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October 18, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Oct-18 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 18 October 2006 Mercredi 18 octobre 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

CHICKEN FARMERS

CHINE DRIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

FOREST INDUSTRY

ACADEMIC TESTING

LEGAL AID

COGENERATION

CHICKEN FARMERS

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

VISITORS

CORRECTION OF RECORD

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2006 (NO. 2) /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES (NO 2)

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS /

ENTRAÎNEMENT À LA RÉANIMATION CARDIO-RESPIRATOIRE

DANS LES ÉCOLES SECONDAIRES

PERSONS DAY

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS

PERSONS DAY

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS

VISITORS

DEFERRED VOTES

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EAU SAINE

ORAL QUESTIONS

JOB CREATION

VIOLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

HOSPITAL SERVICES

TOURISM

WATER QUALITY

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

HYDRO RATES

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

ASSISTANCE TO THE DISABLED

PROPERTY TAXATION

IMMIGRANTS

ORDER AND DECORUM IN CHAMBER

PETITIONS

PROPERTY RIGHTS

LONG-TERM CARE

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

LONG-TERM CARE

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

LONG-TERM CARE

SCHOOL FACILITIES

LONG-TERM CARE

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

WATER QUALITY

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR L'ACCÈS À LA JUSTICE

INDEPENDENT POLICE

REVIEW ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EXAMEN

INDÉPENDANT DE LA POLICE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

CHICKEN FARMERS

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): The Chicken Farmers of Ontario are here today -- they've brought a broiler display -- to educate all of us on issues facing their industry. They're

having a reception tonight, at 5 o'clock, in room 230. I invite all to come out and have some chicken, and learn a bit about Ontario's chicken farmers and the great product they produce.

They have two areas of responsibility. They ensure that Ontario chicken farmers grow sufficient amounts of safe, fresh, high-quality chicken to meet consumer needs. Secondly, they negotiate with licensed Ontario

chicken processors prices to be paid to all Ontario chicken farmers by all Ontario processors.

Chicken farmers are primarily concerned about supply management, as we all know. From our side, the PC caucus has been clear from the start: We unequivocally support supply management, which is why our entire

caucus signed the FarmGate5 initiative last year. Supply management is like a three-legged stool upon which the sustainability of our rural communities is perched. The three legs are: effective import controls, production controls and the ability

to set price. If you take out one of those legs, the stool collapses, along with much of our rural economy.

I ask all MPPs to join me in welcoming my constituents Tom Beischlag, Jack Van Netten, and the Chicken Farmers of Ontario.

CHINE DRIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): On Saturday, October 14, 2006, I had the pleasure of visiting Chine Drive Public School, located in my riding, as part of the celebrations

surrounding their 50th anniversary. This small, beautiful school of approximately 200 pupils is located south of Kingston Road and east of Midland Avenue. It is nestled in a grove of trees on Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario and truly

is a treasure to behold.

The school was officially opened in September 1957, although the school had previously been in operation the year before, housed in portables at that time. It was built out of a growing concern from the

community for pupil safety, as children had to previously cross the increasingly busy Kingston Road to go to school.

Chine Drive Public School is sheltered along Chine Drive, and it has offered for 50 years a safe environment in which children can learn and grow. Its curriculum focuses on the natural world and works on items

such as the environment and giving greater focus to native plants, butterfly gardens, and bird and insect life. The area around the school is incredibly beautiful and is located right above the water and the bluffs.

I hope all members of this House will join me in congratulating Chine Drive Public School for their first 50 years of outstanding public education. I look forward to the next 50 years of outstanding public

education from Chine Drive Public School.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): Last Thursday, I brought to the attention of the Premier and the Minister of Health that Lori Goldstein was in desperate need of a life-saving operation, that her

doctor had been trying to accommodate that operation for more than three weeks, and that even at that point the earliest the operation could take place would be more than a week out. I appealed to the minister to meet with Lori's parents, and

we're grateful that he did. I'm pleased to report to the House today that Lori had that operation this morning, that she is recovering and her family appreciates all of the efforts that were made to assist her.

What is sad about this circumstance is that for a simple 20-minute operation -- it was a person in this province whose doctor said she could die any time, and yet they could not accommodate that operation in a

timely manner. That this family had to come to their MPP to appeal for something to be done is fundamentally wrong. This health care system should not be working that way, and for this government to spend millions of dollars on propaganda that

tells people in the province that waiting rooms are empty and that wait times are down is unconscionable.

I say to the government, withdraw your habit of spending millions on propaganda. Put it into the health care system so that people can be rightly served.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): How ironic that on the same day the Minister of Northern Development and Mines was claiming all is well in northern Ontario, 140 workers at the Nairn Centre

sawmill found out the mill is closing and they don't have a job. This bad news came after Domtar announced a layoff of 116 workers at the mill in Espanola. As the mill is the biggest employer in town, the news is devastating, because no one really

believes that this is temporary. But these losses also follow job cuts in the Espanola woodlands operation on March 17; 75 unionized employees are out of work as a result.

These losses affect the city of greater Sudbury too. Our neighbours are losing their jobs. A majority of workers at the Nairn sawmill live in our community, in Chelmsford, Azilda and Walden. The same is true for

the workers who lost their jobs in the Espanola woodlands operation in March.

The McGuinty Liberal government has been missing in action in the face of huge forestry job losses in northern Ontario. To date, the following northern communities have been hit by a paper machine, paper mill,

kraft or sawmill closure: Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Hearst, Sturgeon Falls, Opasatika, Chapleau, Temagami, Kapuskasing, Longlac, Smooth Rock Falls, Timmins, Mattawa, Espanola and Nairn Centre. To date, the job loss is just under 4,000 jobs.

What will it take to get the McGuinty Liberal government to understand that its high-priced electricity policy is a job killer in northern Ontario, and how many more workers will have to lose their jobs before

this government finally acts?

ACADEMIC TESTING

Mrs. Linda Jeffrey (Brampton Centre): Every now and then I hear a success story in my community that I want to share with this House. This week I learned that the EQAO test scores this year for

students in the Peel District School Board in grades 3, 6 and 9 rose as much as 8%. This achievement was due to a dramatically different approach to literacy and numeracy, and the results speak volumes about the success of their efforts.

Over the last year, the Peel District School Board focused on helping students achieve higher test scores by putting together an innovative strategy that they call transformational practices. This board analyzed

and gathered successful teaching strategies at schools that were making the biggest difference in boosting student achievement. These best practices were packaged in a way that all schools could easily implement, and teachers were trained to

employ these techniques.

An 8% increase in EQAO test scores in only one year takes considerable effort to achieve. It's clear that the Peel District School Board has found an approach that's working and has had a significant effect.

This board has strategically allocated its resources to have the greatest impact on student achievement.

Congratulations to the students, the parents and, in particular, the dedicated teaching staff at the Peel District School Board for making a tremendous effort in ensuring that our students achieve improved

literacy and numeracy in the region of Peel.

LEGAL AID

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): In June 2002, the now Attorney General stood in this House and quoted Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin from her statement: "Providing legal aid to

low-income Canadians is an essential public service.... The well-being of our justice system ... and the public's confidence in it ... depend on it. If legal aid fails, justice fails."

With respect to the need to update legal tariffs in Ontario, he then added, "It's about access to justice, and our entire justice system depends on it."

It has been almost four years since the Attorney General made this statement, yet we have seen nothing but lip service and excuses from this government with respect to legal aid. They have yet to adjust the

tariffs even once, and the number of people turned away at the doors has increased by 42% in less than two years.

Last week, I co-chaired a town hall meeting on justice issues in my riding of Whitby-Ajax. Not surprisingly, the main topic of discussion was the lack of funding for legal aid. The situation is particularly

urgent in family law matters involving domestic violence and in child protection matters. As was noted at the meeting by legal counsel for the Durham Children's Aid Society, "The Ontarians who are ultimately deprived of justice are the children

themselves. These are Ontarians who do not get a vote, but suffer because of the choices being made about allocation of funds to the justice/legal system."

Mr. Attorney General, the legal aid system is in crisis. Children's aid societies are pleading with you, Legal Aid Ontario is pleading with you, and vulnerable people all across this province are pleading with

you. When are you going to take some real, substantive action?

COGENERATION

Mr. David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie): I want to congratulate seven companies selected for our government's new cogeneration strategy, including Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie. Contracts with

the OPA for high-efficiency cogeneration plants have secured $800 million in investment, creating 414 megawatts of power, enough for 400,000 homes. Because the McGuinty government is offering incentives for cogeneration, Algoma Steel is making a

$135-million investment in a new 70-megawatt plant, creating 200 construction jobs. It's great news. Our city's largest employer will become more efficient while increasing job security for local steelworkers.

Paul Finley, ASI's vice-president of business, said, "The long-term purchase agreement makes the economics of the project work.... It amounts to a guaranteed return on a significant capital investment and

eliminates a lot of potential financial risk."

Algoma pursued this for well over a decade, but a study concluded in 1995, after five years of NDP inaction, said that the economics didn't work. Well, there's a surprise: NDP economics don't work, and the

Conservatives offered no programs to support this project.

There are environmental benefits. Armando Plastino, ASI's vice-president of operations, said, "Once the plant goes operational, we will virtually eliminate the need for flare burn-offs." This means that nearly

400 tonnes of nitrous oxide will be eliminated annually, while the equivalent coal-fired generation would produce 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

The McGuinty government is making huge strides in improving Ontario's energy supply. We're proud of the investment in Sault Ste. Marie.

