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June 3, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-Jun-03 (PDF)

L048 - Mon 3 Jun 2013 / Lun 3 jun 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 3 June 2013 Lundi 3 juin 2013

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

AIR AMBULANCE CRASH

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA

GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA

LONG-TERM CARE

LONG-TERM CARE

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

LONG-TERM CARE

COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH

AND INNOVATION

DRIVE CLEAN

TRANSIT FUNDING

AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY

TEACHERS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

HEALTH CARDS

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

ARTS EDUCATION

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

AIR AMBULANCE CRASH

CHRIS SNOWBALL

EVENTS IN ALGOMA-MANITOULIN /

ÉVÉNEMENTS DIVERS À

ALGOMA–MANITOULIN

THE BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY

NEW HAMBURG LIVE! FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

SKIN CANCER

BALA AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILWAY

SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

PRIVATE MEMBERS’

PUBLIC BUSINESS

BOB ELGIE

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY /

JOURNÉE DES ENFANTS

EN HOMMAGE À JUNE CALLWOOD

SENIORS’ MONTH

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY

SENIORS’ MONTH

SENIORS’ MONTH

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY /

JOURNÉE DES ENFANTS

EN HOMMAGE À JUNE CALLWOOD

PETITIONS

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETIES

FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

LONG-TERM CARE

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

LONG-TERM CARE

LONG-TERM CARE

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORDER OF BUSINESS

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Good morning. Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Monte McNaughton: It’s my pleasure to welcome back to the Legislature today my wife, Kate Bartz; her aunt and uncle from Sudbury, Veda and Carl Hanninen; and my and Kate’s brother-in-law from Toronto, a police officer right here in the city, Chris Armstrong.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s an honour to introduce His Highness Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, and his delegates—Ms. Zarrin Mohyeddin, Mr. Reza Pirzadeh, Dr. Kevin Rod and Ms. Nazila Golestan—visiting the Ontario Legislature.

His Highness has been a strong advocate for democracy, human rights and rule of law in his homeland of Iran. Please join me in welcoming His Highness.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome, our special guest.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I’d like everyone to welcome, in the members’ gallery today, Jeff and Irene Smith, who currently reside in Richmond Hill but are moving to the beautiful riding of Simcoe North, near Washago. They’re here with us to enjoy question period.

I also want to say, Mr. Speaker, that today is—I think we’re the only two members remaining from the class of 1999, when Mike Harris was elected with a second majority government.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I tried my best.

Hon. John Milloy: I’d like to welcome Dr. Katherine Bergman, president and vice-chancellor of St. Jerome’s University, who is with us today, along with Heather Montgomery, director of advancement from the department of university advancement. We welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield: I’m pleased today—my page Edgar Martinez Chavez is here with his mom, Ludmila; his father, Raul Martinez; his brother Raul Jr.; also with Indera Chavez and Esther Valiente. We welcome them this morning and this afternoon to the members’ gallery.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my pleasure to introduce a delegation from the Anatolian Heritage Federation: Saadettin Ozcan, Ahmet Tamirci and Fatih Yegul. Please welcome them. There will be a reception during lunchtime in committee room 228. I invite every member of this House to attend this celebration.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I’m very happy to welcome the grandparents of page Laura from the riding of Ottawa Centre. Her grandparents Susan and Harry Hughes are with us today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming Joe Leroux, owner of Amadio’s World Famous Pizza—celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Along with him is Gord Lawrence, a liver transplant recipient just last October—considered by the transplant team at Toronto General Hospital as a poster boy for world-class success.

Congratulations to you. Thank you for being here at the Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further introductions?

Today in the Speaker’s gallery, we’re joined by my oldest brother and his wife, Ida, along with their—

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: He looks younger.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): That got me—along with their grandchildren, two of many, Jack and Jessie O’Donnell. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

He does look older. Come on.

Final call for introductions?

AIR AMBULANCE CRASH

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, on a point of order.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to acknowledge the four people at Ornge who lost their lives. We will be recognizing Captain Don Filliter, First Officer Jacques Dupuy, paramedic Dustin Dagenais, and paramedic Chris Snowball. They lost their lives in a crash last week.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has sought unanimous consent for a moment of silence for these four people. Agreed? Agreed.

Please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Please be seated.

It is now time for question period. The leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition.

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA

Mr. Tim Hudak: Thank you, Speaker. Of course, our thoughts and prayers and support are with the families and colleagues of the tragically deceased pilots and paramedics in the province of Ontario. I appreciate the moment of silence from the Minister of Health.

Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Minister: Do you have a plan to bring in a significant increase in user fees to help pay for your runaway spending?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, what we have as a plan is to reduce the deficit, to continue on our trend to continue investing in our—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): If we’re going to start, I’ll start right away.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: Tell him he should have read the budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Right away—all members.

Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have a plan to continue to invest in our youth, continue investing in infrastructure—and continuing to ensure that we have a competitive society and renewing our economy. We’re going to control our spending, below 1% growth year over year, as we’ve been doing, and we look to the opposition to continue to support those initiatives which are going to make us competitive in the long term.

It’s critical that we take a holistic approach to the things that we’re doing, one of which is providing confidence, and that is why our budget has been well received by the very markets that are looking at what we are doing.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: I don’t think the minister answered my pretty direct and simple question.

Minister, we’re very concerned that we’ve seen decisions from the Wynne government basically to cave into the teachers’ unions, which are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in more union contracts. You tossed out the wage freeze. There’s no mention of arbitration reform in your budget. And you’ve increased spending with 20 brand new promises, including a billion dollars to buy the support of the NDP.

The minister says the deficit comes down. Actually, Minister, your deficit goes up in this fiscal year. I’m worried now that ordinary Ontario families, men and women, are going to have to pay the consequences of your decisions to throw more and more money at every problem under the sun.

I’ll ask the minister again very clearly: Do you have a plan to increase user fees on families and businesses by almost $300 million? Yes or no?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, our plan is working. We’ve beaten our targets year over year—$5 billion last year alone—because of some of the very restraints that we’ve taken. And we’re already ahead for next year. So we’re taking steps to transform the way we provide public service.

Ontario is the lowest-per-capita cost government in Canada because of the steps that we’ve taken. We’re on a path to balance by 2017-18, and that is what’s critical.

We need all sides of the House working together for the benefit of the people of Ontario. Don’t take extreme measures, Mr. Speaker. We’re adopting a lot of measures to control our spending, but we’re not going to jeopardize the sensitive recovery in this province. We’re going to work in a balanced approach.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: The minister has twice dodged a very straightforward question: Are you planning to increase user fees on average Ontario families and on businesses? I suspect it means that he does plan to do so.

Minister, we’ve already heard your musing about increasing the HST, increasing gas taxes. You’ve increased spending. The consequences of all this mean that taxes are going to go up under a Liberal-NDP coalition and the deficit actually gets larger. I want to know why the finance minister thinks that Ontario families need to keep tightening their belts when he refuses to tighten their belt one single notch.

So let me ask the minister again: I think that’s a tacit admission you’re going to ramp up user fees, so if that’s the case, when were you planning to announce to Ontarians that you’re increasing user fees by $270 million?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We’ve put out a number of initiatives to support economic growth. We have over 400,000 net new jobs as a result of the programs we’ve put in place. We’re continuing to invest in our youth. We’re going to continue to invest in capital infrastructure and in public transit. And we’ll do so for the benefit of our long-term success. This is not about election-cycle politics, Mr. Speaker. We can’t think short-term. We’ve got to look at the long-term play.

That is exactly what this budget talks about. It talks about our future. Inasmuch as it talks about the fiscal constraints that we’re taking now, we also have to look at where we’re going to be in years to come. I would look to the member opposite to support that initiative, because it’s imperative that we look for Ontario’s long-term benefit.

During my couple of days that I’ve had with investors in other parts of the world, they appreciate the steps that we’ve taken in Ontario to look long-term, and we’ll continue to do so.

GOVERNMENT’S AGENDA

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Minister of Finance: The problem is that the long term means you’ve saddled our kids and our grandkids with $270 billion of debt. The long term means that you’ve doomed our province to underperforming, to mediocrity, to steady decline, where the PC plan will see Ontario surge ahead to be a leader in North America in jobs, to actually restore hope to those who have lost hope.

The minister says that his plan is to actually create jobs in the province, but I ask you, Minister, how is bringing in photo radar going to bring a single new job back to the province of Ontario? Is that actually part of your plan?

Hon. Charles Sousa: It appears to me that the member opposite didn’t read the budget, because we didn’t put tax increases in that budget. What we did do is continue to find ways to make our—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I think maybe I’ll go to individuals now. The member from Kitchener–Conestoga.

Minister?

Hon. Charles Sousa: In fact, we’ve cut taxes over a number of years. We are one of the lowest-tax jurisdictions in North America when it comes to small business, when it comes to corporate and when it comes to consumers. We recognize how important it is to ensure that Ontario continue to be an attractive place to do business and to invest. We’ll continue on that path. We’ll continue to find ways to make Ontario even more competitive.

But what is imperative, once again, is that we work together for that end. We cannot take excessive measures. Across-the-board cuts that will hamper that growth are also problematic. We heard that loud and clear from the investors that we’ve been speaking to around the world who are looking to Ontario. Austerity measures, extreme measures—that is a reaction to the markets and we won’t be—I’ll answer more in supplementary, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Of course, we read through every detail of the budget. Nowhere in the budget was there mention of this new tax grab or user fees. Nowhere did the words “photo radar” appear, Minister. Hopefully, you read your own budget or you have some other document.

Maybe I do have that document. I’ll ask one of the pages to come forward for a sec, if you could, and take this over to the Minister of Finance. It’s called 2013-14 Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) Proposals, and I’ll ask the minister to look at page 7. Page 7, Minister, refers to a new fee on our telephone bills, it refers to the expansion of red-light cameras, and it refers to the reintroduction of photo radar in the province of Ontario.

The minister says his goal is to create jobs in our province. I’ll ask you again: How does photo radar bring any jobs to Ontario? And can you tell us today how much more money will you fleece from people’s pockets with your photo radar proposal?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please. Thank you.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Smile, Charles. You’re on Candid Camera.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I promised and I will: The member from Renfrew, come to order, please.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Durham, come to order, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we’ve made no commitments of the sort. These may be reactions, could be proposals, could be recommendations; they could be things that are being reviewed, but they are not commitments that we’ve made. The commitments that we’ve made are highlighted in that budget. The budget speaks to where we stand and where we’re going. That is what we should be concerned about.

The member opposite wants to make things up and wants to suggest and muse about what possibilities may occur, but I can tell you those are the discussions that we should be having. This is what we want to discuss. We’ve made it clear that we will have discussions before we make any determination.

But what’s important is that we continue to invest in our province. That commitment we’ve made, and that is what we’ll continue to do.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Respectfully, Minister, we’re not making this stuff up. That’s your document; it’s a treasury board document. You sit on that committee.

