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May 8, 2001

37th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2001-May-08 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 8 May 2001 Mardi 8 mai 2001

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

NORTHERN HEALTH TRAVEL GRANT

POVERTY

EVENTS IN NORTHUMBERLAND

PAT CAREY

GREAT LAKES PUBLIC SCHOOL

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES

EDUCATION WEEK

STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

VOLUNTEERS

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

CITY OF GREATER SUDBURY AMENDMENT ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA VILLE DU GRAND SUDBURY

GAS PRICE WATCHDOG ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001

SUR L'AGENT DE SURVEILLANCE

DES PRIX DU CARBURANT

MEMBER'S DISSATISFACTION

QUEBEC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

VE DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK

COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKET

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

SPORTS AND RECREATION

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES LEGISLATION

TAXATION

VICTIMS OF CRIME

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CHILD POVERTY

NORTHERN ONTARIO HERITAGE FUND

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

PETITIONS

OPP DISPATCH CENTRE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

REINSTATEMENT OF TEACHER

SAFE STREETS LEGISLATION

PROTECTION OF MINORS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

HORSE RIDING SAFETY

PRIVATE HOME DAYCARE

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

BRAIN TUMOURS

HOME CARE

PROTECTION OF MINORS

NORTHERN HEALTH TRAVEL GRANT

BRAIN TUMOURS

BEAR HUNTING

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO STUDENT LOAN

HARMONIZATION ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001 SUR L'HARMONISATION

DES PRÊTS D'ÉTUDES DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 8 May 2001 Mardi 8 mai 2001

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

NORTHERN HEALTH TRAVEL GRANT

Mrs Lyn McLeod (Thunder Bay-Atikokan): Week after week, month after month we've been raising concerns about the inadequacy and unfairness of the

northern health travel grant. Let me give one more example of the ways in which the travel grant fails the people who need it.

It happens sometimes that newborn infants have to be airlifted to southern Ontario for emergency care. When this situation arises following a Caesarean

section

delivery, the mother is not immediately able to travel with the baby. Obviously it's essential that the mother be with that baby as soon as she is well enough to travel. But the northern health

travel grant rules say that since technically she's not escorting her infant, she does not qualify for financial support, not even the $420 maximum that northerners are allowed. So in addition to

the stress of a seriously ill new baby, the family has to worry about whether they can afford to get the new mother to Toronto or Hamilton or London to be with her ill child. No wonder people in my

part of the province feel that the government simply doesn't care.

Too many people feel the anguish expressed by a constituent of mine who lives in Atikokan and has to travel regularly into Thunder Bay for cancer treatment. She

writes, "I am upset because I am a low-income single parent of two children struggling to take care of them the way they deserve, but am forced to go into debt and possibly lose my home in order to

continue my treatment. Everything I struggled all these years to accomplish has been taken from me, including a secure future for my children, because I am forced to go into debt to stay alive. Is

this fair?"

We ask again, on behalf of our constituents who face enormous personal costs to get the health care they need, is this fair?

POVERTY

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): The federal government recently released a report, entitled National Child Benefit progress report, 2000, that

professes a decrease of child poverty in Canada. The report attributes this to the success of the national child benefit supplement.

I've read this report and I'm deeply concerned about the federal government's readiness to ignore growing poverty in Ontario and deeper levels of poverty

throughout Canada. The report asserts that the national child benefit initiatives are working because child poverty is down. Let me share with you the pertinent facts missing in this report.

Child poverty got worse, not better in many provinces, including Ontario. Poverty grew in the face of economic growth, it grew in the face of job growth, it grew

in conjunction with the reduction in welfare rolls and it grew in spite of the national child benefit. Families living in poverty are poorer than ever and they need more help than ever.

Since 1989, Ontario has experienced the biggest increase in the average depth of poverty in Canada. The average poor family would need $9,832 just to get to the

poverty line, and yet Premier Mike Harris is being allowed to take $100 a month from them through the national child benefit clawback. Why isn't this reflected in the national child benefit report?

Crediting the national child benefit with the national decrease in child poverty ignores the shameful fact that one in five children in Canada still lives in poverty. It also ignores the multitude

of factors that go into reducing poverty. It's based on faulty logic. Any statistician knows correlation does not equal causation.

EVENTS IN NORTHUMBERLAND

Mr Doug Galt (Northumberland): I rise in the House today to congratulate everyone involved in the second annual RAV ON trade show in

Northumberland. RAV ON, which stands for Rural Agri Ventures Ontario, is a unique agri-venture trade show organized by the Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Society. This showcase took place in

Campbellford on April 28 and 29, featuring alternative livestock and crops as well as new ideas for traditional agriculture.

RAV ON was successful in giving everyone involved with a new innovative alternative or diversified agribusiness the opportunity to display their products and

ideas. Visitors had the occasion to meet and greet owners of successful agribusinesses and seek advice on how to start up their own agri-ventures.

Some of the alternative agribusinesses featured in this year's showcase included emu, ostrich and buffalo farming; organic and herbal gardening; and farm

vacation operations such as bed-and-breakfasts. Visitors were able to sample and purchase unique agricultural products.

This kind of showcase not only brings our attention to new and innovative ideas in agriculture, it also provides opportunities for these ideas to emerge and

develop into new business opportunities. I commend Don Frise and the Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Society for their hard work and dedication in organizing this trade show.

PAT CAREY

Mr Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park): I rise today to speak briefly of fire captain Pat Carey. He was kindly mentioned last week by my

colleague Mike Colle, the member for Eglinton-Lawrence, and I attended his funeral on Saturday on behalf of our caucus and my constituents. Captain Carey died of a heart attack fighting a fire at

Dundas Street and Scarlett Road in my riding.

There was considerable public notice taken in the Weston neighbourhood where the funeral was held, and weekend media reported a large contingent of firefighters

present. I believe I met Captain Carey picking up food in a food drive a few years ago. I wouldn't want to eulogize him as a person; his stepson Andy did a fine job of that. However, there's a

quality of Captain Carey that I believe should be appreciated by this House, and it was only partly available in the news reports. The Pat Carey I believe this House needs to take note of is the

public servant. In this House we set the framework for fire, police, education, health care and a range of other activities to serve the public, but we rarely speak of the people we count on to

carry them out.

Here was a man a year away from retirement, at age 59, on a dangerous assignment. He was one of the people we pay to head into a fire when the rest of us are

going the other way. I suppose the conventional answer is, someone has to do it. But I don't believe we ask ourselves why often enough. Why would someone undertake a difficult job, leave what is

otherwise an ordinary life and put themselves on the line?

Captain Carey's life suggests the answer. The only "public" in the public service we in this House can count on is the personal commitment people like Captain

Pat Carey put forward to serve others, and we need to never take that for granted.

GREAT LAKES PUBLIC SCHOOL

Mr Joseph Spina (Brampton Centre): On Thursday a couple of weeks ago, I was honoured to be invited to attend the opening of Great Lakes public

school in my riding of Brampton Centre. It's the third new school opening I've been fortunate enough to attend since last year, and I want to congratulate all those who played an important

part in

the construction and opening of the school, including the staff at the Peel board of education, principal Mary Haslett and the wonderful teachers and staff members of Great Lakes public school.

I was there to present greetings from the Premier and the Minister of Education, and also an Ontario flag to the school. But I think one of the most moving

elements of the entire ceremony was the procession of children who walked into the school holding 36 flags representing 36 countries. In addition, they gave greetings to everyone in 36 different

languages, each from their own home nation. I think this reflects the wonderful diversity, the multicultural elements not only of Brampton but of our terrific province.

Congratulations to all the parents and students who are the heart and soul of our education. My constituents and I are proud to see this newly constructed school

open.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): The Harris government is so out of touch with the doctor shortage in southwestern Ontario that it is, in

effect, shutting down an urgently needed radiology clinic in Windsor. It is pushing out a dedicated young radiologist who desperately wants to serve the working families in our area. Why? Because

the outdated numbers and bizarre process of the government have deemed that we no longer have a shortage of radiologists.

But I have a letter from the Essex Kent Lambton District Health Council stating that of course we do. I have a letter from the chief of Windsor Regional Hospital

stating that they are short eight radiologists. He states that Dr Charles Gervais is one of the few community-based radiologists in Windsor. He says that if Dr Gervais is forced to relocate, it

would be a significant loss to the community and would have a detrimental effect on the hospital's diagnostic imaging department. He says the hospital doesn't have the resources to meet the

increased demand, and that further delay on this situation will compromise the health care of working families and struggling citizens. I am shocked and appalled at the ineptitude of your

government.

On Friday, I sent an open letter with all the details to the minister, demanding an investigation. I urge those watching and the members of the gallery to

contact the minister to ask him why he is forcing Dr Gervais out of a community that so desperately needs his services.

EDUCATION WEEK

Mr Bert Johnson (Perth-Middlesex): I rise today to mark Education Week, which is being celebrated this week.

The theme of this Education Week is "Excellence in school performance, excellence in student learning." That theme accurately summarizes the goals of our

government's plan for education quality reform and yesterday's announcement.

I want to applaud the Minister of Education for her announcement, which will provide school boards with greater flexibility and increased resources. I'm also

pleased that recommendations are being accepted from the advisory group on co-instructional activities and our other education partners. Yesterday's announcement is an indication of our

government's commitment to quality education and to student achievement.

Our government listened to the concerns of our education partners and responded by proposing an additional $50 million for school boards and introducing measures

that would help ensure that co-instructional activities are available to all our students. I look forward to working with teachers, parents and students in my riding to help implement these

initiatives.

To help mark Education Week in my riding of Perth-Middlesex, the Avon Maitland District School Board is hosting its third annual excellence in education awards

ceremony tomorrow in Mitchell. I want to extend my congratulations and thanks to all the award recipients for the contribution they make to public education.

Please join me in thanking the teachers, parents and students in Perth-Middlesex and everyone who is working to build a better educational system for our

children.

STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

Mr Dwight Duncan (Windsor-St Clair): I was reading on the Globe and Mail Web page an

article that was just posted by Richard Mackie with respect

to a campaign that's underway by the Labatt Brewing Co. It's a petition calling for a new statutory holiday in June for Ontario working families.

The petition reads, "Had enough of the rat race? Tired of pushing paper, answering phones, squeezing into packed subways, sitting in endless traffic, eating at

your desk? Make your voice heard." More than 90,000 Ontarians have signed that petition to date.

This morning, they asked the Premier of Ontario what he had to say about the petition. Here's what the Premier said: "We think we have in Ontario the appropriate

number of days of rest." Not a surprise that the Premier would say that. "I've not heard any compelling arguments that we need more days," said the Premier.

Isn't that interesting? This House has sat less than other Houses. This Premier has attended, in the past, fewer question periods than others. We're faced with

working people looking for more days of rest, and of course the Premier says we have enough days of rest. What else is he going to say? What else will he say?

