this province. Ontario families pay the $1 million the OPA wasted on a propaganda brochure and $3 million more on selling your expensive energy experiments. Ontario families pay every cent of the quarter-billion dollars your so-called transitional energy planning agency has spent on administration over the past five years. Ontario families pay for the OPA spending almost as much on consultants as salaries. Ontario families pay on the hydro bills for jobs to the McGuinty Liberal family, like Ben Chin, Adèle Hurley and Patrick Monahan.

How much more will Ontario families have to pay before you scrap the OPA?

Hon. Brad Duguid: One of the things we take a great deal of pride in is the fact that we have laid out to Ontarians a long-term energy plan in a very straightforward manner, engaging Ontarians in the investments we need to make to build a clean, reliable, modern energy system. We have laid it all out for them in our long-term energy plan.

It has been over 630 days that their leader has been their leader, and he has refused to talk about their plan every single one of those days. But here is what their campaign director had to say about it: “The only people who are demanding our policy at the moment in a booklet form, where it’s simple and easy and they don’t have to do any work, (are journalists), because they want to take the opportunity to shoot at it.”

“Journalists need details of party policy documented because they are otherwise too lazy to discover them.”

That is the epitome of arrogance. Ontario families deserve to know where you stand. Journalists—

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

ENERGY POLICIES

Mr. John Yakabuski: Well, they don’t want to answer that question. I’ll try another one.

Back to the Premier: When the Ontario Power Authority is not wasting money, it has been busy finding new ways to make life miserable for Ontario families. The OPA spent a billion dollars ordering utilities to install smart meters despite the same utilities warning them that your tax machines didn’t work.

The OPA came up with the microFIT program that left Ontario families out tens of thousands of dollars. The OPA was so convinced you needed a new power plant in Oakville that they signed a contract to build it, and now Ontario families face a billion-dollar bill after your seat-saver backtrack. With each and every mishap, Ontario families have had to pay.

How much more will Ontario families pay before you scrap the OPA?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Brad Duguid: We have a long-term energy plan that lays out the investments that we need to make over the next 20 years.

I want to quote something that that very member said not too long ago. This is what he said: “Ontario needs an energy plan and the leadership to see it through.” Not having a plan is “just wasting precious time.” In the words of the leader’s own critic, you ought to stop wasting the precious time of Ontario families and let them know what your plan is.

For well over 600 days your leader has been the leader of your party, and he has yet to share his plan with your caucus, with his party, with this Legislature and with Ontario families. It’s obvious he’s afraid to share his plan. Is it because you don’t support our clean energy benefit, taking 10% off the bills of Ontario families? Is it because your plan would drive billions of dollars of investment in our clean energy economy out of Ontario to other—

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: I thought we asked the questions.

Your OPA bureaucrats in downtown Toronto are setting up windmills across Ontario with absolutely no local say. Your planning agency has Ontario families paying a billion dollars to Quebec and the United States to take unplanned surplus hydro off our hands. They’ve negotiated FIT contracts that make Ontario families pay 80 cents for five-cent power. You’ve had to backtrack twice on your ground-source solar rates that you set. You’ve had to backtrack on the plans you had for your offshore windmills. With each and every backtrack, Ontario families have to pay.

I ask you again: How much more will Ontario families pay before you scrap the OPA?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I think what Ontario families need to know is why that party doesn’t support our clean energy benefit that’s taking 10% off the bills of Ontario families, small businesses and farmers. Why don’t you support that? If you really care about Ontario families, support our clean energy benefit.

I think Ontario families also deserve to know why you want to kill thousands of clean energy jobs that we’re creating right across this province. We’re creating jobs, good clean energy jobs, in communities like Cambridge, Burlington, Fort Erie, Sault Ste. Marie, Tillsonburg, Newmarket, Don Mills, Windsor, Woodbridge, Peterborough, Guelph, Kingston, Welland, and the list goes on and on. These communities are benefiting. You want to kill those jobs that we’re creating right across this province.

Tell Ontario families—

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: Well, I’ll tell you one thing we don’t support: the hydro rates that you’ve festered onto the people in this province since you’ve taken office.

Over the last six years, the OPA hasn’t missed a chance to hike its salaries, waste money or find new ways to drive up already skyrocketing hydro bills on Ontario families. They’ve helped you turn the hydro bill from one of the bills to “the bill.” Hydro rates are up 75% under your watch; 100% if you’ve got a smart meter. According to the plans that your so-called transitional agency came up with, hydro bills will climb by another 46%.

You have to be out of touch not to notice that Ontario families are at the breaking point and need someone who looks after them instead of looking out for another bloated bureaucracy.

For the last time today: Will you do what the Ontario PCs would do—take a page out of their book—and scrap the OPA?

Hon. Brad Duguid: If the PC Party actually respected Ontario families, they wouldn’t have voted against reducing their electricity bills by 10% through our clean energy benefit, and they wouldn’t have voted against our efforts to reduce the taxes of 93% of Ontario families.

If the PC Party actually respected Ontario families, they wouldn’t have plans to kill thousands of clean energy jobs that Ontario families are going to rely on and are relying on.

If the PC Party actually respected Ontario families, they would not have opposed our efforts every step of the way to move out of dirty coal, to clean our air and to build a healthier future for our kids and grandkids.

Instead, they continue to oppose our plans, but they’re afraid to tell Ontario families where they stand on these issues. I don’t blame them, because if Ontario families knew that they don’t support our clean energy benefit, that they want to kill thousands of jobs, that—

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

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. Tomorrow, the federal government will present its budget to the House of Commons. Next week, the province will present its budget. In Ottawa, the Prime Minister has made it very, very clear that he’ll make corporate tax giveaways a priority and that families will likely be left out in the cold when it comes to HST relief on home heating bills.

My question is a simple one: Will this Premier’s priorities be any different?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I welcome the question from my honourable colleague. I want to reference for her benefit something said by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in a speech to his party. He said this: “In the past, social democrats became identified with high taxes, especially on business. Modern social democrats recognize that in the right circumstances, tax reform and tax cuts can play a critical

part in meeting their wider social objectives.

“For instance, corporate tax cuts raise profitability and strengthen the incentives to invest.”

I would argue that those are words from a very successful Labour Party leader who encountered tremendous opposition at the outset but tremendous acclaim with the passage of time.

Here in Ontario, we’re bringing a balanced, thoughtful approach, and in fact, we’re cutting taxes for people and for businesses at the same time.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Budgets are about priorities. New Democrats want to focus on household budgets, but this government seems determined to give money to corporations that are laying people off. In Ottawa, the Liberal Party has said that they won’t support federal budgets that include further corporate tax giveaways. Does the Premier side with the Prime Minister or the leader of his own party?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I would encourage my honourable colleague to pick up the phone and get hold of Jack Layton and work out their differences on this matter. Again, I can’t speak for what is happening in Ottawa, but I can gladly speak about what is happening here at Queen’s Park. The fact of the matter is, we’re bringing a balanced, thoughtful, progressive approach. We are in fact reducing the burden on our families. We have our clean energy benefit, which is reducing their hydro bills by 10%.

We are reducing the tax burden on families through an income tax cut; it’s an average of $355 for families this year and every year going forward. The NDP, by the way, voted against that relief. There is our Ontario child benefit, the first benefit of its kind in the country. It’s now grown to $1,100 per child. It’s benefiting some 1.3 million Ontario children. Again, the NDP voted against that. In fact, every single time we put forward a positive, progressive initiative to help Ontario families, they stand opposed to that.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The recession hurt corporate budgets, but the real damage was to household budgets. Unemployment remains stubbornly high. Families face record debt loads and wages are stagnant. The Premier’s answer is a new tax on home heating bills for families and a tax break for banks and insurance companies that are shedding jobs and reaping profits.

Will the Premier offer families some relief, or will he continue to hand tax giveaways to corporations that simply aren’t creating any jobs?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to remind my honourable colleague that at one point in time she championed an 8% cut off our energy bills for Ontario families. We rejected that. We said that was inadequate. We put in place a 10% cut for Ontario families. The amazing thing is that the leader of the NDP has yet to acknowledge that and has yet to stand up in support of that. We think that’s important; it’s substantive; it’s pragmatic. It’s something that stands to the immediate benefit of families that’s in place right now and it will continue for the course of the next five years.

As I said earlier, every single time we find a way to provide practical support to families, to reduce their financial burden, to provide them with further financial support, the NDP for some reason continues to stand against that very support.

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. Public hearings on a plan to build new reactors at the Darlington facilities begin today. The tragic events unfolding in Japan have caused governments around the world to pause and reassess their nuclear plans. Why isn’t this Premier willing to do the exact same?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: First of all, I know that I speak for all members of the Legislature when I say that our thoughts are with the people of Japan in this terrible time. I think our responsibility is twofold here. One is to reach out, with the federal government, to offer whatever support we can to the people of Japan. Secondly, we owe it to Ontarians to draw whatever lessons we might from the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami to the nuclear stations located in Japan. We will make every possible effort to draw those lessons. We’ve been in contact with the federal regulator.

I myself have spoken this morning directly with the head of OPG to make sure we take whatever time is required to draw whatever lessons that might be available to us from the experience they are having today in Japan.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Germany is halting plans to extend the lives of 17 nuclear plants, Israel is now rethinking a new nuclear plant, China is taking a step back to review its plans, and one prominent US senator has called on his country to put the brakes on new nuclear plants. Will the Premier put a hold on the hearings until nuclear regulators worldwide have assessed the lessons that may be learned from the tragedy in Japan? He just said he wants to draw the lessons. How do you draw the lessons if you don’t wait until the learning has been done?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: As my colleague knows, there’s a federal environmental assessment already under way. By the way, that assessment is already five years old; it’s not the kind of thing that is rushed.

I also want to remind my honourable colleague of a letter sent by my colleague the Minister of Energy just last week to his federal counterparts.