I have to say I’m a little concerned that you initially weren’t admitting that you’ve seen this document or that these proposals were there, and you say that they’re simply proposals. In fact, on page 3 of your own document, you’ve already agreed to increasing fees and taxes across the province, and you’re looking further. So it’s [inaudible] to tell, the Liberals are so hungry for more taxes and fees. So is this a proposal? Is it a given idea? Is it a dialogue? Is it a conversation?

Minister, if these are not real items, if this is some fictitious document, will you then rule out today—no photo radar, no expansion of red-light cameras and no new tax on our telephone and cell phone bills? Will you simply rule that out and say we can’t afford it?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please. Thank you.

Minister?

Mr. Rob E. Milligan: Just say no. Just say no.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Northumberland will come to order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The next time I get advice on that side, I’ll talk to you as well.

Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: These are in fact proposals, as the member opposite has reviewed—as a result, I presume, because of the justice committee’s release of confidential reports. So be it.

But our budget is on plan, and this is exactly what we want to see happen. These are just documents that officials have been planning and have been suggesting. No determination has been made.

So I would say to the member opposite, let’s concentrate on what decisions have been agreed to and we have decided to do and that is in this budget. Let’s stick to that plan, a plan that is working and a plan that is being well received by world markets, I may add, because they see Ontario as having strong fundamentals. The member opposite should be proud of that, as are Ontarians. We’ll continue to support that.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Minister of Health. In 2010 the government promised that every one of Ontario’s 600 long-term-care homes would receive a thorough inspection. Can the minister tell us how many have been inspected?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Well, I can tell you that since 2010—since the proclamation—there have been more than 6,700 inspections of our 634 long-term-care homes. Last year there were 2,347 inspections. I can tell you that we demand nothing but the highest quality in our long-term-care homes. We owe it to the people who are residents there to provide the highest-quality care.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Perhaps the minister didn’t hear the question. The question was about thorough inspections. The question was very specific to thorough inspections. Since 2010, only 123 of 600 homes have received the thorough inspection that the government promised would happen annually. That’s less than 25%. That is not a passing grade. Does the minister think it’s fair for residents and their families to leave three out of four homes without their annual thorough inspection?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I need to make this very, very clear: Every long-term-care home in the province has an inspector in that home at least every year. On average it’s 3.7 times that an inspector is in a home. Our homes are thoroughly inspected. Our homes are carefully inspected. Yes, it is true that homes where there are complaints and where there are critical incidents get those inspections more quickly, but every home has an inspection at least once a year and on average far more often than that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m going to pass the minister over, through a page, a slide from a slide deck from her ministry that says very clearly that the resident quality inspection is “the new annual inspection methodology for Ontario. All homes are to receive their first annual inspection under the” Long-Term Care Homes Act “by December 31, 2011.”

Now, I’m talking about proactive inspections. The ministry slide deck talks about proactive inspections. The minister tries to fool around with the numbers by talking about complaint-based inspections. That’s not what the people of this province deserve.

The government says they plan to eventually conduct thorough inspections of all homes. I want to know from the minister today: Is she going to set a date when these actual thorough investigations are going to take place in every single long-term-care home in this province on a proactive basis?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me repeat: There is an inspection of every home at least every year. On average, a home is inspected 3.7 times per year. Our inspectors are in those homes, and they respond to complaints. I want to stress that it’s very important that people understand that we have zero tolerance for abuse and neglect in our long-term-care homes, and we urge everyone who is in a long-term-care home, be they a resident, a family member, a staff member or a visitor, that if they have issues they think need to be inspected, they must report those and we will inspect those.

We’ve increased the number of inspectors working in our long-term-care homes, and we will continue to provide very high-quality inspections in long-term care.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It’s pretty disappointing that the Liberals once again are proving the old adage that figures lie and liars figure. People are concerned about the lack of protection—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I understand what the member is trying to say, but I still think it’s what you can’t say directly that you try to say indirectly. So I’d ask the member to withdraw.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I withdraw. My next—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Who is your question to, please?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I just said, to the Minister of Health.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I didn’t hear it, because there were some people talking. Thank you very much.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: People are concerned about the lack of protection for vulnerable seniors living in care, and the fact that the government is not providing the oversight that they promised to provide.

The London Free Press reports that the ministry is now urging homes to inspect themselves. Is this seriously the minister’s plan, to simply let homes in this province inspect themselves?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m afraid that the member opposite is taking a very serious question and torquing it to her political advantage. I think that’s wrong. I think that’s disrespectful of the seniors and others who live in our long-term-care homes.

There are a range of initiatives under way to improve the quality in long-term-care homes. Many of our long-term-care homes are very deeply engaged in improving the quality of the care that they are delivering. I have personally met with front-line workers in long-term-care homes who are very excited to be part of the quality improvement process called Residents First that is under way in long-term-care homes.

We’re all in this together. It’s important that everybody is part of improving the quality of care. Yes, there is a role for government inspection, but there is far more that must be and is being done to improve quality in long-term care.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: What I’m doing is simply doing my job. Perhaps the minister should try doing her job.

The government was very clear. They were very clear when they promised seniors and their families a thorough annual inspection of every long-term-care home in this province. It was their promise. The ministry said, “All homes are to receive their first annual inspection under the” Long-Term Care Homes Act “by December 31, 2011.”

This wasn’t a commitment to let homes inspect themselves or to do a cursory review. Is the minister going to admit today that she broke her promise and that the government once again broke their promise to seniors and their loved ones? More importantly—most importantly—is she going to do something about it?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As I said earlier, we have increased the number of inspectors who now have been trained, who are doing inspections in our long-term-care homes.

But that is only part of what we need to be doing. One of the most exciting things that is happening in our long-term-care homes is the addition of highly trained people, through Behavioural Supports Ontario, who are trained to look after people with dementia. We know that as people develop dementia, their needs change; the care that they need changes. It’s vitally important that our staff are trained to deal with people with behavioural challenges, including dementia. We’ve added 500 new trained people, through Behavioural Supports Ontario, so they can provide the most appropriate care.

What we are finding, through BSO, is that the number of challenging events actually declines because staff know how to care for people with dementia.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Here are the facts for seniors in long-term care and the families that love them: The government promised that every home would be subject to a thorough inspection by December 31, 2011. Speaker, it’s now 2013, and only 123 of 600 homes have had that inspection occur.

Instead of admitting that they failed to deliver on a simple promise to vulnerable seniors and their families, the government says that the homes can inspect themselves. Does the minister really think that that’s keeping a promise?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me go back to say that every home is inspected at least once a year. On average, there are 3.7 inspections per year.

We have added inspectors. When we were elected, we had 59 inspectors. There are now 80, including seven more who were hired last year.

We have zero tolerance in our homes for abuse and neglect. We passed a new long-term-care act that homes have to develop and implement a policy to promote zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of residents. Homes have a duty to protect residents from abuse by anyone and to ensure that residents are not neglected. It is mandatory for homes to report abuse of a resident, and it is mandatory for the home to contact the police immediately when there is an alleged, suspected or witnessed incident of abuse or neglect in a home.

This is a serious issue, Speaker. We are dealing with it.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Mr. Peter Shurman: To the Minister of Finance: Minister, just because you bury the facts doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. In the 40 boxes of gas plant documents received on Wednesday, May 29, your government’s appetite and plans to spend are evident on every single page. However, we have yet to uncover one document asking any ministries to reduce spending. There isn’t one page devoted to any directive on saving money. Leadership starts at the top, and if the boss doesn’t ask for restraint, it certainly isn’t going to happen.

In my two budgets as critic for finance, I have never seen any Liberal government actually look for ways to cut waste and excess spending. You only create new ways to fleece taxpayers and to cover up scandals and misadventures. What is in these documents proves that. You don’t really have Ontario taxpayers’ best interests at heart, do you?

Minister, is there a corresponding document listing potential places to save money?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Wow. So, Mr. Speaker, they’re referring to documents that have no reference to the gas plants, and yet, now they’re using those documents to uncover things that are only talking about a proportionate amount of what it is that we’re doing.

The member opposite should know this: Our program spending has been below 1% year over year. It is why we have been able to exceed our targets by $5 billion last year. We’ve been able to reduce $21 billion over the last four years. We’ve adopted many of Don Drummond’s recommendations. We dedicated a whole

chapter of the budget around that, and we’re well over 60% on those, as well.

The member opposite should also know this: 15 of the ministries actually spent less than they were budgeted for. They are doing their job. We’re doing what’s necessary to support the people of Ontario, and we look to you to also support us in trying to work for the benefit of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Shurman: With respect, Speaker, that just doesn’t wash. The first line of the document I’m holding in my hands, which the minister has, says, “Ministries were asked to develop the following non-tax revenue components as part of their 2013-14 results-based plans,” so it came from an ask.

Minister, your government shows every sign of being addicted to spending, and you need help. It’s unbelievable that, on the heels of a scandal costing taxpayers $575 million and counting, you and your government have the audacity to look to taxpayers to cough up more. This government is abjectly incapable of cutting costs.

Last week, my colleague from Newmarket–Aurora proposed a select committee to help you find savings, and he was serious. I have an idea. Here’s an idea: The clowns you have put in charge at Metrolinx could easily save $100 million if they didn’t drop a half-kilometre of Highway 7 down into Thornhill and create a new St. Clair disaster. If you really want to control costs, try the select committee and try eliminating the Highway 7—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Well, my goodness. The member opposite just cited Highway 407. Really? Highway 407? You’re the team that sold Highway 407—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. I’m going to remind members of two things. One, please refrain from calling people by their name; we have a tradition that you identify them either by their title or by their riding.

The second thing I’d like to remind you of is that anyone who makes any kind of statement that requires correcting can correct their own record, and we’ll leave it at that.

Minister of Finance, please finish.

Hon. Charles Sousa: The members opposite gave away the 407, an annuity that today would have been a great revenue source for the province of Ontario. Furthermore, it should be noted that Ontario is the lowest-cost-per-capita government in Canada because of the steps and the initiatives that we’ve taken, and we’ll continue to do that.

But, more distressing than that, the members opposite are receiving material to the justice committee, material that we’ve openly and transparently provided, because of the fact that they didn’t want anything redacted. As a result, they’re making reference to material that doesn’t pertain—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. New question.

LONG-TERM CARE

M me France Gélinas: Before I start my question, I want to express my best thoughts and prayers to the families, friends and co-workers of Captain Don Filliter, from my riding, First Officer Jacques Dupuy, and paramedics Chris Snowball and Dustin Dagenais, who died on Friday.

To the Minister of Health: It is obvious that the idea of self-inspection of long-term-care homes won’t be enough to prevent future abuse from occurring. Families are seeing loved ones abused in our long-term-care homes. Ontarians are reading about a resident in a Scarborough long-term-care home who was killed in March of this year. There is no way the minister can say that her government’s neglect of annual, thorough inspections is without consequences.

Does the minister agree that it is time for real oversight of our health care system?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me repeat: Our long-term-care homes are heavily regulated and heavily inspected. On average, every home has an inspector in it 3.7 times a year.

