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October 26, 2016

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2016-Oct-26 (PDF)

L021 - Wed 26 Oct 2016 / Mer 26 oct 2016

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 26 October 2016 Mercredi 26 octobre 2016

Orders of the Day

Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la promotion du logement abordable

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Hydro rates

Ring of Fire

Nursing home deaths

Nursing home deaths

Home care

Privatization of public assets

Homelessness

Manufacturing jobs

Child care workers

Mining industry

Hydro rates

Correctional services

Hospital funding

Correctional services

Annual report, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

Members’ Statements

Human trafficking

Hydro rates

Hispanic Heritage Month

Heritage Caledon

Anniversary of Sikh massacre

Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Law enforcement

Centennial College

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Mining industry

Child care workers

Mining industry

Child care workers

Mining industry

Child care workers

Petitions

Hydro rates

Child care

Hydro rates

Shingles vaccine

Health care funding

Hospital funding

Automobile insurance

Child care

Government services

Energy policies

Government services

Health care funding

Orders of the Day

Patients First Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 donnant la priorité aux patients

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la promotion du logement abordable

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 25, 2016, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 7,

An Act to amend or repeal various Acts with respect to housing and planning / Projet de loi 7, Loi modifiant ou abrogeant diverses lois en ce qui concerne le logement et l’aménagement du territoire.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further debate? Minister.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Thank you and good morning, Speaker, on this chilly day. I think winter is upon us soon, as much as I’m in denial.

I’m very pleased to be here this morning to talk about Bill 7, Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016. It’s a landmark piece of legislation that, if passed, is designed to increase housing and affordability for all Ontarians. Through our Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy and legislation like Bill 7, Ontario is answering the call to provide more affordable housing across the province and end chronic homelessness within our communities by 2025.

Speaker, I think this is an important bill for all MPPs. I think we all hear in our constituencies about the need for more affordable housing; we hear about the need for more accessible housing, in terms of barrier-free housing; and we also hear the need for more housing stock. I know that in my community of Pickering–Scarborough East, one of the things that is really needed is more rental stock. It’s a great riding, but we have very few apartments in Pickering–Scarborough East and therefore that really affects especially young people in their ability to access affordable housing.

When we look at the economy and the challenges and opportunities of youth leaving school and proceeding to the job market, having access to affordable housing is absolutely key to them and their future and their independence. Having sustainable and accessible housing stock is critically important.

The government had extensive consultations on this strategy and we heard about the kinds of needs I just spoke about, and others, to foster diverse, inclusive communities. To reach that goal, we provide a range of planning, financial and other tools through the Promoting Affordable Housing Act to help municipalities create more affordable housing.

One of the new tools we’re proposing, Speaker, is called inclusionary zoning. Inclusionary zoning is a tool that allows municipalities to require developers to provide affordable housing units in new residential developments as part of providing for a range of mixed incomes, which in turn supports inclusive and integrated communities. This concept of inclusionary zoning has been used in over 500 municipalities in the United States to increase the supply of affordable housing, particularly for low-moderate-income households.

If passed, Bill 7 would enable municipalities to amend their official plans and zoning bylaws to use inclusionary zoning. I believe there’s quite a bit of support for this across our municipal sectors, Speaker. Municipalities can do this in accordance with the proposed legislation and any potential ensuing regulations.

Granting the authority to municipalities would increase the supply of affordable units in municipalities that put an inclusionary framework into place and do that in a way that is consistent and transparent.

As I said, I think many of our stakeholders are very supportive of this; in fact, Mitch Cohen, who is the president of Daniels Corp.—Daniels is out in Durham region as well, where I live—has said that inclusionary zoning is “the only way to ensure that affordable housing will be built across this city.” According to the city of Toronto’s chief planner, Jennifer Keesmaat, the new powers that are proposed in Bill 7 would be “transformational.” So I think the message is very clear: that inclusionary zoning is a necessary step that will change the affordable housing landscape in Ontario.

I know, Speaker, there are a number of questions about what does this mean for market-rate housing prices and how costs will be covered and so on. I think as we proceed further in this debate, we’ll talk a bit more about some of those changes and the impact to the Development Charges Act, 1997.

We’ll go on as well, of course, to speak about the very serious issue of homelessness and how that affects all of our communities and, quite frankly, Speaker, how homelessness ties to other social determinants of health and well-being—physical well-being, mental health and so on.

I’m very hopeful that we can proceed with a lot of support for Bill 7. I think it’s very progressive, the affordable housing act, and I look forward to the continued debate here in the House this morning, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s time for questions and comments.

Mr. Jim McDonell: We sit here in this House with long wait-lists on affordable housing, and while this bill is a step, it’s a small step. Nothing is for free, and we see in this case here that we’re looking at, by changing some zoning and planning rules, hoping to be able to force builders, by adding a cost to the rest of the homes, to build their units to allow for affordable housing. I think that while the idea is there, it’s another case of driving up the cost of everyday living in Ontario.

Affordable housing is everybody’s problem. It’s society’s problem. I think the government has to step in and look at how we can, not only, I guess, force people to include, but how we can make it an incentive. In some cases, this may work, but I think to have any impact on—you know, there’s no measurement of success here. The only measurement we’ve had over the last 13 years is the length of the wait-list, and we see that growing and growing. So I think if we want some impact on this huge problem in Ontario, we have to take some affirmative action, and that means somehow inducing or funding this housing.

We have many good examples—co-op housing, different things—but it’s going to take something to get them going. It’s going to take either tax benefits or direct funding. We need more and more units. This may be a start, but I think we need more and we’ll see this through amendments.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: The minister spoke about the connection between housing and social determinants for health. That’s absolutely true. We see this all the time. We know that having access to good, safe, clean, reliable housing definitely impacts all aspects of health. It’s an element that contributes to someone’s well-being. It contributes to the cohesion of a family. It’s absolutely imperative that we have affordable housing that’s of high quality.

Now, this bill proposes part of the solution. That part of the solution is to allow for legislation to create the tools to encourage development of affordable housing through inclusionary zoning. That’s a good step, but that’s not the only step. I want to highlight this and stress how important it is for the government to back up this type of legislation with a commitment in terms of funding, a commitment in terms of resources, to actually build new housing. That’s imperative. This solution alone will provide some assistance, but it’s not the answer. The answer is that the government needs to commit to fund this as a serious priority.

If we acknowledge that there are serious connections between people having access to housing and their health, their ability to succeed in society, their ability to move forward, and for the next generation to have a future, we need to ensure that the next generation has the ability to afford housing. As it stands right now, that’s a serious burden and obstacle. We know that young people cannot afford housing, given the astronomical costs of owning a home.

In addition, the final component is that we need to be serious about addressing rent control. Rent rates are out of control as well.

So if we’re serious about housing, there are three parts, at least, that need to be addressed. This legislation covers one.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I agree with my colleague from Bramalea–Gore–Malton that rents are out of control. We had a woman come to our office who was in desperate need of housing, and she had $500 a month to put towards it. We searched everywhere, and there wasn’t even a room in Barrie for $500 a month.

There is a serious problem everywhere, and we are addressing it. We do believe in inclusionary zoning. It’s very important that this bill goes through. We already have second suite bylaws, and those have been in place for some time. Although it has helped a bit, I think most of the people that put second suites in their homes make them like Scott McGillivray suites, and they are priced way out of the league of families who need housing.

I think this is very important for the people of Ontario who need social housing. I believe that the clauses in this bill will help. This bill would serve social housing tenants more effectively, including through housing assistance that would be delivered to families and individuals in a more equitable and timely fashion. It would allow social housing tenants to retain more of their income without having to face higher rents or to face eviction. It would make it easier for municipalities and their corporations to work with private sector developers to provide affordable housing in their communities.

I urge everyone to pass this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Robert Bailey: I want to comment for a few minutes this morning on Bill 7. I’ve been looking through the bill

summary, and I see there are at least six different acts that are affected by this legislation.

Some of our concerns with this are that government policies, from spiraling hydro rates to increasing development charges on new home rentals and sales, are going to make life more expensive in Ontario, especially for people who are vulnerable in housing. We want the affordable housing problem addressed, but we feel that this bill may actually make some housing for those people that are vulnerable even more unaffordable.

This government has had 13 years to fix the wait-list. There are over 170,000 families on the wait-list in Ontario at this time. Families, frankly, are waiting too long for housing. It’s the same in my riding as well. The wait-list is the highest it has ever been.

Instead of wasting money, as has been pointed out in some different exposés here in the Legislature, where people were taking trips to South Africa, money should have been reinvested in social housing.

Bill 7 adds a number of new costs to municipalities, including requiring enumeration of homeless people and administering this inclusionary zoning. There were a number of other concerns as well, Mr. Speaker, and I don’t know if we’ll have time to cover them today. I’ll just touch on a couple of them at this time, some unanswered questions that we have.

Once again, this government has introduced a bill before doing their proper research. After they introduced Bill 7, they launched a consultation with stakeholders on key questions such as who should be eligible for the units and what percentage of the units should be required to be affordable or if that should be up to the municipalities. There’s a number of unanswered questions out there. We think that this bill needs further research, further work, whether it’s at committee, whatever. I look forward to the rest of the morning and the debate.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Thank you, Speaker. I was just taking a second to acknowledge our Clerk, whose last week is this week, I believe, so tomorrow is her last day. Thank you for indulging me, Speaker.

I appreciate the other members in the House speaking to this very important bill, the Promoting Affordable Housing Act. I think we know what the challenges are around homelessness. We know what the challenges are about finding affordable and accessible housing, and we know what this bill can do, if passed. It will increase the supply of affordable housing through a variety of enhanced tools and new tools, including inclusionary zoning. It will provide for more stability and security for municipal service managers as well as social housing and not-for-profit co-operating providers.

It will provide more social housing services for tenants, including housing assistance that would be delivered to families and individuals in a more equitable and timely manner. It would allow social housing tenants to retain more of their income without having to face higher rents or face eviction, and it will make it easier for municipalities and their co-operations to work with private sector developers to provide affordable housing in their communities.

So, Speaker, I think this is a bill that we can all agree on. I’m appreciative of the dialogue here this morning. I believe Ontarians are looking forward to seeing where this goes. We know that affordable housing is key to so many people. I thank you for the opportunity to speak to this bill this morning.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Further debate.

Mr. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to speak to Bill 7 on affordable housing. As a former Toronto city councillor, I dealt with this issue at almost every council. I would hope that the government listens and that they would amend this legislation.