In part, the letter reads as follows: “We encourage your government to make any necessary changes to the ... environmental assessment” process “to ensure that the events in Japan are taken into consideration.” The letter goes on to say, “We are seeking your written assurance that the environmental assessment process will be adapted in any necessary way to ensure that the events of last week in Japan can be taken into account.” It concludes by saying, “You and the panel will have our full support and co-operation, as well as that of Ontario Power Generation.”

I want to assure Ontarians we will take all the time necessary to draw whatever lessons we can from the experience in Japan.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Around the world, people are actually taking a step back right now from nuclear power, but this government is acting like nothing at all has happened, like nothing has changed. As a result, Ontario families could be stuck with higher bills as industry standards begin to change—or worse, new reactors that ignore new regulations and new standards. Why won’t the Premier follow the lead that is being set by the global community? Why won’t he follow that lead and take some time to consider whether Ontario in fact really, really needs new nuclear energy?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It’s no secret that my honourable colleague appears to be opposed to nuclear-generated electricity of any kind at any time. We bring a different approach. Fifty per cent of our electricity today is generated from nuclear stations; there are some 70,000 people working in the sector.

I think what we owe to ourselves, but more importantly what we owe to Ontarians, is to make sure we take a long, hard look at the experience in Japan to see whatever lessons that might offer, and to ensure that we take advantage of that new information and introduce it into our thinking here in Ontario.

There is an environmental assessment that is under way. It is already five years old. It is not the kind of thing that anybody is proposing that we rush. If it takes a little bit longer so that we can acquire more information from the Japanese experience, then we will by all means do that. What we owe to Ontarians is to take advantage of this terrible experience and see if there’s new information and introduce that into our thinking here.

COMPENSATION FOR

VICTIMS OF CRIME

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: My question is to the Premier. Premier McGuinty said that crime is not a priority with Ontario families. Then you said Liz Hoage doesn’t deserve support because she didn’t witness the tragic murder of her child. And then again on Friday we saw just how out of touch you have become when the Ontario PC caucus revealed that the McGuinty Liberals are sitting on a $31-million surplus in the victims’ justice fund. Our leader, Tim Hudak, said the Ontario PC government will release the victims’ fund surplus, change the definition of “victim” and add victim representation to the CICB. Premier, will you take a page from the Ontario PCs and make those three changes yourself?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I’m pleased to take the question. In fact, there’s an important issue here. I don’t agree with my colleague’s representation of our position on this, but notwithstanding that, there is an important issue here. The fact of the matter is that Jonathan, who was 15 years of age, and Joey, who was 16 years of age, lost their lives, and their parents were rejected by the board when it comes to providing some kind of compensation.

We think that there’s something fundamentally wrong with that. We think that we need to work together to resolve that. We have made some changes to the system in the past. We have doubled the number of adjudicators who are working there. We have more staff to support the hearings and families. It’s up from 50 to 66 today, but we think that we can and ought to bring about changes to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Ontario families aren’t looking for crocodile tears from that side of the House. Ontario families are looking for a government that puts the same priority on crime and victims of crime that Ontario families do. Both the Ombudsman and former Chief Justice McMurtry say you didn’t do enough for victims. You promised you would take McMurtry’s report seriously, but you haven’t. If you can’t get your priorities straight, then Ontario families can rest assured that Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC government will—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I remind the honourable member about the use of names. I let it go once. I should’ve jumped on it.

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: When will you admit crime is a priority for Ontario families, follow the lead of our leader and get victims of crime the support they need?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, we’re speaking here about a decision made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. For the record, we have doubled the amount spent on vital services for victims of crime since 2003. We have streamlined the process so that victims can get the assistance they need more quickly. As I said a moment ago, we’ve invested in more adjudicators and staff to clear the backlog that we inherited. We also created a new victim quick response program to cover emergency expenses.

As the Attorney General has said, we have asked the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and officials to come up with options on how to address the very issues raised by the leader of the official opposition. I think that there is a real case to be made here for these families who lost their children, and we think that we can do something. We look forward to any co-operation that my friends opposite might want to offer us in this regard.

CANCER TREATMENT

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Minister of Health. A few hours ago, the minister announced funding for drugs like Herceptin, a tribute to the persistence of Jill Anzarut.

Why is it that just over a week ago the minister claimed it would be illegal to take action?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I welcome the question. Let me begin by saying how important it is that women do get screened for breast cancer. We have one of the highest survival rates in the world for women with breast cancer, in part because of our excellent breast screening process. This issue, and others—it’s been brought to my attention that while we absolutely must rely on evidence when we make decisions about what drugs to fund, there is a grey area. Evidence is not always black and white. There are grey areas.

So what I’ve announced this morning is a program that will allow us to work with the drug companies to build the body of research that is necessary in order to make the right decisions for Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The minister said that the decision to fund cancer drugs “is not one that rests with the Minister of Health.” She then suggested it would be “illegal” and would constitute an abuse of her position to fight for drug funding.

Why did the minister take so long to do the right thing, to figure out that there’s more than just black and white, that grey actually does exist?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I stand by my statement that choosing which drugs to fund and for whom is not the role of the minister. Our job is, however, to continue to set policy direction, to move forward, to improve care for people with cancer and with other diseases. The issue of that grey area is one that has been under discussion for some time.

So Cancer Care Ontario and the Committee to Evaluate Drugs will be moving forward to develop criteria so we can start to work to develop the evidence where, because the number of people involved is so small, traditional clinical trials cannot be performed on those people with rare diseases. So we are moving forward to create a program that will begin to address that grey area.

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I’ve got a question this morning for the Minister of Energy. Nuclear power generates over half of Ontario’s electricity, and Canada’s nuclear industry employs tens of thousands of Ontarians, many of them in the Oakville and Mississauga area.

Tragic events in Japan recently have led to a lot of discussion and a lot of debate over the past week about the future of nuclear energy and the safety of our power plants here in Ontario.

The government’s long-term energy plan outlines the need to maintain our nuclear capacity to continue to supply that power reliably.

My question to the minister is: Can he confirm this morning that Ontario’s reactors are operating safely and will continue to operate safely as we move forward with the implementation of our plan?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I want to thank the member for Oakville for raising this important question. Indeed, we all are watching the events unfolding in Japan, and our thoughts continue to be with the Japanese people during this very, very difficult time.

Understandably, Ontarians want to know about the safety our nuclear plants right here in Ontario. The fact is, Ontario’s nuclear plants have operated safely since the first facility went online about 40 years ago. Ontario’s plants are safe. They continually operate at or above international safety standards and are equipped with multiple built-in safety mechanisms and multiple layers of backup systems.

Nevertheless, I have asked the CEOs of Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation to lead a joint effort to identify lessons learned from the incident in Japan and recognize how they can make a safe system here in Ontario even safer.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary? The member from Ajax–Pickering.

Mr. Joe Dickson: My question is to the Minister of Energy. Durham region is host to two of Ontario’s nuclear generating facilities: Pickering and Darlington. The communities of Durham region have hosted these important plants for several decades now, with many families making their livelihood as a result of their presence and continued safe operation. There’s no doubt that Ontario Power Generation has very much become a part of the community. In fact, in 2005, the Pickering nuclear generating station received a City of Pickering Civic Award for outstanding support and participation in community activities by a local business.

Can the minister tell Durham region families that OPG will remain a safe and active presence in the community for years to come?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Yes, absolutely, and I appreciate the question from the member from Ajax–Pickering. They don’t call Durham region the energy capital of Canada for nothing. I know the member knows that well.

OPG has a proud history of both safety and community engagement. Canada’s nuclear industry supports over 70,000 Canadian jobs, but 80% of those jobs are located right here in Ontario in places like Pickering, Oakville, Ajax, Mississauga, Clarington, Northumberland and Bruce county, just to name a few. The safety of Ontario families is always our first priority.

We’re committed to working with the federal government to ensure that our nuclear facilities continue to operate at and, in most cases, above world safety standards. That’s why I’ve asked, as I said earlier, the CEOs of Bruce Power and OPG to lead a joint effort to identify lessons learned from the incidents in Japan and apply them to our systems here in Ontario.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is for the Premier. When Patrick Dillon isn’t moonlighting as the spokesman for Premier McGuinty’s surrogate attack team, the Working Families Coalition, he is your hand-picked appointee to the College of Trades Appointments Council.

But it looks like his ability to do his partisan attack jobs is interfering with his day job. Last week, Dillon attacked millions of Ontario workers and families when he called non-unionized workers lazy and sloppy. Do you share his opinion of hard-working Ontario families?

Will you make Patrick Dillon apologize for his offensive comments, or will you look the other way so he can continue to run your illegal ad campaign?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I remind the member about impugning motive, and I ask her to withdraw that last comment, please.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Will you let him continue to front—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): No, you need to withdraw the comment, please.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I withdraw.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Hon. John Milloy: I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the important role that the College of Trades plays in our province. As the member is well aware, there have been many debates and discussions in this House particularly around the apprenticeship system and the need for change and reform. As a government, we came forward with the idea of establishing a regulatory college, a college of trades, which would bring together individuals and representatives from all sectors of the economy to talk about the skilled trades, to talk about the apprenticeship system and to move forward.

Pat Dillon was appointed to the Ontario College of Trades. I’m pleased to say that as the business manager and secretary-treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, he helps represent 150,000 apprentices and tradespeople and represents 13 affiliated unions. He is one voice on the board which brings a very—

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: The Premier may want to wash his hands of this, but I can say one thing to him: Not this time, Dalton.

Patrick Dillon and his Working—

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Withdrawn.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Withdraw.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I said “withdraw.”