It is true that where there are complaints, the inspectors go; where there are critical incidents reported, the inspectors go in, but they do get into every home at least once a year and, on average, far more than that.

We are all committed to doing everything we can to improve the quality of care, and I think it is especially important that long-term-care homes now are very much engaged in the improvement of quality in their long-term-care homes. They’re measuring quality and they’re working to improve quality. That’s exactly what should be happening.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Ontarians are worried and they are fearful. They want to see real oversight of the health care system. We suggested that the province ask the Ombudsman to oversee health care, but rather than give people an advocate who would be on their side, the Premier dug in her heels. Now Ontarians are learning that the government is failing to conduct their annual required oversight of long-term-care homes—the oversight that they promised. If the minister refuses to provide Ombudsman oversight of our health care system, what is our solution to guarantee seniors’ safety in our long-term-care homes?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Our loved ones in long-term care deserve nothing but the highest-quality care, and that is a commitment that I make and that our government makes to every resident of long-term care and to their loved ones. We are working very hard to make our homes as safe as possible, and there is a Long-Term Care Task Force on Resident Care and Safety. They report back every six months on the recommendations that have been made and the action in response to those recommendations.

Our Long-Term Care Homes Act includes whistle-blower protection for employees who are coming forward with concerns about the level of care in those homes. We passed legislation to allow for stronger enforcement and better inspections of long-term-care homes, and under this legislation we are seeing an improvement in the care that is being delivered in our long-term-care homes.

COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH

AND INNOVATION

Ms. Dipika Damerla: My question is for the Minister of Research and Innovation. As Ontarians, we have much to be proud of. For instance, when it comes to the economy, we are one of the few jurisdictions that dominates not one sector, not two sectors, but several sectors. The auto sector, information technology, aerospace and pharma are just a few examples of the sectors that we actually dominate worldwide. But it’s really important that we leverage this great strength that we have by making sure that these sectors collaborate with each other.

My question to the minister: What is this government doing to foster collaboration across sectors to ensure that we continue to be the best jurisdiction in the world?

Hon. Reza Moridi: I would like to thank the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville for that question.

Our government recognizes the importance of fostering collaboration among our researchers and also our industry partners. Our Commercialization and Innovation Voucher program will help give entrepreneurs and their businesses access to innovation and also the productivity and commercialization services available to them in our research institutions.

With our $493-million investment in Ontario Centres of Excellence we are helping to connect industry to Ontario’s research and innovation institutions.

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Ontario Centres of Excellence Discovery conference. This conference was hugely successful, with more than 2,500 attendees and the largest show floor to date, with 350 exhibitors.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Dipika Damerla: Thank you, Minister. Speaker, it’s great to hear that our government is investing and using best practices for sharing ideas and resources across sectors.

One example is our government’s $100-million investment in the Ontario Brain Institute, one that shows how we can make gains through collaboration. This investment is supporting a network of data on brain diseases across disciplines. Researchers will be able to turn information into clinical application and commercialization opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister of Research and Innovation: What other collaborative initiatives is the government taking

part in?

Hon. Reza Moridi: I want to thank again the member for that question. During the Discovery conference last week, we announced a joint Ontario Centres of Excellence and Ontario Brain Institute fellowship program. Under this program, we will be investing $400,000 to provide awards to eight postgraduate students and also early-stage entrepreneurs with $50,000 each. This award will promote the commercialization of discoveries that help diagnose and treat or cure brain diseases.

Ontario is home to hundreds of top-notch neuroscientists, and it’s important for us to support collaboration among them. The research and innovation that is being done in this area in this province is recognized as among the very best in the world.

DRIVE CLEAN

Mr. Michael Harris: My question is to the Minister of the Environment. In December, the Auditor General said, “Vehicle emissions have declined so significantly ... that they are no longer among the major domestic contributors of smog in Ontario.” You, on the other hand, told the Toronto Sun last week, “Automobiles are the single largest domestic source of smog pollution in Ontario....”

Minister, who is telling the truth, you or Ontario’s respected Auditor General, whose 10 years of service to our province have been marked by honesty and integrity?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I think a previous member of this House, Mr. Norm Sterling—I can call him by name now; he’s no longer a member—understood this when he introduced the Drive Clean program in the province of Ontario. It reduces unhealthy emissions of cars by up to 36%. Drive Clean reduces automobile pollution in Ontario by more than one third—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Carry on.

Hon. James J. Bradley: —just by making certain that cars drive as cleanly as possible. To put it in a bigger context, Drive Clean cuts smog pollutants by nearly 35,000 tonnes per year.

In fact, the Environmental Commissioner says that he has a report before him—“The Drive Clean program has undergone a number of independent program reviews that concluded significant reductions in smog-causing pollutants were being achieved, but that further reductions could result from program improvements, including the implementation of on-board diagnostics emissions testing which is currently under way.” That’s the Environmental Commissioner.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: Back to the minister. Minister, that simply proves your Liberal government will stop at nothing to justify Drive Clean, even if it’s introducing a test with a computer glitch to make more cars fail or inventing stories about the state of our environment to make the program seem necessary.

Minister, let’s be honest: If you invested that much effort into telling the truth, we wouldn’t have the Drive Clean program, and you know it. Perhaps that’s why we haven’t seen the detailed cost-benefit assessment of this program that the Auditor General told you to conduct last December.

Minister, can we expect to see a report tabled in this House soon, or will you continue to spend your time dreaming up new fabrications to justify this $30-million government cash grab?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. I’m going to offer a warning as opposed to an ask. You can’t say indirectly what you are trying to say directly. I’m going to offer the member—please, it’s getting too edgy here with this kind of stuff.

Minister of the Environment.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Mr. Speaker, it’s really interesting that this question is asked this week. Wednesday is Clean Air Day. Pollution Probe will be launching its annual Clean Air Commute, and the Conservatives have launched their war against clean air. They scorn green energy and want to fire up the dirty, smog-belching coal-fired plants. They want to scrap the Drive Clean program that cuts smog-causing vehicle emissions by more than a third. It’s as though they don’t know that smog happens to kill.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment had this to say: “Our doctors are extremely concerned about air pollution. In Ontario, nearly 10,000 people die prematurely each year because of smog. Programs like Drive Clean—which reduce smog components and poisons such as carbon monoxide—are very important to public health. Our doctors believe that, far from being eliminated, these programs should be strengthened.”

The Conservatives need to rethink—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

TRANSIT FUNDING

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Minister, New Democrats have been clear that we believe in a fair and balanced approach to funding badly needed public transit, but imposing a $1.3-billion province-wide HST hike on hard-working Ontarians is not our idea of fair and balanced. Why is this government so intent on increasing the HST province-wide on hard-working Ontarians?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, recommendations have been brought forward by Metrolinx. Recommendations have been brought forward by municipal leaders. Recommendations have been brought forward by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and by the Toronto Board of Trade. These recommendations are going to be reviewed. We’re going to have an engagement; we’ll have our discussions. Let us, all of us, recognize the importance of what’s at stake here. That is what is before us now.

We have made no commitments, and we have asked for nothing. What we’re suggesting is that we need to invest. We need to invest in our infrastructure; we need to invest in public transit. It’s a competitive imperative, it’s a social and economic imperative, and we’ll work together with the opposition to determine what best next steps we should take.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Federal New Democrats such as Olivia Chow have been clear that the federal government has an important role to play in funding public transit, but taking over a billion dollars in sales tax out of the pockets of hard-working Ontarians is not a fair and balanced approach. Why is this government so determined to impose a billion-dollar-plus province-wide increase of HST on hard-working Ontarians?

Hon. Charles Sousa: So with that, we agree: We agree that the federal government should be at the table. This is a national imperative. It is a priority that speaks to the competitiveness of Canada inasmuch and as much as for the benefit of Ontario. So we agree that the federal government should be at the table. As the member opposite should probably know, we also responded to the Minister of Finance federally, to his question and his determination of how to best proceed with our transit gridlock.

So I welcome their input—I welcome the third party’s input, for that matter—to find ways to resolve the issues, eliminate the gridlock, protect our competitiveness, and protect the health and safety of our people as well.

AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY

Mr. Phil McNeely: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Minister, Ontario is fortunate to have a wonderful, diverse natural landscape full of thriving and independent ecosystems which host a range of biodiversity. One of the greatest aspects of this biodiversity is our abundance and variety of fish and aquatic life. This rich biodiversity can be found in the streams, lakes and rivers across our great province.

It is important for Ontario to protect this resource not only for the economic benefits that sustainable recreational fishing brings, at $2.4 billion a year; it is also important for the environmental benefits that Ontarians enjoy from lakes and rivers teeming with strong and thriving fish species. Can the minister please explain what is being done to protect aquatic biodiversity and preserve this valuable resource?

Hon. David Orazietti: I want to thank the member from Ottawa–Orléans for asking this important question.

Ontario is indeed fortunate to have an abundance and diverse variety of plants, fish and wildlife. In our ministry, there are numerous initiatives that are designed to help protect aquatic biodiversity.

Recently, I was in the Port Dover area for the opening of the modernized Normandale Fish Culture Station. This is the oldest operating facility in Ontario, and our government invested $18.5 million for its reconstruction. The facility will now be producing all of the Atlantic salmon for the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program, a program that those who fish in Lake Ontario and its tributaries will certainly enjoy.

This restoration project is strengthening the biodiversity of our Great Lakes system by restoring a population of fish that had disappeared from Lake Ontario in the 1890s due to overfishing.

Speaker, we are continuing to invest $5.5 million a year in fish culture and stocking activities in Ontario, and in working in conservation efforts to support fisheries.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Phil McNeely: Thank you, Minister, for informing the members of this House of what the government is doing to protect and enhance local biodiversity. I’m pleased to hear about the new facility and the conservation efforts, particularly the restoration program for Atlantic salmon and how it will benefit the biodiversity of Lake Ontario.

This province boasts a thriving community of anglers, even from more urban ridings like my own, who are committed advocates of environmental stewardship and aquatic biodiversity. Each year about 1.3 million anglers participate in recreational and sport fishing in Ontario, and I’m aware that this government prides itself on our sustainable fishing practices.

Protection of aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish and fish habitat, is important to many Ontarians, and I know that it is particularly important to the recreational fishing community.

Can the minister share with the members of this House what initiatives this government is undertaking to support local efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and conservation?

Hon. David Orazietti: Our government is working to ensure sustainable fishing practices to preserve biodiversity in Ontario and encourage local conservation efforts. The prime example of this is the partnership the ministry has with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to create the Community Hatchery Program. The program will help strengthen community-based fish hatchery operations by providing funding to help local groups operate and maintain these hatcheries.

The executive director of the OFAH has endorsed this approach, stating that, “Community-based volunteerism remains a key part of fish and wildlife conservation in Ontario.” The OFAH has also recognized MNR’s efforts to enhance community-based fish and wildlife conservation.

