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November 26, 2018

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2018-Nov-26 (PDF)

L054 - Mon 26 Nov 2018 / Lun 26 nov 2018

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 26 November 2018 Lundi 26 novembre 2018

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of ribbons

Notice of point of privilege

Oral Questions

Automotive industry

Automotive industry

Automotive industry

Child protection

Privatization of public assets

Government’s agenda

Access to information

Indigenous economic development

Social assistance

Agriculture industry

Social assistance

Winter highway maintenance

Automobile insurance

Visitor

Correction of record

Member’s privilege

Member’s apology

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

French-language services

Stephen Newman

Winter highway maintenance

Businesses in Carleton

Social assistance

Automotive industry

Seniors

Minimum wage

Simcoe Christmas Panorama River of Lights

Motions

House sittings

House sittings

Petitions

Soins de longue durée

Fish and wildlife management

Independent officers of the Legislature

Curriculum

Automobile insurance

Northern health services

Northern health services

Indigenous affairs

Services de santé dans le Nord

Emergency services

Injured workers

Gasoline prices

Traffic control

Orders of the Day

Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 visant à rétablir la confiance, la transparence et la responsabilité

House sittings

Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 visant à rétablir la confiance, la transparence et la responsabilité

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us pray.

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today Mr. Kaihan Ahadi, consul-general of Afghanistan in Toronto. He’s accompanied by his wife, Lida Hidayatullah Ahadi. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests to the Ontario Legislature today.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: We have a number of people who are in today from the Ontario women’s Catholic organization, and I would just like to welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jane McKenna: There are two people I want to introduce. First of all, a very dear friend of mine, Barry Strader, is here today. I want to welcome him.

Also, I want to welcome the Canadian Nuclear Association. Everyone is welcome tonight to the legislative dining room for their reception from 5 to 7. I see them up there.

Mr. Jamie West: I’d like to welcome Karen McDonald from Sudbury. She’s part of the Catholic Women’s League. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: J’aimerais accueillir Bonita Chan from the Canadian nuclear labs, and from Chalk River, Sandra Dykxhoorn and Terry Armstrong, with whom I had the pleasure of meeting this morning. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I’d like to introduce Jill Wilson, John Barrett, Dale Austin, Jennifer Rowe and Steve Coupland from the Canadian Nuclear Association.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. Bill Walker: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. At the risk of stealing your thunder, I’d like to introduce my first seatmate in this Legislature, Rod Jackson, the former MPP for Barrie, and some classmates of his from the paralegal program: Brian Sulima, Daniella Romeo, Anna-Marie Hunt and Eric Deauregard.

A secondary introduction: I’d like to introduce Andrew Thiele, Judy Bartley and Yousef Yacoob from the Canadian Nuclear Association.

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I’m pleased to welcome members of the executive of the Ontario Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada who are in this House today: Colleen Perry, Pauline Krupa from Thunder Bay, Colleen Martin from my riding, and Karen McDonald.

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: I’d like to welcome some of the members of the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance here at Queen’s Park today. With us today is George Gilvesy, chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers; Jan VanderHout, president of the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance; Jan Van Zanten, chair of Flowers Canada (Ontario); as well as two greenhouse growers, Samuel Van Geest and his son Bryan. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’d like to welcome friends from the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors: Tina Roy, Daniel Hofgartner, Krista Del Gatto, Lorraine Clark and Phil Dorner. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I am pleased to introduce the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of Ontario, who are here today for their lobby day. The RMTAO’s office is located right in my riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore. I just want to send a welcome to director Andrew Lewarne, as well as Bill Laidlaw, who helped organize today’s lobby day. Their delegation is in the gallery today. Welcome, all, to Queen’s Park. I look forward to meeting with you again.

Mr. John Vanthof: On behalf of the NDP caucus, I would also like to welcome the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance today. Thank you for breakfast and for brightening our lives with the wonderful poinsettias.

Mr. Vincent Ke: I would like to welcome grade 10 students from North Toronto Christian School from my riding of Don Valley North. They are in the gallery upstairs. They are visiting Queen’s Park on their field trip. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your visit.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I would like to welcome a group of seniors who are in the gallery today as part of a democratic engagement workshop organized by West Neighbourhood House, an outstanding social service organization in my riding of Davenport.

I would also like to welcome Alexandra Cote, a local realtor from my riding, who is here with the Toronto Real Estate Board.

Mr. Stan Cho: Mr. Speaker, good morning. In Willowdale, we’re very fortunate to have a wonderfully vibrant Filipino community. One of my proudest moments in the last few years was being inducted, with my colleague and friend from York Centre Roman Baber, to the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the sole order of knighthood in the Philippines. Feel free to call me Sir Stan at any time, if you wish.

Welcome Sir Joe Damasco, Sir Mario Alpuerto, Sir Popoy Cana, Sir Courtney Doldron, Sir Johnny Quiambao, Sir Mauro “Jun” Calaguio, Lady Trinidad Calaguio, Lady Ligaya Cana, Lady Jan Doldron, Lady Rose Tijam, Sir Elmer Manzo and Lady Yolly Manzo. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I, too, would like to welcome a great friend of the University of Guelph to Queen’s Park today, Bill Laidlaw, and also welcome the many greenhouse growers who are here today. Thank you for breakfast.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: I had a great meeting this morning with members from the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance: Kevin Safrance, Benji Mastronardi and Justine Taylor, all from the great riding of Chatham-Kent–Leamington.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I, too, would like to welcome all the economic contributors from an important industry in my riding: the greenhouse industry. I look forward to meeting with you later this afternoon. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Will Bouma: I would just like to welcome my good friend James Neven to the House today.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I, too, would like to welcome the former member for Barrie, Rod Jackson, who is here. Once again, welcome to the Ontario Legislature. Rod sat in the 40th Parliament.

Wearing of ribbons

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order: the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I think you will see we have unanimous consent to wear the white ribbon as a symbol of our continued pledge to never commit or condone, or remain silent about, violence against women and to begin marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The minister is seeking unanimous consent. Agreed? Agreed.

Notice of point of privilege

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I also wish to inform the House that I received written notice of a point of privilege from the member for Guelph. I wish to inform the House that I will be responding to that request for a point of privilege after question period has concluded.

It is now time for oral questions.

Oral Questions

Automotive industry

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My first question is to the Premier. Last night, Oshawa was devastated by news of the possible closure of all of its General Motors operations. There are nearly 5,000 families in Oshawa whose livelihoods rely on these jobs and whose lives are now on the line.

Can the Premier provide an update on his conversations with GM?

Hon. Doug Ford: Today’s announcement that GM is going to make is absolutely devastating. It’s devastating not only for the people in Oshawa, the people who work at GM, but the surrounding areas that rely on GM workers. It’s devastating for the supplier base. I think a lot of people are forgetting about the supplier base—that 6,600 people could be affected by this.

I just want to reassure each and every person who has been affected by this that our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. We will do whatever it takes to make sure they get back on their feet and they get proper training.

Again, we will make sure that we are there for these people, and we will turn it around. We’re going to stay positive, even in a negative environment like this. I guarantee you and I promise you that they will be back on their feet.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m very disappointed, Speaker, by the Premier’s response. Nearly 5,000 people—families, actually—5,000 families rely on GM to put food on the table. I think we can all agree that we can’t just stand by and let GM walk away from a community that they’ve been a part of for over 100 years in the province of Ontario.

My question is: What steps is the government willing to take to ensure that Oshawa maintains operations as General Motors restructures?

Hon. Doug Ford: I had a conversation with the Prime Minister this morning, making sure that we’re both on the same page, and I can assure you we’re both on the same page. We may have our political differences, but when it comes to supporting the people of Durham and Ontario, we’re on the same page.

We’re asking for a series of changes to the employment insurance eligibility, similar to what has been done in the past for forestry and Alberta’s oil patch. We want to:

—extend EI eligibility by five weeks, to the maximum of 50 weeks from 45, in the impacted EI regions, as was done in hard-hit areas before;

—extend the duration of work-sharing agreements an additional 38 weeks to 76 weeks;

—allow immediate reapplication for the expired agreements, as is currently being done for forestry, so if people are working part-time, they’re still going to be eligible for EI; and

—reintroduce the Career Transition Assistance Initiative to retrain workers—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I’m pretty shocked to hear that not only is this government prepared to leave those workers dangling without a job and not fight for their jobs, but also the Premier is telling us that the federal government apparently is not prepared to fight for the jobs in Oshawa. People don’t want an adjustment program; they want to keep their jobs. That’s what they want.

I ask this government and this Premier: What support has the government offered to the mayor-elect and the people of Oshawa as they work to keep their good jobs in their community?

Hon. Doug Ford: I’ll continue on, Mr. Speaker, through yourself. Part of the assistance that we require is to develop plan to increase EI durations for long-tenured workers—if someone has been working there for a number of years, they’re impacted, especially in EI regions; EI is broken into regions—and to increase the federal transfer to Ontario for skills training via the labour market development agreement and workforce development agreement.

What we’re proposing, since—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Doug Ford: What we’re proposing—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Essex, come to order.

Hon. Doug Ford: Man, they don’t want you to speak around here.

Again, as a first step, I’ll be authorizing Employment Ontario to deploy its Rapid Re-employment and Training Service program. This will provide impacted local workers with targeted local training and job services, to help them regain employment as quickly as possible. We spoke—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next question: the Leader of the Opposition.

Automotive industry

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Premier, but I have to tell you that, in 14 years of being in this House, I’ve never seen a government roll over so quickly and throw in the towel on good jobs in this province. The Premier has been critical—and we all know this—of government investment designed to create and retain jobs. We saw that all through the campaign. But right now, as nearly 5,000 people face the loss of good jobs, the government of Ontario should not be ruling options out.

Is the Premier prepared to work with GM, the community, the workers and others, using all tools at the government’s disposal, to ensure that investment and jobs stay in Ontario?

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, it’s easy to be an armchair quarterback, a Monday morning quarterback. Through you, Mr. Speaker: I talked to the president of GM last night. The first thing I said was, “What can we do? What do we have to do?” He said, “The ship has already left the dock.” So what we’re going to do now is continue doing what we’ve been doing to create good-paying jobs and to make sure a company is never in this position again.

After 15 years of terrible policies—don’t think that their decision to change over to another location happened yesterday. It didn’t happen in five months; it didn’t happen in six months; it happened well over a year ago.

What we’re going to do is make sure all three levels of government work together for the impacted families through this difficult transition. All three levels of government will work together and make sure that we do everything we can, from making sure they have proper training, to make sure we extend the EI benefits—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, it’s also much easier to call the game than to buck up and fight for good jobs. This government is calling the game.