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: The College of Trades appointment isn’t the only place for Pat Dillon. He and his Working Families Coalition teamed up with backroom McGuinty Liberals to spend millions on ads attacking Ontario Progressive Conservatives. One of the lucrative appointments that you handed over to the head of the Liberal front group, the Working Families Coalition, is a seat on the WSIB. There, the union boss makes $275 a day, supposedly looking out for the well-being of workers. Will you show you do not share Patrick Dillon’s views of non-unionized workers in this province by firing him, or will you just look the other way—

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

Hon. John Milloy: It’s kind of interesting that the member mentions Patrick Dillon and the WSIB. She should be very familiar with the fact that, in 1996, the Conservative government appointed Pat Dillon to the WSIB. She might also be aware that, in 1993, the NDP government appointed him to the Ontario Construction Secretariat. He was recently appointed to the Correctional Service Canada advisory board by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

But let me tell you about some of the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I would just say to a number of government ministers that one of your colleagues is up trying to answer a question, and there are a number of ministers who are shouting the honourable member down. As I remind all members all the time within this House, we need to hear the other side. You should be listening to your colleague.

Minister?

Hon. John Milloy: Let me share with you some of the other names of people who are on the College of Trades Appointments Council or transition board.

Rod Cameron, the chair: Prior to retiring, Rod Cameron was dean of technology of Fanshawe College in London for five years. Sue Allen is a professional tractor-trailer operator, a certified fleet trainer and examiner and a transportation specialist for film and television productions. Ms. Allen and—

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

SCHOOL EQUITY POLICY

Mr. Rosario Marchese: My question is to the Premier. Last week, more high school students were prevented from forming a gay-straight alliance, this time at St. Joseph Catholic secondary school in Mississauga. Ministry of Education policy program memorandum 145 states that boards and schools must “give support to students who wish to participate in gay-straight alliances.” Why is the government refusing to enforce this policy?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Let me say that we’re very proud to have put into place Ontario’s first-ever equity policy for Ontario schools. We require that every single Ontario school board have in place an equity policy. Our policies say it is not acceptable to discriminate based on race, gender, religion and sexual orientation.

In grade 5, students are taught that homophobic and racist remarks are wrong and hurtful. In grade 7, students are taught the importance of challenging others whose actions or words could be interpreted as being racist or homophobic. That’s all part of our equity policy, which, as I say, we require every single school board in Ontario to adhere to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: I agree with everything the Premier said, but he didn’t answer my question.

Students in Ontario schools continue to face harassment and violence because of their sexual orientation. That’s unacceptable, and I know it’s unacceptable to the Premier. Gay-straight alliances can help prevent this abuse.

If the Premier, as he just said, and the minister are serious about inclusion, equity and the welfare of students, when will the government ensure that students be allowed to form these alliances where and when they want to?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, we’re very proud of our equity policy. To repeat, we are making it perfectly clear to all our school boards, all our schools, all our principals, all our teachers and all our students that it is unacceptable in Ontario to discriminate based on race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. We have also said that boards can find different ways to ensure that they adhere to those policies.

We, again, are sending the message loudly and clearly to all boards that they must adhere to our equity policy.

TAXATION

Mr. David Zimmer: My question is for the Minister of Revenue. Last week, we saw more proof of what we’ve been saying and what business owners have been telling us: that harmonizing the sales tax in Ontario is working.

The National Post tweeted a story on Friday that quoted Professor Smart from the University of Toronto. He’s the author of a research paper published by the University of Calgary School of Public Policy. Here’s what he said about the HST: that “businesses quickly adjusted their prices to pass on tax savings to customers.”

Minister, can you give us more detail on how businesses are passing on their savings to the consumers?

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: I’d like to thank the member for the question.

In fact, Professor Smart’s report that came out last week is consistent with what we have been saying all along. Some of Professor Smart’s findings include: (1) the HST is working; (2) two thirds of business savings are being passed to the consumer. Also, in low-income households, our tax benefits are offsetting the taxes that are paid. This is just the start. Business savings are expected to continue to pass through to consumers.

Now, unlike the math that the opposition parties practise, Professor Smart’s report is robust. It is independent, peer-reviewed and, in fact, in line with what the member from Beaches–East York said last week: that “taxes have gone down, literally”—

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

Mr. David Zimmer: I’ll take Professor Smart’s analysis over any of the vacant stares I see from the opposition benches. I’ll do that any day.

Minister, Ontario families want to know about the changes that have occurred since the HST was implemented. Not only are consumers benefiting from the HST through lower prices, but small and medium-sized businesses are telling me that the tax changes are making it easier for them to grow.

Minister, have you got some more detail on how businesses are passing on the savings to the consumer and creating jobs in Ontario?

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: Again, I just wanted to repeat that Professor Smart’s report is independent, peer-reviewed and, in fact, is in line with what the NDP MPP for Beaches–East York said last week: that “taxes have gone down, literally on all income groups.” Perhaps now, maybe, the member’s party will admit this, too.

When it comes to businesses, let’s talk about Kobayashi Online, which said last week: “We passed through our savings in the first month of the implementation of the HST. We realized savings and had a 10% off sale. It accounts for 20% of our sales for the month of July.”

Businesses are telling us that the HST is working. We’re going to continue investing in our companies and in the people of Ontario.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: My question is for the Premier. On October 30, 2008, members of the Ontario PC caucus, as well as the other members of this House, supported a bill entitled the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, sponsored by your own party president and fellow Ottawa-area MPP.

Why are you using your party’s majority to stall this bill’s progress in making Ontario’s neighbourhoods safer? Is it because your government is weak on crime? Or is it because you used the party president to pay lip service to stakeholders? Or is it both?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. James J. Bradley: First of all, I point out that this is a private member’s bill in this House. I have, as I know the member opposite has—we both have a good deal of respect for private members’ legislation and the ideas that are brought forward. I certainly commend the member on that being brought forward.

He would also know that the House leaders of the three parties represented in this Legislature sit down to discuss matters of this kind to determine the

schedule for bills moving forward. I know that your House leader, if this is as important as it is—and I know to the member it is; I happen to know that—I know that the House leader of the official opposition will want to make that known to the government House leader and the House leader of the third party to determine the

schedule for that bill proceeding forward.

I think the member and I agree that the basis of that bill is excellent.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: The longer you stand there patting yourselves on the back for a job not done, the more you continue to delay the SCAN legislation put forward by your own party president. SCAN is a law in other provinces, and Ottawa’s police chief, Vern White, told me just last week: “As the chief of police for Ottawa and a member of the Crime Prevention Ottawa board of directors, I continue to support the development and passing of Bill 106, SCAN legislation. We see it as an opportunity for the police and the community to continue to work on resolving community problems proactively and believe it will make for safer communities and neighbourhoods.”

Minister, law enforcement supports this bill and the Ontario PC caucus supports this bill. If you have faith in your own Liberal Party president, you will pass the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act into law. When will the McGuinty government get tough on crime and put SCAN into law?

Hon. James J. Bradley: The House will determine how that bill moves forward. I have great respect for all members of the House.

Talking about crime statistics, we have put 2,300 more police officers on Ontario streets. We’ve established a first-of-its-kind $51-million guns and gangs strategy. We’ve invested over $10 million annually in the highly successful Toronto anti-violence intervention strategy. We’ve invested $16 million to date in the provincial anti-violence intervention strategy. We’ve increased the budget of the Ontario Provincial Police by nearly $230 million—a full 32% increase. This has produced the kinds of results that I think the people of this province are looking for.

As you will see from the chiefs of police around the province, they’re very supportive of these kinds of programs. They’re having a profound effect. We are taking action, not simply dealing in rhetoric.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. Warren Chant was fired as Windsor Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital CEO. He received $300,000 in a severance package. What does it say about the McGuinty Liberal government’s priorities when it can find bucketloads of money for hospital executives but can’t get a shovel in the ground on a long-term-care facility that was promised four years ago?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I do want to say that the situation at Hôtel-Dieu Grace is such that we determined it was time to send in a supervisor. There were enough issues that warranted that rather extraordinary step, but it was a step that we thought was the right thing to do for the people of the Windsor area who rely on Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital. We have appointed a supervisor. That supervisor has taken stock of the situation at Hôtel-Dieu Grace and did make the decision to have a change in leadership.

It is an event that the supervisor has taken very carefully and very responsibly for the benefit of the people of Windsor. I look forward to the supplementary when I can provide an update on our new long-term-care home.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: This is not the only instance of golden handshakes for hospital CEOs. Reports indicate that the Niagara Health System is in the midst of severance negotiations with Debbie Sevenpifer after she was fired a couple of months ago. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars will Niagara families be on the hook for in this latest sweetheart severance deal? Will the Premier actually make that figure public?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member opposite knows that these severance packages are part of changing leadership, they are part of respecting contracts and they are publicly available. All the people who work in our health care sector with incomes over $100,000 do have that income reported on the sunshine list every year. That includes severance packages, so this information will become public.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Ms. Helena Jaczek: My question is for the Attorney General. Domestic violence is something that unfortunately exists in all of our communities. It often occurs behind closed doors and it has serious impacts on its victims and on society in general. Victims suffer not only physical but emotional and psychological effects, and the effect it has on children is extremely detrimental.

When victims of domestic violence take the important step of leaving an abusive relationship and initiate separation or divorce proceedings, they often fear for themselves and for their children. This is a time when there is the greatest risk of further violence. Concerns for their safety and for the safety of their children weigh on victims as they attempt to navigate through the Family Court system.

Can the Attorney General please tell this House what he is doing to protect and support victims of domestic violence as they take this courageous step?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: The member for Oak Ridges–Markham makes a very important point: How are we supporting people—predominantly women and children—at a time of terrible crisis and great emotional strain? We’re working hard to improve the Family Court system, but it can be very confusing, very time-consuming and very slow. They’re often facing a party that has experienced legal counsel. So how do they navigate their way through this system?

We’ve heard from my colleague the MPP for Oak Ridges–Markham and from community agencies that we need to take an additional step, so just the other week we introduced a Family Court support worker program. In every court jurisdiction in this province we’ll be able to provide court workers who can take the individual, give them good advice about community resources, help them through the court appearance and appear with them in court, if necessary, to provide that emotional support and that tangible community-based support as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Helena Jaczek: In my riding of Oak Ridges–Markham there are many great organizations that are already working with victims and survivors of domestic violence, such as Yellow Brick House and Women’s Support Network of York Region. They have vast experience dealing with the unique needs and concerns of these victims, and they understand that there may be long-lasting feelings of fear, powerlessness, depression, anger and self-blame. Victims of domestic violence may feel alone and may have trouble even talking with people about the abuse they have suffered.