As a councillor, I have been implementing affordable housing policies as prescribed by this government. The problem is that despite our valiant efforts in the city of Toronto, the crisis in housing, especially affordable housing, continues and is getting worse. I have to give this government some credit for talking about affordable housing, but the reality is that the results speak a different message. Every year, the problem gets worse. Every year, the waiting list for affordable housing hits a new record high. It is now at over 170,000 families in Ontario.

That’s an increase of over 45,000 families since 2003, when this government took office. That is, on average, 3,481 more families on the affordable housing waiting list every year that this government has been in power. To put this in perspective, that increase is bigger than the number of people who live in my riding of Scarborough–Rouge River.

Speaker, this is not just about availability of affordable housing stock. One of the best tests is the period of time one waits on the waiting list. Before this government took office in 2003, a senior on the waiting list was housed in about 2.5 years. Now the waiting period is about 4.4 years. This is a big increase of 76% in the waiting period. I don’t think this is a fair waiting period for anyone, especially when it deals with our most vulnerable population. Our seniors deserve better treatment.

Single adults and couples were waiting on the waiting list for 3.4 years in 2003. Thirteen years later, under the Liberal government, they have to wait 3.9 years. This is roughly 15% more time on the waiting list. Families on the waiting list in 2003 would have been on the waiting list 2.3 years, on average. Now they wait 3.7 years. It is a more than 50% increase.

Most affordable housing in the Toronto area is provided by Toronto Community Housing, but provincial underfunding of the backlog of the repairs to the tune of $863 million is risking 7,582 units closing and kicking 7,582 families out on the street. There’s no sense in trying to build affordable housing one unit at a time if we lose 7,500 units due to underfunding by this government. It would take a lifetime to build 7,500 affordable housing units. Let’s not lose what we already have.

Let me talk about some of the successes that we had in the city. In 1993, two buildings were built in my riding by Metro Toronto Housing, now called Toronto Community Housing. It was typical Toronto Community Housing and was built at 1315 Neilson Road with 126 units. The other building, next door, with 124 units, was a pilot project named Guaranteed Equity Housing Project.

The residents of the latter project were seniors that were willing to contribute $107,000 towards their condo ownership. Their maintenance fee, which is inclusive of all costs, is about $800 per month, regardless of their income. In return, they enjoy their privately managed building with an elected board of directors that has direct oversight on the management. The residents in this building are extremely happy with their accommodations. When they leave, they get their down payment back.

The great news is that the cost of maintenance is zero dollars to the taxpayers of the city, compared to the first building, which costs the city annually about $125,000 to $150,000. There are proven ways to build affordable housing if the legislation permits.

The second example is Habitat for Humanity. I’m very happy to report that I have three different Habitat for Humanity projects in my riding. In fact, I have more Habitat for Humanity units in my riding than all of the rest of the city of Toronto combined. The reality is that Habitat for Humanity provides a form of affordable housing ownership but would need a more permissive, inclusionary zoning.

Speaker, please let me make a few suggestions. I hope that the government is listening and will amend this legislation. The government must proceed cautiously as it finalizes the legislation and regulations to ensure the cost to deliver new affordable homes is not passed on to the renters and purchasers of the other homes in the market, unfairly driving up their housing costs and making their homes less affordable.

A successful inclusionary zoning policy must foster a balanced partnership among all stakeholders to leverage the growth in Ontario’s housing market to create more affordable housing. The government must not pass the affordable housing buck on to the municipalities and expect inclusionary zoning to solve the province’s affordable housing crisis.

The government has a central and ongoing role, partnering with the federal and municipal governments, to work together to address affordable housing issues. Inclusionary zoning can be part of the toolkit, but is not the only solution. The legislation and regulations need to provide more information about how inclusionary zoning is to be implemented.

The bill is also too restrictive when it comes to applying inclusionary zoning, so much so that it will actually prevent municipalities from fully benefitting from the power of inclusionary zoning.

The province must change the bill to allow for the provision of off-site affordable homes in limited circumstances, to ensure that an affordable housing contribution is always provided. This flexible approach could apply in defined circumstances, such as high-end luxury buildings with their high operating costs, or small buildings with financial limitations, which make providing and operating affordable housing unsustainable.

In closing, this proposed legislation is intending to help create more affordable housing to get people off the long waiting list. I’m afraid that the only way people will be getting off this list soon will be if they move out of this province. I strongly urge the government to look at real solutions, like I mentioned earlier, to make living more affordable for all Ontarians and to provide housing and services for people who really need them.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Miss Monique Taylor: I’m pleased to be able to have the opportunity to stand in response to the member from Scarborough–Rouge River in his time that he spent debating this bill, Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016. It’s a great title. I’m not quite sure, other than the inclusionary zoning that’s included in this bill, what else it will do to promote affordable housing in the province of Ontario.

I know in my community of Hamilton, we have over 6,000 people on the wait-list for affordable housing, people who are struggling to be able to keep a roof over their head. A safe roof over their head is a struggle for many people. Some of the affordable housing that is affordable isn’t quite so safe. We see that happening.

But none of these measures are included in this bill, which is very concerning—that the government didn’t take the opportunity to, first of all, give us more housing. Instead, they’re putting it back on the municipalities to have to deal with, on builders to have to deal with. It seems to be everybody’s responsibility to provide affordable housing except the Liberal government’s.

The Conservatives, back in the early 1990s, were the ones who gutted it and downloaded it to the municipalities, but this government has been there for 13 years and has done nothing to resolve this issue. Our wait-lists continue to grow. In Toronto, I believe there are over 10,000 people on the wait-list for affordable housing.

This is a right. This is something that is a responsibility of a government: to ensure that our families have roofs over their heads and that they’re not sleeping over a grate down the street.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The Minister of Research, Innovation and Science.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s a great pleasure to stand up in the House and speak to Bill 7, Promoting Affordable Housing Act.

Mr. Speaker, this is a landmark bill, and once it is passed, it’s going to make an enormous difference in the provision and supply of social housing to Ontarians.

I just want to remind the member from Scarborough–Rouge River about the funding which our government has made on social housing, particularly to the city of Toronto. Since we came to office, we have invested $1.1 billion in total assistance for affordable housing in the city of Toronto. This includes $293 million specifically to support the repair and the renewal of the existing housing in the city of Toronto.

In addition, our government has provided the city of Toronto with $180 million from the investment in affordable housing. In 2014, our government transferred an additional $197 million from the investment in affordable housing to the city of Toronto.

Again, in addition to those figures, our government has transferred $43 million from the Green Investment Fund to help the city of Toronto to provide affordable housing to Torontonians.

The fact is that when the Conservative Party was in office, they downloaded all social services to municipalities. When we came to office, when the Liberal Party came to office, we reversed the direction, and now we have invested and transferred millions of dollars to municipalities to provide social housing and social services for Ontarians and, in fact, to Torontonians as well, for that matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the time to speak to this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Nipissing.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. I want to congratulate the member from Scarborough–Rouge River on an excellent presentation.

One area that he spoke of that put a smile on my face, Speaker, was his discussion on Habitat for Humanity and their role in this affordable housing program throughout Ontario.

I can tell you that in my riding of Nipissing, this year—in fact, in only a couple of weeks—we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Habitat for Humanity. They really have picked up where this government left off, and we’re finally seeing housing being built. I am so proud to be one of the founding members of Habitat for Humanity, and I look forward to our 10th anniversary party very, very shortly.

Speaker, I’ve been here five years now, five years and a few days, and I can tell you I do remember excellent attempts by the government at an affordable housing program, except what we don’t hear includes northern Ontario. I can tell you what happened the last time. I’ve been here five years, and we really have not seen an affordable housing program launched, not the kind of affordable housing programs we used to see.

I can tell you that in the last affordable housing program, when I served as mayor of the city of North Bay, we were stunned, shocked, to know that anything north of the French River—it was the dividing line—was not given the same amount, and that the analysis by the government was, “Well, you’re shrinking in the north, so you don’t need that affordable housing. Therefore, you don’t get the same money as those in the south.” It was such a shocking day.

I can tell you that in the municipality of North Bay, when I served as mayor, we used municipal dollars to pick up the slack where the province left off. We were the only community in all of Ontario that did such a thing. In North Bay, we still—today—have a need for 1,100 affordable housing units, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to rise on Bill 7. I spoke to it the other week, and I covered some of the specifics of the bill. But as a general overview of what we have in front of us, as New Democrats we welcome the provisions to include inclusionary zoning, something that, if anyone has been checking the record books in this place, our colleague Cheri DiNovo, from Parkdale–High Park, has introduced at least five times in this place over the years. So these good ideas that typically come from New Democrats have always been here, ready for you to take up and ready for you to actually address some of the problems.

This begs the question: Why haven’t they done it? Why are they doing it now? Will it actually have any effect? That’s yet to be seen, because so much of it is prescribed to regulation, and the devil is in the details.

But as a policy initiative and as a mechanism to start to alleviate the strain and to augment the stock of affordable housing, inclusionary zoning is but one tool of many that needs to be launched to address the issue.

The other tool that could have immediate remedy is a cash infusion to municipalities that require it, but we see that last year’s provincial budget, when it comes to funding for housing and homelessness prevention, was cut by $20 million. So in terms of a political priority or a policy priority, the Liberal government absolutely has left this languishing, not only this year and last year, but for the last decade or more. They should be admonished for their behaviour on this and their lack of priority, because people are suffering in our communities. Therefore—

Interjection.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Yes, we will. We’ll take care of it come next election. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Scarborough–Rouge River has two minutes.

Mr. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the MPP from Hamilton Mountain, the Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, the MPP from Nipissing and the MPP from Essex for their good comments.

I would like to briefly respond to what the Minister of Research, Innovation and Science said. I’d been a member of the TCHC board the last few months before I become an MPP. The reality is, the city of Toronto paid their portion of over $8 million. Only the provincial government didn’t give their portion, and that’s why the backlog is getting longer and longer all the time. I hope this government will do their own responsibility for affordable housing.

Now, this act is most important, but to be fair and most effective, the government should seek wider consultation from all stakeholders so the act shall be fair and most effective, so that we could avoid people dying on the street and getting longer affordable housing lists. Lists should become shorter, especially for seniors; they need to get their affordable housing before they pass away.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Further debate?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I appreciate the opportunity to address this bill, Bill 7, the Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016.