Community groups with enthusiastic volunteers spending their time, energy and money to operate local hatcheries that help to stock lakes and rivers throughout the province contribute greatly to our biodiversity. Speaker, we’re pleased to support Ontarians who take an active

part in local conservation, which is one of our ministry’s highest priorities.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): New question. The member from Nepean–Carleton.

TEACHERS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to ask a question to the Minister of Education.

Last week, I asked you why you handed over the reins of hiring power to the teachers’ unions at the expense of quality in the classroom. You have effectively handcuffed boards from hiring the best teachers as a result of regulation 274, but don’t take my word for it. Howard Goodman, a trustee from the Toronto District School Board, says this regulation is “harmful to student achievement and well-being,” and Cindy, a teacher with Peel District School Board, wrote to you and I and said regulation 274 “forces principals to hire candidates based on seniority over qualifications.”

Minister, for our support of Bill 115, we demanded that this provision be pulled, yet you snuck it back in. Given how you had no trouble rescinding Bill 115 mere months after you had put it in place, won’t you please rescind this objectionable regulation too, so that school boards and principals can get back to hiring the best teachers?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I think one of the places where we differ from the official opposition in our approach is that we believe that it’s very important that we collaborate with our education partners. That includes collaborating with all of our education partners, both the teachers but also the school boards. We believe everybody needs to work together.

That’s exactly what we’re doing on this file. Number one, we’re looking at how do we move forward in the future with a new collective bargaining structure that will work for everybody, a structure that will work for the government, a structure that will work for school boards, and a structure that will work for our employees. That’s our number one priority, looking at how can we establish a better working relationship—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Be seated, please.

Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: On May 27, you would have received a letter from the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association. On the second page it says, “We now face a further erosion of our ability to hire the best teachers for our students due to the modifications to regulation 274.” That’s the Catholic board.

The public board president, Michael Barrett, said this: “These changes” that you “are making do not rectify any issues that school boards put on the table. It compounds them even further.”

Janet McDougald of the Peel District School Board said flat out, “I just think it’s an incredible waste of resources.”

I guess everybody else just agrees with us because you simply are not doing your job and getting it done. In fact, your own constituents who are teachers are writing to you and asking you to rescind this regulation and go back to a merit-based hiring system that our PC leader, Tim Hudak, is calling for.

You are forcing professional and young teachers out of their jobs in favour of union leaders, who will give their own jobs to their own friends. Don’t you think this will affect quality in our classroom and don’t you think hiring based on merit will be—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Be seated, please.

Minister of Education?

Hon. Liz Sandals: We recognize that there are some concerns with this particular regulation, which is exactly why we have set up a working table. We have set up a working table in our memorandum of understanding with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, with OSSTF; and with OPSBA, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association. So in fact, there are ongoing meetings. That working table has been set up.

My offer to those groups, and my offer to all the other school board and union groups, is if you can come up with a better version of the regulation, we are willing to amend the regulation. That offer has also been made to the Catholic boards, and I fully look forward to the parties resolving the issue.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Last month in Thunder Bay, the Premier avoided answering direct questions about northwestern Ontario’s electricity needs.

Mining companies in the northwest need electricity security in order to invest and create much-needed jobs for northerners and First Nations communities. The cancellation of the gas plant conversion yet again in Thunder Bay shows that the Liberal government just doesn’t have a long-term plan for job creation and electricity security in the northwest.

My question is a simple one: Where will northern Ontario’s electricity come from if the gas conversion is no longer needed?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I thank the member for the question. It is an important issue for northwestern Ontario. I did meet with the mayors from the north several weeks ago. I also met with the task force that is engaged in the community to deal with this particular issue.

I particularly gave the people of Thunder Bay and the north a commitment that they will have the energy that they need when they need it. They know we are working on a solution; they know we’re looking at alternatives. We’ve shared those alternatives with them. We have not made a choice yet, but we will in the very near future, and the people in Thunder Bay will be extremely pleased with the answer that we have for them.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier said that she’s interested in economic development for the north, but mining development won’t get off the ground without a ready, reliable and local source of electricity.

Northerners don’t need rhetoric, they need action. In southern Ontario, the Liberal government wasted well over half a billion dollars on cancelling gas plants. Instead of making policy on the fly and leaving northerners to pay the price of government mismanagement, when will this government keep their promise to northerners and ensure their energy needs are met?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, we thank and applaud the north for what they’re doing in the area of mining and everything related to the mining industry. The people from the task force include people from the mining industry. I took the occasion to thank them for the work that they’re doing. The second-largest contribution to our GDP in Ontario is coming from the mining sector.

The mining industry will have the energy they need when they need it. The people in the north will have the commitment that they will be able to go out and sell the mining industry with the knowledge that they’ll have the energy that they need and the mining industry needs.

HEALTH CARDS

Mr. Bob Delaney: This question is to the Minister of Government Services. The former Conservative government never had a plan to implement the photo health card in Ontario. The expansion of ServiceOntario across the province, especially in northern and rural areas, has made access to photo health cards available in nearly 300 centres. Many people still have the old red-and-white health card. They and many health care providers were relieved to know that people can convert to the new photo health card at their local ServiceOntario location.

The budget before this Legislature proposed investing $15 million during the next three years to speed up conversion from the red-and-white health card to the safer and more secure photo health card. Minister, how will this expenditure help Ontarians make that change, and what difference will it make?

Hon. John Milloy: As members may know, my ministry is responsible for health card registration and related support services. I think members are aware of the need to convert the old red-and-white cards to eliminate fraud, keep Ontarians’ information current and create a more secure and transparent system.

As the member mentioned in his question, and I thank him for it, the proposed budget before this Legislature provides funding for a more efficient health card transition process. Presently, although 76% of all Ontarians have converted their cards, that still leaves a significant number that need to convert it.

I want to assure those with the old red-and-white cards that they will still be eligible to be used, but over the next number of years, we will be aggressively converting them to the photo cards. In fact, by our current estimates, based on the proposed budget, all health cards in the province are expected to be converted before the end of 2018—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Supplementary?

Mr. Bob Delaney: Minister, people have told me that the old red-and-white card does not offer sufficient protection from misuse and abuse. Even with a rudimentary background in information technology, one can see many ways in which a careless or negligent patient can lose control of his or her health card number, or how a rogue health care provider could use the old red-and-white health card to treat patients who are not eligible for OHIP coverage.

At this past weekend’s Bread and Honey Festival in Streetsville, someone asked how they might convert to the new health card and whether that might mean an interruption in their coverage.

Minister, what is the province doing to make the conversion from the red-and-white health card easy and convenient for Ontarians? And just one more time, can Ontarians still use the old red-and-white health card?

Hon. John Milloy: I want to assure all members and all Ontarians that until the conversion takes place to the photo card, people can still use their old red-and-white card.

In terms of accessing the service, the ministry and ServiceOntario have made it easy and convenient for Ontarians to convert their health cards. ServiceOntario reaches out to individuals by mail, asking them to visit a location in order to re-register their old cards. Our government has expanded access to routine health card services from 27 permanent issuing offices to almost 300. As an example, in northern Ontario, we only had six centres offering the service in the past; now you will find almost 70 ServiceOntario centres in that part of the province.

I think this is a significant improvement for families in rural and northern communities who, in the past, had to drive long distances. Now 95% of Ontarians are within 10 kilometres of a ServiceOntario—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. New question.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Mr. Jeff Yurek: My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Last week, Minister, you belittled the hard-working correctional officers at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre. You continue to say that the safety of correctional officers and inmates is your top priority. However, you knew overcrowding was an issue, yet many cells are still occupied beyond capacity. You knew that meal hatches were a problem last year, and you haven’t done anything about it. You knew that staff didn’t have adequate fire-related equipment, but you did not procure anything better. You say safety is your top priority. Why should we believe you now?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Indeed, the member of the official opposition is right: Ensuring the safety and security of our staff and our inmates is my number one priority. Last week, I met with many representatives of OPSEU, including the leadership at EMDC, and the meeting was very productive. I was happy to hear first-hand from the union about their concerns. We have expedited some security features for the end of June, and we will continue the dialogue with the union and meet regularly with the staff of my ministry. We’re all very engaged in finding a great solution for EMDC.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Back to the minister: That meeting should have occurred two years ago when I first told you about these problems.

Last Thursday, the jail was locked down while staff tried to recover metal pieces that went missing following the fires last Tuesday night. Every time the jail is locked down, it creates residual problems. Lawyers can’t consult with inmates and, as a result, must delay court proceedings. This creates costs to taxpayers, burdens an already overburdened, backlogged court system and delays sentences for offenders.

Minister, the problems you’ve ignored at EMDC are now spilling over into other ministries. Will you admit you’re not up to the task to do the job and resign?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Thank you.

Minister.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Again, Mr. Speaker, the health and safety and the security of both the inmates and the workers, the correctional officers, at EMDC are my number one priority. One thing was clear when I met with the union. They said, “You know what? You’re stuck with a problem which they, on the other side, have started.” So it’s not coming from me; it’s coming from the union. They were very, very clear.

The overcrowding is because there was no plan to expand the facilities and to have more facilities built. What they have done is they took every space that was used for programming and put cells in them.

We have a solution. We are building two new facilities. One will open pretty soon, and the other one is in Windsor. We will continue to renew our infrastructure in that ministry.

ARTS EDUCATION

Mr. Rosario Marchese: My question is to the Minister of Education. Students and parents are here at Queen’s Park today to lobby against the proposed cuts to itinerant music teachers and music instruction in Toronto schools, and they’re not alone.

According to People for Education, students at one in three elementary schools across the province do not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or participate in band, orchestra or choir.

Why are students in Ontario being forced to go without music arts education when it is part of the province’s compulsory curriculum?

Hon. Liz Sandals: As the member opposite just pointed out, music is actually part of the required curriculum, particularly in elementary schools and in every grade. So the primary way of funding elementary music programs is through the Foundation Grant to the schools. The Toronto District School Board actually receives $1.2 billion in funding. However, we recognize that for some teachers, particularly as they get more up into grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, they may not have the musical background, so in fact we have provided funding for 4,800 specialist elementary teachers.

Toronto District School Board actually got funding for 626 specialist teachers, so it would be up to the board to decide whether or not to spend that on music.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: Speaker, there was a time, in 2003, when the then trustee Kathleen Wynne and this current minister fought the then provincial supervisor, Mr. Paul Christie, who was trying to make the same cuts to itinerant teachers. How things have changed 10 years later when this government is attacking arts education. Last year, they eliminated the Program Enhancement Grant for arts programming. This year, provincial advisers—their advisers—are urging the Toronto District School Board to drastically cut music education.

At one in three Ontario schools, students receive no basic music education. When will the minister put in place a policy and funding to ensure all students have the opportunity to learn an instrument and perform in a choir, band or orchestra?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I think we need to sort out the information here.

Number one, there are lots of classes in which the classroom teacher does have a background in music, amongst other things, and the classroom teacher is totally qualified to deliver the music instruction.

