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May 30, 2005

38th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-May-30 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 30 May 2005 Lundi 30 mai 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

VOLUNTEERS

LONDON KNIGHTS

RIDE FOR DAD

FEDERATION OF METRO TENANTS' ASSOCIATIONS

STUDENTS IN THORNHILL

RURAL ONTARIO

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

SPECIAL REPORT, OMBUDSMAN

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES SERVICES AUX PERSONNES

AYANT UNE DÉFICIENCE

INTELLECTUELLE

ACTON DISPOSAL

SERVICES LIMITED ACT, 2005

TORONTO ATMOSPHERIC FUND

ACT, 2005

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

HEALTH CARE

CLASS SIZE /

TAILLE DES CLASSES SCOLAIRES

HEALTH CARE

CLASS SIZE

DEFERRED VOTES

FILM CLASSIFICATION ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE CLASSEMENT DES FILMS

ORAL QUESTIONS

HEALTH CARE

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

HYDRO

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

CLASS SIZE

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

HEALTH CARE

AMBULANCE SERVICES

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

ONTARIO ECONOMY

PETITIONS

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

SCHOOL FACILITIES

MUNICIPAL AUDIT

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

FABRY DISEASE

HALTON RECYCLING PLANT

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

GASOLINE PRICES

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

JUSTICE SYSTEM

ORDERS OF THE DAY

TOBACCO CONTROL STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT

À LA RÉGLEMENTATION

DE L'USAGE DU TABAC

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): It is my pleasure to recognize the outstanding contributions made by some of the many community

volunteers within the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.

Last month, three volunteers who have given 20 years or more of service to Fairvern Nursing Home in Huntsville were recognized at the home's eighth annual

volunteer luncheon. Violet Hipgrave, Bill McLean and Eileen Baron had their names added to an ever-growing list of volunteers.

Volunteer Doris Gonder also received the Ontario Long Term Care Association Circle of Excellence certificate from Fairvern board chair Sue Dixon. Doris has been

a volunteer at Fairvern since 1988. She recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers for her music program.

As well, recently Huntsville hospital CEO Vaughn Adamson recognized over 50 years of volunteering by the Huntsville hospital auxiliary.

The Port Sydney-Utterson and Area Chamber of Commerce named Cyrle Somerset citizen of the year for his dedication to the community. Cyrle retired this year,

after 47 years of service with the local volunteer fire department.

In Parry Sound, the firefighters' association has been fundraising to support district children's aid societies so that area children have the opportunity to go

to camp. The Gravenhurst Lions Club, Bracebridge Rotary Club and Huntsville Knights of Columbus members have been out in full force helping to clean up stretches of area highways.

These are but a few of the many individuals and groups who have volunteered in their communities in Parry Sound-Muskoka. They are what make our communities so

special and bind them together.

I would like to thank the many volunteers who enrich their communities by selflessly contributing their time, energy and talents.

LONDON KNIGHTS

Ms. Deborah Matthews (London North Centre): We had quite a day in London yesterday; in fact, I hear the party is still going strong. In a

stunning 4-0 victory, the London Knights trounced the Rimouski Océanic to win the Memorial Cup, and convincingly proved to the country what everyone in London has known since last fall: that

the Knights are real champions. Their record this season was 79-9-2, a record-setting winning percentage in the history of the CHL. Indeed, our Knights set the OHL record for having set the most

records: 15 new records in one season. Of course, the crowning glory was yesterday's win at the remarkable John Labatt Centre, a day that some are calling the greatest in London sports history.

I'd like to take this opportunity -- I know I'm joined by all the members of this House -- to congratulate each and every member of the London Knights team.

Congratulations to Dale and Mark Hunter and their support staff, especially the legendary trainer Don Brankley, who actually lives at the JLC. I'd like to congratulate Peterborough native -- I'm

reminded by my colleague here -- Corey Perry and every single player on the London Knights team. You've made us all very proud to have shared in your journey and to have witnessed your fabulous

victory. You played like champions all season long, and this win shows the results of your hard work, your determination and, if I may say it, your true grit. Your spirit inspired our city as we

showed once again that London knows how to put on a great event.

Thanks to all those who volunteered, sponsored, worked and cheered to ensure that the Memorial Cup was a great success and that our London Knights were

victorious. It truly was a fitting end to the greatest season in junior hockey history.

RIDE FOR DAD

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I too would like to congratulate the London Knights on a wonderful victory.

On Saturday, May 28, I had the privilege of participating in the first annual Ride for Dad prostate cancer awareness program. It was held in north Simcoe county.

It took off from the Ontario Provincial Police general headquarters, and over 500 powerful motorcycles toured throughout north Simcoe promoting awareness and raising funds for prostate cancer

research. As I said earlier, they call it the Ride for Dad. I was happy to see participants from all over Simcoe county, as well as a number of people from throughout the province, participating in

this wonderful event.

There are a lot of people I'd like to thank. First of all, I'd like to thank Commissioner Gwen Boniface and the people at the general headquarters of the OPP for

allowing the facility to be used as the starting point, and all the media, who drew a lot of attention to the event as well. The key point here is that in Simcoe county we're desperately lobbying

the provincial government for funding for a Cancer Care Ontario unit. Any funding that will help with prostate cancer research will make this unit even more viable. The county of Simcoe is growing

at a fairly alarming rate, and we know that the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie would like to be the site of a Cancer Care Ontario unit in the future.

I want to thank all those who participated in the event. On Friday night alone, they raised over $30,000 from people registering. I haven't heard the final

outcome, but I can guarantee that it will be somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000. I want to congratulate all those who participated and organized the event.

FEDERATION OF METRO TENANTS' ASSOCIATIONS

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): This past Saturday, May 28, I had an opportunity to attend the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations'

annual meeting, held here in Toronto. It was a meeting of tenants from across Toronto, and a few who came from the wider area of the GTA.

I promised them to deliver this message here in the House today: There is a huge level of frustration amongst the tenants and tenants' groups in the Toronto

area, and probably across Ontario. They were promised that there were going to be some major changes to the Tenant Protection Act. We all know that act because it does everything except protect

tenants. It protects landlords but not tenants. They were expecting some major changes to the rent review tribunal, and at this stage, all they can say is that they have been kept in the dark.

Two years ago, this government promised them that there would be a new act; there has been no new act. They promised them that there would be some changes made,

but we know that has all died in cabinet. All we know at this stage is that the landlord lobby appears to be on the ascendancy, and they appear to be very effective.

The tenants themselves are nervous. In seven more days, we will end this session of the Legislature. By the time we come back, more than two years will have

elapsed with them working under laws that are really arcane and outdated.

The tenants ask two things:

(1) If you are not going to change the act, can this government at least remove the principle of "costs no longer borne," and (2) if

you're not going to change the act, at least change the chair of the rent tribunal review process so that they have a chance. That's what they're asking this government.

STUDENTS IN THORNHILL

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): On Tuesday, May 25, I welcomed my colleagues' challenge and went back to school. I visited grade 10 students at

Thornhill Secondary and Vaughan Secondary School. I participated in four civics classes and spoke to the students about my responsibilities at Queen's Park and the difference between provincial,

federal and municipal responsibilities. I was able to speak with both students and faculty.

My objective was to try to get a better understanding of the student population, what they expect from the education system and what they feel they are getting

from it. I must say that the students were very well prepared for my visit and they had a lot of great questions and comments. I certainly feel that I have a better understanding of the young

people who live in my riding.

My day did not end there. I also attended the second annual RAV FM charity concert. Vaughan Secondary School houses Ontario's first fully equipped high school

radio station. It is heard by the Vaughan Secondary School community and broadcast on the World Wide Web. The concert showcased local bands, and proceeds went to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a

charity dedicated to easing the pain caused by the raging AIDS epidemic in Africa.

It was a great experience to go back to school. I met some of the most motivated and talented young people in my riding.

RURAL ONTARIO

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): Residents of small-town, rural Ontario are becoming increasingly aware of a sobering fact: This

McGuinty Liberal government has little understanding of and no empathy for the rural way of life in our province and the history and traditions associated with it.

In the Liberal government's latest assault on the rural way of life, they've dispatched their troops in district health units to stop the sale of jams, relishes,

preserves and baked goods at farm markets unless those products are produced in special licensed kitchens, separate from family kitchens.

While market products are in the gunsights now, these requirements also apply to food prepared for church dinners, potluck suppers and even bake sales held to

raise money for school activities.

I've never heard of anyone becoming ill from products bought at a country market or people attending church dinners or potluck suppers. Incredibly, while I was

hearing about the assault on market producers, provincial media were blasting reports about 160 diners becoming ill in Burlington after attending a buffet prepared by a professional caterer who

prepares his meals in a licensed kitchen regularly inspected by the area health unit.

The Toronto-centric bias of the McGuinty Liberal government is at the root of this assault on small-town, rural traditions. Anger is growing, and I urge the

government to step back and bring common sense to our laws and their application.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. Mario Sergio (York West): My riding of York West is host to York University's 50,000 students and 7,000-member faculty and staff. The May 11

budget infused $6.2 billion into post-secondary education. It therefore gives me great pleasure to rise in the House and share in the elation of this dynamic academic community.

As the third-largest university in the country, its president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Lorna Marsden, welcomed the package: "We would like to congratulate the

McGuinty government for honouring the vision of the Rae report and for recognizing the crucial role universities play in building Ontario's future."

dramatically improve student assistance.

More than 135,000 students will benefit from enhanced assistance this year, including 32,000 students who will receive a new tuition grant for those with the

lowest incomes. Over the course of this plan, funding available for student aid will double. There is also a reduction in the contribution for parents with dependent students. Tuition fees will be

frozen for a second straight year, with more faculty at colleges and universities to accommodate higher enrolment and help students succeed, and 7,000 new annual entrants into apprenticeship,

reaching 26,000 by 2007-08.