CHICKEN FARMERS

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): It's my pleasure to rise today and welcome the Chicken Farmers of Ontario to the Legislature and to acknowledge the chicken producers. The Chicken Farmers of

Ontario are responsible for representing nearly 1,100 Ontario chicken producers, a number that has remained stable over the past 10 years. That number represents one half of all chicken producers in Canada, which is over 2,800.

In 2005, Ontario produced 325 million kilograms of chicken meat, one third of the Canadian total, the majority of which was consumed domestically. Ontario's chicken industry has a farmgate value of $521 million

and is responsible for thousands of spinoff jobs in transportation, food service and retail, in both urban and rural communities.

The chicken industry in Ontario continues to grow, and in no small part because of supply management, which is a unique, successful Canadian story. Under supply management, the Chicken Farmers of Ontario have

propelled this province into being the largest producer, processor and consumer of chicken in the country.

Hopefully all of the members were able to visit the special replica farm exhibit out in front of the Legislature this morning. If you were able to make it to that, you'll be able to make it to room 230 to enjoy

some of the finest chicken wings and to meet and speak with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario.

I just want to say that the riding I represent is --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Members' statements?

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): I say to our friends today that, as the member from a rural riding where we're very proud of our chicken producers and their wonderful product, in this

place being a chicken has a slightly more political overtone.

I want to mention to our friends that earlier today my good colleague the Minister of the Environment issued a challenge to John Tory, the transitory member for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey, to show up for this

important vote, the vote on Bill 43, the Clean Water Act.

We know he's in the city, and we think that he would want to register his vote when it comes to this important matter of safe, clean drinking water. Ontarians need to know where the many-minded leader of the

official opposition is on this.

Gord Miller, Ontario's Environmental Commissioner, says that there is no question that the measures in this bill will make drinking water safer in Ontario. The Clean Water Act was a major recommendation of the

Walkerton inquiry. And the Sierra Legal Defence Fund says that Ontario is leading the country in protecting drinking water.

Unfortunately, the official opposition seems to have a problem with clean water. When it comes time to stand up -- this is the place where you vote. We have a vote. One would think that your responsibility is to

stand in your place, and I'll be looking with great interest to see whether or not the leader of the official opposition is here.

We're proud of our bill. It is a balanced piece of legislation that draws all of us who share the same great source of drinking water to work together collaboratively. Others may be missing in action.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I'm pleased to introduce in the Speaker's gallery today the family of one of our pages, Sarah Edgerley. With us is Sarah's father, Dr. Michael Edgerley, and

we are particularly pleased to have with us her grandfather Mr. William Edgerley, who is a veteran of D-Day. Please join me in welcoming them.

Also seated in the Speaker's gallery are the students of the Queen's University mentoring program. Please join me in welcoming them here with us today.

CORRECTION OF RECORD

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Yesterday, October 17, in responding to the Minister of Transportation's statement on School Bus Safety Week, I mistakenly misstated

an important statistic.

To correct the record: Occupants of a school bus are 16 times less likely to be injured in a road collision than occupants in other vehicles.

I am pleased to correct the record, and thank Rick Donaldson for bringing it to my attention.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that today the Clerk received the report on intended appointments dated October 18, 2006, of the standing committee on government

agencies. Pursuant to standing order 106(e)(9), the report is deemed to be adopted by the House.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2006 (NO. 2) /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES (NO 2)

Mr. Sorbara moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 151,

An Act to enact various 2006 Budget measures and to enact, amend or repeal various Acts / Projet de loi 151, Loi édictant diverses mesures énoncées dans le Budget de 2006 et

édictant, modifiant ou abrogeant diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1352 to 1357.

The Speaker: All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Fonseca, Peter

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Mitchell, Carol

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those opposed will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Hudak, Tim

Klees, Frank

MacLeod, Lisa

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

Murdoch, Bill

O'Toole, John

Runciman, Robert W.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 47; the nays are 18.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

The minister may wish to make a brief statement.

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): This is the second bill that implements a number of the progressive and soundly thought-out measures that

were contained in the budget presented by my predecessor, the Minister of Energy. I'm actually somewhat shocked that the opposition parties would be voting against a bill that provided for additional support for seniors; that provided for tax

credits to strengthen business. Of course, if they want to do that, I look forward to the debate we're going to have on second and third readings. Thank you.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private

members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 96(g), notice for ballot item 55 be waived.

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS /

ENTRAÎNEMENT À LA RÉANIMATION CARDIO-RESPIRATOIRE

DANS LES ÉCOLES SECONDAIRES

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): Earlier this afternoon, I was joined by a number of colleagues from both sides of the House, including my ministerial colleagues Kathleen Wynne

and George Smitherman. We were honoured to join high school students in the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation of Canada, better known as ACT, for a reception and demonstration of lifesaving skills. I'd like to share with this House an example

of why learning how to perform CPR is so important for Ontarians.

Last March, Arnie Swedler was having dinner with his wife, Sarah, at a popular Ottawa restaurant following a flight home from New York City, when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Also dining with his family that

night was Ross Griffith. When he and his mother, Lise, a nurse, saw Mr. Swedler's distress, they leapt into action and performed two-person CPR on Mr. Swedler until the paramedics arrived.

Ross Griffith was among the first high school students to receive CPR training through the 1994 Ottawa pilot of the ACT Foundation high school cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program. It was the CPR

training he received through the ACT Foundation that empowered Ross to act in an emergency.

Aujourd'hui, à Queen's Park, nous avons souligné la Journée de la réanimation cardio-respiratoire en invitant des élèves d'écoles secondaires de la région, qui ont suivi

la même formation que Ross Griffith, à faire la démonstration de leurs capacités.

The CPR high school program is a joint initiative between the McGuinty government and the ACT Foundation which is supported by many corporate partners, and I just want to briefly read those out to you:

AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer Canada, and Sanofi-Aventis; and other partners: the Trillium Foundation, Hydro One, Shoppers Drug Mart, and the Kiwanis Club of Toronto. The whole organization is chaired by Michael Cloutier, who is

president of AstraZeneca.

Also joining us in the gallery -- and I think she deserves special credit, because this is a program that started in Ottawa with great determination and drive by an individual. I said earlier today that when I

was mayor, one of the worst fears I had was when I heard the words, "Sandra Clarke on line 1," because I knew she wanted something, and she always got what she wanted: Sandra Clarke, the executive director of the ACT Foundation.

Together, the ACT Foundation has trained more than 150,000 high school students annually with the skills and knowledge to save lives. In fact, over 600,000 students have now been trained, and CPR training

through the ACT Foundation is now available in almost 60% of high schools in the province.

Almost two years ago, Premier McGuinty announced a $650,000 grant as part of a matching funding formula with the ACT Foundation to provide the equipment to expand the CPR program to all Ontario high schools.

Those of us from eastern Ontario know very well the commitment and the passion the Premier has, not only for the ACT Foundation but also for the work that is being done in high schools.

Maintenant, chaque année, les élèves de neuvième année de toutes les écoles secondaires de l'Ontario reçoivent une formation en RCR. Plus de 600 élèves du

secondaire ont déjà suivi une formation en RCR dans le cadre de leur programme d'études. En plus d'apprendre à pratiquer la réanimation cardio-respiratoire, les élèves apprennent à reconnaître les

signes d'un malaise cardiaque et l'importance d'appeler rapidement le service d'urgence 911. En outre, on leur montre comment ils peuvent apporter de l'aide avant l'arrivée des ambulanciers.

Our government is proud to be a partner of this award-winning program. According to an Ontario pre-hospital advanced life support study, eight in 10 cardiac arrests occur at home, and citizen CPR can improve

survival rates for victims of cardiac arrest by almost four times. By empowering youth with CPR training, we are helping to increase the citizen response rate to victims of cardiac arrest around the province.

In conclusion, our government is committed to providing the support to strengthen local-level programs that deliver opportunities which make our communities safer for our fellow citizens. As we progress in

creating a sustained focus on health promotion in the province, the McGuinty government will continue to work with our partners to build a healthier, stronger and safer Ontario.

I want to thank those partners who were here today in the committee room, thank over 30 MPPs who arrived to receive a briefing and training in CPR, and my thanks to the ACT Foundation, something that we're

very proud of in Ottawa and now very proud of throughout the province.

PERSONS DAY

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): Today we celebrate Persons Day, the heart of Women's History Month. It's a day to

commemorate the courageous women of the early 20th century who challenged the existing status of women. It's a day to salute the Famous Five -- Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung and Irene Parlby -- who refused

to accept that women were lesser than men and fought for their rights over 13 long years.

It's a day to recall the historical significance of the Persons Case decision of October 18, 1929, when the British Privy Council agreed with them and ruled that Canadian women were indeed persons, despite

arguments to the contrary by three consecutive Prime Ministers and the Supreme Court of Canada. With dogged determination, the Famous Five achieved the right for Canadian women to serve in the Senate. They paved the way for women to participate in

all aspects of public life and contribute in a meaningful way to the economy, to society and to their communities, province and country.

Seventy-seven years later, the Persons Case decision remains a landmark victory in the struggle of Canadian women for equality. The results of this decision are everywhere. Women are leaders of major

corporations; women are doctors, lawyer, plumbers, entrepreneurs; women are government representatives. StatsCan reports that more women are enrolled in university than men. And we see women blending career with parenthood, guiding the next

generation with competence, confidence and compassion.

Yes, we've come a long way, and we've got a long way to go. As minister responsible for women's issues I meet women who, through no fault of their own, are unable to participate fully in society. I see many

who are committed to helping them, women who work on their behalf, in the tradition of the Famous Five.