However, if you look at the People for Education information, what you see is that as there has been declining enrolment in many schools throughout the province, many of the specialist music teachers are not located exclusively at one school but actually cover several schools. So if you look at the number of schools in Ontario where there’s either a permanent specialist music teacher or an itinerant specialist music teacher, that has increased.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Wellington–Halton Hills, on a point of order.

Mr. Ted Arnott: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order: Last Thursday, the Minister of Energy made a substantive government announcement, announcing major changes to the FIT program, outside of this Legislature. I would like to seek unanimous consent of the House to revert to ministers’ statements, to allow the Minister of Energy to explain to this House the changes that he has made, as well as giving us clarification on whether or not municipalities truly have the last word with respect to these kinds of applications. We need to know—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please.

The member from Wellington–Halton Hills is—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

The member from Wellington–Halton Hills is seeking unanimous consent to revert back to statements for the Minister of Energy to make comment. Do I hear agreement? I’m afraid I heard a no.

There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

AIR AMBULANCE CRASH

Mr. Frank Klees: I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to four brave and courageous first responders who lost their lives in the service of our air ambulance service in the early hours of Friday, May 31.

What was expected to be a routine patient transfer turned out to be a tragedy that no one in this province will ever forget. Dedicated to saving the lives of others, these four men did what thousands of first responders do every day throughout this province. They put themselves in harm’s way to fulfill their calling in life: to protect, to rescue and to save others.

Speaker, on behalf of all Ontarians, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of these four brave men.

Captain Don Filliter of Skead, Ontario: Don was the chief rotary pilot for the Ministry of Natural Resources. In addition to his many qualifications, he was a certified flight instructor pilot. Over and above his role with the MNR, Don took on the life-saving responsibilities with Ornge as a medevac pilot. Our condolences to his wife, Suzanne, and his three children.

First Officer Jacques Dupuy of Otterburn Park, Quebec, joined Ornge in August 2012 after flying as a bush pilot in Quebec. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Josée Capuano, and their two children.

Primary care flight paramedic Dustin Dagenais of Moose Factory: He joined Ornge a year ago. He grew up in Kapuskasing, was married last summer to Josée, and was the father of a 10-month-old daughter, Névia.

Primary care flight paramedic Chris Snowball of Burlington: He was a 41-year-old father of two. Chris had worked as a paramedic in Nova Scotia and with Wabusk air ambulance in northern Ontario. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Allie Scott, their children and family.

These brave men were truly heroes among us. Today, we pay tribute to them and their families, and we commit that we will never forget them and their colleagues who continue to selflessly serve us as first responders throughout this province.

CHRIS SNOWBALL

Mrs. Jane McKenna: On Friday, the people of Ontario woke to the terrible news that an Ornge air ambulance en route to pick up a patient had crashed just outside Moosonee, killing all on board. Four dedicated first responders were lost in this tragic crash. One of them, primary care flight paramedic Chris Snowball, called Burlington home.

From an early age, Chris knew he wanted to be a paramedic. He set out on that path right after high school, and in the course of his training at Niagara College, his passion only became more evident. Simply put, he loved helping others.

After graduation, he served on Cape Breton Island for more than a decade, returning to Burlington in 2008 to be closer to his family. His birthday would be tomorrow.

This terrible event leaves behind deep heartbreak but also inspires us to give thanks to all those who risk so much in order to aid and rescue others across our vast province.

I would like to extend heartfelt condolences to all those closest to the victims of Friday’s crash but especially to the family, friends and colleagues of Chris Snowball. Chris will forever be remembered for having lived heroically. May that memory inspire all of us to do the same.

EVENTS IN ALGOMA-MANITOULIN /

ÉVÉNEMENTS DIVERS À

ALGOMA–MANITOULIN

Mr. Michael Mantha: Back by popular demand, I would like to take this opportunity as we near the end of session to invite you all, and all Ontarians, to my beautiful riding of Algoma–Manitoulin. The summer months up north are some of the most exciting times. The Taste of Manitoulin is a celebration of local food, heritage and culture. So drive up on up or hop on the Chi-Cheemaun. Yes, the Chi-Cheemaun sails again. If you’re looking for music, we’ve got it: Manitoulin Country Fest, or good old rock ‘n’ roll at Spanish Rock ‘n’ Roar.

Some of the most culturally rich events in my riding are the many powwows such as Aundeck-Omni-Kaning, Sheshegwaning, Sheguiandah, Sagamok, Zhiibaahaasing, Wikwemikong, Whitefish River, M’Chigeeng, Michipicoten, Fox Lake, Pic Mobert, Serpent River, Brunswick House, Mississagi, Thessalon, Garden River, Batchewana and more.

If you like fish, be sure to come to our many fish fries. The Killarney fire department and the Iron Bridge Lions Club fries are so tasty.

How about fish derbies—the Dubreuilville Father’s Day Walleye Derby, Sagamok fishing derby or the Wawa Salmon Derby.

How about a pig roast in Wharncliffe?

If you are looking for community events, we have Massey Fair, Blind River, Manitouwadge and Hornepayne Days, and White River Winnie the Pooh Day; the Thessalon and Iron Bridge heritage community days; Haweater Weekend in Little Current; the Chapleau Louis-Hémon celebration; the Providence Bay Fair; and the Tehkummah and Manitowaning plowing matches.

If you like muscle, then the Dubreuilville Strongman Challenge is the place to be.

Puis les petites poutines de la P’tite Patate sont simplement délicieuses.

Or if muscle cars and drag races are your preference, then Vettes for Vets in Desbarats; or the Bruce Mines, Espanola, Hilton Beach car shows; or the Elliot Lake and Wawa drag races are loud and proud events.

Boat races: We’ve got them, too—Blind River dragon boats, or the MacMan Challenge on Manitoulin Island.

Farmers’ markets: We’ve got them all over the riding—including a rodeo.

Come to St. Joseph’s Island for the island gatherings at the old fort. In addition, there are community parades and festivals in Hilton Beach, Richards Landing and Jocelyn township. And their maple syrup—mon Dieu.

Mr. Speaker: Come one; come all. Algoma–Manitoulin is yours to discover.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): My sympathies to Hansard.

The member from Mississauga East-Cooksville.

THE BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY

Ms. Dipika Damerla: Thank you, Speaker. That’s a hard act to follow.

Twenty-four hundred or 2,500 years ago, a remarkable man named Siddhartha Gautama was born in India—so remarkable that his message resonates even today; so remarkable that 2,500 years later, thousands of people came together to pray and observe Buddha’s birthday this past Saturday at Celebration Square in my riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville.

The celebration in Mississauga was just one of the countless celebrations that took place all over the world as millions of Buddhists observed this important day in the Buddhist calendar. For me it was a particularly emotional moment to see a sea of Buddhists from over 30 cultures gather in Mississauga. This was the largest single gathering of Buddhists that I’ve seen in Canada, a testimony to the growth of this ancient religion here in Canada.

Watching the ceremony unfold in the heart of Mississauga with thousands in attendance, it felt like Buddhism, one of the great religions of the world, was finally taking its rightful place here in Canada. I would like to thank the three Mississauga Buddhist temples—West End Buddhist Cultural Centre, Fo Guang Shan Temple and the Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Centre of Ontario—for organizing the event, and the over 30 temples across the GTA that attended the event to make it a success.

May the timeless teachings of Buddha continue to bring comfort and peace to all.

NEW HAMBURG LIVE! FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Mr. Michael Harris: Last weekend, I was proud to attend the fifth annual New Hamburg Live! Festival. Over the years, this successful event has done so much to foster the local arts scene in our community and promote local talent as our young people move on to become professional musicians and performers.

This year, I had the pleasure of taking in the performance of Ashley MacIsaac on Saturday, where I was able to witness first-hand the dedication and hard work of the volunteers who give their time to make this great event possible each and every year. I was also happy to hear of the hospitality of the residents of Wilmot township, who opened their doors, welcoming musical guests and fans attending the festivals last weekend. This event truly does bring New Hamburg together and contribute to a unique sense of community spirit that residents continue to foster.

I would like to thank festival director Paul Knowles, as well as all the people who worked so hard to make this event this year a success. I would also like to thank the venue hosts who were involved: Steinmann Mennonite Church, St. George’s church, Zion United Church, and the New Hamburg Community Centre.

Again, I was truly pleased to be part of this vibrant and vital community event, and I look forward to an even bigger and better event next year at the New Hamburg Live! Festival.

SKIN CANCER

Ms. Cindy Forster: I recently met with Brock student David Nguyen and grade 12 Notre Dame student Sarah Lukaszcyk regarding Bill 30, the Skin Cancer Prevention Act, originally brought to this House as Bill 74 by my colleague from Nickel Belt.

These students are part of a youth group in Niagara known as React, which focuses on peer-to-peer health promotion and education. Last summer, they created a postcard campaign known as TOAST, Teens Opposed to Artificial Skin Tanning. They collected 2,500 signatures entitled, “You Wouldn’t Burn Your Toast, So Why Burn Your Skin?”

Karen Babcock, a health promoter for Niagara Region Public Health, also worked with React on the postcard campaign. The postcard highlights three things: tanned skin is damaged skin; melanoma is a young person’s disease; and tanning beds increase your risk by 75%.

The World Health Organization now lists tanning beds in the same cancer-causing category as tobacco.

Mr. Speaker, skin cancer rates are increasing. If caught early, there’s a 90% cure rate for melanoma. Niagara Regional Chair Gary Burroughs noted to the health minister that there are over 80 tanning salons in Niagara alone that are unlicensed and unregulated.

In order to protect Ontario’s youth from this deadly form of cancer, I urge each and every member in this House to help pass this bill without delay.

I commend the youth of React and the partners in Niagara for all their hard work in raising awareness on this important issue, and the member from Nickel Belt as well.

BALA AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Mrs. Laura Albanese: On May 25, I was honoured to celebrate Bala Avenue Community School for achieving 100 years of service in my community of York South–Weston.

Bala is proud to be one of the original model schools for inner cities in the Toronto District School Board. As a model school, they work together with students, families, other schools, partners and the community to support students in all aspects of life and to help our students reach their full potential.

Bala brings together 290 students from many different cultures and linguistic backgrounds. Thanks to the hard-working teachers and staff of Bala, children have access to high-quality education that exposes them to different languages and cultural traditions. On June 21, for example, Bala will hold its second annual Medicine Wheel Many Hands for Peace Powwow, and we’re looking forward to that.

The school also provides programs to provide litterless lunches, to enhance family literacy, and to help students have positive relationships with their peers.

I would like to congratulate Bala Avenue Community School on their incredible contribution to our community of York South–Weston over the last 100 years and convey my best wishes for the next 100 years.

ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILWAY

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Since the shocking fire sale of Ontario Northland was announced, our party has been working on creative solutions for Ontario’s north. First, our team travelled 1,600 kilometres to meet with employees and stakeholders—something the Liberal government did not do. We then said that the sale should be halted and a strategic asset review be performed—again something the government did not do. Since day one, we’ve stated that the math of this fire sale simply does not add up.

