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April 10, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Apr-10 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 10 April 2006 Lundi 10 avril 2006

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO SCHOOL BUS ASSOCIATION

VOLLEYBALL TEAM /

ÉQUIPE DE VOLLEYBALL

ONTARIO SOCIETY

FOR THE PREVENTION

OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

MEL SWART-LAKE GIBSON

CONSERVATION PARK

GREAT WOLF LODGE

ONTARIO FEDERATION

OF ANGLERS AND HUNTERS

ONTARIO SCHOOL BUS ASSOCIATION

NORTHERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT

RIDING OF HURON-BRUCE

GIRL GUIDE COOKIES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION REPORTING ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR L'OBLIGATION DE SIGNALER

TOUTE AUGMENTATION DE

LA CONSOMMATION D'ÉLECTRICITÉ

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

RENEWABLE FUELS

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

RENEWABLE FUELS

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

ORAL QUESTIONS

COMMUNITY SAFETY

HEALTH CARE

CHILD PROTECTION

HYDRO ONE

HEALTH CARE

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PLAN

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

TUITION

RENEWABLE FUELS

FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

TENANT PROTECTION

STUDENT ASSISTANCE

LONG-TERM CARE

NORTHERN ECONOMY

VISITOR

PETITIONS

LONG-TERM CARE

DISABILITY BENEFITS

MACULAR DEGENERATION

GASOLINE PRICES

SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDING

LONG-TERM CARE

EDUCATION FUNDING

LONG-TERM CARE

ORGAN DONATION

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

LONG-TERM CARE

MACULAR DEGENERATION

EDUCATION FUNDING

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À LA GESTION

DES SITUATIONS D'URGENCE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the Chief Election Officer and laid upon the

table certificates of the by-elections in the electoral districts of Whitby-Ajax, Nepean-Carleton and Toronto-Danforth.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers):

(1) "Mr. Claude DesRosiers

"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

"Room 104

"Legislative Building

"Queen's Park

"Toronto, Ontario

"M7A 1A2

"Dear Mr. DesRosiers:

"A writ of election dated the first day of March, 2006, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Elinor

Kidd, returning officer for the electoral district of Whitby-Ajax, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Whitby-Ajax in the Legislative Assembly of this province

in the room of Jim Flaherty who since his election as representative of the said electoral district of Whitby-Ajax has resigned his seat. This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and

held in Whitby-Ajax on the 30th day of March, 2006, Christine Elliott has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the seventh day of April, 2006,

which is now lodged of record in my office.

"John L. Hollins

"Chief Election Officer

"Toronto, April 10, 2006."

(2) "Mr. Claude DesRosiers

"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

"Room 104

"Legislative Building

"Queen's Park

"Toronto, Ontario

"M7A 1A2

"Dear Mr. DesRosiers:

"A writ of election dated the first day of March, 2006, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Wayne

Beaten, returning officer for the electoral district of Nepean-Carleton, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Nepean-Carleton in the Legislative Assembly of this

province in the room of John Baird who since his election as representative of the said electoral district of Nepean-Carleton has resigned his seat. This is to certify that, a poll having been

granted and held in Nepean-Carleton on the 30th day of March, 2006, Lisa MacLeod has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the seventh day of

April, 2006, which is now lodged of record in my office.

"John L. Hollins

"Chief Election Officer

"Toronto, April 10, 2006."

(3) "Mr. Claude DesRosiers

"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

"Room 104

"Legislative Building

"Queen's Park

"Toronto, Ontario

"M7A 1A2

"Dear Mr. DesRosiers:

"A writ of election dated the first day of March, 2006, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to

Krystianna Sofroniou, returning officer for the electoral district of Toronto-Danforth, for the election of the member to represent the said electoral district of Toronto-Danforth in the

Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Marilyn Churley who since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Toronto-Danforth has resigned her seat. This is to

certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Toronto-Danforth on the 30th day of March, 2006, Peter Tabuns has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of

election, dated the seventh day of April, 2006, which is now lodged of record in my office.

"John L. Hollins

"Chief Election Officer

"Toronto, April 10, 2006."

Mrs. Elliott and Ms. MacLeod were escorted into the chamber by Mr. Tory and Mr. Runciman.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Christine Elliott, the member-elect

for the electoral district of Whitby-Ajax, and Lisa MacLeod, the member-elect for the electoral district of Nepean-Carleton, who have taken the oath and signed the roll and now claim the right to

take their seats.

The Speaker: Let the honourable members take their seats.

Applause.

Mr. Tabuns was escorted into the chamber by Mr. Hampton and Mr. Kormos.

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Peter Tabuns, member-elect for the

electoral district of Toronto-Danforth, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take his seat.

The Speaker: Let the honourable member take his seat.

Applause.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO SCHOOL BUS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On behalf of the PC caucus, I would like to welcome the new members of the Legislature who have taken their seats

today.

I also want to welcome members of the Ontario School Bus Association, who are here today to meet with MPPs. The OSBA are valued partners in the education

community, and we're pleased that they are here with us today. Under the leadership of Rick Donaldson, the OSBA has been an effective voice for safe and reliable transportation of students across

the province.

The OSBA represents some 200 school bus companies operating over 14,000 vehicles throughout the entire province. Sixty per cent of their members are small,

family-owned businesses with 20 or fewer vehicles.

The members of the OSBA and their drivers play an important role for our students every day. They are the first and last point of contact with the school system

for over 800,000 students every day. Their members have strong ties in our communities, and I am sure many of you know your school bus operator by name.

The OSBA have long been advocates for a fair and equitable student transportation funding model. The PC caucus is committed to working with the OSBA to impress

upon the government the importance of having an improved student transportation funding formula.

We are pleased that the OSBA are here to meet with us. We welcome you, and we encourage the new Minister of Transportation to have that important dialogue with

the OSBA to ensure that they can be effective in this province.

VOLLEYBALL TEAM /

ÉQUIPE DE VOLLEYBALL

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): It is with great pleasure that I rise today in the House to recognize the girls' volleyball

team from l'École Secondaire L'Escale de Rockland. This outstanding team won the gold medal at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations tournament in Richmond Hill. I had the

honour of attending their first game.

C'est une première médaille d'or pour l'équipe des filles, qui est composée de ces superbes athlèthes : Andréanne Aumont, ma

nièce Amélie Laflèche, Caroline Lupien, Annik Carrière, Natacha Paquette, Émilie Lamarche, Véronique Beaudry, Becky Lefaivre, Vicki Sabourin, Sabrina Leclair, Karissa

Laberge et Mari-Ève Talbot.

Encore une fois, félicitations à toutes ces joueuses de l'équipe; aux entraîneurs, François St-Denis, Jason Boivin et Daniel Beaudry; et

aux parents, qui tous ensemble ont contribué à ce grand succès.

Monsieur le Président, je suis fier du succès rapporté ainsi que pour l'appui de la direction de l'Escale de Rockland.

ONTARIO SOCIETY

FOR THE PREVENTION

OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I would like to draw attention to the state of animal welfare in this province. The Ontario Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is in a financial crisis, and the government should be ashamed of its slow pace of involvement to assist and maintain this valuable service.

During pre-budget consultations, we heard that the number of animals rescued by the OSPCA has more than doubled, the number of animal cruelty charges laid has

increased sevenfold, the number of search warrants executed has more than quadrupled and the number of orders issued has almost tripled; all of this, and the OSPCA receives no funding to fulfill

its mandate.

The OSPCA relies on its fundraising efforts to stay afloat, but these funds are not able to keep pace with demand. Shelters in Kingston and Dryden are slated for

closure, and other shelters across the province are facing significant capital and internal pressures. We are headed for a crisis, and this government chose not to give financial support to the

OSPCA in its recently announced budget.

We call on the government to implement the recommendations of the independent review by Grant Thornton. Conduct a legislative and governance review and provide

stable, long-term funding to the OSPCA so they can continue to provide animal protection services which are critical to the safety of animals in our communities.

This government had no trouble finding the money to produce photo opportunities when promoting their pathetic pit bull legislation. It's time they came forward

to properly fund the OSPCA and its affiliates.

MEL SWART-LAKE GIBSON

CONSERVATION PARK

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Saturday night in Niagara, the place to be was at Club Capri in Thorold, where folks gathered for the seventh

consecutive year at the annual fundraiser for the Mel Swart-Lake Gibson Conservation Park. Representatives of Thorold council and of regional council were there. Jim Bradley, member for St.

Catharines and Minister of Tourism, came down from his riding to join other folks at that gathering of august people raising funds for this effort that's been the pride of Thorold for a decade plus

-- and of course, all the more importantly, the namesake, Mel Swart. Mel was there in fine form. Mel was there with his long-time friend and companion, Hilda Holmes, a woman who has bragging rights

as one of the people who imposed upon Mel to run as a CCFer on the first occasion many, many years ago.

I want to commend the incredible work of the community of Thorold and Fred Neale, as chair of that committee, who have developed in the Mel Swart-Lake Gibson

Conservation Park down on Decew Road, just down from Emma Carlson, one of the most pristine and unique pieces of land in Niagara, where people go to simply sit and reflect, where people go to walk

and listen to the birds and watch the wildlife, the flora and the fauna.

I was exceptionally proud to be with Mel last Saturday and I'm looking forward to many more occasions in years to come when Jim Bradley, Mel Swart and I can sit

down and raise money together.

GREAT WOLF LODGE

Mr. Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls): When the sun sets this Thursday in my riding of Niagara Falls, a great howl of joy will erupt as the Great

Wolf Lodge will officially open its doors to over half a million guests annually. This 406-family-suite lodge is the home to North America's largest themed water park. It's an amazing investment in

the future of tourism in the Niagara area by the Jim Pattison Group.

With an initial investment of over $130 million to date, it's created 350 to 400 needed construction jobs, with a local payroll in excess of $15 million. Over

800 local and Canadian vendors provided goods and services to build, equip and supply this magnificent building.