The auto sector is a vital part of Ontario’s economy, and government policy has been crucial to ensuring that that industry has been successful in our province. However, in the past, this Premier has shunned the idea of an auto strategy. They have denounced the role of government investment in creating jobs.

The people of Oshawa need to hear that the Premier is ready to use every tool at their disposal to protect their jobs in Oshawa. Can the government give people that assurance?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: You want to buck up and stand up for jobs? For 15 years, you destroyed this province—300,000 jobs were destroyed because you voted with the Liberals 97% of the time. You destroyed the energy sector. You destroyed manufacturing. You destroyed 300,000 families that are trying to put food on the table. That’s what you destroyed.

We’re turning this province around. We’re lowering energy costs. We’re lowering gas prices. We’re creating an economy where companies will want to come to Ontario, for the first time in 15 years, as you destroyed this province hand in hand with your Liberal buddies. You raised taxes, raised energy costs and raised gas prices. You’re for the carbon tax. You have personally destroyed this province. That’s what you’ve done.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government benches, come to order.

I would remind all members to make your comments through the Chair.

Start the clock. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, notwithstanding the way the Premier behaves, I think most Ontarians know that the NDP hasn’t formed government in Ontario in some time. But we’re looking forward to doing so, because the turnaround that this government is providing is turning us backwards and hurting families, the latest of which are 5,000 families in Oshawa.

The people facing the threat of job loss today need to know that their government is going to fight like hell to keep their jobs. Apparently, they have now found out that the government doesn’t give a darn and they are going to let those jobs walk out of the province. But what those people need is to hear a government that is going to reach out to GM, to GM workers and to municipal leaders to bring all of those people together and work to save jobs and investment in Ontario. That’s the government’s job: to work to save jobs and investment in Ontario, not to sit by and wave bye-bye to jobs as they leave.

Will the government be doing that, Speaker? Will they actually be fighting to keep jobs and investment in Oshawa in our province?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition is demanding that we spend billions and billions of dollars to a company that doesn’t want it. They’re gone; they’re done. They told me straight up that there’s nothing we can do—absolutely nothing.

What the NDP believes in is in championing corporate welfare. That’s how you create jobs, according to the NDP. We have a different philosophy. We believe in creating an environment for companies to come here by making sure that they have low taxes, that we’re lowering the corporate tax rate from 11.5% to 10.5%, and we’re lowering the hydro bills down 12%. As everyone is driving around, I’m getting endless texts with gas prices. The lowest gas price now is 97.9 cents. That’s true money in the pockets of the taxpayers.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier, but I’ve got to say that the reduction in corporate taxes obviously didn’t save GM from leaving Oshawa, and the government refusing to fight for those jobs is quite shameful.

My question this time is about Franco-Ontarian families and, in fact, francophones across Ontario who felt abandoned and attacked by the Premier and his government when the fall economic statement cut not just a new French-language university but the French-language services watchdog as well.

On Friday, the Premier announced changes to his planned cuts and a new-found respect for Ontario’s francophone community. Is that the government’s way of acknowledging how reckless the cuts were that they announced in their financial statement?

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to hand this over to the new Minister of Francophone Affairs.

Aussi, aujourd’hui, j’ai été assermentée comme ministre des Affaires francophones en Ontario, ce qui va donner aux Franco-Ontariens une voix encore plus forte au conseil d’administration de ce gouvernement. Un point très important, monsieur le Président, c’est que le premier ministre a demandé d’embaucher un conseiller politique francophone, pour les Franco-Ontariens, pour lui donner des conseils quand il prend ses décisions politiques—tous les jours, pour lui donner ses conseils. Nous travaillons pour les Franco-Ontariens—

Le Président (L’hon. Ted Arnott): Merci.

Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It’s unfortunate that the minister, regardless of what portfolio she held, wasn’t fighting at the cabinet table in the first place.

The Premier’s budget cuts are now a national issue, and the Premier’s friend Andrew Scheer doesn’t want to be seen with him anymore. By singling out the Franco-Ontarian community as a target for cuts, the Premier has sent a signal that this government does not respect the key role that Franco-Ontarians play in our province’s history and our future.

Will the Premier do the right thing and reverse completely these cuts, immediately?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Notre gouvernement respecte les Franco-Ontariens. Notre gouvernement respecte tous les Ontariens, d’une manière différente que le gouvernement précédent qui a fait une annonce pour une université sans mettre le financement concret derrière cette université pour la bâtir.

Nous regardons les Franco-Ontariens dans les yeux et nous leur disons que nous sommes prêts à travailler sur cette université pour faire avancer ce projet. Quand nous aurons mis cette province sur la voie de la prospérité, sur une bonne voie fiscale, nous allons mettre du financement concret derrière cette université, d’une façon différente que le gouvernement précédent.

Automotive industry

Ms. Lindsey Park: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Last night, people in my community of Durham were shocked by the news that General Motors would be closing its Oshawa assembly plant. We’ve made cars in Oshawa for more than 100 years. Thousands of my constituents either worked at GM themselves, still work there or have friends, family and relatives that work there. Speaker, I want to ask the minister to inform the House what steps our government is taking to help the people of Oshawa and Durham region at this difficult time.

Hon. Todd Smith: I want to thank the member from Durham for her advocacy on behalf of the residents in her community.

The Premier and I were informed yesterday when we spoke to Canadian General Motors leadership about the global restructuring of General Motors that was going to be taking place. It not only affects the Oshawa facility, of course, but affects a number of other facilities across North America and even around the world.

I took the opportunity this morning to inform my caucus colleagues from Durham region, and also had the opportunity to talk to the NDP member who is from Oshawa—Jennifer French—this morning and the member from London—Peggy Sattler—to update the NDP members on what was happening in this restructuring, globally.

I can tell you that there are jobs that are going to be saved here in Ontario. The CAMI facility is going to remain open. We also know that the engine plant in St. Catharines will remain open. The technology sector in Markham and Oshawa will remain open.

But when the leader of the official opposition was offered a briefing, she said no, for some reason.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Stop the clock. Order. Government side, come to order.

Start the clock. Supplementary.

Ms. Lindsey Park: I’d like to thank the minister for his swift action on this file, and just as a note, I hope the member from Oshawa and I can find a way to work together for the people of Oshawa. I know that the minister was up until the wee hours of the morning after the news was leaked, consulting with local officials, including myself, on how to best help our communities.

Speaker, the closure of the Oshawa assembly plant will have effects beyond just the city of Oshawa and just the jobs at the plant itself. It’s a sad day that we got to this place in Ontario, where a US head office made a decision that it is no longer competitive to do business here. Can the minister tell the House what further steps he and our government are taking in order to help our auto sector and thousands of Ontario workers deal with this announcement?

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks again. Our thoughts do go out to everyone in Oshawa and the Durham region. This facility was very, very important to the economic stability of Oshawa for 100 years.

We’ll be meeting this afternoon—the Premier and I—with GM global to talk about their plans for the future. We are going to do everything we can, as the government of Ontario, to ensure that there is growth and expansion in those other facilities in Ontario. But again, this is a global restructuring that’s impacting General Motors across North America and around the world. I think it speaks, though, to the economic mismanagement that we’ve seen at various levels of government over the last number of years. I can tell you that if you’re looking to build a plant in Ontario, you want to have labour laws that work.

You want to have low taxes. You want to have low electricity costs and you don’t want to have a carbon tax—all things that the NDP are supportive of.

We want to clear the ground. We want to make sure that we have a fertile soil for employment here in Ontario, creating good jobs.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

Ma question est : si vous êtes prêt à écouter les Franco-Ontariens, pourquoi ne rétablissez-vous pas le commissariat, l’université et les subventions culturelles?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of francophone affairs.

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Je remercie le député pour sa question.

Le Président (L’hon. Ted Arnott): Merci. Supplementary.

Je vous pose encore une fois la question : est-ce que le premier ministre va appuyer cette motion?

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Je demanderais au député de corriger encore une fois ses propos. Nous n’avons pas aboli le commissariat. Il a été intégré au sein du Bureau de l’ombudsman avec toutes les responsabilités. Tout le travail qu’il faisait avant, il va continuer de le faire de manière indépendante. Ce qui est très important pour la protection des droits linguistiques en Ontario, c’est cette surveillance indépendante du gouvernement et de tous les organismes gouvernementaux, qui va continuer.

Child protection

Ms. Donna Skelly: My question is to the honourable Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Last year, Ontario’s 49 children’s aid societies, including 11 Indigenous societies and three faith-based societies, served more than 100,000 families. Across our youth justice system, roughly 7,500 youth were diverted from charges or formal court proceedings through extrajudicial measures, yet we’ve seen a disproportionate number of youth in crisis in Ontario’s Indigenous communities struggling with their mental health.

Minister, what is this government doing to improve outcomes in Ontario’s child protection system?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you to the member for the wonderful question. I think it’s important that we continue to talk about Ontario’s most vulnerable in this Legislature during question period so that all eyes can be seen to be looking and doing more to protect children and youth.

Ontario’s most vulnerable children deserve better, and we will be holding those responsible to a higher standard. We’re committed to better outcomes for children in the protection system through the creation of three new round tables dedicated to sharing ideas of empowerment that will directly report to me. The new round tables will be made up of those with lived experience in the field of Indigenous child welfare, children in care and youth in custody. The establishment of these new advocacy tables will have direct access to decision-makers.

I’ll also be requesting that Ontario’s Ombudsman immediately review all pending investigations and reports by the previous child advocate to ensure no child falls behind the cracks.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Donna Skelly: Back to the minister: We first announced, through the government’s fall economic update, that Ontario’s Ombudsman’s office will be assuming responsibility for investigations related to Ontario’s children. This added responsibility means the Ombudsman will have oversight of children’s aid societies, youth justice facilities, child welfare and mental health services. The proposed changes will mean that the authority to investigate services provided to children and youth will continue at a higher standard.

Minister, with the added responsibilities, how will the government ensure a seamless transition to keep our children safe?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I appreciate the question, because it does seem that the New Democrats don’t think the Ombudsman provides enough stringent investigative reporting.

Let me be perfectly clear: Under the new changes, there will be stronger and higher standards put in place for investigations through the Ombudsman’s office than has ever been done before. That’s why we’re creating three advocacy tables that will be led by with those with lived experience, whether that is with children in custody, children in care or Indigenous-led children.

We are going to ensure that there’s a children’s unit within the Ombudsman’s office. It will be turnkey. They will be removed from the previous advocate’s office over to the Ombudsman’s office.

As I’ve just said, the stronger investigative powers by the Ombudsman have ensured that I will be able to ask him to review all pending investigations so that we can ensure greater child protection in the province of Ontario than we’ve ever seen before.

