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May 7, 2018

41st Parliament, 3rd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2018-May-07 (PDF)

L025 - Mon 7 May 2018 / Lun 7 mai 2018

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 7 May 2018 Lundi 7 mai 2018

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of pins

Oral Questions

Energy policies

Home care

Public transit

Affordable housing

Labour dispute

Children’s mental health services

First Nations revenue sharing

Children’s mental health services

Labour dispute

Children’s mental health services

Energy policies

Nurses

Child care

Services for persons with disabilities

French-language education

Visitors

Members’ Statements

Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre

Elevator maintenance

Member for Mississauga–Erindale

Listowel Cyclones

Privatization of public services

Member for Scarborough Centre

Riding of Huron–Bruce

Riding of Kingston and the Islands

Northern Ontario

Introduction of Bills

York University Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le règlement des conflits de travail à l’Université York

Motions

Members’ code of conduct on harassment

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Nursing Week

Education Week

Nursing Week

Education Week

Education Week

Nursing Week / Semaine des soins infirmiers

Petitions

Employment standards

Disaster relief

Water fluoridation

Health care funding

Long-term care

Community safety

Long-term care

injured workers

Environmental protection

Doctor shortage

Energy policies

Filipino Heritage Month

School closures

Cannabis sales

Orders of the Day

Order of business

Kingston Health Sciences Centre Act, 2018

Kingston Health Sciences Centre Act, 2018

Emmanuel Bible College Act, 2018

Emmanuel Bible College Act, 2018

Home Air Support Inc. Act, 2018

Home Air Support Inc. Act, 2018

504260 Ontario Ltd. Act, 2018

504260 Ontario Ltd. Act, 2018

Esquire Ventures Inc. Act, 2018

Esquire Ventures Inc. Act, 2018

2297970 Ontario Inc. Act, 2018

2297970 Ontario Inc. Act, 2018

Tencrest Realty Ltd. Act, 2018

Tencrest Realty Ltd. Act, 2018

Luso Canadian Charitable Society Act, 2018

Luso Canadian Charitable Society Act, 2018

2258733 Ontario Inc. Act, 2018

2258733 Ontario Inc. Act, 2018

James Wilson Holdings Limited Act, 2018

James Wilson Holdings Limited Act, 2018

Government Contract Wages Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les salaires pour les marchés publics

Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 / Loi de 2018 pour un plan axé sur le mieux-être et l’avenir (mesures budgétaires)

Royal assent / Sanction royale

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): This being the first sitting Monday of the month, I ask everyone to please join in the singing of the Canadian national anthem.

Singing of O Canada.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Would the members please join me in welcoming, in the Speaker’s gallery, a guest of mine: the former member of provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre during the 35th and 36th Parliaments; the member of provincial Parliament for Hamilton West during the 37th Parliament, and also Deputy Speaker during the 37th Parliament; and currently serving as the member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre since 2002, Mr. David Christopherson.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Joining us in the east members’ gallery, we have Kim Moran, CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario; Lauren, who is Kim’s daughter; Karen Young, Youth Action Committee member; and Jonathan Tsao, director of Children’s Mental Health Ontario. They are in the Legislature today to commemorate Children’s Mental Health Week.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I would like to welcome the youth justice workers from Arrell Youth Centre in Hamilton and the president of their OPSEU local, Len Mancini. Thank you for being here.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I would like to extend a warm welcome to Janza Giangrosso, from my riding of Kingston and the Islands. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would also like to welcome David Christopherson to the House today, a fellow Hamiltonian.

Also, we have already introduced her, but I have the opportunity, and always the pleasure, to introduce Kim Moran, the CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario; her daughter, Lauren—welcome to Queen’s Park, Lauren; and Karen Young and Jonathan Tsao. My understanding is, they’re here to release the new numbers for children’s mental health today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you, and welcome.

Mr. Arthur Potts: It’s a pleasure for me to welcome to the east gallery Gail and Kim Aagaard, who are new constituents of mine and the parents of Lindsay Aagaard, who works in the Premier’s office. She also is a constituent. I’m hoping I’ll get three votes in the election.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Today, I’m very, very happy to have five very important and special guests in the members’ gallery. We are joined by my wife, Utilia Amaral; my daughters, Talia Del Duca and Grace Del Duca; and my mother and father, Margaret and Ben Del Duca. Thank you very much for being here today.

Mr. Bob Delaney: On behalf of the member for Durham and page captain Sophie Hamilton, I’m pleased to introduce Sophie’s parents, Jennifer and John Hamilton, and her grandmother Dianne Mott. They will be in the public gallery this morning. Please join me in welcoming them.

Wearing of pins

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll turn to the member for Kingston and the Islands on a point of order.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent that members be permitted to wear pins to recognize youth mental health day.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Kingston and the Islands is seeking unanimous consent for the privilege of wearing the pins for youth mental health. Do we agree? Agreed.

The Minister of Labour on a point of order.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 38, I be permitted to introduce a bill at this time.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Labour is seeking unanimous consent to introduce a bill. Do we agree? I heard a no.

Oral Questions

Energy policies

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Deputy Premier.

We now know that Hydro One has signed a deal to make $50 million worth of payouts to US energy executives. The Liberals are once again missing in action as the latest hydro rip-off occurs.

People are struggling to pay their bills. Families are deciding whether to heat or eat. Mr. Speaker, how can the Liberals be prepared to send $50 million worth of payouts to US energy executives?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Everything in that question is not accurate. Hydro One customers have not paid one penny—not one penny—to US hydro executives at Avista, nor will they in the future.

Doug Ford doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about when it comes to this issue, or any issue, which is troubling from a self-described sound businessman, Mr. Speaker. Either that or he is deliberately trying to talk to something that is not accurate, for the people of Ontario. Regardless, that is not true.

In 2017 alone, the US company that Hydro One is purchasing, Avista, turned a profit of over US$150 million. Salaries and severance payments do not come from Hydro One customers.

As the opposition should well know, this acquisition of Avista will not cost Ontario customers a dime. In fact, this acquisition will benefit Ontario customers, employees and shareholders, and rates in Ontario will not be impacted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Deputy Premier: They can say all they want, but the Liberals read the same documents we read, where the Avista executives said that they will now be able to spread their costs over their new Ontario partners—that’s the Ontario ratepayers. Deep and buried in the documents is a series of US securities filings where the evidence is absolutely clear: The secret millionaires’ club at Hydro One would be making $50 million worth of payouts to their US energy executive counterparts.

First, Hydro One changes their own severances, adding in a $10-million poison pill, and now, secondly, they agree to pay out $50 million to their US coal company.

Are these US energy executives really worth another $50 million?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, the question isn’t accurate. Hydro One customers have not paid one penny to US hydro executives at Avista, nor will they in the future. In fact, this acquisition will benefit Ontario customers, employees and shareholders, and rates in Ontario will not be impacted by this purchase.

Similar acquisitions are increasingly common practice for Canadian-owned utilities. This includes, for example, Newfoundland and Labrador-based Fortis’s purchase of Michigan-based ITC, and Edmonton-based EPCOR Utilities’s purchase of two US water utilities.

Sadly, one of the things that Mr. Ford admitted last week—but unreported by his personal media team—was that his headline-grabbing plan to fire the CEO and board of Hydro One doesn’t affect hydro rates directly. That was said at the Thunder Bay rally.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Deputy Premier: As usual, the Liberals say one thing, but, in this case, the US securities tell us the real truth. Their filings reveal that the Hydro One management and board have authorized more than $36 million in payouts to the top five managers of their US energy company, and an additional $14 million in payouts were authorized to another eight Avista executives. This is all part of an arrangement that is explicitly referred to as a “golden parachute.” Speaker, this is literally a golden parachute.

The worst part about this is that at the same time that this government is mailing out disconnection notices, they are agreeing to a $50-million payout.

Does the Liberal government support this golden parachute?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, Mr. Speaker, he’s making it up as he goes along. Hydro One is actually extending the disconnection ban until further into June. So they don’t even know what to talk about when it comes to Hydro One.

What they’re talking about with Avista, as well, is absolutely not true. As I said before, and I’ll say it again, Hydro One customers have not paid one penny to US hydro executives at Avista, nor will they in the future. This is common practice with similar acquisitions that have been done with Canadian-owned utilities. This includes, for example, when Newfoundland and Labrador-based Fortis purchased Michigan-based ITC and when Edmonton-based EPCOR Utilities purchased two US water utilities.

We’ll continue to advocate and work on behalf of the people of Ontario. They can continue to make things up as they go along.

Home care

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Deputy Premier. Service Employees International Union’s Working Ontario Women have started running ads attacking the opposition. Is this their thank you to the Liberals for handing over control of Ontario’s home care agency?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I’m very pleased to speak to our plans for a new agency to look after that small number of home care patients with chronic and complex situations who require one-on-one care with a really trusted PSW. This is a model that has been very successful in a number of jurisdictions. I certainly believe that it’s going to add to our spectrum of services for people who do require home care.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Deputy Premier: Looking at the SEIU-backed model used in the US reveals some staggering results. The media stories were extensive. Currently, there are lawsuits in each of the states where this model has been adopted. In the end, the SEIU was also charged for concealing political contributions.

Are the WOW ads SEIU’s way of concealing donations to the Liberal Party?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: As it relates to this type of self-directed care, we know that Ontarians want more control and choice over their home care services. That’s why we are introducing two new innovative, self-directed care models that patients could opt into. Of course, this will be entirely voluntary for both clients and PSWs. One will provide home care clients with the funding to purchase services in their care plan or to choose the people who will provide these services. Again, this opportunity for people to have a choice, I think, is something that the vast majority of people would be very much in favour of.

I really find it very difficult to understand the opposition’s reluctance in this regard.

We’re piloting these programs in three local health integration networks. I’ll have more to say in the final question.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Deputy Premier: Well, the Liberals didn’t listen to the people yet again. This SEIU-backed home care agency doesn’t make any real sense. Providers are against this, patients are against this and the workers are against this, but the SEIU is in favour of this.

Will the government order the Minister of Health to cancel this SEIU-backed agency as her final job as minister?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We are certainly committed to piloting this particular type of program as part of the roster of services for home care patients where they require a particularly close relationship with their personal support worker. We did consult widely, and, after careful consideration and feedback from the sector, we made sure that there would be no disruption to the existing system. It will be in parallel to our existing home care system, and it will serve a small, targeted client population, as compared to the more generally available services.

