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April 4, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-Apr-04 (PDF)

L063 - Tue 4 Apr 2017 / Mar 4 avr 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 4 April 2017 Mardi 4 avril 2017

Protecting Patients Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la protection des patients

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Autism treatment

Autism treatment

Executive compensation

Executive compensation

Autism treatment

Tenant protection

Health care funding

Autism treatment

Employment standards

Climate change

Grandview Children’s Centre

Autism treatment

Curriculum

Autism treatment

Northern health services

Visitors

Correction of record

Visitors

Private members’ public business

Deferred Votes

Protecting Patients Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la protection des patients

Members’ Statements

Bruce Power

Child care

KidsInclusive

Nipissing University

Sterling Fuels

Foodland Ontario

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore

Organ and tissue donation

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Introduction of Bills

Fairness in First Contracts and the Right to Representation Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la négociation équitable des premières conventions et le droit à la représentation

Motions

Adjournment debate

Petitions

Employment standards

Dental care

Hospital funding

Dog ownership

Home inspection industry

Wind turbines

Highway improvement

Hydro rates

Apraxia

Water fluoridation

Government advertising

Agri-food industry

Hydro rates

Natural gas

Orders of the Day

Putting Consumers First Act (Consumer Protection Statute Law Amendment), 2017 / Loi de 2017 donnant la priorité aux consommateurs (modifiant des lois en ce qui concerne la protection du consommateur)

Adjournment Debate

Government advertising

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Protecting Patients Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la protection des patients

Resuming the debate adjourned on April 3, 2017, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 87,

An Act to implement health measures and measures relating to seniors by enacting, amending or repealing various statutes / Projet de loi 87, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre des mesures concernant la santé et les personnes âgées par l’édiction, la modification ou l’abrogation de diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): When we last debated this bill, the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington completed his speech. We are now on questions and comments. Questions and comments?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: It was an interesting debate yesterday on Bill 87, putting patients first. Some of the nuances that were discussed were that this bill should have had more thought processes in it because the contents of it, some of the topics that we’re talking about, are very sensitive and they should have had more deliberation, as a single piece of legislation.

We talked yesterday about it being an omnibus bill, but the government doesn’t agree with that. I think we do have a point on this side. There are areas of this bill that need more attention and more consultation. The Ontario Medical Association says they support the principle of the bill for zero tolerance for sexual assault, but they do have a number of concerns in the bill and they felt that they weren’t fully consulted in a fulsome way. We need to make sure we have everybody on board when it comes to zero tolerance with regard to sexual assault. Should this bill have more discussion? Absolutely.

Should it have feedback from stakeholders and patients and the community? Of course it should. We need to hear from everyone.

It reminds me of the bill that we’re discussing in committee right now. It’s also a health care bill called MAID, medical assistance in dying. There is an issue there that people are concerned about. We talked about that they don’t think there was enough consultation around MAID, specifically around effective referral. People are concerned about that and the process and how that’s going to work because there are people who have a piece called conscientious objection.

We want to get these things right. We want to make sure the legislation works for the people that we are representing and that the groups that come forward have a voice in order to mould and develop legislation that’s effective in our community.

Again, I do say, it is a needed bill. There are lots of good topics in here, but really, it should have been separate issues at some point.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments? The Minister of the Status of Women and responsible for early years and child care. That’s a mouthful.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’m pleased to rise today to speak to Bill 87. As you know, our government is introducing this legislation to protect patients and to keep them healthy. If passed, this legislation would make a number of improvements to health care for the people of Ontario, and this legislation is absolutely a part of Ontario’s plan to put patients first.

Our government, as you know, has set out an ambitious agenda to transform our health care system, and this important piece of legislation will help our government continue to move forward on a number of different initiatives that directly impact on Ontarians’ lives.

I’d like to talk a little bit about immunization and the Immunization of School Pupils Amendment Act. Choosing to vaccinate your child protects them from disease and it protects vulnerable children who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons. That’s why it’s so important for parents to keep their children’s immunization up to date. If passed, the proposed amendments to the Immunization of School Pupils Act would help parents and guardians make informed decisions about vaccination.

The amendments to the act would require parents and guardians who are considering not immunizing their children for non-medical reasons to participate in an education session delivered by their local public health unit—so important, so parents can make informed decisions.

The act would also be amended to require health care providers to report any vaccines they administer to students and that are needed to attend school in Ontario to their local public health unit directly. Currently, parents are responsible for reporting their children’s immunization records or yellow card to their own public health unit. This change, if passed, would make it easier for parents and reduce unnecessary suspensions due to out-of-date immunization records.

This is such an important initiative for families and for our kids, and I absolutely believe we’re on the right track with this.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It’s my pleasure to rise on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus to respond in debate to Bill 87.

I want to reiterate something that I indicated in the House yesterday, in the event that there is any confusion by the Liberal Party: The Progressive Conservative caucus unreservedly, unequivocally supports a zero-tolerance strategy in our health care system. In fact, we commended the government for bringing this forward to protect patients against sexual misconduct among health-related and regulated professionals.

But we do have some concerns with this bill. It’s an omnibus bill, with five different bills lumped into one large bill. As my colleague from Oshawa pointed out just yesterday, it’s very hard in a 20-minute rotation, let alone a 10-minute rotation, to be able to discuss this bill in its entirety and some of the concerns we have.

There are a few concerns that we do have. The Liberals have been centralizing the health care system and control of our health care system. They have provided no reasons as to why they need access to the personal health records of health care professionals. There are concerns we have with increased ministerial power from this government, particularly when the health care budget is the largest in the entire budget scenario. There has been limited or no consultation with stakeholders and patients.

There has been poor electronic health record system management—and I don’t have to get into eHealth or Panorama for you, Speaker. Finally, if and when the conversation gets toward the bureaucracy, we know that it is bloated, out of control and there are more people today on that sunshine list than ever before.

I just wanted to put those comments on the record for this House to consider.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Michael Mantha: It’s always a privilege to stand in my place on behalf of the good people of Algoma–Manitoulin to bring comments on the member from—oh, my God, I always forget your riding.

Mr. Randy Hillier: Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington.

Mr. Michael Mantha: Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington. That’s a mouthful, my friend—and you always give a good mouthful when you stand in your place.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t here for the debate, for the comments the member brought forward, but I did want to bring a different light. In Algoma–Manitoulin, I have 21 First Nation communities there that have a very keen interest in this particular bill and how it will be affecting their communities.

I understand there has been some outreach that was done to their communities. However, one of the biggest tools and one of the biggest issues that I find each and every time when it comes to these services, particularly seniors active living centres, is that we tend to make a decision and forget about engaging with those First Nations and respecting their culture and their practices that they have in their community for the well-being of their own elders. They bring a wealth of information, they bring a wealth of expertise and they bring a wealth of good knowledge when we come to establishing these pieces of legislation.

One of the biggest issues I have is that we tend to forget about them and not take advantage of that expertise that they have when we have the opportunity to engage them. Again, my riding is quite vast, and it has a lot of need for many of these centres that we’re looking at establishing. So I would expect that there is going to be further engagement and greater engagement so that we could tap into that expertise that is there within those communities and particularly those elders that are there, along with the many other communities and individuals that have been asking for this type of assistance for their communities for such a long time.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Back to the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington for final comments.

Mr. Randy Hillier: It’s a pleasure to be speaking once again to Bill 87. Just to recap for those who weren’t here yesterday, I spoke about a number of specific failings in the health care system that I believe ought to be and need to be priorities of this government. Instead of a bill that really will do little to benefit or improve the health care of constituents, why are they not looking at what needs to be done? I gave the example of the 78 long-term-care beds in my riding that have been closed and have been waiting to be reallocated since September 2012.

The government said that these beds have been temporarily out of service since September 2012. What kind of “temporary out of service” is that?

I spoke about the lack of memory clinics for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s—the inability for those people to get assistance and treatment. I spoke about the appalling and terrible health care treatment that Mike received at the emergency room in the hospital in my community, where they couldn’t do X-rays and they left this man with a broken leg for 13 hours without ice and without X-rays.

There’s a whole raft of necessary improvements we need to make in health care, and instead, this government shuffles paperwork around and brings in all kinds of new legislation that does absolutely nothing to improve the health care of the people of Ontario. It is a shameful action of this government, how they abuse the health care system and shuffle paperwork in the process.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I recognize the member from Leeds–Grenville on a point of order.

Mr. Steve Clark: On a point of order, Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity on behalf of North Carolina alumnus Cody Welton, who’s in our legislative affairs, to advise the House that yesterday the North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65. Go, Heels!

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): That’s not a point of order, but as you say: Go, Heels!

Now, further debate.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I will admit that last night I was watching the basketball game. I had to look up where Gonzaga was. I’d never heard of it. I thought they were making the name up.

Anyway, it’s my pleasure to rise to bring the voice of my constituents of Windsor West to discuss Bill 87, the Protecting Patients Act, 2016. Perhaps because I haven’t spoken to it yet, I’m going to give a brief overview for anybody who is just tuning in now or anyone who might start looking tomorrow at the Hansard and the debate on this bill.

The bill includes five separate schedules and amends or enacts legislation relating to student immunization, the regulation of laboratories, NP prescribing—for those who don’t know what an NP is, that’s a nurse practitioner—seniors active living centres and, most significantly, discipline and licence revocation for health professionals in cases of sexual abuse of patients.

Many people before me have stood up and talked about this being an omnibus bill, which simply means that it’s kind of a hodgepodge. The government has pulled a bunch of things into it. Some of these things may not be directly related. Some of these things—most, if not all, of these—really deserve to have their own legislation. They deserve to have their own debate in this House. They deserve to have their own committee meeting where stakeholders—those front-line workers, anybody who would access these services—could come forward and share with the committee exactly how they feel about the bill.

But rather than doing that, the government has done something they like to do—unfortunately, it’s a very common practice—where they roll a bunch of things into a bill. They hope that one thing is going to be the topic of choice, so that the other things don’t get talked about. Often they slip what we call a poison pill in there—which is an interesting choice of words, I suppose, since we’re talking about health care.