I'm proud to say that our government has taken an important step in addressing women's safety in their homes, workplaces and communities, and in ensuring equal opportunities for education and training,

particularly in high-growth areas where women are under-represented.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, all Ontarians and Canadians are called upon to recognize women's extraordinary contributions. The theme for 2006 is Aboriginal Women: The Journey Forward.

Earlier today, I had the pleasure of awarding three aboriginal women with Leading Women, Building Communities awards. Our government created this award earlier this year to honour women for exceptional

community leadership. The three women we honour today are a true inspiration to all women and in particular to aboriginal women and girls across our province. The award recipients are in the gallery today. When I mention them, it would be great if

they could stand.

We had a tremendous ceremony today. Wabano lodge from Ottawa was there to open the ceremonies with a bang, literally.

Elder Lillian McGregor, a member of the Whitefish River First Nation, Birch Island, is a respected elder --

Applause.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Thank you so much for being here today. She is a respected elder for Ontario's aboriginal healing and wellness strategy and is the elder in residence at the University of

Toronto's First Nations House.

The Honourable Madam Justice Rose Boyko is here today, the first aboriginal woman --

Applause.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Madam Justice Rose Boyko is the first aboriginal woman to be appointed to the Superior Court in Canada in 1994. She is a Tsek' ehne woman from McLeod Lake, British

Columbia. We are pleased that she could be here. Madam Justice Boyko currently presides over family law, criminal and civil trials in the central east judicial region in Newmarket.

Sylvia Maracle, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres --

Applause.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Sylvia, it's great to have you in this House. She is from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territories. Ms. Maracle played a key role in the design of Ontario's aboriginal healing and

wellness strategy and has created programs for aboriginal peoples in health care, justice, education, cultural and economic development.

What a proud day we had today. Join me in congratulating these three award winners on their extraordinary achievements.

Mr. Speaker, you were there to join us today as well. The Persons Day decision has improved the lives of women as a group and society as a whole. Congratulations to our recipients today.

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On behalf of John Tory and the official opposition, I would like to commend the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation of Canada or, as it is known by its

acronym, ACT, for its needed and excellent work in training high school students in CPR through their dedicated high school program.

I welcome the committed high school students who took time out of their busy schedules to come to Queen's Park today to demonstrate their CPR skills and to help raise public awareness, especially among all

members here, about the important initiative to establish the CPR program in all high schools throughout Ontario. I understand that this initiative has now reached high schools as far west as British Columbia.

The aim of ACT is to see every Canadian teenager graduate from high school with CPR skills and heart health information that they will take to their present and future families and into their communities.

Due to the generous support of local partners, a class set of 30 mannequins, manuals and teacher training is donated to all schools. Community partners include AstraZeneca, Aventis Pharma Inc., the Kiwanis

Clubs of North York, Riverdale, Scarborough and Toronto, Merck Frosst Canada, the National Post newspaper, Pfizer Canada, Southam, St. John Ambulance and Subway.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those community partners and sponsors who are helping ACT achieve its goal of extending the CPR program to some 27,000 students across 130 high schools.

Congratulations for all you do to train our high school students in life-saving CPR techniques.

PERSONS DAY

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): Today I'm very pleased to speak on behalf of the PC caucus to recognize Persons Day. Persons Day is a time for all of us at Queen's Park and across the

province to take notice of and celebrate the contributions women have made and are making in Ontario, Canada and around the world.

It took eight years for the Famous Five -- Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards -- to succeed in their quest to have women declared persons under the BNA Act,

but with perseverance, they were victorious.

We sometimes forget how significantly our lives were changed on October 18, 1929, and it is important that we have times like these -- times like Women's History Month, times like Persons Day -- that encourage

us to be grateful and humbled and awe-inspired, not only by the acknowledgement of women as persons, but also by the constant accomplishments women are achieving in business, academia, the arts, sport and even in politics.

Of course, not only are we encouraged to look back with pride, we must also look forward with ambition and courage, and one doesn't have to look far to see areas in need of attention. Today, none of the

Canadian political parties is headed by a woman and not a single one of Canada's Premiers is a woman. On an international scale, the Inter-Parliamentary Union ranks countries by the number of women in their national Legislatures. For 2006, Canada

ranks 44th. We can do better.

That said, it is important to move forward with a positive outlook, and I'm delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm that has been displayed on this issue. You will remember that in June of this year, all

three political leaders agreed on the need to see more women elected to the Ontario Legislature. In fact, our leader, John Tory, has unequivocally stated his support for encouraging more women to enter politics and has pledged to run no fewer than

34 women candidates in the next election. I think the challenge that remains for us, particularly in this House, is to accelerate the progress toward inclusion of women in decision-making bodies, but we also need to increase our impact on

decision-making.

I have no doubt that as we continue to work together -- all three political parties -- we can increase the opportunities for equality for all women. I think it's important to note that I'm especially proud to

be sitting alongside a number of outstanding women who have entered public life -- Lisa MacLeod, Elizabeth Witmer, Laurie Scott and Julia Munro -- all of whom have not only served their province, but all serve as role models to all women.

Finally, I would like to welcome and congratulate this year's award recipients: Elder Lillian McGregor, Madam Justice Rose Boyko and Sylvia Maracle. Thank you for your contributions to our communities.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park): I think it needs to be noted that most of the women in this House are the first women in their families, if they were born in Canada, to be human

persons, so I am pleased to stand and speak on Persons Day.

I want to acknowledge some women. First of all, Rosemary Brown, the first woman of colour who was ever elected in Canada, in BC -- NDP, of course -- in 1972. Zanana Akande, the first woman of colour ever made

cabinet minister in Ontario, in 1990 -- again, NDP. In 1996, Jenny Kwan, one of two --

Interjections.

Ms. DiNovo: Mr. Speaker, I draw your attention to the fact that women are still being shouted down by men in the House.

In 1996, Jenny Kwan, one of the first two women of Asian heritage ever elected to a Canadian Legislature, in BC -- NDP. In 2003, Joan Beatty, the first aboriginal cabinet minister ever elected -- NDP. And of

course Agnes Macphail, the first woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons when women could first vote legally --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I need to be able --

Interjection.

The Speaker: The Minister of Finance will come to order.

Member for Parkdale-High Park.

Ms. DiNovo: Mr. Speaker, I'm simply restating history. Agnes Macphail was the first woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons, in 1921, when women could first vote legally, and the

first president of the Ontario CCF, later to be the Ontario NDP.

I also draw your attention to the fact that the Valiant or Famous Five were also originators of the union movement in this country, with the United Farmers of Alberta.

Finally, I have to say that the true tribute to women --

Interjection.

Ms. DiNovo: Again, Mr. Speaker, a man is shouting down a woman in the House.

Interjections.

The Speaker : Order.

Interjection.

The Speaker: The Minister of Finance.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Stop the clock. Order.

Interjections.

We can wait.

Member for Parkdale-High Park.

Ms. DiNovo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Finally, I'd like to say that the true tribute to these women, the Famous Five, or Valiant Five, is what we do now for women's rights in this province. I draw your attention to the fact that the McGuinty

government promised in 2003 to put money into child care: $300 million to be exact.

Interjections.

Ms. DiNovo: Again, Mr. Speaker, I ask for the opportunity to speak.

The Speaker: Member for Parkdale-High Park.

Ms. DiNovo: Again, to continue over the shouts of some of our men in the House, I'd like to say that the true tribute to women is what we do right now. Right here, in the province of Ontario,

two thirds of the women who work and live on minimum wage, who can't pay the rent and feed their children, need a raise in the minimum wage to $10 an hour. Women need child care right now. They need that $300 million. Nine out of 10 of our

children go without a child care space. So if we want to really pay a tribute to women, let's do that by acting now.

CPR TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I was pleased to participate in CPR day at Queen's Park today. A little after 10 o'clock this morning, I was given a demonstration of life-saving skills by

two students from St. Joseph's College School. I want to commend Catherine Declaro and Cristina Hernandez on the skill they demonstrated in performing CPR and on their willingness, and patience, to answer questions I had about the

demonstration.

I wanted to note as well that four of the school boards in Sudbury and area have agreed to participate with the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation to train phys. ed. teachers to train grade 9 students in

instrumental in ensuring that grade 9 students in our community will be appropriately taught life-saving skills.

The final point I'd like to make is that the training in our high schools occurs through the phys. ed. program in grade 9, which is the only time that phys. ed. is mandatory. Given that CPR skills are

life-saving, we should be figuring out how we amend the school curriculum so that high school students are exposed to CPR training every year, so that they can keep up their skills. I hope the Minister of Health Promotion will take up that

challenge to ensure that all high school students receive this training every year so that they feel confident they can respond to an emergency.

VISITORS

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm delighted to introduce to this House two representatives of the government of Estonia, Halve Masakas and Jaak Laanemetz,

who are here to see democracy in action. They are in the east gallery.

While I'm on my feet, I'm also very happy to introduce to you a number of young women from one of the best colleges in Toronto: Loretto College. They're sitting right over there. Welcome and

congratulations.

DEFERRED VOTES

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EAU SAINE

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 43,

An Act to protect existing and future sources of drinking water and to make complementary and other amendments to other Acts / Projet de loi 43, Loi

visant à protéger les sources existantes et futures d'eau potable et à apporter des modifications complémentaires et autres à d'autres lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1425 to 1430.

The Speaker: All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those opposed will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Chudleigh, Ted

DiNovo, Cheri

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Hudak, Tim

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

Murdoch, Bill

O'Toole, John

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Scott, Laurie

Tabuns, Peter

Tascona, Joseph N.