Speaker, you’re a connoisseur of fine bills. I’m sure you’ve seen ones like this in the past: a Liberal bill that looks okay on the surface, but many of the details that will actually make a difference on the ground are going to be left to regulation, outside the Legislature’s control. We, as lawmakers, really will have very little impact on the final product that will be delivered. So whether Bill 7 turns out to be a good thing or a bad thing will depend on the regulations that will be formulated by a minister, adopted in cabinet and put out without any further discussion with those of us who sit in this chamber, elected to set the laws for the province of Ontario.

We, in the NDP, welcome the bill’s inclusionary zoning provisions, which we have long fought for. In fact, as my colleague from Essex said, it was the member from Parkdale–High Park, Cheri DiNovo, who introduced private member’s bills for inclusionary zoning at least five times over her time here. I think the government would have had an opportunity years ago, actually, if it had been committed to dealing with the housing crisis, to take the bills put forward by the member from Parkdale–High Park, bills that in a number of instances actually went through second reading, and put them forward.

Again, as my colleague from Essex said, the devil will be in the details on those regulations as to whether what we get will be useful and will bring people in from the cold or not.

One potentially worrisome aspect of this bill is that it gives municipalities greater power over the structure of their social housing agencies, and that will include a power—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Sorry. I’ve been informed by the table that the member from Toronto–Danforth has already spoken to this bill, so we’ll have to move on.

Further debate? The Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: It’s a pleasure to speak to this bill. I did have the opportunity to do a two-minute—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Well, we’re on a bit of a roll here. Apparently you’ve already spoken to this, too.

Further debate?

The member from Nipissing: Have you spoken to this?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: No, I haven’t, Speaker. I can guarantee you that I have not spoken to this, but I’m sure as heck going to try.

I really do appreciate the opportunity to speak to Bill 7. I gave a two-minute hit a few minutes ago to talk about Habitat for Humanity. I do want to begin my 10 minutes by speaking about them.

First of all, the need for affordable housing right across Ontario is extensive; we do know that there are, according to the statistics, 171,000 families. I can tell you in my riding of Nipissing, the Nipissing district, our DNSSAB, our social service adjustment board, tells us that we have a need in Nipissing alone for 1,100 affordable housing units. There is a huge demand, whether it is where we are, here in the city of Toronto, or where I come from in the riding of Nipissing. There’s a huge demand.

I want to congratulate Habitat for Humanity, right across Ontario and especially in my riding of Nipissing, for stepping up, for forming 10 years ago this year. In fact, in just a few short weeks, we have a gala to celebrate the fact that they’ve been building houses in Nipissing now for 10 years.

I’ve had the pleasure first as mayor and now as MPP to go to every one of the builds. I attempt to put kitchen cabinets together every once in a while and hammer a few nails every once in a while. Mostly I get to cut the ribbons and eat the cake. But it is a real celebration for those families who put their 500 hours in, participate with their sweat equity, and assist in creating their own dream and making their dreams come true.

These are one-offs. In 10 years, we’ve had a chance to build less than a dozen houses in our riding from Habitat for Humanity. The joy that those families bring is not shared by everybody in my riding. We have 1,100 families who are still in need.

Speaker, I can tell you again that I’ve been here five years almost to the day—a little over five years now—and we have not seen the massive affordable housing program that we have seen in the past. I’ve been here five years and have not seen that thrust. I can only hope that it will come, but if it comes, it has to be done better than in the past.

In the last big thrust of affordable housing programs, AHP, as it’s called—I served as mayor of the city of North Bay, and when we received news of this program, we were excited at first, until we read the fine print and saw that if you are north of the French River—it’s actually a river that runs across part of Ontario—you don’t get the same funding as those south of the French River. I was shocked and dismayed that although at that time we had a need for 1,000 affordable housing units, we didn’t get the same money in the north as they did in the south. I thought that was very unfair, and somewhat characteristic.

The analysis by the government was, “Well, your population seems to be shrinking so you don’t have a big need for affordable housing, so you don’t get the same money as everybody else.” Well, if you do that math, the actual opposite is true. The economies were hurting so badly that people were indeed leaving the north. I know North Bay’s population at one time fell from 56,000 to 52,000. During my term as mayor, it did grow back up to 54,000.

Nonetheless, the government is right on one part—the populations were shrinking—but what they didn’t understand was why. The demand that was created on social housing was greater, not worse. It was greater because the economy was struggling. I can talk about all the political reasons I believe the economy was struggling. Things like the Far North Act, which cut off mining and logging north of Highway 11, have really hurt. Half of Ontario was cut off from getting at their resources, so it has made real unemployment in the north. But that has created a greater demand for affordable housing, not a reduced demand.

I can tell you that all of the mayors in my area—I serve 11 different mayors here as an MPP now. Most MPPs in Toronto—if you gathered almost half of the MPPs on the government side, they would have one mayor between them all. In the north, we work the opposite way; I have 11 mayors that I answer to in the north. I was so proud when all of us, at the time mayors, got together and ponied up cash to supplement the provincial government’s share that they shorted the communities in the north.

It was more than $4 million, which is a tremendous amount of money, when you think that a half-million-dollar expenditure in a municipality of my size is a 1% tax increase—just a half a million. So there was a tremendous amount of money that we—we, the mayors, the municipalities—put in to top up the Affordable Housing Program.

I am really hoping that those days are gone. Sadly, I hear a lot of talk about Toronto, but not a lot of talk about the north. That concerns me because, you know, the light goes on when I just think back to the last program where the north was not excluded, but punished—a smaller amount of money, a smaller percentage. If you were building a housing program and it was 50-50, this time it was 50 and a smaller number, 30 or 40, and the municipalities either had to build less design or top up the money. We were the only area in all of northern Ontario that put our money where our mouth was and topped it up.

So I don’t see that—I don’t see any affordable housing program coming out here, and I don’t see any mention of equality. That concerns me, Speaker, that we’ll be surprised again.

We do know that, under this Liberal government, life has become more expensive. We have the highest hydro rates in all of North America. You’ll hear the minister every once in a while say, “That’s not true. The FAO told us our energy rates are right in the middle of the pack.” You’ll notice the word he uses would be “energy rates,” and that includes low-cost natural gas. The Financial Accountability Officer used the low-cost natural gas, averaged in, to tell you that Ontario has the average energy rate. But we’re talking about electricity. We have the highest electricity rate in North America.

We have the highest payroll taxes in Canada. We have increasing development charges. We have all of these outside forces, many government forces, that are just making life tough for the people of Ontario.

We saw a previous version of the affordable housing strategy. It promised annual reports that promised to include performance indicators. But, sadly, none of these were ever released, so the only real measure that we have is that every year the wait-list for affordable housing hits a new record.

As I said, back when I was mayor we had a need for 1,000 units. We built 118 units, more than 10%, almost 12%, of our demand. We paid for it, partially, with municipal dollars and made a dent in it. To see those families move in—I was there at every one of the builds; I was there at every one of the openings of these buildings all through our riding and, in fact, some of them into the Timiskaming–Cochrane riding, where we double over. Those were exciting days. We brought it down to under 900. Now, it’s up over 1,100, Speaker. In just five years, we’ve grown. The demand is there.

The minister, earlier, said that they consulted with the people. While that may be true, despite their consultations, the government reintroduced the same flawed bill. So they have a bill, they do consultations, people give their thoughts and answers, and the government says, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but we’re sticking with the same bill that we developed without you.” I call that ready, fire, aim. It seems to me it’s what this government continues to do.

Speaker, I just want to close once again and wish my friends at Habitat for Humanity in the Nipissing area all the best and continued success in the valiant work that they do. I thank you for the time.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Before I move on, I would like to do a friendly reminder to a certain member that when he comes in and leaves, he’s to acknowledge the Chair.

Further debate—or, sorry: comments. Toronto–Danforth.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Thank you, Speaker. Whoever that member is, I hope they take that admonition to heart and correct their behaviour in the future because that’s a terrible thing. I’m sorry to hear this.

Speaker, I appreciate the comments from the member from Nipissing. As he’s well aware, I’m from downtown Toronto and so typically I don’t get to hear a lot about what goes on in the north. But, listening to him and listening to my colleague from Timiskaming and my colleagues from Sudbury and Algoma–Manitoulin, there’s no doubt that the north is not getting a fair deal in its treatment by this province. We see it time and again, with the Ontario Northland Railway, the lack of investment in mass transit in the north—it’s just another example where there seems to be a downgrading of the importance of the north in terms of whether it’s part of this province or not.

I had an opportunity to start earlier on this bill. I just want to say that the fact that this bill doesn’t address problems with rent control is very substantial. There’s no doubt that with vacancy decontrol, there’s a huge advantage to landlords to driving out tenants who’ve been there for a long time so they can dramatically crank up the rents. Having that piece missing in this legislation is a fatal flaw, because I know that in my riding, in East York, an area that’s becoming increasingly desirable in terms of its location, real estate values are going up.

People can’t afford mortgages, but many who can’t afford mortgages can afford to pay a lot more rent than the current residents of many of the apartment buildings in that area. Those tenants are being pushed out so that landlords can dramatically increase the rents. This bill doesn’t address that issue. That, Speaker, is a huge failing.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: I’m pleased to rise and talk to Bill 7, the Promoting Affordable Housing Act.

Life is definitely tougher under the Liberal government right now. They’ve had 13 years to fix this problem. I’ve heard from the NDP and I’ve heard from the Liberals: “Oh, that Mike Harris government. This is what you’ve done,” and so on and so forth; “You downloaded to municipalities.” That may be so, but what they don’t tell you is that we also uploaded back to the province the cost for education and so on, about 60%, because before it was property tax and you had education tax and so on.

They uploaded about 60% of that to make it perhaps more affordable, so it’s a bit of a wash, but we never hear the other side of things. So I do have a concern about that. Currently we’ve got about 171,000 families in the province of Ontario that are in desperate need of affordable housing. That’s the highest it has ever been. So if the government really cared about the people and doing something about it, don’t give us lip service; give us action. Provide these people with their needs. Help them.

My colleague from Nipissing talked about Habitat for Humanity. I want to give a shout-out to Habitat for Humanity as well and, of course, throughout the province, to the thousands of volunteers that help. We actually have a case in Chatham where, in fact, they’re helping families in Chatham with affordable housing.

For 25 years, I sat on a board in Chatham. It was called the Evangel Villa corporation. Basically, for the most part, it was housing provided mostly for seniors. Of course, a lot of seniors, at times, could not afford—so we had our formula and worked through CMHC to ensure that these people had a good, safe, healthy, clean place to live.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Miss Monique Taylor: I will be getting up to do my own 10-minute piece of debate very shortly.