Can the Attorney General please tell us how he is going to ensure that the new Family Court support workers are knowledgeable in the complex dynamics of domestic abuse so they can effectively support victims as they proceed through the Family Court process?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Through the member’s advice and the advice of great community agencies such as the ones in her riding that she’s mentioned, we’ve identified this as a real issue. We’re setting up a provincial network that will provide advice and training for the workers who are going to be performing this extremely important and desperately needed work throughout the province. That approach of listening to the front lines is the approach we’ve taken as we support women and children through times of crisis.

We’ve changed the restraining order system that wasn’t working, to toughen it up. We’re changing the family law system entirely so that it’s faster, less confrontational and more affordable. We’re taking the position that you need to listen to the people that provide front-line, on-the-ground support to help women and children at their moment of crisis. This government is there to support them, and we will be, throughout this very difficult time.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Mr. Randy Hillier: My question is to the Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. The minister has spent the last two years making promises to forestry companies across Ontario, even as he has choked off their wood supply with his tenure-restructuring plan. He promised better days ahead; instead, they got hydro hikes and more red tape.

Last month, the minister made another stunning McGuinty backtrack: an expensive bureaucratic experiment instead of a stable wood supply for our hard-hit foresters. Last month, the minister tabled a bill to create new forest management corporations and broad new arbitrary powers.

Minister, why are you hiding from and passing off your responsibilities to these new, unelected and unaccountable forestry LHINs?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Obviously, we’re very pleased that we’re moving forward on the modernization of the forest tenure system as well as moving forward on a wood supply competition that is bringing thousands of people back to work and putting our crown fibre back to work as well.

In terms of the modernized tenure system, we are working very closely with industry and, in fact, we have an opportunity to meet with them on a regular basis. We believe that the models we’re putting forward enhance shareholder sustainable forest licences. Combined with the testing of principles of our model, the local forest management corporation is going to revitalize the forestry sector, something that we know we will continue to work closely with the sector on as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Hillier: While he’s revitalizing the forestry sector, there’s nothing left with it. Minister, you’ve hit the forestry industry with high hydro rates, more red tape and higher prices. Environmental NGOs proclaimed two years ago that they played you and your government like a fiddle.

Companies like McKenzie Forest Products near Sioux Lookout have been waiting for one thing: a stable and certain wood supply. If they don’t get it soon, they’re through. Your forestry experiments are putting those 330 jobs in jeopardy, and you know that. You’ve cut off the wood supply with your tenure review, and now you’re creating these tree LHINs to make sure that no forestry company survives your war against the industry.

We can see the results. Under your watch, we’ve lost 40,000 forestry jobs and 60 mills. Minister, why has the McGuinty government waged a war against Ontario’s—

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

Hon. Michael Gravelle: It is so sad that the member will not see the positive news that’s coming out of the forestry sector, particularly relating to the wood supply competition. Last week, we announced wood supply offers to two operations in the Greenstone area that are going to bring 250 people back to work in the Geraldton-Longlac-Nakina area. We’ve made 16 offers that have been out there publicly; we’ve made other offers as well. Over 1,000 jobs are coming back to the forestry sector.

Part of that process, may I say, is also working very closely with industry on the modernization of our forest tenure system, one that all members of this House told us we needed to move forward on, and indeed we are doing that. I’m delighted that we’re having an opportunity to debate it in second reading, I’m looking forward to it moving towards committee, and I’m looking forward to third reading so we can indeed revitalize the forestry sector with our wood supply competition, bringing thousands back to work and also modernizing the tenure system in a fashion that will bring the jobs back to the people of Ontario.

ABORIGINAL RIGHTS

M me France Gélinas: My question is for the Attorney General. Minister, last week in Thunder Bay, another trial was delayed when Justice Helen Pierce dismissed about 100 potential jurors for lack of aboriginal representation in the jury pool. The latest verdict from Ontario’s highest court clearly shows deficiencies in both of your ministries.

Minister, you can no longer hide behind your 2008 excuse that this isn’t a case for an inquiry; it’s a case of getting the assistance needed from First Nation leadership—your words, not mine—when your staff repeatedly turned away the Pierre family, who were seeking justice for their deceased child.

The aboriginal community of northern Ontario would like to know: How about now? Is now a case for your government to call an inquiry and overturn the discriminatory practices that have excluded aboriginal people from the jury roll of Ontario?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Now is the time to do what we’ve been trying to do for a couple of years and what I’d love to do, which is to get greater representation by making sure that we get up-to-date resident rolls from different communities.

In fact, over the past couple of years, the officials at the ministry have been working very closely with Treaty 3 chiefs. We’ve been providing information sessions, working with chiefs, working with communities to get greater knowledge about who’s on the rolls, because if we don’t have them—since INAC stopped sending them to us—we can’t get them onto the jury rolls and therefore make them eligible for jury representation.

We’re looking forward to working with all other chiefs in different communities. We want to give people the opportunity to participate in the jury process. We’re very interested in further initiatives. My view has always been, “Let’s get on with it now.” We know what the issues are. It’s about identifying members and getting them onto the rolls, and the chiefs and the PTO leadership will be able to help us. I look forward—

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

M me France Gélinas: The Ontario Court of Appeal validates the gravity of this issue, and I strongly urge you to do the same. The answer you just gave me is the exact same answer you gave in 2008. We’re now in 2011 and we’re still confronted with the exact same issue: There are no aboriginal people in the jury pools.

Representatives from your office have said that this ruling is in regard to a narrow issue. I find that very worrisome. Does the minister agree that aboriginal participation in the justice system is a narrow issue?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: We want to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in jury panels; absolutely everyone. In order to do that, just so we understand the process, we need to know who the people are. In municipalities like Toronto, London, Cornwall or elsewhere, that’s done through a number of different means. With First Nation communities, we used to get updated rolls from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. They stopped providing them, so now we rely on communities or individuals to self-identify.

We’ve been working with the chiefs in a number of different communities to make sure that we know who’s there so we can provide greater input rolls and therefore greater representation. We’re really looking forward to making progress. We’d love whatever assistance my colleague can provide, wherever she can provide it, so that we can do the education, get more names on the rolls, make sure we ever increase the—

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

ROAD MAINTENANCE

Mr. Phil McNeely: My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Today is the first day of spring, and we are reminded that there are two seasons in Ontario: winter and construction season.

With construction season comes road repair and rehabilitation of our extensive road network. What comes with construction work can sometimes cause delays and impact the local economy.

I know that Ontario highways are among the safest in North America, but some of my constituents in Ottawa–Orléans have requested information on how the Ministry of Transportation plans for this important maintenance work. I remind them that our government has even more work to do due to years of underfunding by both the NDP and Conservative governments.

Minister, I want to assure my constituents that our government is actively monitoring the safety of our roads in a responsible way, that we are repairing the right roads at the right time. Can the minister please explain what the government’s plans are to ensure our roads that are under repair are in need of it and that attention is being paid to the safe repair of all—

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I thank the member for his question.

As the members of the House know, the Ministry of Transportation is responsible for managing a $59-billion highway infrastructure network. Since 2003, we’ve met that challenge by committing over $13 billion to support that work.

I often talk about the baby boom infrastructure that goes along with our baby boom population. Like us, it’s aging, and we need to remain vigilant in making sure that that infrastructure is upgraded. We continually monitor the highways. If there’s a situation that needs attention, we get on it right away.

For example, the Ministry of Transportation has a five-year plan to replace and repair culverts on Highway 417. To achieve that plan, we’ve tripled our financing from $1 million to $3 million. Not only that; we’ve initiated an MTO culvert data system, an inventory system, to make sure we know where the problems are and when they have to be dealt with.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Phil McNeely: Minister, I’m pleased to hear that our government is taking action to ensure the safety of Ontarians travelling on our roads and making the right investments at the right time.

I understand that the Ministry of Transportation has substantial oversight to ensure that these roads are built to the best specifications possible.

While your answer goes a long way to helping me speak to my constituents about this important topic, I would also appreciate it if you would go one step further and elaborate on the layers of oversight MTO has to ensure that engineers and contractors are designing and building our roads safely. What oversight does the government have to ensure that our government is building our roads to the best possible standards and that we are building them using the right materials?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: It’s interesting: The members opposite deride this question, but I think it’s very important for Ontarians to understand how we keep our infrastructure safe. It’s very easy to take for granted that we have safe roads, but we need to make sure that people understand how that works.

In 2007, what we did at MTO was we introduced industry-leading design guidelines, and that was after consultation with Ontario’s industry partners. We developed these guidelines in consultation with those partners to make sure that the province’s top engineers are able to use a consistent and scientifically objective methodology to select the materials that are used in building roads and culverts.

We go farther: We have made sure that the product is approved by a third party at the point of manufacture, and that contractors’ work has to withstand post-installation maintenance standards. In fact, other jurisdictions are looking to Ontario and looking to MTO as to how we develop the guidelines and how we will renew them.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The time for question period has ended.

The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities?

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I’m just standing on a point that was raised during question period. The member from Nepean–Carleton stood up and claimed to have a quote from Patrick Dillon. I have the column that she quoted from and—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): No, that’s not a point of order. The member should—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Renfrew, who is making a comment—I was about to comment, but I was having difficulty expressing my thoughts. It’s not a point of order. I remind all honourable members that they can only correct their own records.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome some guests of mine in the Speaker’s gallery: Dr. John Ratey and his research team of Dr. Alex Thornton, Dr. Lindsay Shaw and Dr. Chris Gilbert, visiting from Harvard University. Welcome, to the four of you, to Queen’s Park today.

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

The House recessed from 1136 to 1300.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Today, I would like to stand and acknowledge the recent achievement of the Woodbine Entertainment Group. Woodbine Entertainment Group is the largest operator of horse racing in Canada, operating tracks in Toronto and in Campbellville, Ontario, in my riding.

