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April 19, 2011

39th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2011-Apr-19 (PDF)

L111 - Tue 19 Apr 2011 / Mar 19 avr 2011

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 19 April 2011 Mardi 19 avril 2011

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CHRISTOPHER’S LAW (SEX OFFENDER

REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT

LA LOI CHRISTOPHER

SUR LE REGISTRE

DES DÉLINQUANTS SEXUELS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

NORTHERN ONTARIO ECONOMY

GASOLINE PRICES

CHILD CARE

RENEWABLE ENERGY

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

COURT DOCUMENTS

CANCER SCREENING

GROWTH PLANNING

LABORATORY SERVICES

CHILD CARE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

HERITAGE CONSERVATION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

VISITOR

DEFERRED VOTES

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

STRONG COMMUNITIES THROUGH

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 FAVORISANT

DES COLLECTIVITÉS FORTES

GRÂCE AU LOGEMENT ABORDABLE

CHRISTOPHER’S LAW (SEX OFFENDER

REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT

LA LOI CHRISTOPHER

SUR LE REGISTRE

DES DÉLINQUANTS SEXUELS

ESTIMATES

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

RIVERSIDE BUICK GMC

ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SUMMIT PLACE TAVERN

NATIONAL SOIL

CONSERVATION WEEK

PUBLIC SAFETY

THUNDER BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

REGULATIONS AND PRIVATE BILLS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

OMBUDSMAN STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT (DESIGNATED

PUBLIC BODIES), 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À L’OMBUDSMAN

(ORGANISMES PUBLICS DÉSIGNÉ

S) COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LES ASSOCIATIONS

ÉTUDIANTES DES COLLÈGES

ET DES UNIVERSITÉS

PETITIONS

WIND TURBINES

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

PARAMEDICS

RURAL SCHOOLS

PARAMEDICS

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TREATMENT

PARAMEDICS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

LONG-TERM CARE

OAK RIDGES MORAINE

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUILDING FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING

YOUTH TO BE SUCCESSFUL ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 FAVORISANT

LA FONDATION DE FAMILLES

ET LA RÉUSSITE CHEZ LES JEUNES

SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OF THE TMX GROUP AND THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE GROUP

BUILDING FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING

YOUTH TO BE SUCCESSFUL ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 FAVORISANT

LA FONDATION DE FAMILLES

ET LA RÉUSSITE CHEZ LES JEUNES

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

WIND TURBINES

SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CHRISTOPHER’S LAW (SEX OFFENDER

REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT

LA LOI CHRISTOPHER

SUR LE REGISTRE

DES DÉLINQUANTS SEXUELS

Mr. Bradley moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 163,

An Act to amend Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000 / Projet de loi 163, Loi modifiant la Loi Christopher de 2000 sur le registre des délinquants sexuels.

Hon. Gerry Phillips: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the division of time for debate on government order G163.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed?

Mr. Peter Kormos: No.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Debate?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I don’t know whether the clock should be on the 20s or the way it is.

Interjection.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Okay.

Bill 163, Christopher’s Law, received first reading on March 10, 2011. I’m pleased to be able to speak to this important bill once again at third reading.

First, I would like to express thanks to my colleague David Zimmer for piloting this bill through the Legislature. He spent a good deal of time, effort and energy on the bill, and I want to commend him for the excellent work that he did.

I’d also like to thank the members on all sides of the House for their thoughtful and helpful contributions to the debate, in particular the critics for the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party, who participated in a very positive manner on this debate.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Stephenson family, and with us in the Legislature today is Jim Stephenson. Their courage and dedication in preventing such heinous crimes as the one they experienced was the driving force behind the creation of the Ontario sex offender registry. On behalf of the people of Ontario, I want to thank Anna and Jim Stephenson for your support and for your tireless advocacy.

Finally, I would like to recognize the difficult work and dedication of the police officers across the province who investigate crimes of this nature and work to prevent the victimization of children. Particularly, I would like to thank Deputy Commissioner Scott Tod and the entire dedicated team at the OPP, including Chief Superintendent Ron Gentle and Staff Sergeant Adam Alderson.

Members of this House are aware that it was on April 4, 2000, that the Ontario Legislature passed Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000, to establish and maintain a registry of sex offenders that police can use proactively for investigative purposes and crime prevention. The protection of Ontarians from sex offenders is at the heart of Christopher’s Law.

Christopher’s Law requires sex offenders convicted of criteria sex offences to register with the police service in their area of residence. Persons who are found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder in relation to a sex offence are also required to register. The OPP and police services across Ontario agree that Christopher’s Law is a critical tool in fighting crime, protecting vulnerable children and adults and safeguarding our communities.

Ontario continues to be the only province to maintain its own sex offender registry. We believe that it provides us with direct control over the tools that our police services tell us they need to track and monitor convicted sex offenders quickly and effectively.

The federal government established a national sex offender registry in the year 2004. The national registry was similar to Ontario’s, although different in some respects. On December 9, 2010, the federal government and the Parliament of Canada passed legislation, called Bill S-2, that brings the national registry more in line with Ontario’s. That legislation came into force only last week. It addresses some of the concerns Ontario has expressed about the federal registry and, in doing so, creates differences between the national and provincial registries that must be resolved.

The amendments we are proposing to Christopher’s Law would help to align the legislation with the national sex offender registry legislation, as amended by Bill S-2.

I should add that even with federal enhancements to the national sex offender registry, Ontario’s registry will maintain advantages, as an investigative tool, over the national registry. For example, the Ontario registry can display offender residences within a specific proximity of a given location, such as a school. The Ontario registry also provides timely access for all police services in the province, which we all know is imperative in critical incidents where time is of essence.

Police across Ontario rely on the information in the Ontario sex offender registry to help them investigate and solve cases involving sexual offences. That is why they access the registry more than 745 times a day, on average. We need to continue to ensure that essential information that our police and communities rely on is as complete, as accurate and as up to date as possible. That is why, in 2008, this government amended Christopher’s Law to enhance the effectiveness of Ontario’s sex offender registry.

The logic behind a sex offender registry is quite simple: If police know the whereabouts of sex offenders in the community, they are better able to identify potential threats and can better focus their investigations. That is why Christopher’s Law requires offenders convicted of a criteria offence and residing in Ontario to register with their local police service within 15 days after a triggering event such as their release from custody, a name change or an address change.

Where there is no custodial sentence, they must register within 15 days after being convicted of a sex offence or within 15 days of receiving an absolute or conditional discharge for a sex offence when found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder.

Currently, police services in Ontario are responsible for Ontario and national sex offender registrations, but police services in Ontario only have direct access to the Ontario registry to input and search offender information.

Because information captured by the Ontario and national registries is similar, police services in Ontario are only required to submit offender information into the Ontario registry. Information required by the national registry is automatically transmitted from the Ontario registry. However, the national registry now requires Ontario police services to collect additional information that cannot be entered into the Ontario registry because there’s no legislative prerogative or authority to do so. As a result, information that is automatically submitted to the national registry could be incomplete.

Because of the adoption of Bill S-2, there are now differences between the Ontario national registries in the following areas. Bill S-2 requires offenders to register within seven days. The federal registry contains new mechanisms by which offenders convicted outside Canada could be required to register. The national registry will maintain the records of registered offenders who receive a pardon under the Criminal Records Act. The federal legislation also requires the reporting of certain volunteer and employment information.

The legislative amendments we are proposing would ensure consistency between the registries. Consistency is critical to the effectiveness of the registries both national and provincial. It will help ensure more offenders of interest are identified by an Ontario registry search during time-sensitive investigations.

Having different Ontario and national registry reporting periods could increase the workload for Ontario police services. They would have to manually register offenders in Ontario for the national registry and confirm that offenders are fulfilling their national and Ontario reporting obligations if the registries were indeed inconsistent.

The process of manually uploading information from local police to the OPP—and, by the way, the OPP is the only police service with direct access to the national registry—and from the OPP to the national registry could create delays—much too long for time-sensitive investigations. This bill will ensure Ontario continues to provide offender information to the national registry electronically and in real time.

Furthermore, where there are differences in the time allowed for offenders to report to the Ontario registry and the national registry, offenders may fail to differentiate the Ontario and national reporting requirements, resulting in potential criminal charges for offenders who mistakenly believe they have 15 days to report to the national registry.

Including sex offenders in the Ontario registry who have been convicted of a sex crime outside of Canada will help ensure that more offenders of interest are identified by an Ontario registry search.

The amendments we are proposing would address these issues in a number of specific ways. I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the particular provisions of this bill that would, if passed, align Christopher’s law with the amended national sex offender registry.

Section 1 of the bill would add two new clauses to the definition of “sex offence” in

section 1 of the act. New clauses (b.2) and (b.3) would result in offences which were committed outside of Canada being included in the definition if the person who committed the offence is required to report to the federal sex offender registry pursuant to an obligation under either

section 490.02901 of the Criminal Code or

section 36.1 of the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

Section 2 of the bill would amend

section 3 of the act to remove the 15-day reporting timelines and would provide for the timelines to be prescribed by regulation. The

section would be further amended by adding two new clauses, (e.1) and (e.2), which would require offenders who are subject to a federal sex offender registry reporting obligation, pursuant to

section 490.02901 of the Criminal Code or

section 36.1 of the International Transfer of Offenders Act, to report to the Ontario registry within the time prescribed by the regulation.

Section 3 of the bill would amend

section 7 of the act to remove the 15-day reporting timelines and to have the timelines prescribed by regulation.

Section 3 of the bill also contains transition provisions which would stipulate that if the events that trigger a reporting obligation in subsection 7(2) of the act occur before the bill comes into force, the old reporting obligation provisions would apply, and if such events occur on or after the bill comes into force, the new reporting obligation provisions would apply.

Section 4 of the bill would amend

section 8 of the act to state that it applies to persons who become subject to an obligation to report to the national sex offender registry, pursuant to

section 490.02901 of the Criminal Code, on or after the day this bill comes into force. It goes on to state that the duration of the reporting obligation under the act is for the duration of that federal reporting obligation.

Section 4 of the bill would further amend

section 8 of the act to state that it applies to persons who become subject to an obligation to report to the national sex offender registry, pursuant to

section 36.1 of the International Transfer of Offenders Act, on or after the day this bill comes into force. It goes on to state that the duration of the reporting obligation under the act is for the duration of that federal reporting obligation.

Section 5 of the bill would repeal subsection 9(3) of the act. Under that subsection, the ministry is required to remove all of an offender’s information from the registry if the offender receives a pardon for all of the sex offences that triggered a reporting obligation.