I want to mention Habitat for Humanity, which has been brought up several times today. I actually spent an evening in Hamilton on Friday with Habitat for Humanity and their yearly gala in raising funds to put more people in homes. We know the sweat equity. We know the hard work. The community comes together for Habitat for Humanity building homes for people in the community, because there is a need. There is a need, so people literally put down the things that they’re doing in their lives and they go and participate in building homes in their community to ensure that one more family has an opportunity to have a beautiful, safe, clean home to raise their family in.

That’s the problem with this bill: There just is not enough of that happening, and the government is taking no responsibility in boosting the funds that are needed to ensure that people have homes. So the community takes it upon themselves, as they do for many things.

I congratulate Habitat for Humanity. I thank them. I thank the thousands of volunteers who come out, I know in my community and right across the province, to ensure that they’re doing their

part in stepping up where this government is failing and providing another house for a family who is earning that home and who has worked really hard to participate in the building of that home where they will raise their family. Then that will become part of the housing market. Congratulations and thank you to them.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Hon. Laura Albanese: I’m pleased to add my comments. I know that the member from Nipissing and also the member from Hamilton Mountain mentioned Habitat for Humanity, and I wanted also to say a few words about this organization that has done great work in my riding of York South–Weston. Seventeen homes were built a few years ago at Weston and Jane, and there was one home that was built for a very large family in the area of Runnymede and St. Clair.

As you know, these families have to work very hard. They have to work, themselves, to build a home, and they rely on a lot of volunteers and on the community coming together in order to build these homes. I’ve personally volunteered and helped when I can as well, because to see the joy on the faces of people who now have ownership of a home is priceless.

I know the member from Nipissing was saying that we speak a lot about the city of Toronto. Well, the members from Toronto will speak about the city of Toronto, where the need is really great. The wait-lists are very extensive. Not to say that we don’t have to think of all the other places, especially the areas that are remote, the areas in the north, where there is also a great need as well.

This is what this bill is trying to address. It’s trying to make it easier on many fronts. There’s no doubt that there is a great need to intervene, and as a province we have a responsibility to do that. I think that this bill helps many people get service faster and addresses a lot of the problems.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Nipissing has two minutes.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you, Speaker, for an opportunity to wrap up. I want to thank the members from Toronto–Danforth, Chatham–Kent–Essex, Hamilton Mountain, and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for their contributions to this discussion as well.

Speaker, the government has had 13 years to address the wait-list. We now have, as we’ve all acknowledged, 171,000 people—families, I should say—waiting for housing. That’s the highest it’s ever been. It’s a statistic that continues to grow. It’s not one that is declining.

We talked earlier about not putting any measures in to address the specific needs of those in northern Ontario, but I also want to talk about other measures that are not in the bill, Speaker. If you recall, it was our member from Oxford who broke the story of waste. It was millions of dollars, actually, of housing money that was wasted. If you recall, there was a seven-day luxury trip to South Africa that we, the taxpayers, paid for, instead of being used for social and affordable housing.

There’s nothing in this bill, and we’re disappointed— there are no measures in this bill to stop the misuse of public money, which was intended for affordable housing, that was used for things like luxury vacations. That should have been addressed and measures should have been put in place.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Further debate?

Miss Monique Taylor: I’m pleased to have the opportunity today to speak to Bill 7, the Promoting Affordable Housing Act. The NDP, of course, welcomes some parts of this bill, especially the inclusionary zoning provisions which New Democrats have long fought for. We’ve heard many times this morning that the member from Parkdale–High Park has tabled that bill five times. Interestingly enough, the Liberals opposed those bills and now, here, we see this before us today.

There are far too many protections for renters and for those seeking affordable housing that are completely left out of this bill. The government is not doing nearly enough to make one of our most basic necessities of life accessible for all Ontarians. Without confidence that this bill will look out for Ontarians who need rental accommodations, how can we expect children and families to thrive?

Like so many pieces of legislation from this government, it appears to look good on the surface under a guise of a great name, this one being the Promoting Affordable Housing Act. In reality, it does little to promote affordable housing in any real way. The bill allows for inclusionary zoning bylaws, which are overdue and probably welcomed by many people in Ontario.

This is not enough to address the needs of Ontarians who need affordable housing, which was built decades ago, and assurance that their rent will be controlled. Instead, in the absence of these things which would improve the lives of Ontarians, this Liberal government continues to put the power in the hands of landlords, owners and service providers, not to the advantage of those who need it the most.

So much of Bill 7 has been left to regulatory responsibility outside of the Legislature. That will leave it up to the minister of the day to be responsible for those decisions. Leaving so much outside of the bill and in regulation means that the bill will not make life any better for Ontarians who are feeling squeezed by rent prices, hydro, social assistance rates and other services that the government is privatizing and/or making harder for Ontarians to access.

The government just keeps disappointing Ontarians by making life harder. Who would have thought that this government would be so much in favour of privatization? Just like the sell-off of Hydro One, this bill allows for social housing agencies to be privatized. This government just cannot stay away from this trend.

Under this bill, municipalities will now have the power to privatize or completely dissolve these agencies, which the NDP knows is absolutely the wrong approach when it comes to affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents. Of course, many municipalities act in good faith when they have flexibility over their social housing agencies, and that’s a good thing. But what the government continues to leave unchecked are the regulations needed to ensure that at the end of the day, Ontarians are benefitting.

For instance, in the case of the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative—CHPI—which replaced the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit, it did so with less money and now faces a funding freeze. Its use is largely left to the discretion of municipalities, and the denial of benefits cannot be appealed to the social benefit tribunal.

While some municipalities use the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative as intended, others have not. New Democrats understand that flexibility is necessary in many circumstances, but this government does not know how to protect Ontarians when there is possible flexible legislation which, in this case, can hurt renters at the end of the day.

Increasingly, Ontarians are finding themselves needing affordable housing, and they need protection from rental increases, especially when this government has not addressed hydro rates; in some cases, their bills are costing more than people’s rent. That in itself is shameful.

Another problem with this bill is that it allows money for municipalities to be put directly in the hands of renters, but there are zero mechanisms to make sure that it is the renters who benefit from this. What is to stop landlords from just raising rent prices, knowing that tenants have this money in their hands? There is nothing, Speaker, to make sure that the benefit of this money goes into maintaining affordable, safe and clean accommodations.

Probably the biggest failure of this so-called affordable housing act, however, is that it does nothing to address the massive loopholes that have existed for decades in our housing system. We have properties that were first occupied by tenants after November 1991 that are not subject to rent control. That’s 25 years of rental accommodations that have been increasing at whatever rate is required or wanted by the landlord. That is 25 years where Ontarians cannot rely on the protection of affordable housing.

The NDP have introduced a solution to this vulnerable situation that renters are faced with with Bill 82, which seeks to close this loophole. Why is this not part of the Promoting Affordable Housing Act? Why does this government wish to only protect the landlords and owners? That’s not at all what this bill should be intended to do, Speaker.

Right now, when we have a property that becomes vacated by one tenant, a landlord can increase the rent for the next tenant to whatever they wish. We see this as a major problem. We’re looking at the Hamilton housing market right now, how purchasing a house has gone up, and the want to be in the Hamilton area—when people are moving out of rental units, the landlords have the ability to bump the rents to what they think should now be the fair market value. It doesn’t work for the people of Hamilton.

I can tell you very clearly that I’ve had seniors selling their homes and maybe not really thinking of the plan so well, because once they sold their home, now they’re looking for a rental unit and they’re realizing very quickly that the rental unit is costing them more than what they could afford to pay on their mortgage. They were selling their homes because they were downsizing, because it’s too much work, and the cost of the rent has gone higher than what they were paying for their mortgage. They’re struggling.

People would say, “Well, where is the equity that they would have had to their home?” We know families are picking up for other family members now, so we have parents who are picking up the tab for their kids—their tuition, their education costs—and now they don’t have all the equity back in their house, and they’re being left, quite frankly, out in the cold, which is really concerning.

There are 6,000 people in my community of Hamilton—in our community of Hamilton, Speaker—that are on the wait-list for affordable housing. That number has increased by 5% each year over the last two years. For a bill that was supposed to promote affordable housing, it does nothing to address the high need for affordable housing. What is to suggest that access to affordable housing will grow? Where are all these units going to come from? We can’t constantly count on organizations like Habitat for Humanity to pick up the slack for this government. Putting it directly in the hands of residents does absolutely nothing to ensure that we will have sustainable, affordable housing in this province.

We need to ensure that families are put first in this province. That is something that we’re not seeing when it comes to the way that this government has been governing. They promised to be progressive, they said they were going to do one thing, and yet when they’re government, they actually govern in a different way, where families are struggling. I know this Premier had put hope into the people of this province that things would be different when she was in power, and yet we see hydro rates are completely unaffordable.

That’s another word, the word “affordable.” The Minister of Energy yesterday quite clearly stood in his place and talked about how they had created a hydro system that was affordable. There is nothing affordable in our hydro system today. And here we have the word “affordable” before us once more in the title of this bill.

People are struggling. People need their government to stand up for them. They need them to have people’s best interests first in their mind and at the centre of their decisions—not their friends. Quite frankly, Speaker, that is what we’re seeing.

Again, without the inclusionary zoning, this bill would do nothing except help the landlords, landowners and service providers. It does nothing for the people of the province.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Thank you.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): It being close to 10:15, this House stands recessed until 10:30 this morning.

The House recessed from 1011 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I’d like to introduce two constituents of mine from Perth-Wellington: Dianne Schieck and her son Stephen Schieck. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Mr. Ted McMeekin: Today I’d like to welcome the family of page captain Kepler Pyle from the great riding of Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale. Joining us in the gallery today is his mother, Frances Roesch; his father, Dr. Glen Pyle; and Radley Pyle. Welcome all. They’re very proud of young Kepler, and so am I.

Hon. David Zimmer: It is my honour to introduce the page captain today, Do En Kim, and her father, Sun Mo Kim, and her guests. They will be in the members’ gallery this morning.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Mr. Yvan Baker: I’m pleased to rise this morning to welcome Futurpreneur Canada to the Ontario Legislature. I’d like to introduce a few folks who are here from their group and delegation. Ms. Julia Deans is their CEO. She’s joined by Ms. Valerie Fox, one of their board members, and Ms. Jenise Lee, one of the group’s young entrepreneurs. We also have with us Alex Surca and Fiona Wilson from Futurpreneur.