The 500,000-square-foot Great Wolf Lodge is creating 520 new jobs, providing training, mentoring and leadership skills to a new generation of adults. The lodge

will employ 100 lifeguards, 57 chefs and, in the first year of operations, will pump $32 million into the economy of Niagara Falls.

The Great Wolf Lodge is just another example of a company that believes Niagara and Ontario are great places to invest 12 months a year -- and that is

something to howl about.

The Great Wolf Lodge is a year-round indoor family resort that will create lifelong family memories and fun.

I urge all Ontarians to visit this new family experience in Niagara Falls. It's just one of the many reasons to come and visit Ontario's finest tourist

destination. A visit to the Great Wolf Lodge will have your children howling to return.

ONTARIO FEDERATION

OF ANGLERS AND HUNTERS

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I'm pleased to rise today to welcome representatives of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

to the Legislature. Present today are Mike Reader, executive director of the federation; Greg Farrant, manager of government relations; Terry Quinney, provincial manager for fish and wildlife;

Alison de Groot, publisher of Ontario Out of Doors magazine; Gerry Dineson, Canadian Shooting Sports Association; Tom Brooke, president of the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association; Conrad

Morin, president of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation and also a member of the fish and wildlife commission; Murray Monk, the northwestern Ontario director of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation;

and Matt Nichols, the new editor of Ontario Out of Doors magazine.

Since 1928, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, as Canada's leading conservation organization, has been working to support outdoor opportunities for

sporting enthusiasts. This non-profit, registered charity is dedicated to protecting woodland and wetland habitat, conserving our precious fish and wildlife stocks and promoting outdoor education.

The federation works closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources to provide information and support to provide enhanced resource management. The OFAH represents more than 80,000 outdoor

enthusiasts and 600 member clubs across the province.

I ask members to join me in thanking the federation for the fine work they do and to welcome them here to the Legislature today.

ONTARIO SCHOOL BUS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Bruce Crozier (Essex): In all of our communities and ridings throughout our province today, schoolchildren are being taken safely to

school in those yellow banana buses we all recognize. In those buses are the school bus drivers and operators who are dedicated to ensuring that our most precious resource, the students in our

education system, make it to class every school day on time and in a secure manner. As many of us would be aware, these operators are the lifeblood of the education system in our communities. They

are most often the first and last contact that students have with the education system on a daily basis.

Today, the Ontario School Bus Association is at Queen's Park to meet MPPs to discuss their role in the education system and how we can work together to ensure

that the school transportation system remains efficient and safe for the children of this province.

The OSBA represents 200 school bus operators throughout the province, the majority of which are small, family-owned operations with fewer than 20 vehicles.

Every day, these school buses travel over 1.9 million kilometres to transport over 800,000 students in all kinds of traffic and weather conditions with the help of dedicated, responsible and

professional drivers.

I want to welcome to the Legislature today the president of the OSBA, Rob Proctor, Executive Director Rick Donaldson and over 60 OSBA members from across the

province who have travelled to Queen's Park to advocate on behalf of this important education partner.

NORTHERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT

Mr. David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie): Recently in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie I had the pleasure to announce with Minister Bartolucci that

our government is providing $15 million toward a major tourism project on our waterfront. This investment is the largest ever through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. and is a clear

indication that our government is following through on its commitment to invest in northern Ontario communities.

It has been more than a decade since our city has had this type of support from an Ontario Premier and government. I can say that residents enthusiastically

welcome this project and greatly appreciate our government's efforts.

The long-awaited Gateway project is estimated at $54 million and is expected to create 600 full-time jobs. The development will include a

35,000-square-foot domed arboretum called Borealis, which will house natural forest exhibits, a state-of-the-art 4-D movie theatre, ACR's Agawa Canyon train station, a new Radisson hotel, themed

retail and restaurants, and a live performance theatre. The Gateway tourist development is expected to attract many of the 42 million people living within a day's drive of Sault Ste. Marie.

Our record investment of $15 million from NOHFC is in addition to the nearly $10 million in new funding over the past few years for the Sutherland Group

centre, Flakeboard Ltd. and SIAG wind manufacturing -- all creating new jobs.

Unfortunately, when the NDP and Conservatives had their chance to help northern Ontario, they chose to ignore us. It's obvious to my community that our

government cares about northern Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie.

RIDING OF HURON-BRUCE

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): I'm very pleased to rise today to speak about two very good-news announcements that I had the opportunity

to make in the most beautiful riding in the province of Ontario: Huron-Bruce.

Those announcements were about the land ambulance funding that Bruce and Huron counties are going to receive. The McGuinty government will be spending $300

million over the next three years to achieve a true 50-50 funding of the cost of municipal land ambulances and those services by 2008.

Just so that we have an understanding, in Huron this represents over $600,000 and over $300,000 in Bruce. I can tell you, this is much-needed money.

I also had the pleasure of announcing $300,000 for the Women's House of Bruce County. This one-time, unconditional grant will allow them to complete a

much-needed capital enhancement project. This is good news for women fleeing domestic violence.

Once again, this demonstrates our government's commitment to supporting the people who need it most, recognizing that the services municipalities provide also

need to be addressed -- the cost ratios. This is our commitment to our municipalities. We recognize them as true partners as we go forward, and that $300 million recognizes that --

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

GIRL GUIDE COOKIES

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Labour): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Just a reminder that it is Girl Guide cookie time. I encourage you

to buy your Girl Guide cookies. My niece Olivia Peters graces the box.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): That was not a point of order, but a good commercial interruption.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION REPORTING ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR L'OBLIGATION DE SIGNALER

TOUTE AUGMENTATION DE

LA CONSOMMATION D'ÉLECTRICITÉ

Mr. Lalonde moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 98,

An Act to require reporting on increased electricity consumption / Projet de loi 98,

Loi sur le signalement obligatoire de toute augmentation de la

consommation d'électricité.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): The act requires that every person who causes a building to be constructed report the

anticipated annual electricity use in the case of a new building, or the annual increase, if any, in electricity use in a building that is being extended, materially altered or repaired. The report

is made to the chief building official in a municipality. On an annual basis, the chief building official is required to report to the Minister of Energy on the anticipated annual increase in

electricity use in the municipality.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent

to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley is asking for unanimous consent to put forward a motion regarding private members' public

business. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 96(d), the following change be made to the ballot list of private members'

public business: Mr. Orazietti and Mr. Wilkinson exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr. Orazietti assumes ballot item 51 and Mr. Wilkinson assumes ballot item 37.

The Speaker: Mr. Bradley has moved that, notwithstanding standing order 96(d), the following change be made to the ballot list of private

members' public business: Mr. Orazietti and Mr. Wilkinson exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr. Orazietti assumes ballot item 51 and Mr. Wilkinson assumes ballot item 37. Is it the

pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing

order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion 97. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion

carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1359 to 1404 .

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

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

MacLeod, Lisa

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

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

Nays

Hampton, Howard

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Murdoch, Bill

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 68; the nays are 8.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise you and members of this Legislative

Assembly that our government is about to embark on a major effort to bring about much-needed changes to Ontario's drug system. These changes will result in a stronger, more effective, more

transparent drug system for the people of Ontario, a system that puts people first and enhances their access to truly innovative drugs, a system that gives our province and her people good value

for the money that they spend.

Innovation in public health care has been one of the defining characteristics of this government. This package of reforms is one more part of that agenda of

innovation. As with all of the health care reforms we've introduced, our purpose is clear: to preserve and strengthen Ontario's system of public health care. Our government believes passionately

that our public health care system is the best system for Ontario's patients and for our province, enhancing our economic competitiveness and making us a more desirable place to live, work and

invest.

Our challenge, our obligation, is to ensure the system's sustainability, and one crucial part of meeting this challenge is ensuring that taxpayers receive fair

value for their dollar. When it comes to Ontario's drug system, this has not been the case. Not only have taxpayers not received fair value for their dollar; there are a number of other weaknesses

and problems throughout the entire drug system. The drug review process is too slow. Patients' voices are not heard. It's not transparent, and that lack of transparency has permitted shrewd

marketing campaigns to portray drugs that offer only incremental benefits as "breakthrough" drugs. Pharmacists aren't sufficiently involved in the system. There are disturbing problems with the

drug distribution system and with the business practices of some who operate within it. It is a system riddled with inefficiencies, where doctors, for example, are forced to spend far too much time

on paperwork instead of patient care. The list is long and the case for change is strong. So I stand before you today, Mr. Speaker, to inform you and this House that changes are coming.

Later this week, our government will be introducing legislation to address a number of these issues. There will be a package of reforms built on one overriding

principle: Patients will be the beneficiaries. There will be no reduction whatsoever to the benefits they are currently receiving -- none. The changes we are introducing will provide patients with

greater access to better drugs faster, and if we are unable to fund a drug, people will be told why not.

Our reforms will also save taxpayers money. What this proposal is all about is ensuring that the $3.5 billion that we spend every year on drugs for Ontarians

is respected; that taxpayers are rewarded for the enormous volumes that are involved. Standard business practice: Volumes are rewarded. The biggest customer gets the best price. But for some

reason, that hasn't been the case here in Ontario when it comes to government purchasing drugs. Well, that has to change, and it's going to change.

Mr. Speaker, let me also tell you and all of those who are listening to these remarks that our package of reforms is a very balanced package. It's a package

that balances the needs and interests of retailers, drug manufacturers, doctors, pharmacists and, most important, our patients. All of these groups are key players in Ontario's drug system, and

each of them has a role to play in building a stronger and more effective system. Our package balances their needs and expectations and is fair to all.

Let me also state clearly that our government recognizes the tremendously valuable work done by Ontario's drug companies, particularly with respect to

research. The money they spend on R&D is money well spent. No one should doubt that they deserve to be fairly compensated for truly innovative breakthrough drugs -- and they will be.