I’m very proud of this government for taking such strong measures.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is for the Premier. Last week, we learned that OPG had sold its Hearn generating station property to a company controlled by Mario Cortellucci. The price tag was a reported $16 million. That’s only about one quarter of the price per hectare that OPG received when it sold the Lakeview property earlier this year. It sure looks like a bad deal for the people of this province.

Will the Premier allow an independent appraisal to verify the value of this Toronto waterfront property?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Greg Rickford: Ontario Power Generation operates at arm’s length from the government of Ontario, and it’s responsible for its own operational decisions. In this case, Studios of America has leased this land since 2002. The terms of their lease included the first right of offer to purchase the land if it ever became for sale. By divesting this land, OPG has shielded taxpayers from any long-term environmental liabilities associated with a former coal generating station. This decision is in the best interest of taxpayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Premier: Independent like hiring and firing Mr. Velshi—I’m sure totally independent.

This deal is raising a lot of concerns. The city was not consulted on the sale. More concerning is the fact that Mr. Cortellucci is a major donor and fundraiser for the PC party, and his family members made several contributions to the Premier’s party leadership campaign after he won. He wanted to make sure the bet was sure.

The Premier seems no more interested in getting to the bottom of this than he is in finding out whether his chief of staff arranged to have an OPG executive fired. The people deserve better. Will the Premier allow an independent investigation of this sale?

Hon. Greg Rickford: OPG are responsible for their own staffing decisions. They are a crown corporation that makes its own staffing decisions and operational decisions.

As I said earlier, Studios of America has leased this land since 2002. The terms of their lease agreement had the first right of offer to purchase the land if it ever became for sale. As I said earlier, by divesting this land, OPG has actually shielded taxpayers from any long-term environmental liabilities associated with a former coal generating station. This decision is in the best interest of taxpayers.

Government’s agenda

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Ma question est pour la vice-première ministre, en rapport avec l’énoncé économique automnal.

In the fall economic statement, the government announced that it is seeking to review and possibly cancel support for businesses, possibly cancelling the program Invest Ontario, which has assisted businesses to invest in Ontario with all types of incentives and information.

After cancelling program support for electric vehicles and the green economy, does the Premier think that it is wise, in light of the Oshawa closure, to cancel programs designed to help business stay in Ontario?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: We have made many provisions in the fall economic statement to help those most in need in our province of Ontario, but we have also made some provisions for the business community. I can tell you that while the Liberals did have tens upon tens of millions of dollars of new taxes that were going to both families and businesses starting in January, we have announced that we will not be proceeding with any of those individual or small business and corporate taxes that were scheduled to kick in on January 1. That’s about $308 million.

If you’re a senior on disability or among those who collect the medical tax credit, you would have suffered the most. You will not be receiving those Liberal taxes in January.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: The fall economic statement also excludes seniors who receive pensions, and presumably the Oshawa workers who will receive some assistance from the tax credit called LIFT. Does the Premier think that it is appropriate at this time to exclude seniors who receive pensions and workers who receive assistance from a program that’s designed to lift people out of poverty?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: As I said in the earlier answer, individuals who claim tax credits, such as seniors, those with disabilities and those who claim Ontario’s medical expense tax credit, would have suffered under the Liberal plan on January 1. About 150,000 filers with allowable Ontario medical expense would have paid $320 more in personal income tax on average. With our decision, Speaker, these filers will pay $35 million less. When we add that with the business programs that the government was about to tax, we see a massive tax relief for individuals, for seniors, for those on disability, for families and, yes, for businesses.

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Ma question est pour la ministre des Affaires francophones. Notre gouvernement pour la population prend des mesures concrètes pour les Franco-Ontariennes et les Franco-Ontariens. Notre gouvernement propose trois nouvelles orientations stratégiques qui comptent mettre en oeuvre pour la population de l’Ontario une reconnaissance des contributions importantes et continues des Franco-Ontariennes, Franco-Ontariens et francophones dans notre province depuis 400 ans.

Est-ce que la ministre nouvellement assermentée des Affaires francophones peut informer cette Chambre du travail que notre gouvernement fait pour la communauté francophone de l’Ontario?

Et, parlant de services aux francophones, j’ai eu la chance de parler à la ministre fédérale Mélanie Joly vendredi. Je lui ai fait part de ma déception au niveau du financement que le fédéral accorde aux francophones en Ontario. L’Ontario représente presque 53 % des francophones hors Québec au Canada mais ne reçoit que 2,78 $ par francophone dans la dernière entente. Le Nouveau-Brunswick, par exemple, reçoit plus de 7 $ par habitant et le Manitoba—

Le Président (L’hon. Ted Arnott): Merci.

Supplementary?

M me Natalia Kusendova: Je remercie la ministre pour sa réponse.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to sharing the news of what our government is doing for francophones with residents in my riding as well as across Ontario. I know that our government inherited a devastating $15-billion deficit and a $346-billion debt from the previous Liberal administration and that Ontarians are rightly concerned about the financial health of our province.

While our government has done great work in finding $3.2 billion in efficiencies so far, we know that we still have enormous work to do on the fiscal mess that we inherited from the previous government. Can the Minister of Francophone Affairs explain to this House the measures she is taking to help francophones in Ontario?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Mr. Speaker, I know that many francophones in our province have had concerns, and that’s why I’m happy to share with this House that our government has proposed amendments to Bill 57 to create the position of French Language Services Commissioner under the auspices of the Office of the Ombudsman to maintain independence in conducting investigations and to make recommendations and encourage compliance with the French Language Services Act.

As the member has pointed out, though, our government inherited a $15-billion deficit and $347 billion in debt from the previous Liberal government. But that’s not the only government that has shortchanged Franco-Ontarians. We’ve heard a lot of talk from the federal Liberals regarding Franco-Ontarians. The truth is, they refuse to do their part to fund Franco-Ontarians. The federal government provides the province of Ontario only $2.78 per francophone to support francophone programming,

whereas in New Brunswick they support francophones with $7.31 per francophone, and in Manitoba it’s $35.71 per francophone. The federal government has invested only $7 million in French language services in Ontario while our province—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Next question?

Access to information

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Acting Premier. According to a CBC report, the Premier has been meeting with well-connected insiders and lobbyists in secret since taking office. We only know about this because the CBC performed a freedom-of-information request to uncover the Premier’s schedule. Before this new era of Conservative darkness, the Premiers of all partisan stripes used to make their schedules public so that all Ontarians could see who is bending the ear of the Premier. Why is this Premier keeping his meetings with Conservative Party lobbyists and insiders completely secret from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the House leader.

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks to the member opposite for the question. I can tell you that since our government took office on June 7 and then the Premier and cabinet were sworn in on June 29, I’ve never seen a busier Premier than what we have seen here in Ontario over the last number of months. This Premier works day in and day out. He has met with tens of dozens of hundreds of thousands of people since he has been elected. I can tell you that what his interests are—they’re in the best interests of the people of Ontario.

That’s why we’ve been continuing to work as hard as we have since we were sworn in to cabinet to make sure that we’re delivering for the people of Ontario. That’s why you’ve already started to see gasoline prices going down and seen the carbon tax eliminated in Ontario.

We’ve taken steps to get rid of the leadership and CEO at Hydro One and ensure that we’re making a difference and that life is more affordable for the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Speaker, frankly, I expected a higher level of spin than that from the minister. He’s better than that, Speaker. We know he is.

So much for open and transparent government. The Conservatives can’t even manage to publicize the Premier’s schedule, which is common practice across the country. What the Premier’s FOIed

schedule does make very clear is that he’s always able to find time to meet with his well-connected friends. That’s who has the Premier’s ear, not everyday Ontarians.

Is the Premier keeping these meetings secret because Ontarians won’t want to hear what is being discussed by this government in the backrooms of the Premier’s office?

Hon. Todd Smith: Speaker, what I can tell you the Premier is focused on is ensuring that we’re delivering for the people of Ontario, who elected us with a massive majority government on June 7. They rejected the policies of the NDP, the third party of Ontario, and they do not believe in what they stand for.

What we’re trying to do here is to make Ontario open for business, and the Premier has been meeting with tens of hundreds of people over the last four or five months to ensure that we’re doing just that. Every step that we’ve taken, whether it’s lowering electricity prices, lowering taxes or lowering the cost of living in Ontario, the members of the NDP have voted against each and every time. They just don’t get it over there. The people can’t take any more of these wild Liberal policies, and that’s why the people elected Premier Ford: because he is going to deliver for the people of Ontario.

Indigenous economic development

Mr. Norman Miller: My question is for the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Indigenous Affairs. I know our government is committed to supporting businesses all over Ontario. Investment in business development opportunities is especially important in the north because it helps small businesses expand and create opportunities to grow local economies. These kinds of investments are helping our government send a clear message that northern Ontario is open for business.

I’m proud that our government for the people is standing up for small businesses across the province. We are taking real action to support strong and vibrant communities. Can the minister please tell us about how we are helping northern Ontario to thrive?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member from Parry Sound–Muskoka for his commitment and his great sense of teamwork in helping our northern Ontario MPPs understand our region’s full potential, creating jobs and making sure that northern Ontario is as much open for business as any other part of the province.

We’re making investments in science and technology in our major universities and colleges in northern Ontario, expanding capacity and course offerings for colleges and universities that focus on Indigenous students. We’re making sure that smaller towns and cities have the full opportunity to attract investment into businesses in their communities, investing in existing businesses that pair Indigenous communities and the private sector. All of this is coming up in Bill 57 and in the fall economic statement.

The NDP have sent a strong signal that they don’t support these investments, and I can tell you, people—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Norman Miller: It’s great to hear that our government is making meaningful investments in northern Ontario. I know that our government is committed to making the right decisions that help us bring economic prosperity to all the people in Ontario. This is a promise that our government for the people takes very seriously. This includes Ontario’s Indigenous peoples. Together we can create economic opportunities with community leaders who deliver economic prosperity for Indigenous peoples across Ontario.

Can the minister please tell the members of this House about an important investment our government made at Nipissing First Nation?

Hon. Greg Rickford: To the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: We were very pleased to announce that Nipissing First Nation received $1 million on Friday to construct a 10,000-square-foot office building along Highway 17. Chief McLeod told me the project is creating 10 full-time jobs and will drive local economic growth. Half of the building will house the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body’s head office. The second half will host a small business incubator, providing office space to local entrepreneurs. This investment is strengthening the economy of the Nipissing First Nation, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for its residents.

Speaker, we are sending a strong signal that northern Ontario is open for business.