Last Wednesday, Speaker, I revealed documents showing the finance ministry telling the northern ministry to defer selling Ontario Northland until they had all the financial data. Sadly, the minister went ahead with the sale, leaving 1,000 families with nothing but questions. On Friday I provided ironclad proof of what we’ve been saying all along. This Liberal cabinet document clearly states that instead of saving $265 million, the fire sale of Ontario Northland will actually cost $790 million.

This is now causing the Liberals to rethink the sale, but in order to move ahead with the positive ideas we’ve submitted to the Premier, we first need to drive a stake through the heart of this fire sale. Speaker, the Liberals’ own document should be the hammer to drive that stake.

SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to stand today in recognition of the fourth annual South Asian Heritage Festival. This annual event was held this past Saturday at Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt. I had the distinct privilege of attending this annual event and was delighted to help celebrate South Asian heritage with my constituents. This year, the festival included some fantastic presentations, displays and cultural performances.

The annual South Asian Heritage Festival also recognizes South Asian members of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board and various community members who have made significant contributions toward promoting student success. Each year, the Excellence in Education Award is presented to those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in education.

The earliest recorded arrival of South Asians occurred on May 5, 1838, and since then the South Asian community has grown into one of the largest ethnocultural populations in Toronto.

The theme of the South Asian Heritage Festival this year was “Celebrating Diversity,” a very appropriate theme. I also enjoyed learning more about the history of South Asian immigration to our city and our province, and reflecting on the many cultural, political and economic contributions of the South Asian community to our province.

I would like to thank Toronto District School Board trustee Sam Sotiropoulos, acting director Donna Quan and all the volunteers, performers, teachers and community performers who made the fourth annual South Asian Heritage Festival a great success.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their statements.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’

PUBLIC BUSINESS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 98(c), a change has been made in the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members’ public business such that Mr. Harris assumes ballot item number 38 and Mr. Hudak assumes ballot item number 47.

BOB ELGIE

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister responsible for seniors on a point of order.

Hon. Mario Sergio: Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to pay tribute to Mr. Bob Elgie, former member of this Legislature from York East from 1977 to 1985, with a representative from each caucus speaking for up to five minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member has asked for unanimous consent to pay tribute. Do we agree? Agreed.

The member for Timmins–James Bay.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Thank you, Speaker. On behalf of New Democrats and our leader, Andrea Horwath, I want to take the time to say a few words about the large contribution that was made in this Legislature and this province by Bob Elgie, otherwise known as Dr. Elgie. I note that both his wife and his son, Nancy and Peter, are here, and I want to say, first off, thank you for lending him to us for that time.

Who could not know of Bob Elgie? If you were somewhat interested in politics in the time that he served, you know who Bob Elgie was. Bob Elgie was an individual who was somewhat larger than life. Originally he decided to go into law, and then decided, “Well, maybe that’s not such a good idea. Maybe I should become a neurosurgeon.” So he decided to go to school and become a neurosurgeon. Then he said, “Well, what the heck. Maybe I should go and serve the public; I should run for office and try to give back to this province and this country what I have taken out.”

Bob came from a family with means, as we say; it wasn’t as if he had to do this. But Mr. Elgie decided to serve, because he really did think it was the responsibility of all citizens to give back to their society when they got something from it. Clearly, he and his family and his group of friends had been quite fortunate in this province and this country as to what economic benefits they were able to get from this province, and he thought it was time for some of that to be given back. So Mr. Elgie decided to do what very few people do—what some of us aspire to all the time; some of us who are here hang on.

He decided that he wanted to run for the office of member of provincial Parliament for his particular part of the world.

He came here and was, I think, almost immediately in cabinet. Bill Davis was one who saw good talent and knew when to use it—saw bad talent and knew when not to use it. In this particular case, he utilized—

Interjection.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Well, we’re going to stop at that point. He knew when to utilize the good services of Dr. Elgie.

I’m going to talk particularly about his time at Labour. He was, I believe, at Community and Social Services for a while, and I may stand corrected on that—I’m strictly doing this by memory; this is not a written note. So if I’m a little bit wrong, please indulge. He was at Labour, and the reason I want to speak to that is because it was at a time when I was involved in labour, not as a member of provincial Parliament, but as a member of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 4440.

I remember many discussions we had within our local and within district 6, which is the district that represents all of Ontario. At that time, Stu Cooke was our district director, followed by Mr. Patterson. Plenty of times we had discussions about the good relationship that labour had with that Minister of Labour.

We knew that Conservatives were not necessarily our friends, but we had one friend in that cabinet: It was Bob Elgie. We knew that we weren’t going to get an easy going of it because, after all, he had to listen to his Premier, he had to listen to his cabinet and he had to listen to the rest of the Tory caucus. Certainly that caucus, I would argue, was not prepared to go as far on labour issues that we would have wanted, or New Democrats would have wanted, here in the House, but Mr.

Elgie had this uncanny ability to be able to hear what people had said and to try to dissect it in some kind of a way so that you can find a win for his caucus and his government politically, but more importantly, do the right thing.

I remember some of those fights, especially around the Human Rights Code, where Mr. Elgie mended the Labour Relations Act in order to make sure that human rights became part of that act. As a result of that, this province has been greatly changed. It’s allowed people to be able to step forward and to ensure that their rights are respected, not only when it comes to a collective agreement, but as a basic citizen of this province when it comes to the workplace. I think that is something that has served this province, and I think served all of us, rather well over the years that it was there.

He had a really good relationship with members on the other side. I know Elie Martel well. Those of you who know Elie Martel know that Mr. Martel is a very passionate politician. A former member from Nickel Belt—he was followed by his daughter Shelley; we all know Shelley Martel; and then followed by our amiable and very esteemed colleague Madame Gélinas—he had an amazing relationship with Bob Elgie.

I know in conversations I’ve had with Elie—because I probably speak with Elie more than most people; I have a lot of time for Elie, because he’s a person who’s quite learned and quite passionate about what he believes in. Over the years I’ve relied on his counsel on a number of issues, both when I was in the labour movement, under Local 4440 and eventually as staff with steel, but also later when I got elected. He would always talk about how the relationship with Bob Elgie was a really strong one.

I think that says something that we should all maybe learn from, that, yes, we all come here with our party affiliation, but it is really about doing the people’s work and it really is about trying to find the commonality on an issue so that it’s not just New Democrats who have a virtue on labour and it’s not just Conservatives who have a virtue on helping the big corporations and it’s not just the Liberals on something else, but finding a way to reach across so that all of us can do the right thing. Mr.

Elgie understood that it was important to have those relationships because he needed those relationships to be able to pilot those things that were important to him and important to other people in this province.

So what I would say is this: I think if we learned anything through the time of Mr. Elgie being with us, it’s that integrity is number one. Always try to do the right thing. Reach across the aisle; try to find ways to work with people. Be partisan when you need to be; that’s what elections are all about. In the meantime, while we’re here, always try to do what’s right by the people of Ontario because they’re the ones who sent us here.

On behalf of my colleagues here in the New Democratic caucus and our leader, Andrea Horwath, we say both to Nancy, his wife, and Peter, his son, thank you for the time that we’ve had with your husband and your father. We say to you that we sure know that you miss him, but the fact that he has left so much behind of himself in this Legislature and in legislation warms the heart; it allows you to know your husband will always be with you, and so will your father.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from York Centre.

Mr. Monte Kwinter: Humble; a giver; a sensitive and compassionate man; a big heart; big vision; a public servant extraordinaire—these are some of the words that people who knew and worked with Bob Elgie used to describe him.

I rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Bob Elgie, a respected citizen, a distinguished doctor, lawyer, educator and a former member of this Legislature who passed away on April 3, 2013, at the age of 84.

It’s my pleasure to recognize members of Bob’s family who joined us today: his wife, Nancy, who was a school trustee and vice-chair of the York Region District School Board, and her son, Peter. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Bob was born in Toronto in 1929. He received his BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1950, his LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and medical degree from the University of Ottawa. Upon the completion of his studies, Bob entered the legal/medical field. He was on the medical teaching staff at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. In addition, he served as chief of staff at the Scarborough General Hospital.

People don’t normally give up this kind of career to run for office, but Bob had politics in his blood. The senior Elgie was an opposition member during Mitch Hepburn’s government and later spent two years on the government benches behind George Drew. As an only child, Bob was caught up early in his father’s passion for politics. He came to believe that by influencing public policy he could continue to improve people’s lives. He listened to politics over dinner, campaigned alongside his father during elections, and gave speeches on his dad’s behalf while still in his teens.

Bob said, “I did what I swore to my father I would never do, and that was to run for politics.” It was natural that Bob ran, and won his seat during the 1977 election.

Bob earned the respect and confidence of members of the Legislature from all parties. He was an intelligent, exceptionally thoughtful and articulate public servant who put his partisan interests aside and acted in the public interest. He was always characterized as a red Tory.

Bob became a prominent cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and the very short Frank Miller government. He held a number of ministry portfolios that included labour, consumer and commercial relations, and, for a brief period of time, community and social services. When I got elected in 1985, my first portfolio was as Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, so I was actually the successor to Bob Elgie. I’ll tell you in a minute what happened to him, but he used to call me and we used to talk about the issues that were there; we had 83 different pieces of legislation that we had to deal with.

Bob was an active minister. The revamping of occupational health and safety, the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Workers’ Compensation Board were some of his primary concerns as labour minister. Change at the Workers’ Compensation Board was not easy, as the public agency had increasingly become the target of angry attacks from both its clients and its political bosses. Some of these changes included empowering human rights officers with the ability to investigate and arbitrate reports of workplace discrimination as well as making the Workers’ Compensation Board more responsive to injured workers’ needs.

Bob was also well liked by unions. Any labour minister would envy the great working relationship and mutual respect that he enjoyed with unions and the working people. Bob enjoyed that respect so much that the Ontario Federation of Labour honoured him at a farewell party when he retired from politics.

In 1985, Premier David Peterson made his first political appointment by naming Bob Elgie to head the Ontario Workers’ Compensation Board, where he served from 1985 to 1991. Bob was a compassionate individual, extremely sensitive of others’ feelings, with a keen sense of justice. These qualities served him well in his new role at the WCB.

In 1991, Bob embarked on a new adventure and moved to Nova Scotia. He became chair of the Nova Scotia Workers’ Compensation Board, serving from 1992 to 1996. Bob is credited with making significant improvements to the board’s activities.

Bob’s interests in bringing the concerns of law and medicine together became evident when he founded and became the first director of Dalhousie University’s Health Law Institute. His areas of research and interest included medical malpractice, living wills legislation, adult protection legislation, and confidentiality of health records, to name a few.

Bob returned to Ontario in the mid-1990s. He served as chair of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, and was appointed chair of the Ontario Greenbelt Council by the provincial government in the summer of 2005. He was paid $1 a year.

The fact that Bob chose not to practise law or medicine for most of his career, which could have easily provided lucrative incomes, is a testament that he was not motivated by money and greed. His primary motivation was to leave the world a better place. I understand that the joke among his family was that if he was offered a job that paid less money, he’d take it.