So we say to working families in Ontario, keep pressing for that. If you really think the Premier has had too many days of rest, sign that petition as a protest

of his absence from true accountability in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

VOLUNTEERS

Mr Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): It is an honour for me to rise in the House today to express my deepest thanks to all the wonderful

volunteers in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka in recognition of International Year of the Volunteer and pay tribute to the enormous contributions each and every volunteer makes in our

community.

I would like to take a moment to inform the House of an extremely successful event that took place in my riding on Tuesday, May 1. I had the opportunity to host

the Ontario Volunteer Awards night in Huntsville. I was honoured to be able to thank an outstanding group of volunteers from all over Parry Sound-Muskoka who give so much of their time and energy

to make our community a better place to live.

I also attended the West Parry Sound District Museum and the Muskoka Volunteer Network to deliver two community volunteer grants to enable these organizations to

host a community volunteer summit and help launch Ontario's Promise for our children.

My constituents in Parry Sound-Muskoka are excellent examples of individuals who make an exceptional contribution to our

community. I can't possibly mention all of the groups that donate their time to hospitals, community centres, churches, arts, sports groups and numerous others in such a short period of time. There

are just too many to list. However, each and every person who gives their personal time, warmth and kindness enriches the lives others in our province. I think it is very important to recognize the

central role these volunteers play in making Ontario a better place.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Just before we continue on, we have with us today in the Speaker's gallery Mr William Bronrott, a member of the

Maryland House of Delegates. Please join us in welcoming our special guest.

Ms Caroline Di Cocco (Sarnia-Lambton): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I'd like to welcome in the members' gallery Mike Bradley, the mayor of

the city of Sarnia.

The Speaker: I did actually miss that. I was speaking to one of the members, Mr Marchese, whose son is job-shadowing him today and he wanted to

let me know that. Of course I can't make an announcement about that, but I'm sure his son is here, just in case people are wondering.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

CITY OF GREATER SUDBURY AMENDMENT ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA VILLE DU GRAND SUDBURY

Mr Bartolucci moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 43,

An Act to amend the City of Greater Sudbury Act, 1999 / Projet de loi 43, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1999 sur la ville du Grand Sudbury.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): This will be the first of a series of amendments that I bring in with regard to the City of Greater Sudbury Act to

make government more accountable and more practical in Sudbury.

This bill alters the composition of the board of health so that, of the seven members appointed by city council, at least one member must be a member of city

council and at least one member must not be a member of city council. The act currently provides that all members of the board of health appointed by city council are members of city council.

GAS PRICE WATCHDOG ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001

SUR L'AGENT DE SURVEILLANCE

DES PRIX DU CARBURANT

Mr Colle moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 44,

An Act respecting the price of motor vehicle fuel and the appointment of a Gas Price Watchdog / Projet de loi 44, Loi concernant le prix du carburant

pour véhicules automobiles et la nomination d'un agent de surveillance des prix du carburant.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All those in favour will please say "aye."

All those opposed will please say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it. Carried.

The member for a short statement.

Mr Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence): As you know, Mr Speaker, the price of gas is going through the roof. Petro-Canada, for instance, recorded a

record profit of $358 million during the first quarter of 2001, up a whopping 1,784% from a year ago. This government collects $300 million every year in taxes. It has a job to protect the consumer

and to get out of bed with the oil companies, and to ensure that if the prices go up, the excuses the oil companies make about too many people driving SUVs, that there's a shortage or that it is

because of the weather -- that this government stand up for consumers and appoint someone to look after the interests of the consumer and not look after the interests of big oil companies, as

they're doing now.

MEMBER'S DISSATISFACTION

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Just before we begin motions, yesterday the member for Toronto-Danforth, Ms Churley, filed notice of her

dissatisfaction with the supplementary questions. I want to inform the member that I cannot allow the late show to proceed since she did not ask the original question. I cite precedents from May

14, 1992; April 11, 1996; and June 29, 1992, as authorities for my ruling.

QUEBEC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Hon Janet Ecker (Minister of Education, Government House Leader): I'd like to ask unanimous consent to observe a moment of silence to mark the

anniversary of the 1984 shootings at the Quebec National Assembly and to remember the heroism of René Jalbert, the sergeant-at-arms who risked his own life to save others in the assembly.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is there unanimous consent? Agreed. If all the members, as well as our guests, would kindly rise and have a

moment of silence.

The House observed a moment's silence.

The Speaker: I thank all members and our friends in the gallery.

VE DAY

Hon Cameron Jackson (Minister of Citizenship, minister responsible for seniors): I seek unanimous consent of the House for a statement on the

56th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. I believe we have all-party agreement to speak briefly about this very important date in Canadian history.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon Mr Jackson: It is a privilege today to rise and mark the importance of the 56th anniversary of VE Day. As well, Sunday past was the annual

Battle of the Atlantic parade observed by all our naval veterans.

Almost a million men and women from all across Canada volunteered to put their lives on the line to fight for their freedom in World War II. Over 100,000

Canadians did not return. The veterans in this province represent our living heritage. Their sacrifice and their contributions in two world wars, the Korean War and in peacekeeping efforts around

the world were made to secure the freedom we enjoy today.

We are honoured to have several veterans in the gallery of the House with us today. These gentlemen are all veterans of the Second World War. Several are

active members of the Royal Canadian Legion, branch 60 in Burlington, and branch 165 in Toronto, as well the Royal Canadian Naval Association.

Mr Speaker, with the support of the House, I would ask that these guests rise and be acknowledged.

Mr George Lacey, Canadian army, was torpedoed en route to Sicily. He ended up in North Africa, and he took

part in the campaign through Italy and the drive

through Germany.

Mr Frank Russell, Canadian army, took

part in D-Day and the drive into Germany.

Harold Penn, RCAF, was an air gunner on convoy escort duties, spotting submarines over the North Atlantic, and then transferred to the Far East theatre of the

war.

Les Preston, RAF, was a navigator on mosquito planes attacking ships in the North Sea and did photo reconnaissance of Normandy beaches. He was awarded the

George Medal by King George VI for surviving three ops in the Battle of Britain.

John Kilpatrick, Royal Canadian Navy, took

part in D-Day and the Battle of the Atlantic.

Don Scholefield, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, sailed on a convoy escort in the North Atlantic.

Bill Shields, Royal Canadian Navy, was a stoker first class and survived on HMCS Trentonian, which was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boats.

Mr Frank Whaling, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, served on HMCS Orangeville as a leading seaman and as a torpedoman on HMCS Assinaboia.

Ladies and gentlemen, our distinguished veterans.

Applause.

To all our veterans, we are indebted to them for the sacrifices they made through their military service to create a better future for us all.

We made a pledge to First World War veterans to never forget, but many of us in this country have indeed forgotten the sacrifice that men and women made on

their behalf during these great wars. All members of this House are committed to making sure we honour the same pledge our veterans made to their fallen comrades so many years ago.

This House determined in 1999, the United Nations International Year of Older Persons, that we should do something special to recognize a unique group of

Canadian citizens who helped deliver us safely through the last century. These people, of course, are our veterans.

Much has been said about the need for Canadians to better understand our rich history, filled with great humanitarian and military accomplishments, and we have

undertaken several significant partnerships to that end. Today, thanks to the work of the Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario's curriculum has been enriched with strengthened Canadian history.

All members of the House are proud to join with the Dominion Institute to help veterans reach upwards of 50,000 Ontario students in the next three years

through their memory project. This unique educational experience brings Ontario veterans and high school students together in classrooms and on line to tell the historic and rich stories of the

bravery of our parents and grandparents who served overseas. Now in its third phase, the memory project's goal is to recruit, train and support some 1,000 Ontario veterans to tell their stories in

classrooms all across Ontario. We hope to reach over 50,000 students across the province and many more through the Memory Project.

I am sure that when students hear the stories of veterans like John Kilpatrick, whom I introduced earlier, they will gain a brand new understanding and respect

for the sacrifices that were made in the past for future generations. Mr Kilpatrick has been working with the Dominion Institute for the past two years to ensure that the legacy of our veterans is

carried forward to new generations.

Every member of this House can be proud of our collective commitment to our veterans. As they share their stories with the young people of Ontario, I don't

doubt for a moment that they will also reconnect with their own youth, a part of their youth before it was interrupted by war. After all, they themselves were young, many nearly 18 years old, when

they were first called upon to serve their country overseas.

Our veterans, as young men and women, solemnly promised their fallen comrades over 50 years ago that they would pick up the torch of freedom and forever pledge

the oath, "We will remember them." Today veterans will be lighting the lamp of learning and sharing their stories with the descendants of fallen comrades and the sacred vow that they can never

forget them.

As we mark the 56th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, our veterans deserve our profound appreciation for their sacrifice and, in turn, our province and her

people will ensure their brave stories of courage and sacrifice are carried in the hearts and minds of each new generation in our province. We will remember them forever.

Mr John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands): I'm honoured and privileged on behalf of Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberal caucus to pay

tribute on Victory in Europe Day as well.

Victory in Europe Day finally arrived on May 8, 1945. The previous year, Canadian, British and American troops invaded Normandy and began to drive the Nazis

out of France. There can be no question that Canadians made a huge difference to the people in occupied countries and to the final outcome of the Second World War. Over 1.1 million Canadians served

during that war, and over 42,000 individuals gave their lives. Annually, we remember them not only on Remembrance Day, but also on the Battle of the Atlantic Day, last Sunday, and on the Battle of

Britain Day in the fall.

Canadian soldiers formed the main assault force for the raid on Dieppe, where over 900 Canadians were killed and almost 2,000 more were taken prisoner. As

well, approximately 14,000 Canadians landed in Normandy on D-Day, and the First Canadian Army was instrumental in the liberation of the land of my birth, the Netherlands, in May 1945.

Everyone was touched by the war: families of the war generation here in Canada; families who served on farms, in the industries, in defence production, in the

Red Cross and many other organizations; and the many others who were also involved in the war effort.

Indeed, our experience in World War II allowed us to grow as a nation. Through our wartime involvement, we gained tremendous abilities, which we are now

putting into continuing our peaceful efforts. Canadian international peacekeeping activities are recognized worldwide. Canadians are called on in the most tragic conflicts that are still taking

place. The respect we have gained around the world for being a peacekeeping nation is a positive legacy that grew out of the tragedy of the Second World War, and it is a legacy we should all

remember.

As legislators, we are obviously very grateful to the men and women who served to defend democracy in World War II. Without their service, we clearly would not

be able to stand in our place and have the freedom to say what we say on the basis of democratic procedure within this Legislature.

As we celebrate today, we must each take a moment to pay tribute to those who served. We must each remember the incredible personal and human commitment made

by thousands and thousands of people and their families. We must think of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we benefit from today. We

also stand proudly to recognize our veterans and to reflect on their bravery and uncommon commitment to our country and a more peaceful world.