On March 7, 2011, Jane Holmes, vice-president of corporate affairs, accepted the Century International Quality ERA Gold Award for total quality management on behalf of Woodbine Entertainment Group.

At the time, Woodbine Entertainment Group president and CEO, Nick Eaves, said that the Woodbine Entertainment Group “is honoured to receive this international recognition of our business practices and corporate social responsibility ideals.” He continued, “It is a well-deserved tribute to the commitment of our management team and staff to improving all aspects of our business operations.”

The award was presented in Geneva, Switzerland, and provided international recognition to Woodbine Entertainment Group for their business practices and corporate social responsibility. The award is sponsored by close to 30 media publications which focus on innovations, technology, new products and brand growth, and which support change and market trends.

I would like to commend the Woodbine Entertainment Group for their ongoing corporate giving, and congratulate them on receiving such a prestigious award of recognition.

TRILLIUM HOSPITAL

Mr. Peter Fonseca: Since 1955, the Mississauga Trillium hospital has been providing excellent health care services to the residents of Mississauga–East Cooksville. I want to commend the Trillium hospital for their commitment to publicly funded health care.

The Trillium hospital has been a leader in delivering lower wait times in many key procedures like cancer care, hip and knee replacements, emergency wait times and MRI diagnostics. Some 16,000 MRIs are done at the Trillium hospital annually, and now, with a new $1-million investment in a new MRI machine, another 3,000-plus diagnostics will be done. These procedures will help surgeons and other health care professionals better serve their patients.

This comes after a $150-million expansion of the Trillium hospital, which provided 135 more beds. It also added more doctors, nurses and equipment, like this MRI machine, to continue its quest to provide excellent health care in a timely fashion, like it has done for the last 56 years. This means that many, many more patients who are being sent to the Trillium hospital from the new Mississauga East–Cooksville community health centre and the new family health team in Mississauga East–Cooksville will be treated faster than ever before.

Wait times have dropped by as much as 70%. This is good news for the residents and patients of Mississauga East–Cooksville.

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

Mr. Frank Klees: Some time ago, my constituent Doug Mossop wrote a letter to the Premier, to which he still has not received an answer. Out of frustration, he asked me to read his letter here in hopes of getting the Premier’s attention.

“Dear Premier,

“Here I am pondering if you will have my support in the future because of the choice you as a government are making.

“First of all, I, like many Ontarians, do not like the HST. In British Columbia, they did not tax a number of items, as you did here, and the voters have said to get rid of the tax.

“May I remind the Premier that any government who has brought in this tax has been defeated.

“Next, if you really want some wise advice, do not let the Ontario Energy Board give the energy providers an increase because they lost a court case. Also, a 6.2% increase is way out of line, as most people will never see a raise in their paycheques anywhere near this amount. People cannot afford these increases you keep tagging on.

“Finally, you are getting ready to bill the taxpayers billions for what OPG wants to do. Let them pay their own way. In my final words, I wish to remind you that Adam Beck was right. Our electricity utility is not a luxury but a necessity. No part of it should be in private hands. It should go back to being fully regulated. Premier, you can turn things around by doing the right things. I hope you will actually listen.

“Doug Mossop,

“Newmarket, Ontario.”

OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: It’s a pleasure to rise in the House today to speak about the Oakville Soccer Club. All soccer players in Oakville are now gearing up for the outdoor season, and the club is demonstrating once again that they’re changing the way that soccer clubs operate in this country.

Earlier this month I was on hand as the club, in partnership with Absolute Soccer and Umbro, officially launched the opening of the doors to The Red Zone store and revealed a brand new Oakville fanwear line. This continues to solidify their position as a leader in the Canadian soccer community.

Many around here would have heard me brag that the Oakville Soccer Club is the largest community soccer organization in Canada and that it’s got over 12,000 members and over 900 volunteer and professional coaches. Their tradition of excellence includes nine national championships and over 50 Ontario Cups, and a large number of those players have been selected to represent Canada at the international level.

Under the excellent leadership of CEO Paul Varian, technical director and former Canadian team captain Jason de Vos, and director of operations Lynn Joiner, I have no doubt that the Oakville Soccer Club is going to continue this tradition of winning and serving the young people of our community for many years to come.

R.J. BURNSIDE AND ASSOCIATES

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of a thriving business in my riding, R. J. Burnside and Associates Ltd. The company, started by Bob Burnside at his kitchen table, has grown substantially in the past 40 years. Bob’s son John has gone on to assume the leadership of the company in 2005.

Today, the firm’s Orangeville location serves as the company’s corporate headquarters, with offices located throughout Ontario and Manitoba, as well as project offices in Barbados and Mozambique. Burnside chose to open their doors in Orangeville in 1970 because they considered the town an attractive location, both professionally and for their families.

Recognized as a leader in community infrastructure, Burnside offers conventional engineering disciplines as well as specialized expertise in various technical fields. They are a unique company, one that has their own First Nations division. Mervin Dewasha, who leads the First Nations division, was one of last year’s winners of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Award. Mr. Dewasha and Neegan Burnside, a branch of R. J. Burnside, have completed approximately 1,200 projects for more than 200 First Nations communities across North America.

Burnside is well known in the community as a great supporter of local projects such as the Horning’s Mills hall and food bank, Habitat for Humanity and Hospice Caledon, to name just a few.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Bob and John on their 40 years of business success in the Orangeville community, and I wish you many more years of success.

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

M me France Gélinas: On March 31, Thursday of next week, we will be debating Bill 44 in second reading, a bill to ban the use of temporary replacement workers—better known as “anti-scab.” Since last introduced in October 2009, a provincial group has been formed. They are the Ontario Coalition Against Replacement Employees, better known as OCARE for short. The president is Mrs. Selina Clement Mikkola and the vice-president is Joann Marshall. They have recruited activists from throughout the province. They have reviewed the literature from the economists to see what the economic impacts are of such a law, as well as the social impact.

The facts are that although strikes and lockouts are rare—95% to 97% of collective agreements get settled without work disruption—for the 3% to 5% we see a steady rise in the use of temporary replacement workers. I can give the example of Vale in my riding, as well as a strike in the riding of Brant that has been going on for over two and a half years, where temporary replacement workers are being used—and the list goes on.

I know that temporary replacement workers are an emotional issue for many, but I encourage everybody to learn the facts, to learn the economic and the social facts. There will be a rally here at Queen’s Park on March 31 organized by the OFL, and I encourage everybody to come and see.

FIVE DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: I’m pleased to take the opportunity to share with the Legislature a meaningful fundraising initiative undertaken last week by students at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business in my riding of Ottawa Centre.

The national Five Days for the Homeless campaign challenges students to forgo the comforts of home and live outside for five full days to raise awareness about youth homelessness. This challenge clearly illustrates the difficult situation faced by too many vulnerable people in our communities nationwide, while raising much-needed funds through donations to benefit important services for homeless and vulnerable youth in our community.

These students spent the full five days outside in difficult March weather with only a pillow and a sleeping bag, whatever shelter they could piece together from found items, and with no access to facilities except those open to the public during regular hours. They could not bring food or drink and had to rely on the kindness of passersby for sustenance. Moreover, any donations of non-perishable food were kept for donation later on to those who go hungry in our community.

I was pleased to visit these dedicated students last week during their five days, and I want to offer my gratitude and congratulations to Mark Featherstonhaugh, Lauren Gouchie, Aisling McCaffrey and Meha Sethi, and the help of Eric Berrigan, Michael Fleming and Jessica Karam for taking

part in this initiative. They did a great job raising, over $7,000 for Rideau Street Youth Enterprise and Operation Come Home.

Congratulations also to the participants at the University of Ottawa, who raised over $9,500 for the campaign in their effort. Together, not only did they raise $15,000, but they also had a very meaningful role in raising awareness about youth homelessness in our communities.

CARREFOUR DES FEMMES

DU SUD-OUEST DE L’ONTARIO

M. Khalil Ramal: Je viens juste d’assister à une réception pour la Semaine de la francophonie organisée par la ministre Meilleur. Aussi, le samedi 5 mars dernier, j’ai eu l’occasion d’assister à une conférence organisée par le Carrefour des Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario. Cette conférence en reconnaissance de la Journée internationale de la femme a porté sur le thème du viol des femmes en temps de conflits armés.

L’organisation fournit aussi des soutiens pratiques tels qu’un service d’accompagnement et des programmes comme Café-causette, qui offre une variété d’activités sociales, de détente et d’information pour femmes.

Carrefour des Femmes est une organisation qui fait une contribution très importante pour les francophones dans ma communauté.

NOWRUZ

Mr. Reza Moridi: Today is Nowruz, the first day of spring. Nowruz is a rich tradition followed by many countries. It marks the first day of spring, and I’m proud to see this wonderful celebration being recognized in our great province of Ontario and in Canada.

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

Nowruz has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years. It is the rebirth of nature and can easily be celebrated by all the people in the world. About 200,000 Ontarians from various ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds celebrate Nowruz every year. Numerous celebrations have taken place throughout the GTA and were attended by a number of my colleagues, including Premier McGuinty, Minister Wynne and Minister Hoskins—just to name a few.

May this new year bring harmony and prosperity and peace to everyone who celebrates Nowruz around the world. I would like to extend my warmest greetings and best wishes for a festive Nowruz.

Remarks in Persian.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

DUTCH HERITAGE MONTH ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LE MOIS

DU PATRIMOINE NÉERLANDAIS

Mrs. Witmer moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 166,

An Act to proclaim May as Dutch Heritage Month / Projet de loi 166, Loi proclamant le mois de mai Mois du patrimoine néerlandais.

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?

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: I’m very pleased to introduce this bill today. It’s co-sponsored by MPP Van Bommel, who like me has Dutch heritage, and also by MPP Cheri DiNovo.

This would recognize the friendship that has developed between Canada and the Netherlands as a result of the liberation of Holland by our troops, and also the contribution made by the people of Dutch heritage to this province.