From 2001 until his death, Bob was a member of the Ontario Press Council, which he chaired from 2006. He received the Order of Canada in 2003.

Bob’s passions were good food, junky western movies, whodunits and golf. However, his real relaxation was spending time with his family: his beloved wife, Nancy, and their five children—Stewart, Allyson, Peter, Catherine and Bill. Nancy, a child psychologist by training, shared his love of public life and passion for golf. She was his best friend and lifelong love.

His attitude toward his children’s upbringing provides the best clue to the man himself. His wife says they were raised with the attitude: “From those to whom much is given, much is expected,” and, “If you’re capable of learning, you have a responsibility to do so.” And Bob had added, “And that’s what I believe.”

On behalf of the members of the Legislature, I wish to sincerely thank Bob’s family for sharing him with the people of Toronto and the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for York–Simcoe.

Mrs. Julia Munro: On behalf of Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC Party, I’m very proud to speak today to recognize the life and accomplishments of Robert Goldwin Elgie, a man who served the people of Ontario honourably, both in this House and outside, and a man I was proud to call a friend. Watching us today in the gallery is Bob Elgie’s wife, Nancy, and son Peter, and we welcome them to the Ontario Legislature.

Bob and Nancy spent 56 happy years together, with five children and 13 grandchildren. I was proud to join with his family only a few weeks ago as we celebrated Bob’s life at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church here in Toronto. Former Premiers included Bill Davis, Bob Rae, Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, and they were joined by people of all parties and backgrounds to honour Bob Elgie; friends such as NDP member Elie Martel, who spoke about Bob’s career. And an impressive career it was.

Bob Elgie served in this House as MPP for York East from 1977 to 1985. A cabinet minister for most of that time, he held the portfolios of Minister of Labour, Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations and Minister of Community and Social Services under Premiers Bill Davis and Frank Miller. As minister, he made sweeping changes to Ontario’s Human Rights Code and to labour legislation. Bob came, as we have already heard, from a family steeped in politics, with his father sitting in this House as MPP for the old riding of Woodbine.

Bob trained as both a lawyer and a neurosurgeon, rising to chief of medical staff at Scarborough General Hospital, but left these two careers behind to run for office. It’s well worth pointing out, as others certainly just have, that Bob Elgie could have made a lot more money if he had stayed in one of his previous careers. But clearly, money wasn’t Bob’s priority. Helping people was his priority. I too heard the family joke that every job he took seemed to be for successively less money. Given that his recent job as chair of the Greenbelt Council paid only $1 a year, this may be true.

After leaving office, Bob served as head of the Ontario Workers’ Compensation Board and the Nova Scotia Workers’ Compensation Board. He founded the Dalhousie University Health Law Institute. He was chair of the Ontario Press Council from 2006 until his death.

With all of Bob’s accomplishments and the mark he left on Ontario, it’s hard to believe he was in office for only eight years. His success and the great esteem in which he is held by people across politics testify to his character and to his values and how he lived them.

“Dr. Elgie didn’t do what he did for Ontarians with disabilities because it would win his party more seats or bump them up in the polls. He didn’t do it for a personal or political legacy. He did it simply because it was the right thing to do. He was a man of great conscience and integrity. For what he achieved for Ontarians with disabilities we will be eternally grateful.”

It brings to mind a story that Nancy shared with me a short time ago. Some years before, when the family was a much younger group of children, the family was visiting in the Carolinas at a restaurant where Freddy Cole was entertaining. Freddy Cole was the brother of Nat King Cole. The family, and the children particularly, were very interested in the music and the drumming and so forth, and as a result, a relationship developed between the Elgie family and Freddy Cole.

Well, he happened to be in Toronto sometime later, exactly at the time when the human rights legislation was being debated in an evening session, so Bob invited Freddy to come and listen to the debate that evening. Of course, Mr. Freddy Cole saw something he didn’t believe he could see in his own country, and he was so impressed with what was happening here under Bob Elgie’s leadership.

Bob Elgie’s dedication to increasing human rights came from his own character. At Bob’s memorial at Timothy Eaton church, his son told of being raised in a house without biases. The family once had a guest who made a disparaging comment, and the guest was then walked by Bob Elgie to the door—tossed out, actually, and in a gentlemanly way, I’m certain, but tossed out nonetheless.

Bob refused to join the Granite Club in the days when it refused to admit Jewish members. It’s easy to see where his strong advocacy for human rights came from. He was a man who treated all others as equals, with respect and dignity. I think this was the core of Bob’s character: respect for others and a true caring for other people.

Nancy told me that, as a trained neurosurgeon, Bob was always on the watch for people with back problems, getting them help whenever he could. In medical practice, he regularly billed far less than other neurosurgeons. A provincial study into doctors’ salaries revealed why: It was because he spent more time with his patients. Bob was always able to connect with people, no matter what their background. The trust in which he was held by those who knew them was legendary.

Steve Paikin recounted a story about Bob Rae, then leader of the NDP, being called in to meet with Bob Elgie and Premier Davis when some trust company scandals erupted. He told Bob Rae that criminals were trying to take over a trust company, and that they had to pass legislation in a single day to stop it. When told it was absolutely necessary, Rae responded, “If it’s good enough for you two, it’s good enough for me.” Bob Rae and the entire Legislature trusted the integrity of Bob Elgie, and the bill passed the House in one day.

Bob Elgie’s personal integrity was matched by his knowledge and skill, traits that made others heed his views and accept his leadership and ideas. Norm Sterling told me that the cabinet once had to decide whether or not to legalize kick-boxing in Ontario. When the subject came up for debate, Bob Elgie pointed out that a kick carries a force five or more times greater than a punch and that, as a neurosurgeon, he could not condone a sport that could cause brain injury. After he spoke up, kick-boxing was not legalized.

I got to know Bob Elgie well after he retired and moved to Georgina permanently—although Bob Elgie’s idea of retirement would be busier than many people’s working lives. Bob and Nancy were active in our community, and Nancy is today our local public school trustee.

I’ve always been grateful to Bob and Nancy for the support and friendship they have given me locally. At one point, shortly after I had been nominated, Bob was asked to introduce me to the guests of the neighbourhood, so he told them that he had scouted out a bit to find out if I had any skeletons in my closet. He knew people who knew me, so he explained to the audience that he had done his research, and he felt quite confident in introducing me as a straight shooter. I always regarded that as one of the best compliments that I could receive from Dr. Bob Elgie.

We will miss Bob in Georgina. We are very lucky to have shared in the wisdom, generosity and leadership he offered to Ontario. Bob Elgie truly loved this province and its people, and his life and work made it a better place. We have all heard the words from the gospel of Luke: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required....”

Bob Elgie knew that he had received a great share of success, intelligence, education and happiness in life, and he put in the work to help others to achieve their dreams. He told his children, “There’s no such thing as a great person. There are only people who do great things.”

I think for Bob it was not just a duty to give to others; it was a joy. At the end of the order of service for Bob’s memorial is a poem, part of which goes:

I sit beside the fire and think

of people long ago,

and people who will see a world

that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think

of times there were before,

I listen for returning feet

and voices at the door.

These are the words of that great philosopher Bilbo Baggins, as recorded by J.R.R. Tolkien. We can only imagine the happiness of a family that honours their husband, father and grandfather with words from one of the great happy travellers and adventurers of fiction.

Thank you, Bob Elgie. We are all the better for having known you. You did do great things.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I would like to thank all members for their very thoughtful and heartwarming comments for this tribute.

I’d also like to thank the family for the gift of Bob Elgie, not just in this place but in the province of Ontario. We will be providing you with a CD of the tributes and a copy of Hansard.

We think that we are better for having known him. Thank you very much.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY /

JOURNÉE DES ENFANTS

EN HOMMAGE À JUNE CALLWOOD

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Statements by ministries? The Minister of Agriculture and Food—

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Or Premier.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Or Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m here speaking as Premier today.

Mr. Speaker, I’m very pleased to rise today to recognize June Callwood Children’s Day. I’d like to introduce a couple of individuals before I do so, Anita Khanna and Olivia Aiello from Campaign 2000, and Brian MacLean, Nik Manojlovich—if I got that pronunciation wrong, I apologize—Todd Ross, and former member of the House Walter Pitman, who are with us. They’re from the June Callwood committee to end child poverty in Canada. Welcome.

This is a day when we are talking about two wonderful people: Bob Elgie and now June Callwood. It’s a day when we should all consider the legacy of a great woman, I believe, and strive to emulate her hard work and outstanding values.

The late June Callwood was a journalist. She was an author and social activist, fondly known as “Canada’s conscience.” She was rightly referred to by many as St. June. Her childhood was marked by hardships, including poverty and adversity, but she took this early life experience and focused on improving the lives of others. The causes she championed included poverty reduction, health and wellness, and freedom of expression, among others. She was drawn to social justice and focused special attention on issues affecting vulnerable children and women.

As a journalist, she wrote about these topics, but her work did not end when she put down her pen. She took action and helped establish more than 50 social action organizations. Everything June Callwood touched was indelibly marked by her love and compassion. She believed that showing kindness was the truest demonstration of strength.

Tout ce que June Callwood touchait était à jamais marqué de façon indélébile de son amour et de sa compassion. Elle croyait que faire preuve de bonté était la véritable façon d’exprimer sa force.

In March 2007, the province’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism was renamed the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her many contributions to Ontario.

In 2009, the province named a day in her honour. Every June 2 is now recognized as June Callwood Children’s Day in Ontario. This celebration of her life adds to June’s collection of distinctions and awards, including the Order of Ontario and all three ranks in the Order of Canada. June Callwood displayed a deep love of humanity in everything she took on, and June 2 is a reminder that the biggest impact can be made by those who work together.

In a 2006 radio interview, June said, “Most people will do anything to help a child, and that’s the way the human race is meant to be.

“We’re meant to be a tribe. And when it works, it just makes your heart leap.”

Mr. Speaker, June championed an all-hands-on-deck approach to reducing child poverty. Thanks in part to her tireless efforts, our government announced in 2008 a five-year poverty reduction strategy focused on combating child poverty. I would say “tireless efforts and prodding,” because she did push us, and that was a good thing. A year later, after its introduction, this strategy was enshrined in legislation.

Our government also committed to the Ontario Child Benefit, a social support that was championed by June. This benefit is the cornerstone of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and has helped to lift over 40,000 children and families out of poverty. It provides support to over 950,000 children in 510,000 families, and we have proposed to increase the maximum annual amount per child, to $1,210 this July and $1,310 in July 2014.

Mr. Speaker, we’re proud of our investments, which are helping to break the cycle of poverty, and so this year we’ll be engaging Ontarians in the development of the next phase of our Poverty Reduction Strategy.

We still have a long way to go, and we owe it to June to see the job through. I would say that June Callwood would be the very first to tell us that there is much, much more to be done. In her last interview, she said that great consideration for one another is going to save the world.