These new initiatives will be evaluated for cost-effectiveness and on meeting patient need and patient outcomes, to ensure the programs work for our clients and for PSWs.

Public transit

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question to the Acting Premier: A few weeks ago, the government issued a request for qualifications for the regional express rail project. Once again, the government is using costly private financing. The Auditor General said private financing and procurement is vastly more expensive than traditional procurement, with no evidence of value for money.

But we also learned that the Premier plans to sign a long-term operations contract. When did the people of Ontario vote to hand over the GO rail system to a private investor for 30 years?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Economic Development and Growth, on behalf of the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I know this particular member from the NDP asked a transit question last week. Perhaps he has decided to come back with a follow-up because—

Mr. James J. Bradley: Suddenly interested.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Well, yes, in some respects perhaps because there’s sudden interest, but also perhaps he didn’t like the answer he received last week with respect to the unprecedented amounts that our government is investing in transit.

In all of my time here in this Legislature, including a stint for three and a half years as the Minister of Transportation, it never failed to amaze me that Ontario’s NDP, who purport to want to see more transit expansions take place in Toronto and elsewhere, would consistently vote against moves by our government to make those unprecedented announcements.

Regional express rail is a $13.5-billion transit expansion, the likes of which this province has never seen before. For a party that suggests that it is progressive from time to time, I would have thought they would want to support this initiative. It’s really clear to me that they don’t, based on the kinds of questions that they have been asking on this topic just here in the last couple of weeks.

I’m looking forward to the next two rounds of this question.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I’m not surprised the minister doesn’t want to address the question of privatization. The Liberal government privatized the hydro system and sold off Hydro One without a public mandate. This helped the Premier’s Bay Street friends and Liberal campaign donors, but it has hurt Ontario ratepayers and the public. Why is the Premier doing the exact same thing with public transit?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I can certainly understand why the NDP member from Toronto–Danforth wouldn’t want to talk about the unprecedented amount that we are investing in public transit.

Speaker, I’ve got to tell you: Just a few days ago the Premier of our province signed an MOU with the city of Toronto, and in budget 2018 there was a significant amount of money that was contained to help deliver on projects that I know constituents in Toronto–Danforth want to see built—for example, funding in our budget for the Toronto relief line, for the Yonge Street north subway extension and for more transit options in Scarborough—and also the waterfront LRT. That’s the other project I should mention as well.

But he asked a question about regional express rail. He talked about GO regional express rail. Why in the world would Ontario’s NDP not want to see two-way, all-day GO service, with trains running every 15 minutes? It’s beyond me. I would have thought they’d want to stand and applaud this initiative. Maybe they’ll—

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

Final supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I think it’s entirely clear why the minister doesn’t want to touch the word “privatization”: because he knows what impact it has. He avoids the question profoundly. The Liberals could have modernized Ontario’s hydro system without selling it off. Instead, they signed inflexible, long-term contracts with private financiers, locking Ontario ratepayers into decades of high prices.

Now the Premier is doing the same thing with public transit, locking Ontario riders into a long-term private contract for the GO rail network. She has already pulled off Hydro One with no public mandate and added billions in private profits onto Ontario hydro bills, just to help her Bay Street friends and the Liberal Party. Why would she make the exact same mistake with public transit?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: After four years of opposing every single initiative taken by our government designed to expand public transit, it’s not at all shocking to me to see that member from the Toronto area from the NDP caucus, on the eve of an election campaign, trying to make up for lost time.

I know people who live in Toronto–Danforth, and I know they want to see the Toronto relief line built. Our government is helping to build it. I know that people who live in Scarborough want to see more transit options; our government is funding the initiatives that will help provide that transit for them. I know people who live in Willowdale and Richmond Hill, and they want to see the Yonge north subway extension get built. That’s what we’re doing.

In addition to that, on GO regional express rail, two-way, all-day GO service every 15 minutes; trains will be electrified; expanding to Niagara; expanding to Bowmanville; making fares cheaper; running the Union Pearson Express at overcapacity because it’s so popular; opening a subway in Vaughan last December.

Our government has built, expanded and plans to do more in transit than any other government in history. I would have thought the NDP—

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

Affordable housing

Mr. Percy Hatfield: My question is to the Acting Premier. Good morning.

The lack of affordable housing is squeezing young people out of the neighbourhoods where they want to live. Major cities are becoming segregated by income, divided into rich and poor.

Ontario needs more affordable housing. The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada says that even after signing on to the national housing strategy, Ontario will still need to build an additional 45,000 affordable housing units over 10 years.

Why has the Premier committed exactly zero additional dollars to new affordable housing investments for the current fiscal year?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Housing.

Hon. Peter Z. Milczyn: Thank you to the member for the question. I appreciate his long advocacy for affordable housing. That’s why I’m puzzled as to why he isn’t congratulating our government on all of the steps that we’ve taken to enhance affordable housing over a number of years:

—our investments in affordable housing, focusing on those who are chronically homeless and those who are in danger of homelessness, where we’ve prevented thousands of people from falling into homelessness and we’ve brought many homeless people into permanent homes with supportive housing;

—our commitment to establishing an inclusionary zoning regime in this province and our delivering on that; and

—giving broad-based inclusionary zoning powers to every municipality in this province so they will be able to partner with the private sector and build more affordable housing.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Speaker, maybe the minister wasn’t listening to the question. Even after signing on to the national housing strategy, there will still be a massive gap between the supply of new affordable housing and what is needed. We still need to build an additional 45,000 new affordable homes over 10 years.

The Premier has provided no additional funding this year for the construction of new affordable housing. If and when money eventually starts flowing under the national housing strategy, it will still not be enough.

Why has the Premier failed to provide a plan to fill this remaining gap?

Hon. Peter Z. Milczyn: Mr. Speaker, indeed I did listen to the question, and the member should listen to his own question, because the NDP platform speaks to 65,000 units of affordable housing but does not speak to how they’re going to pay for it.

Our plan does include additional funds through the national housing strategy—$250 million in additional funding in the early years. We’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars of renewable funding through the end of agreements with the federal government, to ensure that our existing stock continues to be well maintained. Through our cap-and-invest program, we’re providing $647 million to social housing providers across this province to retrofit existing housing and ensure it stays open for those families who need it.

Mr. Speaker, we are putting our money where our mouth is. We are funding it. The NDP platform is silent on how they will fund their promises.

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

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Speaker, the minister should read the platform. The NDP believes that people have the right to a home that is safe and affordable. That’s why we have committed to building 65,000 new affordable housing units over 10 years.

Why won’t the Premier make the same commitments?

Hon. Peter Z. Milczyn: Mr. Speaker, I’ll say once again, I applaud the NDP for coming forward and supporting affordable housing. It’s unfortunate that they wouldn’t support our budgets that provided funding for it. I have reviewed their platform and they do not speak to how they will fund their promise.

We know the Conservatives have no position on affordable housing other than, perhaps, whatever secret deals that Doug Ford has done with the development industry.

Mr. Speaker, we’re committed to building affordable housing. We’ve spent over $1 billion on affordable housing each and every year, and we will continue to do so, and we’ll work with our partners and municipalities and the federal government to deliver on more affordable housing.

Labour dispute

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is for the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

Speaker, the York University strike is now entering its third month, impacting more than 51,000 students’ careers and the many parents supporting them. Over 7,000 students were expecting to graduate in June. This strike has now gone on for over two months. Why?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Mr. Speaker, this situation is very much at the top of our priority list. We know that the students at York University have been impacted by this strike, and both parties have been asked to consider consensual arbitration. Will Kaplan introduced his report last Friday. I spoke with both representatives of each side to recommend that they follow the commissioner’s report.

A neutral party, a very experienced mediator-arbitrator in this province and in this country, has examined the situation and has concluded that the parties are at an impasse and that the way forward is through consensual arbitration. That is exactly what we are encouraging them to do and what we are asking them to do, Mr. Speaker, to bring this to a close.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lorne Coe: Back to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development: In a matter of hours, the writ will be dropped and we’ll be in an election.

More than 51,000 students’ careers have been put on hold by this strike and by this government. Why did the Liberal government take two months to finally act?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Mr. Speaker, you can see, from the question that has been asked by the PC Party, that there is no respect for the collective bargaining process on that side of the House.

On this side of the House, we respect the collective bargaining process. We respect the opportunity and the rights of each side to come to an agreement. The best deal that is to be had is at the table, Mr. Speaker—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We’re doing very well today—just to let you know.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: To reach that deal, it requires a compromise on both sides. If you’re thinking about the interests of the students, if you’re thinking about the impact that this strike has had on the students, it requires a compromise on both sides.

That’s why we are calling on both parties to enter into consensual interest arbitration, to bring this dispute to a close and get students back into the classroom where they belong.

Children’s mental health services

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is to the Acting Premier. In Ontario, we are facing a crisis in child and youth mental health services due to a lack of funding by this government over the past 12 years. We know that 70% of adult mental illness begins in childhood. By the age of 40, half of all Ontarians will struggle with a mental health problem. Yet today in Ontario, kids have to wait up to 18 months for treatment.

Will the Acting Premier take immediate action to ensure that kids will no longer have to wait for services?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to thank the member for the question. The member knows that over the last several years, we’ve committed to a process called Moving on Mental Health, where we’ve gone out across the province and talked to many different agencies.

We’ve built a whole new system, with lead agencies in different regions across the province. There are 33 lead agencies that will exist. I think that currently, we’re at 32, and we’re going to move forward.

In Toronto, we have East Metro Youth Services. What they’re doing is coordinating the services so that there’s a single point of entry and young people get the services that they need and that they deserve.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Miss Monique Taylor: Just this morning, the Canadian Institute for Health Information released its latest data on children and youth mental health. The numbers are absolutely shocking. Between 2006 and 2017, there has been a 72% increase in the number of kids seeking help in hospital ERs, and a 79% increase in the number of kids being hospitalized. This is happening because they have nowhere else to turn for help, due to this government’s failure to properly fund community-based mental health services.

When will this government finally provide children with community-based mental health services when and where they need it?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to take a minute to recognize Kim Moran, from Children’s Mental Health Ontario, who is here joining us. I want to thank her for her advocacy, working hard on behalf of families here in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, what’s shocking is the fact that when it comes to both the Conservatives and the NDP, their mental health investments would result in cuts in the system.