Section 6 of the bill would add a new

section to the act,

section 9.1, which would require the ministry to remove all of an offender’s information from the registry if the offender receives a free pardon for all of the sex offences that triggered a reporting obligation.

Section 7 of the bill would add a new regulation-making power to

section 14 of the act, allowing for regulations to be made in relation to the various timelines of the reporting set out in obligations 3(1) and 7(2) of the act.

Even with the proclamation of federal Bill S-2, Ontario’s registry will maintain the following advantages over the national registry: It is accessible to every police service in Ontario,

whereas the national registry is only accessible by the OPP at their general headquarters in Orillia. As a result, the local police services have to contact the OPP to conduct national registry searches. It allows police to perform searches that display the offender residences within a specific proximity to a given location, such as a school. Not all offenders who report to the Ontario registry report to the national registry, and Ontario’s registry is routinely checked by police services in the course of their investigations.

Ontario’s sex offender registry has a compliance rate of more than 97%, one of the highest compliance rates of all sex offender registries in operation, including registries in the United States.

Christopher’s Law is an important piece of legislation. It is based on a simple proposition that if police know the whereabouts of all convicted sex offenders in the community, they are better able to identify potential threats and can better focus their investigation. The technical amendments proposed in this bill would, if adopted, maintain smooth and efficient sharing of information between local police services and both registries and more closely align the Ontario’s sex offender registry with the national registry.

In conclusion, the Ontario sex offender registry provides police with the information they need to help provide protection to our communities. A sex offender registry is also an effective tool in preventing such crimes. As Jim Stephenson, who is with us today, has said, “The sex offender registry reminds the sex offender that somebody is watching. If that isn’t preventative enough, I don’t know what else can be suggested.”

I cannot think of a more opportune time to move forward these changes, especially given that this April 23 will mark the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of Christopher’s Law.

The amendments proposed in Bill 163 will better align the sex offender registry with the national sex offender registry to maintain the prompt, effective sharing of information. It will also maintain the Ontario system’s independence to be a more effective investigative tool and to provide greater protection for Ontario’s communities.

I know I don’t have to do this: My notes say, “I urge the members of the House to adopt these amendments,” and I know that, in fact, the members have been kind enough to do so.

Again, as I conclude my remarks, there are certain pieces of legislation that cause great division within this House. There are philosophical differences between political parties and members who are here. This piece of legislation has the basic consent and agreement of all three parties, and it takes the co-operation of the opposition critics and the opposition House leaders to be able to process a bill of this kind in a timely fashion. I want to once again thank the critic for the Conservative Party, the critic for the New Democratic Party and all who are involved in this particular initiative.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Comments and questions? Further debate?

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I’m pleased to rise today and say a few words on Bill 163,

An Act to amend Christopher’s Law, in third reading. First of all, I want to say to all the members who sat on the committee and have spoken in this House: Thank you for the swift passage of this bill to align it with Bill S-2, the federal national sex offender registry. I particularly want to thank the member from Welland, who, last week during committee, brought forward a motion to actually go into clause-by-clause in the afternoon last Thursday. It allowed us to get clause-by-clause complete and allowed us to have third reading debate this morning.

We are concerned with how long the House will sit, and one thing we didn’t want to have happen was to see this bill lost somehow. Now with the passage of this bill, we will be able to nationally align ourselves with Bill S-2. On top of that, we’ll be prepared for the 10th anniversary of the Ontario sex offender registry which, as the minister has said, is next week. I do believe there are a couple of events scheduled at the OPP general headquarters celebrating that great day.

We’re quite proud of this bill, and we will always support law and order, of course. Christopher’s Law was originally enacted under the PC government in 2000, both with the hard work of now-Senator Runciman and Minister David Tsubouchi at the time.

Interjection.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: It sounds really good, yeah.

Interjection.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I bet he wishes he was here today to listen to the debate on this.

We are pleased that Christopher’s Law is being strengthened by aligning it with the recent changes made by the federal government on the national registry. We have always felt, as Conservatives and, I think, as members of this House, and the folks up at the Ontario sex offender registry always felt, that we had the state-of-the-art registry to begin with. All these changes only strengthen it and make it not only one of the top registries in North America but throughout the world as well.

I really want to say something this morning about Mr. Stephenson. He’s in the audience, and this bill came about as a result of the death of his son Christopher in 1988. You know, it takes somebody very, very special to have that kind of compassion and love for someone that they would move legislation through, talking to different governments at different stages, so that we can have something as good as this bill is today. Mr. Stephenson has been with us through all of the debate. He spoke on the bill at committee. I know he’s here today as well. I’m sure he’ll be up in Orillia next week at the 10th anniversary.

I really just want to say how important it is that we have this true leadership coming from our families in cases like this where they have had the greatest loss.

However, on the other hand, you have to say that if you look at the impact this bill has had on all Canadians or on all Ontarians, I can’t imagine how many lives this legislation has saved in the last decade. People who are under constant scrutiny, who might have reoffended, are simply under the kind scrutiny and watch such that they can’t move forward with any other terrible crimes.

It brings me to think of a couple of things I watched just recently. I just wanted to talk about some of the fine work of our people in law enforcement. I saw the story the other night, the CBC story on the Fifth Estate on the terrible crimes of Russell Williams. That’s a show I just couldn’t quit watching. It was so unbelievable that somebody who was that brillant and such a leader in the armed forces could have a second life and be leading these terrible, terrible tragedies of sex crimes throughout that area—again, the sad story of little Tori Stafford and other cases.

I just want to say that because I think in each case it showed the fine police work that solved these crimes. I think it’s important to put on record that these types of crimes continue to this day, but with the sex offender registry, we can point out that, in each and every case, these people will never reoffend again.

I’d also like to thank the staff of the Ontario sex offender registry. The minister mentioned Ron Gentle and Adam Alderson. Jim Mascola is another one. Again, as I mentioned earlier, the anniversary is next week.

In

summary, I really want to say that our caucus is very, very proud of this bill. We’re happy that the minister has brought in these amendments that will align the bill with the federal legislation. We want to move forward in future years, and when other amendments are necessary, make it even stronger and even better for the people of our province and our country.

With that, I just want to bring it to a conclusion today. I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words on this. Our caucus will definitely be supporting this legislation, and we look forward to the passage of the bill, the proclamation of the bill and passing it on to the folks at the Ontario sex offender registry to implement in the best possible way.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Comments and questions?

Further debate?

Mr. Peter Kormos: I see that I’m joined here by the member from Niagara Falls, seated at my left. I suspect he’s trying to get a view of the House from this side to prepare himself for after October 6. I’m not sure, but I have no qualms whatsoever with him joining me here. He can’t leave now; he’ll just draw more attention to himself.

Of course, New Democrats support this legislation. We made that clear from the get-go. These are important amendments, as we all know. We in the NDP have done our best—the others have too—to expedite the passage of this bill. I have no apologies for that. We understand the legislation; we understand its significance and its relevance.

There were very brief committee hearings, the only reason being that there weren’t a whole lot of people eager to participate, for reasons that I don’t understand. But one of the most important participants, in addition to Mr. Stephenson, was one Dr. Lisa Doupe, who appeared at the committee. She’s a medical doctor here in the city of Toronto, a psychotherapist who works with sex offenders. She brought a dimension to this discussion or debate that’s too often overlooked, because, of course, in this climate of competing to be more law-and-order than the other guy, it’s somehow sacrilege from some quarters to talk about the need to treat offenders so that they don’t reoffend.

We know that the sex offender registry contains 97%, give or take, of the names, identities, of people who have been convicted of sexual offences, those that require them to register, and we also know that that means that 2% or 3% aren’t on the registry. We also know that those 2% or 3% are the ones most likely to reoffend. That’s why they don’t register. It’s not rocket science. You don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. Those people, of course, pose great danger to the community, and the sex offender registry does not protect us from those people.

In fact, the sex offender registry, in our view, has a couple of functions: One, first and foremost, is the investigative tool, and police officers talked about that when they attended the committee hearing last week here at Queen’s Park. It’s not a perfect investigative tool because, as I say, there’s 3% of people who aren’t registered, and those are the most dangerous persons most likely to reoffend.

I submit that there’s also an element of scarlet-lettering here. This indicates that there’s a stigma; yes, there’s a stigma attached to being a sex offender—darned right there is. I, quite frankly, am torn about the sex offender registry being private or, as it is in some other jurisdictions—not in Canada, but the United States, most notably—public, because I believe that people have a right to protect their families and protect their children.

Having said that, the observation was made at committee hearings that the privacy of the sex offender registry, accessible only by police officers, police forces, helps incent people to register. If it were public, there would probably be an even higher rate than the 3% who don’t register their names. But as I say, that’s a debate that I’m sure will be ongoing and it’s one that I have mixed feelings about.

Dr. Lisa Doupe raised this whole spectre of treatment. She acknowledged that she deals with low-risk offenders, and the inference I drew from that is that high-risk offenders are all that much more difficult to treat, or are untreatable, perhaps. She was very, very fervent in her advocacy for treatment. She made reference to—she brought the book with her. She brandished it like a preacher brandishes the Bible. She made reference to the book, The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, and urged all of us to read

chapter 4, which I’m doing at her urging, and I find it a very valuable exercise. It’s insightful for a whole pile of reasons, not just with respect to why this psychotherapeutic approach that she advocates can be helpful for treating sex offenders and making sure that they don’t reoffend.

But she also made note—because I asked her about this. “Dr. Doupe, here you are in the city of Toronto, this large urban centre.” I said, “What about folks down where I come from in Niagara region? What about folks in northern Ontario and in remote communities? Where do they get this kind of treatment?” And she acknowledged that it’s hard to access. There’s not a whole lot of people doing it. There’s not a whole lot of governmental support for this sort of stuff.

I’m a little familiar with what goes on inside our reformatories, our provincial correctional institutions. Many years ago I used to be a criminal lawyer—some folks know that—which is as good a career to lead up to politics as any, I suppose. It probably should have made me eligible for the Senate. But many years ago, I was a criminal lawyer and acted for a whole lot of people convicted of many of these types of offences—or charged with them; not all convicted. One of the things I asked Dr.

Doupe about was treatments inside our institutions, because I know that they were hard to come by 30 years ago when I was practising law. Her response was that they’re probably even harder to come by now. Isn’t that a shame?

We had the cable TV scandal, if you will, last week, and the minister very effectively disarmed the opposition on it. I admired his political skill as he handled that. But the real story last week, during the cable TV scandal, wasn’t that there was enhanced cable going into our institutions; the real story was that television has replaced programs in our institutions, that our correctional institutions are using TV to babysit inmates in the same way that very busy parents use TV to babysit their kids. Good grief.