They slip some things into a bill that are not necessarily what’s best for the people of this province, are not what stakeholders are wanting, but they put something else in it that’s good and that’s what they go out and talk about in order to not discuss the things that aren’t so favourable that they may get pushback on from the people of this province. That’s what they’ve done with Bill 87, the Protecting Patients Act.

There are some really, really important topics in here. Again, there are five different schedules, and each one of those deserves its own conversation. In the 10 minutes that I have, I’m not going to be able to do that in a fulsome way. I’m not going to be able to do that on behalf of my constituents. Others in this House have had 20 minutes, double the time to speak to this that I have had, and couldn’t fit it all in.

It’s interesting, because yesterday I was watching the debate, and my colleague from Oshawa had 20 minutes and could barely begin to address what’s in this bill, because there’s so much they have rolled in. Yet on the government side, in 20 minutes, they managed to get four or five speakers up. How are they actually bringing the voice of their constituents?

How are they sharing with the public their own legislation when they’re only taking four or five minutes each to talk about what’s in a bill that others—I’m sure my colleague from Nickel Belt, when she did her hour lead, couldn’t talk about everything in this bill. The reason for that is there are five schedules that all deserve their own individual attention. They all deserve fulsome debate and they’re not going to get that here, and that’s exactly what the government wants. They’re not going to get that in committee, and that’s exactly what the government wants. They just want to be able to push this through.

Some of the issues that are raised in the bill, or some of the things that are addressed in the bill—probably the one that has been talked about the most is sexual abuse by a health care provider. I don’t think anybody in this House would want to see anybody be the subject of sexual abuse by a health care provider. I certainly know I wouldn’t want it for anyone in my family, and I wouldn’t want it for any of my constituents. I don’t think anybody in this room would want that for anyone in the province.

I think it’s important to note—because sometimes when we get into talking about bills, we forget to address one key issue—when we’re talking about something like sexual abuse by a professional—by a health care provider, by an education worker, by anyone—the acts of a few within that profession do not reflect the actions or the behaviour of the majority. Something like this is only going to affect a minority number of physicians or health care practitioners.

I think that’s important to note, because sometimes we get talking about something and we forget to mention that this particular part of the legislation will only target a small population of our health care providers. It’s good that we can say it is not the majority of our health care professionals.

The majority of our health care professionals provide a very valuable service. They do it in a very professional and very meaningful way. I know I’m very attached to my family doctor. He is a fantastic person. I don’t believe that we would ever find him fall under this legislation. I think that’s important to put it out there. Again, the actions of a few do not reflect the actions or behaviour of the majority of health care professionals.

But unfortunately, it is necessary to have legislation talking about sexual abuse by health care practitioners, discussing the minority of physicians who might fall under this legislation. Zero tolerance: We’ve said it time and time again, or at least the majority of people in this room have said it. I know there are a few who kind of strayed. But it has to be zero tolerance. We have to make it clear that there will be swift but fair justice when someone is accused and found guilty of actually perpetuating that type of behaviour when it comes to their patients.

Something we haven’t talked about, too, is that we often think of adults when it comes to legislation like this, but there are children too who often feel like they don’t have a choice or who are afraid to come forward. We need to make sure that anybody who might fall prey to those types of actions feels like they’re comfortable coming forward and are supported coming forward.

We need to make sure that, if something like this happens—and, hopefully, it never will again—if a physician does engage in that kind of behaviour, that the person who was on the receiving end of that behaviour, the victim, has the supports that they’re going to need to deal with the way that they’re going to feel afterwards. We can’t say that everybody is going to feel the same way. We know that everybody is an individual, and their response to that type of behaviour is going to be different.

We need to make sure we have the mental health supports in our communities, and we know—we just had the Ontario Medical Students Association here yesterday, and they’re saying that there aren’t the supports in the community. We have physicians coming forward and saying that mental health supports are sorely lacking in our communities. We’ve had police, corrections officers, EMS, firefighters— you name it; they’ve come forward and said that there is a large gap in services for those who will need mental health support. Anybody who is a victim of sexual abuse by anybody needs those supports.

So the government needs—and that’s not addressed in this bill—to do a better job of making sure that those supports are out there, and in a timely manner. People shouldn’t be waiting months to get in to see a specialist for counselling. That’s inexcusable, and the government needs to address it. Unfortunately, that’s not in this bill.

The other part that’s been talked about quite a bit—and I don’t have much time left; 10 minutes goes very quickly—is the piece around immunization.

Mr. John Yakabuski: It’s enough time for four Liberals.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: It was enough time for four Liberals, oddly enough.

There’s a piece in here about educating parents before they choose to not vaccinate their children. I think that’s an important piece. I know we could go back and forth—differing opinions here amongst the members in this House, differing opinions with people across the province—as to whether or not to vaccinate children. I think it’s important that, although, in this legislation, it still provides an option for parents to choose not to vaccinate, there is a requirement that there is an education piece before they can opt out.

I think that’s important, because I know—I have some friends who have chosen not to vaccinate their children. They’ve done a lot of research, and they’ve done a lot of work. They’ve informed themselves before they made that choice, but not everybody does that.

I think this is a really important piece of this legislation. It requires some education around the potential issues that arise from not vaccinating your children—what that means for your children, for your family, as well as for other children and other families out there. You shouldn’t be making uninformed decisions on something as important as this. Once they’ve had that education piece and they know the ins and outs of vaccinating or not vaccinating, they still have the opportunity to decide to not vaccinate their children, and I think that’s a very important piece in this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions and comments?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’m pleased to rise once again to speak to Bill 87. This legislation, I believe, is really important. It’s about protecting patients and keeping them healthy, but it’s also about strengthening the health care system that we already have. I have to say to you that I have spoken to many people in my constituency and my riding about our health care system and just how strong it is, people who come to me every now and then and say that they’ve had to go through the system and they want us to know that it’s actually working.

They actually come in and thank me for the great work that we are doing. But, as we all know, there’s always more work to be done, and that’s what this bill is all about.

This legislation would make a number of improvements to health care for the people of Ontario, including further upholding and reinforcing our zero-tolerance policy on patient sexual abuse by any regulated health professional. With this bill, we’re also proposing amendments to several statutes at one time to quickly and efficiently implement important initiatives that will improve the health and well-being of Ontarians. That’s what this is all about. It’s about making sure our system is there to support Ontarians when they need it.

Let’s just talk a little bit about what it proposes to do. If passed, the legislation would:

—protect patients from preventable diseases, absolutely important;

—protect patients in order to get access to care;

—protect patients’ rights to medical benefits;

—protect patients from sexual abuse; and

—protect patients by encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.

These are such important initiatives, and I really find it difficult to understand why the parties opposite would really find that these initiatives are not something they would support. I can tell you that from my perspective, this is absolutely the right thing to do. It’s about keeping all Ontarians healthy in our communities.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Mr. John Yakabuski: It’s a pleasure to join the debate and respond to the member for Windsor West this morning.

The minister talks about why we’re not supporting this government in its so-called initiatives. The clearest record of the government in the health care system in my time here has been the eHealth scandal and the Ornge scandal. Those are the things that I remember most about this government. Do we trust them for their improvements in the health care system? No.

There are a couple of things in this omnibus bill I think could have been dealt with singularly, as well. I would like to know, give me one good reason why this government—and there’s so much power into the hands of the minister in this bill that it gives me grave concern—should have access to the medical records of the health professionals, the doctors?

Mr. Ted McMeekin: Because some doctors cheat.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Oh, the minister says because some doctors cheat. Should the government have the health records for you and everybody else here? Should they be available to everybody? Why are we—

Mr. Ted McMeekin: Only as required.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Order.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Why are we demanding that we have the health records? There are a lot of records we could have, but why should we have the health records of doctors when we’ve gone to so much trouble to protect the privacy of the health records of individuals in this province and in this country?

That’s the right thing to do, because everybody should have the right to disclose their personal health information at their will. It should be their decision. Why should the government have access to the health records of doctors? They have not provided a singular, valid reason why that is required. Until they do, I will have grave concerns about this bill.

I see, on too many occasions in this bill, “the minister may,” “the minister can,” “the minister will;” way too much power to the minister in this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Michael Mantha: Of course, from this side of the House, anything that helps, that shows protection for our seniors while they’re in their homes is something that is always going to be supported. I want to thank the member from Windsor West, who was very eloquent with her brief opportunity as far as her comment that she had this morning.

I have this kind of sense that I won’t have the ability to speak to this bill, because I’m getting a sense that the government is going to be calling closure on this bill. It’s one of the things that I have a great concern with; that we don’t have that wholesome opportunity to always speak to the full extent of this bill, because yes, there are four major schedules within the context of this bill—actually, five—that need the specific attention that each and every one of them requires.

The one I want to bring greater attention to is actually

schedule 2, where laboratory and specimen collection and licensing is amended to establish a licensing and inspection process for laboratory facilities to perform tests and take specimens, and establishes a framework to allow hospitals to provide community laboratory services.

Are we looking now again at further privatization of our health care system? Is that what we’re doing? Are we opening this up to more dollars that are going to be coming out of our private sector? These are some of the wholesome discussions we need to have when we’re talking about a large bill like this. It’s funny how something for the privatization or increased privatization of our health care systems comes into the same discussion as a bill that is titled the Protecting Patients Act. That’s the biggest problem that I have with this bill.

The other problem I have is—again, I want to stress this—I don’t think I’m going to get the opportunity to bring the concerns and the views of the people of Algoma–Manitoulin forward on this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I was going to speak about immunization and recommend to my colleagues and anyone watching that they google Penn and Teller. They have a terrific video on vaccination that I found instructive.

I really do want to respond to the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke and his concern about personal health information. This amendment is primarily intended to support the minister’s duty under the RHPA to ensure that health professions are regulated and coordinated in the public interest.

It’s important to note that the proposed amendments expressly state that reports and information provided to the minister must not contain any personal information or personal health information about members if other information would be sufficient for these purposes.