What we’ve done is make a commitment to put $2.1 billion into mental health services over the next four years, in comparison to what the Progressive Conservative Party has put forward; I believe it’s $1.9 billion over 10 years. If you look at the history of funding, it would actually end up being a cut in the system. It’s unacceptable.

We’re going to make sure that families get the resources they need when they need them.

First Nations revenue sharing

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question est pour le ministre du Développement du Nord et des Mines, l’honorable Michael Gravelle.

Speaker, as you’ll be aware, our government is committed to working with indigenous communities throughout the province as we embark on the journey towards reconciliation. In the report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, one of the many important recommendations was to ensure that revenues that the province receives from natural resources are shared with local indigenous communities from whose lands the resources were taken. Last week the government took an enormous step forward on that journey and announced a resource revenue sharing arrangement with several First Nation communities throughout northern Ontario.

Speaker, my question is this: Can the minister please give us details about how these arrangements were arrived at and how resource revenue sharing will benefit First Nation communities across the province of Ontario?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I want to thank the member for Etobicoke North for that very, very important question. He’s absolutely right. Our government has worked tirelessly for months with communities represented by Grand Council Treaty 3, Wabun Tribal Council and Mushkegowuk tribal council to provide 45% of forestry stumpage fees and 40% of mining tax and royalties earned from active mines in the traditional territories of our partners. The communities involved certainly could not be more excited to begin sharing in the prosperity and wealth that will now be available to them that hasn’t been in the past, and we look forward to more people joining.

If I can give an example, Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh of Grand Council Treaty 3 said, “The Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 has long awaited to receive and become partners in resource revenue sharing, and moving towards acknowledging the treaty.... The forestry and mining resource sharing agreement with the province of Ontario is an important step towards more meaningful discussions on reconciliation, economic prosperity, and continued improvement in relationship building between the Anishinaabe Nation and the crown.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I think all Ontarians appreciate the minister’s leadership on this journey towards reconciliation, particularly, for example, learning about how the Wabun Tribal Council believes this is in fact a culmination of decades’ worth of work on behalf of the province and their own leadership.

As parliamentarians, we know that major agreements like these do not happen overnight, that the path to reconciliation isn’t begun on a podium—or, by the way, on a bumper sticker—and you can’t fire your way to reconciliation. On this side of the House, we know that it takes thoughtful deliberation and respectful co-operation on behalf of all parties involved—and willing partners, of course.

Speaker, my question is this: Can the minister please elaborate on the negotiated process and share further how these historic agreements will benefit all Ontarians, and particularly our First Nations communities?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

L’hon. Nathalie Des Rosiers: Merci à mon collègue le membre d’Etobicoke-Nord pour cette bonne question.

Indeed, I want to thank Minister Gravelle and all his team who continue to do the good work of reconciliation and negotiating these agreements. I think the teams of both ministries worked really hard with our partners on the indigenous side to come up with these agreements, which are truly the right step on the path to reconciliation.

I want to quote Jason Gauthier, who is chief of the Missanabie Cree First Nation, Mushkegowuk Council. I’m going to use his words because they are quite telling: “Resource revenue sharing is a step in the right direction towards reconciliation. Our communities are continuing to take steps towards the long-term goals to achieve financial independence and sovereign wealth. We as communities can be ambitious in achieving our goals while retaining our position as the stewards of the land and the first peoples of Turtle Island.”

I want to recognize how important this engagement with our First Nations communities was in achieving this process. Indeed, Jason Batise also was calling this announcement a step in the right direction.

I’m very proud that on this side of the House we are committed to reconciliation.

Children’s mental health services

Mr. Jeff Yurek: My question is to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. The emotional and financial cost to Ontario families and businesses has skyrocketed due to the lack of funding and support for children and youth mental health services by this government. In fact, Mr. Speaker, according to Ipsos data, 25% of Ontario parents are missing work because they are concerned with their child’s mental health.

When will this minister take immediate action to help children in Ontario and address the growing crisis in children and youth mental illness in this province?

Hon. Michael Coteau: As I mentioned with the earlier question, when you compare the Progressive Conservatives’ approach, their platform to finding solutions and supporting families when it comes to mental health, their actual investment is much lower than what we’re currently investing and far below what we’re proposing to invest in the future.

Mr. Speaker, $1.9 billion is actually a cut to the system. Over a 10-year period, based on inflation and other factors, it would actually be a cut to the system. Those cuts will result in a lot of people losing their employment providing services for people.

In addition to that, this is a party opposite that is proposing to cut $6 billion from the budget, and we know where that’s going to come from. My ministry alone is a $5-billion ministry. What are you going to do? Just get rid of children and youth services?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: That response was an insult, not only to the children and families of this province, but to Kim Moran, who’s here in the House today, who has been an advocate for children’s mental health for years upon years.

For 15 years you’ve done nothing with children’s mental health, and the statistics are showing it. The data released today: It has been a 72% increase in the number of young people going to ERs for mental health concerns. That’s up from last year’s 69%. It’s a 79% increase in the number of young people being hospitalized.

When all the other data for youth are going down, mental health is going up because this government has ignored it, and it’s only because of an election that they’re deciding to maybe announce to do something about it. It’s pathetic. How can the people of this province trust this government any further? It’s time for a change.

Will the minister commit to actually following through on their plan today?

Hon. Michael Coteau: When it comes to this government, we’ve always stood up for children and families here in the province of Ontario.

Do you know what’s unacceptable? What’s unacceptable is the track record of the party opposite. This is a party, when it comes to children and youth services, that made massive cuts to the system. In fact, we know, when it comes to children and our efforts that we’ve put forward—for example, to put forward free medicine for children—that party voted against it. When that party was in power—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish.

Hon. Michael Coteau: When it comes to supporting children, we know it’s that party and their leader who clearly said, when speaking about children with autism, they “can go to hell. I don’t even care.”

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Start the clock.

The minister will withdraw.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker.

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

Labour dispute

Ms. Cindy Forster: My question is to the Acting Premier. Sixty youth justice workers in Hamilton, some of whom have joined us here today, are out on the street, locked out by their employer. Despite the fact that Arrell youth detention centre houses 16 young offenders, the direct employer is not the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services but Banyan Community Services, because the previous Conservative government partially privatized the youth justice system and the Liberal government has continued to do so.

The issues at stake are a demand for concessions in their benefits and a 20% premium on their benefits. These front-line workers average $10,000 a year less than their ministry counterparts, despite the fact that the Banyan CEO was on the sunshine list: $150,000 in 2017.

We’re not talking about widgets idle on a line, but vulnerable youth who have been displaced by this lockout. What is this government going to do to right this ship?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to take a moment to recognize the men and women who work in the youth justice sector here in Ontario for the extraordinary work they do every single day.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour will weigh in on a couple of points in the supplementary, but I just want to say that when we’re talking about the success within that sector in regard to supporting young people, we’ve seen a 75% decline in any type of interaction with youth facilities. We’ve seen a 43% drop in youth charges in the province of Ontario, I believe, over the last 10 years. So we’re seeing some drastic changes, and those changes come because we have men and women who are dedicated to making sure that young people have opportunities.

Again, on behalf of the government of Ontario, I want to thank every single one of them for the hard work they do every single year.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Cindy Forster: These workers are not looking for acknowledgement; they’re looking for fairness.

These justice workers, housing provincial young offenders, don’t even have workers’ safety insurance—that is shameful—despite the fact that Banyan’s CEO is on the sunshine list.

These youth justice workers are willing to bargain; they’re ready to go. Seeing as this employer is a privatized contractor providing services on behalf of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and on behalf of this Liberal government, what is the Acting Premier—the former Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services—going to do, after 15 years in power, to improve the situation for these workers?

Hon. Michael Coteau: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Ontario, as I’ve said—I’ve risen in this House on a number of occasions—has got an excellent track record when it comes to labour relations. The collective bargaining process is one that we respect. It results in a settlement 98% of the time—98% of collective agreements are reached by the parties at the table. From time to time, Speaker, groups need assistance, they need arbitration and they need things like mediation in order to overcome some hurdles to reach that settlement.

Ontario has got some of the best arbitrators and some of the best mediators in the world, and they’ve got an excellent track record too. I know that we have mediators in with the parties, speaking as I speak, and they’re involved.

What I would urge is for both parties to get back to the table. Let’s get an agreement reached with the assistance of the MOL mediators and let’s get these people back to work.

Children’s mental health services

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Minister, child and youth mental health is so important. We know that many young adults with mental health problems report that their symptoms began in childhood. I can tell you, as an elementary teacher, I have seen it in the schools.

This is why it is so important that services are available to children and youth when they need it and where they need it.

As the minister knows, with our government’s support, the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in my riding of Barrie opened their child and mental health wing back in December, which will help over 300 in-patients and 3,000 outpatients every year.

Minister, could you share with us what else our government is doing to support the child and youth mental health sector?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to thank the member for the question and for the great work that she is doing in her community to support families.

Again, I’d also like to take a moment to thank CHMO, who are here today. Our government and this party are committed to historic investments when it comes to mental health, and your advocacy has played an incredible role in getting us to this point. Again, thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to invest $2.1 billion over the next four years to mental health and addictions. Our goal is that no matter where someone goes for the first time when they experience a mental health issue, we want to make sure they get the care that they need and the care that they deserve.

When it comes to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, we’re investing an additional $570 million over the next four years. It’s an incredible amount, and, Mr. Speaker, just that investment is more than what the Conservatives have put forward over a 10-year period. We’re supporting—

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Your mike is off. Thank you.

Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Thank you to the minister. This commitment will truly improve access to mental health services and go a long way in helping to identify and treat mental illness as early as possible. This is what we need to be doing: investing in care, not cuts.

This is a commitment that is not being matched by the parties opposite. Minister, can you talk more about why this investment in care is so important to the people of Ontario?

Hon. Michael Coteau: This investment is about care over cuts. It’s very clear that the NDP has made a commitment to mental health, but it’s actually, I would say, a cut as well.

The Conservatives under Doug Ford have just dusted off Patrick Brown’s People’s Guarantee, and they’ve brought forward a $1.9-billion investment which, again, is not enough money for the system. This represents a $1.2-billion cut in mental health services over the next four years, compared to our plan.

We need to make sure, again, that every young person in this province, when they have a mental health challenge, will be able to go and get the service that they deserve.

Energy policies

Mr. Todd Smith: My question this morning is for the Acting Premier. The Ontario Liberals’ failed and destructive energy policy means that almost 600 people in Sudbury could be on the verge of having their power cut off. They may have banned winter disconnections, but years of disastrous electricity policy that has caused hydro bills to go up by 300% means that, for thousands of Ontarians, the bills keep piling up.