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 53; the nays are 28.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

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

ORAL QUESTIONS

JOB CREATION

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): My question is for the Premier. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition asked you yet again for the comprehensive jobs plan that this House --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop the clock. You may recall that the Speaker needs to be able to hear questions being put. You probably also recall that only one person is permitted to

speak here at a time. The member for Halton has the floor. I would like to be able to hear his question.

Mr. Chudleigh: My question is for the Premier. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition asked you yet again for the comprehensive job plan that this House unanimously requested back in December

2005. Twenty-four hours have passed, and still no response from you or your government; another 24 hours of dithering, delaying and deflecting; another 24 hours when people in St. Thomas, London, Mississauga, Guelph and Burlington are left

wondering when you're going to keep your promise. When will you listen to the members of this House, Premier, and bring forward a real, comprehensive job plan?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): I'm just not sure where my friend has been over the past three years. In fact, strong economic development

has been at the heart of absolutely every measure that this government has taken over the course of the past three years. If you look at our first budget -- the investments that we made in education and health care and the renewal of health care

facilities right across the province. Investments in post-secondary education, which mean strong, high-paying jobs for our young people for decades to come -- that was the second budget. In the third budget -- the investment in roads and bridges

and highways. I want to tell my friend that over the course of the next six years, some 500,000 jobs will be created by virtue of those measures.

Mr. Chudleigh: It's a long way from a million jobs.

Minister of Finance, yesterday we heard the refrain, "Just think what $314 million would do." We don't have to imagine. We already know what you do with that money: $200 million to fire nurses and close

community care access centres; millions on unnecessary logo changes; $30 million to cancel a gas-fired power plant that would have replaced a coal-fired plant in Thunder Bay, and on and on.

Here's what the people of Ontario are thinking about: "What would happen if you took the issue seriously and had a plan to turn the economy around?" Well, just think, if the Premier brought forward a real plan

and we had job growth like Saskatchewan's 3.2% --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order.

Interjection.

The Speaker: The Minister of Energy will come to order. I won't warn him again.

The member for Halton.

Mr. Chudleigh: This government is sensitive about jobs, Mr. Speaker.

Just think, if the Premier brought forward a real plan and we had job growth like Saskatchewan's 3.2% last year, we could have created over 200,000 jobs in the last 12 months, never mind the three years the

Premier talks about.

Minister, why won't you listen to the House and bring forward that comprehensive job program that you promised in December 2005?

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: Again, I'm not sure where my friend from Halton has been for the past three years. Over the course of the past three years, this economy has created over a quarter of a

million jobs; 90% of those are full-time and high-paying jobs.

We have had some difficulties recently on the manufacturing side. I want to tell my friend that he could help out in this area. We are trying desperately to get a labour market partnership agreement with the

federal government. Now I want to give him a number: 613-992-4211. That's the Prime Minister's number. Why don't you give him a call and invite him to come to the table and meet his obligations to the people of this province?

Mr. Chudleigh: If memory serves me correctly, on October 2, 2003, you were elected to govern this province. When are you going to start?

Minister, you continue to look for others to blame. Your Minister of Economic Development and Trade calls it a cycle. That's an insult to the people of Ontario, and it ignores the fact that Ontario is cycling

down while other provinces are cycling up. Job growth equal to BC's last year of 4% would have meant over 250,000 new jobs in Ontario. Job growth equal to Manitoba's and Newfoundland's of 1.5% would have meant nearly 100,000 jobs last year in

Ontario.

Your dithering, delaying and deflecting are not a plan. Your blaming of others is not a plan. Your broken promises are not a plan. The House requested a plan last year. You promised to listen to the House.

Where's the plan?

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: Within I think six months of being elected, we brought forward a comprehensive automobile strategy which has resulted in some $7 billion in new investment in the most

competitive industry on the entire continent. When those folks were in power, not one additional kilowatt of electrical capacity was built. So far, through the Minister of Energy's work, we've built 3,000 additional megawatts of electrical

capacity.

Moments ago, that party voted against a budget bill that will provide, if passed, additional incentives for more jobs to be created in this province. I cannot believe that after sitting in that seat for three

years, the member from Halton has been completely oblivious to all of this work.

VIOLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): I have a question for the Attorney General. Minister, in October 2000, you issued a press release calling for the former government to regulate the

sale of CDs and tapes that contain violent lyrics and crack down on artists who advocate violence and hate. You even suggested bringing an injunction to stop Eminem performing in Toronto.

You've been in office for over three years. What have you done about an issue that you told people you were very concerned about five years ago, or was this just another "Say anything to get elected" ploy by

the Liberals?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): That's an interesting version of what happened. In fact, what happened was that an individual came to my office with some grave concerns about a matter

that she felt was a hate crime. She had lodged information with the Ontario Provincial Police and asked what the next steps were. In fact, the next steps were in the hands of the Ontario Provincial Police and it was within their jurisdiction to

take action.

My question was to the government of the day, what their view was on it. As I recall, their view was that Jim Flaherty felt that a concert should not take place in Toronto, which was absurd.

I say to the member that you need to get your facts right. We were ensuring that each branch of the state was doing their job. I certainly don't make any apologies for standing up at that time to hold that

government's feet to the fire, and I'll continue to be proud of our record when it comes to the pursuit of equality and fighting hate crimes in Ontario.

Mr. Runciman: I hope this is parliamentary, Mr. Speaker: What a crock. I happen to have your press release here, Minister, if one of the pages wants to take it over. We'll see what you were

saying five years ago. Can we get a page to take this over to the Attorney General?

There was a disturbing

article in the Toronto Sun recently regarding DVDs that feature real home videos of violent street fights and group beatings. Police have described the videos as "graphic celebrations of

street violence, gang culture, contempt for the law and anti-social behaviour." A couple of the titles are "Ghetto Fights" and "Wildest Street Brawls." They're available in Ontario at 16 bucks each.

Toronto Police expert Dave Saunders -- and he's an expert in youth crime -- has described the videos as "akin to promoting ... violence and sometimes horrible gang victimization" amongst youth.

Minister, do you agree that the rating of these videos should be left in the hands of the video industry, or should the responsibility lie with the Ontario Film Review Board?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I think the member knows that consumer affairs and the labelling of videos are not within my portfolio. I think what the member is trying to get at is to see whether or not

the Ministry of the Attorney General continues to dedicate itself to fighting hate crimes and preventing hate crimes in any way, shape or form. It was in the name of that that we established the first-ever hate crimes community working group,

which has been doing its work with input from across the province for a number of months now, and we expect to have those reports out. I can assure the member that when those reports do come out, we will be implementing them.

Mr. Runciman: In opposition leader John Tory's community consultations on violence affecting youth, he heard with great frequency from parents, educators and police about the concerns they

have with the influence of certain aspects of pop culture on the attitude and behaviour of young people.

Another element of this, according to the Sun story, is the ease with which minors can purchase these videos. In their investigation, 15-year-olds had no difficulty making these purchases. The British Columbia

government rates DVDs of this nature as adult films, which means they can only be sold in adult stores, similar to pornographic movies. Are you prepared to consider that approach in Ontario, and if not, why not?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I'll refer this to the minister responsible for consumer affairs.

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): I'm prepared to look at that, certainly. For many years, as you know, under the previous government and under this government, we have

been relying on the industry to rate these videos. They have been closely watched to make certain that when they're put into a store, the store is following the rules on that. If that's not happening, we would be very much interested in looking at

it. I will take your final suggestion under advisement. I'm interested in making sure that we provide proper protection for the citizens of Ontario. There also is the usual need to make certain that we don't unnecessarily interfere in freedom of

speech. But we will balance those things. I'd be happy to look at that suggestion.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. I believe all members of this Legislature were deeply troubled by the tragic deaths of three-year-old Serena Campione

and her one-year-old sister, Sophia, while they were under the supervision of the children's aid society.

Given this latest tragedy, given the tragic death of young Jeffrey Baldwin and given some of the concerns working families across Ontario have raised about the capacity of our children's aid societies to

protect vulnerable children, don't you think it's time, Premier, that Ontario gave the Ombudsman independent oversight authority in respect of children's aid societies so we can be assured that vulnerable children will have the independent

protection and oversight they deserve?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'm pleased to take the question. First of all, let me speak as much as I legitimately and properly can to the recent

tragedy of a young mother who allegedly killed two young children.

My sympathies go out on behalf, I'm sure, of all members here to the family and friends in the community affected. I say, as well, that we are now going to allow the process to unfold. I understand that in

fact there are four separate investigations underway: The coroner is conducting an investigation; the police, of course, are investigating this matter, as well they should; the Ontario's child death review committee is also conducting an

investigation; and the children's aid society involved is now hiring an external investigator. I think when it comes to that particular circumstance, it's important that we allow those investigations to play themselves out.

Mr. Hampton: Unfortunately, these things are all happening after the fact. When Jeffrey Baldwin died, the local CAS called it, "A collective blind spot for child welfare agencies and the

courts."

Well, there is someone in the province of Ontario whose job is to investigate collective blind spots and improve government services for everyone. It's called the Ombudsman of Ontario. For over a year,

Ontario's Ombudsman has asked your government for independent oversight authority in respect of children's aid societies. Eight other provinces have legislated independent oversight of children's aid societies.

My question is this: Why, under the McGuinty government, is Ontario so far behind? Why is the McGuinty government so opposed to giving Ontario's very credible and respected Ombudsman independent oversight

authority in respect of the activities of children's aid societies?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The leader of the NDP will know that in fact we have made changes to the Child and Family Services Act through Bill 210, to be proclaimed, I believe, in November. He also

knows that we have in fact given independent, objective, arm's-length oversight to the Child and Family Services Review Board. He knows that. What he's saying is that that's not good enough and his preference is that the Ombudsman be given that

responsibility, and I disagree with him on that. The leader of the NDP also knows that the Ombudsman can at any time decide that he wants to investigate children's aid societies, generally speaking.