In the coming days, there may be those who attempt to take one or two elements of our package out of context and raise a cry of alarm about the hardship being

inflicted upon them. That is neither appropriate nor helpful. So I have a challenge for them, particularly for my colleague the Leader of the Opposition, who today indicated to me that he intends

to run against me in the next election. His health care policy appears to rely on his finding efficiency in the current system. Why does he not support the kind of innovation that secures better

access to better drugs for patients and respects taxpayers by obtaining better value for their money? That will be the challenge for all of our opponents in the coming days, because on this file,

simplistic negative rhetoric will not be good enough.

As I said a moment ago, the reforms we are planning to introduce are essential. They are about providing patients with the right drug, in the right place, at

the right price and at the right time. They are about creating a drug system that is efficient, transparent, accountable and fair as part of an overall public health care system that is sustainable

for generations to come. The people of this province deserve no less, and we will deliver no less.

RENEWABLE FUELS

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): I'm pleased to share some excellent news with my colleagues in the House. Last week, I had the

pleasure of opening Ontario's second large-scale commercial wind farm. It's just one more step in our government's plan to ensure that Ontario has safe, clean, reliable power now and in the

future.

The Kingsbridge I wind farm near Goderich, Ontario, has 22 turbines, with a generating capacity of 40 megawatts of power -- enough to power 12,000 homes.

Kingsbridge I is the first phase of a project that will ultimately add 200 megawatts of power, making it one of the largest wind projects in Ontario, capable of powering 57,000 homes in total.

Kingsbridge is a great example of a project that has tremendous economic and environmental benefits for all Ontarians. Not only are we benefiting from clean,

renewable energy, but the Kingsbridge I wind farm is also expected to create 52 jobs, with a total investment of $80 million. It is certainly good news for the surrounding community, and it's

equally good news for the people of our province.

Our government is building a new energy future that will keep the lights on and ensure that our children have cleaner air. This wind farm and dozens of others

now operating or being built across the province will allow us to create a stable supply of clean, renewable power, and it is an important milestone towards our future.

In 2003, Ontario had a wind capacity of 15 megawatts. By 2008, this province's wind capacity will be over 1,300 megawatts, an 80-fold increase, and will make

Ontario, Canada, the leader in wind power. That's leadership.

Combined, these projects will help Ontario reach its goal of generating 5% of its electricity capacity through renewable generation by 2007 and 10% by 2010.

All these projects, which include wind, small hydro, biomass and conservation projects, represent only one part of our approach to renewable energy. We recently announced one of the most ambitious

and forward-looking standard offer contract programs in North America. We now have in place a net metering regulation that helps consumers consider renewable energy generation right at home.

Our approach to renewable energy is comprehensive, from large-scale wind farms like Kingsbridge to smaller community projects to steps that homeowners

themselves can now take. The opening of the Kingsbridge 1 wind farm is exciting news for our province and a further sign of the bright energy future that we are creating for the people of

Ontario.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Hon. Caroline Di Cocco (Minister of Culture): The Ontario government is committed to a strong and vital public library sector, and invests

over $28 million annually to support library services across the province.

I am proud to announce today that the provincial government, under Premier Dalton McGuinty, has approved a one-time new investment of $15 million in three new

programs to strengthen the role of Ontario public libraries as community hubs of literacy, learning and information access. This investment will ensure that all Ontarians, regardless of where they

live, have access to library programs and services that empower them to be fully engaged in the life of our province.

In many rural, francophone and First Nations communities, the library is a place people can turn to for help with basic literacy skills. This government, under

Premier Dalton McGuinty, has earmarked $6 million of this $15 million to support family literacy and lifelong learning at public and First Nations libraries that serve communities of under 20,000

people. Additional funding of $10,500 per library branch has already been sent to public and First Nations libraries across Ontario. The Federation of Ontario Public Libraries will receive a

$200,000 grant to market the literacy services available at Ontario libraries.

The government will invest $8 million to support the Ontario Digital Library in providing quality digital information to 6,500 public school, college and

university libraries. This new funding will ensure that digital information resources currently available in large urban libraries will soon be available across the province in every community

library, regardless of size.

Finally, the last $1 million of this one-time $15-million cash infusion will go to Ontario Library Service-North to improve services at public and First

Nations libraries in northern Ontario. The money will be used to promote interlibrary loan system use by small, rural, remote, francophone and First Nation public libraries.

These three library initiatives will make an enormous difference in the quality of life in Ontario's First Nations communities as well as in the library

services provided to other rural and northern Ontario communities. As Ontario's new Minister of Culture, I am proud to have the honour of championing our public library system. The hard work and

dedication of library boards and staff across Ontario make a strong and compelling case for increased support for the library sector. This new investment of $15 million is a testament to their

record of achievement.

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

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): Mr. Speaker, I notice that the Minister of Health is not here to listen to the response to his

statement. This is absolutely --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): You can't refer to a member's presence or absence.

Mrs. Witmer: Mr. Speaker, this is the height of the ridiculous: We now have a minister making a statement that he is going to be making a

statement. I will tell you that the statement today was contrary to the standing orders,

section 35, which says, "A minister of the crown may make a short factual statement relating to government

policy, ministry action or other similar matters of which the House should be informed," the key word being "factual."

I would submit to you that, instead, what we had here was a minister who stood up, contrary to the standing orders, and proceeded to criticize the opposition,

the Leader of the Opposition or anyone who might voice some legitimate concerns about what may be coming, which is the role of the opposition. I would say to you today that the minister was totally

dismissive of any future legitimate concerns. He demonstrated some contempt and some arrogance.

This entire process that Helen Stevenson has embarked upon has been cloaked in secrecy, and as of today we still have no idea what may be coming forward, nor

do the stakeholders. I understand from the stakeholders that they have no idea what the recommendations are going to be and they had no opportunity to respond to the recommendations that might be

put before us.

So we will wait; we will see. But I will tell you that we are the opposition, and our role is to voice the legitimate concerns that are expressed to us on

behalf of the people in the province of Ontario.

RENEWABLE FUELS

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): In response to the Minister of Energy, the minister's statement is another flowery

announcement with no real, concrete action on the electricity situation in this province. They use the formula and give us the numbers and say that this wind farm -- and we do support wind farms,

but we have to be honest about what we are actually doing here. Those 20 windmills are going to provide electricity for 12,000 homes. Minister, using that formula, your government's policy to shut

down 20% of our generational capacity in this province, 6,500 megawatts, is going to be tantamount to cutting off the power to almost two million homes in this province. It's time to be honest with

the people about your electricity policy in this government.

Let us not confuse capacity with generation. They go on and talk about how the government is going to ensure that we have 5% of our capacity from renewables by

2007. "Capacity" does not mean terawatts being produced. It's only capacity on the ground. The people of Ontario have to know what this government can actually expect from those sources that we're

paying premium prices to put on the ground. It is time to be honest. What needs to be shut down in this province is your policy and your government.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): I'm pleased to be able to respond to the Minister of Culture's announcement with regard to libraries.

Frankly, I'm glad that the government has finally realized the importance of libraries, since it cut the budget of the Southern Ontario Library Service last

year. Libraries and their patrons have worked hard to make the case to the government that they needed the appropriate funding to do their jobs.

Over 600 of my constituents, patrons of the East Gwillimbury Public Library, signed petitions demanding that the government properly fund libraries. They know

that libraries are important to communities. The Friends of the East Gwillimbury Library started their own literacy fundraising campaign just last Thursday with the launch of a library quilt. The

Newmarket Public Library has suggested making libraries part of Early Years Centres, as well as expanding other programs, all of which are designed to move ahead on literacy.

So I'm glad that the government is finally providing some funds to help the libraries in my community and communities across Ontario.

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): I'm happy to respond to the Minister of Culture. I've got to tell you that New Democrats agree that a

library is a place that people can turn to for help with basic literacy skills; that is true. We also agree that giving $6 million of the $50 million to support family literacy among First Nations

is a good thing. I've got to tell you that for a library system that has been starved for cash for so long, any money is better than no money.

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): It's better than a kick in the teeth.

Mr. Marchese: It is better than a kick in the teeth.

I know that every school is going to get some $3,000 to support it. I also know, from the Ontario School Library Association, that they had eight days to spend

the money to purchase books. I want to remind the minister that the Ontario Library Association says that school libraries lack the expertise of qualified library staff. In fact, People for

Education reminds us that "80% of elementary schools had teacher-librarians in 1997-98; in 2004-05 that number had declined to 54%." Don Klinger, lead researcher on the study from the Queen's

University Faculty of Education, says the following: "We have shown that there is a relationship not only between students' reading scores and school libraries, but between students' attitudes

toward reading and the staff in those libraries."

I want to say to you, Minister, that it would be a good idea to work with the new Minister of Education and inform her of this research that speaks about

libraries, reading and how well they succeed in schools where we have librarians and well-stocked libraries, but particularly where we have librarians. Talk to her, please. Urge her to restore some

of those cuts, bring back some of those librarians in our school system so we can, in fact, arrive at better educational outcomes for our students. If you could do that, then you would find a

little praise from this critic on this side.

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): In response to the statement made by the minister, I want to focus on the promises he made, in particular

that the changes he will introduce later this week will provide patients with "the right drug, at the right price, in the right place, at the right time." I wonder if that applies to my

constituent, Patricia Bourque, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer three years ago, which has metastasized to her liver. She's had bowel reconstruction and several rounds of chemotherapy, and

her oncologist tells her, because she's got new tumours growing, that her last hope is Erbitux. But she can't get Erbitux in Ontario, and her family can't afford to buy that or send her to the

United States.

Her husband says the following: "Unlike some situations, ours does not have the luxury of time. We are fighting for every moment and urgently need your help to

push for funding.... We need to have this drug available and covered. To tell someone who is [in] the last stage of their life that they can get this drug in the United States or at a private

clinic at the cost $10,000-$15,000 per month is cruel. Is health care only for the rich?"

I wonder if the minister's changes are going to allow people like Patricia to get access to Erbitux, or if the minister's promise is going to apply to patients

who have multiple myeloma and require Velcade for treatment: patients like Carolyn Henry, Neil Koven, Pat Maloney, Dawn Warner, Mr. Northwood, Bruce Coleman and Laura McCallum.