We are so fortunate that many of our World War II veterans are with us here today. We must never take them for granted. They have made sacrifices that you and

I cannot even imagine, and they did it so that our lives could be better. Each day, fewer and fewer of our veterans are with us. This sad reality reminds us that we cannot wait until tomorrow to

pay our respects; we need to do it today and every day, and we must make every effort so that the younger generations of Canadians, who have the fortunate experience of not seeing war on a

first-hand basis, remember, reflect on and appreciate the tremendous sacrifices made for them to keep our country free.

As legislators, we have an obligation to respect our veterans and seniors with policies that allow them to live a healthy, happy and comfortable life, and that

If I might end on a personal note, Speaker, as I mentioned before, I was born in the Netherlands in 1942 during those war years. I know that there are a number

of members on both sides of the House who were born in Europe and indeed in the Netherlands either before or during World War II. We owe our reason for being here in large part to those Canadian

men and women who liberated the Netherlands and Europe.

If I might end by quoting from Jack Granatstein in Remembering Victory to indicate the pure joy felt in the Netherlands, the country of my birth, you could

perhaps understand why the people of the Netherlands still feel so close to Canadians today. I quote from the memory project, as written by Jack Granatstein.

"The staid Dutch went giddy with gratitude on May 8, 1945, and ordinary Canadian soldiers found themselves treated like the conquering heroes they were. `Here

comes liberation,' one teenager in The Hague thought when she saw the first Sherman tank approaching. `The soldier stood up and he was like a saint.... And the people climbed on the tank, and took

the soldier out, and they were crying. And we were running with the tanks and the jeeps all the way into the city.' The almost Biblical cadences convey the emotion of that day."

Although today was a day of great celebration 56 years ago when the flags of freedom once again flew all over Europe, let us always remember the sacrifices of

those 42,000 Canadian men and women who died during World War II.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Time shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

We shall remember them.

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): It is an honour to be here today to be able to remember the contributions of so many Canadian men and

women to whom we owe such a great debt. Without them and without their sacrifices, our world would indeed be a different place today.

Most of us in this Legislature were either very young during the Second World War or, many of us, not even in the world yet, but all of us have been touched by

the people who served so courageously in the Second World War.

When I was growing up in the small town where I lived, I was about 10 years old when I discovered that my mother's older sister, when she was 16 years old, had

taken the train to Thunder Bay and gone to work in the Canada Car Factory where they were making Hawker Hurricane fighter planes. In fact, that factory became the largest factory in the world

producing Hawker Hurricanes.

I discovered that my mother's oldest brother had enlisted in the Canadian navy, that another uncle had enlisted in the army and was wounded. Before the war he

was an excellent hockey player, somebody who probably was headed to the National Hockey League. He came back and still played hockey, but not at the same level he could have before he was wounded.

Another uncle enlisted in the army and, thank God, came home without any injuries.

I discovered that my parents' next-door neighbour -- he had been their next-door neighbour for some 50 years, ever since he came back from the war -- was in

the Canadian army in Sicily and then in Italy. He was actually taken prisoner in 1943 and spent the last two years of the war in a prisoner of war camp.

Another fellow who lived on the next road over was in an armoured division and suffered serious injuries. Even later on in life, every once in a while he would

feel something itching or painful in his back and out would pop a piece of shrapnel from the wounds he had suffered.

They were incredible people and many of us today probably don't realize how really incredible they were, because they were all volunteers. No one said, "You

have to do this." They were all volunteers. They went willingly. People flew in Bomber Command in the RCAF knowing that the odds they would come back were horrendous odds, that if they survived 10

trips over the Ruhr Valley or the Rhine Valley, the odds were against them.

The father of one of my best friends in high school had probably one of the most difficult jobs in the war. He was a tail gunner in a Halifax bomber. Tail

gunners had a notoriously short life span because the German night fighters would come up from behind and attack the tail of the plane and you couldn't see them.

He never talked about it, a quiet man who hardly ever talked about it, but you knew that this quiet little man was somebody who was incredibly courageous.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to go to a memorial service on a First Nation in my constituency, Couchiching First Nation. It's a small community, about

600 people, but they had a plaque where they honoured all the people from that small aboriginal community who served in the Canadian armed forces during the war. When you looked at the names on the

list, you came away with the conclusion that anyone who was between the ages of 18, maybe even 17, and 35 had in fact enlisted in the Canadian armed forces -- just an amazing state of things to

happen.

We are all influenced by these incredible people in other ways. Later on, when I became quite involved in playing hockey, I discovered that virtually everybody

who ran the minor hockey program -- the convenors, the coaches, the referees -- was a veteran. They were all people who had come back from the war and they were absolutely determined that they were

going to make their community, our province, our country a better place to live. They sacrificed endless hours that I'm sure they never received thanks for in order that a whole lot of kids could

enjoy playing hockey.

We need to remember that these people were also products of the Depression, that these were women and men who in their early years dealt with some of the most

difficult economic circumstances that people had ever seen: they didn't have food to eat; they had no clothes on their backs; they had governments telling them there's no money for affordable

housing, there's nothing that can be done to help put people to work, there's nothing that can be done to ensure you get an education. When they came back from the war and discovered how much money

had been spent on the war, many of them dedicated themselves to ensuring that people would have housing, that people would get the education they needed, that people would have jobs and people

would live in dignity.

It's interesting when you read some of the historical accounts of these incredible people. In a book written by Desmond Morton called A Nation Forged in Fire:

Canadians and the Second World War, he actually interviews someone in the Belgian Resistance, a person named Gerard Adriaenssens, who was with the Belgian Resistance when the Canadian army

liberated his family farm near Knokke in October 1944. Thirty years later, on November 1, he started an annual march to commemorate the liberation. When he was asked why, Adriaenssens said that a

platoon of men had bedded down in his barn for one night in that hard October and that their demeanour had remained fixed in his mind. He said, "They were not Rambo soldiers, as one now imagines,

but rather quiet, simple boys with a dull look in their eyes, who mourned their comrades who fell that day. They sat there quietly and knew that it might be their turn to offer their lives the next

day so that we here in Europe might live in freedom, friendship and peace."

That is what we must tell the youth: the sacrifice these young Canadian soldiers freely gave for us. They will always be remembered, and we must always

remember them.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Despite the fact that Ontario's corporate taxes are already

very competitive in comparison with those in our neighbouring US states, you have gone out and recklessly promised to reduce them by another $2.5 billion a year. Premier, I want you to know that I

think that is irresponsible. I think you're putting us into a race that we shouldn't be in, and that's a race that is inspired by nothing more than the lowest taxes.

I want us to run, on behalf of Ontario's working families, a different race. I want us to win one where, when we win, it's because not only do we have

competitive taxes but we've got the best schools, we've got the best health care, we've got clean air, we've got clean water, we've got a highly skilled and educated workforce. Those are the kinds

of things that I think help create a highly sound and attractive business climate, and are also in the interests of our working families.

Premier, why would you jeopardize all that with an irresponsible corporate tax cut?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): I appreciate very much all the things you want for Ontario. You want jobs, you want our families to be

working, you want a first-class health care system, a first-class education system, an environment that protects people. You want the best of everything, and you seem to think you can wish all this

stuff to happen.

Every measure we took to be more competitive -- more jobs, working families -- every initiative we took so that we could get investment in jobs and growth in

this province, you voted against. As soon as the going gets tough, you guys just clear out of the road and say, "You're on your own, families. You're on your own, government. You're on your own,

federal government." That's the kind of weak leadership this province had for 10 years that led to the bankruptcy or near-bankruptcy position we were in.

Mr McGuinty: Premier, you and your government suffer from a poverty of ambition. You are inspired by nothing more than low taxes. We have a

grander vision. We have something much better on behalf of working families.

Families know we need more than just tax cuts. They know we need a plan for prosperity, something that is going to sustain growth over the long term. One of

the things that both families and business tell us repeatedly is that a very important part of a plan for prosperity is the development of a highly skilled and educated workforce. That means good

schools. You placed our schools in turmoil, you've given us stressed-out teachers, you've taken $1.5 billion out of primary and secondary education and you've starved colleges and universities.

Premier, we think that instead of sinking all that money into corporate tax cuts, there are better and more pressing priorities. Why do you insist on

jeopardizing our true competitiveness by putting that money into a corporate tax cut?

Hon Mr Harris: You're right: the Liberal Party has a grand vision. Here was the grand vision when you had the opportunity to do something: you

increased sales taxes from 7% to 8%, you eliminated OHIP premiums that were raising $1.5 billion and then you brought in a payroll tax to raise $2.5 billion, another $1 billion right off the number

one tax that attacks business and jobs. Fuel taxes were raised in 1988, 1989 and 1991, another $1 billion off the drivers on the roads; in 1989, a commercial concentration tax imposed at a cost of

$115 million a year to Toronto businesses; retail sales tax brought in on insurance premiums; several new retail sales tax applications; a corporate minimum tax was introduced, raising $100 million

a year. Do you want to know what that led to? Double-digit unemployment, 1.3 billion on welfare --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order. The Premier's time is up.

Mr McGuinty: Premier, I assumed you were proud of this particular economic policy, but you refuse to speak to the question, so I'll ask again:

why you are intent on jeopardizing our true competitiveness? For us over here, that means good schools, good health care, clean air, clean water and safe and livable communities. Those are the

things that make for a strong and competitive business climate. Those things are good for our families and good for our business, Premier. You're darned right we voted against every single one of

your budgets, because you cut things that are important to our working families, like their health care, like their education, like their environmental protection.

I ask you once more, why are you intent on jeopardizing our real competitiveness by proceeding with further tax cuts when our corporations are already on a

very competitive footing?

Hon Mr Harris: As you've heard, we know you have this grand vision of taxing the whole economy until it stands still and can't create jobs any

more. We know that's your grand vision. We understand that.

You refuse to look at the fact that when we made businesses competitive, individuals competitive, we got more money to invest in health care, in education, in

post-secondary education, in all those areas that we acknowledge are important. But how do you get the dollars to do it? Do you tax people until the economy stops, like you tried to do? Do you

continue taxing them at the highest rates in North America, like you voted against every measure we took to correct? Obviously, you're out of sync not only with this government, not only with

everything we believe in; you're out of sync with every business person, you're out of sync with the Prime Minister of Canada and you're out of sync with Paul Martin.

Here's what the Prime Minister said: "Our tax system is now competitive with the Americans." If you look at Ontario, he said, who led the way, the income tax

in Ontario, the federal-provincial together, is now competitive with the United States.

You voted against every one of those measures. You're against Paul Martin, who said, "Thank goodness we've got tax cuts now that the economy is slowing down."

You're out of sync with the whole world.

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK

Mr Gerry Phillips (Scarborough-Agincourt): My question is to the Premier and it's about the shooting death of the First Nations person at

Ipperwash Provincial Park in September 1995.

Last week, Premier, you said that on the day of the shooting death, September 6, you held a meeting to discuss the situation at Ipperwash and to discuss the

OPP's request for an injunction. Can you confirm that you did have a meeting on September 6, the day of the shooting, to discuss the situation at Ipperwash and the OPP request for an

injunction?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): Last week I tried to correct the record for the misinformation that was given to this Legislature in your

preamble to your question last December. The very matter, all these questions --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): The Premier is going to have to withdraw that. You can't say "misinformation."