We’ve got somebody in a provincial institution—maximum two years less a day, and most don’t serve anywhere near that. Why aren’t we doing something meaningful? A whole lot of sex offenders are getting sentences of less than two years less a day. The more serious ones, obviously, go into penitentiaries. The real story from the cable scandal last week wasn’t the enhanced cable; it was the fact that television has replaced programs. I don’t fault this minister; that was the hand that he was dealt when he became minister.

When we’ve got people living in institutions, surely there are better things for them to be doing than watching television, watching stupid American sitcoms. I’ve been in these places, and they’re watching TV not just at night like you and your family might do from time to time, but they’re watching it during the day too, because our provincial institutions have become warehouses.

We’ve got this hare-brained scheme—and I know it doesn’t come from the minister; it comes from the Premier’s office—to shut down local, regional detention centres, the ones in Owen Sound and Sarnia and yet another one in that same part of the woods, and the government is building these huge American-style megaprisons, which are understaffed, overpopulated, dangerous for the correctional staff, dangerous for the inmates, and they’re centralized. Inmates will be shipped from Owen Sound over two and half—what is it, Mr.

Craitor?—two and a half or three hours to Penetanguishene, to that mega-jail that the Tories built in Penetanguishene, or two to two and a half hours down to the Windsor mega-jail, to be warehoused. They won’t have access to community supports. They won’t have access to the Salvation Army people in their community. They won’t have access even to the lawyers in their own community. That’s not corrections.

I know I’m digressing just a little bit, but it’s still quite relevant because if we’re going to put people in jail for these offences—and we should. Again, you put dangerous offenders in jail for a long, long time because they pose a risk to the community and to potential victims whether they’re in jail for two years, five years or 10 years. But if others are going to be released, you had better be doing something with them while they’re in jail. Dr. Doupe says we should be working harder in treatment. I agree. I suspect most members of this Legislature would as well. That means we have got to make those kinds of investments.

I want to thank and commend Jim Stephenson for his tenacity, for his courage. I suspect he’ll be on this file for a good chunk of time yet to come, trying to make the process better and better and safer and safer.

I don’t share the enthusiasm of my colleague for the 10th anniversary of the registry. I’m not big on anniversaries, but it’s also not something that I think we should necessarily be celebrating. We should be trying to build a society, a community, a country, a group of people where people can be safe in their community and, quite frankly, be safe in their own homes. We know that a whole lot of kids who are victims of sexual offenders are victimized in their own homes. There’s perhaps nothing more despicable than that. But to those who attend the 10th anniversary, I say good luck to you.

We’ve worked very hard in the NDP to avoid politicizing this particular issue. As I say, it has moved along at an appropriate pace. It doesn’t require more debate.

I want to remind members that there used to be a time here—the minister knows it because he was already a seasoned veteran when I came here 23 years ago—when governments didn’t play politics with time allocation motions, closure motions. There was a time here when there wasn’t a one-hour limit on lead speeches, when sometimes a lead speech would be two hours or three hours. It was also a time, I tell you, when more legislation got passed than does now.

Bills that could be dealt with in a reasonably efficient way, like this one, proceeded reasonably promptly—not without appropriate oversight, not without second and third reading. This bill is getting second and third reading, but this bill is moving along as it should. As I say, there was a time when that happened a heck of a lot more than it does now.

I blame the first Liberal Premier that I served with, Bob Rae, for making some of the most dramatic rule changes in terms of controlling the participation by members in process. Of course, the subsequent Tory regime and now the Liberals again have compressed the role of this chamber and its members. I don’t find that particularly attractive or helpful. We as an institution have done ourselves a disservice in that regard.

I’m close to closing. We’ve worked very hard to avoid politicizing this, but for the life of me, I’m betting dollars to doughnuts that the Liberals won’t be able to help themselves. Just watch: This is going to go to a vote in a few minutes. There will be Liberals here who will vote against this bill, who will say no when the question is put, “Shall this bill carry?” Their purpose in doing that will be then to force a recorded vote when it has been made clear by every member of this chamber, by every caucus, by every party in this assembly, that we support the legislation.

I find it particularly distasteful that, when so much goodwill has been demonstrated over the course of the passage of this bill, at the end of the day, when it comes down to third reading, the Liberals may well force a recorded vote.

That has become their habit. I don’t know who took the stupid pills and decided that this was some kind of clever trick or tactic, but they’re clearly overdosing. Somehow, the impression is that if you’re not recorded in the recorded vote, if for whatever reason you’re not here, somehow you don’t support the legislation. I don’t know what the method is to, truly, their madness, but they should be embarrassed if they do that on this one. They should be embarrassed by trivializing what is important legislation that has received the enthusiastic support of the whole assembly, of all three caucuses. They should be embarrassed by playing that cheap stunt here this morning.

Let’s see whether or not they serve the memory of Christopher Stephenson well.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Comments and questions? Further debate?

Seeing no further debate, Mr. Bradley has moved third reading of Bill 163. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour, say “aye.”

All those opposed, say “nay.”

I declare that the ayes have it. This will be a deferred vote, until after question period.

Third reading vote deferred.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Orders of the day?

Hon. Gerry Phillips: No further business.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): We’re recessed until 10:30 of the clock.

The House recessed from 0941 to 1030.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I am pleased today to introduce to members of this chamber two people with the Ontario Real Estate Association. I’d like colleagues to welcome Barb Sukkau, who is here in the gallery, as well as Matthew Thornton. Barb is the president of the Ontario Real Estate Association and Matthew is the manager of government relations.

I urge all members today to celebrate with OREA and with the three parties. I believe they’re either in the legislative dining room or another one of the committee rooms today to host a reception.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I’m delighted that we have staff from the early learning policy and programs branch at the Ministry of Education here today. The senior managers are Jim Grieve, Jill Vienneau, Rupert Gordon and Michelle Braakman. We’re delighted that they’ve been able to join us today.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Seated in the Speaker’s gallery today are a number of guests of mine that I’d like to welcome. First, I’d like to welcome Kyle Waters and Barrett Nicpon. Welcome to Queen’s Park today. I’d also like to welcome two good friends of mine from Winnipeg who are visiting: Steve Moran, and a long-time friend and good travelling buddy over the years, Phil Mandzuk. Welcome to Ontario.

Hon. James J. Bradley: I would like to introduce the parents of page Daniel Mateus: his mother, Liliana Jimenez; sister, Sarah Mateus; friend, Nhora Medina; and friend, Gonzalo Diaz, in the gallery.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I invited everyone to a reception in the dining room when in fact the reception for OREA today is in room 228 and 230. It is co-sponsored by all three political parties. I know that Mr. Caplan as well as Mr. Prue will join me in welcoming them, as well as all members of this House.

Hon. Aileen Carroll, P.C.: I’m not sure if they’ve yet assembled in the Legislature with us, but we have a civics class visiting today from Central Collegiate in Barrie who have come to watch the practice of democracy in their province. Their teacher, Doug Young, is here with them, and I’m hoping they’ll soon file in.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I trust all members will set a good example for the civics class that will be joining us.

ORAL QUESTIONS

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Mrs. Christine Elliott: My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Yesterday, the member from Sarnia–Lambton asked you to apologize to the members of a delegation from Sarnia who were given a veiled threat when they met with you. They were told to go away quietly or their courthouse would be on the chopping block next.

You passed on the opportunity to apologize, saying that you didn’t really know where it came from. Let me quote Mayor Mike Bradley, who said in a radio interview that “the most shocking thing was, there was a hint that at some point the courthouse could be gone too.”

Minister, you used to believe that local leaders and families should be shown respect. When did you start thinking that they deserved bully tactics and veiled threats like the one Mayor Bradley said you made?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I am the last person in the world who would use bullying tactics, as you have described them. I can say to the member that at no time was there ever such a suggestion that the courthouse would be closed or any threat of that nature. Your member for Sarnia was there at the time. I’ve always known him to be a person of integrity and truth. I think that he was there, and in his heart of hearts, if he were telling us what really happened at the meeting—I can tell the member that there was absolutely no suggestion at any time that any action would be taken against the courthouse in Sarnia—absolutely none. I don’t know why—

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

Mrs. Christine Elliott: Premier McGuinty and his Liberals have changed. The minister has said that in no way, shape or form was any threat ever made at that meeting, but Mayor Bradley isn’t the only one who left with the impression that the future of the courthouse is now in question. There were 13 other members of the community there as well.

One of them was Helen Turner, president of the Lambton Law Association. She was also left with the impression that the future of the courthouse was in question. Minister, how out of touch are you that you believe everyone else at the meeting got it wrong and you got it right?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I actually thought that it was—

Interjection.

Hon. James J. Bradley: The member for Oxford is intervening. He should be worrying about the days of day-trading at Agricorp. That’s one thing we have to worry about, when to intervene.

I’ve got to say to the member that I don’t know how that impression could ever be created. I don’t want to put your fellow member, Bob Bailey—sorry, the member from Sarnia–Lambton—on the spot, but he was at that meeting, and I can tell you that at no time was there any suggestion at all that the courthouse was in jeopardy. I just don’t know how that impression was gained. The only reference I can remember—

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

Mrs. Christine Elliott: It’s pretty clear that after eight years in office the McGuinty Liberals have completely lost touch. This isn’t a tough one. The right thing to do is to say “sorry” and to assure all Sarnia families that the courthouse is not on the chopping block next. But you’ve had every chance to do so, and you keep passing it up. When you said you didn’t know who heard the threat, we told you. When you said that the threat was never made, we proved it was.

You’ve run out of excuses, just like you’ve run out of gas. Why won’t you accept responsibility and apologize for the threats made to Mayor Bradley and to the people of Sarnia?

Hon. James J. Bradley: The member obviously did not listen to the answer, because she got up and read her next question, which said what I had said. Clearly, at no time was there ever a suggestion that the courthouse is closing. The courthouse is not closing. The only reference I can recall being made to it in the meeting was that there’s some work being done to the courthouse at the present time. That’s the only reference I can remember being made to the courthouse itself.

I say for the third time to the member that there was never any threat in that regard. The courthouse is not closing in the city of Sarnia, and I honestly don’t know how people would gain that particular impression from the conversation of a very good meeting between those from Sarnia and representatives—

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

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Mr. Robert Bailey: Back to the Minister of Correctional Services: You say that the reason for closing the Sarnia jail is to save money. I say that the decision to close the Sarnia jail and move those operations to Windsor is another step in the McGuinty Liberal seat-saver program.