Why is the Premier continually making the millionaires’ club at Hydro One bigger, when people in Sudbury and other communities across the province are having to choose between paying their grocery bill or paying their electricity bill?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: It was our government that brought forward last winter our legislation that bans winter disconnections. We’ve worked with all utilities to make sure that that happened. Now that that ban is ending for many of these utilities—not all, but for some—we’re continuing to work with individuals to let them know about the programs that are there—the ones that we put in place, the ones that they voted against—that help low-income individuals, that help First Nations individuals and that make sure seniors can save more money on their electricity bills. Those are the things that we did to actually help.

We rebuilt the system. We made it affordable. We made it clean, and it is reliable. It is something that they actually voted against continuously and we will continue to advocate for, and work on, on behalf of the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Todd Smith: The minister gets up and he bellows about all of the plans that are in place. But do you know why those plans are necessary, Mr. Speaker? It’s because of the disastrous energy policy of this minister and this government over the last 15 years. We have amongst the highest hydro prices in all of North America. That’s why they’ve got to put in this unfair hydro plan.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please.

Mr. Todd Smith: The price of electricity under the Ontario Liberal government has increased by 300% in parts of—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thought I might be able to get through this. The Minister of Advanced Education, come to order.

Finish, please.

Mr. Todd Smith: If it’s so fair, how come thousands of Ontarians can’t afford to pay their electricity bills and are about to get cut off? Mr. Speaker, what is the government going to do for those people?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: We’ve made sure that we brought forward the fair hydro plan, which I know that they’re actually using because they had no plan. Our plan is so good that they’re keeping it, and I understand that.

We’re going to continue to find programs that will work to help people, because under this government, we’ve never had a blackout that lasted three days. Under that government, they did.

Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? We’ve made sure that we have invested in a system that is now reliable, clean and affordable. There is no more coal being used in our electricity grid. We are 96% GHG-free. And I know they want to change that. I know they want to change that because, you know what, Mr. Speaker, they have no plan and they have no ideas. All they do is meet with developers in the backroom and talk about paving things over, rather than thinking about the people of Ontario.

Nurses

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Start it; I’ll finish. The member from Chatham–Kent–Essex, come to order. I will go to warnings if I have to. Let’s just keep it.

M me France Gélinas: Merci, monsieur le Président. Ma question est pour le premier ministre par intérim.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and the Ontario Nurses’ Association held a joint press conference this morning, on the first day of Nursing Week. Happy Nursing Week to my colleagues.

The ONA and RNAO came together to draw the public’s attention to a critical issue facing Ontarians. Ontario hospitals have 10,000—yes, 10,000—vacant RN positions, not because they cannot recruit more RNs, but because our hospitals don’t have the money to fill the vacant RN positions. Their message is clear: Patients are not receiving the care they need. Hospitals are, on average, short-staffed by 17%, with occupancy rates well over 100%.

Will the Premier admit that it is her government that created this crisis in our hospital system?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Our government is really proud to have stood alongside nurses since we took office in 2003. Of course, we want to recognize the contributions of all our nurses in the system. Happy Nursing Week to the member for Scarborough–Agincourt and to the Minister of Transportation.

Obviously, we’re very aware of the incredibly important work that nurses do in our hospitals and in all sorts of different settings across the province. So, since we took office in 2003, more than 30,000 more nurses have begun work in Ontario. Just over the last year—1,200 more nurses were employed in Ontario compared to last year.

We truly recognize how crucial they are to our health care system, and we’re continuing to support nurses in many different ways, including supporting education for nurses by committing $4.9 million toward critical care training.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Ontario has the lowest RN-to-population ratio in the entire country, and the trend is getting worse, not better. The government has had 15 years to improve this situation, but instead, they have made things worse—this, after the Conservative government laid off 60,000 nurses and closed 28 hospitals and 28,000 beds when they were in power.

The RNAO and ONA state that the research is clear: RN care reduces the incidence of patient complications like pressure ulcers, pneumonia, cardiac arrest, falls, sepsis, infection and medical errors—and the list goes on. Yet the Wynne government decided to give zero base budget increases to our hospitals for four years in a row.

The first step in solving a problem is to admit that you have a problem. Does the minister agree that it is her government that has created those problems in our hospitals?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We have increased hospital operating budgets year over year, and in particular in this budget, which I hope the member opposite will join us on this side of the House in supporting. We’re making an investment of $822 million for Ontario hospitals that will help our nurses serve their patients even better.

We’ve made an additional investment of $300 million over three years through our budget, so that every long-term-care home in the province will benefit from an additional registered nurse. We’ve expanded the scope of practices of nurses as well and we now have 27 new nurse practitioner-led clinics, which means faster access to family health care for more than 60,000 patients in communities across the province.

We truly value the contribution of our nurses and we will continue to support them through our budget. I hope the member opposite will vote with us on that budget.

Child care

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: My question is for the minister responsible for early years and child care.

Minister, I know that our government is committed to making sure families have access to high-quality, inclusive and affordable child care. Under Doug Ford’s plan, families will receive a rebate of just $34 per month. This proves how out of touch he is with the needs of families on the ground.

In my riding of Kingston and the Islands, I have heard from families that they face challenges when it comes to the affordability of child care, and I want to know what our government is doing to address this.

Minister, please tell us what supports will be provided to help families struggling to access affordable, licensed child care.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you to the member from Kingston and the Islands for this very important question.

Doug Ford’s child care plan actually winds up to be nothing more than a scheme to cut $1.3 billion out of our child care plan for Ontario families. Think about that, Mr. Speaker. Ontario families have told us that they need help when it comes to child care. Instead, Ford’s massive cut to our child care commitment will leave families with little support—in fact, just slightly more than $1 a day.

Our plan is for free child care for preschoolers until kindergarten. This major commitment will save Ontario families an estimated $17,000 per child. That’s in addition to $6,500 that they will save in kindergarten. Instead, Doug Ford’s tax rebate will save families just $34 a month, and they’ll have to wait a full year to apply to try to receive it.

Speaker, we’re building a solid foundation for the workforce and spaces for families. Doug Ford’s plan will not reduce fees, will not build spaces and will not make child care more affordable.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Thank you so much to the minister for that answer. I have to say what a pleasure it has been to work with you over the course of this past session.

Our commitment to free child care for preschool-aged children is a historic step in transforming the way that child care works in Ontario. I am proud to be part of a government that cares and is committed to providing support for families that need it.

Can the minister please expand on how our government will be able to introduce such historic change to the child care sector?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’m pleased to answer the member’s question. Work is already under way to build more spaces and grow the workforce for this massive commitment, and we have the track record to do it. To offer free preschool child care, there must be enough spaces available for children to access that care. So we are already building 100,000 quality, licensed child care spaces over five years. In fact, we’re creating more than 34,000 of those spaces right now.

But we’re not only building spaces; we’re also ensuring that we have the tens of thousands of early childhood educators we’ll need to look after our kids. Beginning in 2020, a wage grid will improve compensation for all ECEs and program staff. This will align wages with those working in full-day kindergarten.

Mr. Speaker, it’s about fairness and equity. By building the spaces, investing in the workforce and providing families with free preschool child care, we’re transforming the system. Our plan delivers care, not cuts, to child care.

Services for persons with disabilities

Mr. Bill Walker: My question is to the Acting Premier. Your Minister of Community and Social Services cut off supports for a 38-year-old woman with Down syndrome when she left Ontario to spend time visiting her brother, who is in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

But your government delivered an even bigger disappointment to the family when they returned home to Neustadt, in my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. Sheri Karn sadly found herself among the thousands of Ontarians with disabilities whom you wait-listed for Passport funding. No one knows when Sheri’s funding will arrive. She could be on the wait-list for three years or even longer.

Acting Premier, is wait-listing the best level of care you can give a severely disabled Ontarian?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: The member opposite can let his constituent know that help is on the way. In our recent budget proposal, we put forward an increased amount to Passport. That means every single person on the wait-list will receive Passport funding at a minimum of $5,000. This is a pretty significant step for people in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, it’s interesting, coming from the Conservatives. When they were in power, they cut developmental services by 22%. How can the member stand up and defend a record or an approach by a Conservative government that attacks the most vulnerable people in our community?

Mr. Speaker, they should rethink their strategy when it comes to supporting people with developmental disabilities. On this side of the House, we believe that every single person should have the opportunity to have some type of funding.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bill Walker: Back to the Acting Premier: Well, Minister, Sheri’s parents are very distraught about your government’s actions. First you punished their daughter for spending time with her brother by cutting off her supports; then you wait-listed her for Passport funding.

But you see, the disappointment with your government didn’t stop there. On March 28, your Minister of Children and Youth Services wrote to the family to say, “We tabled the 2018 budget ... for the first time in the province’s history, every eligible adult ... would get at least $5,000 a year....”

Ken and Nancy’s immediate question was—and these are their words—“Is this a trick?” They called the regional DSO office, which knew nothing about your $5,000-token letter they received. So they could only draw one conclusion—and again, these are the words of the parents of a child who was wait-listed after many years of having services.

Acting Premier, is your government seriously bribing the people on wait-lists with $5,000—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member knows better, and he will withdraw.

Mr. Bill Walker: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?

Hon. Michael Coteau: Mr. Speaker, it’s interesting: The member brings up one of our budget’s pieces, which I think is an important piece. That $5,000 is something that we’re proposing in our budget. I would just say to the member opposite that he has a choice to make when he votes on the budget: He’s either going to vote for it or against it.

Again, I just want to mention that this is the same party that cut 22% out of developmental disabilities and cut over 20% for people on Ontario Works. Can you imagine a political party in this country cutting over 20% to our most vulnerable people? They should be ashamed of themselves.

On this side of the House, we believe in investing in people in Ontario.

Let your constituents know that help is on the way.

French-language education

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Minister of Education.

Anglophones in the east end of Toronto have high schools with sports fields, auditoriums and many amenities. No such high school facility is available to francophone children.

Will the minister uphold the charter right to equivalence and ensure that the francophone kids in the east end of Toronto are not treated as second-class citizens?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Mr. Speaker, we recognize the tremendous advantage students have when they speak more than one language, and that’s why we are supporting the vitality and sustainability of the francophone community. We have increased annual funding for French-language boards by 25% since 2013, which is more than $340 million. To me, that says commitment.