In addition, if the reports and information provided by a college to the minister contain personal information or personal health information about members, the proposed amendments clarify that the reports and information provided to the minister must not contain more personal information or personal health information than is necessary for the purposes set out. These limiting principles were included in the proposed amendments in recognition of the inherently sensitive nature of this information.

We have also consulted with the Information and Privacy Commissioner on these proposals to ensure consistency with the personal health information act, and the IPC did recommend some changes to limit the collection of information. We have made those changes and incorporated them into Bill 87.

This is an important debate. If the member opposite is looking for a reason not to support this bill, he’s going to have to look elsewhere because his concerns have been addressed by the privacy commissioner. Again, I think this is absolutely worth supporting.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Back to the member from Windsor West for final comments.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I appreciate everyone who got up today. I’m not going to say all their ridings because they’re all very long and it would take all of my two minutes.

I want to address something that the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke brought up, which was the use of personal information. He has a very valid point. It’s disturbing that the member from Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale then yelled out, when we’re talking about using a doctor’s personal information—sharing that information—that it’s because “some doctors cheat.”

When you’re talking about billing patients, there are already things in place. I used to work at a dental office. There are regulating bodies where, if you are suspected of billing inappropriately, they do an investigation. A doctor’s personal health information is not necessary to do that investigation. Using the argument that doctors cheat is weak and inappropriate, frankly.

The other thing is that then he yelled across the floor, “Well, only when necessary.” Is it the government’s job to decide when it’s necessary to delve into somebody’s personal health information? Is it my responsibility as an MPP to say that I don’t agree with the member from Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale so, therefore, I have the right to look at his personal health information? It has nothing to do—nothing to do—with doctors’ billings or how they work with their patients. We’re talking about people who may need some medical support themselves, and that is none of the government’s business.

Then the Deputy Premier stands up to clarify their position and talked about not using their personal info or health information if other information is sufficient. They did the exact same thing with education workers in a bill where they said, “Well, if other information is sufficient, we won’t go after their personal health information.” Well, I’m sorry, we’ve seen from this government that we can’t leave it up to the Liberals to decide what’s sufficient and when they should be looking into and having access to people’s personal information. That’s shameful.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further debate?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: It’s a pleasure to join the debate and it’s great to see everybody in such a positive mood in the House this morning and working together.

I think when we’re talking about the Protecting Patients Act there will be differences amongst the three parties, but I hope that all three parties can see that the underlying concept behind this is to advance our health care system. It’s one of the best in the world, but that doesn’t mean we should rest on our laurels. There are things that we obviously should do to make it better.

Having the type of health care system we have in the province of Ontario, it’s the type of system that needs to be managed on a daily basis. We need to be constantly looking for ways to improve that system, and certainly that should be debated in the House, but if we look at Bill 87, Speaker, you’ll see it has five schedules. Each of the schedules proposes to do a certain thing.

If you look at

schedule 1, that would make amendments to the Immunization of School Pupils Act. What that does is that it obviously would protect young people from preventable diseases. If you look at the history of immunization, I know that some people have a differing view. I certainly don’t. I think that immunization has done more for the public health of this continent and this world than any other single measure. I know that there are people who try to raise controversy about the issue and often, I think, so far they’ve been proven wrong.

What this does is make sure that the right information ends up with the right people who are making decisions about immunization for their family or for themselves, indeed.

We also are protecting access to care under

schedule 2. That’s where we bring in amendments to the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, the Health Insurance Act and the Public Hospitals Act.

If we take a look at

schedule 3, that’s amendments to the Ontario Drug Benefit Act. What that does is protect patients’ rights to medical benefits in the province.

Schedule 4 has had a lot of discussion. Some people obviously have a differing view as to the level of tolerance that should be allowed when it comes to sexual abuse from health professionals. I think it’s the majority view of the House, I’ve certainly heard expressed, that we should have a zero-tolerance view in that regard. Others perhaps have strayed from that a little bit. I don’t think we need to stray from that. I think we need to be perfectly clear. All three parties need to be perfectly clear that we have zero tolerance when it comes to the—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I recognize the member from Leeds–Grenville on a point of order.

Mr. Steve Clark: I don’t like to interrupt the minister, but I just want to put on record today that our party is against this government invoking closure on this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): That is not a point of order.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I thought it was going to be another NCAA score, because obviously that’s more important than what we’re discussing today.

When it comes to those we entrust with health care in the province of Ontario, there’s a special relationship that builds up, and we trust those people. When that trust is abused, we need to be able to act quickly and we need to make a statement in this House that we have zero tolerance for any activity in that regard when it comes to sexual abuse.

Schedule 5 of the bill, amendments to the Seniors Active Living Centres Act, protects patients by encouraging a very healthy and active lifestyle. What we’re proposing to do is to amend this legislation. We want to protect patients. We want to keep them healthy.

If passed, what the legislation would do is protect patients from preventable disease through immunization; protect patients’ access to care by amendments that we bring in to the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, the Health Insurance Act and the Public Hospitals Act; protect patients’ right to medical benefits; protect patients, as I just spoke about, from sexual abuse; and allow patients to enjoy a very healthy and active lifestyle in the province of Ontario.

Acts of professional misconduct involving the sexual abuse of a patient are simply always unacceptable. We need to be clear about that. I don’t think there can be any fog when it comes to that. We have to be crystal clear. Others, perhaps, have let it be known that they have a different view to this, but I’ll tell you that the people that don’t have a different view is each one of the regulatory colleges that we’ve talked to about this: the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dental Hygienists, the naturopaths, nurses, psychologists, medical radiation technologists—I could go on and on. The groups that we’ve consulted have been very clear in their views.

I want to talk a little bit about nurse practitioners. A very good friend of mine was a registered nurse and decided she wanted to do a little more in the health care system. She worked very, very hard. She went back to school and she became a nurse practitioner. The skills that this woman had that weren’t being utilized in the past—the advantages of that to the health care system in the province of Ontario are just remarkable. She’s able to do things that simply she wasn’t able to do as an RN but certainly was always capable of doing those things with the right training. Nurse practitioners—by strengthening the role that they play in the health care system, it makes it just a better system.

We’ve heard from the opposition on this—we just heard from the opposition on this. We’ve heard from the third party. But what I’ve heard from the opposition so far is—the member from Kitchener–Waterloo, I think, said it very clearly: “We are going to support this, and we’re going to try to make it better at committee.” The member from Nickel Belt, the opposition health critic, said, “I want this to be a success. You have taken some good steps....

I think you’re going in the right direction.” I’ve heard from the MPP from Parry Sound–Muskoka, from the official opposition, and what he said was, “I think it’s really important that all the various health professionals’ groups get an opportunity to comment on this bill at committee. I look forward to hearing what they have to say at that time.” The member from Oshawa said, “We have already been hearing from care partners and professionals who have thoughts and opinions at this point, so we look forward to working out those amendments in committee, because we have to get this bill right.”

I agree with all those comments. I think they’re very responsible. I think they’re very balanced.

Speaker, as you know, this bill has seen more than nine hours of debate now. We’ve had many of our members of this Legislature speak to the bill. However, at this point, much of the debate is just going over the same points over and over again that were already made by other members. It’s time that this bill be put to second reading and hopefully referred to committee, as the opposition party has asked, where important work can take place. As a result, I move that this question now be put.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Mr. Flynn has moved that the question now be put. There have been over 30 speakers and in excess of nine and a half hours of debate on this particular bill, so I am satisfied that there has been sufficient debate to allow this question to be put to the House. Therefore, is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour of the motion that the question now be put, please say “aye.”

All those opposed to the motion that the question now be put, please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

This particular bill will be deferred. There will be a deferred vote after question period this morning.

Vote deferred.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Orders of the day? I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: No further business, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): The House is now recessed until 10:30.

The House recessed from 0942 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I have two things to mention. First, my seatmate is having a birthday today, so I’d like to wish Jim Wilson a happy birthday. That guarantees he won’t speak to me for the rest of question period.

I also have a very special guest here from Nepean–Carleton, a long-time friend of mine, a former mayor of Osgoode and a former city councillor in Ottawa: Doug Thompson. He is here today with our deputy leader, Steve Clark.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Please help me welcome, in the east members’ gallery: From the Ontario Psychological Association, we have the president, Dr. Sylvain Roy, and CEO Janet Kasperski.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I want to welcome, from my riding of Nipissing, a good friend of mine, Éric Boutilier.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I’d like to welcome Chris Buckley, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, who is here today. Thevaki Thevaratnam is here today as well from the OFL. Erin Warman from OPSEU in Niagara is also here in the members’ gallery. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Norm Miller: I’d like to welcome Lucille Frith from Huntsville, who’s here at Queen’s Park today.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’d like to say that the page captain today is Faith Phibbs. Her parents, Sherry and Rick Phibbs, are in the gallery. Give a big wave and applause to my good friends.

Also, I just turned my head and saw that Erin Warman is also in the gallery today. Welcome, everybody, to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: I’d like to welcome today, in the members’ east gallery, the board of directors of Conservation Ontario: general manager Kim Gavine, chair Dick Hibma; vice-chair Lin Gibson, vice-chair Mark Burnham, director Doug Thompson, director Cliff Evanitski, and Chris Darling.

I’d also like to invite members to the Conservation Ontario reception, immediately following question period, in rooms 228 and 230.

Mr. Bill Walker: It’s my pleasure to introduce Dick Hibma, member of Conservation Ontario’s board of directors, the chair of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and, most importantly, a great community member from the great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I have some good friends in the gallery today: Richard Wyma, who is the general manager of the Essex Region Conservation Authority, and Amherstburg councillor Rick Fryer, who is the chair of ERCA. They will be joined later by Windsor city councillor Irek Kusmierczyk.