Laura McCallum was here at Queen's Park on November 17 for a press conference on this very issue. Laura, who has already had a stem cell transplant, who has

had chemotherapy and whose cancer is back, is now paying thousands of dollars to have Velcade given to her at a private clinic here in Toronto. I wonder if the minister's reforms are going to allow

people like Laura and the others I've named access to drug treatment like Velcade, or patients like Darren Nesbitt, who need "the right drug ... in the right place, at the right time."

Darren Nesbitt has Fabry disease and needs enzyme replacement therapy. This minister promised two years ago, in June 2004, when he met with Donna and John

Strauss here at Queen's Park -- John, at that time, needed ERT -- that he would have an answer for them about coverage within two months. That should have been in August 2004. Tragically, John has

died, but other people still need this treatment, and we have no response from the minister in this regard. I wonder if a patient like Darren Nesbitt, who needs treatment for Fabry disease, is

going to get some relief in the reforms the ministry brings forward. We'll be looking very carefully at the reforms, and I can tell you, we'll be very critical if patients like these don't get the

drugs that they need.

ORAL QUESTIONS

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Minister of Community Safety. Ontarians want a province where their families

and friends feel safe and secure. This weekend, I think, will mark one of the darkest days in Ontario's history: eight people found viciously executed just outside of St. Thomas, Ontario, in what

media reports indicate was some kind of gang-related hit. Alongside the guns and violence that we've seen this past year here and around the GTA, it has got to be one of the most gruesome events

ever witnessed by people across Ontario.

What is your government doing to stem the activity of guns and gangs outside of the GTA?

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I thank the member for the question. It's really interesting that

he should raise this question. It seems that every time something like this happens, the leader is out there right up front, grandstanding, trying to make some capital out of an incident that

happens to be very tragic.

I just want you to know that we have been providing funding for the 1,000 officers across the province of Ontario. We've been funding the weapons enforcement

unit. We're funding a centre to look after organized crime. We have been doing things to combat organized crime, to combat guns, to combat all of these incidents.

It is not helpful for the Leader of the Opposition to stand up and ask these questions when in fact it's under police investigation. It is something that

everybody is concerned with. There seems to be some idea that you have a monopoly on this particular situation.

Mr. Tory: Actually, my question was about what you are doing to stem gun and gang violence outside of the GTA, without reference to any

specifics of anything that's under investigation. It is my job to come to this House on behalf of the people of Ontario and ask those questions, and it is your job to answer them.

You talked about the 1,000 police officers. Let's talk about that for a minute. This was something you and the Premier announced over and over again -- 10

times, I think -- without any bodies actually getting to the streets. But in the end, only 5% of those officers were allocated to the already thinly stretched OPP, the very group of officers tasked

with carrying out investigations of this kind. Not only has gangs and guns violence dramatically increased in urban centres, but we're now witnessing a degree and manner of violent and organized

criminal activity not before seen in this province.

The question, again, was this: What specifically are you doing to stem the tide of gang- and criminal-related violence outside of the GTA? If you don't have a

plan, when will you have one?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I just want to share with the member one of the things we've been doing against organized crime that he should be aware of.

On January 19, the OPP announced that Project Husky had resulted in 27 charges in relation to organized crime, conspiracy and drug trafficking. This was an operation, a two-year covert

investigation, focusing on specific Hells Angels motorcycle gang members and associates. These people were arrested. It was a two-year operation which involved every major police service in

Ontario, the intelligence

section of Ontario, the RCMP -- the OPP, by the way, got 59 new officers under our 1,000 officers program, plus the fact that the OPP is a provincial organization. We pay

100% of their costs as they need officers.

To suggest that somehow or other -- where were you last week on this question? It's only because of what happened this weekend. Then you're up there trying to

get capital out of it and --

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

Mr. Tory: Mr. Speaker, my record in terms of asking questions about crime in this province -- I don't have to apologize to you or anyone else

for that.

We had no answer from you as to whether you have a plan or whether you plan to have a plan. I would point out to you, notwithstanding the arrests you referred

to last January, that there obviously are still quite a few people left to round up. If the OPP had the proper share of resources, if they had more than the 5% of the police officers to help them

with all the things they have to do -- the specialized services they're performing, the tasks they are having to do in a provincial organization under your direct control and decision-making --

they'd be better off.

You are just not taking the issue of crime and organized criminal activity in rural and smaller centre Ontario seriously. I give you one more opportunity to

get up and confirm the fact that you know Ontarians don't want to see any more of this and to talk about a plan that you are going to bring forward by a specific date to give the OPP the resources

they need and to get on with rounding up more of these people. When are you coming?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: If the member had any idea about police enforcement, he would know that these particular investigations, when it comes to

organized crime, do not happen overnight. Project Husky took two years. The projects that went into taking down the Galloway and Malvern gangs took many months and many years. The program that went

on to other areas takes a lot of time. I can tell you that the Ontario intelligence service is working very diligently. The OPP is working very diligently. They are making progress. To suggest

other than that is irresponsible.

Mr. Tory: If you just gave them the help they need, they'd be able to get more done, by the way, to the Minister of Community Safety.

HEALTH CARE

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): The question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Ontarians want a health care system

where they're receiving the right care at the right time. During the last election campaign, your Premier promised to reduce wait times. You have repeatedly indicated that you're going to reduce

wait times. Can you explain to me why you have broken this promise and why, according to your own website data, cancer surgery wait times are going up all over the province? Why are they going up,

not down?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): The honourable member, as relates to the subject matter of wait times, is kind

of like the head of the cherry pickers' union. Across the breadth of hundreds of different statistics, he seeks out those that offer the storyline that he most likes.

The reality is that in each of the five key areas where we targeted tremendous additional resources, wait times are being reduced for Ontarians. The

measurement system for wait times is like exit-polling data. What it does is capture the information about those who had surgery in a certain period of time and offer a number, an analysis, of how

long they waited.

As our resources, our targeting, and addressing those who have waited the longest, it's appropriate that from time to time the numbers will demonstrate that

those who have waited the longest have just been treated, and numbers will be higher. But the evidence is clear: In all of these areas, wait times are being reduced. Speak to the member from

Barrie. Wait times for an MRI at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie have gone from 52 weeks to six.

Mr. Tory: There's the champion cherry picker himself. He just happened to have that one little fact handy.

It was fine for the Minister of Health and the Premier to tell us we should rely on this data as if it was gospel when the website was opened. Now, when the

website is there for all to see and the data indicates that cancer wait times are up, it's erroneous, it's factually incorrect, and there's some complicated formula we don't understand. Cancer

surgery wait times at the Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor are up 42%. This certainly doesn't look like a lowering of wait times. Stratford General Hospital -- the brunt of your and Mr.

McGuinty's broken promise is being felt there: Cancer surgery wait times are up 38%.

Why are you and all of the McGuinty Liberals asking people to pay more through the health tax and to get these huge increases in cancer surgery wait times

across the province? Explain it.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: For the first part, which is statistical, the honourable member does not have any interest in the explanation. The

circumstances are clear. We inherited circumstances where the prior government had not invested in any registry with respect to people who were waiting. Accordingly, we've begun to analyze the data

as patients leave the system. In July, we will make the transition to a system that actually has names associated with a registry of those who are waiting. This is the work that we are in the midst

of doing.

On the issue of cancer surgeries that the honourable member likes to speak about, in the province of Ontario we've established medically appropriate wait

times. I can assure the honourable member that, in each and every case, cancer surgeries are being provided in the province of Ontario consistent with the medical direction, consistent that all

hospitals in Ontario are meeting the target for wait times with respect to cancer surgery. This means that Ontarians are receiving appropriate care.

Mr. Tory: Appropriate care? It's 42% longer in Windsor and 38% longer in Stratford. I don't know about that.

You've had a variety of explanations already today. In your first answer, none of us understood your numbers. In the second answer, you inherited something.

But the facts are the facts. You have presided over a 14% increase to cancer surgery wait times in the Waterloo-Wellington LHIN. Then, let's look at the Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, where

wait times for cancer surgery are up 23%.

This is a system that is not working. People want the right care at the right time. They have had enough of your broken promises and paying more and getting

less. Why are you not being straight with Ontarians about these wait times? Why are you breaking yet another promise by failing to reduce wait times for cancer surgery? Why are you doing that?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The honourable member wants me being straight with Ontarians. It was delightful, today at least, that he stepped up to

the plate and confessed that he's going to challenge me in the next provincial election, and I accept that challenge.

I also would want to report to the honourable member, who had a reputation in private practice of not being so good with the numbers and he's bringing it to

the floor of the Legislature today: cataract surgery, a decrease of 16% across the board, province-wide; hip replacement, median average decrease 10% across the board; knee replacement, median

average decrease 18.7% across the board; cancer surgeries, all hospitals meeting established medically necessary wait times. All of these are performing below the pan-Canadian benchmarks that we

established. The honourable member likes to use the word "system" and he likes to talk about cancer surgeries. We inherited, from the government that you --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Sit down, Minister. New question?

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. The death of little Jeffrey Baldwin

represents the most horrific example of child abuse ever to come to trial in Ontario. Jeffrey died after a children's aid society placed him with his grandparents, who were known child abusers at

the time. They were convicted of his murder last Friday.

New Democrats have put forward Bill 88 to give Ontario's Ombudsman independent investigative oversight of children's aid societies and their decisions

affecting child welfare and child protection.

Minister, given the terrible death of Jeffrey Baldwin, why aren't you passing Bill 88? Why do you refuse to give Ontario's Ombudsman the independent

investigative authority over --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question has been asked.

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): The leader of the third party is treading on pretty dangerous ground

here. First of all, I'd like to suggest that this is an incredible tragedy, and I think we should all see it as that. He should also know, as a former Attorney General in this province, that this

case is still before the courts. The judge has not passed sentence.