Hon Mr Harris: I withdraw that, but I stand behind the fact and the information that I've given you.

Secondly, the very questions that you ask, you ask piecemeal, one here, one there, with thousands of documents. These are the very questions that are in fact

the matter of a lawsuit right now. We are complying completely with the judge in this matter --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Premier, take a seat. Sorry for the interruption. The member for Parkdale-High Park, come to order. He's shouted across at every

question that's been asked. This is his last warning. If you do it, you're going to be thrown out.

Sorry for the interruption, Premier.

Hon Mr Harris: These are the very same questions that are being dealt with in the civil case. We are complying completely and fully, providing

the documentation. We intend to continue doing that. It is in the forum where it belongs, fair and complete and being considered by an independent judge.

I don't think it's appropriate to try and hash out the issues one piece of 50,000 things, one at a time. So we'll

continue to comply. It's the matter of the court case, and we're quite confident that our role in this and my role and our government's role and the political role has been exactly as the

commissioner of the OPP said --

The Speaker: Order. The Premier's time is up. Supplementary.

Mr Phillips: I proceed with what the Premier just said the last moment there. It appears that on September 6, someone in the government

changed the direction the OPP wanted to go. I will quote, Premier, from a log, a verbatim of two commanding officers at the command post about two hours before the shooting, when they found out

that someone had changed the direction they wanted to head with the injunction.

The one commander says, "Well, that injunction surprises me." He went on to say, "They went from that regular type of injunction to the emergency type, which

you know really isn't in our favour. We want a little bit more time." These are the commanding officers at the post responding to a change of direction here at Queen's Park. "This is typical," the

officer goes on to say, "where we kind of get caught and ultimately the ball's going to be in our lap if they get this injunction tomorrow." They say, Premier, that it appears that someone changed

the direction the OPP wanted to head here at Queen's Park.

Premier, did you and the cabinet members go against the type of injunction recommended by the OPP?

Hon Mr Harris: That's not what it says, and secondly, this is exactly the matter that is before the civil court, and that's why it's there in

a fair and impartial hearing and we're complying fully.

The Speaker: Final supplementary?

Mr Phillips: That is exactly what it says, Premier, and it appears very much that what you have been saying here in the Legislature is

contradicted by evidence elsewhere. We have time and again pointed out to you where things that you and your cabinet ministers have said have been contradicted by evidence elsewhere. You say there

was no involvement; we find that the injunction changed. You say you left hands off the OPP the day of the shooting; "Queen's Park to Take a Hard Line" with "Occupiers." You say there was no

evidence of a burial ground; the government was forced to drop all the charges against the First Nations people because you found, and admitted in court, that the government had in its possession

evidence of a burial ground.

I say to you again, Premier, the only way we will get at the truth in this matter is for you today to commit to holding a full public inquiry on these matters,

so Ontario can finally get the truth. Will you agree to do that today?

Hon Mr Harris: You're absolutely wrong. The only way we will in fact get the truth out -- and I am quite confident of our position in the

civil case -- is in the civil case, and that is the option the George family took. We have been fully complying with that, and we're very confident the truth will out.

COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKET

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is also for the Premier. Premier, you and your energy minister keep saying there's enough

electricity to meet our needs. But your American friends George Bush and Dick Cheney are saying that they need more energy, they need more electricity -- in fact, a new power plant every week for

20 years. They say there is an electricity crisis and they want our electrical power to solve it. Why do you and your energy minister keep insisting there's enough electricity when your American

friends are telling everyone there isn't enough electricity, that in fact there's an electricity crisis and they want our power?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): They can't have our power. It is our power for our consumers. I think we've made that very clear. We've

insisted that whether we own it, somebody else owns it, how it's regulated, we will look after Ontarians first. That's our role. I'm not elected in the United States. I'm elected here in Ontario

and I will stand up, as I have always have, for Ontarians.

Mr Hampton: There are a couple of problems with what you've just said. Your energy minister has announced that you're going to sell off 65% of

Ontario's generating capacity to international energy corporations. We already know that the price immediately south of the border in New York or Boston is double the price here. Those energy

corporations will do what they are created for: they'll want to sell the power where they can get the highest price. NAFTA says you cannot interfere with that trade. If NAFTA says you cannot

interfere with that trade, then I think you owe it to the Ontario people to tell us how you are going to stop those international companies from exporting the power to where they can get the

highest price. If they start exporting it there, how are you then going to ensure that Ontarians don't have to pay the same price in order to get electricity?

Hon Mr Harris: Watch us.

Mr Hampton: This government, three years ago, was talking about California, but what you're planning and what you're about to do is even more

irresponsible than in California. Our American neighbours are telling us very clearly there is an electricity shortage, that they want the electricity and will build the transmission lines

necessary to get the electricity. NAFTA says that once you sell to international companies that want to sell the electricity, there's nothing you can do to stop it.

Premier, if you do believe you can stop them from exporting electricity, you owe it to the people of Ontario to say here and now how you can do it. Tell us,

how are you going to stop them once you sell off the generating stations?

Hon Mr Harris: We will sell electricity to the United States this summer, as we did last summer, as we did the summer before, as we did when

you were in office, as we did when the Liberals were in office. Nobody came to us and said, "You've got to sell power that Ontario needs to the United States." Nobody has said that before and

they're not going to say it in the future.

If Americans need electricity, like they need our automobiles, like they need other products that are there, and there is an opportunity to build one, two or

10 $10-billion nuclear plants and put all those people to work -- the safest, greenest electricity around. Would this not be a miraculous opportunity, if we keep our taxes competitive and don't

follow the Liberal track of trying to be the highest-taxed jurisdiction in North America? Wouldn't this potentially be an exciting opportunity for us, particularly if the private sector says,

"We'll build the plants. We'll put the people to work. We'll create the hundreds of thousands of jobs"?

This is something I acknowledge the Prime Minister and I have talked about. I don't know why you are opposed to that.

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My next question is also for the Premier. People across the province do not understand how you can

have one account of what happened on the day Dudley George was killed at Ipperwash Park, and then on another day you can change your accounting of what happened. They don't understand how over a

short period of time like that you can change your version of what took place. When we don't know what to believe any more, when the story changes that quickly, we have to have a process to get to

the bottom of the facts. That's why we need a public inquiry into the events surrounding the death of Dudley George. Premier, if you care about getting the facts out there, will you hold a public

inquiry and call for it now?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): As you know, there is a process underway that will do exactly the same thing. It's a process that was chosen

by the George family. We're complying fully and the facts will out. We're quite confident as well that the facts will support the statements we have made in the civil case.

Mr Hampton: Premier, the only reason there is a civil case is because your government refused to call a public inquiry into the death of an

innocent man. There has been a criminal case where someone has been convicted, there have been unexplained changes in OPP procedure, and there have been other cases where your government has been

forced to withdraw with respect to this incident or forced to admit you were wrong, yet you still refuse to call a public inquiry into the death of an innocent man. This is unheard of in our

province. It is unheard of in the rest of Canada.

Premier, when people hear you change your story from day to day, it leads people to believe there is something that is being kept out of the public view here.

Doesn't the death of an innocent man call for a public inquiry as to how he died and what were the events that led up to it? Doesn't that call for something?

Hon Mr Harris: As you know, we didn't rule that out, but as we were proceeding through the criminal cases, the civil case was brought forward.

We've fully complied. We've made hundreds of thousands of documents available. As I've said, this is not a matter to be decided one little piece out of context here and one little piece out of

context there; this is something that should be decided by an impartial judge, and it is.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Everybody knows that we are now short thousands of nurses in

Ontario, and we also now know that you fired them by the thousands. Now you tell us you want to bring them back. Well, I know of 200 nurses living in Ontario right now who are highly skilled and

who are ready, willing and able to get to work in health care. They are nurse practitioners. Working families were pleased to invest in the training of those individuals and now they desperately

need to have them on the job. Premier, why haven't you found jobs for these nurses who are so desperately needed?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): I think the Minister of Health can respond.

Hon Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I thank the honourable member for the question. The news on the nursing front has

signs of encouraging trends. I can report to this House that there are more than 4,300 applications to nursing schools for this September, up by more than 1,000 since last year. It shows that

students want to learn about nursing in Ontario, that they want to practise nursing in Ontario, and that is at least partially as a result of the $375 million of taxpayers' money that we, as the

government, have put into retention and training of nurses in the province.

Nurse practitioners are no exception to that. I can report to this House that, pursuant to the budget commitments of last year, we made a commitment to 106

nurse practitioner positions. We are up to 94 and I have every confidence the remainder will be hired by the end of the year.

Mr McGuinty: I wonder if the minister might concentrate his mind on the question. There are 200 today without work. Together we invested in

their training. They want to stay here. I'm not sure if there's ever been a better example of your government's incompetence. First, you fired thousands of nurses. Now we suffer from a desperate

shortage of nurses. You tell us that you are looking for nurses. I found 200 nurse practitioners. They're ready, willing and able to get down to work. In fact, things get worse: if they can't find

work in the near future, they are going to lose their certification after, together, we invested in their training.

I ask you once more, how is it that at a time when we suffer from a desperate shortage of nurses I have found 200 nurse practitioners who can't find work?

Hon Mr Clement: As I said to the honourable member, we have a plan for nurse practitioners. There are future employment opportunities for

nurse practitioners as we move ahead with family health networks. I encourage the honourable member to stay tuned.

Here's what happened when the Liberals were in power. Here's a quote from the Windsor Star, January 25, 1989. Here is what they were saying about nurses under

a Liberal government: "Most nurses are disillusioned. They want more money, more respect and more say in decision-making. Seeing none of this happening, many registered nurses are leaving their

jobs for other careers offering far more money and fewer hassles."

That's the Liberal record. We are picking up the pieces after humpty dumpty got through with it.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

Mr Bob Wood (London West): My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. The minister said in this House yesterday that

his ministry plans to undertake a review of policy related to amateur sport and recreation. I welcome this review. We heard a lot in the press about Canada's performance at the Sydney Olympics, and

of course we'd always like to do better and bring home more medals. Our Olympic athletes are role models for our youth. Yet today, with all the distractions of video games, television and the

Internet, it's hard to get young people involved in physical activity. What is the minister doing to address this problem?

Hon Tim Hudak (Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation): I appreciate the question from the member from London West, who is right. It's

very important for us to encourage youth to get more active in physical activity, whether at a young age, whether it's amateur sports, all the way through to high-performance athletes. No doubt we

would like to continue to bring more gold medals back to Canada. That's why I've been such a strong supporter of the Olympics for Toronto in the year 2008. I want to build on the good work of my

predecessor, Minister Helen Johns, in bringing forward things like community foundations and other programs to develop grassroots recreation and sport activities. Active Ontario and the community

sport opportunity fund are other examples.