These are just some of the ways that the McGuinty government is helping our young people prepare for the future and succeed in today's global market.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): Last week, alongside our Premier, I had the privilege of celebrating the inauguration of the new

biosciences complex at the University of Ottawa. This state-of-the-art complex will be on the cutting edge of research and will be the most advanced research and learning facility of its kind in

Canada. Leading researchers, educators and students will collaborate under one roof to develop strategies and solutions that will protect the environment and human health.

This type of facility puts Ontario at the forefront of research both here and abroad. This government knows that research and innovation are strong economic

drivers that benefit all Ontarians. We also know that being competitive on an international scale requires ongoing government support. That is why we are committed to increasing the research

capacity of Ontario, and are doing so by providing $730 million in funding through the Ontario research fund, as outlined in our budget. A full $300 million of that funding is allotted for research

infrastructure for projects just like this one. When we provide the best facilities, we attract the best talent from around the globe.

Not only will Ontario be attracting established minds; we will also be ensuring that our province is creating and fostering our own talent, talent that will be

among the best in the world. I am proud of the University of Ottawa for this accomplishment. I am proud that our province is providing strong support to research and innovation in Ontario.

CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): It is with pleasure that I rise in the House to extend a very warm welcome to

representatives from the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario, who are here with us at the Legislature today to highlight the important work that the members of their profession do not only

in communities throughout Ontario, but all across Canada.

Certified management accountants, or CMAs, are strategic financial management professionals who combine accounting expertise with professional management skills

to provide leadership, innovation and an integrating perspective to organizational decision-making. As accomplished financial professionals, CMAs bring a strong market focus to strategic management

to enhance sector competitiveness. They are found in all areas of the private and public sectors, including the Ontario public service, and even among MPPs themselves, including the Minister of

Transportation.

and to share their views on how CMAs can help all parties in the Legislature strengthen their financial management and performance measurement techniques. CMA Ontario is also hosting a reception

here in the Legislature this evening where MPPs will have a chance to speak directly with CMAs from across Ontario and take a look at some innovative displays. I would encourage all members to

attend.

SPECIAL REPORT, OMBUDSMAN

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I beg to inform the House that I have today laid upon the table a report of the Ombudsman of Ontario, made

pursuant to

section 21(4) of the Ombudsman Act, entitled Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

Reports by committees? Member for Thornhill.

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): I move that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled

An Act to revive Acton Disposal Services Ltd. --

The Speaker: Order. I haven't called introduction of bills as yet.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): We have with us in the Speaker's gallery a parliamentary delegation from the Provincial Assembly of the

Punjab, Pakistan, led by the Deputy Speaker, Sardar Shaukat Hussain Mazari. The Consul General is also with us. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests.

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Consumer and Business Services): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I've never done this before, so it may not be a

point of order, but I'd like to point out that my niece Olivia Froislie and her friend Maya Inglish are here all the way from Ottawa.

The Speaker: The minister is so right; it's not a point of order, and I can see you've done it the first time. They are also welcome.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES SERVICES AUX PERSONNES

AYANT UNE DÉFICIENCE

INTELLECTUELLE

Mr. Dunlop moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 205,

An Act to amend the Developmental Services Act / Projet de loi 205, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les services aux personnes ayant une déficience

intellectuelle.

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

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): The bill amends the Developmental Services Act to require the minister, under the act, to operate and

maintain the present facilities for persons with developmental disabilities under the following names: Huronia Regional Centre of Excellence at Orillia, Rideau Regional Centre of Excellence at

Smiths Falls, and Southwestern Regional Centre of Excellence at Cedar Springs. The bill prevents the minister from establishing any further facilities.

ACTON DISPOSAL

SERVICES LIMITED ACT, 2005

Mr. Racco moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr9,

An Act to revive Acton Disposal Services Limited.

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

TORONTO ATMOSPHERIC FUND

ACT, 2005

Mr. Duguid moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr15,

An Act respecting the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Clean Air Partnership (formerly known as the Toronto Atmospheric Fund Foundation).

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

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Labour): Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding the

standing committee on the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Do we have unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bentley: I move that, in addition to their regularly scheduled meeting times, the standing committee on the Legislative Assembly be

authorized to meet on Monday, May 30, 2005, for the purpose of considering Bill 133,

An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act in respect of enforcement

and other matters.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Labour): I move that, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30

p.m. on Monday, May 30, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All in favour, please say "aye."

All those against, please say "nay."

I think the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1357 to 1402.

The Speaker: Order. Would all members please take their seats.

Mr. Bentley has moved government notice of motion 376.

All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Craitor, Kim

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Gravelle, Michael

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Racco, Mario G.

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Chudleigh, Ted

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 72; the nays are 8.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

HEALTH CARE

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): It is with great pleasure that I rise in my place today to tell my colleagues

about yet another important step forward we have taken toward building the kind of health care system Ontarians need and the one that they deserve.

As you know, the government has a plan to reduce wait times in five critical areas: cancer surgery, cardiac procedures, hip and knee joint replacement,

cataract surgery, and access to MRI and CT scans. These are areas associated with a high degree of disease and disability, and Ontarians have told us that they're a big priority.

We are investing $154 million to fund about 67,700 additional procedures in these priority areas in 2005-06. That's 4,300 more total hip and knee joint

replacements, 14,000 additional cataract surgeries, 39,500 more MRI operating exams, 7,000 more cardiac procedures and 2,900 additional cancer surgeries. Just to give my friends a bit of context

for these numbers, that means 16% more hip and knee joint replacements, 13% more cataract surgeries and a 7% increase in cardiac procedures, the single largest increase in these areas in more than

a decade.

As for MRI exams, this year's investment, along with the investments we announced last year for new and replacement MRIs, will yield a 24% increase in the

number of MRI exams this year. All of this builds on the extraordinary investment we made last year when we funded a total of 135,200 new procedures. That's more than the population of St.

Catharines.

I am sure that members on both sides of this House can see what an extraordinary difference this will make in the lives of thousands and thousands of Ontarians

who are going to receive faster access to a procedure that could save their life, improve their vision or their mobility, or perhaps diagnose an ailment in time to make a difference in fighting it.

And it is already happening. Many of my friends will have seen the recent reports out of Kingston, where wait times for non-urgent MRIs have dropped from more than four months half a year ago to

just a week today. Yes, that's true: just one week today.

Our plan is working and every new procedure we deliver makes a difference of some kind in somebody's life. That's why we've made reducing wait times the

priority that we have. But I want to make it clear that our strategy involves more than simply funding new procedures; it means creating a system to deliver them. A critical part of reducing wait

times is managing wait times, and until now there really has not been a system in place for doing this.

According to a survey we conducted last summer, MRI wait times varied then from four weeks to 50, depending upon which hospital you were at. That's not a

system; it's a roll of the dice. We're changing that. For the first time ever, we're building a system in Ontario to measure and report to patients on a Web site about the state of wait times in

this province.

By December 2006, we will have established a comprehensive provincial registry that will regularly post information about wait times in our five key areas to

the Web site. Eventually, we will expand this registry to include all surgeries delivered in Ontario. This is hugely significant. With this information, Ontarians will be able to see for themselves

how long people are waiting for which services and where. This will allow patients to make informed choices about their health care, and it will make it much easier for doctors to set priorities

based on the needs of their patients. It will allow us to set targets so that patients and providers alike will know how long a wait is appropriate for a given procedure and how long is too

long.

Because wait times will be broken out and reported for each local health integration network, we will be able to ensure that there are no longer the kinds of

discrepancies across the province that we see today. This will be an end to that inequity.

I have often said that wait times are an important barometer in health care. People judge the quality of their health care system by how long they have to wait

for procedures that they need. For that reason, we have an obligation to ensure not only that Ontarians are getting information about wait times but also that they know the information is accurate.

The new Ontario Health Quality Council, which will be up and running this summer, will provide that reassurance. It will be an independent monitoring council that makes annual reports on how our

health care system is performing, including the progress the government is making on health priorities like wait times. People will be able to judge for themselves whether our health involvements

are yielding the results they should be.

The McGuinty government shares a vision with Ontarians of a health care system that will help keep them healthier, provide them with good care when they get

sick, and will be there for them and for other generations to come. With the investments we're making in reducing wait times and improving access, we have been taking a very big step forward to

make that vision a reality for Ontario's patients.

CLASS SIZE /

TAILLE DES CLASSES SCOLAIRES

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): I rise to speak to the House today about the government's commitment to help our youngest

students get the education they need to succeed.

This September, elementary students will get more from this government: more individual attention through smaller class sizes, more specialist teachers and

more resources aimed to improve student achievement.

We are delivering on our plan to reduce class sizes in the kindergarten to grade 3 years. Last year, we made our first investment in class size reduction --

$90 million -- and 1,100 new teachers were hired, reducing class sizes in approximately 1,300 schools. Our goal is to implement a cap of 20 students in the primary grades by the 2007-08 school

year. We can take great pride in the fact that Ontario leads the country in its support for students in their critical early years of learning. I want to note the tremendous work that my colleague

Mrs. Bountrogianni, the Minister of Children and Youth Services, has done with the Best Start program as a component of that.

This year, we will make even more progress by committing an additional $126 million to continue reducing class sizes. This means that by September, 381,000

students -- more than 70% of Ontario's JK to grade 3 students -- will be benefiting from smaller class sizes.

It is crucial that students have the one-on-one attention with their teachers that they were missing in the past so that they can master the fundamentals,

including reading, writing and mathematics. No child should get lost in the crowd, and every child deserves to have these resources and the programs they need to unlock their particular potential.

Currently, about 60% of our 12-year-olds are meeting the provincial standard in these key subjects. Our goal is to see the achievement rise to 75% by 2008. Reducing class sizes in the primary years

is an important element in meeting this goal.