We also know that in the east end of Toronto, families are looking for French education. That’s why, since 2013, we’ve provided $208 million in capital funding to CS Viamonde. We also recently announced this year that we are providing $80 million to support nine capital projects for French-language boards.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to say that the member from Beaches–East York has been a strong advocate for these schools.

And I want to point out—including more than $16 million to be invested in the Viamonde school board to support the creation of a new French high school in Toronto.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Minister of Education: Minister, the only school on offer for francophones in the same neighbourhood lacks a sports field, has fewer amenities and is landlocked on less than an acre of land.

On April 30, Premier Wynne publicly stated that the government must always ensure that support is in place for minority communities that will allow them to have equal success. Given the realities of assimilation and the equivalence requirements of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, given the need for the province to provide leadership to defend those rights, and given the Premier’s commitment, what will this minister do to uphold the charter rights of francophone secondary students in east-end Toronto?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I want to thank the member opposite for this question.

Once again, we recently announced this year that we’re providing $80 million to support nine capital projects for French-language boards, including the $16 million to be invested in the Viamonde school board.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that the member opposite would have us think that students in the French-language board are not doing well. But the reality is that enrolment is increasing. In fact, in 2016-17, over 105,000 students were attending French-language schools.

Test scores continue to rise. Over 76% of students in French-language schools have met or surpassed the provincial standard in reading, writing and math on grade 3 EQAO. For grade 6 tests, over 81% of students have consistently met or surpassed the provincial standard.

Mr. Speaker, all this is to say those students in the French-language board are doing extremely well. I’m very proud of the work of the educators in that system and proud of our investments.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Daiene Vernile: Very quickly, I want to mention that page Colin Robinson of Kitchener Centre has his grandparents here today: Rose and Doug Robinson. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

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

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

The House recessed from 1140 to 1300.

Members’ Statements

Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre

Mr. Bill Walker: Outdoor education continues to be an important component of environmental education in my great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. So I rise in the House today to pay tribute to a group of forward-looking local educators who made this happen 45 years ago when they rallied around the idea that children would benefit from far greater exposure to nature. In 1973, they turned their belief into action by persuading the then education board to purchase a 320-acre farm near Oliphant which at the time consisted of an old farmhouse, a great barn, and frontage on two lakes.

This brilliant decision is why 2,000 students continue to have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, surrounded by a UNESCO biosphere reserve, each year in my riding. Since its creation 45 years ago, the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre is today recognized as foremost in the province.

Of course, the program would not have been possible without the people behind the Bluewater Education Foundation. The foundation created a trust with the sole objective of sustainable child environmental education in the outdoors. Thanks to them, we have new dining and sleeping accommodations as well as a full-fledged observatory, in conjunction with the local astronomical society.

Most importantly, the outdoor centre’s sustainability in the future cannot be secured without the support of Bluewater District School Board. With more children spending time in front of screens—they average 50 hours each week—outdoor education programs are more important than ever, as it’s when they get to unplug, connect with nature and learn to care for the environment.

I invite the members to join me in congratulating my community on the 45th anniversary of the Bluewater outdoor education program and in encouraging the local school board to support the program and to ensure that this valuable resource is sustainable. I would like to thank all the boards of directors—past, present and future—and all of the people who financially support this wonderful program.

Elevator maintenance

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I have a request to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services for action. A relatively new condo building in my riding, at 1190 Dundas Street East, has severe elevator concerns and a lack of service from Otis elevators.

Their latest set of elevator problems began in November 2017. One elevator had issues requiring repair, and repair was attempted but failed. The residents of the condo were promised repairs in January; that was moved to February, March and then April. They have three elevators: Two go to the 12th floor; one only goes to the ninth floor. The second 12th-floor elevator was taken out of service around Easter. The condo was without both 12th-floor elevators for about a week.

The minister knows that legislation is coming, but people with elevators in their buildings need assistance now. Otis gives a time frame for repairs and repeatedly fails to meet their deadlines. The big four elevator companies have a monopoly but can’t seem to keep parts in stock and have issues with relatively new devices. People have a right to the services that they pay for, and they need to have the government backing them.

Speaker, I’m asking the minister to contact Otis today and demand that they put things right.

Member for Mississauga–Erindale

Mr. Harinder S. Takhar: Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, I have decided not to seek re-election. Fifteen years have passed much quicker than I could have ever expected.

MPPs are generally offered an opportunity to make a maiden statement when they are newly elected. Unfortunately, I missed that opportunity. My statement this afternoon will serve both as my maiden as well as my last statement in the House.

Since I was elected in 2003, the wonderful colleagues of this Legislature have humbled me—who have devoted themselves to this province and its success. They deserve our very sincere gratitude. I am especially thankful to our former leader and Premier, Dalton McGuinty, for providing me with an opportunity of a lifetime to serve in the Ontario cabinet for the better part of 10 years. This was a great learning experience and a personal highlight.

During my time in cabinet, I had the pleasure of working with the extremely dedicated members of our executive council, including our current Premier, as well as the staffs of various ministries. My own staff provided me with solid advice and inspiration every single day. No matter what challenges we faced, I was always supremely confident in their abilities and impressed with their tireless enthusiasm. To each and every staff member that I have had the honour of working with, I will forever be indebted.

As my first foray into public service, I was fortunate to serve as a board member of the Credit Valley Hospital and to oversee the finances and business operations of the Peel District School Board. It is there that I became aware of how critically underfunded our schools and hospitals were, and this became a driving force for me in my four election campaigns.

Of all that our government has accomplished in the last four terms, I am most proud of the progressive work that has been done in the arenas of education and health care to increase funding for our most in-need schools and hospitals.

It has been a true honour and a privilege to represent my constituents as their elected representative for four consecutive terms. I want to thank each and every one of them for their support, guidance and constructive feedback.

Most importantly, my very sincere thanks to my family, and especially my late parents, as none of us can do this job without the encouragement of our loved ones. Words cannot describe the pride I feel in having raised two wonderful daughters, who were born and raised in this province and have worked hard to achieve success in their professional and personal pursuits. I would also like to thank my wife for her steadfast and unwavering support. We have a new addition in our family, my adorable grandson, who I look forward to spending time with after June 7.

To my fellow MPPs, current and former, thank you for supporting, teaching and challenging me. It has been a pleasure working alongside of you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, as well, for your dedication and outstanding service to Ontario and our Legislature. I concur with a lot of the observations that you have recently made about the changing role of MPPs. Partisanship often clouds our decision-making and thinking. The best ideas, however, no matter where they come from, should be incorporated into our policies.

Let me take this final moment to offer my very best wishes to my colleagues who are running in the upcoming election, and thank the others—and there are quite a few of them—who have chosen to step down for their years of contribution to our great province. No matter the outcome on June 7, let us keep in mind that our common goal remains the same: to continue bettering our province for all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): A very short maiden speech, but that’s okay.

Listowel Cyclones

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Last week, our local Junior B team, the Listowel Cyclones, made history by winning the Sutherland Cup. Last Tuesday, May 1, the Cyclones became the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League champions. This is the team’s first provincial title. They won 4-1 against the Caledonia Corvairs in front of a full house at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex in Listowel. The next day, the boys celebrated with a parade through town. Talk about hometown hockey pride.

Under team coach Jason Brooks, the Cyclones have had an amazing journey. Key to their success: hard work from every player.

As coach Brooks told the Stratford Beacon Herald, “It’s a special group. I really can’t explain it. They had a bond the last two seasons like I’ve never seen in a team before.”

The Cyclones also won the Cherrey Cup last year and this year. Holdyn Lansink, who has been with the team for three seasons, said, “The Cherrey Cup meant so much to us last year, and I think the difference was this year it didn’t feel like we were done when we won it. It was a quick night and we were right back to work.”

In other words, whatever we achieve, there is always room to improve; always room to work harder and do even better. That’s a great lesson for all of us. Mr. Speaker, this is what teamwork is all about: dedication and striving for excellence.

Privatization of public services

M me France Gélinas: I rise today to talk about the privatization of public services and the effect it’s having on communities in the northeast, including in my riding of Nickel Belt.

The Liberal government decided to sell off the cell service and Internet connectivity service to the private sector. In my riding, it was to Bell. Well, now Bell is threatening to remove its equipment. This would leave the communities of Foleyet and Ivanhoe Lake and surrounding businesses, outfitters, cottages and people travelling through the area on Highway 101 without cell service or the Internet.

To quote the president of Pineland Contracting, Mr. René Blanchette: “I have 25 full-time employees plus another 25 full-time subcontractors and truckers who use these services” daily. “The loss of these services put our safety in jeopardy, and we cannot function properly if these services are terminated by Bell Canada.”

Speaker, business needs stability to operate, but in Kathleen Wynne’s Ontario they can lose the tools they need in the blink of an eye.

The people of Ontario paid to have the tower built in the name of increased access for people of the north. However, it’s about to turn on us and we’re about to lose it.

I’d like to quote from the chairman of the CRTC, Jean-Pierre Blais, who stated, “Access to broadband Internet service is vital” and essential to life and success—essential to the life and success of the businesses, the students, the seniors and all residents of Foleyet and Ivanhoe Lake.

Member for Scarborough Centre

Mr. Brad Duguid: I rise today to speak as the MPP for Scarborough Centre for the final time in this Ontario Legislature. To some, that might be sad; to others, they may be happy. There are some smiles I see in the Legislature.

To this day, I find it hard to believe that this scrappy little kid from Scarborough somehow made it here and was able to survive in this place for 15 years after serving for nine years on Toronto city council as a councillor from Scarborough. I almost find it unbelievable that I could have achieved this kind of privilege.

I have been privileged to serve for over a decade in the cabinet of two great Ontario Premiers: former Premier Dalton McGuinty and, of course, Premier Kathleen Wynne. Really, it has been the honour of my life to serve under their leadership and observe first-hand the incredible commitment and passion that both of those individuals have had for making life better for Ontarians.

Mr. Speaker, it has been an honour to serve with you, someone I consider to be one of the most accomplished Speakers that I’ve observed, and I’ve been in this business for 30 years. I was here during the Peterson days. Mr. Speaker, you’ve done a phenomenal job keeping decorum in this place. Your love of this place, I think, comes through in the work that you’ve done, and you’ve done a great service to the people of Ontario keeping the Legislature relevant—

Applause.

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

Mr. Brad Duguid: I guess I’ll stop there.

Interjection: Keep going; keep going.