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: From the great riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, the guests of page captain Zara Trainor: her mother, Kyra Trainor, and her grandmother, Sheila Lamb. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: I ask all members of this House to join me in welcoming some amazing volunteers from my office, Raman Kalkat and Arjaena Sahota, who are in the members’ gallery.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further introductions? Last call for introductions. The member for Kingston and the Islands.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I’m not sure if it’s possible to welcome the current president of the Ontario Psychological Association, and Janet Kasperski. Welcome to Queen’s Park. It’s an honour to have you here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): This one is called ragging the puck. I’m just going to make sure that everyone is invited to participate in the very popular pastime of Lego. We have with us, in the heritage room across from the Speaker’s office in room 180, across the room from 180, we are asking—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Yes, I am. This will go down as a Speaker filibuster. I can actually have the lead stood down, but I think maybe, in terms of inviting everyone to participate in the Lego event this afternoon, to put a Lego. For the 150th anniversary, we’re building a model of Queen’s Park. We’re building a model of Queen’s Park with Lego. Come and join us.

I think now I’ve finished my announcement, and I am going to call for question period.

Oral Questions

Autism treatment

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Minister of Education. We are joined here today by so many passionate activists and parents of the Ontario Autism Coalition. I hope everyone in the House will take the time to read the report they released today, because they highlighted some very important problems in our system.

For instance, we know that 79% of school boards say they spend more money on special education than they receive from the province. Because of that, there are certain needs, certain special education needs that frankly aren’t funded by this government. We need accountability for those special education dollars to make sure no child is left behind.

Will the government commit to a full and transparent review of the special education funding formula?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member opposite for the question. I want to just say that we are working with the Ontario Autism Coalition. They are participating in the Ontario autism program committee. I’ve met with that committee. I’ve met with members of the coalition, as has the Minister of Children and Youth Services. We are investing in supports to children who have autism and who have that particular exceptionality.

Our investment in special education is $2.7 billion. While there are many needs that are in place in our school boards, there’s always more that we can do. We’re constantly working together with our partners, with our stakeholders like the Ontario Autism Coalition, to provide the best education possible for all students in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Minister of Education: I did not get an answer to the real challenge we have that school boards have to spend more on special education than they receive in funding from the province. There’s a cost to this.

Because of this government’s continuous failure to support children with autism, we hear story after story of children who are left behind: for example, six-year-old Carter from Cobourg. Carter is on the severe end of the spectrum. He is non-verbal and using a communicative device, and is a flight risk. He requires constant support. But in September, his family was told they were going to lose their highly trained education assistant. Carter’s family fought back, and Carter got to keep his EA, but it was after an emotional push by the family.

Will Carter and his family have to do this every September? Can’t we have the support for these children?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: We are continuously providing more supports for children with autism in our schools. We have 20,000 students who have autism in our schools. In fact, let me just inform the Leader of the Opposition that students with autism are moving on to post-secondary education at four times the numbers that they were.

We are ensuring that all students in our schools who have exceptionalities, and especially students with autism, receive the supports that they need. We have trained over 30,000 education workers and teachers in ABA so that those supports are available in the classroom. There are also investments in specialized supports for students so that they receive the supports that they need in our schools.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Minister of Education: I will repeat, special education funding does not meet the demand. There are children in this province who are being left behind.

Here’s another example. I’ve got here a note, a story about Melanie’s son from Niagara Falls. Melanie wrote to us and said that despite clear paperwork stating that her son needed one-to-one support, he wasn’t given the proper help he needed. Do you know what happened on world autism day in 2012? Instead of being given the support he deserved, Melanie’s son was suspended from school. The school board told Melanie that there was no money to provide them with what he requires. Her son wasn’t welcome at school.

Can the minister tell Melanie why there is no money to have the proper education and the proper academic experience for her son? It’s not right.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Leader of the Opposition is raising some very important issues, but I think it is important to remind him and others that when he was a federal MP, when he was in Ottawa, he actually voted against creating a national autism strategy.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member was presented with a bill in the House of Commons to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism. He voted against this bill, the National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act. He said no to children across this country who have autism, he said no to their parents, he said no to expanding access to IBI and ABA.

Today, he stands in the Legislature being—

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order, please. I would advise against it.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Unless it’s unknown, there should be no other noise-making in this House.

New question.

Autism treatment

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Minister of Education. The natural inclination of this government when they’re embarrassed by their own position, when they can’t defend their own position, is to attack others.

Today, the Ontario—

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It would be helpful if I didn’t hear anything from that side so I could go after the other side.

Leader?

Mr. Patrick Brown: The Ontario Autism Coalition report released today had this to say: “Teacher candidates should graduate knowing they will work regularly with students with exceptionalities—and they should embrace this opportunity rather than fear or avoid it.” This government has neglected the support these future teachers need.

Why has this government not done more to prepare young teachers for the realities of Ontario classrooms? Please, could we have an answer on the report, not another drive-by attack?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: We actually have, as part of our two-year curriculum in teachers’ college, mandatory content on special needs and exceptionalities.

For the Leader of the Opposition to stand in this Legislature, claiming to be a champion of parents and children with autism when he had an opportunity to help those students—and he said no. He said no to children and to families, and to developing a national strategy for children with autism.

The member opposite only shows interest in parents and children with autism when he can use it as a part of his political ambitions. That is wrong. That is absolutely wrong.

We know that children with autism deserve the best possible education in our province, and that’s exactly what we’re working on.

Interjections.

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, come to order.

Carry on.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the Minister of Education: The minister seems oblivious to the fact that they are in government. They have a record that they should be embarrassed of. They have a record where they took the families with children with autism to court. They can’t defend their own record, so they choose to throw smears. Children deserve better than this pathetic answer.

The reality is that not even the teachers in this province believe that you’re providing the necessary supports. Here’s an example: The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario said that there is a “critical lack of support” for children with significant behavioural issues. Sam Hammond from ETFO said, “Many of these students are suffering and we need to step up to help them.”

Sam Hammond is right. We need to provide support. This spin that the government is saying that they are providing training, the union says the exact opposite is happening. We need support for these children. We need support for our teachers. Will this government stop abandoning them?

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Etobicoke North, come to order.

Minister?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Here’s our record: Since 2003, we have increased funding for special education needs in this province by 70%—$2.7 billion to support—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Nepean–Carleton will withdraw.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Withdraw.

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

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: There are more EAs in Ontario schools than ever before: an increase of over 6,300, or 37%, including 900 more EAs since 2013. Over the past decade, we have invested $77 million to strengthen our school capacity and to improve the learning environment for students with autism who are welcome in our schools, who are welcome in our classrooms and who are doing better.

There is more work to be done, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Minister of Education: This government has no reason to be proud of their record. Frankly, you wouldn’t have seen hundreds and hundreds of families with a child with autism protesting at Queen’s Park if this record was one that they could be proud of. They wouldn’t have taken these families to court if they were proud of their record. Frankly, this government’s record on helping families with autism has been shameful.

Sam Hammond, on behalf of the teachers, also said that too many children, a lot of them as young as four or five, are languishing on long wait-lists for vital early interventions, interventions they need. These include assessments that would give them access to supports. But even then, many of the resources are simply inadequate and will not meet the growing demand. That’s what ETFO had to say.

So you have the families saying it’s inadequate. You have the teachers saying it’s inadequate. The only person in this province saying that what they’re doing is adequate is the minister. Do the right thing. Support—

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

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member opposite talks about our record. I’d like to talk about his record—his voting record. His voting record in Ottawa, it’s in black and white; he can look it up himself. Anybody can. He voted against creating a national autism strategy. He might not even remember doing that, but I can tell you that he voted against a bill to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism. He decided to vote against that bill. He said no to those kids that he claims to champion today. He said no to those parents that he claims to champion today.

Once again we see him standing in the Legislature. When we compare what he says today with how he voted in the past, I think he has some explaining to do about his record.

Executive compensation

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Hydro One is applying to increase the cost of delivery by nearly 20% at the same time as they give senior executives massive raises, including a 500% increase for the CEO. Does the Acting Premier think this is right?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to the Hydro One rate application, Mr. Speaker, we recognize that we’re going to be holding all of our increases to the rate of inflation. When we have our fair hydro plan coming into effect, our government is lowering those bills by 25%. We will ensure that we achieve this reduction no matter the outcome of this application.

In fact, Hydro One’s rural customers will be seeing even greater reductions from our fair hydro plan. We will be expanding the support to those customers facing some of the highest delivery costs in the province, including Hydro One’s rural customers. They will be seeing a reduction between 40% and 50% on their bills, Mr. Speaker. That is significant for those families. We will achieve this, as we said, no matter the outcome of this application.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Hydro One is applying for a nearly 20% increase while they give their senior executives multi-million-dollar raises. The Liberals promised that privatizing Hydro One would mean lower bills, Speaker. That promise was total nonsense. Hydro bills are sky-high and still rising. Hydro One is applying for delivery cost increases of nearly 20%.

Will the Liberal government do what is right, stop the sell-off of Hydro One today and stop rewarding executives for jacking up hydro bills?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, let’s talk about what this executive has done with Hydro One over the last year. They’ve actually saved $60 million, and that leads directly back to ratepayers, by lowering bills. They’ve also given customers choice with billing cycles, helping them to better manage their bills, and they’ve introduced e-billing, working towards mobile billing as well. They ended the practice of security deposits for new customers and, of course, introduced a voluntary ban on winter disconnections. That is something that they’ve done as they have become a customer-focused business.

We’ve also seen, through our fair hydro plan and working with Hydro One, a 40% to 50% reduction that will be seen for all of our rural and northern communities, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Anyone can see that the privatization of Hydro One has been a disaster. According to the FAO, it’s increasing the province’s debt. It means bills are much higher and delivery cost increases are going to go up by 20%, all to pay for bigger executive paycheques and shareholder profits. This is exactly why 80% of the people of Ontario want to keep Hydro One public.

Will the government admit that this has been a huge mistake, and stop the privatization before it’s too late?

Interjections.

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

Mr. Paul Miller: Listen to the people.

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

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: The criticism of the NDP’s position with Hydro One doesn’t just come from us. There are also many others out there. Tim Kiladze of the Globe and Mail calls the belief that ownership of utilities in Ontario affects rates as one of the biggest misconceptions about electricity. Martin Regg Cohn agrees that “Hydro One can only charge what the OEB deems reasonable.” Even Brady Yauch, an economist at the Consumer Policy Institute and a frequent government critic, calls the idea that privatization increases rates “a straw man.”