Social assistance

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Last Thursday, this Conservative government introduced damaging changes to social assistance that will undoubtedly push those already at a disadvantage even deeper into poverty. By changing the definition of “disability” to match the federal definition—likely the Canada Pension Plan Disability definition, although the minister refuses to tell us if that’s what it is—it will be even more difficult for Ontarians to receive Ontario disability. Many people with disabilities who are currently eligible for ODSP would not be eligible if they applied under the new criteria.

Will this Conservative government undo its decision to exclude more people under the new definition of disability?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: It is my pleasure to talk with pride about the plan that we are putting forward in terms of social assistance in the province of Ontario. For those who can work, we are offering them a path out of poverty, and for those who cannot work, we will make sure that they receive better and more compassionate support.

But don’t take my word for it. Take the Ontario Association of Social Workers, who said that “addressing the root causes of poverty require collaborative solutions. OASW supports the cross-ministry approach of the new program to ensure coordinated and wraparound services that address the physical, emotional and psychological burden of poverty.”

Or we can talk about Community Living Ontario: “The overall move towards a simpler system with fewer rules and less government policing of people’s lives is a welcome change from the current system built over successive decades, which has trapped people in the cycle of poverty without improved outcomes.”

I am so delighted to stand here as part of a government that wants to lift people out of poverty, stabilize their lives and get them back on track. What we’re doing is good news for the people of Ontario—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Supplementary.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: The minister did not actually answer the question yet again. She refused to answer if they’re going to use the Canada Pension Plan Disability definition. She’s a little busy patting herself on the back, apparently.

Back to the minister: The reality is that these changes will hurt real people. I’d like to specifically talk about a man named Dan. Dan receives ODSP because he lives with a learning disability. He qualifies under the current rules. However, if he were to reapply under the CPPD threshold, he would not qualify, as he’s able to work minimal hours. Being able to work and taking pride in the work he does is precisely what makes him ineligible under the federal rules that the minister wants to adopt. What the minister is doing, quite simply, is ripping away vital support for people with disabilities. Why, Speaker?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Speaker, what she is saying is simply untrue. We haven’t put forward the definition. We’re working with the Attorney General’s lawyers on that.

But let me be perfectly clear. We have instituted a $6,000 annual, flat-rate earnings exemption. We are consolidating ODSP supplements to simplify things. We are not going to continue to police people, but what we are going to do is lift people out of poverty to the extent that we’ve never seen in the province of Ontario before, and we’re doing that because we’re going to provide wraparound supports for those on ODSP and Ontario Works.

I’ll leave her with one final quote from the Ontario Association of Food Banks: “The Ontario Association of Food Banks commends the government of Ontario for taking a proactive look at how to improve the income support programs that impact so many of Ontario’s most vulnerable people.” Why do they say that? Because the plan is good.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

I’m going to caution all members once again on the use of intemperate language. I’m going to have to ask the Minister to withdraw the remark that was unparliamentary.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Withdrawn.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next question? Start the clock.

Agriculture industry

Mr. Ross Romano: Last week, I was very pleased to announce that the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre is receiving $88,521 in funding to advance opportunities in the agricultural sector. The innovation centre will use this funding to assist in conducting a northeast food and agriculture market study to analyze how we can bring greater economic growth in our community through the agricultural and agri-food sectors.

My question is for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Can the minister please tell us how significant investments like this to the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre in my riding can boost economic growth and bring better jobs to our communities?

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: I thank the member from Sault Ste. Marie for the question. I want to commend the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre for taking the initiative in strengthening its agriculture and agri-food sectors. The funding goes towards the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre in what is one of over 80 approved rural economic development projects in my ministry from across the province that are helping create jobs and bring prosperity to rural and Indigenous communities.

Our government is proud to support projects that help create jobs and facilitate economic development in rural and Indigenous communities such as those in Sault Ste. Marie. Our government is committed to ensuring that rural Ontario is open for business. These investments are part of our government’s commitment to remove barriers to economic development and to better position ourselves to attract investment and create jobs for Ontarians across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Ross Romano: Thank you to the minister for his answer and his commitment to expanding agricultural opportunities in rural and northern parts of the province. I look forward to continuing to work with our minister to bring more opportunities to those in rural communities and in my riding through great organizations like the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. Nearly one in eight jobs in Ontario is sustained by the agricultural and agri-food sector, which contributes to a healthy economy that benefits rural and urban communities throughout our province.

Back to the minister again: Can the minister please tell us what else our government is doing to support economic growth in our great province?

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: Thanks to the member again. Rural Ontario has been ignored far too long. A strong and vibrant agri-food and agriculture sector is a priority for this government. We’re meeting with the farmers in the agri-food sector and we’re working with them to address the challenges that they face. We’re meeting with the members of the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance here today to work together and address their issues and the opportunities in the greenhouse industry.

We’re expanding access to natural gas and broadband. We’re committed to creating better jobs across the province. We are working with rural and northern communities to help ensure that Ontario is open for business.

Our government is strengthening rural communities across the province for Ontarians today and for generations to come.

Social assistance

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown: My question is to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Last Thursday, the Conservatives announced changes to Ontario’s social assistance program with zero acknowledgement of the impact to Ontarians who cannot work because they’re too sick. Under the Ford government, Ontarians facing health scares like cancer now have additional challenges while they fight for their very lives. Just last week this government voted down a motion that would provide take-home cancer drugs, while comparing cancer patients to spoiled children.

Can the minister confirm whether this government’s new restrictions will mean that Ontarians who cannot work because of temporary illness will no longer qualify for social assistance?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I reject the premise of the question. We came forward with the most compassionate, life-stabilizing plan for social assistance in the province’s history. That’s why everyone, from the city of Hamilton to the Nipissing DSSAB, to the Ontario food banks association, to Community Living Toronto, and almost anybody in between has come out and said that this is a good plan for the people.

Let me read to you what Danno Saunt said: “Awesome job today, quite impressive, a whole breath of fresh air to programs that have gone stagnant, and from someone presently on ODSP....”

We are going to provide wraparound supports throughout this entire government, which is what is different in this program from any other program in the history of this province. That’s why I’m working with the Minister of Training for skills development, why I’m working with the Minister of Health for mental health and addictions support, and why I’m working with the Minister of Housing so that we can provide better supportive housing. We are looking at the individual throughout entire ministries of this government, not just in silos.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown: Once again, the minister has not answered the question.

I have heard from many people who have told me they have no choice but to go on Ontario disability because they have cancer or are far too ill to work at the moment, and they are frightened. They tell me that chemotherapy is exhausting and has side effects like severe fatigue that make it hard to work. But this government seems to think that escaping poverty is a simple choice. People do not choose to be sick.

Can the minister please explain whether cancer patients and other sick Ontarians who are on Ontario disability because they cannot work will experience a loss in financial support—which, by the way, is not compassionate?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: The members opposite can’t take yes for an answer, ever.

Our plan is focused on the people. It will help those who can work to stabilize their lives, get back on track and get on a path out of poverty. For those who cannot work, we are providing greater wraparound supports, greater flexibility and allowing those who may be able to work to take home more of their pay. I’m very proud of this plan, as many other stakeholders across Ontario.

But I’ve got to say, Speaker: If the member opposite actually thought the previous plan was working—one million people on Ontario Works and ODSP, a $10-billion program, and still one in seven people are living in poverty. That’s why: “Welfare isn’t working. Simply paying people to sit at home is not smart. It makes little sense simply transferring money to people so they can stay at home.” Who said that? Bob Rae.

Winter highway maintenance

Mr. Toby Barrett: A question for the Minister of Transportation: I understand that the minister was in London last week to deliver an important announcement about this winter’s commute.

Each year, as we know, we work with our safety partners like the OPP, CAA and others to remind drivers to travel safely as the weather starts to change. Our government is committed to ensuring that winter travel is as easy and as safe as possible. We strive to encourage safe and cautious driving by also highlighting our winter maintenance activities to help drivers be better prepared for the coming winter months.

Obviously, winter is on the way. Snow is already affecting parts of the province. Can the minister share some details with us about our government’s winter maintenance plans?

Hon. Jeff Yurek: I would like to take the opportunity to thank the member from Haldimand–Norfolk for that question. I do have to say that when I was Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry he was an excellent parliamentary assistant. His guidance and his years of work in the Legislature are truly paying off for the people of this province.

Mr. Speaker, last week, it was my pleasure to attend the Emcon maintenance facility in London with many of my colleagues.

As the member mentioned, winter is on its way, and many parts of the province are already experiencing snowy conditions. This winter season, our government is making the winter commute easier for people of Ontario. This year, we’re allowing drivers to track their plow and plan their route all in one stop: the Ontario 511 website, where you’ll be able to find information you need for your trip.

Interjections.

Hon. Jeff Yurek: I’m hoping the members opposite are listening to this because I’m going to hear questions about winter maintenance. I’m hoping they’ll take the time to listen to this answer.

Given the treacherous driving conditions Ontarians experience this time of year, please remember to slow down, be patient and expect longer travel times. I look forward to expanding my answer in the supplemental.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Mr. Toby Barrett: I do want to thank the minister for that shout-out, but I do want to reiterate that all drivers should give themselves more time during winter travel and plan ahead. We all have a duty to keep our roads and highways safe. Make sure you get a head start: Assemble a winter survival kit and get your vehicle maintenance check-up.

We should all find comfort in knowing that Ontario has some of the highest winter maintenance standards anywhere in North America and that keeping Ontario’s highways as safe as possible during winter weather is a top priority. I’m asking the minister: Could you expand a bit more on your winter maintenance plan and what people can expect from the Ontario 511 website?

Hon. Jeff Yurek: Thank you again for that question. Our government for the people is improving the Ontario 511 website by allowing drivers to plan ahead: to see where along the route you might come across a snow plow or a salt truck and which part of the route that truck has already covered. Before the end of this year, the Ontario 511 website will also provide drivers with reported incidents, traffic jams and weather hazards.

Also, especially for our northern members who are going to be asking questions and making sure that the maintenance is happening: We are starting to implement new maintenance contract models that improve on highway maintenance services. I expect to have some report back from these members as we go forward, to make sure that we have made the necessary changes. The new contracts will include specifying the amount of winter equipment in the route, explicit patrolling requirements, the use of anti-icing liquids, and newer winter equipment that will be more visible.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to tell the people of this province to remember that keeping our roads safe is all of our responsibility. We have to work together to keep our highways among the safest in North America.

Automobile insurance

Mr. Gurratan Singh: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Currently, there is a bill before the House that prioritizes insurance companies over drivers. The auto insurance bill, introduced by a member of the Conservative government, does not end postal code discrimination for anyone due to its glaring loopholes. What’s worse is that the Conservative Party has stood steadfast against reforming auto insurance to make it more affordable for Ontarians. This leaves me wondering what this government’s priorities really are.