We have decided, as a government, that we agree entirely with the Ombudsman to the extent that there should be neutral, third party oversight of the children's aid societies, but we have decided to give that

responsibility to the Child and Family Services Review Board.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, you know that your Child and Family Services Review Board is a part-time board, it's not independent, it reports to the ministry, and many of the people who are appointed

there have no expertise, no credibility in this area whatsoever. The board simply doesn't have the knowledge or the experience to be able to address some of these complex issues.

Jane Ogden, David Witzel, Lisa Diamond, Krzys Chmiel and Samuel Fragomeni are parents who have written, asking that the Ombudsman be able to look into children's aid society activities, address systemic

problems and protect vulnerable children. Jeffrey Baldwin, Randal Dooley and now Serena and Sophia Campione are children who have died under the supervision of children's aid societies.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Question?

Mr. Hampton: It seems to me the Ombudsman makes a very thoughtful and reasonable case. There are obviously some very serious problems. Why are you so opposed to giving the Ombudsman's office,

somebody who has expertise --

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I want to correct the record, because a moment ago I said that the Ombudsman can investigate children's aid societies generally, and he cannot. But he does have oversight

over the Child and Family Services Review Board.

There is likely going to be a coroner's inquest resulting from this particular tragedy. Of course, there is going to be a police investigation and possibly charges flowing from that. We've made a decision that

it is in fact very important that we have an independent, arm's-length third party with authority to review the children's aid societies on an ongoing basis. We've given that responsibility to the Child and Family Services Review Board. Decisions

coming from that board can go up to the Ombudsman, so ultimately he in fact does have oversight over these kinds of issues.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: For days we have asked you to stop wasting millions of dollars of public money on your self-serving television ads that promote your

government, because these ads certainly don't reflect the reality of what is happening in our hospital emergency rooms. Dr. John Carter works at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. He says there are no emergency room doctors scheduled to work

several critical overnight shifts for the rest of October. Without an emergency room doctor, the emergency room will have to shut down.

Premier, the situation at the Grand River Hospital emergency room is not getting better, it is getting much worse and your self-serving television ads, which waste millions of dollars of public money, are not

going to make a difference. When are you going to drop the self-serving ads and come up with a real plan to fix the problems in our hospital emergency rooms?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): First of all, I want to take this opportunity to thank not only Dr. Carter but all of the physicians and nurses who have

responded to the call, who are performing heroically in order to ensure that there is coverage available at that emergency room at the Grand River Hospital. Without their support on the ground, we simply could not manage.

Let me also say to the leader of the NDP that we are, in fact, working with the physician and nurse community to ensure we can maintain such coverage on an ongoing basis. In the supplementary, I will be

delighted to speak to this notion of what kind of good information is being made available to Ontarians through our advertising.

Mr. Hampton: Dr. Carter and his colleagues work full time at nearby St. Mary's hospital, and then they work as many night shifts as they can to keep the Grand River Hospital emergency room

open. These local doctors care about their community and they want to keep the hospital emergency room open, but they can't sustain many more of these marathon night shifts. Dr. Carter says, "I'm at the end of my rope. It's a matter of days and

weeks how much longer people are willing to keep bailing out a sinking ship."

Premier, your so-called investigator, Tom Closson, hasn't even met with these doctors yet, and the emergency room could easily close again before the end of October. This is a problem that requires immediate

attention, and it requires a plan. It doesn't need more millions of dollars of public money wasted on your self-serving television ads. When are we going to see a plan instead of more propaganda?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Let me speak to the notion of the ads which inform Ontarians about the wait times website. The leader of the NDP may feel that it is of no particular use to him, but so far,

1.65 million Ontarians have visited that website. If you visit that website, you will find out on the first page that they'll give you a good sense of what's been happening to wait times for cancer surgeries, angiography, angioplasty, bypass

surgeries, hip replacement surgeries, knee replacement surgeries, cataract surgeries, MRIs and CTs.

But more than that, if you punch in the procedure in which you have an interest, as well as the name of your community -- for example, I punched in "Orangeville" and "cataract" -- it tells you exactly what the

wait times are in that particular community. More than that, you can also punch in, "I want the 10 fastest wait times at hospitals throughout the province of Ontario," which many Ontarians are doing, because that gives them a good choice --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Premier. Final supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: This is interesting. We've got hospital emergency rooms on the verge of shutdown, and the Premier wants to talk about cataracts in Orangeville.

Kitchener-Waterloo is the tip of the hospital emergency room iceberg. Emergency rooms in hospitals across this province are facing difficulty. If you want to talk about wait times, people are waiting seven,

eight, nine, 10 hours, in urgent cases. In Sault Ste. Marie, hospital administrators say that emergency room physician coverage is fragile. Emergency rooms in Sudbury, Ottawa and Niagara are overcrowded because the shortage of long-term-care beds

clogs up hospital beds, which clogs up the emergency room. Two weeks ago, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre was forced to call off surgeries.

I say again, Premier: Manitoba saw the problem coming. They developed a plan, not self-serving advertising. When are we going to see the McGuinty government's plan instead of more propaganda?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The causes of our emergency room challenges are well known, and the leader of the NDP might take a long, hard look in the mirror to discover the source of some of those

challenges. He will know that they cut -- he doesn't like to hear this -- medical school spaces by 13%. We're growing them by 23%. The Conservative government shut some 28 hospitals, eliminating thousands of beds. We have close to 2,000 new beds

under construction.

The other thing that we need to do, of course, is to invest in community-based care. What we're doing here, in addition to investing in 49 new community health centres and 150 new family health teams -- we've

also found home care for 71,000 more Ontarians.

I'm just not nearly as pessimistic as the leader of the NDP when it comes to ensuring we maintain coverage in our emergency rooms. We will continue to work with our doctors and with our nurses so we can

continue to provide that coverage.

TOURISM

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): My question is for the Minister of Tourism. Ontario's tourism industry directly employs more than 213,000 people. Thousands of these jobs are in jeopardy,

in part because of the McGuinty Liberal government's unwillingness to support the tourism industry. Even the Toronto Star agrees. In their editorial last Saturday condemning the self-serving, partisan, multi-million-dollar taxpayer-funded Liberal

TV ads, the Star said that, in contrast, tourism advertising "fulfills a public service."

I know someone else in this House who agrees -- or used to -- when he said, in June 2003, and I'm quoting from Hansard, that "using taxpayers' dollars to promote government policies, to congratulate itself

because of policies and positions that it's taken, is simply not acceptable," or when he criticized what he called "a virtual orgy of self-congratulatory, blatantly partisan advertising," or when he advocated for the Preventing Partisan

Advertising Act as his private member's bill three years ago.

Does the minister recall who made these statements, and does he still agree with what he said in 2003?

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I don't know how that fits the portfolio, but let me talk about the advertising in the

ministry.

My good friend from Niagara had a great photograph on the back -- oh, you're not supposed to use that -- of that particular document.

What I want to say to him is that in the field of advertising to lure people to come to this province, we are involved in many programs, not only in the province of Ontario, designed to keep people in Ontario,

but also trying to lure our American friends across the border again. That has been a major challenge, as he would know. We have some special programs in the state of Michigan and the state of New York going on at this time. We made a new effort

in the province of Quebec to bring people from the province of Quebec to Ontario, a market that perhaps had been neglected the way it shouldn't be neglected. We will continue to work with the private sector through the Ontario Tourism Marketing

Partnership Corp. to ensure that we have the kind of promotional marketing --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Arnott: The minister ignored the substance of my question yet again, and in doing so, he ignores the plight of the tourism industry yet again.

Any fair-minded person who knows anything about politics knows that the singular motive of these expensive TV ads is to attempt to create a feel-good impression amongst voters that things are going well, that

they should feel grateful to the Liberal Party and that they should vote for them in a year's time. As such, they are blatantly partisan.

Given the fact that this government has budgeted tens of millions of dollars for advertising in this way, they could put a fraction of that money into enhancing the tourism advertising budget, doing targeted

advertisements in our key American markets, inviting tourists to Ontario and reminding them that they don't need a passport to visit us this fall. Will the minister do this and will he stand up for Ontario's tourism industry?

Hon. Mr. Bradley: Let me tell you that we are doing all of these things. But I'll tell you how you can stand up, you members of the Conservative caucus. The federal government just cancelled a

program, which was a GST rebate for tourists coming to the province of Ontario. Today, that was condemned by all the major tourist organizations and coalitions in Canada. In addition to that, they had money within the Canadian Tourism Commission

that was already available to promote Canada. They refused to do that and decided they would take that out. They decided that they would cut funding to the small museums in many of the communities that you represent that draw people to the

province of Ontario and keep people here in the province of Ontario.