One of the things that we will continue to do on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, is invest in this province by building infrastructure, by building roads, by building bridges, something that they would not do because they have no idea how to pay for it. Just like their plan on electricity, it’s pie in the sky. We have a plan that works. We have a system that’s working and we’re building infrastructure in Ontario.

Executive compensation

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Acting Premier. The Premier and the Liberal government took no time at all to sign off on a nearly $5-million salary for the CEO of Hydro One, but the government has spent two years trying to figure out if a working mom should be able to take a sick day without losing a day’s pay—or worse, being fired.

Can the government explain why the CEO of Hydro One gets a 500% raise, but people in Ontario could still be fired for getting sick?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to our agency executive compensation, our government strongly believes in ensuring that public salaries are fair to employees but also reasonable to the public purse. This isn’t just talk. We’ve demonstrated this commitment time and again. That’s why we froze all salaries across the broader public sector in 2012, and that’s why we’ve implemented a new framework designed to test the fairness of public salaries.

Ontario is now approaching the end of the planned salary freeze, but we’re continuing to keep a strict eye on our agencies. Salaries will remain frozen until agencies comply with our framework. Just like we did with the colleges, we’re going to send agencies back to the drawing board if we’re not satisfied. This includes agencies within my ministry. Work is under way to ensure that these frameworks and the remaining agencies—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: There is no reason a woman should take home less pay than a man doing the same work. People should be able to have their work

schedule so that they can plan their lives. People who are employees should be recognized as employees, with the rights that come along with that. And after two years of study, nobody knows where the Liberals stand. It’s a stark contrast to a 500% raise for the Hydro One CEO and $11 million in pay for just five well-heeled executives at the new privatized Hydro One.

Can the Acting Premier explain to people why her and her government’s priority is million-dollar raises for the bosses at Hydro One while everyone else is still waiting for action on minimum wage and decent jobs?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the honourable member for the question. Certainly, there are a number of issues that are facing the workplaces in Ontario today, and this government is meeting them head-on. Never in the history of this province has anybody ever looked at the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Act at the same time. We’ve gone out and done that.

We’ve talked with organized labour. We’ve talked with business. We’ve talked with advocates. We’ve talked with employees themselves. We’ve talked with people as to how we should close the gender wage gap. I don’t think there’s a person in this House, Speaker, who doesn’t realize that the gender wage gap unfairly disadvantages women across Ontario and across every other jurisdiction. This applies to government agencies, this applies to government itself, and it applies to the private sector and non-profits.

We’re prepared to take these issues head-on. We’ve got a group that’s advising us on the gender wage gap—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): You’ll have a wrap-up in a moment.

Finish, please.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: There are people who like to talk about this issue; this government is going to do something about it.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, for 14 years the quality of work has steadily eroded under this government’s watch—steadily. Temp agencies have proliferated under this government’s watch here in Ontario.

You know what, Speaker? Governing is about priorities. Ontarians are concerned to see that the Liberal priority, once again, is a few powerful people at the top. And regular families are waiting for answers, and waiting for answers again. Will the government start getting the basics right, stop the raises for Hydro One executives, and raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: The minimum wage in the province of Ontario has been pegged to inflation for a number of years now. We went out and we talked to people. We talked to the people in the province of Ontario. We talked to business. We talked to labour. We talked to poverty advocates. We talked to those people who represent people who are living at the lower income level. We asked them, “What is the best process to put in place to ensure that the minimum wage in the province of Ontario keeps pace with inflation?”

Mr. Paul Miller: It’s still below the poverty level.

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

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: They gave us advice. They said, “Set the minimum wage rate in April of the year and introduce it in October.” Advocates wanted certainty. They wanted security. Business wanted flexibility.

We stood up for people who earn minimum wage in the province of Ontario. At a time when they were needed the most, the NDP sat on their hands and did nothing for the people of the province of Ontario.

Interjections.

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

Autism treatment

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is to the Minister of Education. We’ve all heard about the challenges students with autism face when they transition into school. They sit on a waiting list for a psychological assessment to get their individualized education plan, or an IEP, and even with an IEP, they wait for an educational assistant to support them in the classroom.

In a report released today, the Ontario Autism Coalition recommends a review of special education. Will the minister commit to reviewing special education funding to ensure students with exceptionalities get the help they need?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: First off, I’d like to thank the Ontario Autism Coalition for their continued advocacy when it comes to autism services in Ontario and for children with special needs. I want to thank them.

You know, Mr. Speaker, our government is moving forward with investments in autism services. The advice that we receive from the autism advisory committee, of which the Ontario Autism Coalition is a member, is greatly appreciated.

We want to ensure that we strengthen our schools for children with special needs, and that’s exactly what we are doing. In 2016, we announced that we would be investing an additional $500 million to improve autism services in Ontario. This school year, school boards are receiving more than $2.7 billion to support students with special education needs. Absolutely, there is more to be done, and that’s exactly what we’re focused on.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Minister, there is no doubt that the Ontario Autism Coalition is doing excellent work, but they are now looking to you for action. There are currently 20,000 students with autism attending Ontario public schools. We all know that autism doesn’t end at five and it certainly doesn’t end at school.

Will the minister commit to reviewing how special education funding is being used in our schools, as recommended by the Ontario Autism Coalition?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Mr. Speaker, it’s very difficult to listen to the opposition give advice on education when they left it in a complete mess.

We know that more needs to be done for students with special needs. That’s why we have constantly increased our support. In fact, we’ve invested $77 million to strengthen school capacity in improving the learning environment for students with autism. We have 20,000 students with autism in our schools. As I have said, many of them—four times as many—are moving on to post-secondary education and on to their life.

Just this morning, the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore, the member from Kingston and the Islands and I were out at Silver Creek in an environment that is supporting students with special education needs, including autism. We see the great support that they are receiving in their communities. We’re going to continue to do more for them.

Tenant protection

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Acting Premier. Yesterday, we learned that tenants in Liberty Village have been told by their landlord that they can either pay double their current rent or move out by July 1. After receiving this outrageous rent increase notice, one tenant said, “I didn’t even know that was legally possible.”

Yes, this is legally possible because of a loophole in the Residential Tenancies Act that allows landlords of rentals built after 1991 to raise the rent to whatever they want. Will the Premier do the right thing and close this loophole, as the NDP has proposed?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Our colleague, the Minister of Housing, did address this type of question yesterday. We do, on this side of the House, find it absolutely unacceptable that so many Ontarians are faced with housing costs that continue to rise dramatically. As he said, this is exactly why we are developing a plan to address unfair rises in rental costs by delivering substantive rent control reform in Ontario as part of an ongoing review of the Residential Tenancies Act.

The ministry has, in fact, consulted very broadly on this, and we have a number of initiatives that we have also taken in the last couple of years. I will address more of that in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Back to the Acting Premier: Housing policies should be about providing homes for people, not profits for investors. But for the last 14 years, this government has put investors first by letting some landlords raise the rent to whatever they want. This loophole gives investors an easy way to evict tenants whenever they need a unit for quicker sale.

All tenants deserve the same rent protection, including tenants in Liberty Village. Will the Premier close this rent control loophole?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Of course, our government has taken really substantial action in a number of different areas over the last few years. We’ve been working with our municipal partners to make secondary suites a quick way to provide affordable housing in our communities; passing inclusionary zoning legislation that will empower municipalities to require the construction of affordable units in new residential developments; freezing the municipal property tax on apartment buildings to provide relief to renters; and doubling the maximum refund for first-time homebuyers etc.

Now, of course, we do need to recall that the third party was in government from 1991 to 1995, and I don’t recall that they took any action in relation to this member’s private member’s bill.

Health care funding

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I know health care is a top priority for our government, providing all Ontarians with timely access to the care they need, whether at home, in their community or in outstanding hospitals. It is of the utmost importance to our government, but also to me as the member from Northumberland–Quinte West.

I know our government increased funding for health care by $1 billion this year, including investing $485 million in our hospitals to improve access to care. Because of investments like these, our government has reduced wait times for surgeries, increased the number of Ontarians who have health care providers, and we have expanded access to services for Ontarians across the province. In fact, just last week, the Canadian Institute for Health Information released a report identifying this progress.

Can the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care please inform this House on some of the important progress our government is making on reducing wait times?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: First of all, my mom and my dad, Bill and Jean Hoskins, are watching today. It’s my dad’s 89th birthday. Last week was my mom’s birthday as well. I just wanted to give them that shout-out and say happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, the CIHI report from last week confirms that Ontario is making great progress on reducing wait times. Eighty-five per cent of hip replacements in this province are completed within the medical benchmark. That’s 6% better than the national average. Eighty-one per cent of knee replacements in Ontario are completed within the medical benchmark. That’s 12% better than the national average. Ninety-nine per cent of radiation therapy begins within the medical benchmark—again, the best in all of Canada.

The report also notes that Ontario has the lowest wait times for MRI and CAT scans in the entire country. This is important progress, and I wanted to share that with the Legislature and Ontarians today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: Thank you, Minister, for setting the record straight in this House. I know health care is a top priority for our government. I have witnessed first-hand in my riding the positive impact that our health care investments are making, such as an additional $2.88 million this year to Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital and the Quinte Health Care Corp.

Mr. Speaker, I know that this isn’t the first time our government has been recognized for improving wait times and for leading Canada when it comes to beating wait-time targets. Unfortunately, both opposition parties continue to spread misinformation about our health care system, especially in rural Ontario.

Can the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care please remind this House of the findings from the Fraser report on wait times that was released just a few months ago?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Those third-party reports, scientific and evidence-based, are so important for us to understand the progress that we’re making. The Fraser report indicated just several months ago that Ontario has the shortest wait times from GP to specialist in the entire country—in fact, about 25% shorter than the national average. We also have the second-shortest wait times from specialist to treatment, 20% shorter than the national average.

On average, Ontarians are receiving care more than four weeks earlier than what happens across this country. We have the shortest total wait times in Canada, the shortest wait time for a CT scan, for an ultrasound and an MRI. In just one year, from 2015 to 2016, wait times for general surgery have gone down by a further 13%, wait times for medical oncology are 39% faster and elective cardiovascular surgery, 36% faster.