Let’s look at your side of the argument. According to documents obtained by the Ontario PC caucus, the Sarnia jail is in fact one of the most efficient and well-run jails in Ontario. On my side of the argument, the super-jail that will swallow up the Sarnia jail and take all those jobs from Sarnia is in the finance minister’s riding.

Why should Sarnia families have to pay the price for the McGuinty Liberals’ seat-saver plan once again stealing jobs?

Hon. James J. Bradley: Perhaps in one of the supplementary questions the member would reveal to the House the fact that there was never any threat to the closing of the courthouse in his riding. I know he was at that meeting.

To get back to the issue at hand, if you think this is the case, two of the decommissionings that took place in the province of Ontario are in ridings held by government members, and two in ridings held by opposition members. So there’s no political consideration in this at all.

I get the information made available to me by the officials of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. They provide all of the information to me in terms of the fact that they believe they will save about $2 million in decommissioning that particular jail—

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

Mr. Robert Bailey: Back to the minister: The Sarnia jail employs 76 hard-working, dedicated staff. The jail in the finance minister’s riding is over two and a half hours away. So when the Sarnia jail closes its doors, that’s 76 jobs lost to the Sarnia–Lambton community. That’s 76 Sarnia families who will be out of work or have to move away from home and live their lives again so that the finance minister can once again feather his nest.

Why should Sarnia–Lambton families have to pay such a high price just so the finance minister can do another feel-good, seat-saver announcement in his riding?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I suspect that the member for Carleton–Mississippi Mills would understand exactly what we’re talking about, being a member who’s been here for a period of time, and recognizing that some of these same arguments were put forward—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Simcoe–Grey, you’re sitting directly to my left; the minister is sitting directly to my right and I can’t hear him, courtesy of you.

Minister?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I am certain that the same challenges were faced when your government closed the jails in the following places: Cobourg, Ontario; Haileybury; L’Orignal; Waterloo-Wellington; Parry Sound; Barrie; Peterborough; Guelph; Cornwall; Burtch; Lindsay; Whitby; Brampton; Millbrook; and Sault Ste. Marie. I’m sure the minister of the day, Mr. Runciman, got all the information available to him from the ministry and made the decisions based on the information provided by ministry officials.

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

Mr. Robert Bailey: Back to the minister: Taking the jobs of 76 Sarnia families is a high price to pay just so the finance minister can once again feather his nest. It’s particularly hard to swallow when you think of all the times he has taken advantage of this seat-saver program across this whole province. Who can forget the Windsor Energy Centre, which cost Ontario families $100 million—even though it has yet to produce a single watt of power? Or the casino, which has become known as the Dwight elephant?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Speaker likes elephants, particularly one named Jumbo, but I would ask the member to withdraw that comment.

Mr. Robert Bailey: I withdraw.

Now, it’s a job-stealing super-jail. What’s next—turning the casino hotel rooms into the headquarters for your online gaming experiment?

Hon. James J. Bradley: I want to say to the member, there’s a member whom I have a good deal of respect for on the Conservative caucus over there. When you were going through the exercise, previously, of closing several jails—you heard me list all the jails that the Conservative Party, when in power, had closed—first of all, a very good friend of mine, Senator Bob Runciman, said that we have some of the oldest infrastructure in Canada. He said that closing the older jails was simply common sense.

My friend from Wellington–Halton Hills, whom I respect greatly, said the following: “I think the people of Ontario would expect us to look at how we’re operating the system of provincial jails and find ways to do it better and cheaper.” I happen to agree with my very good friend—

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

NORTHERN ONTARIO ECONOMY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Acting Premier. Northern Ontario has abundant natural wealth, yet the region has suffered economically under this government’s watch. More than 30 mills have closed and 40,000 forestry jobs have been lost over the past eight years.

What will it take for the McGuinty Liberals to stop paying lip service to northern Ontario and instead properly consult and implement policies that actually grow northern Ontario’s economy?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: To the Minister of Northern Development.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: As the leader of the third party knows well, on March 4, 2011, we released the northern Ontario growth plan, a plan that’s an economic vision for northern Ontario for the next 25 years. Part of that, as well, were a number of marquee initiatives, including putting together a northern policy institute and looking at our multi-modal transportation strategy, which is so important. And that does not even speak to the measures that we’ve put in place to assist the forestry sector through these very, very challenging times, let alone the other aspects of northern Ontario economic development opportunity, such as the Ring of Fire, which is part of our Open Ontario plan.

There are many measures we’ve put in place, recognizing the challenges that have been faced by northern Ontario. In particular, that’s why we were so pleased that the northern Ontario growth plan, the second one in the province, was given to northern Ontario so we could develop our own economic vision.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: This government won’t admit it but, routinely, northerners haven’t been properly consulted on issues that affect their daily lives: not when the Far North Act was adopted, not when the northern growth plan was drafted, not when the process of timber reallocation was changed. More recently, the McGuinty Liberals refused to travel across northern Ontario for Bill 151 hearings, despite that bill’s consequences for forestry-dependent towns.

Why does this government continue to show such contempt for northern Ontario?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: That is truly an absurd thing to say related to the consultation efforts of our government. May I say, to reference the northern Ontario growth plan, we went through a period of two and a half years of extensive consultations. In fact, to some degree, people said, “Why don’t you bring it out more quickly?” Because we wanted to be sure that we consulted thoroughly.

In terms of Bill 151, modernizing the forest tenure legislation, we had extensive consultations for over two years. Indeed, we had extensive presentations by northerners at our public hearings last week. We take second place to no one in terms of consultation with northerners because we recognize, myself as a member and all my northern caucus members, how important it is for us to consult. That’s why we have a vision for northern Ontario through the northern Ontario growth plan. That’s why we’re planning a regional economic summit to follow up on the implementation of that plan in June, and we are very excited about the opportunities that are there.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Northerners are sick and tired of the empty promises. Forest-dependent communities like Wawa, Dubreuilville and Sioux Lookout are losing their wood allocation without being given a reason. The livelihood of entire communities is at risk, yet this government seems oblivious to it all. Enough is enough.

When will this government stop thumbing its nose at northern Ontario and start giving a damn about the good people, the proud people who live there?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Speaking specifically related to the wood supply competition, we have made about 20 announcements, which are helping many communities, creating or retaining over 1,000 jobs. We recognize that not everybody has been successful, but we’re working with those communities to try and find solutions to some of their challenges.

In terms of the forest tenure legislation, we are acting to make sure that the forestry sector is revitalized as a result of us making sure that our crown forest is no longer hoarded, that our Ontario wood is put back to work. There is example upon example of the support that we’ve shown for the forestry sector by offering up to a billion dollars in incentives, including uploading road maintenance that that previous government downloaded to the forestry sector back in the early 1990s.

There are examples of consultation, examples of assistance, and nobody is more strongly supporting northern Ontario than our northern Ontario Liberal caucus members.

GASOLINE PRICES

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Acting Premier. Rural and northern Ontario drivers are especially angry about gas price gouging. In Timmins this morning, frustrated motorists were filling up at $1.37 a litre. In Sudbury, it’s $1.34 a litre. In Kapuskasing, it’s $1.40.

In every eastern province but Ontario, governments have moved to stop these kinds of rip-offs by regulating the price of gasoline. Why does this government continue to take the side of big oil companies and refuse to protect the interests of Ontario drivers?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: The situation in world energy markets and oil markets is affecting the price of gasoline right across the world. In fact, in a number of major Canadian centres outside of Ontario, prices are actually higher than they are here in some Ontario centres, and it does vary. It’s interesting: I paid $1.24 in Windsor on Sunday; on the same day in Toronto, it was $1.35. The member opposite knows that in those jurisdictions that have chosen what are really not regulatory regimes, the prices are higher.

This kind of mindless grandstanding on the price of gasoline is designed not to solve a problem but to get cheap votes. Do you know what? We have a lot going for us in this province. The price of oil and gas—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: A CIBC study says that the increase in gas prices could cost the average Ontario household as much as $950 more this year alone. That’s causing real pain to Ontario families already struggling with sky-high hydro bills and punishing home heating costs.

New Democrats know that Ontario can’t insulate itself from increases in world oil prices, but we also know that there is much that the government can do to ease the pain, particularly in rural and northern communities. Why does this government continue to be the only eastern Canadian province that sides with oil companies over its motorists?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: Because their regulatory regimes don’t work. They in fact hold the prices up. You’re talking about jurisdictions with a fraction of the population of Ontario and markets that are much more solid.

Hon. James J. Bradley: This is a federal issue.

Hon. Dwight Duncan: My colleague reminds me that in fact it is a federal issue.

Regulatory regimes in the provinces don’t work. They keep the price of gasoline up. So I reject her suggestion. Liberals reject that suggestion. What we’re going to continue to do is make investments in our economy that create jobs, improve wealth and build a better future for our children.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Here’s a possible reason: Maybe it’s because the finance minister himself has a real soft spot for the oil companies.

On April 12, he responded to my question by saying, “The leader of the third party earlier this morning tweeted that we’re giving oil companies tax cuts. What she doesn’t realize is, they don’t headquarter here or pay their corporate taxes here.”

Here’s a memo to the minister: “All oil companies operating in Ontario pay Ontario corporate tax on their refineries, storage tanks and gas stations located in Ontario.”

When is the minister going to quit spinning and admit that Ontarians are getting fleeced and that his government is only more than willing to help the oil companies in getting away with it?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: Imperial Oil, for instance, moved its headquarters to Alberta several years ago. The leader of the third party knows about that.

What is important to Ontarians is the fact that our economy has turned the corner. Here’s what the Financial Times FDI Intelligence unit today named “the top two destination states for foreign direct investment ... in North America.... California saw new projects rise 7% to 172, while Ontario” had “a 21% jump in new projects, for a total of 127.” We also ranked second behind California in new capital investment, but we led in resulting job creation. They further describe Toronto as one of the “most attractive business cities in North America.”

That’s what our plan is about; not about mind-numbing—

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

CHILD CARE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: My question is for the Minister of Education. After four years of letting families believe that daycare inspection and serious-incident reports would be posted online, Ontario families were very shocked and troubled to learn that their government had taken no action. Even more troubling was the minister’s reaction when she was confronted by her government’s failure to keep this promise. It was as though she was commenting on someone else’s poor conduct. She said she found it “unacceptable.”

Were you referring to your colleagues the Minister of Children and Youth Services and her predecessors, who failed to keep this promise to families, or were you meaning to say it was unacceptable for the Premier to make the promise he never intended to keep?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: Yesterday, I was very clear that this ministry will be posting online the results of inspection reports within a month. That was the commitment that was made to families.