I've written to the federal minister at least three times asking the federal minister, would he please convene a meeting of all the tourism ministers in Canada. He has, to this point in time, not agreed. I ask

you to speak to your federal friends in Ottawa and stand up for Ontario.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Premier. The McGuinty government's big pipe fiasco makes a mockery of your Clean Water Act as it continues to threaten source

waters, the Oak Ridges moraine and Lake Ontario itself. Now, in apparent contravention of the Environmental Assessment Act, York region has approved the awarding of almost $96 million in big pipe contracts associated with the end of that big pipe:

the Duffins Creek water pollution control plant. That's prior to public comment being completed, that's prior to the time allotted for bump-up requests and that's prior to provincial approval. Premier, what does the region of York know about your

pending decision on this file, about your pending decision on this stage of the big pipe EA, that others don't?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'll refer this to the Minister of the Environment.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I'm pleased to have a chance to talk today about the steps that this government is taking to ensure that we deliver safe, clean drinking

water to the people of Ontario, starting with the implementation of the Clean Water Act, which passed today in this House despite opposition from both opposition parties. I can say that we have to celebrate our successes in this province because

we've turned away from the days of Walkerton, when drinking water was not provided in a safe, clean and plentiful way. Most recently, the Sierra Legal Defence Fund completed its analysis of all Canadian provinces' water legislation, and do you

know where Ontario ranked? Ontario ranked number one. We are delivering program after program to ensure that we inspect, that we protect, that we ensure that that water is safe, clean and plentiful for future generations. We are taking steps

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?

Mr. Tabuns: It's clear that the Minister of the Environment's record on not answering questions continues unbroken. The big pipe will continue to take water out of the surrounding ecosystem

forever. Between 25% and 30% of the big pipe's volume will be clean drinking water. That's thanks to the McGuinty government's refusal to stand up to York region and the developers.

Now York region is prejudging the outcome of your environmental assessment of the Duffins Creek water pollution control plant. It's throwing your ability to uphold the provisions of the Environmental

Assessment Act and the integrity of this assessment into serious doubt.

It would be really nice to have an answer that addresses the question, Minister. Will you maintain the integrity of the EA process and show Ontarians you're serious about Lake Ontario waters? Will you issue a

part II order and bump-up of the EA for the proposed expansion of the Duffins Creek water pollution control plant?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I think the member opposite has to examine his own decisions and determine whether he's in favour of clean water for Ontario or not, because the work that's being undertaken

in the York-Durham community is as a result of the medical officer of health, who has said that sewage could back up into homes and businesses and that the long-approved growth plan is straining the existing sewage system. That work is being

undertaken in York region. We will continue to scrutinize every single one of the region's activities to ensure that the many conditions that have been imposed on this environmental assessment will be abided by. The Ministry of the Environment is

closely watching what is taking place in that part of the province because it is our goal and our obligation to ensure that every single Ontarian has safe, clean drinking water, and that's what we're going to do.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, as part of this government's continued efforts to provide the very best health care

to this province, you have announced the creation of several family health teams in rural communities. As a member from a large rural riding that is comprised of small communities, these family health teams are a very innovative idea for

delivering the best health care to those not within close proximity of urban medical centres. How will these changes assist ridings such as Huron-Bruce in delivering the very best health care that Ontarians have come to expect?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): It's a real privilege to work alongside the member from Huron-Bruce and to have had the chance, over the course

of the summer, to have spent a good bit of time, although not enough for my liking, in her riding. It was probably too much for her liking, though, if we're honest.

I think that one of the features of our government is the family health team initiative, which already holds a good degree of result and a lot more promise too. Ninety-one thousand patients across the province

of Ontario who did not previously enjoy access to a primary care physician or a group of health care practitioners now do. In Huron-Bruce, that's 1,473 people who did not previously have access to a doctor, nearly 1,000 of them in Goderich

alone.

The point is that these four teams which are coming to life at present, and some others that we've announced, are going to be able quite soon, as time moves on, to enhance the quality of care for people in

that area. We know that access to health care in small communities is one of the lifebloods of those communities. Accordingly, we're very proud to be making these signature investments all across the landscape in rural Ontario.

Mrs. Mitchell: Minister, family health teams are certainly a step in the right direction, but my constituents are very concerned about the number of family doctors who are working. As you've

mentioned before in the House, cuts to medical school spaces in the 1990s have placed Ontario in a very difficult position. This lack of foresight has put undue pressure on our health care system, and it's Ontarians who are paying the price.

Minister, yesterday in the House I talked about your plan to have a new group of doctors in the form of medical school residents working in our emergency rooms. What else is being done to address the doctor

shortage in my riding and across the province?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: As was noted in the House, the good people of Hanover and area who rely on the hospital had access to their hospital on the long weekend because of the actions of a

medical resident, a doctor who is referred to as a PGY3, someone who already has a significant degree of training and has lent their assistance to benefit the people of Ontario. This is one example of the measures that we're involved in to grow

the field, to grow the number of doctors who can be engaged in providing care in emergency rooms.

In addition is the celebrated initiative related to the growth and size of our medical schools, and bringing those satellite medical schools to places like Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor and others and, at the

same time, taking better advantage of our foreign-trained doctors.

I'm pleased to say to the honourable member that in the case of her local health integration network, known as the Southwest, at present a further 61 international medical graduates are working there. These

are examples of the work that we're doing to grow the number of doctors overall. In the last five years, growth in doctors has resulted in 1,283 of them additionally on the front line in Ontario. We're working vigorously to make up the time that

was lost on their watch.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): My question is for the Minister of Energy. The other day you announced through the OPA that Ontario had signed contracts for seven cogeneration

projects, providing 414 megawatts. What you did not tell us, and what you have not told us, is the price of the power from these projects. Minister, with jobs being lost in McGuinty's Ontario in record numbers, the price of electricity is of

paramount importance to Ontario's economy. Will you provide for the people of Ontario the pricing details of these contracts?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): If the member goes on the IESO's website, he'll find that the industrial price of electricity is lower today than when we took office three years ago.

I would further suggest that he look at the whole range of prices; whether you're talking about the regulated price plan, whether you're talking about the individual contracts, these megawatts will be a small component of the overall price of

electricity. We're pleased with the progress we're making on the industrial price of electricity. Those numbers are posted on a five-minute basis on the IESO's website. It would be well worth the member's time to go and look at that every day to

see precisely what the price is. We're confident, because we have brought on more supply and because our conservation initiatives are having such a positive effect, that the price of electricity will continue to stay below where it was when we

took office three years ago.

Mr. Yakabuski: Of course we can look at the spot price on any given day, and it might be good or it might not be good. But you promised transparency. You promised transparency, Minister, and

what we get from you and your Premier is backroom deals with the Premier's friends for millions of dollars of worthless rebranding ads, but we need some clarification and we need some disclosure. It's my understanding that the RFP was for 1,000

megawatts of power, and you basically accepted every proposal that came back to you. So there's no really competitive process there. I think it is important for the people to know. If you're planning to invest in Ontario in the future, you need to

know where the price of power might be going. You have a responsibility to tell the people of Ontario what the price of power involved in these contracts is. Will you do that, Minister?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: Based on the latest full year of gas price data -- I don't know if the member understands how this works, but the price of natural gas really impacts on the price of

electricity. Based on the prices for last year, it would have resulted in a full-year average of 10.6 cents per kilowatt hour on those specific projects. During the critical summer period, the average price for the seven projects would have been

8.3 cents per kilowatt hour. I remind the member that the industrial price of electricity is lower than when we took office.

What we're having trouble understanding is, where do you stand? What are you going to do? Are you going to close these projects? Are you not going to proceed on the Niagara tunnel project? Are you not going to

bring on more supply?

Mr. Yakabuski: Answer the damn question, Dwight.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. Member for Renfrew, I need you to withdraw the comment.

Mr. Yakabuski: I withdraw. What did I say?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: That party's leader says he's going to contract for more private power, so why would he be opposed to this? That party says there are too many agencies, but when they ask Mr.

Tory what he would cancel, he doesn't know.

This government has an energy plan. It's working. Prices are lower now than they were three years ago. That's why you're over there and we're over here, and we're going to stay here for the next four

years.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): A question to the Minister of Labour: On March 28, you promised to take action on independent operators who opt out of workplace safety insurance premiums.

You said that Ontario was threatened by a growing underground economy in construction and that workers' health and safety wasn't being protected. You announced 90 days of consultation on a plan, and that was 231 days ago. Where's the plan?

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Labour): I thank the member for the question. The underground economy is something that every one of us in this House should be extremely concerned about. It's

estimated that we lose an average of $2 billion a year to that economy in this province. That's why we've moved forward on a number of initiatives, including developing better partnerships between the Ministry of Finance, the Canada Customs and

Revenue Agency and the WSIB to look at what steps we can take to better enhance and collect those monies that are owing to the province.

This is a comprehensive report that was completed. It's an issue where there certainly are different opinions on both sides. The report has been completed, it is being reviewed by the Ministry of Labour, and I

look forward in the not-too-distant future to announcing the direction that the government will be going in.

Mr. Kormos: You said that you were going to take quick action. But 231 days after your 90-day consultation period, you've got nothing to say.

As much as a third of Ontario's construction sector is in the underground economy. Let me tell you what workers are saying. They're worried that you've caved in to the pressure from business interests that

want you to ignore workers' health and safety and maintain the status quo. Are you going to extend mandatory workplace safety and insurance coverage so it actually protects everyone in construction, or are you going to cave in to the pressure from

the business interests?

Hon. Mr. Peters: Again, I thank the member for the question. I'm very proud of the record we have in place when it comes to inspections within the province of Ontario. We made a commitment to

hire an additional 200 inspectors. We saw the number of inspectors in this province slide to a disastrously low level. We realize that inspection is extremely important, and we made that commitment to hire an additional 200 inspectors. Over 180 of

them are in place, the vast majority of them dedicated to the construction sector.

As well, as I said earlier, this is a very comprehensive report that has been completed. It's an issue that is going to take time to ensure that proper consideration is being given by the government. We're

going to ensure that that happens. The honourable member can comment as he wishes, and offer up his opinions.

I want to thank those who participated in the process. There were a number of divergent views put forward --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Mr. Bruce Crozier (Essex): My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Minister, recently, the federal government announced an environmental plan, and subsequently there

was some speculation that tough new auto emission standards would be imposed on the auto sector as part of this plan.