Mr. Brad Duguid: Keep going; he wants me to keep going. But, Mr. Speaker, more than anything at all, I want to thank you for your friendship. You and I go way back. Your words of wisdom to me in my early days, in particular, I think really helped me get through those early days. For that, sir, I thank you very, very much.

I want to thank the hundreds of staff members that I’ve had the privilege to have on my own direct staff. It’s hard to believe that after seven portfolios you have so many—and often young people come through your offices. I think one of the best privileges that we have is to mentor some of those young people, regardless of which side of the Legislature you’re on. You’ve all seen that talent come through, and to me, that gives me hope for the future more than anything else. I want to thank them. I’ve been blown away by the level of talent that some of these young people who have worked for us all over the years have shown.

I want to thank the officers of the Legislature here today and all the thousands of public servants that I’ve had the privilege to work with. They do a phenomenal job for our province. They also make life pleasant for us here. There are times when the hours get long, but the folks here share those hours with us, and I want to thank you for making life not only bearable but enjoyable for all of the members here.

I want to, of course, thank my wife, Crystal, my sons, Kennedy and Jordan, my parents and my family for understanding how important this work has been to me through the years and never, ever complaining while my responsibilities often took me away from them or my attention wasn’t there when it should have been because my mind was on what we’re doing here rather than where it probably should have been: at home.

Finally, as I take my leave, I want to thank all of my colleagues, all MPPs here in the Legislature from all sides of the House. One of the things I take a great deal of pride in is the fact that while I did my job as a loyal and committed Liberal MPP and minister, I was never truly a person who was partisan in nature. I always believed that—and I know I could be partisan in this place when I was told to be or when I had to be, but you always knew that I had respect for every single member in this Legislature.

All of you worked very hard to get here. All of you deserve to be here. All of you are working extremely hard on behalf of the people of Ontario, and I want you to know that I’ve always valued that. I’ve respected the members in this Legislature on all sides of the Legislature and will always do that. To me, of all the things I’ve had the privilege to participate in, serving with each and every one of you has been the privilege of my life, and I want to thank you for that. I want to wish all of you well in the next election campaign and thank you for all the years of service that each and every one you has given as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I was going to let you go on for another 10 minutes if you were going to speak about me.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): In a good way, though.

Further members’ statements?

Riding of Huron–Bruce

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: First of all, it’s a pleasure to stand today and congratulate all the retiring MPPs and, most importantly, thank them and their families for the public service they have invested in Ontario. We won’t forget what you’ve done to stand up on behalf of your constituents. I sincerely thank you.

I’d like to take this moment to talk to the constituents of Huron–Bruce. I thank them for bringing their concerns to my attention so I could act on their behalf.

For instance, my motion to create more agri-food awareness in terms of the amazing careers that are out there is something that I feel so passionate about. In 2015, we had unanimous consent to move forward on this initiative, but unfortunately I attended an AGM for AgScape last week and it was reported that there has been very little action to this date. High school majors: There has been work done; check mark on that. But we still have to work on making sure people are aware of the amazing jobs that exist in the agri-food industry.

I’d also like to raise awareness about a motion I just introduced last week that has gotten a lot of legs. It’s with regard to improving access for service dogs that are in training to support autistic children. Deanna Allain, you’ve been an amazing advocate. Thank you for that.

My bill that I introduced earlier this year on Great Lakes awareness day is now on the radar of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus, and our colleagues on the American borders of our Great Lakes are now thinking about taking June 7 on as an awareness day as well.

Lastly, I’d like to thank the government for picking up on my motion putting ticks on the map with the report you came out with last week. The very first person I met in Huron–Bruce was Doris Sanders; she’s a survivor of Lyme. We can’t do enough. Thank you for taking my motion into consideration.

Riding of Kingston and the Islands

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I am thrilled to rise today in honour of the final member’s statement of the 41st Parliament. As I reflect on this term, I’ve had the privilege of delivering 74 member’s statements that were dedicated to causes, events, stories and people who matter a great deal to me.

Mr. Speaker, each and every sentence, second and moment counts. It is in the public record forever. We should never take this for granted. We should also do our best to ensure that the words that we bring forward are delivered with respect and dignity. Unfortunately, as we know, this does not always happen.

Mr. Speaker, the nature of politics is such that discourse and debate are necessary. However, it is important to represent every constituent in the province for the sole reason of improving their lives. That is what politics is all about, after all, for me. I have a special place in my heart for Kingston and the Islands. Kingston is a place where history and innovation thrive. It is home to Canada’s top hospitals.

We will soon see the addition of the Third Crossing, which has been a dream for many in Kingston and the Islands for 50 years, thanks to our government’s investment of $60 million; as well, a $500-million investment in the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, which is another area that needed renovation—in some cases, for 50 years.

Kingston is a place where people care about each other and work tirelessly to make their community a better place for all. This has been and will continue to be the source of my daily inspiration.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with you. You have been such an inspiration. I thank you for your service to Ontario. I knew I had to say that to get a few extra seconds in.

In closing, it has been an honour to work with each and every one of you on all sides of this House for this term; our Clerks’ table, as well. Thank you so much to all of you. Good luck. Thank you. Merci beaucoup. Meegwetch.

Northern Ontario

Mr. Norm Miller: Mr. Speaker, as this may be the last time I will speak while you’re in the chair, let me take this opportunity to thank you for your service and wish you the best in your retirement, if it is retirement.

I rise today to welcome the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities to the great riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka. Starting on Wednesday, FONOM will be holding their annual conference at the Stockey Centre right at the harbour in Parry Sound. The theme of this conference is “Leading the Way Through Innovation.” Kapuskasing mayor and FONOM president Al Spacek and his team have put together a very good agenda, including speakers on forestry, the Ring of Fire, transportation, economic development, and many other important issues facing northern Ontario communities.

Despite the great agenda, I do hope that delegates find some time to get out and explore all that Parry Sound and area has to offer. There are great shops in the downtown just a short walk from the Stockey Centre, and plenty of good restaurants as well.

On another municipal organization note, I want to congratulate Bracebridge mayor Graydon Smith on being elected chair of the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities organization. Mayor Smith has been a great advocate for our community and for equal services in towns across Ontario. One only needs to look at the presentation he made to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs during the pre-budget consultations earlier this year about the need to review and change the funding formula for medium-sized hospitals in Ontario. Congratulations, Mayor Smith, on your new position.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their statements, especially the ones that were kind to me. I will say that that’s not going to get you any leniency in question period tomorrow.

Anyway, thank you very much. I appreciate your comments.

Introduction of Bills

York University Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le règlement des conflits de travail à l’Université York

Mr. Flynn moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 70,

An Act to resolve labour disputes between York University and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3903 / Projet de loi 70, Loi visant à régler les conflits de travail entre l’Université York et la

section locale 3903 du Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour, please say “aye.”

All those opposed, say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On division.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On division. So ordered.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister for a short statement.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: This legislation would require that any strike or lockout at York University be terminated. The strike currently impacts thousands of students, their families and their communities. If passed, striking York University workers would be required to return to their jobs, and all outstanding issues would be referred to binding mediation arbitration.

Motions

Members’ code of conduct on harassment

Hon. Laura Albanese: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice to adopt a members’ code of conduct on harassment.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Minister?

Hon. Laura Albanese: I move that the members’ code of conduct on harassment, as set out in the Report of the Speaker’s Panel to Establish a Members’ Code of Conduct on Harassment, sessional paper 16, April 11, 2018, be adopted, and that the code shall come into force on June 7, 2018.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Motions? The Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to end the York University strike by putting forward a motion to pass Bill 70 immediately.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion. Do we agree? I heard a no.

Motions? The Minister of Advanced Education.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I seek unanimous consent to get York students back into the classrooms by putting forward a motion to pass Bill 70 immediately.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Advanced Education is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion. Do we agree? I heard a no.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Nursing Week

Hon. Helena Jaczek: It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today to celebrate the incredible work and dedication of nurses across our province on the occasion of Nursing Week. I cannot express enough how important it is that we recognize the tremendous value that nurses bring to our health care system. That is why our government has consistently made nurses a top priority and why we continue to invest in the nursing community.

Since 2003, our government has added over 30,000 nurses to the workforce, and the number of nurses employed in nursing in Ontario has increased for the 13th consecutive year. Our strong partnership with nurses has led to a number of innovative initiatives that are helping patients across Ontario.

We continue to support education for nurses by committing $4.9 million towards critical care training for our nurses. This will open the door for 624 new nurses and 188 mid-career nurses to enter into critical care practice.

Through our partnership with the RNAO, $750,000 will go towards the co-creation of a program that will offer pre- and post-natal care for indigenous women in communities affected by tobacco use.

We are also investing $2.3 million over three years to the Project ECHO/WoundPedia initiative. This will increase coordinated interprofessional wound care capacity in Ontario, particularly in rural and underserviced communities.

We know how critical nurses are to our health care system, which is why we expanded the scope of practice for nurses so patients have more access to services when they need it. Last spring, we amended the Nursing Act to allowed registered nurses to prescribe drugs for certain non-complex conditions and to communicate a diagnosis for the purposes of prescribing. Also, all nurse practitioners can now order ultrasounds and X-rays for patients, and we’re working towards expanding access to ordering CT scans.

We also recognize that nurses, being on the front lines, are first responders themselves. They’re also often some of the last people to ask for help as their focus is on the care and well-being of others. It is our responsibility in government to care for those who selflessly commit their lives and safety to help millions of people across the province. That is why, last December, along with Minister Flynn, we announced the expansion of the PTSD presumption to all front-line nurses providing direct patient care.

Nurses are also critical in our strategy to ensure that everyone in the province has access to primary care. We have created 27 new nurse practitioner-led clinics, which means faster access to family health care for more than 60,000 patients in communities across the province. We have also created 75 full-time nurse practitioner positions in long-term-care homes.

Speaker, building on this, this year’s budget includes an investment of $300 million over three years so that every long-term-care home in the province will benefit from an additional registered nurse. This is part of our commitment to increase the provincial average to four hours of daily care per long-term-care resident by 2022.

Our budget also includes a commitment to invest an additional $650 million in home care over the next three years. Part of this investment includes $180 million in new funding in 2018-19 that is estimated to make available 2.8 million more hours of personal support, including caregiver respite plus 284,000 more nursing visits and 58,000 more therapy visits.

We’ve made these commitments on behalf of people across Ontario because caring for people is a core value.