I think that it’s also important for the honourable member to remember that parents have access to this information in every child care facility in the province of Ontario. I would say to the honourable member: That was not the case when you were in government. Parents do have access to this information. We want to make it available for everyone on the Web; that will happen within the month.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: There were 5,500 incidents reported at child care centres last year. This government promised four years ago to post these findings. You can imagine how troubled and shocked Ontario families were yesterday to hear that the minister who has been part of the government looked to blame—as today—others. Just as troubling is the excuse that was given that the promise which was made will not be kept because of privacy concerns with posting reports online, since we know the city of Toronto has been posting its findings from incident reports.

This government made the promise four years ago. I ask you: Why did your government not keep its promise to families and children?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I would say to the honourable member she would do well to actually go to the city of Toronto website, and she will find that, in fact, incident reports are not there. Rather than just read the paper, you might want to actually go to—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Renfrew will please come to order. You’re constantly interjecting to the minister, and your colleague wants to hear the answer.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: I do.

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

Minister.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I think it’s very important that we clarify what is available to families. We do want to be sure that when we make information available in a public way, we are sensitive to all of the laws that we have, including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

We continue to work on ways that information can be made available around incidences, around convictions, if you will, in facilities. We have not been able to land on that yet, but—

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

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mr. Peter Tabuns: A question for the Minister of Energy: Under the long-term energy plan, how much new renewable energy will the government bring online in Ontario between 2020 and 2030?

Hon. Brad Duguid: In the long-term energy plan, we’re looking at 10,700 megawatts of new, clean renewable power coming online, we expect, by 2018 indeed.

It would be nice, though, to have the NDP supporting the important investments that we’re making to be able to accomplish this as we move off of dirty coal. Just last week, my colleague joined me at the Lung Association, where we announced that we’re making great progress. We’ve reduced coal in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of 2003 by a full 90%—tremendous progress—but we won’t be satisfied until coal is gone 100%.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Either the minister doesn’t know the facts, or he didn’t want to answer the question; I don’t know. But luckily, a new Ministry of Energy document quietly submitted last week to the Darlington nuclear joint review panel does answer that question. The document shows that only one kind of power will be brought online in Ontario between 2020 and 2030: nuclear power, which will almost double in output. There will be no new renewable energy and barely any energy conservation.

Why is this government abandoning clean renewable energy in 2020 and focusing only on expensive and risky nuclear power?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I suggest the member take a look at our long-term energy plan which we released last November, turn to pages 28 and 29, and he’ll find that the answers are there and that, indeed, we’ll be creating 10,700 megawatts of renewable energy by 2018.

But I ask the member, for my personal reference, and maybe Ontario families would like to know, on what page the NDP energy plan talks about renewable energy. Wait a minute; that’s going to be a little hard to find because they haven’t brought forward any plan on energy. In fact, they’ve opposed every effort that we’ve made to conserve power. They’ve opposed every effort we’ve made to move off the dirty coal, to build cleaner sources of power in this province. They talk a good game, but when it comes to making the investments, they run and—

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

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mrs. Amrit Mangat: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, the Canada health transfer agreement expires in 2014. This agreement between the federal government and the provinces provides funding towards our publicly funded health care system. I know that to maintain our health care system, we will need a renewed agreement after 2014. This federal election is a great opportunity to remind the parties in Ottawa about the need for this agreement to be negotiated. Minister, what is this government doing to ensure that a renewed Canada health transfer agreement in 2014 will protect the interests of Ontarians?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you to the member from Mississauga–Brampton South for the question. This government knows that it is vitally important in this federal election for all of the parties to support an extension of the Canada health transfer to ensure a strong future for our cherished public health care system. That’s why just last week the Premier called on all federal parties to commit to a 10-year agreement by 2012 so we can continue with a long-term plan for health care.

I know our government’s commitment to health care does not end in 2014, and I think that Ontarians want to know that the federal government’s commitment doesn’t end there either. It’s very important that we have the co-operation on the other side of the negotiating table to ensure the future of Ontario’s precious health care system.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Amrit Mangat: We all know that there is more to dealing with this agreement than simply getting it signed. We need to ensure that the federal government lives up to their end to ensure a fair agreement that provides the needed funding that Ontarians deserve. We also know that the federal government’s contribution to health care is much lower than it historically has been. Minister, what is this government doing to ensure that the federal government pays Ontario’s fair share of health care funding?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I agree with the member: We need to ensure in these negotiations that Ontario receives its fair share of funding from the federal government.

Make no mistake about it: Provinces need sustained federal funding to ensure a strong future for our health care system. Specifically, we have asked that the federal government maintain the 6% increase in spending on health care. Currently the federal government contributes about 23% of every dollar spent on health care in Ontario. It is very important that that funding continue.

We’re calling on the federal government to call together the provincial governments to negotiate by the end of 2012 so we can continue to plan for health care so it’s there for Ontario families.

COURT DOCUMENTS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is to the Acting Premier. Today, as we speak, there is a court hearing downtown. At that hearing, your lawyers are fighting to stop a judge from reviewing thousands of documents when deciding whether your party broke election laws or not. We would like to know what is in those documents that has caused you to dispatch a battery of lawyers to block a judge from seeing this evidence.

Hon. Dwight Duncan: The member opposite knows this is a matter before the courts. It would be completely inappropriate for me to comment on it. I’m certainly not familiar with what’s in those documents, in any event, but what I can say is this: People do want to know about health care and the future of health care in this province. They want to know why that member and her party want to cut $3 billion from health—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Another outburst from the member from Renfrew and I will have to warn him.

Minister?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: That member and her party have fully disclosed that they’ll have to close hospitals; they’ll have to let nurses go. They’ve fully disclosed that they’ll shut down full-day learning. That’s what’s important to Ontarians: to stop that kind of mentality and build better public services for all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Not one iota of his rhetoric is true. He knows it. In fact, that party has become—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I ask the honourable member to withdraw the comment she just made.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Withdrawn.

Publicly, you and your officials have kept insisting that there are no formal connections between you and the Working Families Coalition and that you have nothing to hide. Judging by the answer I just heard, there clearly is something to hide, because if you truly had nothing to hide, then why are you trying to stop a judge from looking at all the evidence when he rules on whether or not you broke election laws?

What is in those documents that you don’t want the public to see?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I will remind the member opposite of what Elections Ontario said in response to their complaint on this issue. They said, “In our view, the evidence does not support the allegations that the WFC was the agent of or was acting on behalf of the Ontario Liberal Party.”

The member had to withdraw a comment, Mr. Speaker; you made her withdraw it, quite appropriately, because it was inappropriate. She’s asking, in my view, a question that was responded to by Elections Ontario in an appropriate fashion. The only thing being kept hidden from Ontarians is how many hospitals you will close, how many nurses you will lay off, how many kids will lose their teacher and how you are going to pay for your $3-billion-to-$6-billion tax cuts.

We’re going to stand up for strong, better public services, and we welcome the support of all Ontarians—

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

CANCER SCREENING

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée. In the last provincial election campaign, this party made a promise. It promised to fund prostate-specific antigen tests, better known as PSA tests, for Ontario men. I quote a Toronto Star

article from 2007: “Most people would not have the resource of an OHIP-funded PSA test.... So, this is a very dramatic expansion of the OHIP coverage for the PSA test.”

Yesterday, men were still asked to pay from $30 to $70 for a PSA test ordered by their primary care practitioner. Why is the McGuinty government still asking men to pay out of pocket for a lab test that they may not be able to afford?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The answer is very clear: The evidence does not support universal screening for PSA. We rely on evidence; increasingly we rely on evidence. As we get the best value for our taxpayer dollars, we are prepared to fund those things that actually improve outcomes for people, but as we move forward, we’re going to have to rely increasingly on evidence.

We do fund PSA for men who fall into a high-risk category. It’s the right thing to do, just as we’re expanding breast cancer screening for high-risk women between the ages of 30 and 49.

The party opposite may want just a carte blanche to fund anything anybody wants; on this side, we take our responsibility as stewards very seriously.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: The McGuinty government’s promise to cover the cost of PSA tests was crystal clear. Let me quote from the government announcement: “Starting in January, 2009, the cost of a prostate-specific antigen test performed at a community laboratory will be covered under the Ontario health insurance plan when it’s ordered by a primary care provider.” To make matters worse, depending on where you live, the cost of the test varies widely. This situation is not fair.

Why did the government allow men to believe this test would be covered when, really, according to the minister’s words, they had no intention of covering it under OHIP?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me repeat: The government does now fund PSA tests for men who fall into a certain prescribed, evidence-based category.

I can imagine the member opposite would like to fund lots of things that we simply can’t fund. We are determined to rely on evidence because we value our health care system. We need to put our resources where they make a difference for patients.

As we move forward, we will continue to make changes to what is covered and what is not, based on evidence—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Hamilton East will withdraw the comment that he made.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): No. Stand and give an unequivocal withdrawal.

Mr. Paul Miller: I withdraw.

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

GROWTH PLANNING

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I’ve got a question today for the Minister of Infrastructure. Reining in urban sprawl is a key priority in and around my community of Oakville. In fact, just last month, a group of Burlington residents attending a workshop organized by a local group called BurlingtonGreen called urban sprawl their top environmental concern. I share these concerns, as I know a great many members do. Transitioning toward smarter communities, complete communities, where people can work closer to where they live, is one of the best ways we can minimize the environmental footprint of our communities. Not only that, but complete communities are much better places to live.

Minister, what is our government doing when it comes to urban sprawl in Ontario?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Thank you for the question. The Leader of the Opposition and the Conservative caucus believe that a greenbelt is something you earn at karate or tae kwan do. They have absolutely no plan for uncontrolled growth in our communities.

With our growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe, we’re saying no to unplanned growth and uncontrolled urban sprawl. We’re promoting complete communities with jobs and homes, healthy communities that will cut down on smog and traffic gridlock. Yet the PCs are against the growth plan, just like they’re against the greenbelt, the world’s largest greenbelt, protecting an area the size of PEI. And the Leader of the Opposition wants to build a superhighway through it.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: That’s an encouraging answer, because the evidence continues to mount that urban sprawl is a serious threat to our environment. For example, late last year an organization called QUEST released a report on the connection between climate change and urban sprawl. According to QUEST, our country could reduce yearly greenhouse gas emissions by 12% by 2050 by simply fighting urban sprawl, by building more close-knit communities, by involving public transportation and by helping people live closer to their workplaces.