I’d like to invite everyone to join me—Futurpreneur is hosting a reception right after question period in rooms 228 and 230, where you’ll have a chance to sample the tasty creations of Ontario’s young entrepreneurs. Welcome, all.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: It is my pleasure to welcome some ECEs today on Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. I’d like to welcome ECEs from across the province: Lance Constantine, Lyndsay Macdonald, Carolyn Ferns, Bernice Cipparrone McLeod, Viktoria Bitto, Alana Powell, Munizah Salman, Michelle Jones, Dechen Kutsabpa, Maria Bui, Sue Parker and Stephanie Ocampo. Thank you for joining us today.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mrs. Theresa Oswald. She was the Minister of Health in Manitoba for seven years, and she is with us in the members’ gallery. Welcome, Theresa.

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

Hon. Chris Ballard: I’d like to introduce—they’re soon to be in the wings, Speaker—Joe Roberts; his partner, Marie Roberts; and Jaime Orozco. They are involved in The Push for Change, moving youth homelessness to the top of our agenda.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): In the Speaker’s gallery today is my other brother, Joe Peters. We welcome Joe to the House along with Hayley Moffat. Welcome as our guests.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Do you want to introduce somebody? Okay. Thank you.

Introductions are finished. Therefore, it’s now time for question period.

Oral Questions

Hydro rates

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Premier. Another day, another Liberal energy scandal. The past seven days have been a banner week for the Liberals: $12 million wasted on consultants and advertisements and $28 million losing a lawsuit for a project that hasn’t even been built. Yesterday it was an $81-million Liberal accounting error by the IESO, and today we learned that Northland Power won their court case against the government and on October 21 was awarded—hear this, Mr. Speaker—$95 million from the Ontario Electricity Financial Corp.

Someone has to pay for this $95-million court case. When will the ratepayers learn from the government that they’re on the hook again, for another $95 million, because of Liberal blunders?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Minister of Energy is going to want to speak to the specifics.

But, you know, I just think it’s important that we take a step back and we recognize that when this government, under the previous Premier, came into office in 2003, we were dealing with a degraded electricity system. There was a lot of work that had to be done over the years to build that system up.

Interjections.

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We completed the closure. I grant that it was not the start, but we—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock for a moment, please.

During both the question and the answer, I was hearing both sides starting to ramp up, so I’m going to take a moment now to indicate to you that as soon as I said “Order,” three more people added their voices to that, instead of bringing them down. You’ve signalled to me that you have no intention of listening to my gentle orders. I may have to move, and I will move, to warnings almost immediately if it starts up again.

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We completed the closure of coal plants in this province, saving $4 billion in health-related costs. The opposition can heckle that, but they should talk to families of children with asthma—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Okay, I will now move to warnings. There are two people that have brought me there.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Apparently $4 billion in savings in health costs is not real. But again, speak to the families of children with asthma.

We made those changes, and we’ve invested in a system that had—

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): If it was a test, you’re going to lose.

Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the Premier: I had a very specific question on the Northland case, yet another example of Liberal mismanagement. All we hear is talking points on coal. By the way, the Progressive Conservatives initiated the phase-out of coal.

My question is about Liberal waste. It’s about Liberal scandal. I would actually appreciate it if the Premier could answer this: $12 million, $28 million, $81 million, $95 million, all in the last week. That’s $216 million gone in a week because of this government’s incompetence.

Mr. Speaker, who is on the hook for that? Not pointing fingers, not trying to say what happened 10 years ago, I want an answer. Who is going to pay for that $216 million? Because it’s not the Minister of Energy, it’s not the Premier and it’s not the Minister of Finance. They’re going to make ratepayers pay again.

Does the Premier not appreciate that seniors, families, businesses can’t afford these skyrocketing hydro rates?

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

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Very good. You got the message. Don’t do that.

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I care very much that people are able to have clean energy, that they can afford the energy and that it’s reliable. And so—

Mr. John Yakabuski: It’s just money, eh?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke is warned.

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We are making changes to help people to afford energy.

What happened 10 years ago, what happened 15 years ago, does matter in terms of this electricity system. The Leader of the Opposition can take a very narrow, short-sighted view and pretend that there is no history, that there is no—

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Four scandals in one week?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon is warned.

Carry on.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: —that there is no context, but that is just not the reality.

We are taking steps. We are removing 8% from bills across this province. We’re cutting delivery charges to 300,000 rural customers by 20% in total, with the 8% and 12%. We are—

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

Final supplementary.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier: It’s very clear that the Premier does not want to talk about the four scandals that have happened on her watch just in the last week. A $95-million court case isn’t new to this government. They’re used to losing court cases. They’re used to just throwing it on the backs of ratepayers.

The OEFC and Northland have been battling it out in court for years. Northland is reporting that OEFC will appeal the result to the Supreme Court of Canada. Millions and millions have been spent on lawyers.

What I’d like to know: We know the cost of the judgment, but, Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell us how much she has ordered the government to spend on legal fees? Please show some clarity on this endless waste we’re seeing that’s being put on taxpayers and ratepayers.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m pleased to rise and answer this question. Mr. Speaker, we are aware of this, and this is an ongoing matter. It is still in process, so we can’t comment on that.

What we can comment on, Mr. Speaker, is the great work that we’re doing on this side of the House to help families and to help businesses right across the province. We’ve actually reduced bills on January 1 by 8% for families, small businesses and farms. For those who are living in rural and remote areas—330,000 families—those 330,000 families will actually see a significant reduction of 20% as well.

When it comes to the agreement that the opposition doesn’t want to talk about, which is that landmark agreement with Quebec, we’re going to be bringing in two terawatts of power that will be targeted at our natural gas plants. That will be saving one megatonne of GHGs. That’s a 25% reduction, something that on that side of the House they don’t understand.

Ring of Fire

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Premier. Since the government won’t answer a question when it comes to their latest hydro scandal, let’s try a different subject. Let’s try to have a conversation on mining. In May of 2012, the government promised thousands of jobs and new infrastructure for the Ring of Fire. In 2013, the budget promised to improve vital access to the region. Then in 2014, the budget of the province committed $1 billion to the Ring of Fire, and then again, in 2015, the same promise of $1 billion. Surprise, surprise: in the 2016 budget, again a promise—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Sorry. Stop the clock. The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is warned.

Please finish.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate why the government likes to heckle their record of inaction. In 2016, for a fourth time: a re-announcement of the same funds, but to date not a single cent has gone to the Ring of Fire. The economic benefit to the region and to First Nations communities is incredible, yet this government won’t and hasn’t put a shovel in the ground. Mr. Speaker, my question directly to the Premier is: When are we actually going to see—

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Leader of the Opposition doesn’t want to recognize that the work that has been done with the First Nations communities, with the Matawa First Nation, is very important work that had to be done. In fact, the training dollars that have gone into communities, the support that has already begun in order that those communities can be part of the development of the Ring of Fire and can be part of the economic development—I recognize that the Leader of the Opposition doesn’t value that. But that is the work that has been going on, Mr. Speaker.

There has been a serious engagement with those communities to make sure that they are able to take

part in economic development and that, as we put shovels in the ground and we build roads, that we build those roads in a way that will connect communities so that, yes, they can be part of the economic development of the Ring of Fire, but much beyond that, that they have the social supports that allow them to take part—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary? The member from Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Mr. Norm Miller: Again to the Premier: The current government has overseen the entire life of the Ring of Fire mineral deposit to date, from discovery to where we find ourselves today. Reading a press release from 2012, you would have thought that a chromite mine was a done deal. The release proclaims thousands of jobs coming to northern Ontario and has quotes from five ministers, including the current Premier. It boasts of the over 20 mining companies holding claims in the region—a far cry from what we see today. It even goes into detail on a chromite processing facility to be opened in close proximity to the then minister’s own riding.

The government, to date, has truly overpromised and under-delivered on the Ring of Fire. So, Speaker, why should anyone believe that this government is capable of doing what it takes to develop the Ring of Fire?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: We are indeed working hard and very diligently to move the progress forward on the Ring of Fire. That means, Mr. Speaker, working with all of our partners, working with industry, working with the federal government and, certainly, as the Premier pointed out, working with our First Nations to move this project forward.

When we signed the regional framework agreement in—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We’re on warnings.

Carry on.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Mr. Speaker, when we signed the regional framework agreement in 2014 with the Matawa First Nation, we made a commitment to work with them on regional infrastructure, on socio-economic impacts, on resource revenue-sharing. Those are all important discussions that are taking place, and discussions are at a very significant point right now in terms of them partnering with us to make some decisions related to the community corridor study.

May I say to the members of the opposition: If they do not believe we should be having those kinds of conversations with the First Nations, they should say so.

The bottom line is, we are working hard, this is a complicated file, and we are optimistic that we’ll continue to move forward and see progress on—

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

Mr. Norm Miller: Again to the Premier: Premier, I think I’ve heard that answer before from your minister.

Speaker, First Nation communities in the Ring of Fire region are integral to the entire development. They also stand to gain the most from local mining opportunities. Mining employs more indigenous people than any other sector—about 14% of the mining workforce—so it’s important to the communities in the area to see some progress.

Through the Speaker: Other than framework agreements to negotiate, what tangible progress have you made on this important project?

Interjections.

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

Interjection: I’ll lend you my shovel, Mike.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): That was very risky.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: We recognize that it is crucial that we move forward on transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire. That is indeed why we are so keen to move forward with our work with the federal government. This is a nationally significant project, one that deserves federal government support—and that’s the effort we’re making as well.

In terms of the work with industry, there are still a significant number of companies that have expressed tremendous interest in the Ring of Fire. We’re going to work with those industrial partners to help move this project forward.

In terms of the First Nations, this is an absolutely crucial part of our commitment: to make sure that decisions that are made related to what will most directly impact their future development are made also by the First Nations themselves. That’s why it is so crucial that we have those discussions under the regional framework agreement that will make sure the decisions that are made are shared by our partners—not just by the First Nations, but by industry and by the federal government.

We’re keen to keep working hard on this. I’m committed to it, Mr. Speaker—

Interjections.

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

Minister, I stand, you sit.

New question.

Nursing home deaths

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, yesterday police revealed that at least eight elderly residents of long-term-care homes were allegedly murdered between 2007 and 2014 in Woodstock and London. It is horrific, it is tragic, and it is heartbreaking. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families and loved ones.