In 2007, our government created the Nursing Graduate Guarantee, providing new graduate nurses in Ontario with temporary full-time employment to support their successful transition to permanent full-time employment. Since its creation, nearly 20,500 new nurses have participated.

We also created the Nursing Education Initiative, which supports continuing education and professional development for nurses through funding for education grants, fellowships, research projects and best-practice guideline development and implementation.

To support the retention of nurses, our government created the Late Career Nurse Initiative. This initiative provides salary replacement dollars to organizations, allowing late-career nurses aged 55 and older to utilize their knowledge, skills and expertise to advance projects that improve patient care or the quality of work environments.

Speaker, we know that when we invest in our hospitals, we are also investing in our nurses. Our investment of $822 million for Ontario hospitals will help our nurses to better serve patients across the province. Our government understands that nurses are the backbone of our health care system, and I’m happy to stand here to recognize the incredible contribution that they make to the people of this province.

Education Week

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’m pleased to rise today as the Minister of Education in recognition of Education Week in Ontario. Each year, during the first week of May, Ontario’s education community comes together to celebrate student achievement and education excellence. It’s a time to celebrate those who work tirelessly every day to support Ontario students. It’s a time to celebrate the amazing work under way in Ontario’s education system. And it’s a time to celebrate the remarkable young people in our school system who are our future.

Speaker, I want you to know that Ontario’s education system is stronger than it has ever been, built through the hard work, dedication and commitment of parents, teachers, staff and students. This is what it’s all about when it comes to creating a system that works for everyone.

I’d like to thank each and every one of the 222,000 teachers, educators, administrators and staff who work hard every day so that Ontario’s two million amazing students get the best possible start in life and are ready for the future. It’s because of their hard work that we have a stronger generation of students learning transferable and essential skills and graduating at historically high rates in our province.

This year’s Education Week is themed “Equity in Action.” It’s a call to action for all of us, a pledge to promote equity and inclusion in our schools and a commitment to ensure that everyone in our publicly funded education system—everyone—feels engaged, accepted and included regardless of their background or personal circumstances. This is so important, because all our kids and staff should feel welcome in our schools.

Education Week is an important opportunity for all of us to talk about our hopes for the future, but it’s also a great opportunity for all of us to talk about the strides that we have made so far. As a result of Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, launched in 2009, all publicly funded schools in Ontario now have equity and inclusion education policies and religious accommodation guidelines in place. This is something we should all be proud of.

In 2017, we introduced the province’s first education equity action plan to remove discriminatory barriers and biases that still exist in our education system. Speaker, this was such an important step. Our equity action plan is a powerful tool, a tool that strengthens our publicly funded education system by ensuring that every student in our province—every student—has the ability to reach their full potential and that every student has the opportunity to succeed regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or individual identity.

Speaker, the implementation of our equity action plan is already under way in Ontario schools. Twelve boards are now participating in culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy initiatives, and regionally based equity networks are in place in school boards to help identify and address local needs. Intensive, two-day professional development training programs were held for trustees on human rights, ethical leadership and good governance—and there’s more work under way.

We’re establishing formal human rights support structures in schools and school boards. Just think about that. These offices will find local solutions to challenges on the ground.

These are just a few of many examples of the transformation under way to enhance equity in schools and school boards all across Ontario. This gives our schools the tools and resources that they need to ensure all students have the opportunity to achieve success and well-being—so important if our young people need to learn.

Speaker, the well-being and academic success of every student and child are top priorities for the Ministry of Education and our education partners. That’s why equity is one of the most important goals outlined in our vision for education, along with improving student achievements, promoting well-being, and enhancing confidence in the publicly funded school system.

It is my honour and privilege to stand today in the House and extend my best wishes to every student, every parent, every teacher and every education worker who works tirelessly every day to do their part to support and champion equity inclusion and human rights at school. Speaker, together we are paving the way to equity in action and building a strong path forward for all of kids.

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

Nursing Week

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I rise today on behalf of the PC Party and our leader, Doug Ford, to acknowledge Nursing Week and to thank all of the nurses in our communities who, day in and day out, provide care and advocacy for their patients. As Doug has said numerous times, nurses are the backbone of our health care system.

This week we celebrate the important contributions of Ontario’s registered nurses, registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students. It is a week where we also reflect on what is needed to optimize nursing care delivery.

Nurses build strong connections with the people, families and communities they care for, and are therefore key partners in our health care system. Their relationships give us a strong sense of what is needed to improve our health care system.

Unfortunately, under this Liberal government, we have the lowest RN-to-population ratio in the country. The latest figures show that there are just 703 RNs for 100,000 people in Ontario, compared with 839 RNs per 100,000 in the rest of the country. Between 2011 and 2017, Ontario’s population grew 7%; however, RN employment rose by just 2%. For five years, this government froze base funding in our hospitals, which resulted in nursing job losses and over 10,000 unfilled RN positions. This has negatively affected patient care and has led to hallway medicine.

Nurses are an invaluable resource. Our leader, Doug Ford, and the PC Party have committed to listening to nurses to fix our health care system. A PC Party will end hallway medicine and address wait times in this province. This will be accomplished working with our nurses: RNs, NPs, RPNs and nursing students.

On behalf of Doug Ford and the PC Party, we want to thank all of the nurses for their tireless dedication in Ontario. We commit to working with you for a better Ontario.

Education Week

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m pleased to speak to Education Week as the official opposition critic for education and post-secondary education.

Speaker, education has the power to put aspirations within reach and help make real the promise of opportunity that defines Ontario.

In an increasingly competitive and interconnected global economy, nothing is more important than preparing future generations for success from their earliest days of school.

Education Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the collaboration, dedication and commitment of students, teachers and other education workers in schools and classrooms across the province.

Every Ontarian willing to work hard deserves a chance to pursue a higher education, no matter who they are, where they come from or what their circumstances are. We have a responsibility to ensure that every child has a pathway to success. The future of our province depends on having an educated and highly skilled workforce. The work of preparing our youth for that future is happening every day in our schools.

Since becoming the official opposition critic for education and post-secondary education, I’ve had the opportunity to visit schools across the province to meet staff and students and to see first-hand the important work that goes into supporting student success. Every day, teachers and education workers inspire and support students to reach their fullest potential. Education Week is a way to celebrate student achievement and acknowledge the efforts of teachers, education workers, administrative personnel, library technicians and maintenance workers.

As the father of an educator, I’m very proud to celebrate the incredible work done every day by workers in the education sector. They’re dedicated, skilled professionals who enhance the learning environment for students across this great province. From challenges like physical or learning disabilities to new Canadians learning our language and customs, each member of the education team supports and builds on the learning path of our students.

This week, let us pledge together our support for all of our province’s education workers and students by reaffirming the ideal that everyone should have the chance to use their talents and abilities to contribute to our province’s success.

Education Week

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I’m pleased to be able to talk to the issue of Education Week. I want to start by thanking the teachers, the education workers, the principals, the trustees—all those who work extraordinarily hard to make our education system function well; all those who work every day to provide the next generation with a good education. I also want to recognize the efforts of the students themselves, who are preparing themselves for the life to come, and of their families who give them the support at home.

That said, all those who make the system work deserve a government that backs them, and right now they don’t have that. All too often, teachers and parents feel abandoned or forgotten by this Liberal government. Nothing says, “We forgot about you,” like a leaking roof and pails in a classroom to catch the water, or a mouldy portable. That is the strongest statement you can make about how much you care about education. Letting the repair backlog grow from $5 billion under the Progressive Conservatives to $16 billion under the Conservatives—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Under the Liberals.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Sorry; under the Liberals. My apologies.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Same thing.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: They blend together, Speaker.

Allowing the Liberals to grow that deficit, that backlog, to $16 billion, shows an absence of care, and it’s irresponsible.

Last Friday, I met with secondary school teachers. Teacher after teacher told me about the lack of help for special-needs students, told me about the difficulties they have in providing the education that they know those students need and they know they can’t give them.

Others not working with special-needs classes just talked about the large numbers of students in those classes, classes that are packed, and the inability to provide that person-to-person contact and mentoring that you really need in so many cases. I’ve talked to teachers in kindergarten—30 children under the age of six in a room—just about the emotional toll on them and, frankly, on some of the more vulnerable kids, the emotional toll on those children.

The funding formula for education in this province was set up by the Progressive Conservatives. It didn’t work when it was initially launched, and years of Liberal duct tape and paper clips have not improved it. It needs to be rewritten. This party, the NDP, is prepared to do that, and to actually honour the education system.

Nursing Week / Semaine des soins infirmiers

M me France Gélinas: It gives me great pleasure to celebrate Nursing Week and to thank the hard-working nurses out there. To all the nurses who work in our hospitals, in primary care, in our jails, in the health units, in long-term care, in home care, in mental health, in addictions, and the list goes on, I say thank you.

This year, I want to take a special opportunity to say thank you to all the members of the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association. Many of them live and work in northern Ontario, where I’m from. Those nurses make a huge difference in the lives of aboriginal people by improving their health and well-being physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. They work tirelessly to promote awareness of the health needs of aboriginal people and to facilitate and foster increased participation of aboriginal people’s involvement in decision-making in the field of health care.

The association was formally formed in 1975 by several nurses who shared a common vision from their unique perspective as aboriginal caregivers to aboriginal people. The organization was started by nurses Jean Goodwill and Jocelyn Bruyere. From humble beginnings to what they have accomplished, I want to say a special thank you to indigenous nurses of Ontario.

Aujourd’hui, il me fait très plaisir de souligner et célébrer la Semaine des soins infirmiers. J’en profite pour remercier l’infirmière Sylvia Primeau Beasley. M me Primeau Beasley travaille depuis 20 ans comme infirmière praticienne au poste de soins infirmiers de Gogama.

Sylvia s’occupe de tous les résidents. Des bébés naissants aux personnes ainées, la promotion de la santé jusqu’aux soins palliatifs, les problèmes de santé chroniques qui nécessitent des suivis réguliers aux problèmes de santé mentale ou de dépendances, aux accidents du travail, de chasse, de pêche—on parle d’un hameçon qui s’est pris dans à peu près n’importe quelle

partie du corps—aux accidents plus graves nécessitant un transfert d’urgence à l’hôpital, Sylvia les a tous vus et elle les a tous aidés.