I am pleased, however, to report that the coroner has also started his inquest. I'm very pleased that there has been that very smooth transition to further

investigate the situation, and I think we should at this point do the appropriate thing and remain silent as the proper processes are followed.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, I'm not asking you to comment on the case.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Stop the clock. Order. Leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: My question is about whether or not this government is going to provide the Ombudsman with the legal authority to do independent

investigative reviews of children's aid societies. This is what the Ombudsman says about your steps so far. He says that what you've announced so far is "a stopgap measure, which does not go far

enough. All it does is add another layer of bureaucracy to internal processes." He says that your announcement of a Child and Family Services Review Board "will operate under a limited

jurisdiction" and "lacks both investigative powers and the power to address systemic issues affecting children and families."

This is about the policy. The Ombudsman says this was such a horrific situation that it demands a policy response from your government. I'm asking you, why do

you refuse to give the Ombudsman --

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Response?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: With the first reading of Bill 210, the proposed bill contemplated having the role of the director eliminated. That is

where the Ombudsman quite rightly saw a reduction in independent oversight. But as a matter of fact, the director's recommendations followed very lengthy processes and indeed were not binding on

the boards of children's aid societies.

We did not see this as the best way to serve children who are in the care of the children's aid societies. This did not ensure that children were better off

because they were in protection than they were before they were brought into protection. The amendments that were brought forward and approved by this House do give the Ombudsman oversight, because

of his jurisdiction, over the Child and Family Services Review Board.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, The Ombudsman is very clear. If you look outside of Ontario, other provinces -- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia -- have given their Ombudsmen independent investigative authority to oversee children's aid societies. In three other provinces -- Saskatchewan, Quebec and

Newfoundland -- they've actually created special Ombudspersons. In Ontario, we've had the horrific death of a child who was placed by a CAS with his grandparents, who were known child abusers. The

Ombudsman is saying, "Look, you need to make a policy change to ensure that this doesn't happen again." He says that what you've offered up so far is inadequate.

Why does the McGuinty government refuse to give the Ombudsman the independent investigative oversight of children's aid societies to ensure that our children

are indeed being protected?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: Last week, a member of the third party actually spoke about the child advocate. I'm very happy to tell you that the child

advocate actually spoke to the media over the past weekend, expressing her pleasure with the work that my ministry has been doing to protect children. She spoke about the direction that my ministry

has issued in recent months to ensure that every children's aid society provides background checks on all potential adults who could be assigned to care for these kids.

But the leader of the third party might want to be interested in hearing what the coroner has to say: "Mr. Marin also commented on the tragic death of Jeffrey

Baldwin. He seemed to suggest that the police were" --

The Speaker: Thank you. Please sit down, Minister.

HYDRO ONE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Energy. Last week, you said that you would meet with the boards of

directors of Ontario's hydro agencies to discuss outrageous hydro executive pay packages. I want to ask you today, have you held those meetings yet, and if so, what have you found out about those

bloated pay packages; and what are you prepared to do to stand up for working families who will have to pay those bloated hydro pay packages on their hydro bills?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): The meetings are in the process of being set up. The first one will be next week.

Just to clarify for the member, it was my request for this meeting so that the chairs of the boards of the various organizations and their compensation

committees could give me some understanding of how they arrived at their compensation packages. That's a very reasonable request.

I look forward to meeting with all of the agencies. As you know, there are five of them, so it will take me a little time to get through to all of them.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, I want to ask you specifically about Mr. Parkinson, the chief executive officer of Hydro One. I know that the

compensation guidelines stipulate that the board of directors can give Mr. Parkinson a bonus worth 80% of his salary, provided he meets certain performance targets. But Hydro One's board went above

and beyond that; they gave him a 90% bonus. This was after he got caught using the Hydro One helicopter to go back and forth to his cottage and after he locked out the Hydro One engineers for three

months during a very risky power supply situation.

Can you tell all those people who have to pay for this on their hydro bill how you justify a pay bonus that goes above and beyond even the rules when someone

didn't even do his job properly?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: As the member knows, the board of directors for Hydro One has been put together under the Canadian business act;

therefore it is the board itself that hired Mr. Parkinson. He's not an employee of the government of Ontario.

I look forward to having the opportunity to ask the questions and to have some understanding of how they in fact have done their compensation packages. I will

do that with all the agencies. I think the questions are good. I look forward to the opportunity of having that conversation. In particular, I look forward to having the conversation with Mr. Bob

Rae, who is chair of that compensation committee.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, I understand that Bob Rae has been giving lots of raises to lots of Liberals lately. That's not going to be a defence

for you anymore.

But Tom Parkinson didn't just get a bumped-up performance bonus; he got a bumped-up performance bonus without meeting performance targets. I refer to the Hydro

One report. One of the targets he had to meet was health and safety. The number of workplace accidents and injuries hasn't gone down under Mr. Parkinson's watch; it's gone up every year. So it's

almost like bumping up the Toronto Maple Leafs' salaries after they continue to lose games. How could he fail to meet the targets that were set out in the performance review and still get an

increase in salary above and beyond anything that could possibly have been called for?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Possibly the member can be of some benefit to me in a conversation, because obviously he would have gone through the same

process when Mr. Strong was the CEO of Ontario Hydro. He certainly had something like $93,000 worth of expenses that I'm sure the board had to ask those questions about. So I'd be happy to have the

conversation. Certainly there's no question he was paid $425,000 a year, he spent $58,600 on airline tickets, he even charged for that limousine -- that was back in 1993, so in today's dollars. I'm

sure the questions that were asked by the government at that time would be very similar to the questions that are being asked today. The difference is that that was a crown agency of the

government.

HEALTH CARE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): My question is for the Minister of Health. Despite the fact that your government claims to be

reducing wait times, the number of letters coming into my office is increasing each day, as people tell me they are paying more through the health premium tax of $2.6 billion, and they are getting

less and waiting longer.

Shelley Campagnola wrote, "On December 2, 2005, my husband fell, sustaining a serious head injury," with memory lapses, dizziness and balance issues. "Our

doctor tried to get him an MRI, stating that it was urgent -- we were told he would have to wait until June 2006."

Minister, that would be a five-month wait for an urgent MRI. MRIs are one of your five key priorities. What do you say to Mrs. Campagnola, her husband and

others who are paying more for health, getting less, and waiting longer for much-needed treatment?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): First off, the honourable member I think would know from her time as Minister

of Health that it's inappropriate for any minister, and in fact illegal by the provisions of Bill 31, to speak about a particular case. But if we look at the wait time data that is available and

that the honourable member's party has some capacity, obviously, to look at, we would know that the median wait times for MRIs in the province of Ontario are at approximately a month. Urgent cases

are dealt with much more quickly.

I can say to the honourable member that I realize someone has offered an estimate of time. I'm not sure that's actually what has occurred. If she would like to

send that file over, or more appropriately address it to Scott Lovell in my office, we'd be very happy to deal at the local level with the kind of advocacy that seems possible on the member's

behalf. But the reality is that in the province of Ontario the median wait time for MRIs is one fifth of that outlined in the estimate that the honourable member raised in the question, and

accordingly I do feel quite confident that the gentleman referenced in the letter is going to receive care in a much more timely and appropriate way.

Mrs. Witmer: Well, not only are the five priorities not meeting the wait times, but I can tell you that the problem is even more serious in

those areas which are not designated key priorities. In fact, Jackie Genereaux, a 39-year-old female, has been waiting to see an orthopaedic surgeon for back surgery since June 2005. She is in pain

24 hours a day. She can no longer work or look after her children, and this is causing financial hardship. She writes, "I did see the new wait time website and money allocated -- but there are

other conditions that need your attention as well."

Mrs. Genereaux is still waiting. She continues to wait. Why, I ask you, Minister, are she and others paying your $2.6-billion health tax and getting less in

service and waiting longer?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: On several of the honourable member's assertions -- firstl the honourable member says there's no value for a $2.6-billion

investment. I guess we'll see when the honourable member presents the plan to show us where the $2.6 billion is coming out of health care. Then we'll see what the honourable member's constituent

has to say about that circumstance.

I do think one thing that we have to be very clear on is that the honourable member made an assertion in her question that things are more challenging in other

areas. But of course, because the honourable member's government made no investment in actual capacity to measure these things, nobody would really know, would they? We're working strenuously to

build a system where one didn't exist.

Let's face one other fact: With respect to orthopaedic surgeons, there is a reason why people are waiting too long, and it's not so much about money as it is

that the finite resource of those surgeons is a real challenge. The honourable member had a direct role to play in that when she stood idly by while medical schools in our province were constrained

to a size not appropriate for Ontario's growing needs. We're increasing medical schools by --

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

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): I have a question for the Minister of Energy. Madam Minister, I've been instructed by the voters of

Toronto-Danforth to send you a loud and clear message: The people of Toronto-Danforth do not want your portlands mega power plant. Will you listen to the community and shelve your misguided plans

for a mega power plant?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): I thank the honourable member for his first question in the House, and I'd like to tell him that

we will keep the lights on in downtown Toronto. The Independent Electricity System Operator identified an urgent need -- "expeditious" was the word that was used -- signed by not only Toronto Hydro

but Hydro One, the Ontario Power Authority and the Independent Electricity System Operator, that we need to deal with this crisis now, because if we don't, we will have rolling blackouts in

downtown Toronto.

You know, it was interesting: I heard just recently that the last time there were some challenges, even by trying to regulate the power flow -- the sensitivity

of the equipment that is used in our hospitals is such that they need stability, ensuring that their lights and their equipment work. We are committed to that. We will keep the lights on and the

power flowing for our hospitals, our schools and our residents in downtown Toronto.

Mr. Tabuns: Madam Minister, as you know, there are any number of solutions that are both energy-efficient and will ensure that the lights stay

on in downtown Toronto. Toronto Hydro alone could double their conservation target of 240 megawatts if only they had adequate support from the province.

Minister, I repeat: Will you listen to the community? Stop your plans for a mega power plant and invest in the kinds of real conservation that have worked

around the world.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: I thank the member for the question. As a matter of fact, we did include a 300-megawatt conservation demand-side

management for downtown Toronto specifically. Currently, the 250 megawatts that Toronto Hydro is looking at includes all of Toronto. They have 12 of those megawatts; 137 of them are under

contract.