Minister, as you and I well know, the auto sector is the heart of the Ontario economy and is a major industry in the Windsor and Essex areas. Can you please comment on the federal plan and where our government

stands on this issue?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): I'm very pleased to respond to the member from Essex, who is a huge supporter of

the automotive industry and knows full well its impact both on the manufacturing sector generally and on the Canadian economy.

Let me say this: Our Premier has made it very clear to the federal government, as have I in my meetings with them, that Ontario is prepared to do its

part in terms of what we need to contribute for decreases

in emissions. But the truth is that we don't anticipate that the federal government would come and put more on Ontario than it would any other province, or in fact any other specific sector.

The real question here is what support we have, and our members opposite want to laugh at this issue, but in fact, this is a huge issue if the federal government doesn't land in the right way in terms of

standards on emissions. The leader of the NDP does not answer the question, where is he on gas emissions on the auto sector? I expect an answer. I want to know where the NDP lands on this. And I need them to call off --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Crozier: I'm pleased that our government has taken a clear position on this plan. Not only is the NDP not concerned about protecting jobs here in Ontario, but the members of John Tory's

caucus have come out and called our auto investments wrong-headed. Minister, are we the only party concerned about protecting our auto industry and the thousands that it employs?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. I need to be able to hear the minister.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I think the member from Essex is absolutely correct. Both parties, in fact, have been very unsupportive of our manoeuvres with the auto sector to land $7 billion of

investment in this province, something the last government was unable to do. And while they claim to support the industry, the truth is that when we say, "Make the phone call and tell your Ottawa buddies to stop laying on the auto sector, because

it has a huge impact on our industries here in Ontario," we expect you to pick up the phone. And to the NDP, we expect you to pick up the phone to your NDP friends in Ottawa and tell them to stop harping on these issues that involve the auto

sector. If you truly think that our economy is in such great shape, stop asking your manufacturing questions. You can't have it both ways. Either you support the auto industry or you don't, and I'd like to know where both of those opposition

parties are.

ASSISTANCE TO THE DISABLED

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Madam Minister, I'd like to ask you today about the long-suffering disabled people of our

province. I know you would agree that our most vulnerable citizens deserve the support of all members of our Legislature. Unfortunately, your ministry puts the disabled through hoops when applying for the Ontario disability support program,

according to the Ombudsman. Stalling and delaying disabled benefits is no way to save money. And if that were not bad enough, your ministry rides roughshod over the needs of the disabled for special diet allowances. Lastly, I've received numerous

complaints that the McGuinty government refuses to pay an amount of benefits that would permit the disabled to live better than a subsistence level.

I ask you, when are you and Premier McGuinty going to recognize the real needs of the disabled community in Ontario?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): I want to thank my colleague from the opposition party for his question. Yes,

I was shocked to hear the question from the opposition -- this party. I'm going to tell you that we're very concerned about those who are disabled and those who need support from our government, from our ministry.

When we came into power, we started cleaning the mess that you left. That's what we did: We spent so much time cleaning the mess that you left. Yes, for those who need support, we -- and everything, a backlog,

to help clean up the backlog. They closed the original office and they amalgamated everything, cut the staff by half and fired all the doctors who were there supporting us to help speed up the review of these files and the acknowledgement of those

who need support.

Mr. Martiniuk: It's not good enough for this government to continue to make empty promises. This government has been in office for three long years, and in that time they've failed to take

responsibility for the disabled. The fact is, when adjusted for inflation, Ontario's disabled pensions are hundreds less than in 1997, under the previous government. These are not my calculations --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop the clock. We all need some help in here. The Speaker by himself cannot control the noise level. I need the co-operation of all honourable members. We

need to recall that when one member has the floor, he's the only one who can speak. I need to hear the member for Cambridge place his question. Member for Cambridge.

Mr. Martiniuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure the truth hurts, and that's the reason for the noise.

The fact is, when adjusted for inflation, Ontario's disabled persons' pensions are hundreds less than in 1997, under the previous government. These are not my calculations, but those of the Toronto Star on

August 26, 2006. For many of our disabled, there was little to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. When we were sitting there with our turkeys, they couldn't afford it.

Interjections.

Mr. Martiniuk: The Liberals think it's funny. They have neglected the disabled, and they think it's humorous and they're all laughing. Too often this government has chosen to build new casinos

rather than help the disabled.

I ask you again, Minister: When will you and Premier McGuinty give disabled persons the respect they deserve and, at the very least, pay a disability --

The Speaker: The question has been asked.

Hon. Mrs. Meilleur: I'm going to tell the member of the opposition party what we have done after we tried to clean up their mess. We have already made significant improvements to the ODSP

application process. Yes, the member from the opposite party was right; there was a long waiting list. So we have hired 12 new staff to reduce the backlog in applications. We have set up a database to allow the DAU to review applications more

quickly. We have eliminated the four-month rule. We have reduced the number of backlog files by approximately 3,000 since February 2006 through overtime. We are hiring a new deputy chief medical adviser to provide additional medical advice and

support to adjudicators. We are working to provide adjudicators with ongoing training, education and advice to ensure fair, consistent and accurate decisions in disability determination. That's what we have done, and we continue to --

The Speaker: Thank you.

PROPERTY TAXATION

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Premier. Ontarians know that the property tax system is broken. They also know that your so-called assessment freeze is nothing more

than a shell game. They fear that two years from now, if you get your way, they're going to be whacked with three years of accumulated tax increases. Seniors on fixed incomes can't pay three years' worth of increases all at once.

The Ombudsman knows it's broken; Ontarians know it's broken. What will you do to help our seniors stay in their homes? Moreover, what's your plan right now to protect them?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): One has to savour the moment: The member from Beaches-East York, as a former member of the city of Toronto

government and its predecessors, raised taxes virtually every year he was on Metro council.

I want to say to him that he was among the members who voted against our first budget, when we put in place a major new initiative to reduce the tax burden on our seniors. I agree with him that for seniors on

fixed incomes the tax burden is very significant. That's one of the reasons we put an assessment freeze in place, and we're going to have a system that is much better, not just for seniors, but for everyone around the province.

Mr. Prue: This is a minister who hasn't got a clue about history or what happened on Metro council, or my role in it. I think you should do a little bit of research before you stand up and

give such silly answers.

You promised to put an end to double-digit increases in property taxes, and you failed. You promised to help seniors and people on fixed incomes, and you failed. We need to know your plan right now, not the

promise of a solution after the next election, because we all know what Liberal promises are worth after the next election.

You're the government. Tell us today -- now, not 18 months from now -- what you are going to do to fix Ontario's broken property tax system.

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: I have to wonder out loud again why my friend across the aisle voted against the budget measure we brought to this House, which fortunately passed, to provide a $125 credit

to seniors, not just in the city of Toronto, but right across the province.

We heard from the Ombudsman. The MPAC system is now under a major review. The recommendations have been accepted; they are being put in place. To allow that to happen, we put in place a two-year freeze on

assessments. We're in the midst of building a much better system than the one we inherited from the guys who sit over there.

IMMIGRANTS

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph-Wellington): My question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Ontario welcomed more than 140,000 immigrants last year. That's more than the entire

population of Prince Edward Island. In fact, my own community of Guelph has welcomed many immigrants. What is the government doing to assist newcomers to work in their field sooner in Ontario?

every year -- that's more than the rest of the country spends -- we also have an incredibly successful program, in our bridge training programs, which ensures that foreign-trained nurses, midwives and pharmacists get the training they need to pass

their certification exams and get a job. These bridge training programs account for a $34-million expenditure by our government. It's the biggest program in Canada. It's very successful, because when they take these bridge training programs, they

get a job, and they get a job in their field.

Mrs. Sandals: It's great to see the investments the Ontario government is making in programs that help newcomers succeed.

Guelph is a growing community with one of the leading research universities. We receive numerous internationally trained individuals each year who are working towards getting accreditation in their field of

expertise. In September, the Ontario Institute of Agrologists launched the internationally educated professional agrologists project at the Ontario AgriCentre in Guelph. Minister, can you tell us more about this initiative and how it will help

newcomers to Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Colle: This partnership with the Ontario Institute of Agrologists is one which ensures foreign-trained agricultural scientists, agricultural engineers and agricultural technicians get

this training so they can use their foreign experience and their international experience and apply it in Ontario's rural communities and Ontario's agricultural economy. It's a million-dollar investment not only in foreign-trained agrologists --

highly skilled professionals from every country in the world -- but it's a great investment in Ontario's rural communities and Ontario's agriculture.

This program, again, is another bridge training program success that's really going to help people who are very qualified to get a job and contribute to the Ontario economy.

ORDER AND DECORUM IN CHAMBER

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker: I'm bringing a matter to you that I believe is indeed a point of privilege, and it relates to the standing orders that deal

with order and decorum and conduct of members. I refer you to the standing orders that speak very specifically under

section 13(a) -- and I will read this

section to you: "The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum, and shall decide questions of

privilege and points of order." It goes on under

section 20(b). I draw your attention to that. It specifically states, "When a member is speaking, no other member shall interrupt such member, except on a question of order."

I want to point out to you -- I would be surprised if I am not supported by many other members here on this issue, and I would be surprised if there are not many members in this Legislature who would support

me in bringing it to your attention -- that during today's session, many times in the course of either statements by ministers or responses, it was impossible for me to either hear the minister or hear the response of honourable members. It's

difficult for me as a member to do my job here on behalf of constituents under those circumstances.