Why is this government not prioritizing lowering auto insurance rates for everyday Ontarians?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Well, Speaker, this once again gives me an opportunity to congratulate the member from Milton for his important work on this file.

The member from Milton’s initiative is a great way to combat rate discrimination in our auto insurance system. We look forward—we really do look forward—to working with you on this important legislation because, unlike the member opposite, our member from Milton actually consulted with organizations and groups. He talked to all of the people who are involved and was able to develop a proper bill and he brought it to the floor of this Legislature. It is receiving wonderful support right across the system.

Again, I want to congratulate the member from Milton on his bill.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the question period time for this morning.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on a point of order.

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: On a point of order: Earlier, it wasn’t my fault, but the mayor was not yet in the Legislature, so I thought I would introduce him now. His Worship Mayor Trevor Birtch from the city of Woodstock: Thank you very much for being here.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Finance, I understand, has a point of order.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: I have a point of order. I want to correct my record. In an earlier answer I may have said $308 billion, and I meant to say $308 million.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Member’s privilege

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On November 26, 2018, the member for Guelph, Mr. Schreiner, provided written notice of his intention to raise a question of privilege with respect to Bill 57,

An Act to enact, amend and repeal various statutes—the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act. I am prepared to rule on this matter without hearing further from the member, as standing order 21(

d) permits me to do.

I first want to address the matter of the timeliness of the member’s question of privilege. It has been several days since Bill 57 received first reading on November 15, 2018. The House met on four sessional days over 10 calendar days following the first reading of Bill 57. This points to a lack of timeliness in submitting the notice. As noted in Beauchesne’s Parliamentary Rules and Forms, 6th edition, page 29, “A question of privilege must be brought to the attention of the House at the first possible opportunity. Even a gap of a few days may invalidate the claim for precedence in the House.”

While I appreciate that the member for Guelph has limited resources at his disposal, I want to stress to members that it’s very important that they do not delay raising a question of privilege lest it be ruled out of order due to the passage of time.

The issue of timeliness aside, the member’s question of privilege attempts to pre-empt the legislative processes of this House. The matter relates to the potential impact of the changes to the roles and status of certain officers of Parliament proposed in Bill 57. The member is asking the Speaker to determine if these proposed changes might amount to a form of obstruction, interference and intimidation of those officers by the government.

There is substantial precedent, and universal support, for the notion that the Speaker does not have the authority to engage in statutory

interpretation. From a procedural perspective, Bill 57 is properly before the House at the present time, and it would be pre-emptive of the Speaker to determine whether there are any issues of the nature that the member raises when the House has not yet completed its consideration of, or has made a decision on, the bill. Ultimately, it’s for the House to decide if the proposed measures need to be amended in order to guarantee the independence of its parliamentary officers.

The member has therefore not established a prima facie case of privilege.

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

The House recessed from 1147 to 1300.

Member’s apology

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Timmins on a point of order.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On a quick point of order: One of the Conservative members after question period came over and said he didn’t appreciate my heckle towards a question that was being done. If I insulted anybody, that was not my intent. I want to apologize, if that’s the way it was taken.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Introduction of Visitors

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’m honoured to have my daughter joining us today: Annie-Grace Bartz McNaughton is here in the Legislature today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

Introduction of guests. The member for Windsor–Tecumseh.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Well, Speaker, perhaps it’s more a point of order. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. When I saw Annie-Grace and her dad walking outside the chamber, I said, “Boy, have you ever grown up.” Monte stopped for a moment, and Annie-Grace said, “Daddy, no stopping, no talking. Come on, we’ve got to move.”

It is a pleasure to see her here again this afternoon.

Members’ Statements

French-language services

Mr. Jamie West: The French language is central to the identity and culture of Sudbury. Over a third of the population in my riding speak both official languages.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Laurentian University professor Gaétan Gervais, who passed away last week. Gaétan dedicated his life to the research of Franco-Ontarian communities across the province. In 1975, he created the Franco-Ontarian flag with student Michel Dupuis. The flag, which depicts a green-and-white trillium flower, was first raised at the University of Sudbury and has become an important symbol of the Franco-Ontarian identity.

The significance of the French language to Sudbury is part of why so many constituents were shocked by the government’s announcement to axe the French Language Services Commissioner and Ontario’s French-language university. Gabrielle Lemieux worries about the impact of these cuts on the high-school students she teaches. This government’s decision to crush their dream of a francophone university tells these students that their linguistic rights, education and heritage are unimportant.

I want my constituents to know that I will fight to protect the constitutional rights of francophones in Ontario.

My NDP colleagues and I ask the government to reconsider these harmful cuts to the institutions that protect and promote the French language in Ontario.

Stephen Newman

Mr. Parm Gill: Mr. Speaker, many times, heroes in our communities go unrecognized. I was proud to learn about an individual from my great riding of Milton who was involved in an incident that could have been catastrophic, if it weren’t for his actions.

On April 6, 2017, Stephen Newman was monitoring the airspace over southern Ontario for NAV Canada as one of the air traffic controllers, when a pilot flying from the US found himself in zero-visibility conditions. As Stephen put his skills and years’ worth of training to work, he was able to walk the pilot through intense moments while remaining calm in order to make sure that the pilot was able to follow his instructions. He was able to guide the pilot in zero visibility and an incredibly intense situation, using instruments instead of visual cues to safely land the aircraft. Stephen recalled, “You could hear the stress in his voice.”

For Stephen Newman’s life-saving efforts, he won the Andy Pitas Aircraft Save Award. He was presented it at the ATCA conference in National Harbor, Maryland. It’s an honour that is not very often awarded.

On behalf of all of my colleagues in this House, I want to thank and congratulate Milton’s own Stephen Newman.

Winter highway maintenance

Mr. Michael Mantha: Here we go again. We’re at the beginning of the winter months. Highways 17, 101, 144, 631, 519, 614, 129, 546—I can go on. We’ve got problems in northern Ontario, and we will not accept not having our roads open any longer. People are frustrated. They’re getting to and from their communities—how? By going at 10 and 15 kilometres an hour down the road, and that’s not slow enough.

I heard the minister get up this morning during question period and answer a question, telling people in northern Ontario, “You’re just going to have to slow down. You’re just going to have to drive according to the conditions that are there. We’ve made some improvements to 511.” Hogwash.

We want plows on our roads. We want salt on our roads. We want sand on our roads. We need to get to our schools. We need to get to work. We need to get our children to their activities. We need an economy in northern Ontario, and not having good roads is a problem.

When you’re looking at service providers—where you turn around on a highway, when you see them turning here, you can see a stark difference between the two. Why are the standards different for these service providers?

We are not going to accept another winter any longer in northern Ontario—we deserve better. We deserve our fair share. We want our roads plowed.

Businesses in Carleton

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, this past Friday I had the pleasure of hosting the President of the Treasury Board, the member from Pickering–Uxbridge, as well as my colleague the member from Ottawa West–Nepean in my riding of Carleton for a tour of some of our local businesses.

First, I took the President of the Treasury Board to the Rideau Carleton Raceway, soon to be home of the new Hard Rock casino in Ottawa. We spoke about innovation and looked at all of the different opportunities that are available. For example, with the new expansion of the casino, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022, we’re looking at almost 1,900 construction jobs. At the end of the day, when it’s done, there are going to be upwards of 2,000 permanent, full-time employees once expansion is complete.

I also took the minister to Carleton Mushroom, which is one of the biggest farms/factories in the area. Carleton Mushroom hires over 120 people, and they’re also looking at expanding. We had a fantastic conversation about innovation and technology in the agriculture sector.

I wanted to thank both the Rideau Carleton Raceway Hard Rock casino as well as Carleton Mushroom for hosting us and for giving the minister a tour of the facilities and showing what great jobs and opportunities we have in Carleton, which is proof that Ontario is really open for business.

Social assistance

Miss Monique Taylor: I’m rising today to bring attention to the troubling changes to ODSP—changes that would exclude more people from the services they need to live with dignity and independence.

We still have no clarification on the new definition of disability and its cascading impacts, and my constituents are expressing their concerns. Take Joyce, for example. She’s on the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit now. When she applied for CPP, her eligibility was based on her ODSP. Now Joyce is concerned that the changes to ODSP could impact her CPP eligibility. Joyce is just one example of many Ontarians who qualify for ODSP now but who would likely not qualify under the new rules.

The Ford government wants to exclude more and more people from essential services. It should be under no illusion—more of our most vulnerable people will be pushed deeper into poverty.

Further, much has been touted about the new income exemptions, but the new clawback rates are troubling advocates across the province. Under the new plan, people will be punished for modest incomes. According to ACORN, “People with disabilities who earn over $6,000 from employment will only receive 25 cents for every dollar they earn.” That is just shameful.

Contrary to the Ford government’s narrative, ODSP and programs like it do not make people more dependent on government. These programs give people the ability to live with independence and dignity.

Automotive industry

Mr. Lorne Coe: I stand today to speak about the loss of General Motors in Oshawa and to offer my support to the employees. As a long-time resident of Durham region and a strong supporter of its manufacturing and commercial base, the news last night was absolutely devastating.

Our government will do all in its power to assist the GM workers and their families and those employed in supporting industries.

Our government is deploying Employment Ontario’s rapid re-employment services team, a team that will provide a coordinated community response.

Further, the Premier had a productive call with the Prime Minister this morning. We’ve called on the federal government to extend work-sharing agreements, extend EI eligibility by five weeks, and to increase the federal transfer to Ontario for skills training via the labour market and the workforce development agreements.

Oshawa and its people will survive. They’ve always been resilient. Although at this moment the pain of the shutdown clouds hopes for the future, I remain optimistic.

The Durham-based MPPs look forward to working with MPP French to assist the GM workers and their families and those employed in supporting industries.

Seniors

Ms. Doly Begum: Over the weekend, I had the privilege of participating in a workshop on seniors’ rights in my riding with a local organization named Rights Plus. Around 40 residents from Scarborough, primarily from immigrant backgrounds, participated in the workshop to learn more about the rights and protections that Ontario offers to seniors and tenants.

It can be extremely difficult to integrate and learn your rights in a new country, with new rules and a new bureaucracy to navigate.

In the workshop, this group learned from experts about seniors’ rights under the Canadian charter as well as the Ontario Human Rights Code, and how they can act as important safety nets, such as the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System.

The group also shared their concerns about the lack of public transit options and affordable housing in Scarborough. One resident has been on the waiting list for Toronto Community Housing for seven years, so long that he has now become a senior while waiting. He was recently told that there are still about 55,000 people ahead of him on that wait-list. And there is still a real concern that this government’s plan to remove rent control on new units will narrow housing options further and make life less affordable.