J’ai décidé de lui dire un merci spécial en ce début de la Semaine des soins infirmiers parce qu’après 20 ans comme seule infirmière praticienne en charge de la clinique de Gogama, elle a décidé d’accepter un travail à Timmins. De la part de tous ses patients et patientes, les gens de Gogama qui se joignent à moi pour te remercier, Sylvia, de tout ce que tu as fait pour eux, de tous les soins que tu leur as offert, le village de Gogama est chanceux d’avoir eu accès à tes services pendant les 20 dernières années. Merci beaucoup. Tu nous manques déjà.

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

Petitions

Employment standards

Mr. Ted Arnott: My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

“Whereas employees are now entitled to two paid emergency leave days after just one week of employment and that is less than the standard three-month probation period for employees;

“Whereas employers are not able to provide a fair assessment of employees’ job suitability after just one week, yet the employer would still be required to pay for two emergency leave days to a potential unsuitable employee;

“Whereas employers are now put at a greater, unfair financial risk because the three-month probation period does not apply to paid emergency leave days;

“Whereas a greater financial cost for emergency leave days is put upon employers who have part-time employees that work less days per week than those employers that have full-time employees;

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

“To change the time period for entitled paid emergency leave days to three months after an employee’s first day of employment; to recognize that employees should receive benefits based on their contribution to a business and that benefits need to be in proportion with hours and days worked; to re-evaluate mandatory paid benefit requirements to employees that work less days per week to ensure that the paid benefit is fair both to employees and employers.”

I want to thank Evelyn Gould of Jester’s Fun Factory in Fergus for putting this petition together.

Disaster relief

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Annie et Yvon Gervais from my riding in Gogama for the following petition.

“Whereas at 2 a.m. on March 7, 2015, a Canadian National train derailed in Gogama;

“Whereas this derailment caused numerous tank cars carrying crude oil to explode, catch fire and spill over one million litres of oil into the Makami River; and

“Whereas residents continue to plainly observe oil and find dead fish in the Makami River as well as Lake Minisinakwa, despite the fact that the Ministry of the Environment has declared the cleanup complete;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“That the Ministry of the Environment require CN to continue the cleanup of Gogama’s soil and waterways until the residents are assured of clean and safe water for themselves, the environment and the wildlife.”

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

Water fluoridation

Mr. Bob Delaney: It’s a pleasure, one last time, to read this petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly entitled, “Update Ontario Fluoridation Legislation.” It reads as follows:

“Whereas community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and scientifically proven means of preventing dental decay, and is a public health measure endorsed by more than 90 national and international health organizations; and

“Whereas recent experience in such Canadian cities as Dorval, Calgary and Windsor that have removed fluoride from drinking water has shown a dramatic increase in dental decay; and

“Whereas the continued use of fluoride in community drinking water is at risk in Ontario cities representing more than 10% of Ontario’s population, including the region of Peel; and

“Whereas the Ontario Legislature has twice voted unanimously in favour of the benefits of community water fluoridation, and the Ontario Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Municipal Affairs and Housing urge support for amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and other applicable legislation to ensure community water fluoridation is mandatory and to remove provisions allowing Ontario municipalities to cease drinking water fluoridation, or fail to start drinking water fluoridation, from the Ontario Municipal Act;

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

“That the Premier of Ontario direct the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Health and Long-Term Care to introduce legislation amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and make changes to other applicable legislation and regulations to make the fluoridation of municipal drinking water mandatory in all municipal water systems across the province of Ontario.”

Speaker, I am pleased to sign and support this petition and send it down with page Curtis.

Health care funding

Mr. Norm Miller: I have another 188 hospital petitions from the Bracebridge area. It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare has been considering the future of the Huntsville District Memorial and South Muskoka Memorial hospitals since 2012; and

“Whereas accessible health care services are of critical importance to all Ontarians, including those living in rural areas; and

“Whereas patients currently travel significant distances to access acute in-patient care, emergency, diagnostic and surgical services available at these hospitals; and

“Whereas the funding for small and medium-sized hospitals has not kept up with increasing costs including hydro rates and collective bargaining agreements made by the province; and

“Whereas the residents of Muskoka and surrounding areas feel that MAHC has not been listening to them; and

“Whereas the board of MAHC has yet to take the single-site proposal from 2015 off its books;

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

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario requests that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care ensures core hospital services are maintained at both Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and ensures all small and medium-sized hospitals receive enough funding to maintain core services.”

Mr. Speaker, I support this petition and will give it to Will.

Long-term care

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

“Whereas quality care for the 78,000 residents of (LTC) homes is a priority for many Ontario families; and

“Whereas the provincial government does not provide adequate funding to ensure care and staffing levels in LTC homes to keep pace with residents’ increasing acuity and the growing number of residents with complex behaviours; and

“Whereas several Ontario coroner’s inquests into LTC homes deaths have recommended an increase in direct hands-on care for residents and staffing levels and the most reputable studies on this topic recommends 4.1 hours of direct care per day;

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

“Amend the LTC Homes Act (2007) for a legislated minimum care standard of four hours per resident per day, adjusted for acuity level and case mix.”

I fully agree. I’ll sign and give it to Sophie to bring down the table.

Community safety

Mr. Mike Colle: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

“That community-based residential facilities for former federal offenders, halfway houses for former offenders, group homes for correctional purposes, or supervised apartments of former offenders, not be permitted to operate within a 1,000-metre radius of any school within the province of Ontario.”

I agree with this petition and affix my name to it.

Long-term care

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the government first promised a legislated care standard for residents in the province’s long-term-care homes in 2003 but are yet to make good on their promise;

“Whereas the Long-Term Care Homes Act (2007) empowers the provincial government to create a minimum standard;

“Whereas a study done in 2001 by the US Centres for Medicaid and Medicare Services cited 4.1 worked hours per resident day as a minimum target, which was later confirmed in a 2004 observational study and in a reanalysis by Abt Associates in 2011, and reinforced by the 2008 Independent Review of Staffing and Care Standards for Long-Term Care Homes report by Shirlee Sharkey, who recommended a four-hour minimum target;

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

“To legislate a care standard of a minimum four hours per resident each day, adjusted for acuity level and case mix.”

I agree with this and pass it off to page—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

injured workers

Ms. Cindy Forster: “Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I support this petition, will sign it and send it with page Mia.

Environmental protection

Mr. James J. Bradley: “A petition to the Legislature of Ontario:

“Whereas the province created the greenbelt in 2003 in order to protect our natural environment in Ontario, which now has the largest permanent greenbelt anywhere in the world; and

“Whereas every year, tens of thousands of acres of farmland, wild land and wetlands, including ravines and rivers, were being encroached by new development; and

“Whereas our greenbelt protects nearly two million acres of valuable land and water, and we expanded the greenbelt last year to protect an additional 10,000 hectares, or the equivalent of almost 20,000 new football fields; and

“Whereas we’ve also extended the greenbelt-like protections for natural heritage, water and agriculture to the entire greater Golden Horseshoe area to further ensure that sensitive lands are protected for generations to come;

“Therefore, we call upon all parties in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to formally agree to the protection and expansion of the greenbelt, prior to June 2018.”

I affix my signature as I am in full agreement, and I give the petition to Curtis.

Doctor shortage

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The patient member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Bill Walker: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas 25 residency spots were cut in Ontario in 2015;

“Whereas 123 medical graduates went unmatched in 2018, 53 of them from Ontario;

“Whereas the AFMC predicts that 141 graduates will go unmatched in 2021, adding to the backlog;

“Whereas an estimated $200,000 of provincial taxpayer dollars are spent to train each graduate;

“Whereas the ratio of residency positions to medical students has declined from 110 positions per 100 students in 2012, to 101 positions per 100 students in 2018;

“Whereas wait times for specialists in Ontario continue to grow while many Ontario citizens are still without access to primary care providers;

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

“

(1) Stop any further cuts to residency positions until a long-term solution is well under way;

“

(2) Reinstate the 25 residency positions cut in 2015 to bring Ontario back to its previous steady state;

“

(3) Create extra Ontario-only residency spots that can be used when there is an unexpected excess of unmatched Ontario grads to guarantee a spot for every graduate every year;

“

(4) Pass Bill 18 as part of the solution to develop actionable long-term recommendations; and

“

(5) Improve communications between the MAESD and MOHLTC so that medical school admissions correspond with residency spots and Ontario’s health needs.”

I fully support this, will affix my name and send it with Will.

Energy policies

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Diane Audet from Val Caron in my riding for this petition. It reads as follows:

“Petition to Fix Hydro Now.

“Whereas hydro bills in Ontario have become unaffordable for too many people, and that reducing hydro bills by up to 30% for families and businesses is an ambitious but realistic target; and

“Whereas the only way to fix the hydro system is to address the root causes of high prices including privatization, excessive profit margins, oversupply and more; and

“Whereas Ontario families should not have to pay time-of-use premiums, and those living in a rural or northern region should not have to pay higher, punitive, delivery charges; and

“Whereas returning Hydro One to public ownership would deliver over $7 billion back to the province and the people of Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“Reduce hydro bills for businesses and families by up to 30%, eliminating mandatory time-of-use, ending unfair rural delivery costs, and restoring public ownership of Hydro One.”

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

Filipino Heritage Month

Mr. Mike Colle: “Whereas the Filipino community in Ontario has contributed greatly to the economic, social and cultural life of this province:

“Whereas over 300,000 Filipino Canadians call Ontario home;

“Whereas Filipino Canadians have made significant contributions to the province of Ontario through their hard work, dedication and entrepreneurship;

“We, the undersigned, support … Bill 10 declaring June as Filipino Heritage Month in Ontario.”

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

School closures

Mr. Percy Hatfield: “Stop School Closures.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas internal documents show the Ontario government has closed nearly 300 schools since 2011 and;

“Whereas there are currently 300 more schools currently under review for closure and;

“Whereas local schools play important roles in supporting neighborhoods and acting as community hubs, but internal documents show that value isn’t taken into consideration by the Ontario government;

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

“That there be an immediate moratorium on any further school closures until the process for calculating school utilization rates and the pupil accommodation review guidelines are both amended.”

I agree. I’m going to give it to Ekroop to bring up to the front.

Cannabis sales

Mr. Bob Delaney: On behalf of the member for Oakville, I’m pleased to table this petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

“Please stop proceeding with the implementation of brick-and-mortar retail cannabis stores in Oakville until clear regulation, policy and assessment have been provided to the public on how to mitigate risk to protect youth and public safety.”

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to sign and it send it down with page Mia.

Orders of the Day

Order of business

Hon. Laura Albanese: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private bills.

The Actin