Autism treatment

Mrs. Gila Martow: My question is to the minister of children and youth. Today, the Ontario coalition for autism released its report to improve outcomes for students with autism in Ontario’s schools. Like so many parents of children with autism from across Ontario, they are also worried about the specifics of the new autism program—so worried that they’re speaking out in the media. Tanya Corey, a parent from Ottawa, says that she’s scared and doesn’t trust the government.

Parents need information about the new program so that they can plan. Mr. Speaker, what is the minister going to tell Tanya and other parents of autistic kids to convince them to trust our government to do what is in their child’s best interests?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to thank the member for the question. I’m quite proud of the direction we’re going in as a government when it comes to supporting families with children with autism. We’re going to implement a new plan. Within that new plan, we’ll create 16,000 new spaces. We’ll increase the amount of spaces for ABA during the transition period.

As the member knows, last week, during my statement, I said anyone who is actually receiving transition funding today will continue to receive that funding until the new program is put in place.

This is a program that I believe all members in this House can be proud of. We have the best-supported program in the entire country, if not North America. It’s something we should be proud of. I will be sending out a correspondence to parents right across Ontario, like I did months ago, to ensure that they understand exactly what that transition will look like.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Gila Martow: Julie Bridgen drove all the way from Brant today. Her son has been improperly restrained at school, left unsupervised at times, and once her son was even found locked in a computer lab in the dark. Unfortunately, the school board won’t allow her son’s IBI therapist to provide any help in the classroom.

Will the minister show compassion and offer Julie’s son the support that he needs, and not make them wait for the plan to be revealed? They need the support now.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Mr. Speaker, I’ve been very clear that I will be communicating different elements within the plan. In June, we will be launching a brand new plan.

I was at city hall yesterday with advocates, with parents and with city councillors. One of the speakers got up and talked about building a national strategy across this country. It is incredible to stand in this Legislature and have the Leader of the Opposition stand and ask these questions when he had an opportunity to support a national plan a decade ago, and he failed our students.

Interjections.

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

New question.

Employment standards

Ms. Cindy Forster: My question is to the Acting Premier. Today, I was joined by three young workers—some in the gallery today—from different sectors here at Queen’s Park to talk about the urgent need for better jobs, better wages and better benefits. They talked to me about how hard it was to organize, to join a union and to get a first contract once there.

So today I’m introducing a bill that will do just that, a bill that will go a long way to making sure that people in this province have the protections they need to secure stable jobs. These young workers echoed the message I hear every day across the province: People are concerned about how unstable their working conditions are.

Will this government do the right thing and make sure that Ontario workers have access to a better and fairer process to join a union and get a first contract once they’re there?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: About two years ago, we started a very important conversation in the province. We talked to families, we talked to businesses, we talked to organized labour, and it was about what work had become in the province of Ontario and what it should be. The NDP, this morning, called this process “a waste of time,” and I just cannot agree with that. Speaking with workers, speaking with families, speaking with organized labour, speaking with unions and speaking with business is never a waste of time.

It’s been over 25 years since we looked at the Employment Standards Act—we looked at the Labour Relations Act, which governs how you join your union and what rules are associated with the joining of unions.

Speaker, for the past two years, we’ve had a conversation with the people of Ontario. We’ll be bringing forward the report in the very near future that speaks to exactly what the NDP is talking about. They’re a little late to the party on this one.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I think workers are ready for some doing, not some talking.

Workers across Ontario have not seen improvements to the legislation in over two decades, 14 years of which the Liberals have been in power, and they’ve done nothing to date. New Democrats value public consultation, but the public has been clear on these issues for years, so clear in fact that the government’s federal counterparts also agree, and they already have legislation tabled.

We’ve seen how quickly the government was willing to claw back emergency leave days for non-union workers in the auto sector through regulation, and we saw how quickly the government was willing to move for EllisDon. So why isn’t the government moving just as quickly for the workers in this province?

Will this government do the right thing today and make sure that workers get better and fairer access to join a union and get a first contract arbitration once they’re there?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: The Changing Workplaces Review is foundational to some of the changes the member talks about. The issues that have been raised obviously are things like scheduling, things like the ability to join a union, things like the conditions that vulnerable workers face when they find themselves with temporary health agencies, hours of work, pay, vacation pay, non-enforcement of employment standards. These are all the issues that are being addressed by the Changing Workplaces Review.

Speaker, I have the final report now from the special advisers. We’re going to review it. We’re going to consider the recommendations. It’s got to be translated. It’s got to be made accessible. But now, three weeks or four weeks before the release of the report, the NDP suddenly finds religion on these issues. We’ve been working on this for years, and it’s something I look forward to bringing to this House to discuss these important issues because they really affect precarious and vulnerable—

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

New question.

Climate change

Ms. Daiene Vernile: My question is for the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Recently, Ontario held its first-ever cap-and-trade auction. The results of this historic auction are now in, and show that 100% of the allowances that were available have been sold. Strong participation means industry is engaged and is on board with our efforts to reach our emission reduction targets. It also means that we can and will continue to make progress when it comes to investing in green projects. The true mark of success, however, is going to be the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

By working alongside other jurisdictions in the Western Climate Initiative, Ontario is committed to achieving the highest amount of emission reductions at the lowest possible cost.

Could the minister please explain to the House what the latest results of Ontario’s cap-and-trade auction mean?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Mr. Speaker, the auction raised just over $471 million, which goes into programs. It also kept the price of transition very low, at $18.08, which is very important.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It doesn’t matter where you sit. I can still hear you.

Finish, please.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: There’s something called the Herfindahl-Hirschman evaluation, which tells us what the level of participation is. We had strong participation from all sectors of the economy. We’re probably looking at 80%-up of participation, which is one of the highest, which means there is big buy-in from business across Ontario and participation in the market.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Daiene Vernile: I’d like to thank the minister for his response. It’s promising to hear that the province is engaging industry in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s also promising to learn that we’re building bridges with other jurisdictions in the global effort to tackle climate change. Ontario’s cap-and-trade auction was administered by the Western Climate Initiative. This is a non-profit organization that develops strict oversight rules in the carbon market, which the opposition has publicly stated it would opt out of. Speaker, climate change knows no boundaries, so a united front, as exemplified by the members of the WCI, is needed to make real progress in this effort.

Could the minister please talk to this House about the next steps involved in Ontario’s climate change efforts?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Thanks to the member.

The Pembina Institute—very well regarded—says that every million dollars invested in energy and home retrofits generates $3 million to $4 million in additional economic activity. So our $2.5-billion program would create $7.5 billion to $10 billion in investment and business activity. It would also, according to Pembina, create 13 jobs for every million dollars, which, if you do the math, is a minimum of 33,000 jobs, one of the biggest job creations.

It will also, Pembina estimates, cut home heating costs, on average, by 50%. Let me say that again: Pembina estimates that a retrofitted home costs about 50% less to heat.

What the opposition is going to do is jack that $18 to $74, tear up all of those programs, cancel $18 billion and leave homeowners with high bills—

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

Grandview Children’s Centre

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. The Grandview Children’s Centre is the only treatment centre in Durham region where children and youth with special needs and disabilities receive the therapy they need. Does the minister know how many children are on the wait-list for services at Grandview?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’d like to thank the member for the question.

Ontario children’s treatment centres provide rehabilitation services for children and youth with special needs, and families. Since 2008-09, we’ve continued to make investments in these areas. In fact, we’ve invested over $312 million in capital funding for treatment centres here in the province of Ontario since 2008-09.

Mr. Speaker, Grandview is an important place for families in Durham region. I’ve had the opportunity to go out there and meet with parents. They have a full commitment from this government that we’re going to look for ways, through a process we have here in government, to make capital investment. There’s an application and a process that’s in play. We’re going to ensure that we follow the process in order to ensure that we’re delivering the best types of programs for our young people here in the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lorne Coe: Back to the minister: Almost 3,000 children in Durham region are waiting to receive services at Grandview. Because Grandview is waiting to expand, families and children with special needs are not receiving the services they desperately need.

The town of Ajax has donated the land for Grandview’s new treatment centre. The Grandview foundation has raised over $8 million from the community. But for nine years after multiple ministers, this government has yet to commit the necessary funds to the Grandview Children’s Centre.

What are you waiting for, Minister? Will you support the expansion of Grandview Children’s Centre now so that the families and children with special needs in Durham region get the help they need?

Interjections.

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

Minister.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to thank the member for the question. The member knows that there are 21 children treatment centres here in the province of Ontario; 20 are funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide—

Mr. Lorne Coe: Talk about Grandview.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member, come to order.

Mr. Arthur Potts: Oh, guess who’s getting thrown out today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for Beaches–East York is not helping his cause. He has now been told, regardless of where you sit.

The member from Whitby–Oshawa, come to order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): And the chief government whip.

Carry on.

Hon. Michael Coteau: This government is committed to making the investments necessary to ensure that our children and youth here in the province of Ontario get the services they need. In fact, when we’re talking about children treatment centres, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services invested more than $500 million into special needs and to support families and children with special needs in 2016-17.

We continue to make investments. There are three facilities that we’ve created in the last few years—

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

Autism treatment

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is to the Acting Premier. We are joined today by members of the Ontario Autism Coalition, families whose lives continue to be dominated by stress, anxiety, frustration and financial hardship. The new autism program is supposed to be launched in just two months yet families still have no idea where they stand. As they try to plan for the future, many are being told that they should register their child for school now, in case there’s nothing else available. Families need to plan for the new school year and they can’t do it. Schools need to be prepared.

When will your government be clear with families that the services they need will be there and allow them to plan for the future?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I know that the member opposite was in the Legislature last week when I had the opportunity to make a ministerial statement on autism. I was very clear at that point that we’re going to go forward with some new options in June. I’ve been interested and am waiting for the implementation committee to come back with some recommendations. We want to go into a direct-funding model. I am waiting for the implementation committee to come back with some recommendations.