Il est primordial que les élèves aient droit à l'attention individuelle qu'ils méritent de la part du personnel enseignant pour qu'ils

puissent assimiler les notions de base en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques. Aucun enfant ne devrait se perdre dans la masse. Chaque enfant a le droit de disposer des ressources et

des programmes voulus pour lui permettre de réaliser son plein potentiel.

International studies support the fact that students do perform better in smaller class sizes. An inaugural study in Tennessee begun in 1990 and continuing

today shows conclusively that primary school students in small classes perform significantly better in reading and mathematics, and gains were most pronounced with some of the most

difficult-to-reach students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds.

This morning, the Premier and I visited Holy Rosary elementary school, in the riding of my colleague the Honourable Michael Bryant. Last year, the school hired

an additional full-time teacher as a result of the class size reduction funding and created a new grade 2 class. There was a dramatic reduction of all primary class sizes in the school; the classes

went down from 26, 27 and 25 to 18, 16 and 17.

We visited a grade 1 class and spoke with the teacher, Enza Taddeo. Ms. Taddeo said that the small class sizes are giving teachers the opportunity to provide

more intensive instruction. She said that this is especially critical when students who are struggling with basic language skills and others who are excelling are in the same class.

Ms. Taddeo is not the only one to share with us her story of how reduced class size is making a difference to her students. I heard from a mother, Julie

Hillwood, who wrote to me about the changes she's seen in her son, based in part on the smaller size of his class. Ms. Hillwood said, "A smaller class size allowed my son's teacher to really get to

know him. My son is a very bright child who needs an extra boost of confidence to perform academically. Due to a small class size his teacher was able to recognize this and work with us to achieve

a learning plan that works for him. I know that had his class been bigger she could not have done this so effectively and he would have struggled to no avail. Now he can look forward to next year

with confidence."

One teacher who wrote to me reported fewer discipline problems, another said that it was easier to get to students at all times of the day, and yet another

said that there was more time to help students who needed extra attention, not just to develop cognitive and academic skills but emotional ones as well.

L'engagement pris par ce gouvernement au

chapitre de la réduction des effectifs des classes produit des résultats et ne représente qu'un des

volets de notre stratégie globale concernant l'éducation élémentaire. Nous augmentons aussi le nombre d'enseignantes et d'enseignants spécialisés dans les domaines

clés que sont la littératie, la numératie, la musique, les arts et l'éducation physique, pour que les élèves reçoivent une éducation équilibrée et

enrichie et que le personnel enseignant ait plus de temps pour se préparer à enseigner en salle de classe, corriger les travaux et rencontrer les parents.

While these teachers are contingent on successful labour agreements, we expect that there will be 600 additional specialist teachers in the arts, music and

physical education this fall.

We have also invested $18 million in local literacy and numeracy projects developed by school boards that use strategies to improve student achievement. We

expect that approximately 295,000 students will benefit from these 160 projects that are being supported.

Another $7 million is being provided to ensure that teachers have access to the latest current teaching resources and techniques. Last summer, nearly 7,000 JK

to grade 3 teachers participated in the government's summer literacy and numeracy training program. We've expanded that program this year so that it includes more sessions as well as training for

teachers in grades 4 to 6.

This government has made excellence in public education a key priority. We've put our commitment behind education because we owe it to our students to provide

the kind of education that they need in order to succeed. While there is, admittedly, more work to be done, we are making progress. Once again, schools across Ontario will be better this

September.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Responses?

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): Today the government announced that it is investing $126 million toward smaller class sizes, but

there seems to be a gap between their promises and the real cost of actually fulfilling them. Estimates produced by the Ontario public service put the cost of placing a hard cap on class sizes at

over $1 billion. In fact, the Ontario public service estimated that in the second year of implementation, $680 million would be needed to have a chance of meeting this target. The government is

over half a billion dollars short in their investment.

It's time to come clean and admit this is an empty promise that they have no chance of keeping. If they thought they could reach this target of a 20-student

hard cap, why won't the minister provide information regarding class sizes across the province?

Your Premier, the self-proclaimed education Premier, said, "It's time for a government that will keep rural schools open." Can you, as education minister, tell

us today how many rural schools will be closed this coming year? Can you tell us, in light of the Premier's statements, how many rural schools will be closed this year?

At the minister's announcement last week at a primary school, there were vending machines of pop, chocolate bars and chips -- just another broken promise.

HEALTH CARE

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): I rise to respond to the announcement made by the Minister of Health. The Minister of Health talks about

reducing wait times. This minister's own health care guru acknowledges that the McGuinty Liberal government here in Ontario doesn't even track waiting times, and despite 18 long months in office,

they're no closer to tracking wait times than they were when they took office. Apparently, we're going to have to wait 18 more long months before they will be able to track these waiting lists for

health care.

We have an aging population. We have a population which is becoming in need of more medical procedures, and this government won't even commit that waiting

lists will go down. When Conservatives have asked, "Will you stand in your place and tell us whether waiting lists will go down?" we don't get any commitment, we don't get any guarantee, and

there's a reason for that.

This minister gets up and talks about support for Ontario hospitals. Let's look at the men and women who work in our hospital system. Let's look at what

they're saying about health care in the province of Ontario.

The Ontario Hospital Association, the committed group of men and women who represent our publicly funded hospitals, say, "Ontario will remain near the bottom

of the Canadian pack in terms of its per capita spending on hospitals." And it's getting worse.

Interjection.

Mr. Baird: What did the minister say?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Because they're larger.

Mr. Baird: They're larger. What about per capita spending? Ontario's larger, Minister. We need more hospital supports and services.

Let's go on.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Order.

Mr. Baird: I know these folks don't want to hear the truth about their health care record, Speaker, but they're going to hear it.

Here's what the Ontario Hospital Association says: "This means that many hospitals could ... be required to plan reductions to core patient services and for

the elimination of up to 4,000 staff positions."

This is what's going on in our hospitals, and all we get is heckling from the members opposite. Maybe they should be fighting for our hospitals instead of just

cheering on this minister's cuts of potentially 4,000 more people.

Let's look at what nurses are saying about the McGuinty government. The Ontario Nurses' Association recently put out a news release that said, "The McGuinty

government has done a 180-degree turn from its stated commitment during the election to protect patient care and to hire 8,000 full-time registered nurses."

That is not the Progressive Conservative Party. It's not an opposition MPP. It's the head of the nurses' association of Ontario, and I will believe her 100

times out of 100 instead of believing this partisan Liberal government.

Let's go on with what nurses say: "Nurses believe they are being used as pawns.... They no longer believe this government is committed to restoring nursing

care, protecting patients and making positive changes."

What does the head nurse in Ontario say? Karen Haslam-Stroud says, "Layoffs will deeply affect patient care." Those are not my words; those are her words.

We know this government has criticized the previous government for cutting nurses. Apparently they didn't cut enough, because this government wants to cut even

more nurses in the province of Ontario, and that is the real disgrace. It has big effects, big consequences for hospitals, like the Queensway-Carleton Hospital, that is desperately trying to

provide the same services they provided last year and struggling to do so with the underfunding of this government.

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I'm happy to respond to the statement made by the Minister of Health. I'm always interested in the

contradiction between the government rhetoric about this issue and the probably much more accurate opinion about the wait list matter that has been given by Dr. Alan Hudson. He was appointed by the

government to actually deal with the wait time strategy, but he has said very clearly that:

"It will take until the end of 2006 before Ontarians start to see reduced wait times for key medical procedures and, even then, progress will likely be limited

to just cataract surgery, the province's new wait-time czar said yesterday.

"Dr. Alan Hudson, the newly appointed chairman of the provincial wait time strategy, said hospital Web sites listing wait times for cardiac, cancer and

cataract care, as well as hip and knee replacements and MRI and CT scans, should be available to Ontarians by December 2006.

`"There will be improvements (in the data available) but I can't promise we'll get the waiting times down by then,' Dr. Hudson said.

"Dr. Hudson's comments raised questions about the Liberal government's ability to fulfill its election pledge to reduce wait lists in the five priority areas

before the end of its mandate."

Let's look at what ICES had to say, because of course ICES released its wait time document in April 2005. ICES very clearly said the following: "The findings

of this report show that over the past decade there have been substantial increases in the number of procedures for each of the five services studied, yet many patients continue to experience

prolonged wait times. This means that demand for these services has risen as fast and in some cases faster than the increase in supply. This increased demand is fuelled by multiple factors

including" -- it talks about an aging population, different kinds of diseases and advances in surgery.

What is interesting is that ICES made four very clear recommendations to the government about what the government had to do with respect to wait times, and we

have yet to hear from the government what their response to both this document and the four recommendations from ICES really is. We await a reply from the minister on that very important issue.

We also know that the system's ability to deal with surgery is very much dependent on a link to the anaesthetists who are available to participate in

surgeries. What's interesting is, in Sudbury, for example, in mid-December 2004, the CEO at the Sudbury Regional Hospital said that they were experiencing entire blocks of cancellations of

surgeries due to the lack of anaesthetists. What was ironic was that she made that statement on the same day that the government announced additional funding for additional procedures, so our

hospital wasn't in a position to deal with that at that time.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Minister of Health, come to order.

Ms. Martel: I wonder how many other hospitals are dealing with that problem in the face of a lack of anaesthetists.

Finally, the government is aware that as it deals with its priority areas, there have been many concerns raised about how wait lists in other areas are now

going to increase. The government received a great deal of correspondence to this effect in December 2004 and February 2005. Angus Maciver, president of the Ontario Association of General Surgeons,

said, "Again and again, the needs of our patients have been chronically ignored while other deserving and (more politically appealing)" --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Can I have some quiet, please. I'm having difficulty hearing the member from Nickel Belt.

The member from Nickel Belt.

Ms. Martel: "We ask the government for serious consideration: Make access a key issue."