SUPPLY ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE CRÉDITS DE 2011

Ms. Smith, on behalf of Mr. Duncan, moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 167,

An Act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011 / Projet de loi 167, Loi autorisant l’utilisation de certaines sommes pour l’exercice se terminant le 31 mars 2011.

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. Monique M. Smith: I have no statement today, Speaker.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members’ public business.

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

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(g), notice for ballot item 72 be waived.

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

LA FRANCOPHONIE

L’hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Cette semaine, nous célébrons la francophonie partout en Ontario, au Canada et dans le monde entier à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la francophonie, qui se tenait hier.

This year’s celebrations have two overarching themes: how la Francophonie enriches us culturally, and a focus on youth.

Ces thèmes s’inscrivent parfaitement dans les stratégies du gouvernement de l’Ontario et j’en suis très heureuse.

Depuis 2003, l’Ontario s’est attardé à redonner une place de choix aux francophones dans les affaires civiles et au sein de leur gouvernement. Une population francophone et francophile est enracinée dans l’histoire de l’Ontario depuis 400 ans, et nous accordons la même reconnaissance aux communautés culturelles francophones qui s’établissent ici en grand nombre.

Comme le dit si bien le thème des Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, cet organisme chapeauté par la Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures, il faut « interagir pour s’enrichir ». En Ontario, nous croyons fermement que l’interaction avec et entre les cultures est une source d’enrichissement inestimable et j’en suis très fière. Nous sommes une société ouverte sur la francophonie, ouverte sur le Canada et ouverte sur le monde.

L’Ontario possède maintenant l’un des meilleurs systèmes d’éducation dans le monde entier. D’après les derniers rapports de l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, OCDE, les élèves de l’Ontario âgés de 15 ans sont parmi les meilleurs lecteurs au monde. Notre taux d’obtention de diplômes est maintenant à 81 % et ne cesse d’augmenter, et notre province est un modèle dans le monde entier dans le domaine de l’apprentissage et du suivi scolaire.

La politique d’aménagement linguistique mise en place par notre gouvernement en 2004 fait désormais de nos écoles de véritables lieux d’épanouissement culturelle pour nos jeunes francophones.

Cette semaine, les francophones célèbrent partout au Canada. Nous célébrons notre patrimoine culturel. Nous célébrons notre place au sein de la confédération canadienne. Et nous célébrons notre influence dans les affaires internationales.

We are fortunate to live in a province and a country that place such high value on harmony between peoples. C’est ce qui nous distingue comme Ontariens et comme Canadiens.

L’Ontario ne serait pas la terre d’accueil et la terre de droits qu’elle est devenue sans l’apport des francophones. J’invite donc mes collègues députés à célébrer la francophonie dans leurs communautés. Je vous invite à vous joindre à ces festivités qui nous rassemblent comme peuple, comme province et comme pays.

À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la francophonie, nous soulignons encore une fois la présence et la contribution des francophones et des francophiles partout en Ontario.

Je voudrais souhaiter la bienvenue aux francophones qui sont ici en Chambre et qui sont venus célébrer à midi avec moi la Semaine de la francophonie. Je voudrais aussi remercier mon collègue le député de London–Fanshawe pour avoir célébré hier, lui aussi, la Journée internationale de la francophonie.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Responses?

M. Peter Shurman: Je suis très heureux, à

titre de porte-parole de l’opposition pour les Affaires francophones, de me lever dans l’Assemblée aujourd’hui pour rendre hommage aux Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes durant la semaine internationale de la francophonie.

C’est nécessaire de temps en temps de nous souvenir que notre communauté francophone est une des deux nations fondatrices de notre province. Nous avons créé, l’année passée, un jour spécial, soit le 25 septembre, pour commémorer les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes, mais ça ne suffit pas. La semaine internationale de la francophonie est une opportunité pour nous à faire exactement ça.

La semaine internationale de la francophonie est célébrée dans 52 nations et provinces du monde, et le dimanche—hier—était désigné comme jour international de la francophonie. Il y avait beaucoup d’activités autour du monde et partout dans notre province pour commémorer cette semaine et le jour spécial hier.

De la part du caucus progressiste-conservateur, j’offre les salutations de notre leader, M. Tim Hudak.

Félicitations.

M me France Gélinas: Il me fait aussi extrêmement plaisir de célébrer la semaine internationale de la francophonie, un événement qui est célébré dans mon comté de Nickel Belt, dans Sudbury et dans le Nord-Est. On y met le paquet. Ça commence avec les dîners de la francophonie. On a des spectacles des arts de la scène, les arts visuels—tout y passe. C’est très bien et c’est souvent très le fun.

Il est sûr que la semaine internationale de la francophonie est un bon temps pour démontrer ce que la francophonie a fait, mais c’est également un bon temps pour démontrer ce qui nous reste à faire.

Pourquoi est-ce que ça prend huit ans, du côté francophone, pour reconnaître qu’un collège a besoin d’un bibliothèque, d’un cafétéria et d’un campus pour que les gens se retrouvent? Mais non; nous, on est francophone. C’est toujours deux poids, deux mesures. C’est toujours plus difficile.

Là, on est en train de faire marche arrière un petit peu. Moi, je dis : « Pourquoi, quand on a mis ça en place, on n’a pas regardé ce qui se passe du côté francophone? » C’est comme si on n’existait pas.

Je veux quand même finir sur des notes positives parce qu’il y en a plein. C’est la 38 e Nuit sur l’étang à Sudbury le samedi prochain. C’est à l’auditorium Fraser de l’Université Laurentienne. Venez voir La Volée d’Castors, Alexandre Désilets et la sensation acadienne Radio Radio. En plus, en partenariat avec le Contact interculturel francophone de Sudbury, nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter Muna Mingole, la flamme bleue du Cameroun.

Il y aura des tournois de euchre au Club Amical et un dîner au club d’âge d’or d’Azilda. Que ce soit le Carrefour francophone, le centre de santé communautaire, les conseils scolaires ou le Collège Boréal, tout le monde se donne la main pour s’assurer qu’à Sudbury, la francophonie, on la fête et on la célèbre. On montre nos couleurs et on en est fier. J’aurais espérance que toute cette fierté-là va aider, peut-être, le gouvernement de M. McGuinty à reconnaître que la francophonie est vibrante et existante. Le gouvernement a besoin de nous reconnaître pour ce qu’on est.

PETITIONS

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Ms. Sylvia Jones: “Whereas there are … 40,000 Ontarians living with Parkinson’s disease, many of whom require speech-language therapy to retain essential verbal communications skills and life-saving swallowing skills; and

“Whereas speech-language therapy can make the difference between someone with Parkinson’s retaining their ability to speak or not, and their ability to swallow or not, yet most Ontarians with Parkinson’s are unable to access these services in a timely fashion, many remaining on waiting lists for years while their speaking and swallowing capacity diminishes; and

“Whereas Ontarians with Parkinson’s who lose their ability to communicate experience unnecessary social isolation and economic loss due to their inability to participate as full members of their communities; and

“Whereas it is the responsibility of the community care access centres to assign speech-language pathologists to provide therapy to people on the wait-lists, yet people are regularly advised to pay for private therapy if they want timely treatment, but many people living with Parkinson’s are already experiencing economic hardship and cannot afford the cost of private therapy;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to call on Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to intervene immediately to ensure that CCACs across Ontario develop a plan to ensure that all Ontarians living with Parkinson’s who need speech-language therapy and swallowing therapy receive the necessary treatment.”

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

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

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

“Whereas strikes and lockouts are rare: on average, 97% of collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since 1978; in British Columbia since 1993; and successive governments in those two provinces have never repealed those laws; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

“Whereas the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community in the short and the long term as well as the well-being of its residents;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Travis to bring it to the Clerk.

PARAMEDICS

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel: I bring this petition to the Legislature on behalf of some of my constituents in Watford.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

Of course I’ll sign this.

OAK RIDGES MORAINE

Mr. John O’Toole: It’s a pleasure to have the time to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of the riding of Durham. It reads as follows:

“Whereas citizens are concerned that contaminants in materials used as fill for pits and quarries may endanger water quality and the natural environment of the Oak Ridges moraine; and

“Whereas the Ministry of the Environment has a responsibility and a duty to protect the Oak Ridges moraine; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario has the lead responsibility to provide the tools to lower-tier government to plan, protect and enforce clear, effective policies governing the application and permit process for the placement of fill in abandoned pits and quarries; and

“Whereas this process requires clarification regarding rules respecting what materials may be used to rehabilitate or fill abandoned pits and quarries;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, ask that the Minister of the Environment initiate a moratorium on the clean fill application and permit process on the Oak Ridges moraine until there are clear rules; and we further ask that the provincial government take all necessary actions to prevent” further “contamination of the Oak Ridges moraine.”

I am pleased to sign this in support of the municipality of Scugog as well as Uxbridge.

PARAMEDICS

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

I support this petition. I will sign it and give it to Leighton, who I think just started today.

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

Mr. Robert Bailey: This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Progressive Conservative MPP Bob Bailey has introduced a significant tax credit for farmers who donate agricultural goods to food banks, to help provide tax relief to farmers and assist local food banks; and

“Whereas stagnating economic growth and increasing unemployment over the last two years have strained the ability of food banks to support Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens; and

“Whereas over 25 million pounds of fresh produce is disposed of or plowed back into Ontario’s fields each year while local food banks across Ontario face an uphill battle as they struggle to assist those most in need; and

“Whereas Progressive Conservative MPP Bob Bailey’s ‘A Bill to Fight Hunger with Local Food’ provides an inexpensive and common-sense solution to a critical problem for Ontario’s most vulnerable;

“Whereas if the McGuinty Liberals truly support a healthy Ontario and wish to fight poverty, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario should immediately” call and “pass MPP Bob Bailey’s bill;

“We, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to call MPP Bob Bailey’s private member’s bill, Bill 78, the Taxation Amendment Act (Food Bank Donation Tax Credit for Farmers), 2010, to committee immediately for consideration and then on to third reading and implementation without delay.”