Certainly, the very hard-working parliamentary assistant from London-Fanshawe, by the name of Frank Mazzilli, is very interested in this file, and that's why I

announced yesterday that Frank is going to lead a review of sport and recreation programs to make sure we deliver those dollars in the most effective ways possible to encourage more youth to

participate in sport and recreation.

Mr Wood: People in London have been working hard to bring major sporting events such as the Ontario summer and winter games to our city,

because they recognize the opportunity sports events bring to the community. What is the minister doing to attract major sports competitions to Ontario?

Hon Mr Hudak: There's no doubt, if you look at the success of the Olympics and what it did for Barcelona in 1992, you see not only development

of infrastructure and inspiration of young athletes, but an increase in tourism year after year after that. So we know the Olympics can be a boon for Toronto, not only for 2008 but much beyond

that.

Other events, like les Jeux de la francophonie, and the Canada summer games coming to London this summer are right at that nexus between recreation and sport

and tourism to help create jobs in the community, to help create investment in the community and to inspire young athletes. That's why it's important as well for my parliamentary assistant, Frank

Mazzilli, to come back to me with advice on how to attract even more national and international competitions to Ontario, to inspire our youth and help create jobs in our communities.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Mr Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): My question is to the Premier. Earlier this morning we heard some heartbreaking testimony

from some parents of special kids. These parents came to Queen's Park to tell us that your government is breaking the law, that your government has a legal obligation to provide services to their

special sons and daughters, but that since 1997 your government has systematically eliminated that support.

By refusing to sign and fund special-needs agreements between these working families and the appropriate agencies, despite the fact that they are called for

under your own legislation, your government has left these parents with a horrific ultimatum: either give up custody of your child to the province or lose access to medically necessary

supports.

Premier, four months after a firestorm of negative publicity, which only happened as the result of the courage of some parents to tell their stories publicly,

your government is still not funding special-needs agreements.

My question to you is quite simple: why is your government failing to live up to its legal obligations for special-needs kids?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): We understand that the situations some families face can in fact be very difficult. It is an important

priority of this government to provide the appropriate services to children with special needs. It is a budget area that we increase each year.

I want to be very clear about this. Where no protection exists, no parent will be forced to give up the custody of a child to access special-needs support.

That is the policy of this Premier, of the minister, of the government. No family will be forced to give up their children to access special-needs supports.

If you know of any individual, anywhere, any time, bring it to our attention.

Mr Gravelle: We do know about it, Premier. You know it as well. Your minister said the same thing, and he was wrong as well. You can attempt

to skirt around the issue, but the facts are clear. Your government is breaking the law. Instead of giving children like Luca Rosati, Alexandre Larcade, Julie Caudle, Graham McCarney, Benjamin,

Emily and Sarah Williamson and thousands and thousands of other special-needs kids the full supports they need, you are forcing their parents to make desperate choices. You have done that.

Premier, while you and your finance minister were hamming it up for the cameras this morning, gloating about more corporate tax cuts for your friends, we heard

how your government's indiscriminate cost-cutting and abdication of legal responsibility have devastated families.

These special kids deserve every support and opportunity we can give them. Thousands of loving parents across Ontario need supports in order to give their

children hope that they can and will become the best they can be.

You are breaking your own law, Premier. You are failing these kids. Will you agree today to at least restore funding for special-needs agreements, or will your

government continue to put corporate tax cuts ahead of the interests of our special-needs children?

Hon Mr Harris: I think the member will know that I am not at liberty to talk about individual names or cases. I have no authority to do that

individually. But let me be very clear. To access special-needs supports, which have not been cut by this government and will not be cut by this government, no parent will ever be forced to give up

their children. If you know of anyone, you bring them to my attention and I will fix it.

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES LEGISLATION

Mr Ted Chudleigh (Halton): I'd like to ask the Minister of Citizenship a question. Given that I represent a number constituents who are

disabled and given that the current government has an outstanding commitment to introduce legislation, I would like to ask the minister: when will the Ontarians with Disabilities Act be introduced,

and how will it address the needs of people with disabilities?

Hon Cameron Jackson (Minister of Citizenship, minister responsible for seniors): First of all, I want to thank the honourable member for his

question. I want to assure all members of this House that this year, as Minister of Citizenship, we will be bringing in Ontarians with disabilities legislation in accordance with the all-party

agreement that was reached in this House some time ago. I am --

Interjection.

Hon Mr Jackson: "This year" is what I said. We are in the process now of finalizing the consultations. I want to acknowledge Mr Peters's

efforts -- he has been very helpful -- and several members of the House who have brought together members of the disabilities community; also members of municipalities and the private sector. As

committed in the throne speech, we are going to seek common ground and find shared solutions with individuals. We are very committed to bringing in an Ontarians with Disabilities Act that will be

leading our nation, one of which all members of this House can be very proud.

Mr Chudleigh: As a follow-up, the largest school for the deaf in Ontario is in my riding. I have been continually impressed with the way in

which the deaf community adapts to the hearing world. When offered opportunities, they generally exceed all expectations. Breaking down the barriers to these opportunities will be a great legacy

for our government.

I would like to know what steps have been taken to ensure the concerns of the deaf community have been heard so that their needs will be addressed in this

legislation.

Hon Mr Jackson: Members are probably aware that my colleague from Halton is very involved with the E.C. Drury school and has on many occasions

raised issues of concern about the deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing community in our province.

This government has made significant commitments in the last few years, increases of about $800,000 in net new programming to add to the $6 billion in supports

that we're providing. We know there's more we can be doing, and that is why we're working closely with this community and why I've met on several occasions already with the Canadian Hearing

Society. I've engaged a former member of this House who is well known to all of us, Gary Malkowski, who's been very helpful in helping us craft the legislation and getting it ready.

I am quite convinced that if we continue to work together and reach common ground, we're going to come through with an Ontarians with Disabilities Act that

every member of this House can be very proud of.

TAXATION

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is to the Premier. Premier, you've been quoted as saying Ontario has a fiscal problem, but

you could stop the fiscal problem right here today.

It's as simple as this: if you go ahead with your sacred tax cuts for the well-off tomorrow, you either plunge Ontario into deficit or you have to begin a fire

sale of Ontario's core assets and slash more from health, education, the environment and communities. But the real priority ought to be to build those things up.

Will you end the fiscal problem, Premier? Simply say here today, "There will be no tax cuts for the well-off tomorrow."

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): I think the member is well aware that it's not appropriate for me to comment on the budget that will be

brought down by the Minister of Finance tomorrow, and certainly on anything as specific as taxation levels.

But let me say something very clearly by way of response to the

preamble. For example, health care spending: through our tax reductions, through our tax

competitiveness, through getting people back to work, through getting businesses making more money, we've been able to increase health care funding in excess now of some $5 billion, about $1

billion a year, on average, since we've taken office, and more in the more recent years, as you are very well aware.

So when you talk about cutting spending, I can only assume you mean the federal government, who in 1994-95 transferred $6.3 billion to us, then $6.2 billion;

in 1996-97, $4.8 billion; in 1997-98, $3.9 billion. Now, as they start -- and they still have not -- to restore --

The Speaker: Order. The Premier's time is up. Final supplementary.

Mr Hampton: Premier, you can try to manoeuvre however you want. The fact is that cuts to our colleges and universities are a matter of the

public record. The cuts to the Ministry of the Environment and environmental protection are a matter of the public record. The cuts to municipalities, while you download the cost of services on to

municipalities, are a matter of the public record. The fact that health care services are not being provided as they should in this province is a matter of the public record.

So your choice tomorrow is, yes, you can give more tax cuts to your well-off friends, but if you do that, you'll have to cut more from health and education and

environment and communities and you'll have to put the province's assets on e-bay to sell them off. It doesn't make sense, Premier.

Say it now. Say, "No tax cuts tomorrow. We're going to invest in the things that Ontarians really need instead."

Hon Mr Harris: The question is full of such bumph by a party that drove this province into bankruptcy, by a party that took already high taxes

that were increased by the Liberals and tried to take them even higher.

The fact of the matter is that we have been able to increase health care funding while the Liberal government in Ottawa slashed health care funding to us. So

the Liberals have cut. We had to make up all those reductions they gave us and increase spending as well. That is a matter of record. It's a matter of record that education funding is going up, a

matter of record that you will see tomorrow. We will continue to take the priority areas of this province and increase funding. The only reason we've been able to do this is because, over your

objections, over the Liberal objections, we were able to bring in tax-competitive measures so that we could get the average Ontario working family back to work where they belong.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order. The Premier's time is up. New question.

Mr Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): My question is also to the Premier. We have heard you strongly defend cuts for the well-to-do and

tax cuts for corporations. I would like to talk to you about tax relief that would help working families.

The volunteer firefighters in our community have formed the Life Safety Committee of Hastings and Prince Edward. They have through sheer hard work raised

$50,000 and purchased a fire safety unit, which they take around the schools so that fires can be prevented and children and families know how to safely get out of a fire.

They did it on the assurance that they would be able to get a rebate of the provincial sales tax. The provincial Retail Sales Tax Act says, "Firefighting

vehicles, as defined by the minister," are eligible for a rebate. Both the previous and the current Minister of Finance have refused to define a "fire prevention vehicle" as being "related to

fire." Your government is stealing donations from the public that were meant to make their community safe.

The Speaker: Order. The member can't use that language. I'd ask him to withdraw the word "stealing."

Mr Parsons: I withdraw it. Premier, the government is taking money out of my community that was donated by working families to provide for the

safety of their families and their neighbours. Will you overrule the Minister of Finance and permit these volunteers to have the money returned to be used for fire prevention purposes?

Hon Mr Harris: There was a little bit of yelling from your own side of the benches that precluded me from hearing exactly the name of the

volunteer fire department. Perhaps by way of supplementary, you could repeat that, because I want to congratulate them and thank them for their efforts, and for the efforts they do year in and year

out to protect property. Let me thank all those who contributed and donated.

Let me, finally, thank you as the first MPP who is Liberal whom I have seen or heard in this Legislature who is in favour of some form of tax cuts. Let me

congratulate you. Let me say, you stand tall here in our books. I hope that perhaps over 50 years, maybe it could filter right through to the leadership, because when it does, your party will be

relevant too.

I'd be happy to talk to the Minister of Finance about your request.

Mr Parsons: It is significant to me that the tax I was talking about was relief for working families, and it's equally significant, Premier,

that --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. The member take his seat. Stop the clock, please.

The member may continue.

Mr Parsons: Premier, it is significant to me that when we talked of relief for working families, you did not answer the question in any way,

shape or form. I'm sorry I didn't have more names for you to thank. But Premier, you have the opportunity to do something tomorrow. We have heard rhetoric about your concern for the firefighters of

this province. I believe you are sincere. Do something for them. In 30 seconds tomorrow, you can put in the budget relief for volunteer organizations that are trying to serve their community,

rather than just the well-to-do, as your government does.