The fact of the matter is, we have two years. Time is urgent. We need to be able to keep those lights on. So yes, we will do both. There is no question that

the demand side in conservation is just as critical as ensuring that we have sufficient supply. So we will do both. That was the directive that went out. The directive specifically stated that the

Ontario Power Authority, Toronto Hydro, the mayor's office and the conservation office are to work together to find those 300 megawatts on behalf of the people in downtown Toronto specifically.

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PLAN

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, as you know, western Mississauga

is home to many prominent pharmaceutical firms. They're highly valued as employers and they're centres for ground-breaking research and development. In your statement today, you spoke about some

substantive and innovative changes that are coming to the Ontario drug system. I wonder if you could tell our western Mississauga residents a little bit more about the importance of innovation in

our drug system.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): The reality for Ontario's drug system is that it's not one, frankly, that's

very responsive and it's not one that's very transparent. Accordingly, we think it's fundamentally necessary to make alterations to the way that we deal with drugs in order to provide more timely

access for our patients. Especially when what is referred to as a breakthrough drug, a truly innovative product, is available to patients, our procedures in terms of approval related to that are

very challenging, very complex, very cumbersome and very slow. I think that the changes that we talk about are to give us the capacity to respond in a more timely way and to be far more

transparent.

This is necessary because sometimes products which actually are incrementally beneficial are marketed as if they are breakthrough drugs. We need to be able to

provide patients with access to the information they need so that they can see the rationale for decisions and, most appropriately, so we can get breakthrough drugs to our patients much quicker

than we can today.

Mr. Delaney: In his response, the minister speaks strongly about the importance of innovation, transparency and getting value for taxpayers'

money. Some $3.5 billion is a lot of money, and it's important to my constituents and their employers that taxpayer funds be invested wisely.

Minister, could you please tell us in a bit more detail how that might apply to drug funding decisions?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: One of the best-known adages from the retail world is, "How do we do it? Volume" -- not just loud, but quantity. I think

the reality for many of us, as we've looked closely at Ontario's drug system, is that even though we stand as one of the largest single purchasers of product to be found anywhere in the world,

we're not gaining benefit necessarily of all of the benefit of price. The recognition out there typically is that the highest purchasers receive the best price, but this hasn't been the reality for

us.

What we seek to do is to get the best price possible, so that we can dedicate those resources -- that efficiency bonus, if you will -- to making sure that

Ontarians are able to access those new, truly innovative products that can provide them with a degree of relief from the challenges they're facing. Accordingly, we will be striking out in a

direction that will get appropriate respect for the volumes that the Ontario taxpayers are paying for their drugs.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Attorney General. Attorney General, will you please commit here today that

you will have a full, open and inclusive consultation process with disabled and minority groups before you introduce legislative changes to the Ontario Human Rights Commission?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): I want to say that this issue has been before us for many years, that the coroner's report that was

commissioned by the NDP government in 1992 made a number of recommendations that really gained a consensus over the years. That's why many people, including past commissioners of the Ontario Human

Rights Commission as well as the current human rights commissioner, Barbara Hall -- whom I know Mr. Tory has experience of and some respect for -- are supportive of moving forward on direct access.

We have moved and will continue to move forward on this issue, which the member's party was not remotely interested in when it was in power and did not move forward on.

We're very committed to making these reforms. At the same time, we want to make sure we hear from as many Ontarians as possible along the way.

Mr. Tory: I asked for a simple commitment that you would have a full, open and inclusive consultation process before you introduce the bill,

and your response is to cite a report that was written 14 years ago as evidence of the kind of consultation you've done.

Many different stakeholder groups are going to be affected -- negatively, they believe -- by the changes they've read about, and they haven't been consulted. I

have here a long list who have written: the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the MS society, the Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities,

the coalition of Ontario disabilities associations, and Community Living Ontario. These people have written in and said they have not been consulted by you. In fact, some of them have even asked

for a meeting with you and have not obtained such a meeting.

I'm asking you very simply: You have said, and your Premier has said, that the human rights tribunal will function as the watchdog, for example, for complaints

people have under the new disability legislation, and yet this is the very thing you're going to change without consultation. Will you commit, here and now, to a full, open and inclusive

consultation process with these and other groups who want to be heard before you bring a bill to this House? Will you do that?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I note with some interest that the disabilities reporter from the Toronto Star, Helen Henderson, referred to concerns that

have been articulated here -- by the leader of a party that did nothing on the subject of human rights reform for many years -- as Chicken Little. She also said, "This province may be closer than

it has ever been to achieving an efficient, effective, accessible means of justice for those whose rights have been trampled."

Cynthia Wilkey: "[This] initiative marks the first time in almost two decades that a government has stepped up to address the long-standing dysfunction...."

That's it.

I had a very positive meeting today with Mr. David Lepofsky and the great organization he represents. We had a very good meeting. We had a very good

discussion, and I look forwarding to following up that discussion with him and many other Ontarians in the days to come.

TUITION

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Tuition at the University of

Toronto law school is set to rise this coming school year to $17,280 annually. Could you explain what improved quality measures the university will implement to justify this staggering fee?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I don't know where the member's question was during his years,

when his party allowed tuition to go up 50%. But it's a different day, and we did inherit a long period of time with no investment in colleges and universities. That's why we brought in the

Reaching Higher plan. A quarter of the Reaching Higher plan is for improved access to university and college education -- $1.5 billion. That's why, for the first time, we've restored the upfront

tuition grant that the member's party eliminated in 1992-93; that's why we increased the amount of assistance for which you're eligible for the first time since it was frozen by the member's party;

and that's why we are investing additional money to ensure that students get more education than they've been able to have in the past.

I'll have more to say in the supplementary.

Mr. Marchese: Last September, Statistics Canada reported a 50% decline in the likelihood of enrolment in high-fee programs among students from

middle-income families. You've justified gouging students by promising improvements to education, but your secret arrangements with universities have been leaked and they show no plan for

improvement at all. At U of T, where students are being forced to pay over $17,000 in tuition, the faculty contingent will increase by barely 1%. Universities aren't improving quality at all. To

quote them, they are "treading water."

Will you make these so-called accountability agreements publicly available so students can see exactly what they're getting?

Hon. Mr. Bentley: In fact, we've always said the agreements would be publicly available, and they'll be released quite shortly, but we had to

wait until they were all signed. It's a multi-step process. For the first time ever, universities and colleges are being asked to justify what they'll do with the money before they get it. This

year, the first year, was an interim process. Now we're involved in the multi-year, the three-year discussions. Those discussions will involve not only quality improvements but access improvements,

something the member didn't seem to be interested in when he had the ability to do something as the government.

With our new tuition framework, one of the key goals is to ensure that more Ontarians are going to have greater access to post-secondary education. Under our

approach, already more students have greater access to more assistance, and more of it is in grants, than ever before. That's the approach we'll be following as we continue our discussions with

universities and colleges in the future.

RENEWABLE FUELS

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): My question is for the Minister of Energy. Last month you announced that the government has

directed the Ontario Power Authority to implement a standard offer program for small-scale renewable projects. This is an exciting time for renewables, first with our RFP projects that are bringing

on over 1,300 megawatts of wind and now the standard offer program, which will help to add up to 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy to Ontario's electricity supply over the next 10 years.

Since that announcement, there has been some confusion about the program. I've read letters that question the difference between the standard offer program and

net metering -- something that Ontarians already benefit from. Minister, could you please clarify how the standard offer program differs from net metering?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): Thank you for the question. Net metering is 500 kilowatts of generation that, for example, a

farmer could generate on the farm. If they don't use it all they can actually bank it into the grid and then draw it down as it's needed. The standard offer, on the other hand, is a fixed-price,

long-term contract for projects around 10 megawatts and under for wind, water, solar, biomass -- for example, biodigesters.

I can tell you that I was up in Strathroy, and the farming community is really excited about the possibilities of what can happen with the standard offer

contract.

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): David Suzuki likes it.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Well, I'm telling you, everybody likes it. So it's our responsibility to ensure that this does happen on behalf of the

farming community, because they not only can generate sufficient electricity to run their own farms but in fact can help us by generating electricity to sell back into the grid at the local level,

which is really where it is needed.

Mr. Berardinetti: Thank you, Minister. Just picking up on what you said about the fact that it's locally driven, I have met with constituents

in my riding of Scarborough Southwest who have asked me questions about small-scale renewable projects such as windmills and solar-power panels. These are residents, as well as some businesses in

my area, located right in the riding of Scarborough Southwest here in Toronto. They want to generate their own energy, their own power for their own buildings. They want to play a

part in the

standard offer program, but they need more information on its specifics. Minister, I want to ask you, what information can you share with people watching today about what projects are eligible for

a standard offer contract?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Thank you for the question. The most important thing that folks can do is to go to the Ontario Power Authority website,

www.opa.com. They'll be able to draw down all the necessary criteria to participate in any of the four areas -- wind, water, biomass or solar voltaics. They also need to work very closely with

their local distribution company, because they need to be able to hook into the local grid, and, of course, with the Ontario Energy Board, which has responsibility for the regulatory oversight.

There are people in place to help someone who wishes to put small solar voltaic panels on their roof or someone who wishes to put in a 10-megawatt run of the

river or a wind turbine of one or one and a half megawatts on their farm. All the criteria are laid out on the website, and they can call the person directly who has the support for the renewables

within the Ontario Power Authority itself.

FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a question for the Minister of Natural Resources regarding cutbacks in fish stocking. I've heard

from the Conservationists of Frontenac-Addington -- and to give you some history, COFA is a non-profit group. For the last 11 years, they have been building their pickerel hatchery. They have been

encouraged by the Ministry of Natural Resources to expand that hatchery. They have some 40 to 50 volunteers. Now thay have a capacity of some 3.3 million eggs, and that's what they've been

delivering in recent years. They have never had a success rate below 70%. But now you're cutting them back to some 200,000 eggs this year. Why has the MNR pulled support for the Conservationists of

Frontenac-Addington? Why are you reducing stocking of the most sought-after game fish in North America -- pickerel?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): The preservation and conservation of wildlife

in Ontario is of prime importance to the McGuinty government. I would say to the member that when you look at the big picture of how to do that, one of the most important aspects of conservation

with regard to fish stock is improvement of habitat. It certainly was the prime method years ago to have what they would call a put-and-take fishery, whereby you artificially raise fish, put them

in a lake and then take them out via anglers, but we've understood over the years that the proper way to do that is to improve habitat. That's where a lot of our thrust is today.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Supplementary, the member for Oshawa.

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): In regards to that, I know there are a lot of partner hatcheries throughout the province who have similar

concerns. As recently as last Friday, Minister, I happened to be with seven classrooms who were doing a rainbow trout egg collection. The concern that came forward comes from the

article in the

April issue of Ontario Out of Doors, where it specifically says, "At the recent OFAH conference, Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay said the ministry is moving away from stocking and that

Chinook stocking will eventually end." There is a lot of concern in regards to this; there are a lot of charter boat operators and tourism operations concerned with how it would have a huge impact.

What is the ministry's position going to be in regard to Chinook stocking?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I think the member knows that the ministry -- while it was under his watch also -- became very interested in improving

habitat and the environment of our waterways, especially the Great Lakes, and that we have embarked upon the idea of actually reintroducing the Atlantic salmon, which is the fish native to the

Great Lakes. It was years ago that someone had made a decision to put a Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes.

As you know, we've done our DNA research. We've discovered, by looking at many of our grandfathers' mounted fish on the wall, by looking at the scales, what is

exactly the right match. It turns out that that fish exists today off the Argentinian coast. We're looking at that and looking at getting the Great Lakes back to the natural habitat that they were

years and years ago.

TENANT PROTECTION

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. On Saturday, I attended a tenant rally

at 500 Dawes Road. These people are forced to live under absolutely appalling conditions. Often, there's no hot water. There is garbage on the front lawn. There is garbage all over the site:

There's garbage in the halls and there's garbage on the overhang of the doorway. There are more cockroaches than I think you would ever want to see in your lifetime.

You promised tenant protection legislation one year to the day, at the latest, after your election. Today is day 920. I'm counting, and the tenants are

counting too. Minister, you are nearly 600 days late on your time commitment. How much longer must the tenants endure this neglect?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): Let me first of all state that the kind of conditions that have been

described by the member and that we've all heard about in the media over the weekend are totally unacceptable. But as the member also knows, he can certainly have the property standards officers of

the municipality take a look at the situation. They can deal with the situation. We don't necessarily need the Tenant Protection Act to deal with that kind of a situation. It's also possible, under

the current Tenant Protection Act, for a tenant or tenants to make an application to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal. I would suggest to the member and to the individuals who are involved in

this particular situation to take advantage of that: either to make an application to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal or to speak to the appropriate officials at city hall to make sure that,

from a property standards viewpoint, the building is up to date. The tenants certainly have the right to live in --

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

Mr. Prue: As the minister knows, or should know, there are five outstanding work orders from the city of Toronto. As the minister knows, or

should know, the people who are in there have been forced and coerced by the landlord not to say anything. They are suffering, Minister. The tenants at 500 Dawes Road and thousands more across

Ontario are tired of your rhetoric. They're tired of the broken promise. They want action. They need new tenant protection legislation, which your party said was coming in within 365 days and which

you said was absolutely necessary. Bad landlords cannot be allowed to provide substandard housing any longer and hide under the present Tenant Protection Act. When will you introduce real tenant

protection and real rent control? When, more importantly, will you keep your promise?

Hon. Mr. Gerretsen: As I've indicated to this member and to the House before, we will be bringing in new landlord and tenant legislation

within the very near future. There have been over 30 years of attempts to bring this kind of legislation forward. It has swung from one extreme to the other. We want to make sure the legislation

that we bring in is fair to both good landlords and good tenants and will deal with the situations of bad landlords and bad tenants.

He also knows, with respect to the work orders that he mentioned, that the city can take corrective action immediately in order to deal with those if the city

really intended to do so. I would suggest that since he still has contacts at city hall, he can contact city hall to make sure the work orders are being complied with, and I ask him to stay tuned

with respect to the new landlord and tenant legislation that will be brought in sooner rather than later.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): My question today is for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. As you well know, this is an

exciting time of year for the graduating high school students in my riding of Oakville and around the province. Soon they'll be starting new jobs, they'll be working as apprentices, and they'll be

going off to college and university.

When talking to students and parents in my riding, I tell them about the programs the Ontario government offers to assist them in their post-secondary studies,

some of the changes that have been made recently. Minister, will you tell all the students and parents in my riding and across the province of the new improvements and the enhancements made to our

student financial aid system in Ontario?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I'm pleased to address the issue raised by the good member from

Oakville, who is a passionate advocate for access for all to post-secondary education and, in particular, access to Sheridan College's education.

For about 12 years before we became the government, there were no substantial improvements at all to the Ontario student assistance program. So what have we

done, just this year and last, in improving access to students?

First of all, 60,000 students this September will be eligible for upfront tuition grants covering anywhere from 25% to 100% of their tuition. Those grants had

been cut by the NDP in 1992-93. We've increased the amount of assistance that's available to all by 25%.

We've recognized costs that had never been updated before, such as the book allowance cost, which hadn't been updated since the mid-1980s. We've recognized

computer costs that had never been recognized from the student assistance program. And we are about to be cut off.

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

Mr. Flynn: I'm sure the parents and students in Ontario will be relieved to see some of the action that will be taking place now after the

years of inaction, stagnation and freezes by previous governments.

Minister, this is also the time of year that our college and university students will be graduating and they'll be moving on to new jobs or new programs. I've

been made aware of a program in your ministry called the Ontario student opportunity grant, or OSOG. I understand this is a good program that helps new graduates but is not well known by students

at this point in time. Could you please tell the people of my riding of Oakville and the people of the province about this program, how it helps graduates, and how the recent improvements in the

OSAP program have also affected this program?

Hon. Mr. Bentley: What it does is limit the amount of repayable loan for students. When we increased student assistance by 25% last year for

the first time, up to $11,900 as a maximum, we said to any student, "No matter how much you get, you don't have to pay a penny more than $7,000 of it." So there can be up to a maximum of $4,900 in

grants for students qualifying for student assistance. It's part of our commitment to improve access for students: You limit the repayable but you increase the amount of assistance you can actually

have access to.

Some of the other things we've done: We have improved debt relief for students once they've graduated; improved interest relief for students once they

graduate. It's part of our commitment to ensure that all students have access to an affordable post-secondary education, the best quality possible.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, you promised a

revolution in health care, a revolution in long-term care. What you've created in long-term care in this province is a crisis. You promised $6,000 per resident of long-term-care centres in this

province; $2,000 of that has flowed. That doesn't even cover the increased costs of supplies, wages, and heat and hydro, which your government is responsible for.

When are you going to admit that you have broken your promise to long-term-care centres, that you have broken your promise to the most vulnerable residents in

this province? Will you make good on your word and fund those -- you didn't even talk about them in the budget -- give them the money that they are due now to provide that care to our most

vulnerable residents?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Here we have yet another example of the propensity of the opposition party to

get both sides of the matter corralled. On the one hand, they've got the capacity to be able to reduce health care expenditure by $2.6 billion. On the other hand, the honourable member stands in

his place today and says that our investment in long-term care this year of 157 million new dollars, or a 5.8% funding increase, isn't enough.

The reality is that, based on the work of our colleague from Nipissing, Monique Smith, we have been working very, very carefully with the long-term-care

sector, whom I addressed at their conference today. Much progress has been made -- much progress that local communities and our more than 600 long-term-care homes can celebrate.

I would agree with the honourable member only on one point: On this file, as on all others in health care, there is more work to do. Accordingly, we have

considerable energy to do it, and alongside our allies and partners in health care, like the Ontario Long Term Care Association, we will.

Mr. Yakabuski: When I met with long-term-care providers in my riding last week, I have never seen them more discouraged with the response of

government to their needs, never more discouraged at any time that I've met with them. What you gave them was a 1.98% acuity increase this year, and 1.98% doesn't cover the costs at all.

Minister, you've given them all kinds of new jobs to do -- new standards, new forms, new paperwork -- but none of the funding to address them. You are turning

your back on our most vulnerable citizens. Are you going to come through on your word, or do those people simply not matter to the McGuinty Liberal government?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: There we go with the cheap ending, but you notice that the primary question is left unanswered. They were discouraged,

were they? Imagine how discouraged they must have been, then, when you told them about your party's plan to cut health care spending by $2.6 billion. What was the step below discouragement? That's

the one they must be prepared for, were they ever to hand the responsibility to the honourable member and to his party.

Across the breadth of long-term care we've made resource increases, not just the ones the member speaks about but also for specific initiatives. Today I was

very pleased to be able to announce $2.4 million worth of funding to provide training to more than 5,000 people who are providing assistance to our loved ones in long-term care, some of the most

vulnerable, dealing with Alzheimer and serious dementia. We have the capacity, across the breadth of more than 600 long-term-care homes, to provide a very high level of care to our most vulnerable,

and we will --

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

NORTHERN ECONOMY

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Transportation. The Thunder Bay area has already lost over 1,000

good manufacturing jobs, thanks to the McGuinty government. Today, they found out that the McGuinty government is going to allow the city of Ottawa to have their light rail transit cars built in

either California or Germany, even though the project is being funded by the taxpayers of Ontario.

Minister, you could have prevented this. You could have said, "Those cars will be built at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay." Why didn't you? Why are you

ignoring the economy and the needs of northern Ontario?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): Let me tell you what we have done for Bombardier and for the city of Thunder Bay.

Since 2003, GO Transit has purchased about 50 bi-level rail cars from Bombardier. The total investment has been about $140 million. After decades, we are the

first government that is making record investments in public transit, which directly or indirectly is going to benefit Bombardier one way or the other. We are very proud of what we have done for

transit from that point of view, and we look forward to working with Bombardier and other companies as well.