Finally, Dr. Maciver again, Dr. Kealy and Dr. Barron, the chair of the OMA

section on general surgery, wrote to the government in February. " ... we cannot

support any program that has the effect of increasing already long wait lists for others. Prioritizing some procedures over others has the effect of reducing many of our patients to second-class

status and effectively denying them their rights as outlined in the Canada Health Act."

It will be interesting to see what other wait lists now grow.

CLASS SIZE

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): I'm always happy to respond to reannouncements and pre-announcements. In fact, the Minister of

Education has reannounced the education money in the budget in four different press conferences since the budget. Today he pre-announced money the government plans to spend in 2009, more than two

years after the next election, and reannounced the money. He reannounced the teachers who were hired last year and pre-announced the teachers who will be hired next September. Doubtless he will

reannounce his pre-announcements again in September; take my word for it.

The problem with these reannouncements and pre-announcements is that it's very hard to see what's really happening in our schools. We have repeatedly called on

the government to build transparency, which the Liberals allege they're big on, by establishing a standing committee on education, something they promised to do before the last election.

Unfortunately, they have voted it down repeatedly.

By the way, on the subject of small schools, if the Premier is really interested in quality education and smaller class sizes, he might want to examine some of

the small schools his government will be closing this June. Last week our leader, Howard Hampton, accepted the back-to-school challenge and visited the Fourway school north of Thunder Bay. He saw a

small school that was at the heart of the community where students were receiving an excellent education in a caring, communal environment. Unfortunately, neither Dalton, the Premier, nor Gerard

could make it, and I suspect a whole lot of other Liberals couldn't make it either. But there is always time -- time to correct the mistakes of the previous government and time to deal with the

broken promises of this government as it relates to small schools. The students in these schools don't get a photo-op and a game of "go fish" with the Premier. They get two-hour bus rides on

dangerous roads and they lose their community schools.

By the way, Gerard -- Mr. Kennedy, Minister of Education -- talking about the thousands of teachers you're going to hire in the next little while, you might

want to create more spaces to train faculty, because at the moment we're hiring a whole lot of teachers who are being trained in private teachers' colleges where tuitions are sky high. You may just

want to look at that.

DEFERRED VOTES

FILM CLASSIFICATION ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE CLASSEMENT DES FILMS

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 158,

An Act to replace the Theatres Act and to amend other Acts in respect of film / Projet de loi

158, Loi remplaçant la

Loi sur les cinémas et modifiant d'autres lois en ce qui concerne les films.

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

The division bells rang from 1430 to 1435.

The Speaker: Would all members please take their seats.

Mr. Watson has moved third reading of Bill 158. All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Brown, Michael A.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Craitor, Kim

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Gravelle, Michael

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jeffrey, Linda

Kennedy, Gerard

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Churley, Marilyn

Flaherty, Jim

Hampton, Howard

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Martiniuk, Gerry

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

Sterling, Norman W.

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 71; the nays are 15.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

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

ORAL QUESTIONS

HEALTH CARE

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. It's about consistency. In your so-called Liberal election plan for

health, you said privatization is a step backward. If you ever believed that, including today, why did your office force the Minister of Health to approve the transfer of a licence for a private

hospital in Toronto, instead of just cancelling it to remain consistent with your earlier statements?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): The Minister of Health.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As is well known to anyone who has been a student of the Ontario health care

system, a significant portion of our universally accessible system is private delivery. This has been the case, of course, for decades in significant portions of our health care system:

diagnostics; the provision of some home care services; the provision of care in long-term-care homes. This is long-standing in the Ontario health care system. In accordance with that, we continue

to make sure that the patients of Ontario gain access in as timely a way as possible to the highest possible quality of services, and that is as it was.

Mr. Tory: Again to the Premier: Back in 2004, after you became Premier, you said you were going to focus on "publicly delivered, publicly

owned and publicly controlled health care." These were the words of the Premier, not mine. The licence your government has approved sees the Don Mills Surgical Unit, a private hospital, now owned

by the Alegro Health Corp. Their news release trumpeting their great success with your government says, "Alegro's focus is on private payer medical and health-related services." I wonder if I can

ask the Premier how he can explain this gross inconsistency.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I'm not clear on what the honourable member is getting at in the form of an inconsistency. In fact, approving the

transfer of a licence is a status quo arrangement. The Don Mills Surgical Unit that the honourable member is speaking about has been a long-standing niche provider of services to the Ontario health

care system. Operating by memory, I believe that that was a grandfathered circumstance that goes back perhaps decades, to the point where our system came into being. So this is a status quo

initiative.

Mr. Tory: I'm astounded to hear the minister talking about the status quo.

The Premier was the one who talked about creeping privatization, and yet was also the one whose office forced the Minister of Health to approve this licence

going to a company which on its own Web site says it will use an aggressive acquisition program to become a major supplier of private payer medical services. The Premier said over and over again

during the election, and has said many times since, that there was no room for this kind of thing.

I would just like to know, when did you change your mind about this and throw yet another

section of your election platform overboard, and how will it affect

your approach to the rest of the health care system?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: If the honourable member took a second to study the facts, he would know that there is a circumstance with other

environments, like the Shouldice clinic, where we have had private delivery of very niche services.

The honourable member's answer is to be found in his very own question, where he talked about private payer services. That's not what we are talking about

here. We're talking about the fact that for decades and decades in the Ontario health care system there have been some very minor services provided by private sector entities -- something that was

sustained under the operation of all three parties in this House.

In granting the transfer of this licence, we have not granted a new role to any new private sector company. What we've said is that in these very limited niche

areas, we grant the transfer of this licence because it's the status quo. As it relates to other matters, I would be happy to talk more to the honourable member.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I would ask for some more co-operation from the opposition side in not shouting while questions are being

asked.

New question.

Mr. Tory: My question is again to the Premier. By the way, when you say there is no mention of private payers, look it up on the Alegro Web

site. They say here that they're a company that focuses on private payer medical services and that they want to increase their role through an aggressive expansion program, I assume including this

expansion that you approved.

The question to the Premier is on the subject of the Liberal Party's own inconsistency. This licence, as you well know, can only be transferred on the express

written consent of the Minister of Health. So you, the Liberals, including the Premier, who have been holier-than-thou about any private payer or private sector involvement in the health care

system, had an option, which was that if you wanted to be consistent, you could have said no and cancelled the licence. But you have chosen not to do that.

I ask the Premier, were you involved in this decision and, if so, how do you square it with your repeated condemnation of any kind of private involvement

whatsoever in the health care system? How do you square that?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Order. The member for Nepean-Carleton, if you want to speak to the press, you can go outside.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I am happy to explain it to the honourable member again, and I mean this in a totally forward way. If the honourable

member would like a briefing about this, I'd be happy to provide it. The issue here is that you've read some words from a press release that said "private payer," but the services that we are

engaged in and the licence that we are talking about has nothing to do with private payer. It has to do with services of the Ontario health care system being available to people on a universally

accessible basis. In this narrow role, this provider happens to be for-profit. And as they have for decades, we have granted a transfer of the licence so that they can, in this very niche area,

continue to provide some limited service. There is no impact upon the patient. This is not about two-tier provision of services. It simply is about continuity of a very, very minor role for a unit

that required some transfer so that they could continue to provide in our universally accessible, publicly funded health care system some very limited services.

Mr. Tory: That was a very interesting answer. Let's then talk about consistency.

In the case of the MRI and CT clinics operating outside of the public domain, you used precious tax dollars to buy those back and to pay the people who

operated them to be in a different kind of business. Will you make public the exact terms of those deals -- all the deals you have made and perhaps the state of the negotiations of the ones you

haven't made -- and explain how buying those clinics back with tax dollars is consistent with giving a licence to a private hospital, to Alegro, a company which aggressively wants to expand private

payer health care in the province of Ontario? Explain how that's consistent.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I'm very happy to. In the instance of the MRIs and CT scans, which were a specific commitment that we campaigned upon

during the election, we found it inappropriate to have the provision of MRI services disconnected from the provision of MRI services in the rest of the health care system. Take a look at what we

have done. We haven't paid for the transfers, beyond a few thousand dollars for the purpose of changing the structure of these to convert them to not-for-profit. What have we done? We've

dramatically enhanced the access that Ontarians need and want at these very centres, to the point where in Kingston, in a recent editorial, we celebrate that in the last number of months we've gone

from four-month waits for MRIs. As a result of our initiatives in Kingston, those are now one week long. And this is what we are all about for patients of Ontario.

Mr. Tory: I was in Barrie on Friday and they have a 54-week, one-year wait there. I presume if the minister is talking about these deals and

sharing little bits and pieces, he will make public all the deals for the MRI and CT scans. They should have been made public anyway.

It's the Premier's words we are talking about here, not my words. He said "publicly delivered, publicly owned and publicly controlled health care." That's a

quote. This is, I would argue, yet another flip-flop from a man who said he wouldn't raise taxes, he would freeze hydro rates, he would not run deficits, and he would help families of autistic

children get some extra help.

They say confession is good for the soul. My final supplementary to the Premier: Is this the latest broken promise as you abandon your own position on health

care delivery and on the involvement of the private sector? Stand up and confess.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I am very happy that the honourable member was in Barrie last week. I was there about a week or two before, and as a

result of the initiatives that we've taken as a government -- which actually for the very first time included asking all hospitals what their starting point was in terms of the list for people

accessing MRIs -- we came to conclude many, many weeks and months before the honourable member did that Barrie indeed has one of the longest waiting lists for MRIs.

As a result, as part of the $154-million investment that our government made in wait times this past Friday, Royal Victoria Hospital has been given the most

amount of money that they can use to shorten those lists, to the point where the CEO of that hospital recently told me that people are very, very happy. Even though the lights are on at 2 o'clock

in the morning and that's when they have to come for their MRIs, they are very, very happy to be part of a province where a government is so focused on reducing the wait times that they have been

experiencing.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Minister, last week the Ombudsman,

André Marin, described an awful picture of moral failure and maladministration by the McGuinty government, a failure that is causing terrible suffering for disabled children and their parents.