Hon Mr Harris: I don't think I could have been more complimentary to the member, to the folks who raised the money, to the volunteer fire

department. I made a commitment to you that I would talk to the Minister of Finance. I'm always happy to look at tax cut proposals, particularly from a Liberal. You've set me back on my feet. I'm

astounded and I don't know what else I can say. A great question. I appreciate you taking this kind of initiative. Let me say to the member from Prince Edward-Hastings, and let me repeat, I will

talk to the Minister of Finance and see if this tax cut is one that's appropriate for us to look at. My guess is, the budget for this year is already at the printer's or has been printed, but it's

something I'm happy to take under advisement and I'm happy to talk to the Minister of Finance about.

VICTIMS OF CRIME

Mr John O'Toole (Durham): My question is to our Attorney General. Since 1995, the Harris government has established itself as a national

leader when it comes to providing services for victims of crime. In 1995 and 1999, victims' rights and victims' services were, and I might say are, the centrepiece of our public safety platform. As

you know, Minister, we passed into law a Victims' Bill of Rights, and our government spends millions of dollars each year on providing services for victims.

I know that one of our Blueprint commitments was to create a permanent Office for Victims of Crime. The necessary legislation, the Victims' Bill of Rights

Amendment Act, 2000, has been passed, and I know that my Durham constituents, especially Glen and Brenda Copithorn, whose daughter Jennifer was murdered in 1998, want to see this become a reality.

I'm sure Nola Lachance, Cheryl Carpenter and Kris Hills would also be interested in hearing your response today. These women were recently recognized by the Durham Region Police Service with a

civilian merit recognition as they were involved in making sure Jennifer's murderer did not get away.

Minister, could you tell the House today when the Victims' Bill of Rights Amendment Act will be proclaimed?

Hon David Young (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs): I thank the member from Durham for what is indeed a very

important question on a very serious matter.

Let me say at the outset that this government's commitment to victims is complete, ongoing, and unequivocal. In December last year, we came forward and brought

to this Legislature the Victims' Bill of Rights Amendment Act. I'm pleased to say that this act, which created a permanent Office for Victims of Crime, passed first, second and third readings. As a

result, we have an advisory agency, the OVC, that will perform many important tasks, including advising the government on how to spend the money that is in the victims' justice fund and helping to

ensure that the principles set out in the Victims' Bill of Rights are respected and adhered to.

I'm very proud to be part of this government that will respect the rights of victims in not only one part of the province or another but throughout the

province.

Mr O'Toole: Thank you for that, Minister, and I thank you for standing up for victims as you do.

Last week, the member from St Paul's claimed in this House, and I might say in print, that the Mike Harris government has abandoned victims and that victims of

crime are being ill-served by our government. Mr Bryant wrote, "The Harris government fails to back up their big talk about victims' rights without any substantial movement." Minister, we know this

is not the first time this member has had the facts plain wrong when it comes to this government's record on supporting victims of crime. Can you remind the member from St Paul's and in fact every

member of this House what the Mike Harris government has done to support victims in this province?

Hon Mr Young: Let me start off by stating that I categorically disagree with the member from St Paul's. This government has come forward with

more initiatives than any government in the history of this province; in fact, more initiatives than any government in the history of this nation. This year alone we will be spending $135 million

on no less than 40 projects to assist victims.

Because my friend across the way raised it last week, and because it was raised this week by the member from Durham, let me be very clear about this. We plan

to proclaim the Victims' Bill of Rights Amendment Act, 2000, during the week of June 5 to 11. We are doing it that week after consulting with victims because we know that Ontario's Victims of Crime

Week is a most appropriate time to come forward and proclaim this very important legislation.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Mr Steve Peters (Elgin-Middlesex-London): My question is for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Minister, I have a very

direct question. Will you guarantee there will be no more cuts to an already devastated ministry budget in tomorrow's budget announcement? For once in the history of the Mike Harris government, are

you going to live up to your 1995 promise of no cuts to agriculture?

Minister, your ministry has seen its more than $600-million budget cut nearly in half, to $365 million. Your ministry once accounted for 1.2% of provincial

spending, but now you are at less than 0.5%.

You offer us platitudes about food safety, yet you see nothing wrong with cutting food inspectors. Is this what your government means by common sense?

The animal health lab is key to ensuring quality livestock herds, yet cost slashing has forced this lab to buy used equipment. Is this a commitment to

agriculture?

Minister, can you stand in your place today and promise that there will be no more cuts to agriculture?

Hon Brian Coburn (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): My ministry and our government pride ourselves on the innovative programs

that we have brought to the agricultural community. In fact, part of the initiatives that we plan to introduce are to take advantage of some of the economic incentives of various organizations that

we partner with to provide more opportunities for rural Ontario and for the agricultural community. I look forward to the coming year so that we can implement some of these programs and provide

more economic opportunities for a lot of our communities and agricultural businesses.

Mr Peters: Minister, there are persistent rumours circulating that your ministry's budget is going to be cut by another $15 million. This is

inconceivable. You say that you want a made-in-Ontario safety agreement.

Interjections.

Mr Peters: Could you stop yelling at me? You accused me yesterday of yelling. Please stop yelling.

You say you want a made-in-Ontario safety net solution, and I commend you because this is a wonderful goal. But how do you plan to achieve this without the

necessary funding in place? Quebec has a quarter-century-old commitment to sustain a strong and viable provincial agricultural community. We should be looking at Quebec as an example. Quebec,

though, commits over $300 million a year for its safety net programs. How do you propose to create a made-in-Ontario plan when your entire ministry's budget is barely enough?

Minister, you didn't answer my question. Do the right thing: stand up in this House today and tell the farmers of Ontario that there will be no more cuts to

their ministry.

Hon Mr Coburn: Actually, we've got a track record: the $90 million we announced for safety nets. We were off the mark quickly and identified

some of the stressful situations that the agricultural community found itself in. And there are other initiatives. We're quite proud. The made-in-Ontario solution is one that I'm working on with

our stakeholders, and I'm quite pleased to tell the House today that the leaders of those stakeholder groups are working shoulder to shoulder with us to provide something that is long-lasting,

effective, and sustainable for the agricultural community so that there will be future growth and we will be able to meet the challenges of the global marketplace.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): New question.

Mr Bert Johnson (Perth-Middlesex): My question is also for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and I want to add my voice to

that of the member for Elgin-Middlesex-London in congratulating the minister for the dispatch with which they got the aid out to farmers this spring.

Minister, your statement yesterday indicated that this government and your ministry --

Interjection.

Mr Johnson: The member for Hamilton East may want to listen to this too -- plan to focus renewed attention and effort on rural economic

development. But rural economic development has been a part of your ministry's mandate all along. Mr Minister, what have we been doing to date to foster growth and job creation in our rural

communities?

Hon Mr Coburn: I thank the member for Perth-Middlesex for the question. Since 1995, our government and private and public sector partners have

worked together to address the barriers to economic growth and to create new opportunities in rural Ontario. To date, we've invested more than $250 million in rural Ontario. As a result, that has

created more than 20,000 jobs and, in addition to that, learning opportunities in communities right across this province.

In the process, we have also overcome many of the barriers to growth that we have identified during consultation with our stakeholders. That's the benefit of

working with stakeholders, that we work together to identify some of these challenges and provide economic opportunities.

Mr Johnson: Those jobs are welcome in my constituency, to the people in Perth and Middlesex.

If these programs and investment initiatives have been so successful, why are further resources being directed to fostering rural economic growth?

Hon Mr Coburn: The task force report on rural economic renewal, which was ably done by Dr Galt, the member from Northumberland, revealed that

one of the remaining barriers to rural economic development is the uncoordinated provision of business development services.

A wide array of federal, provincial, regional, local and non-profit economic development organizations offer business development opportunities and services to

rural entrepreneurs and communities. In some cases, communities are experiencing gaps in this variety of services, and in other cases there is some duplication.

The actions I outlined in my statement yesterday include steps designed specifically to address this particular barrier to growth, such as working with our

communities to establish what are in essence one-stop opportunities and centres for business development services.

CHILD POVERTY

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): My question is for the Premier. You have a chance tomorrow to create a brand new day for some very poor men,

women and families across this province. In your budget, you could announce that you are going to stop robbing them to pay Andersen Consulting. You've frittered away literally millions of dollars

to Andersen Consulting, as they morph into Accenture Consulting, in a program of persecution of poor men, women, families and children across this province.

Premier, how much money are you going to continue to give tomorrow to Andersen Consulting at the expense of poor men, women, families and children across this

province?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): We don't plan to give one cent to anybody at the expense of anybody in this province, particularly the most

vulnerable, who have been helped the most by our policies. I think you will see in the budget tomorrow that they too will be given even more opportunities: opportunities you took away from them;

opportunities to raise themselves up, where you were holding them down, to get out, to get experience, to get work, to get a job.

When I look at the welfare policies of your government, on top of the Liberal government, the dependence you created is shameful. It is absolutely shameful

that you wrote off 1.3 million people on welfare and said, "Stay there. Forget it. No job for you, no opportunity for you." For you to stand in your place and criticize the policies of a government

that has given over 580,000 people the opportunity to break that cycle of dependence, to get the dignity of a job, is disgraceful.

Mr Martin: Premier, let me tell you what the truth is in this province. One in five children lives in poverty, and it's gotten worse since

1995. One in three children in Toronto lives in poverty. Some 471,500 children in this province are living in poverty. In spite of the fact that the economy has improved, in spite of the fact that

you have created new jobs, in spite of the fact that you've thrown thousands of people off welfare, child poverty continues to soar in this province because of your cruel policies.

Let me give you an example: the clawback of the national child tax benefit supplement that takes, on average, $80 to $100 per month away from poor families

that could go to feeding their children. Premier, in your budget tomorrow, will you stop taking that money away and giving it to these rich consultants?

Hon Mr Harris: First of all, when we get dollars from Ottawa, we invest every dime of that into programs for those children.

Let me also tell you that every study using recent data shows that while there are still children living below the low-income cut-off line, there are fewer

than under your government, fewer this year than last year, fewer last year than the year before and fewer than the year before that. Every factual study shows that, including the study by Olivia

Chow, a prominent member of the NDP here in Toronto.

Having said that, one child living in poverty in this country is not acceptable. That's why we've substantially increased funding. That's why we continue to

give more opportunities. That's why we invest every nickel we can in programs to assist families, low-income families, so that we can have program after program --

Interjection.

Hon Mr Harris: Well, if the member wants to continue to yell out and spew out that kind of information, that's what got you into third place

and that kind of policy will keep you in third place.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order. I will handle it, member for Scarborough East, or you'll be kicked out. You're not going to sit here and

yell in my ear. I'm going to look after it. Last warning to you today.

NORTHERN ONTARIO HERITAGE FUND

Mr David Ramsay (Timiskaming-Cochrane): To the Premier: last week I asked you about the inconsistent way the northern Ontario heritage fund

was handing out grants in northern Ontario. We had learned that when the Raino brothers of North Bay were told that a for-profit company could not receive money directly from the heritage fund,

they approached your best friend, Peter Minogue, who went to Royal Poulin, your hand-picked manager of the heritage fund, and together they hatched a scheme to circumvent the guidelines of the

heritage fund so that your buddies in North Bay could get money that was against the heritage fund rules.