I understand that there is an open police investigation happening right now, and I know that no one here would do anything to impede or compromise that investigation in any way, but there are some genuine, straightforward questions that need to be asked today.

Premier, Ontarians want to know how it is possible that alleged murders can go undetected inside a long-term-care home in Ontario for seven years.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, this is an extremely distressing case, and as I said yesterday, I don’t think there’s anyone in this Legislature—this is not a partisan issue in any way. There is no one in this Legislature who is not distressed by this case.

The question that the leader of the third party asks—how could this happen?—is exactly what the police investigation is about. That is exactly the question that needs to be answered, so we need to let the police investigation unfold.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, of course there is a police investigation ongoing and I respect that very much, but the question I’m asking has to do with the Ministry of Long-Term Care and their oversight procedures. While this is perhaps the most graphic, serious and tragic example of abuse and mistreatment in our long-term-care system, we all know that it’s not the first.

The families of 78,000 Ontarians in long-term care want to know what action the government has taken in the last 24 hours to ensure that their loved ones are safe. Has the Premier ordered any action or review of current oversight measures in Ontario’s long-term-care system?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Let me also add my deepest sympathies to these families who have not only had to mourn the death of a loved one but now face the allegations as outlined by police yesterday. It truly is tragic, in fact, for the communities of Woodstock and London as well.

It’s important that the police deliberately stated yesterday morning that there is no danger to any of the residents in long-term-care homes in this province as a result of these alleged actions. We have stated the same.

We have one of the most robust oversight accountability measures to ensure the safety and protection of long-term-care residents certainly in Canada and, in fact, in the world. That inspection process is robust.

That being said, we are actively participating and collaborating with the police to ensure that the many questions, including those from the opposition, are answered in due course.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Something has obviously failed and that’s the reason I’m asking the question today. Again, it has to do with oversight.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order. Somebody will get warned if they continue.

Please finish.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Seven years and no one knew. That’s a failure of our system, and that’s what I think the people of Ontario require us to look at, as a group. So my question has to do with oversight in our system, not the details of the investigation. We all know those details are going to come. It has to do with the oversight that’s needed to protect the most vulnerable seniors and residents of long-term care. There are 78,000 residents in long-term-care homes across Ontario today, and they and their families have simple, straightforward questions that deserve answers from the government.

What is the Premier doing to improve oversight and protection of Ontarians living in long-term-care homes in our province?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I think it’s important that I remind all of us in this chamber that we are dealing with allegations. They are absolutely horrible, terrible allegations, but they are allegations nonetheless.

I also want, as the police did yesterday, to reassure the public and the residents of long-term-care homes that there is no danger to them as a result of these horrible allegations. I can also assure the Legislature and the public that the highest priority for myself and my ministry is the safety and security of residents in our long-term-care homes, as it is for all Ontarians.

We have among the best oversight mechanisms for critical incidents, as well as for general annual inspections, in the world. We will continue to improve upon that strong, robust system, but it’s important that all of us remind Ontarians and assure them of their safety in this critical time.

Nursing home deaths

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier. As we continue to learn the details of this unspeakable tragedy and the ones before it, I want to ask the Premier very clearly, does she have faith? Does she have faith in the current rules and regulations—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. The member from Beaches–East York is warned.

Carry on.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Does she have faith in the current rules and regulations that are currently in place in the province of Ontario to make sure that long-term-care homes are safe for the people who live there?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I want to be very frank with the Legislature that what the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has said is exactly right. We’re dealing with allegations in a very horrible, horrible situation, but there are processes that are in place that need to unfold.

But if the leader of the third party is suggesting that somehow I’m not interested in getting to the bottom of this, that I don’t want to know what happened, she is absolutely wrong. I believe that there are systems in place that are set and designed to protect the innocence of people against whom there are allegations, but also to make sure that answers are found to very difficult questions. If, as those processes unfold—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Answer?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I will complete my answer in the supplementary, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I agree with the Premier insofar as this is a very tragic situation, that we’re talking about someone’s parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts or uncles. We’re talking about family, and that is what makes it so extremely important. But Ontarians need to know exactly what’s being done by the Premier to ensure that something this horrific and heartbreaking never happens again.

Will the Premier be directing her Minister of Health to review how the government monitors nursing homes in this province?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I said, there are processes in place right now that must be allowed to unfold. It’s absolutely imperative that the police have the opportunity to do the work that they need to do to get to the bottom of the questions that are obviously being asked by everyone, especially by the families of the people who have died. It is the responsibility of the government and the Ministry of Health to make sure that all of the systems and protections are in place.

Mr. Speaker, at some point, if there is a need for an independent review or an inquiry, we will absolutely undertake that, not because of political pressure from the NDP, but because we all need to have the answers.

In the interim, there are processes that the police are leading, and they need to be allowed to do their work.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: These deaths are unspeakably tragic and I can only imagine the pain that these families must be feeling right now. But it’s not about impeding a police investigation. It is not about impeding an investigation into this tragedy.

There are 78,000 Ontarians in long-term care right now, and that means 78,000 families are looking to the Premier for reassurance about their loved ones. When will the Premier be taking action to ensure that Ontario has the most effective possible oversight and monitoring of our long-term-care facilities?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, I know that we have one of the strongest oversight mechanisms for long-term-care homes in the entire world, and we continue to work to improve that.

But I want to speak to the families of those who are at the centre of these allegations. I want to assure them that we, as a government, will do absolutely everything possible to answer their questions, to answer the questions that they have, that their family members have, that Ontarians have and rightly deserve answers to. We’ll do that in the context of collaborating and participating in the police investigation that is under way.

I want to reassure the 78,000 individuals who call long-term-care homes their home that there is nothing more important to me. I give them my absolute commitment as Minister of Health to do whatever I can to ensure their safety and their security in their homes, wherever they might reside in this province. That is my obligation and that is my commitment to them.

Home care

Mr. Steve Clark: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

A month ago, I asked the minister to get involved in helping baby Everley Yolkowskie, but Everley’s parents, Sarah and Jordan, of Lombardy in my riding, are still struggling to keep their beautiful baby alive, with no help from this government. It’s absolutely shameful that this young family is living this nightmare while health bureaucrats waste time.

The minister said he is providing updates. I don’t want updates. I want action to lift this unimaginable burden off this family. The CCAC has failed baby Everley. Her parents have lost trust and faith in them. Speaker, this family is in crisis. Will the minister personally step in to get baby Everley her care without any further delay?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate this question. The member opposite knows that we’ve discussed this tiny person’s challenge and the challenge that it’s created for her family on a number of occasions. It truly is distressing, the circumstances that this family is going through.

I know the CCAC has been involved, my ministry is involved, my office is directly involved, and the Minister of Children and Youth Services as well, to find a way to provide the level of support that that small infant deserves and we have a responsibility to provide.

We’re working with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario as well, which has aptly, in a hospital setting, provided extraordinary care to this tiny individual. I know that this is challenging for all involved. I’m committed to seeing it through and providing the support that family so desperately needs.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Steve Clark: The bureaucrats who have utterly failed this family get to go home at night. For Sarah and Jordan, there’s no end to their day. They live this reality 24/7. At any moment, Everley can stop breathing and they have to resuscitate her. It’s life and death, and the stress is indescribable. These brave parents do it because they want their little girl at home.

But after two months on their own, they’re losing hope, they’re running out of funds, and they’re feeling totally abandoned by our health care system. This is cruel, and it lacks compassion.

Is this the health care system the minister wants? If not, will he pick up the phone and call Sarah and Jordan to apologize and assure them that they won’t have to go through another night on their own?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: This is a very challenging situation for the family, as I mentioned. There are maybe 50 children around this province who fall into a category of being exceedingly, extremely challenging from a medical perspective. We know that this tiny baby was well cared for in hospital, but appropriately, as the parents want and we should support, they want to bring their baby home and provide that support at home.

We need to work with them to do that. These are the most challenging individuals; we need to embrace that and we need to find the flexibility to be able to provide that support. That’s what we’re trying to do.

I’m sorry that it has taken the amount of time it has. I know, however, that the CCAC has been working, as challenging as this is for them, as hard as they can to find a resolution. There are now multiple ministries involved. My office is directly involved. I’m confident that we will be able to provide the support this young child requires.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Premier. According to the public accounts, nearly $800 million in Hydro One cash was recognized by the Trillium Trust last year. These “asset optimization” proceeds were supposed to be spent on infrastructure last year. This was the whole point of the Hydro One sale, but none of this Hydro One cash was spent on infrastructure.

Will the Premier explain where $800 million in Hydro One cash proceeds have gone instead of being spent on infrastructure?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I appreciate the question. The member opposite I think does know that all proceeds that are generated from Hydro One in regard to the IPO and, since then, the subsequent offering—a good portion of that has gone to pay down the debt that’s accorded to the transaction, and the rest is going directly to the Trillium Trust, which is being used for infrastructure projects in our communities, something that that member opposite hasn’t had a plan to do.

They actually have not even called for investments in some of these infrastructure projects and transit systems that are critically important to our competitiveness and enabling us to have a higher return for the use of those funds. That is all the reason that we’re making these investments and the transition from Hydro One to be reinvested into our communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Well, you actually aren’t investing the money in infrastructure, but another question: When the Premier gave a privatized Hydro One a $2.6-billion tax holiday, this increased the book value of the government’s remaining ownership in Hydro One by about $2.4 billion. Last year, the government rewrote the Trillium Trust Act to allow the government to recognize this gain on paper as revenue that could somehow be dedicated to infrastructure.

But this $2.4 billion is not cash. It exists only on paper. It cannot be spent on subways. Yet this accounting adjustment represents more than half of the $4 billion in Hydro One proceeds that the Premier has promised for infrastructure.

Will the Premier explain how $2.4 billion in accounting vapour is going to be used to pay for infrastructure?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let’s be clear: This is not a tax holiday that has been attributed to this transaction. This is actually a normal course of business that has been made. The $2.8-billion deferred tax benefit actually does provide a net fiscal benefit to the province, all of which is being afforded right into the Trillium Trust.

Not only that, we have $3.4 billion thus far from the transaction that is paying down debt, and an additional $4.59 billion that’s going to be going directly to the trust fund to enable us to do the very projects that the member opposite hasn’t even planned for.

We’re making the plans. We’re making the reinvestment—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I know you’re tempted but—wrap-up sentence, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: They obviously don’t like the fact that we’re generating more funds, more money, to be reinvested to make ourselves more competitive. That’s what this is all about.