Mr. Speaker, my riding is vibrant and diverse. Many residents have moved to Scarborough from overseas for a better life. Seniors like those whom I met during the weekend contributed to the economy, worked hard and paid their taxes, and now all they want is a better life. As a compassionate society, we must strive to give them that.

I want to thank Rights Plus and similar organizations for their critical work.

Minimum wage

Mr. Billy Pang: I recently met with some of our stakeholders in Markham–Unionville—these stakeholders range from small business owners to representatives of large technology firms—to discuss Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open For Business Act, and how this bill would help their respective businesses.

A concern these stakeholders commonly raised about Bill 148 was the disastrous effect that raising the minimum wage by 26% in one year had on their business operations. This increase drastically shot up their expenses, particularly for those representing small businesses, which were disproportionately hurt by this decision. In addition, this increase limited the amount of new staff these companies could take in, and some stopped the hiring process altogether. Part-time workers were particularly affected by this decision, which impacts youth to a larger extent than most.

We are listening to businesses, we are consulting with stakeholders, and we are intending to deliver change to our province, which was mismanaged by the previous government.

Our government supports small businesses and has done so through the passage of Bill 47, because we believe that when small businesses are given more opportunities to prosper, we all benefit from their accomplishments.

Simcoe Christmas Panorama River of Lights

Mr. Toby Barrett: The upcoming holidays present so many events that bring us all together. In Haldimand–Norfolk, we’re blessed with Christmas bazaars and pageants and concerts.

A long-standing tradition in Norfolk is the Simcoe Christmas Panorama, the festival of lights. This year marks the 60th anniversary. Organizers are proud to offer a light show with a more modern, energy-efficient twist that even Santa would approve of.

From religious and traditional Christmas displays to fantasy, Wellington Park will be brightly lit for families to see well over 60 displays—the three little pigs, Humpty Dumpty, Santa’s workshop—all lit through LED technology.

Simcoe’s Panorama draws visitors from near and far and puts a bit of jingle in the pockets of local business, restaurants and retailers. The spirit of Panorama carries on with the support of volunteers, local businesses, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and area families.

I sincerely invite you all, if you haven’t been there, to come enjoy a cup of chocolate, listen to carollers singing, and an unbelievable light show. It’s held in Simcoe, and it runs from December 1 until January 6.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our time for members’ statements.

Motions

House sittings

Hon. Steve Clark: I move that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:35 p.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The motion says 9:30 as the concluding time.

Mr. Clark has moved that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018, for the purpose of considering government business.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1317 to 1322.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Will the members please take their seats.

Mr. Clark has moved that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018, for the purpose of considering government business. All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be counted by the Clerk.

Ayes

Anand, Deepak

Baber, Roman

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Bethlenfalvy, Peter

Bouma, Will

Calandra, Paul

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Crawford, Stephen

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Downey, Doug

Dunlop, Jill

Elliott, Christine

Fedeli, Victor

Fee, Amy

Ghamari, Goldie

Gill, Parm

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Mike

Hogarth, Christine

Kanapathi, Logan

Karahalios, Belinda

Khanjin, Andrea

Kramp, Daryl

Kusendova, Natalia

Lecce, Stephen

MacLeod, Lisa

Martin, Robin

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McKenna, Jane

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norman

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pang, Billy

Park, Lindsey

Parsa, Michael

Pettapiece, Randy

Phillips, Rod

Piccini, David

Rasheed, Kaleed

Rickford, Greg

Roberts, Jeremy

Sabawy, Sheref

Sandhu, Amarjot

Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh

Skelly, Donna

Smith, Dave

Smith, Todd

Surma, Kinga

Tangri, Nina

Thanigasalam, Vijay

Thompson, Lisa M.

Tibollo, Michael A.

Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.

Wai, Daisy

Walker, Bill

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be counted by the Clerk.

Nays

Andrew, Jill

Arthur, Ian

Begum, Doly

Bell, Jessica

Berns-McGown, Rima

Bisson, Gilles

Gélinas, France

Hassan, Faisal

Hatfield, Percy

Mamakwa, Sol

Mantha, Michael

Monteith-Farrell, Judith

Morrison, Suze

Schreiner, Mike

Shaw, Sandy

Singh, Sara

Stiles, Marit

Taylor, Monique

Vanthof, John

West, Jamie

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 62; the nays are 20.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion carried.

Motion agreed to.

House sittings

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I move that the

schedule of the House for Wednesday, November 28, 2018, as set out in standing order 8(a), be revised by substituting “1 p.m.” and “1:05 p.m.” for “3 p.m.” and “3:05 p.m.,” respectively.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Thompson has moved that the

schedule of the House for Wednesday, November 28, 2018, as set out in standing—

Hon. Bill Walker: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Dispense?

M me France Gélinas: No, no, no; keep going.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): As set out in standing order 8(a), be revised by substituting 1“1 p.m.” and “1:05 p.m.” for “3 p.m.” and “3:05 p.m.,” respectively.

Are there any members who wish to comment? The member for Timmins.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Because I have the opportunity to participate in the debate, I will. I won’t take too much time, but the government doesn’t have a lot on the order paper and they’ve already ordered the House to sit tonight. I see on the order paper that there are motions to sit further this week. For the government to try to gain time on an opposition day on Wednesday I think is a little bit of overkill. With what’s on the order paper, which is pretty thin, quite frankly, the government has enough time to get its agenda through the House over the next three weeks.

I think this is just a question of the government trying to do something that quite frankly is more of a thumping of chests than it is actually making anything happen here in a real way.

I just say to the government across the way, if this is how you plan on running the House for the next four years, I don’t think it’s going to serve you well.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Are there any further comments by members before we vote?

Once again, Ms. Thompson has moved that the

schedule of the House for Wednesday, November 28, 2018, as set out in standing order 8(a), be revised by substituting “1 p.m.” and “1:05 p.m.” for “3 p.m.” and “3:05 p.m.,” respectively.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On division.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On division. Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

Soins de longue durée

M. Michael Mantha: Voici une pétition adressée à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario:

« Temps pour les soins :

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Attendu que des soins de qualité pour les 78 000 résidents des maisons de SLD est une priorité pour les familles de l’Ontario; et

« Attendu que le gouvernement provincial ne fournit pas un financement adéquat pour assurer un niveau de soins et de personnel dans les foyers de SLD afin de répondre à l’augmentation de l’acuité des résidents et du nombre croissant de résidents ayant des comportements complexes; et

« Attendu que plusieurs enquêtes du coroner de l’Ontario sur les décès dans les maisons de SLD ont recommandé une augmentation des soins pour les résidents et des niveaux du personnel. Les études des normes minimales de soins recommandent 4,1 heures de soins directs par jour;

« Nous, soussignés, pétitionnons l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario de :

« Modifier la

Loi sur les foyers de SLD (2007) pour un minimum de quatre heures par résident par jour, ajusté pour le niveau d’acuité et la répartition des cas. »

Je suis complètement d’accord avec cette pétition. J’y mets ma signature et je la présente au page Aditya pour l’apporter à la table des greffiers.

Fish and wildlife management

Mr. Will Bouma: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the ban on hunting and trapping in sections of Ontario to protect the eastern hybrid wolf was put in place without regard for the overall ecosystem;

“Whereas this ban has adversely affected the ability of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), hunters and trappers to properly manage animal populations and Ontario’s ecosystem;

“Whereas this ban is no longer needed and is in fact causing more damage to Ontario’s ecosystem and increasing unnecessary encounters between wildlife and Ontarians;

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

“That the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry immediately lift the ban on hunting and trapping set in place to protect the eastern hybrid wolf.”

I’m happy to sign this petition and will give it page Georgia.

Independent officers of the Legislature

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

“Whereas the Child Advocate, Environmental Commissioner, and the French Language Services Commissioner are independent officers of the Legislature who provide indispensable services to the people of Ontario;

“Whereas these independent officers are essential to provide oversight, hold government accountable and offer protections for the people of this province;

“Whereas each of these officers’ work has led to reforms that have been of great benefit to people;

“Whereas budgetary and investigative independence is essential for these positions to be effective and accountable to the public;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to reinstate the Child Advocate, Environmental Commissioner and the French Language Services Commissioner as stand-alone independent offices with all their prior duties intact.”

I wholeheartedly support this petition, will sign it and ask Ella to bring it to the table.

Curriculum

Ms. Suze Morrison: I’d like to present a petition entitled “Stop the Cuts to Indigenous Reconciliation.” It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario is situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples, many of whom have been on this land since time immemorial;

“Whereas reconciliation must be at the centre of all government decision-making;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—continue reconciliation work in Ontario by implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

“—reinstate the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation;

“—work with First Nations leaders to sign co-operative, government-to-government accords;

“—support TRC education and community development (e.g. TRC summer writing sessions);

“—support Indigenous communities across the province (e.g. cleaning up Grassy Narrows).”

I fully support this petition. I will be affixing my signature to it and providing it to page Ethan to deliver to the table.

Automobile insurance

Mr. Faisal Hassan: I have a petition entitled “Stop Auto Insurance Gouging.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas some neighbourhoods across the GTA have been unfairly targeted by discriminatory practices in the insurance industry;

“Whereas people in these neighbourhoods are penalized with crushing auto insurance rates because of their postal code;

“Whereas the failure to improve government oversight of the auto insurance industry has left everyday families feeling the squeeze and yearning for relief;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ban the practice of postal code discrimination in the GTA when it comes to auto insurance premiums.”

I support this petition, affix my name to it and give it to page Hannah.

Northern health services

Mr. Jamie West: I have a petition entitled “Save the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.” I want to thank Judy Hywarren from the riding of Sudbury for collecting these.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford promised that there would not be cuts to nurses’ positions; and

“Whereas in Sudbury we have already lost 70 nurses, and Health Sciences North is closing part of the Breast Screening and Assessment Service; and

“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will result in longer wait times, which is very stressful for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and

“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will only take us backwards;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“Provide adequate funding to Health Sciences North to ensure northerners have equitable access to life-saving programs such as the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.”

I’ll affix my signature and will give it to page Kejsi.

Northern health services

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Mrs. Betty Cousineau from Lively in my riding for sending me this petition. It reads as follows:

“Save the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford promised that there would not be cuts to nurses’ positions; and

“Whereas in Sudbury we have already lost 70 nurses, and Health Sciences North is closing part of the Breast Screening and Assessment Service; and

“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will result in longer wait times, which is very stressful for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and

“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will only take us backwards;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“Provide adequate funding to Health Sciences North to ensure northerners have equitable access to life-saving programs such as the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.”