VISITOR

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to take this opportunity to introduce my son Stuart, who's

here visiting from the University of Guelph -- studying for exams -- in the members' west gallery.

PETITIONS

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

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

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

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

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

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

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

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years."

I've also signed this.

DISABILITY BENEFITS

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

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

"People with disabilities are entitled to the full support of their government with respect to income security and the dignity of a job; and

"The Ontario disability support plan does not provide an adequate income to cover the ever-increasing costs of living that people with disabilities face, and

those who receive ODSP and find employment are punished with an earnings exemption that is far too low and needs to be increased; and

"An ODSP recipient will have their earnings clawed back by the McGuinty Liberal government if they earn more than just $160 a month as an individual or only

$235 a month as a family; and

"Employment not only gives people on ODSP the dignity of a job and the pride in making meaningful contributions to their community; it also enables them to

augment Ontario's inadequate disability cheque and keep up with the ever-rising cost of living;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for an immediate increase to the employment earnings exemption threshold for ODSP

recipients so they are able to keep more of what they earn without the government clawing back their disability support."

I agree with this petition and send it down to the table by way of Leah.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls): I'm pleased to introduce this petition on behalf of my riding of Niagara Falls, and the petition reads as

follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the government of Ontario's health insurance plan covers treatments for one form of macular degeneration (wet), and there are other forms of macular

degeneration (dry) that are not covered,

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

"There are thousands of Ontarians who suffer from macular degeneration, resulting in loss of sight if treatment is not pursued. Treatment costs for this

disease are astronomical for most individuals and add a financial burden to their lives. Their only alternative is loss of sight. We believe the government of Ontario should cover treatment for all

forms of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance program."

I'm pleased to support this petition and give it to page Mark to deliver to you.

GASOLINE PRICES

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): I'm pleased to present this petition in the House today:

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

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

economy in key sectors such as tourism and transportation;

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

"That the Parliament of Ontario consider an immediate gas price freeze for a temporary period until world oil prices moderate; and

"That the provincial government petition the federal Liberal government to step up to the plate and lower gas prices by removing the GST on gasoline products

and fix the federal Competition Act to ensure consumers are protected and that the market operates in a fair and transparent manner."

I'm pleased to affix my signature and send it.

SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDING

Mr. Tim Peterson (Mississauga South): I have a petition for the Legislative Assembly.

"Whereas the population of the region of Peel has been experiencing significant growth for the past 15 years and now has the second-highest growth rate in the

province;

"Whereas demand for social services in Peel has exploded as a result of the population and other social changes;

"Whereas provincial social services funding has not responded to the increases in population, and therefore the people of the region of Peel receive 50% less

funding on a per capita basis than the average provincial per-capita funding for social programs;

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

"That the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services correct the funding inequity in all of their social

programs with new funding formulas that address population and needs."

I'm happy to affix my signature to this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): I'm pleased to present this petition to the Legislature on behalf of Extendicare Canada.

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

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

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

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

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

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

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I'm pleased to affix my signature thereto in support.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): I have a petition here to the Ontario Legislature to end discrimination.

"Whereas the Ontario government already fully funds 93% of faith-based schools in Ontario, but the remaining 7% receive no funding, solely because they are not

Catholic;

"Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in 1999 and again in 2005 that this arrangement is discriminatory and violates basic international

human rights law that Ontario formally agreed to uphold;

"Whereas all three parties represented in the Legislature support Catholic separate school funding, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Canada, so that the

only fair and viable solution to the discrimination is to extend funding to the small religious minorities that are currently excluded;

"Whereas the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Ontario has the constitutional power to provide funding to non-Catholic faith-based schools;

"Whereas Ontario is the only western democracy that fully funds faith-based schools of one religion to the total exclusion of all other religions, while all

other provinces except the Atlantic provinces fund faith-based schools and have thriving public school systems;

"Whereas the cultural survival of the affected minority groups is at stake; and

"Whereas faith-based schools produce responsible and productive citizens; and

"Whereas the Multi-Faith Coalition for Equal Funding of Religious Schools in December 2004 submitted to the Minister of Education a detailed proposal for the

funding of non-Catholic faith-based schools in a manner that is fair and accountable and protects and enhances the public interest;

"We call on the Ontario Legislature to pass legislation to provide equitable funding in respect of all faith-based schools in Ontario without religious

discrimination and without any reduction in funding for public education, with accountability requirements and standards in place to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded."

I affix my name to this petition and send it down to the table with Sharmarke.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I've got a petition that I've been asked to read into the record by the family advisory committee of

Wyndham Manor in Oakville. It reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

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

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is ... not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

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

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

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

ORGAN DONATION

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas 1,920 Ontarians are currently on a waiting list for an organ transplant; and

"Whereas the number of Ontarians waiting for an organ transplant has virtually doubled since 1994; and

"Whereas hundreds die every year waiting for an organ transplant; and

"Whereas greater public education and awareness will increase the number of people who sign their organ donor cards and increase the availability of organ

transplants for Ontarians; and

"Whereas the private member's bill proposed by Oak Ridges MPP Frank Klees will require every resident 16 years of age and older to complete an organ donation

question when applying for or renewing a driver's licence or provincial health card, thereby increasing public awareness of the importance of organ donation while respecting the right of every

person to make a personal decision regarding the important issue of organ donation;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 67, the Organ and Tissue Donation Mandatory Declaration Act, 2006."

I affix my signature in support.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Where it has been shown that crossing control arms on school buses reduce or virtually eliminate instances of students being struck by their own bus; and

"Whereas 91% of all front-bumper fatalities involve buses not equipped with crossing control arms; and

"Whereas the safety of the children of Ontario is our number one priority;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to require that all future school buses be equipped with crossing control arms and that all

existing school buses be required to be immediately retrofitted with crossing control arms."

I'm pleased to add my signature to this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm pleased to present a petition on behalf of Fosterbrooke Long-Term Care: Tina Bravos, the administrator; Jessie

Watkins, the resident council president; and Marjorie Caswell, family council representative. It reads as follows:

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

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

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

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

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

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

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I'm pleased to sign this in support of long-term care.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

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

"Whereas age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly and is present in some form in 25% to 33% of seniors over the

age of 75. AMD has two forms: the more common `dry' type and the `wet' type. Although the wet type occurs in only 15% of AMD patients, these patients account for 90% of the legal blindness that

occurs with AMD. The wet type is further subdivided into classic and occult subtypes, based on the appearance of the AMD on special testing. Photodynamic therapy, a treatment where abnormal blood

vessels are closed with a laser-activated chemical, has been shown to slow the progression of vision loss in both subtypes of wet AMD;

"Whereas OHIP has not extended coverage for photodynamic therapy to the occult subtype of wet AMD, despite there being substantial clinical evidence

demonstrating the effectiveness of this treatment in patients with either form of wet AMD. Untreated, these patients can expect a progression in their visual loss, with central blindness as the end

result;

"Whereas affected patients are in a position where a proven treatment is available to help preserve their vision, but this treatment can only be accessed at

their own personal expense. Treatment costs are between $12,500 and $18,000 over an 18-month period. Many patients resign themselves to a continued worsening of their vision, as for them the

treatment is financially unattainable. The resultant blindness in these patients manifests itself as costs to society in other forms, such as an increased need for home care, missed time from work

for family members providing care, and an increased rate of injuries such as hip fractures that can be directly attributable to their poor vision.

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to fund the treatment of the occult subtype of macular degeneration with photodynamic

therapy for all patients awaiting this service."

I'm very pleased to sign my name to this as well.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have here a petition similar to some of the others, but I think it's appropriate to read it on behalf of all

the good citizens of Oxford county who signed the petition.

"Whereas the Ontario government already fully funds 93% of faith-based schools in Ontario, but the remaining 7% receive no funding, solely because they are not

Catholic;

"Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in 1999 and again in 2005 that this arrangement is discriminatory and violates basic international

human rights law that Ontario formally agreed to uphold;

"Whereas all three parties represented in the Legislature support Catholic separate school funding as guaranteed by the Constitution of Canada, so that the

only fair and viable solution to the discrimination is to extend funding to the small religious minorities that are currently excluded;

"Whereas the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Ontario has the constitutional power to provide funding to non-Catholic faith-based schools;

"Whereas Ontario is the only western democracy that fully funds faith-based schools of one religion to the total exclusion of all other religions, while all

other provinces except the Atlantic provinces fund faith-based schools and have thriving public school systems;

"Whereas the cultural survival of the affected minority groups is at stake;

"Whereas faith-based schools produce responsible and productive citizens; and

"Whereas the Multi-Faith Coalition for Equal Funding of Religious Schools in December 2004 submitted to the Minister of Education a detailed proposal for the

funding of non-Catholic faith-based schools in a manner that is fair and accountable, and protects and enhances the public interest;

"We call on the Ontario Legislature to pass legislation to provide equitable funding in respect of all faith-based schools in Ontario, without religious

discrimination and without any reduction in funding for public education, with accountability requirements and standards in place to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded."

I present this petition on behalf of residents of the county of Oxford.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À LA GESTION

DES SITUATIONS D'URGENCE

Resuming the debate adjourned on April 6, 2006, on the motion for second reading of Bill 56,

An Act to amend the Emergency Management Act, the Employment

Standards Act, 2000 and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 / Projet de loi 56, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la gestion des situations d'urgence, la Loi de 2000 sur les normes d'emploi et

la Loi de 1997 sur la sécurité professionnelle et l'assurance contre les accidents du travail.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The member for Beaches-East York had the floor when we last debated this.

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I see I have four minutes and 18 seconds left, so I will do my best.

On the last occasion, for the first 16 minutes, or nearly 16 minutes, I talked about the bill itself: how the bill was an extraordinary bill in that it would

grant powers to the province and to the Premier in case there was an emergency of such a magnitude that it was deemed to be necessary. Some of the debate tha