Homelessness

Mr. Arthur Potts: My question is to the Minister of Housing and minister responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy. According to Push for Change, it is estimated one third of Canada’s homeless population are youth. Joe Roberts know this is reality. As a former homeless youth who has transformed his difficult life to become a successful businessman, Joe understands the importance of the power of possibility.

Since May 1 of this year, Joe Roberts, through Push for Change, has been pushing a shopping cart across Canada to help raise awareness for youth homelessness. I think that I speak for all of us when I wish Joe success on the rest of his inspiring journey.

I know that our government is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty for children and youth and ending chronic homelessness in Ontario. Speaker, I would ask the minister to inform this House on Ontario’s progress in reducing youth homelessness.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Thank you to the member for Beaches–East York for that important question. I want to take this time to thank Push for Change—Joe Roberts, Marie Roberts and the rest of their team—and all of the leaders, including persons with lived experience, who are fighting every day to end homelessness in communities across our great province.

Our government remains committed to end chronic homelessness by 2025 as a crucial step in showing that we can and must end homelessness for everyone in our province. Since 2008, our government has made great strides in lifting tens of thousands of children and youth out of poverty.

Our government has also announced $15 million in additional Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative funding for the next two years, for a total of $30 million in new investments to support municipalities in their local work to fight homelessness. In fact, by 2018, our government’s annual CHPI investment will be almost $324 million.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m delighted to hear about the great progress, through our ministry, that our government is making to help reduce homelessness in Ontario. And so—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I can’t quite see who that was.

Carry on, please.

Mr. Arthur Potts: Yes, Speaker.

Today, I had the pleasure and I was honoured to participate in an announcement with the Minister of Housing and the minister responsible for poverty reduction that WoodGreen Community Services would receive $400,000 from the Local Poverty Reduction Fund.

Addressing poverty concerns is an issue that I brought up very early in my mandate after the 2014 election and a commitment I made to the people of Beaches–East York and across the province, so I’m proud to be part of a government that takes this issue very, very seriously and is taking action on it.

This funding will help evaluate the program supports that homeless older men with complex care needs have to transition into stable housing. Through you, Speaker, will the minister explain—

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

Minister.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Thank you again to the member from Beaches–East York for that question.

Our government is investing $50 million over six years towards the Local Poverty Reduction Fund. This year, we’re investing $16 million through the second year of the Local Poverty Reduction Fund. Over $5 million of this funding will be used to support 11 community-driven programs—innovative, measurable—that will improve the lives of those most affected by poverty and homelessness.

Grant recipients like WoodGreen Community Services are required to evaluate their success in their program. Through this evaluation, we can replicate success to help even more people across the province. Local community organizations are helping us build the body of evidence we need to identify what’s working, measure our progress and expand our efforts to continue making Ontario the best place to call home.

Manufacturing jobs

Mr. Monte McNaughton: My question today is for the Minister of Economic Development and Growth.

Last week, I asked the minister important questions regarding the changing dynamic when it comes to our economy because of decisions made by this Liberal government. Speaker, it is businesses like small and family businesses, start-ups and established manufacturing companies that are the backbone of our economy. But these very same businesses are telling us that they no longer fear their competition; instead, it’s the Liberal government that they fear the most.

Last week, the minister said, “No government has ever supported our small business community like this government has”—utterly out of touch. This government’s haphazard policies, sky-high hydro and lack of overall economic plan are driving businesses out of Ontario. How could the minister claim to be the best thing going for small and medium businesses when every day more and more of them are being driven out of Ontario?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, Ontario is producing some of, if not the best, small businesses and start-ups anywhere in North America today, if not anywhere in the world. Rather than talk down the incredible partnership that we have with our small businesses and all the good things we’ve done, from tax reductions to leading the country, if not North America, in reducing the regulatory burden for our businesses—rather than talk down those efforts, the member should be joining me in praising those small businesses because we’re proud of what they’re doing in North America.

They’re not only cutting-edge in terms of growth; they’re also leading disruptive technology in Canada and around the world, something that’s going to lead our economy into a very prosperous and bright future, something that member ought to be proud of, something we’re very proud of. We’re proud of our small businesses.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Speaker, back to the minister: While the minister brags about the government’s poor record and hands out subsidies to large multinational companies by invitation only, small manufacturers in this province are facing a crisis. The vast majority of manufacturers in Ontario employ 50 people or less, and they provide many high-skilled jobs. Sadly, I have spoken with many of these companies, and they have an eye on their exit. They have been pushed to their limit by high energy costs and see no sign from this Liberal government that their crisis has been noticed, let alone that relief is ever coming.

These employers have a clear message: This government has become the greatest obstacle to their success. Speaker, is the minister saying that the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers is wrong about the state of their very own businesses?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the investments we’ve made in partnership with our manufacturers across this province. In particular, we’re proud of the partnerships we’ve had with our auto sector. We’ve seen, just in the last month alone, the Oshawa manufacturing plant for GM, the largest manufacturing centre in all of Ontario—because of our partnerships with GM, we’re going to save thousands of jobs in Oshawa, jobs that would be gone if the leader in that party were elected.

We just recently saw Fiat Chrysler announce that the future of the Brampton plant—thousands of Ontario auto workers are there—will be saved because of the partnerships we’ve had with them. We’re working hard with Ford. We’re working hard with Toyota. We’re working hard with Honda.

Because of the partnerships that we’ve brought to that sector, Mr. Speaker, our sector in Ontario is alive and well. If they had their way, we wouldn’t have an auto sector—

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

Child care workers

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Premier. Today, early childhood educators and child care workers from across the province came to Queen’s Park to deliver thousands of signatures on a petition collected from Windsor to Wawa, calling for a universal child care system in Ontario. A new report by the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario shares the experience of those working in a sector with low wages and limited benefits, delivering a service that few parents can even afford.

What will it take for this government to finally listen to child care workers and families, and commit to a system of universal, affordable child care in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Associate Minister of Education (Early Years and Child Care).

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I want to thank the member opposite for asking this very important question. I’m so pleased to be here today, as we recognize the 16th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. After all, the work that our early childhood educators do on the ground is so very important.

These are the smiling faces and the helping hands that ensure that our young people are looked after. These are the people that we entrust our precious children with, the ones we put our faith in and the ones on the front lines shaping our children and future generations. It is with great respect that I am here today and proud to speak out about our early childhood educators.

We are providing $269 million to support a wage increase in the licensed child care sector. We’re also adding an additional $1 an hour, to up that to $2 an hour for early childhood educators.

This is an important sector and one that we respect and are happy to work with.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Again to the Premier: Child care is more than a conversation of places and spaces. Parents who couldn’t afford child care before this government’s throne speech are no better off today.

Working conditions in the child care sector are reaching a tipping point, where over a quarter of our dedicated professionals are looking for another job. Nearly 25% of early childhood educators make under $15 an hour, despite their tremendous role and responsibility in caring for our children, the future of this province.

Will this government finally commit to a universal child care system that works for child care workers and Ontario families?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Again, I’m pleased and proud to rise today and talk about the important work that our early childhood educators are doing. Once again, we are transforming the way that we deliver child care in this province, transforming it. We’re transforming it with an historic investment, an historic investment not just in our early childhood educators but also in our children and the future of this province.

How are we doing this? Well, we recognize that this means that this is about partnerships. We are all working together to deliver the best child care system that we possibly can in this province. That means ensuring that those people who are out there on the ground and on the front lines taking care of our little ones get the support they need. It begins with $269 million to support a wage increase. It also goes to the $1 an hour that brings our increase up to $2 and, in addition, the $10 a day to $20 a day.

Is there more work to do? Absolutely.

Mining industry

Ms. Daiene Vernile: My question this morning is for the Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

Ontario is fortunate to the have an abundance of natural resources, including rich mineral deposits. As the minister knows, the mining industry is critical for the livelihood of many people in northern Ontario, and it serves as an economic driver of many communities in that region. People in Ontario want to know that their government understands this, and is taking steps to ensure that our mining industry remains prosperous and on the right track.

Could the minister please tell this House what the government is doing to support the mining industry in Ontario and how we can continue on the path to become the global leader in sustainable mineral development?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I want to thank the member from Kitchener Centre for asking that very important question.

Certainly, Speaker, our government is absolutely committed to ensuring that our mining sector remains strong now and into the future. That’s why last December we renewed Ontario’s Mineral Development Strategy, a blueprint for the mining sector’s growth over the next 10 years, a tremendous initiative. A renewed mineral development strategy means tremendous initiatives, like an investment of $5 million to the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, to bring forward further investment in the exploration, which will bring about the development of new mines in the future.

In addition to that, it also means modernizing the way that we do business, with legislated changes to the Mining Act that would, if passed, introduce a province-wide online claim registration and integrated land management system.

Speaker, I certainly can go on and on about the work that we’re doing, and I’m excited to continue working to help Ontario become the global leader in sustainable mineral development.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Thanks to the minister for that answer. It’s very encouraging to hear that the government understands the value of our mining sector and is continuing to nurture growth in this very important industry.

But in the face of declining commodity prices, Ontarians need to know that the right investments are being made and that Ontario is working with all its partners in the mining sector.

Speaker, today is a special day in the Legislature, as guests from the Ontario Mining Association are visiting us. Could the minister please explain how this government intends to steer Ontario toward innovation in the mining sector, and how this will help northern Ontario’s economy continue to grow?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Thank you again to the member for Kitchener Centre. It’s just a great question.

While Ontario’s reputation as a destination of choice for mineral development is very well known, we understand that the province’s mineral development landscape is constantly evolving and there are many challenges. We are committed to helping it face those new challenges. It’s why we are continuing to modernize the Mining Act, and why we’re going to ensure a fast, more efficient system is in place to promote a dynamic and competitive business climate in Ontario.

Our government very much values the work that the mineral industry does each year to provide Ontario with the building blocks of a modern society and a great new industry.

Speaker, as the member mentioned, today is the Ontario Mining Association’s Meet the Miners Day here at Queen’s Park. I want to invite the member for Kitchener Centre and all the members of the House to visit their reception tonight in the dining room, to meet the miners and to find out how we’re building the industry in the province.

Hydro rates

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: My question is for the Minister of Energy. When speaking about the mess his government has made of the energy file, the minister refused to call it a crisis. My constituents disagree. In a Stratford condo building, bills have more than doubled. Their monthly global adjustment charge alone was over $2,600. Another constituent got a bill for over $100 for using no power at all. A mother contacted me, and she burst into tears and was terrified after learning rates could increase twice a year.