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

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Percy Hatfield: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario is situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples, many of whom have been on this land since time immemorial;

“Whereas reconciliation must be at the centre of all government decision-making;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—continue reconciliation work in Ontario by implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC);

“—reinstate the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation;

“—work with First Nations leaders to sign co-operative, government-to-government accords;

“—support TRC education and community development (e.g. TRC summer writing sessions);

“—support Indigenous communities across the province (e.g. cleaning up Grassy Narrows).”

I fully agree with this. I’m going to sign it and give it to Shlok to bring up to the desk.

Services de santé dans le Nord

M. Michael Mantha: Voici une pétition intitulée « Sauvez le Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein. »

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Attendu que le premier ministre, Doug Ford, a promis qu’il n’y aurait pas de pertes d’emplois d’infirmiers et d’infirmières; et

« Attendu qu’à Sudbury, nous avons déjà perdu 70 infirmiers et infirmières, et que Horizon Santé-Nord ferme une

partie du Service pour le dépistage du cancer du sein; et

« Attendu que les coupures au Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein de Sudbury entraîneront des délais plus longs, ce qui est très stressant pour les femmes atteintes du cancer du sein; et

« Considérant que les compressions au Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein de Sudbury est un pas en arrière;

« Nous, soussignés, demandons à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« D’accorder le financement à Horizon Santé-Nord afin d’assurer aux femmes du Nord un accès équitable à des programmes essentiels tels que le Service pour le dépistage et le diagnostic du cancer du sein. »

Je suis complètement d’accord avec cette pétition, et je la présente à la page Hannah pour l’emporter à la table des greffiers.

Emergency services

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Danny and Louise Besserer from Onaping in my riding for this petition.

“911 Emergency Response....

“Whereas, when we face an emergency we all know to dial 911 for help; and

“Whereas access to emergency services through 911 is not available in all regions of Ontario but most Ontarians believe that it is; and

“Whereas many Ontarians have discovered that 911 was not available while they faced an emergency; and

“Whereas all Ontarians expect and deserve access to 911 service throughout our province;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To provide 911 emergency response everywhere in Ontario by land line or cellphone.”

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

Injured workers

Mr. Faisal Hassan: I have a petition entitled “Workers’ Comp Is a Right.”

“Whereas about 200,000 to 300,000 people in Ontario are injured on the job every year;

“Whereas over a century ago, workers in Ontario who were injured on the job gave up the right to sue their employers, in exchange for a system that would provide them with just compensation;

“Whereas decades of cost-cutting have pushed injured workers into poverty and onto publicly funded social assistance programs, and have gradually curtailed the rights of injured workers;

“Whereas injured workers have the right to quality and timely medical care, compensation for lost wages, and protection from discrimination;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to change the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to accomplish the following for injured workers in Ontario:

“Eliminate the practice of ‘deeming’ or ‘determining,’ which bases compensation on phantom jobs that injured workers do not actually have;

“Ensure that the WSIB prioritizes and respects the medical opinions of the health care providers who treat the injured worker directly;

“Prevent compensation from being reduced or denied based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ that never affected the worker’s ability to function prior to the work injury.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and give it to page Zoe.

Gasoline prices

Mr. Michael Mantha: This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas northern Ontario motorists continue to be subject to wild fluctuations in the price of gasoline; and

“Whereas the province could eliminate opportunistic price gouging and deliver fair, stable and predictable fuel prices; and

“Whereas five provinces and many US states already have some sort of gas price regulation; and

“Whereas jurisdictions with gas price regulation have seen an end to wild price fluctuations, a shrinking of price discrepancies between urban and rural communities and lower annualized gas prices;

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

“Mandate the Ontario Energy Board to monitor the price of gasoline across Ontario in order to reduce price volatility and unfair regional price differences while encouraging competition.”

I wholeheartedly agree with this petition and present it to page Hannah to bring down to the Clerks’ table.

Traffic control

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Harley Julian from Wahnapitae in my riding for this petition.

“Intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 537.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas residents of Wahnapitae are concerned about the safety of the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 537 and would like greater traffic control measures in place to prevent further accidents and fatalities; and

“Whereas an accident that occurred on October 1, 2017, resulted in loss of life; and

“Whereas two different accidents occurred on October 13, 2017, that involved multiple vehicles and closed Highway 17 for seven hours, delaying traffic; and

“Whereas the Ministry of Transportation has jurisdiction over highways and is responsible for traffic safety in Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“That the Ministry of Transportation install traffic control measures such as a flashing light at the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 537 to enhance traffic safety.”

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

Orders of the Day

Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 visant à rétablir la confiance, la transparence et la responsabilité

Resuming the debate adjourned on November 22, 2018, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 57,

An Act to enact, amend and repeal various statutes / Projet de loi 57, Loi édictant, modifiant et abrogeant diverses lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Parm Gill: It is my honour, once again, to rise in this House today to speak to one of the most significant steps our Ontario PC government has taken to date. On November 15, our government for the people released the fall fiscal update on the current standing of our province, the 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.

Madam Speaker, as my honourable colleague the Minister of Finance highlighted, the report not only lays out a road map for our government but also shows the people of Ontario a clear path that the PC government aims to follow in order to make Ontario debt-free, make living affordable for its citizens, and watch the province prosper. The fiscal report includes various different elements that need attention in Ontario, and I will address them in detail.

First and foremost, the report mentions the PC government’s promise to restore trust and accountability, as it is most important for citizens to have trust in their government as well as to know that they take responsibility for their actions.

When introducing this report, my colleague the Minister of Finance mentioned something that is so important to understand: It will also help Ontarians gain perspective of what the PC government is trying to achieve by implementing our much-needed policies.

Madam Speaker, Minister Fedeli said that the approach that our government is taking towards reducing a huge debt that our province was handed by the previous Liberal government is similar to the ones that families in Ontario would use in their own homes. We are approaching Ontario’s finances like the majority of individuals and families approach their household budgets. It is important that we embody the practice that families implement when their budgets are tight and learn to live within our means, pay down the debt, and make every dollar count.

It is the same approach that we may have come across growing up when our parents were trying to make ends meet as well. We may have had to cut down on the luxuries and focus on the necessities for the time being as the means of our families increased. This is precisely what the PC government is trying to do through the policies implemented to focus less on luxuries but to focus on the things that are needed by all Ontarians.

Along with that, cutting red tape around small businesses would help generate the profits needed to slowly eliminate our province’s debt.

I would like to remind the House that the previous Liberal government, which was supported by the NDP over 90% of the time, wasted billions of dollars on things like a gas plant scandal and eHealth, and even spent over $200,000 on a duck—on a duck, Madam Speaker.

Our PC government will reinvent the way government operates and delivers services to the people to ensure value for money and outcomes in order to restore Ontarians’ trust, transparency, and accountability in our government and the province.

Speaker, in addition to that, to further improve legislative accountability, our government is proposing to undertake measures to expand the scope and mandate of the Auditor General and Ontario’s Ombudsman.

Since forming government, we took immediate steps to mitigate the structural deficit inherited from the previous Liberal government. Because of the actions taken immediately by our government, we have been able to generate $3.2 billion in savings already. We have acted instantly and are delivering $2.7 billion in tax relief for Ontario individuals, families and small businesses. In a matter of just weeks, we have reduced our deficit by $500 million, so the Ontario provincial deficit now stands at $14.5 billion. We have taken necessary steps to improve the state of Ontario and will continue to do so for years to come.

The previous government’s 15 years of reckless spending and mismanagement have left our province extremely vulnerable to the next economic cycle. This is irresponsible. When a family knows that their means do not meet their ends, they start to budget their expenses in order for their means to be sufficient enough for the household. In this case, however, the previous Liberal government thought it fit to keep spending government funds without considering the increasing debt hovering over Ontario’s citizens. It is this type of thinking that produces a crippling debt that, if left unchecked, would result in major closures of our much-needed hospitals, schools and other important institutions.

Speaker, I’m sure my colleagues across the aisle will stand up today and fearmonger that our government has plans to slash services, cut front-line workers and leave the most vulnerable in Ontario helpless, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

I understand that the NDP aren’t able to come up with any other way of saving the taxpayers’ money. That is why the people of Ontario elected a PC government on June 7.

I couldn’t be more proud of our Minister of Finance, who has been a lifelong small business owner, and a Premier who has grown his family business to span multiple cities in two countries. That is experience you will not find across the aisle.

Speaker, there are better, more efficient ways to deliver services and invest in Ontario, and over the next four years our government will deliver on these promises. We have already made progress, but there is still much work to be done. Our government must take a new direction after 15 years of Liberal waste and mismanagement. We will restore fiscal balance on a timetable that is reasonable, modest and pragmatic.

The fall economic statement goes on to talk about the initiatives being taken to help the economy of Ontario grow and prosper. The PC government has made a promise to put more money back in the pockets of the people who matter most: the hard-working families of Ontario.

For starters, the cap-and-trade carbon tax has officially been scrapped, which has resulted in a decreased amount for heating bills that families in Ontario have to pay each and every month. The average family is already saving over $260 per year in gasoline, natural gas and other costs.

Along with that, $308 million in planned tax hikes from the previous Liberal government’s 2018 budget on individuals, families and small businesses are being eliminated. Our government will not be mirroring the federal Liberal government’s attack on small businesses. This measure taken by our PC government alone will save thousands of small businesses in Ontario up to $40,000 per year.

Speaker, it is evident that small businesses add to the growth of our province in a way that is unique to individual communities within the province, and also help the economy of their individual communities, along with our province.

“Promise made, promise kept” is a phrase that we have often heard mentioned in this House, and it is one that we will see continue to be repeated as our PC government continues to deliver on the mandate that was given to us by Ontarians. We promised that we would make Ontario open for business, and that is precisely what our policies are achieving.

Speaker, we must create an environment where anyone can start a business, grow a business and create jobs right here in our province. This starts with cutting unnecessary red tape. It is outrageous that Ontario is currently burdened with approximately 331 statutes and more than 380,000 regulatory requirements while other provinces, such as British Columbia, manage to get by with less than half of that—and I repeat: less than half of Ontario’s.

These restrictions and the unneeded legalities surrounding small businesses are what scare start-ups from sprouting in Ontario. This is a shame, as Ontario has some of the brightest individuals with unique and future-forward ideas that we lose due to legislation in effect by the previous Liberal government. Our PC government aims to further reduce red tape for businesses by 25% by 2022 in order for existing businesses to grow and for new businesses to start.

Under the previous Liberal government, our province turned into a have-not province. The largest, most diverse province in the country was no longer the economic engine of our country. This is shameful. Premier Ford, along with every single member of the PC Party, has been clear that we will make Ontario open for business again.

Our government is committed to working directly with our First Nations partners, rural communities and northern Ontario in order to realize the long-awaited benefits. We will review the Far North Act and improve the safety and reliability of the Trans-Canada Highway to spur economic growth. Our government will work with private gas distributors to expand the natural gas network to over 70 communities and 30,000 households.