I agree with this petition. I’ll affix my signature to it and send it down with Cherechi.

TRAVAILLEURS SUPPLÉANTS

M me France Gélinas: J’ai une pétition qui m’a été parvenue par l’unité 65 de la FEESO.

« Attendu que les grèves et les lock-out sont rares; en moyenne, 97 % des conventions collectives sont négociées sans arrêt de travail; et

« Attendu que des lois contre le remplacement temporaire des travailleurs existent au Québec depuis 1978 et en Colombie-Britannique depuis 1993, et les gouvernements successifs de ces deux provinces n’ont jamais abrogé ces lois; et

« Attendu que la loi contre le remplacement temporaire des travailleurs a réduit la longueur et la discorde des conflits du travail; et

« Attendu que le remplacement temporaire des travailleurs pendant une grève ou un lock-out compromet le tissu social d’une communauté à court et à long terme ainsi que le bien-être de ses résidents », ils demandent à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario « d’adopter une loi interdisant le remplacement temporaire de travailleurs pendant une grève ou un lock-out. »

J’appuie cette pétition et je vais demander à Logan de l’amener au greffier.

LONG-TERM CARE

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

“Whereas Ontarians who now live in long-term-care homes are increasingly older, frailer and have greater complex care needs;

“Whereas our elder parents, family and friends deserve to live with dignity and respect;

“Whereas the McGuinty Liberal government failed to revolutionize long-term care and broke its promise to seniors to provide $6,000 in personal care, per resident;

“Whereas five years of Liberal inaction has restricted Ontario’s ability to meet the demands of our aging population;

“Whereas more than 24,000 Ontarians are currently waiting for an LTC bed;

“Whereas Ontario funds significantly less resident care than Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick;

“Whereas dedicated LTC homes are short-staffed and have not been given resources to hire enough front-line workers to provide the level of care residents require;

“Whereas devoted LTC staff are burdened by cumbersome government regulations;

“Whereas some 35,000 seniors are living in LTC beds which do not meet more home-like design standards introduced in 1998 by the former PC government;

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

“That the McGuinty government must enhance long-term care by:

“—initiating a sector-wide staffing increase of 4,500 full-time positions within a year;

“—expediting the redevelopment of Ontario’s 35,000 oldest long-term-care beds by providing adequate support and funding;

“—achieving an average of three worked hours of personal care, per day, within a year;

“—simplifying the regulations which govern nursing homes;

“—producing a comprehensive plan with benchmarks to reduce LTC wait lists of more than 24,000 people;

“—addressing inflationary pressures by adequately funding the increased operating costs of LTC homes.”

I support the petition and am pleased to affix my name to it.

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel: I present this on behalf of Carol Mitchell, the member for Huron–Bruce.

“Whereas there are over 7,000 people with disabilities waiting for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services’ special services at home (SSAH) funding and almost 4,000 on wait-lists for Passport funding; and

“Whereas such programs are vital and essential to supporting Ontarians with developmental disabilities, and their families, to participate in community life;

“ARCH Disability Law Centre, supported by Family Alliance Ontario, People First of Ontario, Community Living Ontario, Special Services at Home Provincial Coalition, Individualized Funding Coalition for Ontario and the undersigned individuals and organizations, urge the Ontario government to take quick action to substantially improve developmental services.

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

“—Ensure that all qualified Passport and SSAH applicants immediately receive adequate funding;

“—Make the application and funding allocation processes transparent; and

“—Ensure that sufficient long-term funding is in place so that eligible Ontarians with disabilities can access the supports and services they need.”

I will sign this as well.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. Robert Bailey: This petition is addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas soaring hydro costs across the province are making electricity unaffordable for many hard-working Ontario families and seniors;

“Whereas energy experts suggest that over the course of 2010” and 2011, “residential hydro bills in Ontario will increase” at least “26% or more, costing a minimum of $304 per year for the average homeowner;

“Whereas, over the last year alone, the McGuinty Liberal government has added $150 per household in hydro generation premiums, $50 in smart meter fees and then placed $98 in harmonized sales taxes on the average Ontario household’s hydro bill;

“Whereas Dalton McGuinty’s smart meters are forcing hard-working and busy Ontarians to pay exorbitant premiums to do regular chores, such as laundry, outside of the Premier’s ‘preferred’ time-of-use energy schedule;

“We, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to demand that the McGuinty Liberal government immediately reduce hydro rates for all Ontarians, cease with the time-of-use pricing and remove the HST tax placed upon electricity, as it is an essential service to hard-working Ontario families.”

I agree with this petition and will send it down with Grace.

TAXATION

M me France Gélinas: I have this very short petition from the people of Nickel Belt:

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ... that Dalton McGuinty immediately exempt electricity from the harmonized sales tax (HST).”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask quickly climbing page Devon to bring it to the Clerk.

PARAMEDICS

Mr. Ted McMeekin: I think paramedics do a great job. They get lots of petitions about them, and I have one as well.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

I’ll have the young page take that to you, Mr. Speaker.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas all Ontarians have the right to a safe home environment; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario works to reduce all barriers in place that prevent victims of domestic violence from fleeing abusive situations; and

“Whereas the Residential Tenancies Act does not take into consideration the special circumstances facing a tenant who is suffering from abuse; and

“Whereas those that live in fear for their personal safety and that of their children should not be financially penalized for the early termination of their residential leases;

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

“That Bill 53, the Escaping Domestic Violence Act, 2010, be adopted so that victims of domestic violence be afforded a mechanism for the early termination of their lease to allow them to leave an abusive relationship and find a safe place for themselves and their children to call home.”

I wholeheartedly agree with this petition and send it to the table via page Sydney.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO FOREST TENURE MODERNIZATION ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LA MODERNISATION

DU RÉGIME DE TENURE FORESTIÈRE

EN ONTARIO

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 8, 2011, on the motion for second reading of Bill 151,

An Act to enact the Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act, 2011 and to amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 / Projet de loi 151, Loi édictant la Loi de 2011 sur la modernisation du régime de tenure forestière en Ontario et modifiant la Loi de 1994 sur la durabilité des forêts de la Couronne.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Further debate?

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I’m delighted to have the opportunity today to speak to Bill 151, the forest tenure and pricing review legislation, as a proud northerner. I’m sure that you understand, Mr. Speaker, as others do in the House, how important the forestry industry is to our region and to our communities.

In North Bay and in Nipissing, where I’m from, we have Tembec, we have Columbia and we’re not too far away from Grant Forest Products. A lot of people involved in the forestry sector and in the supports to the forestry sector are situated in North Bay. In fact, we have a great number of people who work at Tembec in Timiskaming who live in North Bay, and we’re pleased to have them as part of our community. So I recognize the importance of the forestry sector to our province and, in particular, to our region.

I also recognize and have spent a great deal of time working with the forestry sector in northern Ontario over the last number of years as they’ve gone through a transformation and a very difficult period in forestry in our province and in our country and, in fact, worldwide. Our forestry sector is transforming itself. It is a large undertaking to transform a sector that has been in existence for so long, but they are doing that.

As part of that, our government has contributed a great deal through reducing energy costs, providing assistance in cogeneration, providing a lot of support and assistance to the forestry sector through their transformation, and again today through the forest tenure and pricing review legislation that we’ve introduced.

This proposed legislation will modernize Ontario’s tenure and pricing system so that we can put Ontario’s wood back to work and continue to build our new forest economy.

The proposed framework is key to building a strong forest economy in Ontario and is needed to create opportunities that would generate the right level of investment to ensure that crown forests continue to be renewed and enhanced while creating additional opportunities for jobs and economic prosperity. I can speak specifically to this in my region. We have a number of biomass companies that are looking and getting into the biomass economy and are seeking access to wood and wood supply in order to generate new businesses and new employment in the region.

Unfortunately, under our existing tenure program, it is more difficult for new entrants to get access to wood. Of course, Ontario crown forests belong to the people of Ontario, and we want to make sure that Ontarians receive the full benefits of these resources.

The current forest tenure system was designed years ago to give primary consuming mills responsibility to manage Ontario’s forests in exchange for long-term wood supply, making it difficult, as I said, for new players to enter the market and leaving communities vulnerable during economic downturns.

Over my eight years in office, I’ve had a number of individuals, small companies and new companies come to me, looking for access to a wood supply. In fact, given our tenure system today, I’ve had to direct them to existing companies to try to access their wood as it has been given to them on a long-term wood supply tenure. What we’re doing today will change that a bit, allow for new entrants to have easier access to wood and develop the companies as they would.

During our consultations, we heard loudly and clearly that Ontarians wanted change. However, we also heard that the change they wanted was to be implemented in a measured and cautious manner, and I believe that this legislation does just that. We listened. The member for Trinity–Spadina: We listened and we heard what they had to say, and we have, as such, responded to that through this legislation. We’ve listened to the feedback. We’ve developed a proposed tenure model that is widely supported and contains many of the suggestions we heard during consultations, including more involvement by local and aboriginal communities.

There is no doubt that we face a daunting challenge in trying to revitalize this sector of the economy and our communities, to restore them to prosperity through a new forest economy based on new products, new markets and new processes. We are going to continue to work with the industry, as we have throughout this process, work with our local communities and work with the aboriginal communities and our partner ministries to ensure that the forest sector needs are addressed in a competent and timely manner. Together, we can work to revitalize our industry and our communities and restore prosperity.

There’s a great deal of demand for these changes. These changes are needed in order to modernize the entire forestry sector. This is the right time to do it, as we are going through a transformation in the sector already. This will assist new entrants to get access to wood to be able to develop that employment that we so desperately need in the north, to actually revitalize an economy that has been hit by the downturn in the forestry sector and by the global economic downturn. We need to rebuild that industry. We need to assist those new entrepreneurs in coming up with new ideas, building new companies and hiring more folks up north.

As a proud northerner, I’m very pleased to support this legislation. I know it’s very important for my community, for our region, and I look forward to hearing from other members of the Legislature on this legislation.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: To the minister from Nipissing: She only took five minutes. I don’t get it. There’s so much to say.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I know, but I wanted to hear from you.