Minister, given this mounting evidence and that the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe was released four years ago, what is the status of the implementation?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: First, I’d like to thank the member for his question. He won’t ever stop fighting to keep communities across the Halton region safe, clean and sustainable.

We are already seeing the benefits of our growth plan. Municipalities across the greater Golden Horseshoe are implementing our award-winning growth plan. They are designating employment areas where we can create the jobs of tomorrow. They are planning for the complete communities that will be better for Ontario’s environment and quality of life. They are designating appropriate rural, agricultural and green areas because, unlike the opposition, municipalities understand how important it is to plan and grow responsibly. That’s good news for our economy, our environment and our communities.

LABORATORY SERVICES

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is for the Minister of Health. Minister, last year I raised the issue of access to medical laboratory services throughout my riding. Lab closures in Stayner and Elmvale were having negative impacts on seniors, who endured long lineups, extra costs for parking and up to $80 to travel to get their blood taken because their local lab was closed. At that time you said you were working to resolve the issue of access to lab services.

Minister, the lab in Elmvale is still closed and it’s not clear that the Stayner lab will stay open in perpetuity. I’m not sure what you’ve been working on, so I’m going to ask you: What have you done to ensure that seniors in my riding have access to lab services?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thanks to the member opposite for this question. It is one that is of concern to me, and I’m very happy that the Stayner lab is open.

We’re talking about improving access to care. These community labs are part of that care that people need to rely on. We’re asking people with diabetes, for example, to have the testing they need done at the appropriate intervals, so community labs are part of our health care system. That’s why we’re continuing to work to improve access or maintain access to those community labs.

In the supplementary I will happily speak more about some issues that are important to people.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Jim Wilson: It’s not just residents in my community who are facing reduced access to laboratory services. Since your government came to office, close to 60 labs have closed across the province and a further 15 have reduced the services that they offer. Half of these reductions and closures are in rural and northern Ontario.

I’m hearing from physicians whose patients don’t have access to lab services anymore. These same doctors can’t diagnose and treat their patients appropriately as a result. The province-wide contract with lab service providers expired on March 31, as you know, and you seem to have been doing nothing on the issue since.

Minister, will you commit to review the system and bring in real competition to ensure that Ontario’s patients and taxpayers are getting the services that they need and the value that they deserve?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As I said in the initial question, this is an issue that we are currently very much engaged in. I think the people of Ontario have another, much bigger concern, and that is the future of health care in this province.

You know that we’ve had concerns about the plan of the people opposite. One of your newly nominated candidates, Kevin Gaudet in Pickering–Scarborough East, is quoted in an op-ed in the National Post: “Mr. McGuinty should instead look to alternative delivery models—which include greater private sector involvement—because no amount of new cash ever seems to be enough under our current health care monopoly.” Another quote: “There is no good reason that hip replacements and cancer care can’t be equally insured.” That’s private insurance. This is Kevin Gaudet, your candidate.

My question is: Do you agree with your candidate in Pickering–Scarborough East—

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

CHILD CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Acting Premier. Mount Brydges Sonshine Daycare near London opened its doors in May 2009. The centre is licensed for 10 toddlers and 16 preschool children, ages two and a half to five. It opened with the government’s promise that smaller centres like Sonshine Daycare wouldn’t be destabilized by a flight of four- and five-year-olds. After giving its word to community-based centres, why did this government decide to turn its back on them?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: To the Minister of Education.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: Actually, our government is very supportive of child care facilities across this province. We are also very excited about our commitment to have full-day kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds by 2014.

We appreciate that that commitment will have an impact on child care facilities across Ontario, and that is why we have set aside dollars for capital to enable those facilities to refit their operations for younger children, and we will continue to work with them to ensure that they have the supports and the resources they need, particularly in communities where there may be, for example, only one child care provider. This is an essential service, and we are doing all that we can to ensure that they are able to continue to provide these excellent services in our communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The government’s own expert, Charles Pascal, recommended protecting and assisting licensed community-based child care programs. Instead, this government is driving affordable community-based child care centres into deficit, causing fees to rise significantly and forcing some centres to close. Centres like Sonshine Daycare, much to the shock of its board members, some of whom are here today, are left scrambling as the government abandons them. They were told that stabilization funds had been set aside to mitigate any harm to their operations.

Will the minister assure the visiting delegation that there will be the fiscal support promised for this rural child care centre to keep parent fees down and to keep their doors open?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I did indicate in my first response that our government has committed support for child care facilities right across Ontario. We will be investing, first of all, $200 million for the full-day kindergarten program. We are also providing capital investments of $245 million. Upon full implementation, it will be a $1.5-billion investment. We have also provided capital funds for child care facilities to enable them to retool their operation and invest in capital investments for their new and younger clients. We will continue to work with child care providers across Ontario.

Because of the relationship that we have developed, we have provided additional resources. We know that families value—

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

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr. Rick Johnson: My question today is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Just a few months ago, this government introduced its much-anticipated long-term affordable housing strategy. In my riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, this bill was greeted with much support. It provides the flexibility that municipalities have requested and the commitment to housing that Ontarians expect. That said, there have been comments made by both opposition parties that this bill doesn’t go far enough. Could the minister please outline for this House examples of how this just isn’t accurate?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: I want to thank the member for his great advocacy with regard to affordable housing within his own riding. Our legislation, if passed, sets a very—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Member from Hamilton East, please come to order.

Minister?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Unlike the member from Hamilton East, our legislation has good order attached to it. It sets a strong foundation for a more efficient, accessible system. It’s the first of its kind for the province of Ontario. No other government before has gone out and put this type of legislation in place. It puts people first. Isn’t that remarkable? The two opposition parties would criticize putting people first. It ensures that we use the resources in a far more efficient way.

I look forward to giving more details about this in my supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Johnson: This long-term affordable housing—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Excuse me.

Please continue.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: This long-term affordable housing bill is the first of its kind in Ontario and was greatly anticipated in my riding. My supplementary is again to the Minister of Housing. Since this bill was introduced, both opposition parties have been professing their—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Parkdale–High Park.

The member from Hamilton East is warned. The member from Hamilton East, I would just encourage you that you need to ensure that you have respect for this Chair and respect for this House. A little comment like that isn’t respectful to anyone in this place.

Please continue.

Mr. Rick Johnson: During just about every one of the debates, they said that there’s no money included and therefore it will not fulfill its purpose. The minister said that we have made unprecedented investments. Could he please touch on those investments and tell this House how those investments will benefit low-income families in my riding?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: I want to ensure that the member from Hamilton East understands that $2.5 billion have been invested in affordable housing in the province of Ontario. It’s the largest investment—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Sergeant-at-Arms, I name Paul Miller, the member from Hamilton East–Stoney Creek.

Mr. Paul Miller was escorted from the chamber.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: We have built or repaired 260,000 units. We have helped more than 680,000 Ontarians. We continue to provide $430 million annually in affordable housing.

This legislation will ensure that we maximize the potential of our investments. That’s why I encourage the two opposition parties, very shortly from now, to support this legislation. Show that you care about—

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

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Minister, the sunshine list is supposed to make the public sector more open and accountable to taxpayers, but a recent Martin Regg Cohn

article reveals that at the Ontario Financing Authority, the board decided that traders shouldn’t pay the price for a tough financial situation, which meant that when the performance targets weren’t met, they decided to sweeten the pot.

Minister, can you tell us what other agencies take

part in this practice?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I wouldn’t characterize the situation that the member described the way he has, first of all.

I will say this: Across the public and broader public sectors, professionals are routinely engaged that fall outside of the normal limits. The ones that come to mind are highly specialized skill sets: chartered accountants, lawyers and so on. Those get all of the appropriate approvals.

At the Ontario Financing Authority, for instance, we have to employ bond traders. We pay about half of the going rate that these same people could get in the private sector. So the board of the Ontario Financing Authority, working with outside advice, routinely sets pay packages that are well below the private sector for the same jobs but also allow us to maintain the people in those positions who are very dedicated—

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

Mr. Norm Miller: Well, Minister, there does seem to be a disconnect between the public and the private sector. In the real world, when times are tough and an employee doesn’t make a performance target, guess what? They don’t get the bonus. But at the Ontario Financing Authority, the top civil servant—who makes more than half a million dollars a year—together with other board members, decided that 14 senior employees who didn’t qualify for bonuses because they didn’t meet their performance targets should get a better deal.

Minister, why bother having performance targets at all? Don’t you think that the public sector should expect to meet the same standard that the private sector does?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: In fact, those employees are paid about one half of what their counterparts in the private sector are paid. I would remind the member opposite that, in fact, the packages that are paid today were established by the previous government.

It is a difficult issue. We have to wrestle with these very highly skilled people, who, by the way, are dedicated public servants. They make less than they could by simply walking two miles down the street to go to work on Bay Street—

Interjection.

Hon. Dwight Duncan: Well, many of them do, eventually, because of what I would call the cheap antics that are thrown their way by people not being particularly thoughtful about these challenges.

We maintain the policy that was established by the Harris-Eves government. It is the appropriate policy for compensation for these highly—

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

HERITAGE CONSERVATION

Mr. Rosario Marchese: My question is to the Acting Premier. Acting Premier, the Ontario Legislature has been a symbol of our province’s democracy for 118 years. Last year, the OMB allowed the construction of a building at 21 Avenue Road that would permanently destroy the skyline of the Ontario Legislature. The valiant efforts of the Speaker of this Legislature were not enough to protect this historic view.

Acting Premier, do you agree that the historic vista of the Ontario Legislature should be protected?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I would remind the member opposite that, in 2005, our government strengthened the Ontario Heritage Act. We were the first government in 30 years to do so. The act gives municipalities the power to protect heritage properties in their community. Since we strengthened the act, municipalities have protected over 4,600 properties.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Toronto city council passed it. The NDP had the majority.

Hon. Dwight Duncan: In the case of 21 Avenue Road, the Divisional Court has turned down a request to appeal a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board. I have to respect the court’s decision in this matter. The city has made its decision—as my colleague indicates, at the time, it was an NDP council that dominated—the OMB has made its decision and the court has made its decision. These are all important institutions that serve the public. We have to respect the decision of these boards.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to salute you on your valiant efforts on this particular issue.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: There was a lot of blah, blah, blah in that answer. The Acting Premier would know that, in the Ontario Heritage Act, the minister could declare a provincial interest. Clearly, you’re not taking advantage of that act.

The Ontario Municipal Board—the provincial body under your jurisdiction—allowed the construction of 21 Avenue because there is no legal framework to protect the Legislature’s historic view. It’s up to the provincial government to step in and protect the Ontario Legislature.