Subsequent to that, we found out that an operator in Sudbury who wished to put on a similar type of tournament in the same vein as the one in North Bay also

approached the heritage fund, but was told there were no such funds available for the for-profit company. Why is there such an inconsistency, with one set of rules for your friends, Premier, and

one for other northerners?

Hon Michael D. Harris (Premier): There's absolutely no inconsistency, and I think the Minister of Northern Development answered that

yesterday.

Mr Ramsay: Premier, the inconsistency is glaring, and I think you should be checking your records to see if anybody else in your riding or

northern Ontario has also made the same inquiries to your office directly or to the heritage fund as to the availability of grants to put on golf tournaments throughout northern Ontario.

There is a glaring inconsistency here. You said this was on the up and up, and I said back to you that if this was on the up and up, why can't all northerners

understand and share in this scheme that your friends hatched, so that we all could have these golf tournaments funded by the heritage fund throughout northern Ontario? But that's not the case. It

only happens with the North Bay friends of yours, who get the money and the rest of the northerners are out of luck. Why is it that just your friends get the money from the heritage fund, but for

everybody else who applies the answer is no?

Hon Mr Harris: My friends get nothing from the heritage fund unless they have applied the same as everybody else can apply. It's the same

process that was followed for the very successful tournament that was held in Sault Ste Marie. I didn't hear you complain there. About the tournament that will be held this year in Thunder Bay: I

don't hear you complaining there. The Minister of Northern Development pointed out to you yesterday and answered the question: same rules, open, transparent. All the processes have been followed,

and that's it.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Mr R. Gary Stewart (Peterborough): My question is to the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology. I understand some $30 million annually

has been allocated through the Ontario research performance fund to cover indirect costs related to Ontario-sponsored research and development carried out in Ontario colleges, universities and

research institutes. Can you explain how the research community in Ontario has benefited from the research performance fund.

Hon Jim Wilson (Minister of Energy, Science and Technology): This is a question that is of vital importance to our post-secondary education

institutions that carry out world-class scientific research in the province. We had asked Dr Heather Monroe-Blum at the University of Toronto to help us to reverse the brain drain and help us to

make sure we were investing taxpayers' dollars wisely into post-secondary education and research. She suggested that we cover the indirect costs. We're the first jurisdiction in Canada, that we're

aware of, to actually cover the costs of scientists having to use libraries and computer labs, keeping the lights on, frankly, and paying the indirect overhead costs.

Under our research with the research performance fund, in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars to the Ontario research and development challenge

fund, the Premier's Research Excellence Awards and the Ontario Innovation Trust, we're now covering 40% of the indirect costs of research to make sure that the labs stay open, that the libraries

stay open and that the world-class research which will create jobs by introducing new products and services in Canada will create jobs in Ontario.

We challenge the federal government. Although they are giving a lot of money for research these days, they're not covering the overhead costs of universities,

and subsequently money has been taken out of regular classrooms and is being directed to areas --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): I'm afraid the minister's time is up.

PETITIONS

OPP DISPATCH CENTRE

Mrs Leona Dombrowsky (Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to locate the eastern regional OPP dispatch centre in the vacant and relatively new

OPP building on Wallbridge Loyalist Road in Belleville, Ontario;

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

"To locate the eastern regional OPP dispatch centre in Belleville, Ontario."

I very happily sign this petition.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): A petition from many concerned citizens of Ontario. It reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the annual rent increase guideline for multi-unit residential dwellings in Ontario increases every year more than the rate of inflation and more than

the cost-of-living increase for most tenants;

"Whereas no new affordable rental housing is being built by the private sector, despite the promise that the implementation of vacancy decontrol in June of

1998 would encourage new construction;

"Whereas over 100,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing, homelessness has increased as a result of unaffordable rents, and high rents are a

direct cause of the national housing crisis;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to implement an immediate province-wide freeze on rents which will stop all guideline

increases, above-guideline increases and increases to maximum rent for all sitting tenants in Ontario for a period of at least two years."

Lisa-Marie from Woodbridge is going to bring this petition, supported by me.

REINSTATEMENT OF TEACHER

Mr Joseph N. Tascona (Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford): I have a petition that I wish to present to the Legislature of Ontario. It reads as

follows:

"Whereas a suspended schoolteacher was reinstated and an independent public inquiry is requested;

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

"To appoint an independent body to conduct a complete inquiry into why Laura Sclater was reinstated as a `teacher in good standing with conditions and

limitations' after having been suspended from teaching and placed on the provincial child abuse register for sending letters containing sexual innuendo to a 13-year-old student.

"We expect policy changes to be implemented to prevent this situation from recurring."

SAFE STREETS LEGISLATION

Mr Bruce Crozier (Essex): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas charities such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada, the Goodfellows, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, firefighters and many others

participate in fundraisers on streets, sidewalks and parking lots; and

"Whereas the Safe Streets Act, 1999 effectively bans these types of activities, putting police forces in the position of ignoring the law or hindering

legitimate charities; and

"Whereas charitable organizations are dependent on these fundraisers to raise much-needed money and awareness;

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

"We ask that the government of Ontario amend provincial legislation by passing" -- Bill 26, standing in the name of Mr Crozier -- "the Charity Fund-Raising

Activities Act, 2001, to allow charitable organizations to conduct fundraising campaigns on roadways, sidewalks and parking lots."

In support of this I affix my signature.

PROTECTION OF MINORS

Mr Bob Wood (London West): I have a petition signed by 307 people.

"Whereas children are being exposed to sexually explicit materials in many commercial establishments;

"Whereas many municipalities do not have bylaws in place to protect minors and those that do vary from place to place and have failed to protect minors from

unwanted exposure to sexually explicit materials;

"Whereas uniform standards are needed in Ontario that would make it illegal to sell, rent, loan or display sexually explicit materials to minors;

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

"To pass Bill 95, Protection of Minors from Sexually Explicit Goods and Services Act, 2000, as soon as possible."

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas this government is planning a complete overhaul of the developmental services system, which could result in the closure of the three remaining

developmentally handicapped regional centres;

"Whereas suitable quality medical, behavioural, social, emotional and spiritual services are readily available in the three remaining centres;

"Whereas there is a distinct deficiency of services available in the private sector, including reluctant dentists,

kinesiologists, psychiatrists, physicians and emergency services;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ask that you recognize that the three remaining centres for developmentally handicapped

individuals are providing a community for the residents that live there and acknowledge that these centres deliver quality care and services by keeping them open and by directing private-public

agencies with limited resources and services to access the resources at the centres and to work in partnership with them."

It's signed by a number of residents from Merlin, Chatham, Blenheim and Wheatley, and I affix my signature to it.

HORSE RIDING SAFETY

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

"Whereas an increasing number of Ontarians are turning to horseback riding as a recreational activity; and

"Whereas many of these inexperienced riders are children; and

"Whereas currently there are no minimum ... standards regulating riding establishments; and

"Whereas coroners' inquests into horse riding fatalities from as long ago as 1977 have called for the mandatory use of riding helmets and boots; and

"Whereas an unacceptable number of preventable injuries and fatalities have occurred while horseback riding;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows: to pass into law the private member's bill introduced by Tina Molinari, MPP for

Thornhill, entitled the Horse Riding Safety Act, 2001, in order to increase the safety of horse riders under the age of 18 by requiring the operators of riding establishments to ensure that proper

safety equipment is used, and to amend the Highway Traffic Act and make it an offence for any rider under the age of 18 to ride a horse on a highway without the proper safety equipment."

I affix my signature to this.

PRIVATE HOME DAYCARE

Mr Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): I have a petition from a group of parents from Casselman to the Legislative Assembly of

Ontario.

"Whereas private home daycare in the Day Nurseries Act is defined as temporary care for reward or compensation of five children or less who are under 10 years

of age;

"Whereas in rural areas, there is a lack and in great part no public transportation and considering that the population is often far away from centres and

schools;

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

"That the Ontario government bring forth the following amendment to the definition of the private home daycare under the Day Nurseries Act which would allow a

greater number than five children or less who are under 10 years of age in the rural areas."

I affix my signature.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Mr Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): I've got a petition from many, many people here concerned about the particular issue I'm about to

read.

"Whereas the report of the McKendry commission, released by the Ontario Ministry of Health in December 1999, finds that Ontario is facing a shortage of over

1,000 physicians; and

"Whereas at least 286 international medical graduates in Ontario have successfully completed the Medical Council of Canada evaluating exam, demonstrating

competence in clinical knowledge; and

"Whereas the number of Ministry of Health funded post-graduate positions in `pool B' (that is, international medical graduates) has been reduced from 289 to 81

since 1994; and

"Whereas the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine has indicated that they have the capacity to absorb an increase in the number of entry-level

post-graduate positions, as long as sufficient resources are provided to support the increase; and

"Whereas the Legislative Assembly of Ontario unanimously passed private member's resolution 6 on November 25, 1999, which held that the government of Ontario

should implement a plan to improve access to professions and trades for foreign-trained professionals.

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care as follows:

"(

a) to restore the number of Ministry of Health funded post-graduate positions for international medical graduates to at least 1994 levels;

"(

b) to increase immediately the number of entry-level post-graduate training positions to the full capacity of the Ontario faculties of medicine;

"(

c) to make the increased entry-level post-graduate positions directly available to international medical graduates who have successfully completed the

requisite examinations;

"(

d) to develop a plan to identify alternative funding mechanisms that allow more equitable access for international physicians to the health care system in

Ontario; and

"(

e) to appoint a committee, with representation from the international medical graduate community, to review and dismantle the barriers which have been

established to prevent international physicians from gaining fair access to licensure and practice in Ontario."

I support this petition.

BRAIN TUMOURS

Mr Bob Wood (London West): I have a petition signed by 14 people:

"Whereas early detection and treatment of brain tumours are vital to survive from this devastating disease;

"Whereas brain tumours strike people of all ages, from newborns to seniors, crossing all economic, social and ethnic boundaries and all walks of life;

"Whereas brain tumours are the most common cause of solid cancer in children; and

"Whereas brain tumour research, patient and family support services and awareness among the general public are essential to promote early detection and

treatment of brain tumours.

"We, the undersigned, therefore respectfully petition the Parliament of Ontario to pass a law proclaiming the month of October in each year as Brain Tumour

Awareness Month."

HOME CARE

Mr John C. Cleary (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): I have a petition which reads:

"To the Parliament Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"The heads of government reduce homemaking hours for the elderly and special cases. Governments have also reduced stays in a hospital after surgery or illness,

by promising more homemaking at home, but now we know that the governments are reducing these hours. The elderly are on a fixed income and cannot afford to have help come in.

"We, the undersigned, request that" the government of Ontario "review their action on home care policy and also request that they reinstate the home care

program to act immediately on the above.