The Ombudsman concluded that parents of severely disabled children are in crisis and are being forced to give up custody of their children in order to obtain the residential care their children

need. To quote the Ombudsman, "The ministry has failed these families. Its conduct is unjust, oppressive and wrong."

Minister, the McGuinty government has been in office now for two years. When will these children and their parents receive action? When will they receive

justice from the McGuinty government?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): I'd like to thank the leader of

the third party for the question and I'd like to thank the Ombudsman for his report and his guidance and advice.

We have already responded to his first recommendation. My ministry has directed the children's aid societies to begin calling the parents tomorrow. Where there

are no protection issues, those parents who have temporary care agreements will have their parental rights restored without a change to the service for their children on or before this Friday.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, we'll be watching, because we've heard these promises before.

I'm intrigued by what the Ombudsman said. He said, "Successive governments have said repeatedly that no parent should be forced to give up custody of a child

in order to access specialized support." Why is this happening? "It is happening because governments have preferred to study the matter to death rather than solve it. This much repeated sacrosanct

principle is the victim of acute government maladministration."

You've been minister for two years. For two years, these parents have been coming to you. For two years, they've been saying, "You're going to provide the

services. Why do we have to give up custody of our children in order to access these services?" Can you tell these parents why this has gone on for two years, why they have had to give up custody

of their children in order to get the residential services their children need?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: I'd like to thank the honourable member for the question.

Indeed, it has gone on for far too long, for many years. This was a very complicated issue. I had to do due diligence, because although it is very difficult

for all the honourable members here to understand, there are children with severe disabilities in our province who have suffered abuse at the hands of the very people who are supposed to love and

take care of them. We had to take due diligence in addressing this issue.

For those parents where protection is not an issue, their parental rights will be restored on or before this Friday.

We have also, as a government, increased funding for these programs by over $100 million in a year and a half -- badly needed funding.

Unfortunately, I'd like to tell the honourable member opposite, these issues don't get solved overnight. I understand the parents' frustrations. It has taken

far too long. But we are taking action.

Mr. Hampton: I'm not sure of some of the things the minister implied in her answer.

I want to draw your attention to Cynthia Cameron, Linda Limon, Connie Covatta, and Nash Kapoor, who are all parents. They're here. They've been here before.

They're here today because they got the message loud and clear from the McGuinty government: "You must give up custody of your disabled child if you want them to receive the social and residential

services they need."

The Ombudsman points to

section 30 of the Child and Family Services Act, which provides for special-needs agreements in cases like theirs. The Ombudsman says

you should use

section 30 to achieve his recommendations in the short term. I have a very specific question, Minister: Will you order these special-needs agreements now so that these parents

finally receive justice?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: I will do something a lot better than that. The special-needs agreements have issues attached to them. Parents can

still lose parental rights under the present special-needs agreements. What we will replace them with is a plan-of-care agreement which will have the exact same end point and goal that the

Ombudsman asked for in his report, without sabotaging parental rights in the future. I repeat: Where protection of children is not an issue, parental rights will be restored on or before this

Friday.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): New question. The leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: My question is for the Premier. The Ombudsman's report doesn't inspire confidence in your government. André Marin says that

the Ministry of Children and Youth Services is rife with "acute government maladministration." He says that the ministry is being "wilfully blind" to severely disabled children in crisis. He calls

the Ministry of Children and Youth Services "the ministry of I don't know," because it had no idea how many parents were forced to surrender their children in order to get them the care they

need.

Premier, again, these parents were here many times. You made a lot of promises to parents like these. Some of your members, when they were in opposition, used

to bring these parents here to plead their case. Can you tell me why your government has done nothing for two years and why it takes an Ombudsman's scathing report to finally get you to do

something?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): Obviously I disagree with the premise in the member's question. One of

the first things we did was to create, for the first time in Ontario, a new ministry with specific responsibilities for looking out for the well-being of Ontario children. It's never been done

before. I appointed, I might say, an individual who is absolutely committed to standing up for the interests of children.

As the minister just mentioned, we have already invested over $100 million -- that's over a 50% increase -- in children's treatment centres, children's mental

health and autism programs for high-needs children.

Let me take the opportunity, as well, to thank the Ombudsman for his report and for raising the profile of a very important issue. Let me say, not just in my

capacity as Premier, but as a parent, I think it is fundamentally wrong for any family, any parents, to have to give up their kids because they can't get the services. So we stand against that

occurrence, which has happened in the past. The minister has indicated that she's going to do everything within her power to ensure that we redress that wrong. Again, I thank the Ombudsman for his

report, and we look forward to acting on it.

Mr. Hampton: You may have created a Ministry of Children and Youth Services, but the Ombudsman says over and over again in his report that for

two years they did nothing. Quote on page 35: "One is tempted to conclude that the six-month reports have been jargon-laden missives designed to create the illusion of progress while nothing

concrete was being done." Or again, as he points out, in too many of the responses, he feels not only was nothing happening, but there was a deliberate attempt to mislead.

Premier, again, why did it take an Ombudsman's report to recognize an injustice that these parents were bringing here to the Legislature, day in, day out? Why

didn't your government act? Why has it still not acted?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: I guess the honourable member can't take yes for an answer. We have acted. Parental rights will be restored by this

Friday. I have said before in this House that there was a lack of funding over the last decade from both those governments. His party, when he was in power, cut $24 million out of mental health in

one year alone, period. We put in $25 million for children's services in our first year, $38 million in our second year, $25 million for children's treatment centres, and we are building a system

so that this doesn't happen in six months or six years.

Mr. Hampton: My question is, why has the McGuinty government denied justice to these parents for the last two years? The minister floats out

the financial reason again. The Ombudsman looked at that. Page 41: "There can be no fiscal floodgates issue. The real question is why must the government insist as a condition of providing funding

that capable parents give up their parental rights? ... The bottom line is this is not a financial floodgates problem. It is an issue of the rational allocation of resources within a bureaucracy,

and for those who are affected, this has to be galling."

Minister, the Ombudsman looked at your argument that this is about finances. The parents get the services but you force them to give up custody of their kids

in order to get the services.

The Premier said, "Choose change." Where was the change when you forced these parents to go to the Ombudsman to finally get some justice from the McGuinty

government?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: Unfortunately, this tragic circumstance has been going on from all the governments, including the honourable member's

government --

Interjections.

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: Absolutely.

This is the first government that is building a system to address this injustice. We had to act with due diligence. It did take longer than it should have; I

admit that. But by this Friday every parent will have their rights restored as long as there isn't a child protection issue. I will not act impulsively. I will not return even one child to the

wrong family. It's my responsibility to take care of all the children, not just the children the honourable member brings to me.

HYDRO

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): My question is to the Minister of Energy. I want to read a quote to you from June 6, 2002, and I want you to listen

carefully: "We oppose the privatization of Hydro...."

Minister, would you reflect on this and tell me who you think said that in 2002?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): That's a trick question. I don't know if I can answer that. But let me say

this: We are undoing eight years of mismanagement of the hydro file. We're undoing policies that flipped and flopped all over the place. We're taking a position on hydroelectricity, and all

electricity, that will guarantee supply, that will keep prices low, that will allow us to clean up our atmosphere.

That member and his party failed miserably at that task in the last eight years. This government and this Premier have taken it by the horns and we're fixing

the mess that you left, by cleaning up our air, by providing accountability and by ensuring that Ontarians have access to reliable, clean, safe electricity in this province.

Mr. O'Toole: I think the minister confuses an answer with speaking loudly, which convinces no one he is in charge over there.

Minister, it was you who said that in June 2002. It's clear that you and the Premier are breaking promises. This is a classic broken promise. It appears that

for the McGuinty Liberals now is the time to privatize Ontario's infrastructure. They believe now is a good time to break yet another promise.

Minister, first you were against the privatization. Now, according to recent comments in the National Post -- and I'm surprised at this, quite honestly -- you

say, "In our government's view, most of the exciting work in the energy field is going on in the private sector -- on both the renewable and conservation side." What a classic Liberal flip-flop. I

just can't believe it.

It's also clear that you really don't have a plan. You think by yelling your answers that you are disclosing a plan. What I want you to do is to stand in your

place today and tell the people of Ontario that you have a plan and that currently the ministry is at risk.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: Let me say this softly so that I don't offend the member's sensibilities. The quote he's referring to is hydro transmission.

He may not know the difference between transmission and generation, but what we were responding to at the time was our belief -- I'm just trying to say this softly because I wouldn't want to offend

the sensibilities of the member opposite in this very decorous Rosedale tea party that we're holding here. I'm sorry; I'm getting agitated again. Do you know what? They were going to sell Hydro

One. They were going to sell all the transmission lines -- I'm getting upset again -- and we really were opposed to that. Then they were going to sell 49% of it, then they were going to sell it all

again, and then they weren't going to sell any of it.

Whether you say it softly or loudly, they had no plan for hydro. We're cleaning up their mess with cleaner, more affordable, more reliable electricity in this

province, and we're committed to undoing the damage they did over the last eight years. Say it softly or say it loudly.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a question to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Cynthia Cameron had to give up temporary

custody of Jesse in July 2004 so she could get the residential placement that he needed to deal with his special needs. Her agreement expires in August of this year. Your ministry told her that her

temporary care agreement could be extended for another year. That information was totally wrong. She has a letter from the London-Middlesex CAS dated May 12, 2005, which clearly says that the CAS

cannot extend the temporary agreement past August 2005. So if she needs ongoing residential treatment, she'll have to give up custody of Jesse altogether to get it.