The OMB already stated that if you had an interest, if you had stated an interest, they would have been able to do something. But in the absence of any legal framework from you, the Premier or any other minister, they could do absolutely nothing.

When are you, the Premier or any other minister going to step in and protect this important historic view and this historic site?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I remind the member opposite that the city of Toronto council dealt with this, the Ontario Municipal Board dealt with this and the Divisional Court dealt with this. The member is simply wrong. There has been a full process, due process established by law. The government has acted appropriately in all steps, has used appropriate authorities to act in the interest of all Ontarians, and we have to respect the very processes that were set up by this Legislature.

Unfortunately, these disputes come about from time to time. Sometimes remedies are available; other times they are not. The government is satisfied that the process has been appropriately followed and that the appropriate authorities have rendered their decisions. That still means, though, that this is one magnificent building, one that I think we can all continue to be proud of.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Ms. Helena Jaczek: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Minister, in my riding of Oak Ridges–Markham, I’ve been hearing from many students and young people concerned about the effects of climate change and its impact on the air that we breathe.

Last Friday, I attended the York Region Environmental Film Festival with some 200 Catholic secondary school students. It focused on important issues to those of us working and living on and around the Oak Ridges moraine.

The participants wanted to know about our government’s commitment to plant 50 million trees by 2020. Minister, what progress has the government made towards this goal, ensuring clean air for our children and grandchildren?

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I want to thank the member from Oak Ridges–Markham for her question and assure her that tremendous progress has been made towards meeting the goal.

In the member’s riding, there are three conservation authorities—the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority—who, in partnership with Trees Ontario, have planted 176,000 trees in this area alone.

The member might also be interested to know that the 50 million tree program is the most ambitious project of its kind in North America and the single-largest commitment to the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign.

Working with some 65 tree-planting organizations across this province, including conservation authorities and the MNR’s stewardship groups, the 50 million tree program is restoring southern Ontario’s landscape one tree at a time.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Earlier in question period, there was a question to me. The member from Nickel Belt quoted from a news release. Unfortunately, she left off what was—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): No, you cannot correct someone else’s record. That’s not a point of order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Members will please come to order. The member from Renfrew. Order. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Member from Barrie. Minister of Consumer Services. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

VISITOR

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d like all members to join me—seated in the members’ gallery is Mr. Jim Stephenson, father of Christopher Stephenson. Jim, welcome to Queen’s Park today.

DEFERRED VOTES

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): We have a deferred vote on the amendment by Mr. Miller, Parry Sound–Muskoka, to the motion by Ms. Broten to locate the new common securities regulator in Toronto.

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

The division bells rang from 1136 to 1141.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Members please take their seats.

Mr. Miller, Parry Sound–Muskoka, has moved that the motion be amended by deleting the words “endorses the Open Ontario plan to grow our financial services industry by calling” and substituting therefor the word “calls.”

All those in favour of Mr. Miller’s amendment will rise one at a time.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Clark, Steve

DiNovo, Cheri

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Gélinas, France

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Horwath, Andrea

Jones, Sylvia

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Marchese, Rosario

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

O’Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

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

Nays

Aggelonitis, Sophia

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Best, Margarett

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Carroll, Aileen

Chiarelli, Bob

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Gerretsen, John

Gravelle, Michael

Hoskins, Eric

Hoy, Pat

Jaczek, Helena

Jeffrey, Linda

Johnson, Rick

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Mangat, Amrit

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Moridi, Reza

Murray, Glen R.

Naqvi, Yasir

Orazietti, David

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Sousa, Charles

Takhar, Harinder S.

Wilkinson, John

Zimmer, David

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 27; the nays are 52.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I declare the amendment lost.

Amendment negatived.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is the House ready to vote on the main motion? I’ve heard a no.

STRONG COMMUNITIES THROUGH

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 FAVORISANT

DES COLLECTIVITÉS FORTES

GRÂCE AU LOGEMENT ABORDABLE

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 140,

An Act to enact the Housing Services Act, 2011, repeal the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000 and make complementary and other amendments to other Acts / Projet de loi 140, Loi édictant la Loi de 2011 sur les services de logement, abrogeant la Loi de 2000 sur la réforme du logement social et apportant des modifications corrélatives et autres à d’autres lois.

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

The division bells rang from 1144 to 1145.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): On April 13, 2011, Mr. Bartolucci moved third reading of Bill 140. All those in favour will rise one at a time and be recorded by the Clerk.

Ayes

Aggelonitis, Sophia

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Best, Margarett

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Carroll, Aileen

Chiarelli, Bob

Chudleigh, Ted

Clark, Steve

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

DiNovo, Cheri

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Gerretsen, John

Gélinas, France

Gravelle, Michael

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Horwath, Andrea

Hoskins, Eric

Hoy, Pat

Jaczek, Helena

Jeffrey, Linda

Johnson, Rick

Jones, Sylvia

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

MacLeod, Lisa

Mangat, Amrit

Marchese, Rosario

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Moridi, Reza

Munro, Julia

Murray, Glen R.

Naqvi, Yasir

O’Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Phillips, Gerry

Prue, Michael

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Sousa, Charles

Takhar, Harinder S.

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

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

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 78; the nays are 0.

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

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

Third reading agreed to.

CHRISTOPHER’S LAW (SEX OFFENDER

REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT

LA LOI CHRISTOPHER

SUR LE REGISTRE

DES DÉLINQUANTS SEXUELS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): We have a deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 163,

An Act to amend Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

Interjections: Same vote.

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

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 78; the nays are 0.

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

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

Third reading agreed to.

I’d just like to remind the members of a reception taking place this evening with the Ontario Craft Brewers and the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors. Please join us from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room 228/230.

There being no further deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1148 to 1500.

ESTIMATES

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I have a message from the Honourable David C. Onley, the Lieutenant Governor, signed by his own hand.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Lieutenant Governor transmits estimates of certain sums required for the services of the province for the year ending March 31, 2012, and recommends them to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Dated April 18, 2011.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Frank Klees: Earlier today, we had the pleasure of a tour by a class from Light of Christ School in Aurora. Unfortunately, I was committed to a caucus meeting and so wasn’t able to meet with the students, but I wanted to take this opportunity to express our welcome to them. We will be sending the class a copy of the Hansard record of their MPP recognizing the fact that they were here in the assembly with us.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Speaker provided some assistance to the honourable member. I had the opportunity to welcome your students as well.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

RIVERSIDE BUICK GMC

Mr. Steve Clark: I rise today to recognize Riverside Buick GMC: not only one of the great employers in the town of Prescott in my riding of Leeds–Grenville, but truly one of the finest corporate citizens you’ll find anywhere in Ontario.

Last week, the dealership’s owners, Stuart and Stephen Birnie and Ted MacMillan, were the proud recipients of the 2011 Employer Champion Award for their outstanding contribution to co-operative education. Riverside is one of just four employers in the province recognized with this award. It’s a fitting tribute to the dealership, which has been opening its doors and hearts to co-op students for more than 20 years. Throughout that time, Riverside staff have made sure those students got a real sense of what a career in the automotive world involves.

Many of the Riverside graduates have gone on to fulfilling careers in the industry, some even working in the dealership itself.

As South Grenville District High School grade 12 co-op student Michael Tracey said at last week’s awards ceremony in Kemptville, “I’ve done everything from rebuilding an engine to changing oil.”

For students like Michael, the meaningful co-op experience provided by businesses like Riverside can be nothing short of life-changing.

It’s really no surprise that Riverside has been recognized for its contribution to co-op education. Giving back to the Prescott and area community is a philosophy that the business has exemplified since it was purchased by Gus Birnie in 1978. You’ll find them quietly sponsoring events large and small in Prescott, from local sports teams to the annual Leo Boivin Midget Showcase to the town’s annual Loyalist Days weekend.

In those 33 years, the dealership has grown to become the largest GM dealer in Leeds–Grenville and now employs 30 people.

Today, I hope all MPPs join me in congratulating Riverside Buick GMC, which has truly earned its reputation, “The little dealer with the big heart.”

ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS

Ms. Leeanna Pendergast: Today, it’s my pleasure to announce another exceptional triumph in Woolwich township.

The Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League are the pride of Kitchener–Conestoga as they represent our community at the Sutherland Cup.

First awarded in 1934, the Sutherland Cup is the next major goal of the Sugar Kings. They’ve recently been crowned the Cherrey Cup champions of the league’s midwestern division under the outstanding leadership of: the club president, Jeff Seddon; the general manager, Keith Stewart; the coach, Geoff Haddaway; and his three assistant coaches, Kyle Campbell, Kyle Rank and Brad Nickel.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the team captains: Josh Woolley, Jarred Parent, Shane Smith and Lukas Beleshta.

The Sugar Kings are facing the Niagara Falls Canucks and the St. Thomas Stars in the Sutherland Cup round robin final.

Behind any good team, of course, are the unsung heroes who work hard and who continue to make the team a success. For the Sugar Kings, this is the booster club—the volunteers and the parents who support the team. That includes Tracey Bartlett, Debbie Bowman, Marilyn Craig, Karen Good, Sandy Mann, Marylou Murray, Alva Cummings, Deb Farr, Lois Fisher, Anne Hanley, Donna Martin and Cathy Nearingburg.

The Sugar Kings are celebrating their 40th year in operation. They’re a true example of the character of our community: hard-working, resilient and committed to fair play. The puck drops for the next game tomorrow in the Woolwich Memorial Centre at 7:30. All the best to the Elmira Sugar Kings.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Go, St. Thomas Stars, go!

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mr. Toby Barrett: As people across the province join with those the world over to celebrate and champion efforts to protect our third planet from the sun on Earth Day, we in Ontario are left wondering if the government is even paying attention.

In Ontario, while the McGuinty headlines may be green, once the photo op is over, the failing results are plain as black and white. This is a government that blows hard about its favourite dirty coal scapegoat while, behind the scenes, increasing the output of that same coal electrical generation by 29% last year over 2009. We’ve seen waste diversion rates falling to less than half the government goal two years past the mandated deadline, electronics recycling programs reaching only 2% of their diversion targets and eco taxes throwing support for environmental stewardship into reverse—all of this while we await a promised new Waste Diversion Act that’s gone MIA.

The promise of new legislation was former Environment Minister Gerretsen’s Earth Day present to us last year. It turns out that when we got past the green ribbons and the green bows, the gift box was empty. Will the new minister have more empty promises for us this year? Where is the new Waste Diversion Act, and how many tonnes of landfill have gone undiverted while the minister dithers?