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament Legis-lative Assembly of Ontario as follows," and this is signed by 350 residents of eastern Ontario. I have

signed the petition also.

PROTECTION OF MINORS

Mr Bob Wood (London West): I have a petition signed by 106 people.

"Whereas children are being exposed to sexually explicit materials in many commercial establishments;

"Whereas many municipalities do not have bylaws in place to protect minors and those that do vary from place to place and have failed to protect minors from

unwanted exposure to sexually explicit materials;

"Whereas uniform standards are needed in Ontario that would make it illegal to sell, rent, loan or display sexually explicit materials to minors;

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

"To pass Bill 95, Protection of Minors from Sexually Explicit Goods and Services Act, 2000, as soon as possible."

NORTHERN HEALTH TRAVEL GRANT

Mrs Lyn McLeod (Thunder Bay-Atikokan): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the northern health travel grant was introduced in 1987 in recognition of the fact that northern Ontario residents are often forced to receive

treatment outside their own communities because of the lack of available services; and

"Whereas the Ontario government acknowledged that the costs associated with that travel should not be fully borne by those residents and, therefore, that

financial support should be provided by the Ontario government through the travel grant program; and

"Whereas travel, accommodation and other costs have escalated sharply since the program was first put in place, particularly in the area of air travel; and

"Whereas the Ontario government has provided funds so that southern Ontario patients needing care at the Northwestern Ontario Cancer Centre have all their

expenses paid while receiving treatment in the north which creates a double standard for health care delivery in the province; and

"Whereas northern Ontario residents should not receive a different level of health care nor be discriminated against because of their geographical

locations;

"Therefore we, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Ontario Legislature to acknowledge the unfairness and inadequacy of the northern health travel

grant program and commit to a review of the program with a goal of providing 100% funding of the travel costs for residents needing care outside their communities until such time as that care is

available in their communities."

This is signed by a number of constituents from the town of Atikokan and, in full agreement with their concerns, I affix my own signature.

BRAIN TUMOURS

Mr Bob Wood (London West): I have a petition signed by 14 people:

"Whereas early detection and treatment of brain tumours are vital to survive from this devastating disease;

"Whereas brain tumours strike people of all ages, from newborns to seniors, crossing all economic, social and ethnic boundaries and all walks of life;

"Whereas brain tumours are the most common cause of solid cancer in children; and

"Whereas brain tumour research, patient and family support services and awareness among the general public are essential to promote early detection and

treatment of brain tumours.

"We, the undersigned, therefore respectfully petition the Parliament of Ontario to pass a law proclaiming the month of October in each year as Brain Tumour

Awareness Month."

BEAR HUNTING

Mr John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands): I have a petition here that was taken up in my area, and other areas of the province as well.

It's addressed to the Parliament of Ontario.

"Whereas mother bears and cubs are hunted in the fall as they prepare for hibernation; and

"Whereas about 30% of the bears killed in the fall are female, some with cubs; and

"Whereas orphaned cubs have a reduced chance of surviving; and

"Whereas an average of 12% of the fall hunt, or 343 cubs a year, are shot in the fall; and

"Whereas bears are the only mammals that are hunted so extensively over bait;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to stop the hunting of mother bears and cubs in the fall and prohibit the use of bait in all bear

hunting activities."

It has been signed by well over 1,000 individuals. I'm handing it to Christopher.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO STUDENT LOAN

HARMONIZATION ACT, 2001 /

LOI DE 2001 SUR L'HARMONISATION

DES PRÊTS D'ÉTUDES DE L'ONTARIO

Resuming the debate adjourned on May 7, 2001, on the motion for second reading of Bill 19,

An Act to amend the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

Act / Projet de loi 19, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur le ministère de la Formation et des Collèges et Universités.

Mr Doug Galt (Northumberland): It is nice to be able to continue the debate on Bill 19,

An Act to amend the Ministry of Training, Colleges and

Universities Act.

At the beginning, I'd like to recognize the member from Durham, who brought to my attention just before we adjourned at 6 o'clock yesterday, that I had brought

up the accountability act brought in by the member from Toronto Centre-Rosedale and I shouldn't have been discussing that when he was not here. I certainly appreciate the member from Durham

bringing that to my attention. On the same point, I'd like to talk about it today, but again I find I'm in the same position. I can't talk about a bill that --

Mr Dominic Agostino (Hamilton East): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: The member is being deliberate in trying to screw around procedure and

decorum in the House. It is clear that you cannot say indirectly what you can't say directly. The member is being too cute by half. I would ask you to rule him out of order and suggest you cannot

make reference to a member's absence or presence in the House directly or indirectly. He's done that on three occasions in the last two minutes. I would ask you to correct that.

The Acting Speaker (Mr Bert Johnson): That is a point of order. I would ask the member to refrain from such practice.

Mr Galt: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. To begin, I'd like to speak about two specific measures: key performance indicators and also

performance-based funding. Students and parents deserve a clear picture of the ability of our colleges and universities to prepare graduates for jobs. That's why the Ontario government is now

requiring post-secondary institutions to provide students with accurate information that can help them make more informed choices about their educational careers.

For example, if a student is trying to decide between program A and program B, the knowledge that twice as many graduates of program A find related jobs as

those from program B could indeed be a deciding factor. At the college level, data are based on surveys of graduates to see if they're satisfied with the quality of education they have received and

whether it led to a job. It is based on surveys of employers to see if recent graduates had the skills and expertise to gain entry into the workplace of choice. It also takes into account how well

graduates have managed repayment of the costs of their education.

At the university level, our students can now review graduation rates, graduate employment rates and Ontario student loan default rates from every institution.

These performance indicators demonstrate the quality of education provided in the province of Ontario. The most recent indicators show that an average 94% of 1998 university graduates had a job six

months after leaving school and 97% were working within two years. Colleges had similar results, with 91% of the 2,000 college graduates working within six months of graduation. I'm proud to note

that this is the highest employment rate of college graduates since 1989. In addition, 91% of employers reported satisfaction with the preparation that college graduates had received.

We believe these statistics are vital for students and parents. They allow them to make informed decisions about programs or which institution they want to

attend. I think we can clearly see that access to information about performance levels helps all of us ensure that the system is responsive to the needs of learners and accountable to the

taxpayers. We can look at the system and see what is working and what needs further attention. We can also ensure that taxpayers' dollars are being spent well. Most important, those people about to

enter the system can select a program or course knowing how previous students felt about the education that they received and whether it led to a job.

While I believe it is important for institutions to be accountable, it is also important for students to fulfill their obligations as well. While we are

prepared to help students to repay their loans in various ways, it is ultimately the responsibility of the students to manage their debt.

One of our concerns was the high default rate on student loans we inherited upon taking office. I am very proud of our government's balanced approach to

increasing the number of students who successfully repay their debt to the Ontario taxpayers.

As you may be aware, this year the default rate is 15.5%, of course still too high, but that is down from the 18.2% back

in 1999. As a matter of fact, this is the third consecutive annual drop in loan default rates for the province since 1997, when the overall rate was 23.5%. This puts us all well on our way to

meeting our goal set in 1998 of reducing the overall OSAP default rates to less than 10% by 2003. We need to ensure that there's fairness in the system, both to the taxpayers who fund the student

loan program and for the hard-working students who pay back their loans.

I'm pleased to note that the default rate has declined across the system. The rate for the university students is 7.1%, down from 8.4% and already below the

10% goal. The rate for college students is 17.2%, down from 20.1%, and the rate for students at private vocational schools is 28.9%, down from some 31%.

I want to emphasize that the default rates have maintained a steady decline since our government started reporting publicly on the default rates. This clearly

demonstrates that our commitment to accountability -- to measuring and reporting on how taxpayers' dollars are spent -- does improve efficiency and effectiveness. Information on default rates is

now available to the public along with information on institutional performance in key areas such as student and employer satisfaction and the employment rates of graduates. We are now allocating a

portion of the institutions' operating grants on their performance in these areas.

This decline in student loan default rates can be attributed to a number of government initiatives. These include credit screening new loan applicants to be

sure that loans are not given to students with a history of credit abuse; second, providing students who have low incomes after they graduate with enhanced opportunities to apply for interest

relief on their loan repayments; third, participating in the tax credit to help students cover the interest cost on student loans; fourth, requiring institutions that have very high default rates

to help pay for the cost of these outstanding debts; and fifth, requiring institutions to give students accurate information about default rates, graduation rates and graduate employment rates by

program so students can make informed choices about their studies. All of these measures ensure that both students and institutions fulfill their obligations to the Ontario taxpayers.

Accountability was an important element in the government's $1-billion investment in colleges and universities through the SuperBuild initiative. Funds were

awarded competitively to institutions based on how efficiently they could use them to create spaces for new students; evidence of both program and institution demand; the level of contribution to

the long-term economic strength of the community and the presence of partnership funding with private sources.

I'm pleased to say that Ontario's colleges and universities responded to this challenge, and today spaces for 73,000 new students are under construction right

across the province.

The Ontario government has also introduced a new approach to funding post-secondary institutions to ensure that colleges and universities keep pace with the

changing needs of students and the demands of the workplace. By linking funding to performance, our government is rewarding schools that do the best job of preparing students to succeed after

graduation and ensuring that colleges and universities are accountable to students and taxpayers. As in all sectors of education, this government is not afraid to ask how students are doing or tell

parents and taxpayers what the results are.

This is important, because we cannot set out to improve the quality of education offered at Ontario's colleges and universities without first asking basic

questions about performance: how many students are satisfied with their educational experiences, how many employers feel that the graduates are well prepared for their chosen fields and how new

graduates are faring in the job market? These are the sorts of questions we're asking in a consistent way, and the result is increased accountability to students and the public.

This year, a portion of our $103-million increase in operating grants was allocated based on the performance of post-secondary institutions: 2% of the

operating grants to colleges was based on the institution's performance as measured by graduates' employment rate six months after graduation, employers' satisfaction with graduates and graduates'

satisfaction with their education. This portion will increase to 4% in 2001-02 and to 6% the following year.

This year, 1% of university operating grants was distributed based on performance as measured by graduation rates, graduate employment rate at six months after

graduation and graduate employment rate at two years after graduation.

Working in partnership with institutions, we will further refine our key performance indicators to ensure accountability in post-secondary education. This new

approach to funding will benefit those institutions that are responsive to student and community needs by providing relevant and high-quality programs.

Increased accountability is good for students and it's also good for taxpayers. The government has already taken steps to ensure accountability and efficiency

in our post-secondary education system, and I am confident that the Ontario Student Loan Harmonization Act, 2001, if passed by the Legislature, will take us another step toward our goal of ensuring

that our young people will indeed be well prepared for the challenges ahead.

Perhaps most importantly this afternoon, our government understands the importance of giving students and parents the power to choose. There are different

students with different goals and different requirements, and every student needs to make the choice that is best for them. Quite simply, when students and parents have reliable information about

post-secondary programs, they make