Minister, given your announcement today, is Cynthia going to get custody of Jesse by Friday, or is someone in government going to apply this as a protection

issue, forcing her to lose custody altogether?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): I'll just repeat what I said

earlier: Where child protection isn't an issue and there are temporary care agreements, parental rights will be restored by this Friday, if not before.

Ms. Martel: Cynthia Cameron has waited far too long for a response from your ministry. She first contacted your government about her issue in

July 2004. She made numerous appeals to your office, numerous appeals to the regional director's office. She even had the child advocate intervene on her behalf with your deputy minister. She was

among the 30 families who were referenced in the child advocate's report of February 2005, and despite your allegations in this House that you responded immediately to those 30 families' concerns,

the Ombudsman has made it very clear that you did nothing of the sort. I repeat, Minister, because Cynthia is here today: What guarantee can you give her and her family and other families in her

position that this will not be considered a protection issue so she will not get custody of her son after all?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: Well, I guess this other honourable member can't take yes for an answer. By this Friday, if protection is not an

issue and parents have temporary care agreements, their parental rights will be restored. Instead of getting hysterical and trying to grab headlines and stir up emotions in parents who have enough

to deal with, she should support the fact that we are addressing this issue today.

CLASS SIZE

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): My question is to the Minister of Education. Creating class sizes that facilitate the best

possible environment for student success has never been more important than it is now. Years of research on class size have shown us that there is considerable and compelling evidence that in the

early grades, smaller class sizes make a difference. The academic benefits for students continue after they move into larger classes and are especially promising for students with learning

disabilities.

Minister, how much money are you planning to invest in your class size reduction strategy, and how will that benefit elementary school children?

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): While the resources are not inconsiderable, it has taken a great commitment by this Premier, the

Minister of Finance and this government under the difficult financial situation left to the government. We cannot, though, in good conscience, leave these kids behind. They deserve the benefit that

comes from a further $91-million investment in teachers this year and an investment as well of $36 million toward space and other services required. This is made possible because we were planning

very strategically. There are 300,000 empty spaces in our schools that are now going to be used, in part by lowering class sizes, so we're making use of existing facilities. We're also tapping into

the enthusiasm of elementary teachers that we get simply because we've given them an assignment that they can do. We're adding now up to 2,400 teachers. It is, I believe, every dollar well spent.

In fact, the return on that investment will probably be realized in the lower extra requirements for students, the lower costs that we'll have to put into them by the time those very students who

get help today graduate.

Mr. Brownell: The issue of class size has been a major concern of public school teachers for many years. I was there; I know. Teachers and

parents have been pointing to large class sizes as a barrier to student success for a long time. They've argued that allowing for more individual student attention in the early years leads to

higher achievement.

The previous Tory government had the option of doing something about class size and they chose not to. They had eight years to create opportunities for success

in public schools, and they failed. While the previous Tory government cut teachers, we are cutting class sizes. Investing in quality public education is one of the best investments we can make as

a society. This government has taken great strides to improve public education in Ontario, but this initiative today is particularly important. Minister, why are smaller classes so effective in

helping children to learn?

Hon. Mr. Kennedy: It's something for all members in this House to contemplate: How do we convey an education advantage when it has become so

competitive around the world to try to do just that?

Small class sizes follow a number of important ideas. One is that children from JK to grade 3 -- in roughly that age bracket -- develop in different ways and

at different times. A smaller class size, quoting again from the teachers we've heard from, allows them to give that individualized attention. It allows them to make sure that that individual level

of development -- whether it's scaled reading, whether it's the way that certain concepts need to be explained or whether it's just taking note of those special needs -- can be attended to. If we

can do that during these early formative years, we can make a tremendous difference in the whole academic experience. The support strategies are all based upon that early intervention: on doing

things earliest, when they're least likely to turn into expensive interventions later on.

The great thing that I want to report is that we're now in a position, this September, to have 70% -- 381,000 children, three quarters of those in the primary

grades -- who will now benefit from this significant educational development.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): My question's for the Premier. Last week, when your government reannounced your infrastructure plan, Minister

Caplan said that the alternative financing plan is like a mortgage, where you borrow the money and pay it back over time. At the same time, he said that the public will own the land.

I know that there are new ways of financing talked about in this document, but I don't understand your McGuinty-Caplan mortgage. You know that for all the

people in Ontario, when they mortgage their homes, they transfer the title to the bank or credit union, but now Minister Caplan says that's not the way it works in the McGuinty-Caplan world. He

says that you're going to keep ownership of the assets but you're going to mortgage the assets. Premier, can you explain how the new McGuinty-Caplan mortgage works?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I think the important aspect of this issue is that we have a five-year,

$30-billion plan to rebuild and to build desperately needed infrastructure in the province of Ontario. A modest proportion of that will be made available to assistance through an alternative

financing plan. We have made it perfectly clear throughout that there are some very specific principles governing the usage of alternative financing, including, for example, that our water and

sewer systems, our schools and our hospitals must remain publicly owned.

I look forward to the member's supplementary. If he has any particular recommendations to ensure that we get this right, we are more than willing to listen.

But I think what the people of Ontario are very concerned about is the fact that we have such a deficit when it comes to the state of our infrastructure. That's why we're proceeding with a

$30-billion plan.

Mr. Flaherty: Premier, this is funny money now. You used to do real estate law; you studied real estate law. You know that you have to

transfer the title in order to mortgage property. Surely you can explain to the Minister of Public Infrastructure and, maybe more importantly, to the people of Ontario what you're talking about.

After all, it's their money. It's $2.3 billion that you say you're going to take from pension plans and from the private sector, and it has an important consequence, because if it's not alternative

financing, then what you're doing is adding to the public debt of the province of Ontario and adding to the interest payments. All you're doing is borrowing money and adding it to the public

debt.

Have you run your plan past the Auditor General? Will you confirm that you'll do so before you proceed with it?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I think one of the most important things we could tell the people of Ontario by way of offering some comfort and

reassurance is that we will not do what that former government did with respect to the 407. We will not perpetrate that on the people of Ontario.

We insist that the public interest be paramount. For example, we have specifically said that our water systems, our sewage systems and our schools and

hospitals will remain publicly owned. We think that's a very important piece of information for the people of Ontario to understand. Beyond that, we said we will ensure that the public interest is

paramount, that we get value for money and that there is a fair, open and transparent process. I can assure you that as a result of those and other principles, we could never, ever end up with the

kind of 407 mess that was bequeathed to us and the people of Ontario.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): A question to the Minister of Children and Youth Services: Justin Kapoor is 14 years old, wheelchair-bound,

autistic, epileptic, severely handicapped and medically fragile. His parents were here on May 16 and the Acting Premier assured them that parents should not have to give up their children to

receive the kind of care Justin needs. When they contacted your office, through mine, the message from your office was, "Don't call us, we'll call you." That resulted in them surrendering their

child for custody four days later. Why did they have to surrender custody of their child to get care after the Acting Premier told them to their face that parents should not have to give up their

children to receive this kind of care?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): I thank the honourable member for

the question. I remember the case. I won't comment on that specific case except to say that where protection is not an issue, parental rights will be restored by this Friday or before this

Friday.

Mr. Kormos: Minister, I don't think you understand what surrendering custody means. After the most tortuous and painful weekend of their

lives, they went back after the holiday Monday of the long weekend pleading to get their son back, because surrendering custody means that the boy was held incommunicado. There was no contact. They

were even denied any information as to where he was. You see, they counted on the Acting Premier when he said on May 16 that parents should not have to give up their children to receive this kind

of care. When your office told them, "Don't call us, we'll call you," they felt they had no choice. Their child isn't in children's aid custody any more, their child is back home, but their child

needs treatment.

I understand what you said about kids in custody. What are you going to do to make sure that Justin Kapoor gets the kind of treatment he needs promptly -- not

next week, not next month? Time is of the essence. Every minute counts.

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: I know when we inherited the government and I inherited this portfolio, I saw the gaps that existed and continue to

exist in children's mental health and children's treatment centres. We invested, for the first time in a decade, over $100 million to begin to address this gap.

Mr. Kormos: Tell them, Maria. Stand up, folks.

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: This problem has been developing over years. It will not be solved overnight. One of the reasons why --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Members in the spectators' gallery, please sit down. Thank you.

Member from Niagara Centre, you know better than to agitate such action in the House.

Mr. Kormos: Stand up and tell them.

The Speaker: Order. I'm going to warn the member from Niagara Centre.

Mr. Kormos: Warn me of what, Speaker?

The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Kormos: Tell them, Maria.

The Speaker: Order. I'm going to give you a last warning.

New question.

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): My question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Food. Earlier this month, you responded to a

question in the House where you were asked for an update on your progress as we lead up to the second annual Premier's summit. At that time you stressed -- and we would definitely all agree -- the

importance of engaging stakeholders in developing partnerships between producers, processors and governments working together to create a long-term vision for the sector. You also indicated there

was a work plan that was being developed by the Premier's summit advisory committee that would be announced shortly.

On Friday, May 20, before the House rose for constituency week, you issued a news release on the progress that the committee and our government have made

toward developing a vision for the agri-food sector of this province. Minister, could you please tell us what the committee has reported back and what their recommendations are as we move toward

the second annual Premier's agri-food summit?

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Agriculture and Food): I want to thank the member for his question, but most importantly, I thank the advisory

committee that is working on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Premier's office. I think it very clearly demonstrates the commitment this government and particularly the

Premier are making to looking at a long-term vision.

Yes, we know that the sector is facing challenges right now, our rural communities are facing challenges, and as a government we have been there to deal with

the short term. But as well, unlike the previous government that in nine years in office did everything they could to dismantle the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, we're trying to look ahead.

We're looking ahead to the future.

That's why I want to thank the advisory committee for the leadership they've shown in trying to bring together groups and individuals. We have a series of nine

regional consultation meetings planned across the province where not only agriculture but the food industry as well will have an opportunity to help shape the direction as to where we go in the

future; and again, it's because of the leadership that Premier McGuinty has shown in looking ahead for the future of this industry.