I ask the minister: If this isn’t a crisis, what is it?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: A crisis is when you have a system that’s unreliable and doesn’t work, and that’s the system they left for us that we had to pick up and take over. That was a crisis.

We understand on this side of the House that there are some families that are having difficulty. That’s why we brought forward the bill that’s going to have an 8% reduction as of January 1, to help all families across the province. We’re very pleased that that bill passed last week, because that will be something that’s effectively going to help all families right across the province—families that own their homes, families in condos, small farms, and small businesses. We’re happy to see that pass. We’re also happy to see that there’s going to be that 20% reduction for 330,000 families across the province that live in rural or remote parts.

It’s not just us that are saying that, Mr. Speaker. You know what? The CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce says the announcement that we made is a very significant one for residents and small industry, and it’s the most important group that will be able to benefit from this.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Speaker, that’s not fooling anyone. Neither is this government’s multi-million-dollar advertising.

They told us the Ontario Electricity Support Program would help those who need it, but they didn’t make the benefits automatic. Instead, they force people to apply. Why? Because the Liberals, as usual, wanted maximum political benefit. This way, they could waste almost $12 million on consultants, publications, media and advertising. That includes $9 million to line the pockets of Liberal-friendly consultants. Meanwhile, many can’t afford to keep the furnace running. That, sir, is a disgrace.

Will the minister explain to my constituents why this government is using their money to sell such a scam?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I guess he doesn’t understand the whole concept about the Canada Revenue Agency, Mr. Speaker, and making sure that we work with the federal government on this, like you’re mandated to—and we do, Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House.

In terms of the money that we’re spending on this, we’re very proud that $21 million has been spent so far, providing support to 145,000 families in 10 months. We’ve got another 14,000 families that are signing up for this program every month. We want more. We have a budget of $225 million to help families right across the province.

The unfortunate thing is on that side of the House, they don’t talk about this program because they know it will help families. What they like to do is just make up some numbers. We talk about making sure that we’re starting up a program that’s helping 145,000 families. We want more families to sign up, and that’s why we continue to talk about it and advertise it on this side of the House.

Correctional services

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Premier. Adam Capay has been held in solitary confinement for the past four years. Worst of all, it is for a crime for which he has not yet been convicted. He has been kept in isolation while awaiting trial since 2012. This is our justice system in Ontario.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that a delay longer than 30 months constitutes a violation of charter rights. Adam has been held for 52 months. Will the Premier please explain why our justice system is violating the charter rights of Ontarians?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. David Orazietti: I thank the member opposite for the question.

We are working to improve the correctional system and, obviously, the conditions for segregation for any individual. Segregation: As I indicated last week and released publicly, this will be a means of last resort, and every effort needs to be made to ensure that an individual will only be in segregation when it is for their safety or the safety of others in the institution.

I can provide an update to the House with respect to this particular individual. This individual has been moved from their cell. They are no longer in that same cell. They are in a different location, with appropriate lighting and access to day rooms, spending time out of their cell for showers, phone calls and access to TV. It is my understanding, from speaking to officials, that the inmate is satisfied with the conditions that they are presently in.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees all Canadians the right to be tried within a reasonable time. The Supreme Court of Canada has deemed a “reasonable delay” to be no more than 30 months. Adam Capay has waited nearly twice that long.

Can the Premier guarantee that there are no more Adam Capays who have been lost in our jails? Can she guarantee that there are no more Adam Capays?

Hon. David Orazietti: Attorney General.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: We very much recognize that this is an extremely serious and challenging matter. We recognize that people have questions and concerns. Our government takes—

Mr. Paul Miller: Get those kids out of isolation.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Hamilton East–Stoney Creek is warned.

Carry on.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Our government takes the concerns that are being raised very seriously and, of course, the obligations that are enshrined within the Charter of Rights and Freedoms very seriously as well.

Speaker, I can share with you that Mr. Capay is facing some very serious charges, as we all know. As the Attorney General, it is my responsibility to ensure that we do not influence the outcome of any prosecution that is ongoing. What I can say is that I have been advised that the crown has and will continue to work to bring these charges to trial as quickly as possible.

Hospital funding

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I know that health care is the top priority for our government. Investing in health infrastructure is an important part of ensuring that Ontario patients have access to the high-quality care that they need today and in the future.

York region is one of the province’s fastest-growing dynamic areas. As more families continue to move to the area, many are wondering how the province will continue to invest in health services to ensure low wait times and access to the highest quality of care. Can the Minister of Health please update this House on an important announcement that was made yesterday in York region?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I want to thank the member for this important question.

I particularly want to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Transportation and the member from Vaughan for his tireless advocacy, if I can describe it as such, to ensure that there are investments towards high-quality, state-of-the-art health care services in the region.

Across the province, Mr. Speaker, we’re investing $12 billion in health care infrastructure over the next decade to build new and improved hospitals. Today there are 35 major hospital projects either under construction or being planned.

Specifically about the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital: The Minister of Transportation and the member from Vaughan, of course, was there for the announcement; as was the Minister of Community and Social Services, the member from Oak Ridges–Markham; and the Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, the member from Richmond Hill. All were in Vaughan yesterday to break ground right across from Canada’s Wonderland. I was there last year when we announced the project for the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital site.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Thank you, Minister, for that response. It’s reassuring to know that our government is committed to building hospital infrastructure in the northern GTA and across this province. I know that residents across the region are excited for the groundbreaking, construction and eventual ribbon cutting of this very important project.

I also know that many residents across the area are interested to learn about what health care services will be offered at the new Mackenzie Vaughan site. Would the minister be able to provide further details of what features the residents of the north GTA can look forward to seeing in the coming years?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I want to thank the member from Barrie for this question.

The Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will be state-of-the-art. It will have fully integrated smart technology. It features systems and medical devices that communicate directly, to maximize the exchange of information, to improve and maximize the quality of patient care and the patient experience. It’s going to have 350 beds, 1,800 full-time staff positions in the area, 100 physician specialists. It will have everything you can imagine a state-of-the-art hospital should have.

By putting shovels in the ground yesterday, we took a concrete step towards providing technologically advanced, patient-focused health care to the people of Vaughan and the greater York region.

Correctional services

Mr. Randy Hillier: To the Attorney General: Last week in this House, the Attorney General and I spoke about Access to Justice Week. He spoke of stats and figures, and I spoke of the human face of access to justice. We have another face who has been denied access to justice—Adam Capay.

The Globe and Mail headline is important for us to understand: “Ontario’s Sickening Mistreatment of Adam Capay.”

For over four years, he has been denied his freedom and denied his liberty. He has been held, incarcerated without due process. He has been denied justice. He has been denied his day in court.

To the Attorney General: I heard your answer. Adam Capay needs justice. Will you stand up in this House and confirm that he will get justice and his day in court?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I would state again that this is a very serious and challenging matter and I very much recognize that people have questions and concerns. We, as a government, and I, as the Attorney General, take those questions and concerns very seriously.

As I said, Mr. Capay is facing some very serious charges, and as the Attorney General it is my responsibility to ensure that we do not influence the outcome of that prosecution, which is under way, in any way whatsoever.

What I can say, Speaker, is that I have been advised that the crown has worked and will continue to work to bring these charges to trial as quickly as possible.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m not sure if the officials who sit in this chair should be challenging whether or not a warning is enough.

Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Hillier: Again to the Attorney General: I spoke in this House about the tragedy in our justice system of 43% of people who face criminal charges and are kept incarcerated only to have their charges and their cases stayed or withdrawn before trial. That’s a terrible, terrible track record of this Attorney General.

Is Adam Capay going to be another one of those statistics that the Attorney General speaks about in next year’s Access to Justice, and that he still languishes there without a trial?

The Attorney General says that he’s facing serious charges. I’m going to say that the Attorney General is facing serious charges. Over four years of keeping somebody incarcerated without the right to a trial—that’s a serious charge. It shouldn’t be taken lightly; he should stand up and make sure that the Attorney General’s office does its job.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: The matter is a very serious matter. The charges are very serious charges. My advice to all members would be to refrain from speculating as to the circumstances before the courts and the work that the crown and the defence counsel may be doing.

I do want to address, briefly, the issue around Access to Justice because it is a very important and fundamental tenet of our justice and judicial system. The Jordan decision recently issued by the Supreme Court of Canada presents a valuable opportunity for our justice system. It’s an issue that all jurisdictions around Canada are discussing and grappling with. In fact, at the most recent federal, provincial and territorial meeting of justice ministers, we spent considerable time talking about the implications of the Jordan decision and the strategies that we all collectively are putting in place to ensure that people get speedy justice.

Annual report, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that I have laid today upon the table the 2015-16 annual report of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario.

There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1137 to 1500.

Members’ Statements

Human trafficking

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Communities in my riding are expressing concern about human trafficking, a heinous crime that has been referred to as modern-day slavery. The townships of Calvin, Chisholm and Bonfield have all recently passed a resolution regarding this concern.

The leaders of these communities note that human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada. Victims are predominantly female and have an average age of only 14. They also note that Ontario is a major hub of human trafficking in Canada. Victims are lured, manipulated and coerced from communities across the province.

The member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock’s proposed bill, the Saving the Girl Next Door Act, will allow for the enforcement of protection orders on behalf of victims against traffickers. The bill also allows victims to seek compensation and includes trafficking as a sexual offence under the age of 18.

As a result, the townships of Calvin, Chisholm and Bonfield resolve to support the Saving the Girl Next Door Act and the member’s motion calling for a multi-jurisdictional task force to combat human trafficking in Ontario.

Human trafficking is a growing and significant issue that requires urgent action.

Hydro rates

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Hydro rates have reached crisis levels in our province. After more than a decade of mismanagement and disregard by this government, the people of Ontario have had enough. They have had enough of struggling to get by each month and they have had enough of paying for your mistakes.

Since the Liberal government came into power in 2003, hydro bills in Ontario have nearly quadrupled. While the Premier continues to ignore this problem, families in my community are being forced to choose whether they can afford to eat or afford their heat. This is a crisis that you can’t ignore any longer.

At the beginning of September, I asked constituents in my riding to send me their hydro bills to share with the Premier. The response has been overwhelming. I hold in my hand more than 100 bills from families, seniors and businesses across our community. There is even a bill from the city of Oshawa, which paid $150,000 for one month of street lights.

These constituents felt strongly enough about this issue to take the time to drop their bills off or mail them to my office, and today I’m sharing them with you. I will ask that a page deliver these