Mr. Rosario Marchese: Oh, you will as we go around—not that I am an expert, I have to admit straightaway. But I suspect you support this bill going through a committee process, making sure a whole lot of people in your part of the world and north of you are going to get a chance to come and speak to this bill. I’m assuming you’re fine with that, because we’re going to be pushing for that, obviously, because we want to—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): It would work if you spoke through the Chair.

Mr. Rosario Marchese: Of course, Speaker; you’re quite right. We want to hear from a whole lot of people, because I haven’t been hearing a whole lot of opposition to the current system. If there is opposition to the current system and they want to revamp it because they believe that clearly we’ve got to make some changes, we need to know.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments? The member for Haliburton–Victoria—

Mr. Rick Johnson: Kawartha Lakes.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): —Kawartha Lakes–Brock. Thank you.

Mr. Rick Johnson: I am pleased that our government is proposing to modernize Ontario’s tenure and pricing system so that we can put Ontario’s wood back to work and continue to build a new forest economy. The proposed framework is key to building a strong forest economy in Ontario and is needed to create opportunities that would generate the right level of investment to ensure that our crown forests continue to be renewed and enhanced while creating additional opportunities for jobs and economic prosperity.

In my riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, there are many areas in the north up near Algonquin park where there has been great discussion. Several members of the forest industry in that area were down to speak with the minister on this issue, and we’re very pleased with being able to have that dialogue.

We have listened to the feedback and have developed a proposed tenure model that was widely supported and contains many of the suggestions we heard during the consultations, including more involvement by local and aboriginal communities. In my area in particular, the loggers are very used to working with the local cottagers’ association, so they’ve been working on having a good community relationship.

There’s no doubt we face some daunting challenges as we move forward, but I believe we can revitalize our industry and our communities by restoring prosperity through a new forest economy based on new products, new markets and new processes. We will continue to work with industry, local and aboriginal communities and our partner ministries to ensure that the forest sector’s needs are addressed in a competent and timely manner. Together, we can work to revitalize our industry and our communities and restore prosperity. Together, the wood supply competition and tenure modernizations are key initiatives in promoting the fullest and most innovative use of Ontario’s wood.

I know that as we move forward there will still undoubtedly be challenges, but that’s part of the process in working forward to making sure that we resolve this, and our government has clearly shown that we have an open process to getting this done.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: The member talked about that there will be challenges going forward. I guess you got that right. There are going to be huge challenges going forward, and this legislation isn’t going to help it at all.

These local LHINs that you’re going to be developing are just going to be an absolute nightmare. You’re going to put local people on a council to make economic decisions about who wins and who loses. That’s just a formula that is tantamount to a disaster.

People in the north, of course, were looking forward to getting some stability. They’ve had 60 or 90 mills that have shut down in the north. This bill could be described as being somewhat of a diversion. Here we have a new bill going through the House and people have great hopes for it but, unfortunately, what you’re going to end up with is that the mills are going to remain closed because this bill doesn’t address any of the issues that caused the mills to be closed, and going forward is going to be just one disaster after another. I think you’ve compounded the problems in the north by introducing this bill and muddying the waters by not giving any security of wood.

Producing wood is a lot like producing apples. It takes a long time to grow a tree; it takes a very long time to grow a tree. Managing that growth and managing the availability of that tree is very much an issue that the industry lives or dies by. The way in which this bill restructures the forest industry in the north is going to make that a much more difficult task to manage, and I don’t think that will be a good thing for northern Ontario or, indeed, any part of Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Mr. Michael A. Brown: I just wanted to compliment my friend and colleague from Nipissing on her fine analysis of the bill during her presentation.

I think we should all recognize what this bill does. This bill provides an opportunity for local corporations—more local than there are today—to make decisions around the allocation of wood. Now, I don’t know about other people with large northern constituencies and large northern forests, but I know that one of the complaints I’ve had for the 20-some years that I have represented Algoma–Manitoulin in the Legislature is the fact that small and sometimes medium-sized forest companies who need access to lumber, to timber, to the resource, have had great difficulty doing that through the process we have today.

We believe that a process that allows for the best—and by “best” I mean generates the most money for the crown, generates the most money for the people who use the timber—can go forward. It seems to me that if you believe in markets, a system of market-priced wood is probably a better price than kind of going back to—well, I sometimes say to my friends that if you thought Stalin had it right, you’d like the five-year plans we have today. That is not what I think is in the interests of people. We believe that the marketplace should set the price.

We believe that competitive prices, a competitive forest, will produce the best for communities, will produce the best revenues for the province of Ontario and will produce the greatest economy.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Government House leader, you have up to two minutes to respond.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I’d like to thank the members from Trinity–Spadina, Algoma–Manitoulin and Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock—and the member from Halton for sharing that insight that it takes a long time for a tree to grow. I’d like to thank the member from Trinity–Spadina for his input and assure him that we will, of course, be going to committee, as we do with all of our legislation—unlike previous governments who usurped that little part of the process. We will be going to committee, as we always do, and we look forward to more input from you, the member for Trinity–Spadina, at the committee stage.

I would dispute what the member for Halton had to say and, of course, agree with my colleague from Algoma–Manitoulin, who, having a number of mills and forestry undertakings in his riding, would know best that this legislation will modernize Ontario’s forest tenure and pricing system.

Our modernization of Ontario’s forest tenure and pricing system will help make Ontario’s timber supply and prices more responsive to market demand and create new business opportunities, because it will actually allow access to lumber where that’s not possible today. The member from Halton would know that if he had actually been north of Barrie and understood a little bit more about the forestry sector.

It will also create new business opportunities for entrepreneurs and facilitate greater local, community and aboriginal participation in the sector—all of which has been called for from across the north, all of which is here, present, in this legislation. I think this legislation will take our forestry industry in the right direction and will help it to re-establish itself as a world leader in the forest market.

I appreciate the opportunity today to have some time, as a proud northerner, to speak about this important industry and to speak about this important piece of legislation that our government is putting forward.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Further debate?

Mr. John Yakabuski: It’s a pleasure to join in the debate on Bill 151,

An Act to enact the Ontario Forest Tenure Modernization Act, 2011 and to amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.

This is a poor response to the concern that has been registered on behalf of forestry operators with respect to the tenure system and its problems here in the province of Ontario. What they’ve come up with, unfortunately, is not something that is going to help the forestry sector. First of all, notwithstanding the government House leader and member for Nipissing talking about how important the government considers this bill to be, are they committed to actually passing this bill before this House prorogues in the spring session?

Interjection.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Well, we’ll see about that, because they’re going to have to have committee hearings outside of Toronto. You’re not going to have a bill that affects other areas of the province as greatly as this does and not have that committee travel extensively to ensure that the people who are most directly affected and the companies that are most directly affected have an opportunity to speak to the bill, and its effects and implication as well. We don’t need this drafted-in-Toronto piece of legislation, then to ignore, as this government is wont to do on so many occasions, the input from other areas of the province.

It’s been increasingly the pattern of this government to want to pass legislation without having those committees travel to the areas that are most directly affected. I would hope that this government is going to change the way it’s been doing business as of late and ensure—I know my colleague from Whitby–Oshawa, our deputy leader, is nodding her head. She has seen bills that she’s had a great interest in as well in this House where, all of a sudden, “No, we’re not going anywhere with the committee.

We’re going to make sure that Toronto designs and does all the committee work on the legislation as well.” We want to make sure at the outset that this bill doesn’t get given short shrift when it comes to making sure that those people who are most affected by it have input.

The Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry actually came to my riding when they were talking about these changes in the tenure for forestry operators. Most people that I talked to have said they haven’t got it right; they’re responding to some of the problems, but they haven’t got it right. It seems this is more about putting forth a bill that says, “We’re doing something.” As I say, notwithstanding, we’ll see.

We’ll see, when the House rises, whether or not they’ve actually passed this bill through third reading in the House and it has been given royal assent, because I have my doubts that they’re actually going to proceed. I’ve been wrong before. I’ll give them the opportunity to prove me wrong on this one.

Some of the concerns that have been put forth about this bill—I’m going to get to them shortly, but first I want to talk about the sector in general. The government implies that somehow this is going to be the panacea, this is going to be the bill, the game-changer, for forestry operators, lumber producers and logging operators in this province. They’re somehow implying that this 15-page document—and that’s in both official languages, so we would say “this seven-and-a-half-page document”—is somehow going to be the genesis for a new age in forestry in the province of Ontario. Well, this is one that I am quite certain I won’t be wrong on: This is not the answer.

When you talk to forestry operators—and I probably have more mills in my riding than perhaps in any riding in the province. They’re smaller mills, they’re not the giants, but they continue to operate. I’m so proud of the fact that most of those mills have been run by families, some into the fifth generation, and they continue to operate through the good times and through the tough times, because their heart and soul are in those operations and they care about the people they employ. I’m talking about the Shaws, the Murrays, the McRaes, the Neumans.

We’re talking about the people who have been operating mills in my riding for 100 years and more. So they have the commitment. That’s what has kept them working, and kept people working, through all of these difficult times.

When you ask them why mills are closing, they’ll talk about energy costs. They’ll talk about regulatory burdens that this government just loves to foist upon the people. It was interesting: a couple of weeks ago, my colleague from Oxford, Ernie—oh, I can’t use his name. But you know who he is, Mr. Speaker; you know him well.

He talked about how this government has this study and this plan where, if they have something that has three regulations now where they say you have to fill out this part of the form and this part of the form and this part of the form, they’re now going to have part of the regulations say, “Just fill out the form,” and they’re going to say that they’ve actually removed two thirds of the regulatory burden.

That’s the kind of—I don’t want to say “deceitful,” because that would be unparliamentary, but I can’t think of another word—the way that they go about gaming the people in saying that they’re reducing the regulatory burden, when in fact these guys love regulatory burdens. That’s what they thrive on; it’s their lifeblood. Regulatory burden is what makes the Liberals tick.

So now what we’ve got is a new piece o