June left an indelible mark on all those she touched and on Ontario as a whole. On this day, people across Ontario recognize this remarkable woman, her hard work and unshakable values.

June a laissé à jamais sa marque sur ceux et celles qui l’ont connue de même que sur tout l’Ontario. En ce jour, les gens de l’ensemble de l’Ontario reconnaissent cette femme remarquable pour son dur labeur et ses valeurs indéfectibles.

I invite the House to join me in celebrating a champion of the disadvantaged and a day when we recommit ourselves to her cause. We continue to learn from her compassion and commitment to others, and we thank her for helping us to build strong communities across our province.

SENIORS’ MONTH

Hon. Mario Sergio: June is Seniors’ Month in Ontario, a time to recognize the many ways seniors contribute to the province and learn more about the benefits of living well at any age.

This year’s theme, “The Art of Living,” honours seniors’ unique approach to living. It recognizes that seniors, regardless of health conditions, social or economic status, have developed their own individual work of art, their lives.

By 2017, for the first time in our history, Ontario will be home to more people over 65 than under the age of 15. That is why our government is working hard to support seniors and help make Ontario the best place in Canada to grow older.

Through Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors, our government is ensuring that seniors and their families have access to quality services that support them in leading healthy and independent lives. Our plan is helping seniors stay healthy and get better access to health care, stay active and engaged in all aspects of community life, and live safely, independently and with dignity.

Since announcing the action plan in January, we have made progress on a number of fronts. In partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, we launched Finding Your Way, a new wandering prevention program that helps prevent people with dementia from going missing. We are the first province in Canada to make automatic sprinklers mandatory in care homes for seniors, people with disabilities and vulnerable Ontarians. Starting August 1, we are expanding access to publicly funded physiotherapy and exercise and fall prevention, classes benefiting 218,000 more people, mostly seniors.

We have also introduced new measures to assist seniors making the transition to their homes from the hospital sooner, while also enhancing care for long-term-care residents with complex needs.

Through our new Health Link, we are working to match older Ontarians with a primary care provider to make it easier for them to navigate the health care system. And we are increasing the number of personal support workers for low-needs patients in the community.

Our 2013 budget reaffirmed our government’s commitment to ensure seniors receive timely access to home and community care. Additional investments in the community care sector would help reduce wait times and give approximately 46,000 patients the help they need quickly and in the comfort of their own homes.

We are also giving caregivers a helping hand. The proposed Employment Standards Amendment Act would allow more families to take time off work to care for their loved ones, allowing more elderly Ontarians to recover from injury or illness at home.

We continue to take many more steps to improve the quality of life for seniors in our communities, including holding information sessions for seniors on active living at community fairs and other events, encouraging municipalities and other organizations to plan for age-friendly communities and enhancing tax credits available to seniors, such as the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit that is helping more seniors live independently at home longer.

I encourage people of all ages to join your local Seniors’ Month celebrations happening in communities across the province this month. Let’s celebrate and honour the knowledge and experience of seniors and the contributions they make every day in communities across our wonderful province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s now time for responses.

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY

Mr. Ted Arnott: I’m pleased to rise this afternoon on behalf of Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC caucus to recognize the extraordinary community service of the late June Callwood. I want to thank the Premier for leading off this tribute and acknowledge her thoughtful and sincere sentiments. I also wish to welcome the guests who are here with us today.

If my arithmetic is correct, Ms. Callwood would have been 89 years old yesterday had she still been living. It’s hard to believe that it has been six years that have passed since she left us. But what an enduring legacy she left behind. It is altogether fitting and appropriate that the provincial government chose to celebrate her life by declaring June 2, her birthday, as June Callwood Children’s Day.

I’m sorry to say that I never met Ms. Callwood. I do recall, however, the last time I saw her in person. I think it was around the time I heard of her cancer diagnosis. It was at Bistro 990, and she was just across the room having lunch with a friend. I regret now that I didn’t go over to her table just to say hello and thank you.

Reading last night about her passion, her caring, her perseverance and her ability to get things done, it struck me that most people would conclude that she earned her Order of Canada and her Order of Ontario over and over and over again, and 16 honorary university degrees—the most I’ve ever heard of anyone receiving.

Clearly her accomplishments were generously acknowledged in her lifetime, even though she never seemed to seek public recognition for herself, only for the causes she identified, embraced and then worked so hard to address.

She was fearless. She spoke her mind and voiced the truth as she saw it, without caring too much about the consequences. No wonder she was such an effective and provocative journalist, writer and broadcaster.

But it was her community activism that distinguished her most of all. Casey House, Nellie’s hostel for women, Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers, the Civil Liberties Association, The Issue Is Choice, Maggie’s, the Polish Journalists Aid Committee, Connecting Seniors of Canada, the Canadian Campaign for Prison System Improvements, the city of Toronto’s Children’s Network, Women for Political Action—the list goes on and on—all of these organizations bearing her indelible fingerprints and strengthened by her involvement and participation.

We in this House join her surviving family and her legions of friends and colleagues in remembering June Callwood. No matter what your political philosophy might be, on the occasion of this year’s June Callwood Children’s Day, we can all be inspired by one of Canada’s greatest community activists.

SENIORS’ MONTH

Mrs. Julia Munro: I’m pleased to mark Seniors’ Month in Ontario on behalf of Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservative caucus. Seniors’ Month is the time when we recognize the millions of seniors in our province who built the society we live in and who continue to make a contribution every day.

Just yesterday, we celebrated D-Day at the Sutton Legion. Again, this is an opportunity for people to have that sense of the continuity of our society, of those who have gone before us and those who have made sacrifices—in many cases the ultimate sacrifice. Seniors are the people, then, who reflect who we are. And they make a difference in the lives of their families and communities.

Our government should be honouring their service but instead is cutting many of the important programs we have to help our seniors. I have received dozens of telephone calls, emails, letters and visits from senior citizens and their caregivers, asking why the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is cutting funding for physiotherapy programs for seniors. They are also asking why the government will be delisting physio for seniors on August 1.

This means seniors living in retirement homes will have to get in line for care at CCACs instead of receiving treatment from a visiting physiotherapist, and it will be much more expensive. The Designated Physiotherapy Clinics Association estimates that CCACs have a cost per home treatment of approximately $120,

whereas the designated physiotherapy clinic members have a cost of $12.20 per treatment billed to OHIP.

Overall, the association estimates that of the approximately $200 million spent for OHIP-funded physio in the year ended March 31, some $110 million was dedicated to long-term care. Under the government’s new plan, it will be reduced to $58.5 million. We think there should be better respect.

SENIORS’ MONTH

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I am pleased to rise to celebrate the month of June as Seniors’ Month in Ontario. I am a firm believer that we are judged as a society by how we treat our seniors. Through their lifetime of contributions, they have earned our respect. Ontario’s seniors have built the foundations for our way of life, and we have a responsibility to show our gratitude, not just during Seniors’ Month, but every month.

If we are judged by our treatment of our seniors, then I urge this government to take heed. Ontario’s seniors have never faced greater challenges than they do today. Our record has never been worse, and many seniors are facing levels of indignity that are both heartbreaking and alarming.

In my riding of London, seniors have been told their access to a medically-necessary hydrotherapy pool is being taken away. In the news today, it was announced that, three years after Ontario’s health ministry promised annual inspections, only 123 of the province’s 600-plus nursing homes had been thoroughly inspected and reviewed. In fact, on the government’s website listing of events for Seniors’ Month, there isn’t a single event listed for my riding of London–Fanshawe.

Recently, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced her Seniors Strategy to much fanfare. She also announced the changes to physiotherapy funding, calling these changes an enhancement. The minister did not announce that her changes, in fact, represent a cut in funding for physiotherapy in long-term-care homes, where the most frail and elderly live, from $110 million to $58.5 million.

My own recent announcement asked this Legislature to prioritize home care services for seniors, to help them stay in their homes longer.

I’d further ask for a commitment that would see the elimination of a 6,100-person backlog for home care services. I proposed a private member’s motion that placed respect and dignity for seniors front and centre. I would urge the minister and the government to rethink their approach during Seniors’ Month and restore the dignity and respect Ontario’s seniors deserve and have spent a lifetime earning.

JUNE CALLWOOD CHILDREN’S DAY /

JOURNÉE DES ENFANTS

EN HOMMAGE À JUNE CALLWOOD

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to add my voice to June Callwood Children’s Day, which was yesterday, June 2.

June Callwood was a journalist. She was an activist. She wrote 30 books, nearly 2,000 articles, and co-founded or founded over 50 organizations. She would become known as Canada’s conscience, because she fought for social justice her whole life, even after she was afflicted with cancer, which eventually took her life in 2007.

In the 1950s, she defended day care when it was attacked by politicians—all male—as causing juvenile delinquency. Hard to believe, eh?

Then in the 1960s, she was arrested with street kids, to protest the way that they were treated by police. Things haven’t changed that much, have they?

In 1970, she founded Nellie’s Hostel for women, a place of refuge for women fleeing domestic violence.

In the 1980s, she founded Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers, to help teen mothers develop the skills to care for their infants, and Casey House, the first hospice in Canada for people living with AIDS.

She was to become known as St. June, although she didn’t like that name very much because she felt herself to be far from perfect. More so, she believed neither in God nor the afterlife. Instead, she said, she believed in kindness. She said: “I am missing a formal religion, but I am not without a theology, and my theology is that kindness is a divinity in motion.”

In 1998 she became co-chair of Campaign Against Child Poverty, or CACP, a group of faith leaders and community service providers, and helped to raise awareness about child poverty, which she had become very well known for.

June was born on June 2, 1924. Elle est née la même date que ma mère. She was born in Chatham, and she grew up in poverty in a French-speaking community called Belle River, just outside of Windsor. J’en profite pour dire bonjour à tous les résidants de La Chaumiere, qui demeurent à Belle River.

Life wasn’t easy for June. At 11 years old, during the Depression, she once went without food for three days. By the time she was 13, her father deserted her family. By age 16, she was at work as a cub reporter for the Brantford Expositor and then found a job at the Globe and Mail.

Une femme vraiment remarquable.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): At the risk of Speaker’s prerogative—I got to know June Callwood, and there is a Brantford connection, as was just mentioned. She used to love to ride that little red car that she had and drove. I did deal with her with a couple of projects, so I do thank the members for their comments.

Another piece of prerogative: I have with me Alfred Hauk in the visitors’ gallery, who is a doctor of naturopathic medicine, and they were here at noon hour today. Welcome, to my constituent. I’m glad you’re here.

It is now time for petitions.

PETITIONS

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): To make sure that the member from Durham doesn’t get a complex, I will go to the member from Durham for petitions.

Mr. John O’Toole: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if you still cared.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Always.

Mr. John O’Toole: “Whereas the Ministry of Health is planning major changes to services provided by OHIP for physiotherapy as of August 1st, 2013; and

“Whereas this will drastically reduce the number of allowable treatments to 12 per year for people who are currently eligible for 100 treatments annually”—shameful—“and

“Whereas funding for physiotherapy services to seniors in long-ter