I’ve been very clear: We’re going to create 16,000 new spaces here in the province of Ontario. We’ve been very clear that we’ve made a historic half-a-billion-dollar investment into supporting families with children with autism. We opened up five more diagnostic hubs here in the province of Ontario, one of which I visited last week. We’re diagnosing children earlier so they get the treatment they deserve.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? The member from London West.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Again to the Acting Premier: The report released today by the Ontario Autism Coalition makes it clear that the education system is failing students with autism and that the supports that are available to students vary widely across the province. It’s no wonder; this year, 25 school boards received $8 million less in special education funding than the year before, and according to People for Education, 79% of school boards are spending more on special education funding than they receive from the province.

When will this Liberal government accept its responsibility to provide the funding, training and resources that students with autism need to be successful at school regardless of where they live in Ontario?

Hon. Michael Coteau: Minister of Education.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member for the opportunity to address this question. One of the things that we do in our education system is to ensure that, six months before a child with autism comes into our schools, there is a transition team that meets together with the school boards, the families, as well as any therapists who are supporting that child, to develop a transition plan and to ensure that, six months after they are in school, they are continuously monitored and checked on.

We want to ensure that students with autism receive the supports that they need. We have 20,000 students with autism who are in our schools. They are getting the much-needed support.

I want to say to the member opposite, in your plan in 2014—

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

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: —there was no mention at all, Mr. Speaker, of education. There was no plan in place other than to cut $600 million out of the funding for education and health.

Curriculum

Mrs. Cristina Martins: My question is for the Minister of Education. The focus of this government has been on how to best prepare our students for this constantly changing and globally interconnected world. In the face of changing times, the students in my riding of Davenport and all across Ontario need a wider range of skills and knowledge to succeed. They’ll also need to learn how to be resilient and adaptable in a world where the only constant is change, as they explore their future career opportunities in an increasingly complex job market.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Can you tell us more about what our government is doing to ensure that our students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed now and in the future?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to say thank you to my colleague the member from Davenport. I was so proud to announce the launch of a series of career pilots in the riding of Davenport. In fact, we were with students who were participating in the Specialist High Skills Major program on transportation, and I got to change a tire for the first time. It was quite a great event.

As part of this new initiative, we are working with our great educators and partnering with them as researchers to explore new ways of learning, including teaching in entrepreneurship, career and life planning, digital literacy and, of course, financial literacy. If I can say, Mr. Speaker, strengthening financial literacy is a priority for our students. It’s a priority for us, as a government. We are moving forward with that. The career studies pilot projects are a step in the right direction as we work together with our educators.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Cristina Martins: Thank you, Minister. It was truly a pleasure to participate in that announcement with you. I know from Ontarians of all ages that they really value this initiative.

I was actually back at St. Mary Catholic Academy last Friday and had an opportunity once again to speak to the staff and students from that school in my riding, and all are thrilled about this revamp to the curriculum.

As a parent, I am pleased to hear that we are providing additional tools to our students to make informed decisions about how to plan for their financial future. Minister, can you tell us more about what the collaborative work behind these pilot projects is all about?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: As part of the pilot projects, the focus of the educators, who are acting as researchers, will investigate new approaches to the course. We will be gathering that feedback from the educators as well as from the students.

It will allow us to acquire the skills and the knowledge that we need to refresh our career studies course in grade 10, ensuring that students receive an education for the new global economy. It ensures that they have focuses on critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship.

These pilots are a great opportunity for our government to work closely with our educators as—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Thank you, Speaker.

The feedback from these pilots will be instrumental in informing what the course could become.

I also want to mention that Prakash from the Toronto Youth Cabinet and his team have talked to us about enhancing financial literacy, and we’re doing just that.

Autism treatment

Mrs. Julia Munro: My question is for the Minister of Education. A report from the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis recently called for action on autism support. In fact, it found that the province and the child would benefit from treatment, as the long-term benefits outweigh immediate costs, not to mention that it’s just the right thing to do. In fact, the report noted that early help can save up to $3.7 million over a person’s lifetime, and proper treatment would make for a more independent person.

Will the minister heed this advice and give children the support they need?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Education.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Our top priority is ensuring the success and the well-being of all our students, including students with autism spectrum disorder. Over the past decade, we’ve invested $77 million to strengthen school capacity and improve the learning environment for students with autism. That, of course, includes training and hiring professionals with expertise in applied behaviour analysis, to assist principals and teachers and transition teams in supporting students with autism.

I want to let this House know that the training of thousands of teachers every year is happening. In fact, we have trained more than 30,000 educators in ABA so that students with autism—and all students, in fact—can benefit from this expertise within the classroom.

We’re working closely with school boards and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, their agencies and coalitions of parents and students to make sure we strengthen our supports for students with autism.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mrs. Julia Munro: Minister, right now there are more than 21,000 children on wait-lists for therapy in Ontario. That’s more than the number of children who are receiving it. How long will these children languish on wait-lists?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: People in this Legislature need to understand that there has been a huge transition when it comes to working with young people with autism here in the province of Ontario. When we came into government, there were about 1,000 young people who were receiving autism services here in the province of Ontario. That number today is around 12,000. We’ve seen a drastic increase.

Yes, the wait-list is increasing. That’s because there is more demand. A decade ago, it was one in 268 young people who were diagnosed with autism. Today in southern Ontario, it’s one in around 65. We’re seeing a drastic change take place here in the province of Ontario. We are allocating the right resources and changing the system based on the demand.

I would hope that the members opposite would look at our plan. I know that they do not have a plan. But look at our plan and realize that this is a way forward—

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

New question.

Northern health services

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Deputy Premier. New research published Monday shows that people in northern Ontario face nearly double the level of cardiovascular health issues than residents around the GTA. How can we explain that?

This should be a wake-up call to this government. Two regions of northern Ontario, including my riding of Algoma–Manitoulin, have some of the lowest health outcomes for cardiovascular health in the province. A father in my neighbourhood is twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as a father in southern Ontario communities. I think we all understand that that’s not acceptable. When will this Liberal government go beyond broken promises and invest in health care for northern people?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: This government knows, believes and understands just how important it is to provide the highest-quality care to people in this province regardless of where they reside. That’s why we’ve continued to make important investments in all parts of this province, including in the north. In fact with regard to cardiac care, I was so pleased to be able to announce in Thunder Bay in June 2015 our support to develop a cardiovascular program for patients in northwestern Ontario. The two local MPPs were instrumental, in Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay region, to enable that to happen.

Thunder Bay is expanding its cardiovascular services program not just for vascular, but also cardiovascular. In fact, the vascular—late last year, it got up and running. We’re looking forward to cardiac surgery in the near future.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Hamilton Mountain on a point of order.

Miss Monique Taylor: I’d like to, with your indulgence, welcome some guests to the House from the Ontario Autism Coalition. We have Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Bruce McIntosh, Cliff McIntosh and his service dog Basel, Declan McIntosh, Karen Bojti, Melanie Cooper, Jennifer Taylor, Kristen Ellison and Georgea Sarantopoulos. Thank you for your indulgence. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Correction of record

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Point of order, Speaker. I was trying to acknowledge the member from Etobicoke Centre this morning for the announcement at Silver Creek, and instead I said the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore. So I just wanted to correct my record and say thank you to the member.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Every member has the right to correct their record.

Visitors

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I would also like to welcome Elsbeth Dodman from the Ontario Autism Coalition, who is also a member of the youth advisory committee for the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and a recipient this year of the London West Leading Women/Leading Girls award.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I just noticed in the members’ east gallery that Janet Kasperski is here in the House and—is that Dr. Roy that’s with her as well? I would like to welcome them. He is from my riding of Scarborough–Guildwood.

Private members’ public business

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 98(c), changes have been made to the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members’ public business, such that Mr. Cho assumes ballot item number 53 and Mr. Hardeman assumes ballot item number 55.

Deferred Votes

Protecting Patients Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la protection des patients

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 87,

An Act to implement health measures and measures relating to seniors by enacting, amending or repealing various statutes / Projet de loi 87, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre des mesures concernant la santé et les personnes âgées par l’édiction, la modification ou l’abrogation de diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We have a deferred vote on the motion for closure on the motion for second reading for Bill 87.

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

The division bells rang from 1141 to 1146.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): All members, please take your seats.

On March 27, 2017, Mr. Hoskins moved second reading of Bill 87,

An Act to implement health measures and measures relating to seniors by enacting, amending or repealing various statutes.

Mr. Flynn has moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Mr. Flynn’s motion, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Anderson, Granville

Baker, Yvan

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Damerla, Dipika

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Dhillon, Vic

Dickson, Joe

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fraser, John

Hoggarth, Ann

Hoskins, Eric

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Kiwala, Sophie

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Marie-France

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Martins, Cristina

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Moridi, Reza

Murray, Glen R.

Naidoo-Harris, Indira

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sousa, Charles

Takhar, Harinder S.

Thibeault, Glenn

Vernile, Daiene

Wong, Soo

Zimmer, David

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): All those opposed, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Brown, Patrick

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Fedeli, Victor

Fife, Catherine

Forster, Cindy

French, Jennifer K.

Gates, Wayne

Gretzky, Lisa

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Michael

Hatfield, Percy

Hillier, Randy

Horwath, Andrea

Jones, Sylvia

MacLeod, Lisa

Mantha, Michael

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norm

Miller, Paul

Munro, Julia

Natyshak, Taras

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pettapiece, Randy

Sattler, Peggy

Scott, Laurie

Singh, Jagmeet

Smith, Todd

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Thompson, Lisa M.

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 52; the nays are 44.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I declare the motion carried.

Mr. Hoskins has moved second reading of Bill 87,

An Act to implement health measures and measures relating to seniors by enacting, amending or repealing various statutes. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour, please say “aye.”

All those opposed, please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it. Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I would ask that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): So moved.

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

The House recessed from 1150 to 1500.

Members’ Statements

Bruce Power

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Today, I’m pleased to stand and share with you the significant economic contributions of Bruce Power’s multi-year Life-Extension Program that will provide low-cost electricity to Ontario families and businesses until 2064. Bruce Power’s investment program supports 160 supply-chain companies throughout our province and secures 22,000 jobs annually from operations in communities throughout Ontario.