Mr. McNeely: It is truly important that we are able to work with all sides of this unique sector when visioning the long term. As I have been

meeting with the constituents in my riding, we have been discussing individual views in the agricultural sector and how we can work toward that sustainability that all sides are looking for.

In meeting with the farmers of Ottawa-Orléans and the surrounding communities, where I grew up and later represented as a city councillor, I have heard

some very original ideas and think their input would be truly valuable as a vision is being developed. I know my constituents and area farmers would be very interested in the opportunity to express

their ideas as we move toward the long-term vision.

Minister, I understand the regional consultations will be by invitation only. I would like to ask why this is, and also, how can my constituents and area

farmers become involved in the visioning process if they are not explicitly part of the stakeholder meetings?

Hon. Mr. Peters: Certainly everyone has the opportunity to provide feedback into this process. The consultation document will be posted on the

ministry's Web site in June. As well, if somebody would like to receive a copy of the discussion document, we will forward that to them. What we want to do is make sure that we have a good

cross-section of representation at these meetings. We don't want to see only one particular sector of agriculture or the agri-food industry being represented. We do want to make sure that we have

all representation at that table because we want that broad base.

As we know, we live in the most diverse agricultural province in all of Canada. We are home to 40% of the agri-food industry. We need farmers. We need the

agri-food industry. We need to continue to work together. We know that we produce some of the safest, highest-quality food in this province. We want to continue to build on the great reputation we

have, and this Premier's summit is that opportunity to plant that seed for the future of this vital industry.

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): My question is to the Premier. Today we found out that there is a proposed amendment to the adoption

disclosure bill. We just received 39 pages of amendments at 1:30 this afternoon and we are supposed to deal with these at 3:30 p.m.

The privacy commissioner has commented about the proposal that an adoptee or a natural mother would have to convince a board that there were reasons to allow

them to block disclosure of this very sensitive information. The privacy commissioner wrote in her comments, "Privacy relates to one's ability to control the use and disclosure of your personal

information. It's all about freedom of choice -- making your own decisions about disclosing your personal information -- not having to convince someone else as to why they should be protecting it

for you." Would you care to comment on her comments?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): Speaker, I'm going to allow the minister to speak to this in a

supplementary. But first of all let me just say that I always welcome the advice of the privacy commissioner on matters of concern to her and to the people of Ontario.

I want to say that we attach a very high value to the right of children to know where they come from, what their background is and who their parents were. We

think it's really important to recognize that right and put it on a very high footing. But we also recognize by way of this amendment that there may be some exceptional circumstances where the

right of the parent to privacy ought to prevail. That's what we're trying to recognize by way of this amendment. I happen to think it strikes the right balance. There are others who will have

disagreement with that, but I think the legislation on the whole does strike the right balance and does recognize for the first time the right of children to know where they come from, what their

background is and who their parents are.

Mr. Sterling: The other compelling reason is that many of these birth parents have lived their entire lives based on the privacy promises that

were made to them. To tell them that they now have the onerous task of going before a tribunal to try to convince strangers that they qualify for the very limited exceptional circumstances that

would protect their information is a complete affront to the faith they once placed in government. Mr. Premier, would you like to comment on that?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the minister.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I'm very happy to address this. As

you know, once the bill becomes law -- and we hope that it may, after a vote in this House and after these amendments are added in committee this afternoon, and we hope, again, that they will pass

-- we intend for everyone involved in the discussion of adoption records to have a fair say. We said during hearings we wanted to hear all sides. The opportunity for adoptees to go before this

board so that -- they may be in circumstances that are extreme. We felt, after hearing what people had to say, that we would extend that same opportunity for birth parents, for those very extreme

circumstances. How it will actually work will be determined by regulation: how people approach the board, how they can make depositions to that board. We will deal with all of those details, but

first, we need to pass this bill.

It's important to note that children have waited many, many years for access to information. The United Nations, as well, has declared at their conference for

the child that the supreme right is for children to know who they are and where they come from, and we support that.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. In the gallery today is Linda Limon from

Strathroy, Ontario. Her eight-year-old son Andrew is autistic and very aggressive. He's on a waiting list right now for residential placement in London, but his parents have been told that they

won't likely get a placement for Andrew because there's no government funding. They've been told they have a better chance of a placement if they abandon Andrew to the children's aid society.

Minister, thus far, you have denied Andrew his right to treatment. You've talked today about reinstating custody to those families that you've already

devastated. When will you put a stop, once and for all, to forcing parents to give up custody and obtain the rights they need for their children's care?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): In my response to the Ombudsman's

report, I addressed his first recommendation. I will be addressing the remaining recommendations, which have to do with the question that the honourable member from Hamilton East is asking, in the

very near future.

I would like to reassure the parents in the gallery and across this province that we're working to have a plan and a system in place so that this is not

repeated in six months, six years, or ever again.

Ms. Horwath: Andrew is non-verbal, so he can't tell his story by himself, but with the help of his parents and with the Ombudsman's report,

Andrew can tell the world that you've denied him the services he needs. He needs adequate funding for care right now, but your ministry has been wilfully blind to his needs. Minister, will you

stand here today, as of May 30, 2005, and guarantee Linda Limon, sitting right there, and all other parents who are right now on the precipice of giving up parental rights that they can keep their

children and get all of the services they need for their proper care?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: Again, the honourable member addresses the recommendations of the Ombudsman's report that I have not replied to yet.

I will be replying in the weeks to come. It is a very difficult issue. As I said earlier --

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Tell the moms sitting there.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Order.

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: As I said earlier, this problem has not developed overnight. It's been years of underfunding --

Mr. Kormos: She's sitting right there, Maria.

The Speaker: Order.

New question. Member from Prince Edward-Hastings.

HEALTH CARE

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Waiting for a hospital procedure or

test can be a very traumatic experience for an individual. For that reason, I and thousands of other Ontarians were thrilled last Friday when the Premier and yourself announced a huge step forward

to reduce wait times and to actually fulfill a commitment in the 2005 budget.

I need to tell you, though, that I read an

article in the Kingston Whig-Standard a week before your announcement that highlighted remarkable progress in

reducing MRI wait times in the Kingston area. According to the

article -- and I have a copy here -- wait times have dropped dramatically in the past six months, both at Kingston MRI and at Kingston

General Hospital. Instead of waiting four to six months for a non-urgent MRI, patients are often scanned one to seven days after they're referred. Minister, this is tremendous progress. Can you

tell us exactly how this was achieved?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Our initiative with respect to reduced wait times for MRIs deploys a variety

of strategies. It deploys a strategy of bringing new MRI sites: The installation of nine MRIs is ongoing in our province. It includes replacing the old MRIs and CT scanners that we had, and we've

done that through a bulk purchase which will see approximately 35 new pieces of equipment coming to life in Ontario hospitals. We've also sought to keep the lights on longer at MRI clinics, and in

Kingston this includes more hours at Kingston General Hospital and more hours at the Kingston MRI clinic, which we've worked to move from the for-profit to the not-for-profit sector. The effect of

these combined strategies is to celebrate the progress that we've made while recognizing that we have more work to do, but I think that it does reflect very well that the community of Kingston has

been publicly acknowledging significant reductions in the time that people have to wait for important MRI procedures.

Mr. Parsons: Minister, I've seen ample evidence that our government's investments are bringing results to Ontarians already; indeed, my

constituents who heavily utilize Kingston General Hospital and Kingston MRI have remarked to me how fast it is now for them to get an appointment. I understand, though, and I've heard you say

yourself, that our strategy is about much more than simply throwing money at increasing volumes, and that one of the challenges we are dealing with is that we're faced with an information deficit.

Can you tell me how this deficit came about?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The Leader of the Opposition spoke to one of the realities a little bit earlier today, I believe. One of the realities

that we have in the Ontario health care system is that sometimes it doesn't perform like a system in the sense that we haven't necessarily got all of the data that we need on a timely basis to be

able to make timely decisions. One of the elements of our government's transformation agenda is information management. It's not that sexy, but the reality is that if we're going to run things like

a system, then of course we depend upon having timely access to information. That's why I'm so pleased that when we talk about MRIs, we now have a baseline study that our government conducted that

tells us where our starting point is. The most important part about this is that through local health integration networks, by consistently gaining information on a geographic basis, we can make

investment decisions about new resources in a very sensible way. The result is that where Barrie continues to be a community where the waits are too long, we can make sure that we introduce the

appropriate amount of resource to reduce those times and have an equitable health care system in the province of Ontario.

AMBULANCE SERVICES

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a question for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister, I've heard from several

municipalities that are concerned that the Ontario municipal partnership fund does not address land ambulance costs. In 2004 and 2005, most, if not all, municipalities in Parry Sound district had

their land ambulance costs covered by the old program, the community reinvestment fund. Your new scheme, the OMPF, ignores land ambulance costs. Why have you neglected land ambulance costs in your

calculation of the Ontario municipal partnership fund?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, minister responsible for seniors): I thank the member very much for his

question. As he knows, the old CRF funding model simply was not a fair model. It rewarded some municipalities and penalized other municipalities; there was no sense of fairness to the system at

all. So we came up with a system that was heavily weighted toward helping those municipalities that have additional social service costs and police costs, as well as those smaller and rural

municipalities that need help from government on an ongoing basis. We are convinced that the system we have in place is fair to the municipalities involved. As a matter of fact, if the member looks

at this year's budget, there is an extra $38 million that we are spending on this program as compared to what we spent last year under the CRF program. The program is fairer all the way around, and

municipalities in the long run will benefit from that.

Mr. Miller: The program doesn't address land ambulance costs. I know that you attended the FONOM conference up in Parry Sound and you had

questions from the floor asking that very question: "Why doesn't the program address land ambulance costs?" Land ambulance costs will only continue to rise, and it particularly affects small,

northern rural municipalities. Will you amend the Ontario municipal partnership fund to include land ambulance costs?