On Earth Day, I encourage people to pitch in and work towards the clean earth goals the government seems unable or unwilling to achieve.

SUMMIT PLACE TAVERN

Mr. Peter Kormos: Like most members, when I’m back home on the weekend, I’m out there with my federal candidate, campaigning. I’m luckier than most because I’ve got Malcolm Allen, who of course is an elected member of the federal Parliament and has done a great job over the course of the last two, almost three, years, and is working hard to earn re-election—and is doing a fine job at that, too.

Where did we end up on Sunday but in Thorold, at the Summit Place Tavern in downtown Thorold, the heart of Thorold. It’s the third Sunday of the month, usually, that they have their Koliba night. That’s their Slovak pub night. Of course, Joe Vargovič and his wonderful family—his wife, Hana, who’s one of the best cooks I’ve ever met, and his sons, two great guys, Joe Jr. and Peter—have been operating this little place in its historic location for a good number of years.

The place was packed. The food was great. I had the halushky. Halushky, for those of you who don’t know, is the crack cocaine of ethnic food: When you’ve eaten it once, you’re compelled to eat it over and over and over again.

I just want to thank Joe Vargovič and Hana for the cooking, and Peter for his hospitality. Stephen Reistetter, my old friend, was there with some of the members of the vesely hrvati, playing music—and Stephen’s so multi-talented: vocals, violin, as well as mandolin.

Thank you, Joe Vargovič. Thank you to the Summit Place Tavern. I’ll be out there again with Malcolm Allen this weekend.

NATIONAL SOIL

CONSERVATION WEEK

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge National Soil Conservation Week. This week highlights accomplishments in the field of sustainable soil protection across the country and recognizes the important work being done by our farmers, farm organizations and producers.

We know that Ontario’s farmers are excellent stewards of the land and that scientists at the University of Guelph have been working on soil conservation for many decades. Since 2003, government and farmers have worked together to implement over 20,000 best-management practices to help protect and improve Ontario’s soil and water resources.

Our government is also contributing to scientific innovation. Through the OMAFRA-University of Guelph partnership, the ministry has invested in over 20 soil conservation projects, ranging from the development of best practices to the impact of fertilization on soils.

I urge all members of this House to join me in celebrating National Soil Conservation Week and give credit to the producers and their organizations, such as the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and Innovative Farmers of Ontario, which are dedicated advocates in the province for soil conservation. Why? Because we all understand that the future of agriculture depends on keeping our soil resources viable for future generations.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Mr. John O’Toole: This morning, I spoke to the Minister of Natural Resources, and I was assured that she was very familiar with the issue that’s occurring in my riding of Durham.

The Toronto Star’s

article is the best recap of that. It says, “Stray Bullets Terrify Durham Residents.” My residents Ted and Kipp Wilson and their family are very concerned about this issue, and I am aware today that ministry representatives, as well as local mayor Chuck Mercier, have convened a meeting with Durham Regional Police and other police enforcement agencies to deal with this issue on some crown land in my riding of Durham, in the township of Scugog.

This is very important. It’s a public safety issue, and I’m confident that the Minister of Natural Resources is aware of it and is responding appropriately. But when it comes to the endangerment of families and property—this is a case where, in this instance, the home was damaged with what is reported in the media as .44 magnum shells being found around the site, as well as other evidence of damage to public property in an area where there should not be discharging firearms.

I’m anxious to report to the House, on behalf of my constituents Ted and Kipp Wilson, that the minister is aware of the issue. I’m confident that there will be a solution found, and public safety will be restored.

THUNDER BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Mr. Bill Mauro: Last Thursday, April 14, 2011, one of Thunder Bay’s best-kept secrets celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Thunder Bay Community Foundation has been distributing grants, scholarships and bursaries since it was founded in 1971 by

an act of the Ontario Legislature.

First established by an anonymous donation of $100,000, it was only very recently that the foundation was able to publicly acknowledge this act of generosity upon the death of Mrs. Prue Morton, who had insisted that her donation remain silent until she had passed. This initial contribution of Mrs. Prue Morton has now grown to over $6 million in assets, and it has allowed the foundation to distribute over $3 million in grants, scholarships and bursaries to 347 students and 228 charitable organizations.

I want to thank the sponsors of this year’s 40th anniversary and offer a special thank you to the board of trustees, including President Deborah de Bakker, Art Warwick, Rosy Brizi, Shannon Gothard Ramirez, Mark Wright, Maria Hudolin, Bonnie Moore, Tere McDonald and Rob Mozzon, as well as Executive Director Paul Wolfe and Dina Marsico. Their contribution and effort, along with past trustees and donors, has honoured the legacy of Mrs. Prue Morton and allowed this foundation to thrive and flourish.

I am sure that this homemade Thunder Bay success story will continue to serve the interests of our community for years to come.

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

Mr. Jim Brownell: Today I wish to recognize the tremendous work done by our government and by my colleague the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Honourable Carol Mitchell. The announcement in this year’s budget of a permanent risk management program, RMP as we know it, is good news for Ontario’s farmers and farm families. However, the real credit for this program goes to the farm groups who put the proposal together. This was farm-driven.

I had the great pleasure to welcome and host Minister Mitchell in my riding in 2010 to meet with local farmers and leaders of the local Federation of Agriculture to discuss risk management programs. My brother, a beef producer and member of the OFA and the Stormont Cattlemen’s Association, and other farmers like him know that risk management is a good incentive for the next generation of young farmers, who will continue agricultural practices in our province. RMP gives them some of the stability required as they look into the future.

Now we have a commitment from the farmers, and we have a commitment from the province of Ontario, but there is one partner that is not at the table. We need the federal government to come to the table. Agriculture is a federal and provincial responsibility. Farmers are in. The province is in. Now it’s the federal government’s turn to act and to get in this too.

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Mr. David Ramsay: I’m very pleased to give the House an update on some of the very exciting development that’s going on in the very north end of my riding, right on the 49th parallel at Cochrane. Because of a gold mine development further up, Cochrane is benefiting from the Detour Lake gold mine, which is really exciting for the whole region, including the neighbouring riding.

Cochrane has applied for and received some money from the Ontario government to build a new road so that they can properly offload supplies and equipment off the Ontario Northland Railway yard to Detour Lake Road so that they don’t have to go through all the subdivisions in town and also disrupt Commando Lake, which is where the water supply for the town is housed. The town is very pleased to hear that news, and of course Detour mine itself is going to contribute to that project.

Also, the town wants to expand the airport facilities because some of this equipment will be flown in and flown back out further north. So the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. has granted money to the tune of $716,000 for the town for expansions. Also, a local business at the airport site is going to build its own heated hangar. It received $125,000.

So it’s very exciting up there. It’s nice to see some positive development—41 jobs created and many more up the road as the mine develops over the next few months.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

REGULATIONS AND PRIVATE BILLS

Mr. Jeff Leal: I beg leave to present the first report 2011, from the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Mr. Leal presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations. Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Jeff Leal: I have no brief statement, Mr. Speaker.

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

Debate adjourned.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

OMBUDSMAN STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT (DESIGNATED

PUBLIC BODIES), 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À L’OMBUDSMAN

(ORGANISMES PUBLICS DÉSIGNÉ

S) Mr. Marchese moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 183,

An Act to amend the Ombudsman Act and the Police Services Act with respect to investigating designated public bodies / Projet de loi 183, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l’ombudsman et la

Loi sur les services policiers en ce qui a trait aux enquêtes au sujet des organismes publics désignés.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Rosario Marchese: The bill amends the Ombudsman Act and the Police Services Act to give power to the Ombudsman to do anything it may do with respect to a governmental organization under the Ombudsman Act to a university, hospital, long-term-care home, school board, children’s aid society, retirement home and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 SUR LES ASSOCIATIONS

ÉTUDIANTES DES COLLÈGES

ET DES UNIVERSITÉS

Mr. Naqvi moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 184,

An Act respecting student associations at post-secondary educational institutions in Ontario / Projet de loi 184,

Loi sur les associations étudiantes constituées au sein des établissements d’enseignement postsecondaire de l’Ontario.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: The College and University Student Associations Act, 2011, or CUSA Act, is co-sponsored with me by the member from Trinity–Spadina. It’s enacted to recognize the autonomy of student associations at post-secondary educational institutions, to provide for the good governance of student associations, to require accountability of student associations to their members, to promote collaboration and agreement between student associations and post-secondary educational institutions, and to ensure the collection and remittance by post-secondary educational institutions of fees levied by student associations.

PETITIONS

WIND TURBINES

Mr. John O’Toole: I’m pleased to present a petition from my riding of Durham, and it reads as follows:

“Whereas industrial wind turbine developments have raised concerns among citizens over health, safety and property values;

“Whereas the Green Energy Act allows wind turbine developments to bypass meaningful public input and municipal approvals;

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

“That the Minister of the Environment revise the Green Energy Act to allow full public input and municipal approvals on all industrial wind farm developments and that a moratorium on wind development be declared until an independent, epidemiological study is completed into the health and environmental impacts of industrial wind turbines” in Ontario.

I’m pleased to sign and support it on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Durham, and present it to Jimmy in his last week here as a page.

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

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

“Whereas agriculture plays an important role in Ontario’s economy, and strong, prosperous farms mean a strong prosperous Ontario;

“Whereas the establishment of a risk management program was the single most important action the provincial government could have done to help ensure the economic success of Ontario’s non-supply-managed commodities;

“Whereas agriculture is a federal and provincial responsibility, and yet the federal government has refused to act and come to the table with their support;

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

“We applaud the Ontario government’s support of risk management programs and encourage the federal government to partner with the province and its farmers to support the risk management programs put in place by the province to bring much-needed stability, predictability and bankability to Ontario’s agricultural sector.”

I agree with this and I will affix my signature.

PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES

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

“Whereas supported-living residents in southwestern and eastern Ontario were subjected to picketing outside their homes during labour strikes in 2007 and 2009; and

“Whereas residents and neighbours had to endure megaphones, picket lines, portable bathrooms and shining lights at all hours of the day and night on their streets; and

“Whereas individuals with intellectual disabilities and organizations who support them fought for years to break down barriers and live in inclusive communities; and

“Whereas Bill 83 passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature on October 28, 2010;

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

“That the Liberal government quickly

schedule hearings for Sylvia Jones’s Bill 83, the Protecting Vulnerable People Against Picketing Act, to allow for public hearings.”

I obviously support this petition, am pleased to affix my name to it and give it to page Kiruthika.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That Bill 53, the Escaping Domestic Violence Act, 2010, be adopted so that victims of domestic violence be afforded a mechanism fo