The refurbishment of Ontario’s nuclear fleet and all the units at Bruce Power is critical to the province’s energy future. Bruce Power generates 30% of Ontario’s electricity at 30% below the average price, and unlike other sources of generation procured, the refurbished nuclear output from Bruce Power is cost-competitive and clean.

I want to commend Bruce Power for using a model that works, refurbishing their units to secure our energy future and generating low-cost power that is clean for our families and businesses to count on both today and in decades to come.

I’m also pleased to share with you that Bruce Power and the counties of Bruce, Grey and Huron have teamed up to establish the regional Economic Development and Innovation Initiative to leverage economic opportunities for local communities. The program will assist suppliers in locating to the area and accessing a range of resources to ensure even greater economic contributions to the region.

I stand here today committed to supporting the important role Bruce Power plays in Ontario’s energy sector. I look forward to their continued success.

Child care

Ms. Sarah Campbell: While northern families were encouraged by the government announcement to create 100,000 additional child care spaces, they’re concerned about the lack of firm commitments. In the north, having safe, affordable and flexible spaces means being able to recruit and retain professionals in our small communities. It means the ability to hold on to doctors, nurses and other professionals and to enjoy robust tourism and service industries.

The reality is that with costs continually rising on everyday essentials such as housing, hydro bills and food, two incomes and affordable child care are required to keep families afloat. For families working in the forestry, mining and tourism industries, as well as those working in the health and service sectors, flexible child care—that is, care that is available where and when families need it—is imperative.

On a personal note, I can attest to the need for affordable, flexible child care. As one of the fortunate families who can afford the high cost of full-time child care, I still found the $231-a-day cost for flexible child care in Toronto to be totally out of reach. In fact, I can confidently say that access to affordable and flexible child care has been the single biggest barrier I have faced as a woman in politics. I know that my struggle is not unique, but it is one that is shared by countless women and men all across this province.

If this government is truly committed to creating a fairer and more prosperous society, it will work to immediately create more affordable, full and flexible child care spaces.

KidsInclusive

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: On April 2, I joined 427 participants for the 21st annual KidsInclusive run at Queen’s University.

As one of 21 children’s treatment centres in Ontario, Hotel Dieu Hospital’s KidsInclusive program offers important services to children and youth with physical, neurological or developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy or autism. KidsInclusive offers clients regular home visits by an infant-and-child-development consultant, developmental screening and assessment, and play-based developmental activities that meet the child’s needs, and provides invaluable information and support.

The money raised helps families purchase specialized equipment, lifting devices and home renovations or van adaptations.

I’d like to extend a very warm acknowledgement to all those who came out to show their support for this great cause. I’d also like to give a special thank you to director Margaret van Beers and her team for all of their hard work in organizing this wonderful event. The KidsInclusive run is a fun and healthy way to raise money for children with special needs and their families. I invite you all to learn about the incredible stories of the youth and their families who have benefited from this first-class program and the services provided at KidsInclusive.

Nipissing University

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I rise today to offer congratulations for the accomplishments made by Nipissing University of North Bay. A recently released report looking at key performance indicators placed our own Nipissing University among the top schools in Ontario. The university had the highest percentage of graduates securing employment two years after graduation. At 95.7%, that’s more than 2% higher than the provincial average. As well, 90.8% of graduates secure employment six months after graduation, more than 3% above the provincial average.

The university continues to be respected for its high-quality education and overall student experience. Speaker, an impressive 93.6% of Nipissing students were either satisfied or very satisfied with their time at the university. That puts the school 6% above the provincial average of 87.7%.

I’m also delighted to share that the Harris Learning Library at Nipissing University and Canadore College just had their one-millionth visitor.

I would again like to congratulate Nipissing University for their outstanding performance.

Sterling Fuels

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: It’s my pleasure to rise this afternoon to raise a large concern for the constituents in my riding of Windsor West. The concern is directly related to a company, Sterling Fuels, which was issued several health and safety orders regarding the storage and use of hazardous materials on their property. Now, the interesting thing about this issue is that Sterling Fuels is located on federal land.

There have been work refusals. As anybody in this House should know, it’s very difficult for workers to come forward when they feel that there are health and safety issues, when they feel like their work environment is unsafe, when they feel like they are personally at risk. They don’t want to come forward and raise issues because they’re afraid of repercussions and, in some cases, they’re afraid that they are going to be fired.

The workers at Sterling Fuels have raised these issues time and time again, and Sterling Fuels continues to not meet the expectations of regulations and laws. It’s not only putting the workers at risk; it is putting the people in my community at risk.

Those who work within the facility have actually said that if the storage tanks that they’re using to store these hazardous materials—they deal with marine fuel and curing agents for asphalt—are not labelled correctly and if there was an issue where there was an explosion or fire, even our fire department is at risk because they wouldn’t know what it was that they were trying to put out and saving our community from. I’d like to bring that to the attention of the provincial side to work with our federal members to address the safety issues.

Foodland Ontario

Mr. Mike Colle: As you know, Foodland Ontario is going to be celebrating 40 years this Thursday. With this celebration of the wonderful foods that are grown in Ontario, it’s important for us to connect our hard-working farmers with our greengrocers in our neighbourhoods in our constituencies. I know people sometimes don’t think this is important but food is critically important—safe, tasty, fresh Ontario products, and at great prices, Mr. Speaker.

But my colleagues here don’t appreciate the fact, sometimes, that you can buy a 10-pound bag of potatoes, as I did on Saturday at Lady York Foods—a 10-pound bag of potatoes from Bradford, from Gwillimdale Farms: $2.99 for a 10-pound bag. I bought a 10-pound bag of beets, locally grown up there in Holland Marsh, at Bradford—again, $2.59 for 10 pounds’ worth of beets.

People love the safe, high quality of Ontario products grown locally. You create local jobs not only in the farms but also in the greengrocers. I have fantastic greengrocers, like Zito’s Marketplace, which is family-run, and Lady York Foods on Dufferin, family-run.

Fresh Ontario products—you don’t have to buy the expensive American cauliflower for $10 a cauliflower. Buy local potatoes, local beets, local squash. Enjoy local; live local. The pages have got to know: Ask your parents to cook local.

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Ms. Laurie Scott: One hundred years ago, on April 9, 1917, the Canadian Expeditionary Force stormed Vimy Ridge. Over 100,000 Canadians from coast to coast and all segments of society took

part in a three-day-long battle that would leave a lasting imprint on our history.

The storming of Vimy was a truly Canadian endeavour, planned and executed entirely by Canadians. It was an operation to demonstrate that the Dominion of Canada was a full-fledged member of the Allied forces. We pulled our weight on that day and earned Canadians’ longstanding reputation as courageous warriors and reliable friends.

Many members of the CEF came from the counties of Victoria and Haliburton and from my village of Kinmount. My grandfather, Wallace Scott, was one of them. He was among the proud Canadian soldiers who went over the top at Vimy on April 9, and was severely wounded. But like many other wounded soldiers, he recovered and returned to service, fighting right up until the end of the war.

Vimy Ridge turned out to be a major turning point in Canadian history. It ignited a newfound sense of national pride. Soldiers from all over our vast country pulled together, put aside their regional differences and put duty to their country first. The CEF earned a reputation as shock troops, the finest units in the entire Allied army.

On April 9, let us all salute the soldiers who served our Canadians at Vimy Ridge and beyond and mark this important moment in our country’s history. Lest we forget.

Riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: Yesterday was an exciting day in my riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, not just for my community but for the entirety of the former city of Etobicoke and indeed for the west end of Toronto and even Mississauga.

As much development as we see in the city of Toronto and the GTA, it’s hard to believe that at the western terminus of the Bloor-Danforth subway there are 14 acres of vacant land. What we heard yesterday was the city’s plans to finally redevelop the old Westwood Theatre grounds and reconfigure the Six Points interchange, which is called “spaghetti junction,” into a normal pattern of local streets that will attract people to walk and ride their bikes there. That was also coupled with great news at Kipling subway station about the Kipling Mobility Hub finally moving forward, integrating TTC, GO Transit, and Mississauga’s MiWay system together.

This is an example of all the levels of government and different municipalities working together in partnership with good planning to ensure that we have vibrant communities that we can live, work, and play in. The “spaghetti junction” is a place that people love driving through. It will now become a place where people go to. In those places will be restaurants where we can eat that wonderful locally grown produce that my colleague just spoke of.

It was a great day in Etobicoke–Lakeshore, and the best is yet to come.

Organ and tissue donation

Mr. Jeff Yurek: April each year is Be a Donor month. It’s recognized during the month of April. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of organ and tissue donation. Currently there are over 1,600 Ontarians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Every three days, one of these patients will die from not receiving their transplant in time.

Many of us realize the importance and significance of donating our organs and tissues, but only 31% of us are registered donors. Registration is easy and can be done by anyone over the age of 16. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the life of 75 with tissue donation. Organ donation has helped over 13,000 people.

If you’re unsure of signing up, please note that it’s possible to change or withdraw your donor registration at any time. Organ and tissue donation in Ontario is possible thanks to the Trillium Gift of Life Network, a not-for-profit agency that works tirelessly to improve the lives of patients through registered organ donation.

Signing up is easy and only takes two minutes. Consider registering yourself online today, Mr. Speaker, at beadonor.ca and help spread the word.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I already am. In case you needed to know, I already am signed up.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that today the Clerk received a report on intended appointments dated April 4, 2017, from the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. Pursuant to standing order 108(f)(9), the report is deemed to be adopted by the House.

Report deemed adopted.

Introduction of Bills

Fairness in First Contracts and the Right to Representation Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la négociation équitable des premières conventions et le droit à la représentation

Ms. Forster moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 119,

An Act to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 / Projet de loi 119, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Ms. Cindy Forster: This bill would amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995, as follows: The act currently provides that trade unions in the construction industry may elect to have applications for certification dealt with without a vote. The act is amended to extend this option to all trade unions.

Currently, parties who are unable to enter into a first collective agreement may apply to the Ontario Labour Relat