During question period, repeatedly, sir, you had to stand in your place and admit that you couldn't hear. This place is getting to the point where I, as a member, am having a difficult time hearing the

business of the House, being able to decide what is being said and understanding the process.

Here is my point: I heard you say today that you need co-operation from members. Standing order 15(

a) states the following: "If a member on being called to order for an offence against any standing order

persists in the offence, the Speaker may direct the member to discontinue, and if such member refuses to comply, the Speaker shall name the member to the House."

I would ask you to use the standing order to exercise that responsibility. I find it difficult to understand why you would repeatedly have to stand and remind members of this House to allow members to speak

and to be heard, and repeatedly the same people are allowed to carry on in the way that they do.

I, as a member of this House, would ask you to exercise your authority and name members of this House. I would suggest to you that the more often you do that, the sooner we will come to a point of decorum in

this House. I would ask you to please consider that. Thank you.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. The member has a point of order.

PETITIONS

PROPERTY RIGHTS

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is silent on property rights; and

"Whereas the Alberta Bill of Rights specifically protects the right to the enjoyment of property; and

"Whereas the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms provides that `Every person has a right to the peaceful enjoyment and free disposition of his property, except to the extent provided by law'; and

"Whereas ownership rights should not be abridged or usurped without due process of law; and

"Whereas owners of all lands affected by expropriation should have the right to be included as parties to a required inquiry to consider the merits of the objectives of the expropriating authority; and

"Whereas the decision of an expropriating authority should be subject to judicial review; and

"Whereas, subject to specific limitations of law, the right to peaceful enjoyment of one's land must be recognized by Ontario law;

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

"To pass Bill 57, the Land Rights and Responsibilities Act, 2006."

I'm pleased to sign my name and pass it to Max, our page on this occasion.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said, `Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors

will be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios'; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"The government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I've affixed my signature as well.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I have a petition today to the Ontario Legislative Assembly from people in Windsor, Burlington and Toronto.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, professional and managerial talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

I agree with this petition and will affix my signature to it.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It's from many different people in my riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, from Hanover, Durham

and all over there.

"We, the undersigned, protest the lack of action on the acute doctor shortage for rural Ontario, particularly in Grey-Bruce. Many do not have a family doctor, and specialists are leaving the area. We ask for

initiatives and timelines to deal with this current problem, financial incentives, and support for the family health networks."

I've also signed this.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that's been signed by a number of people who live in Huron county that's been sent to me by SEIU, and it reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors will

be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and I'd like to thank Chris Janusz of Guildhall Court in the Lisgar area of Mississauga for sending

it to me. It reads as follows:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, professional and managerial talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

This is an excellent petition. I've affixed my signature to it. I fully support it, and I'll ask page Adam to carry it for me.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm pleased to present a petition on behalf of the constituents in the riding of Durham, which reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas long-term-care funding levels are too low to enable homes to provide the care and services our aging seniors and parents who are residents of long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity

that they deserve; and

"Whereas, even with recent funding increases and a dedicated staff who do more than their best, there is still not enough time available to provide the care residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and

sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

"Whereas those unacceptable care and service levels are now at risk of declining;

"We, the undersigned, who are members of family councils, residents' councils and/or supporters of long-term care in Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to increase operating funding to

long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day" -- as the Liberals promised during the 2003 election and to implement this in the years 2006 and

I'm pleased to present this to Julia and sign it in support of the intent.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors will

be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I agree and will affix my signature.

SCHOOL FACILITIES

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the parents of St. Paul's elementary school in Alliston have raised many issues regarding the security, cleanliness and state of repair of their school; and

"Whereas a 2003 condition assessment completed by the Ontario government identified the need for $1.8 million in repairs to St. Paul's elementary school; and

"Whereas the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has approached the Ministry of Education with the intention of having the school deemed prohibitive to repair as they believe the school requires

$2.28 million in repairs, or 84% of the school replacement cost; and

"Whereas there are ongoing concerns with air quality, heating and ventilation, electrical, plumbing, lack of air conditioning and the overall structure of the building, including cracks from floor to ceiling,

to name a few;

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

"That the Minister of Education immediately deem St. Paul's elementary school prohibitive to repair, secure immediate funding and begin construction of a new facility so that the children of St. Paul's can be

educated in a facility that is secure and offers them the respect and dignity that they deserve."

I want to thank Milva Biffis and Gaynor McLeary for sending me those petitions, which I have signed.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition sent to me by SEIU. It's been signed by a number of people who live in Kingston and area. It reads as follows:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors will

be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I agree with the petitioners. I have affixed my signature to this.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): I keep getting petitions in support of access to trades and professions in Ontario. The petition is to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It reads as follows:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, professional and managerial talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

Since I agree with this petition, I am delighted to sign it as well.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm pleased, in the few remaining seconds today, to have a chance to put on the record a petition from the riding of Durham. It reads as follows:

"Amend the Clean Water Act

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas every Ontarian wants the best water quality possible; and

"Whereas the goal of clean water can be achieved effectively through amendments to existing" regulations and "legislation; and

"Whereas the McGuinty" government is "determined to hammer through the flawed legislation known as the Clean Water Act;" which they did today "and

"Whereas the McGuinty" government has "failed to put in place adequate, stable, long-term funding into the bill; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to effectively address the numerous problems in the bill; and

"Whereas rural Ontario stands to suffer significantly under this poorly-thought-out policy;

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

"To not pass Bill 43 (the Clean Water Act) until proper funding and amendments are in place."

I'm pleased to sign this, even though the bill was forced through today by the McGuinty government, and present it to Patrick.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR L'ACCÈS À LA JUSTICE

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 16, 2006, on the motion for third reading of Bill 14,

An Act to promote access to justice by amending or repealing various Acts and by enacting the Legislation Act,

2006 / Projet de loi 14, Loi visant à promouvoir l'accès à la justice en modifiant ou abrogeant diverses lois et en édictant la Loi de 2006 sur la législation.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): Further debate? Are there any members who wish to participate in further debate? Seeing none, and in the absence of the minister to close the debate, Mr.

Bryant has moved third reading of Bill 14,

An Act to promote access to justice by amending or repealing various Acts and by enacting the Legislation Act, 2006. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour will please say "aye."

All those opposed will please say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it. Call in the members. There will be a 30-minute bell.

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): Unless.

The Acting Speaker: Unless. I have just been handed a note that reads as follows:

"To the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly:

"Pursuant to standing order 28(h), I request that the vote on the motion by Minister Bryant for third reading of Bill 14,

An Act to promote access to justice by amending or repealing various Acts and by

enacting the Legislation Act, 2006, be deferred until the time for deferred votes on October 19, 2006."

It's signed by Dave Levac, MPP, chief government whip.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I believe we have unanimous consent to move a motion without notice respecting this afternoon's business in the House.

The Acting Speaker: Is there unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I move that the debate on Bill 103 this afternoon be considered one full sessional day.

The Acting Speaker: The deputy government House leader has moved that the debate on Bill 103 this afternoon be considered one full sessional day. Is it agreed? Carried.

INDEPENDENT POLICE

REVIEW ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EXAMEN

INDÉPENDANT DE LA POLICE

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 16, 2006, on the motion for second reading of Bill 103,

An Act to establish an Independent Police Review Director and create a new public complaints process by amending

the Police Services Act / Projet de loi 103, Loi visant à créer le poste de directeur indépendant d'examen de la police et à créer une nouvelle procédure de traitement des plaintes du public en modifiant la Loi

sur les services policiers.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): It is my understanding that on the last occasion the member for Scarborough Southwest had the floor.

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I was, back on Monday I think it was, two days ago, speaking on Bill 103,

An Act to establish an Independent Police Review Director and create

a new public complaints process by amending the Police Services Act. And in my comments, very briefly, I said that I believe the act, if passed, would entrench an independent and transparent police review system that has the confidence and respect

of both the public and the police.

The point I was trying to put across that I thought was quite important was that this allows the public for the first time ever to go to a non-police board; it would be individuals appointed from the

government or from government agencies who could go forward and sit on this board and hear from complainants. The advantages to this, as I was saying on the last occasion a couple of days ago, are twofold. First of all, it gives impartiality so

that it doesn't seem that the police are doing the investigating themselves; it provides for an independent third party, and not the police themselves, to investigate any complaint.

Beyond that, it also has the unique advantage of being able to weed out complaints that are deemed to be frivolous or not that important. If that happens now, if someone brings a complaint before the police

and the police look at it and say, "We don't think it's worth pursuing," there is always the possibility that the person will say, "Of course, the police are saying that. They are being biased. They're looking at things a certain way because they

want it to look a certain way." But with this new bill, it's an independent body that would be able to look at the complaint and could then say, "This is frivolous" or, if not frivolous, "This is worth pursuing." That allows for some separation

between the police and the public.

In the report prepared by Justice LeSage, he indicated quite clearly that in his consultation with over 85 groups -- individuals from police and community groups and so on -- the new legislation would benefit

the government and also the public, and that it would be a process that would allow the public to still have confidence in the police board and in the police service itself. So he has brought forward his views on this potential bill, and we've

drafted this bill based on that information and gone forward with it here today, which we are now debating.

In my view, we've struck a balance in this bill. We've ensured that legitimate complaints are heard and that frivolous and ill-motivated complaints are weeded out early. At the same time, we've struck a

balance in ensuring that there is an independent civilian involvement at important stages of the police review process and that this doesn't jeopardize the relationships that have been built between communities and the police. I think it still

instills and keeps confidence in the police and in what the police function and role are in individual communities across Ontario. So it isn't a shot at the police at all. In fact, in Mr. LeSage's consultation with the various groups, he did say

that he met with several po