Hon. Mr. Gerretsen: First of all, let me say that we had a very good meeting at the FONOM in Parry Sound with the municipal leadership from

northeastern Ontario.

Let's just remind the people of Ontario once again as to who actually downloaded the land ambulance costs. It was that party over there when they were in

government, when they did more harm to the municipal sector than has ever been done before by any government.

However, dealing with the land ambulance situation, which I realize is an issue with a lot of municipalities, we are in the process of setting up a table that

the Ministry of Health is going to be involved in. We're looking for solutions. But with the kind of situation that party left municipal government in in this province, it's going to take some time

to clear up the mess, all the down layering and all the negative things that they did to the municipalities and to the people who live in those municipalities in the eight years that they were in

power.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Bonnie McLaren's son, Jordan, has severe

special needs. In December 2003, the Community Services Coordination Network recommended a long-term placement for him. The family has been waiting for that placement ever since. Bonnie has been

told that the only way she is going to get a placement is if she abandons her son to the CAS, and this she has consistently refused to do.

Jordan is due to be discharged from the Child and Parent Resource Institute in the next number of weeks. There is no long-term placement for him to go to.

Minister, what will happen to Jordan? Are you going to guarantee that he is going to get the residential treatment he needs when he's discharged from CPRI?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): As I said earlier, this also has

to do with some of the other recommendations of the Ombudsman's report.

It's true that we've had a gap in funding for so many years that there are long wait lists for residential services, but we do have a plan. We are putting the

final touches to it. We have been working on this ever since the child advocate brought this to my attention in February and March. In the weeks to come we will be announcing our policy

direction.

Ms. Martel: This is an issue of political will, and thank goodness Mr. Marin did the report that he did, or all these families would still be

waiting for some long time to come. This is what the Ombudsman said: "The bottom line is this is not a financial floodgates problem. It is an issue of the rational allocation of resources within a

bureaucracy, and for those who are affected, this has to be galling."

I can tell you that it is galling to Bonnie McLaren because she has not entered into a temporary care agreement. She has refused to abandon her son to the CAS,

but her son needs a residential treatment placement and he needs it now. He is due to be discharged from CPRI in the next number of weeks. I say to the minister again, can you guarantee to Bonnie

McLaren today that when her son is discharged, there will be a residential placement for him to go to: yes or no?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: As I said many times today and in the past, we're building a system. We've already invested over $100 million in this

new system for special-needs children. I agree with the Ombudsman's report, I agree with the direction of his recommendations, and I will be coming out very soon with policy directions addressing

these recommendations.

ONTARIO ECONOMY

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): My question is to the Minister of Consumer and Business Services. You are well aware that the strength of Ontario's

economy is critical to our ability to finance not just health care and education but all public services in the province. In last week's budget, Minister Sorbara announced that the McGuinty

government would be moving forward on legislation reforms to ensure that Ontario maintains its status as an economic engine of Canada. Can you explain to the House what those proposed changes are

and how our government will help Ontario business compete in the global economy? We'd appreciate it very much.

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Consumer and Business Services): I am pleased, and I want to thank Minister Sorbara for including a reference to

changes and reforms to corporate law in Ontario. The ministry is currently working with stakeholders to ensure that new securities transfer legislation will be available that reduces transaction

costs, reduces the risk of litigation and harmonizes Ontario and US law to facilitate cross-border transactions. That's just one aspect to bring Ontario in line with other world economies so that

we can continue to grow jobs and economic prosperity in the province under the leadership of our Premier.

PETITIONS

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the current government has proposed province-wide legislation that would ban smoking in public places; and

"Whereas the proposed legislation would also prohibit smoking in private, non-profit clubs such as Legion halls, navy clubs and related facilities as well;

and

"Whereas these organizations have elected representatives that determine the rules and regulations that affect the membership of the individual club and

facility; and

"Whereas imposing smoke-free legislation on these clubs disregards the rights of these citizens and the original intentions of these clubs, especially with

respect to our veterans;

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

"That the Parliament of Ontario exempt Legion halls, navy clubs and other non-profit, private or veterans' clubs from government smoke-free legislation."

I affix my name in full support of the legislation.

SCHOOL FACILITIES

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I have the pleasure of presenting a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the Ontario Street Public School community in Clarington wishes to alert the Minister of Education to a damaging situation with respect to

overcrowding and underfunding of this French immersion school; and

"Whereas Ontario Street Public School is being penalized because it is located in the fast-growing urban centre of Clarington, but is part of a larger school

board that includes rural communities with declining enrolments and less access to provincial funding; and

"Whereas, despite its exceptional track record, Ontario Street Public School's French immersion program is being reduced from a K-8 to a K-6 program, with a

cap on K-6 enrolment, and grade 7 and 8 students being temporarily housed off-site for a third consecutive year; and

"Whereas our single greatest need is in adequate housing of a program that has seen superior academic achievement and a unique community culture building on

strong values of success; and

"Whereas the entire Ontario Street school community is committed to working with the Minister of Education and all parties to explore fair, practical and

effective solutions;

"Therefore we, the undersigned parents, students and friends of Ontario Street Public School respectfully petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as

follows:

"To grant special consideration for a review of funding options that will protect and develop the existing K-8 French immersion single-track program at Ontario

Street Public School in Bowmanville; and

"To undertake the necessary actions immediately, in the context of the current budget, to resolve the urgent accommodation needs of Ontario Street Public

School in the shortest time possible."

I'm pleased to sign and endorse this on behalf of the parents and the community of Ontario Street Public School in Bowmanville.

MUNICIPAL AUDIT

Mr. Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"To: the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty; Minister of Municipal Affairs, John Gerretsen; Minister of Finance, Greg Sorbara; the Attorney General, Michael

Bryant; MPP Pat Hoy and MPP Maria Van Bommel:

"Whereas the municipality of Chatham-Kent has never had a complete audit, nor have audits been made available to the public since amalgamation was implemented

on January 1, 1998, according to the Ontario Municipal Act, Bill 111, 2003,

section 296; and

"Whereas Chatham-Kent citizens and taxpayers are entitled to have access to such audits yearly; and

"Whereas councillors must be assured that all financial statements and property records have been carefully scrutinized by a qualified auditor and endorsed

with a proper signature before proceeding with the annual budget finalization;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned citizens and/or taxpayers of Chatham-Kent, request the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, and all named

above to direct the Auditor General, Jim McCarter, to conduct an official audit of all resources and finances in the municipality of Chatham-Kent to answer all concerns of citizens and

taxpayers."

This petition has been signed by some 7,000 persons.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

I'm pleased to sign my name to that.

FABRY DISEASE

Ms. Caroline Di Cocco (Sarnia-Lambton): "Whereas there are patients in Ontario suffering from the rare orphan disease called Fabry's disease;

and

"Whereas Fabrazyme has completed clinical trials and has had measured success for patients;

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

"That a new committee/review be established in the province of Ontario to deal solely and specifically with orphan diseases and that Fabrazyme be covered under

OHIP or the

section 8 process."

HALTON RECYCLING PLANT

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas noxious odours from the Halton Recycling plant in Newmarket are adversely affecting the health and quality of life of residents and working people in

Newmarket; and

"Whereas local families have lost the enjoyment of their properties for themselves and their children, face threats to their health and well-being, and risk a

decline in the value of their homes; and

"Whereas for the 300 members of the nearby main RCMP detachment, as well as other workers in the area, the odours are making their working conditions

intolerable;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, demand that the Minister of the Environment take immediate action to halt all noxious emissions and odours from the Halton

Recycling plant, and take all steps necessary to force Halton Recycling to comply with environmental rules, including closing the plant if the odour problems continue."

As I agree with this, I have affixed my signature.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Michael A. Brown (Algoma-Manitoulin): I have a petition that was collected by Aunt Jane Rogers:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

I affix my signature.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the current government has eliminated OHIP coverage for chiropractic services; and

"Whereas the current government has eliminated and reduced OHIP coverage for optometry services; and

"Whereas the current government has eliminated and reduced OHIP coverage for physiotherapy services; and

"Whereas the current government has refused to fund treatment for autistic children even after the courts and human rights commission ruled it should; and

"Whereas the current government has now decided to fund sex change operations, even though the Canada Health Act deems it not an essential health service;

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

"That the government of Ontario does not fund sex change operations and reinstates funding for delisted health services."

I affix my name in full support.

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): This petition is to the Ontario Legislative Assembly:

"Whereas some 20,000 people each year choose to make their home in Mississauga, and a Halton-Peel District Health Council capacity study stated that the Credit

Valley Hospital should be operating 435 beds by now, and 514 beds by 2016; and

"Whereas the Credit Valley Hospital bed count has remained constant at 365 beds since its opening in November 1985, even though some 4,800 babies are delivered

each year at the Credit Valley Hospital in a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas donors in Mississauga and the regional municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital have contributed more than $41 million of a $50-million

fundraising objective, the most ambitious of any community hospital in the country, to support the construction of an expanded facility able to meet the needs of our community;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care undertake specific measures to ensure the allocation of capital funds for the construction of A and H block at

Credit Valley Hospital to ensure the ongoing acute care needs of the patients and families served by the hospital are met in a timely and professional manner, to reduce wait times for patients in

the hospital emergency department, and to better serve patients and the community in Halton and Peel regions by reducing severe overcrowding in the labour and delivery suite."

I also put my signature on this petition.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to sign this and present it to Luke to give to you.

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas gasoline prices have continued to increase at alarming rates in recent months; and

"Whereas the high and unstable gas prices across Ontario have caused confusion and unfair hardship to Ontario's drivers while also impacting the Ontario

economy in key sectors such as tourism and transportation;

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

"That the Parliament of Ontario consider an immediate gas price free