As technology is the centre of prosperity, we will invest in broadband infrastructure to improve Internet connectivity so that these communities and businesses can fully participate in the digital economy. These measures build on our government’s recent action to repeal the burdensome red tape imposed by the previous Liberal government through Bill 148.

We will also address the skilled trades labour shortage by modernizing our apprenticeship system and winding down the Ontario College of Trades, a source of unnecessary complexity for those working in the skilled trades industry.

These measures are significant and will help our province in a way that the previous government’s policies failed to. These policies will help companies start their businesses up in Ontario with much more ease and better opportunities to succeed. We will be able to retain businesses that previously felt the need to venture out into other provinces or even south of the border.

We have a federal government in Ottawa that is determined to impose the carbon tax on the people of Ontario. This unnecessary tax does nothing to reduce emissions but does work to reduce the number of jobs in our province. Our Premier has been very clear: When it comes to the Trudeau carbon tax, our government will not allow this to be imposed on taxpayers in Ontario. We are also lucky to have an Attorney General who has shown great leadership in fighting the carbon tax. Premier Ford has led the fight against the carbon tax and has since been joined by many other provinces, including my former colleague and the leader of Alberta’s official opposition, Jason Kenney.

Our government is actively exploring transparency measures that will ensure that every single person in Ontario is informed of how much they’re paying in federal carbon tax every time they pay a home heating bill or even every time they fill up their car. It is our intention to let people know just how much money the federal government is taking out of their pockets. Our PC government respects taxpayers and is taking every measure possible to leave more money in the people’s pocket.

Furthering that mandate, the Green Energy Act is being repealed to end highly subsidized wind and solar projects that were forced into Ontario communities without proper consultation and the wishes of the citizens residing in those communities. We will be cancelling 758 unnecessary renewable energy contracts, providing $790 million in savings to electricity ratepayers.

The fall economic report mentions our PC government’s promise to respect the consumers and families of Ontario. As mentioned, we are committed to making life more affordable for individuals and families and putting more money back into their pockets so they can get ahead in their lives, help their children reach their goals and look forward to their retirements.

Families in Ontario deserve a tax break that will help them use their hard-earned income toward things that matter to them the most. Our PC government is introducing a new Low-income Individuals and Families Tax Credit called LIFT. It is one of the most generous tax cuts for low-income workers in a generation. It will benefit 1.1 million workers. The vast majority of low-income workers who earn $30,000 or less a year will pay no Ontario personal income tax at all.

This will let families use their hard-earned dollars where they see fit, like their children’s education, their retirement funds, their homes or to start a small business of their own. I hope that members opposite can support this piece of legislation.

Another thing I hope members opposite can support is our Housing Supply Action Plan. It is no secret that the housing market in Ontario is making the goal of owning a house for individuals and families seem like a far-fetched dream. Individuals and families are facing an affordability challenge simply because housing supply has not kept pace with demand. Housing supply has not kept up with strong population growth in Ontario, driving up house prices and rents.

Our government has committed to develop and implement a Housing Supply Action Plan to address barriers that prevent the development of ownership and rental housing supply. We will also reintroduce a rent control exemption that will apply to new rental units in order to increase housing supply across the province. This will help young families be able to live in a home they can call their own. Our government owes it to this generation and future generations to pave a path that leads to success and growth, rather than the one left behind by the previous Liberal government, full of debt and non-enterprising policies.

Our PC government believes in respecting families, and one of the major concerns faced by families in our province is hallway health care and mental health. Our government is making a historic investment of $1.9 billion in mental health and addiction services, matching the federal government’s commitment. Along with that, we are building 6,000 new long-term-care beds in communities across Ontario. We have another 9,000 new beds in the pipeline which we will be delivering to those communities that are in need the most. The winter season is upon us, and so, in advance of the upcoming flu season, we are currently investing $90 million to create 1,100 beds in communities across Ontario.

Madam Speaker, it is time that we turn Ontario back into the economic engine that it once was in our country.

I want to thank you for the time and I want to thank all of my colleagues.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Ms. Suze Morrison: I’d like to respond to the member from Milton and thank him for his comments. Specifically, I’d like to speak to his comparison of household budgeting to the fiscal management of an entire province. Here we have a government, on one hand, that is telling all Ontarians that we need to be tightening our belts to be paying down this deficit that we find ourselves in. On the other hand, we have a government that in the same breath is handing out tax credits like they’re candy.

We either have an income problem or we have a spending problem, but you can’t solve this problem by slashing and burning services that people need—services like health care, education and housing—while simultaneously handing out tax credits. It seems to me that it’s only the most vulnerable among us who are being asked by this government to do the belt-tightening, and that same request isn’t being made of those of us who are most able to contribute.

I’d also like to speak specifically to some of the things that are in the bill that are being cut, that are going to affect Ontarians, that aren’t going to put a single penny back into the provincial coffers, as you say, to help us pay down this deficit. That would be things like rent control. Cutting rent control doesn’t put any money back into provincial coffers. All it does is embolden landlords to be able to raise their rents whenever they want on their tenants by however much they want.

It’s a piece that’s in the economic statement that won’t help us pay down the deficit as you say, which you seem to be trumpeting as this government’s most important goal. This is going to have very serious consequences on ridings like mine in Toronto Centre, where we have a real estate market that is overinflated by speculators and where we don’t have enough housing supply. Axing rent control is going to do nothing to fix that.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: It’s a privilege to rise in the House this afternoon. First of all, I want to commend our member from Milton for an excellent piece of debate that you shared with us this afternoon.

When we talk about our fall economic statement and we talk about putting Ontario’s fiscal house in order, again I need to remind this Legislature—but even to the people out watching this, perhaps, on TV—that the previous Liberal government left us with a deficit of over $15 billion.

The previous member talked about tightening belts. Well, you know what? That’s everyone tightening belts, because we cannot continue with a socialistic attitude in how we run this particular province, a great province. We need to restore trust, reliability, accountability to our finances, and we still need to make Ontario, again, more affordable for Ontario families and, of course, businesses as well.

We just heard recently of a large company leaving Ontario, and we suspect there may be more. That’s why we’re implementing red-tape measures to ensure that we’ll make business more affordable, so that people can stay employed, because right now it’s not looking healthy for this province. Again, we’ve only been in power now for roughly five months, but there were 15 years of Liberal government beforehand. They had lots of time to make changes, but they chose not to, as well.

We have to again realize that the government is also providing individuals, families and businesses with significant tax relief, keeping $2.7 billion in their pockets. Lastly, again, we cancelled $308 million in planned tax hikes on individuals, families and businesses.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I’d like to comment on what I’ve heard this afternoon from my friend from Milton. If I heard him right, he was saying that the government, when they scrapped the Liberal cap-and-trade bill—that it was going to decrease home heating bills. Well, there are two sides to that coin, Speaker. The other side is that they had the GreenON campaign. The plan with cap-and-trade money was delivering to homeowners across this province, the people in this province, an opportunity to make their homes more energy-efficient, be it by improving the windows, the insulation, or whatever it was.

But when the government said, “We’re going to scrap the plan. We’re going to kill the GreenOn program,” they didn’t give enough time for the manufacturers of the windows—I’d go in and get a contract with a supplier. The supplies would be ordered from the manufacturer. But there was such a demand for this—people really wanted to improve their quality of life and improve their energy efficiency—that the manufacturers couldn’t keep up.

We knew it was coming. We asked them to extend the deadline. They said, “No. We can’t do it, because we’re for the people and we’ve got to scrap this cap-and-trade.” Well, being for the people should mean that you extend the deadline so people will be looked after.

It’s not only residential, Speaker; they also didn’t look after the energy efficiency programs that were in the pipeline for schools, for colleges, for universities and for hospitals. They could have done a whole bunch more.

They’re saying “open for business.” They threw in the towel today on Oshawa. Instead of standing up and saying, “We are going to work with this company to try to save the jobs or get a new product line in Oshawa,” they’re saying no. They’re just saying, “We’re not going to stand up. We’re not going to try to get a new product line. Instead of that, we are going to work on retraining.” That is not the answer the people of Ontario want to hear.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Questions and comments?

Mr. Will Bouma: I’d like to thank the member from Milton for his comments, and also the members for Toronto Centre, Chatham-Kent–Leamington and Windsor–Tecumseh.

The news today about GM: It just goes to show that the situation in Ontario is dire. We know that financially that’s also the case. Drastic things have to be done. To take issue with the comments that were just made, that this government is rolling over—is not helpful. The very fact that this is a decision that has been planned by this company for over a year I think just goes to show that there was nothing that could be done. It’s just managing what we do with those things.

When we think about our financial situation and we think that even though we’ve been able, as a government, to knock $500 million off of our deficit, when I contemplate that we’re still loaning every single dollar that we will be paying in interest this year with another $2 billion besides—think about that. We have a $14.5–billion structural deficit, and we have to pay $12.5 billion in interest. That means that every dollar that we’re paying in interest on our debt is money that we’re loaning—and this when times are relatively good. We have to do that belt-tightening.

We have a real problem, as mentioned by the member from Toronto Centre. We have made life unaffordable for Ontarians, yet at the same time we have spent well beyond our means. This is why I’m so proud of what our government is attempting to do to take care of those who are hurt the most by the situation we are in, seeing that tax relief for 1.1 million Ontarians who are on the low end of the income scale and then at the same time getting our spending under control.

That’s why I’m so excited about our fall economic statement. I’m looking forward to seeing its passage here.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Back to the member for Milton.

Mr. Parm Gill: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides—the members from Toronto Centre, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, Windsor–Tecumseh and Brantford–Brant—for their comments.

We are all elected here. Ontarians put their trust and sent us here to make the best decisions that are not only in the best interests of the province today but also for future generations.

I can tell you that one of the things I keep hearing in my riding of Milton is that families, parents and small businesses are all concerned about the fact that we’re currently approximately $350 billion in debt. I know that my colleague from Brantford–Brant touched on that, the fact that in terms of just the interest alone, we are paying over $1 billion a month in interest. When you break that down, I think it works out to roughly $1.4 million per hour.

Imagine what we could possibly do with money like that to help Ontarians. Whenever we talk about being responsible for the hard-earned taxpayer dollars paid by taxpayers, it’s the governments of the day, such as the previous Liberal government, that are reckless, that have accumulated such an overwhelming huge debt that our future generations are burdened. Even a kid who’s born today is born with approximately $25,000 debt on their shoulders. This isn’t how we should project our province. This isn’t how we can make our province the economic engine of the country that it used to be.

The province of Ontario, unfortunately, under the previous Liberal government policies, has become a have-not pr