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June 1, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-Jun-01 (PDF)

L089 - Thu 1 Jun 2017 / Jeu 1er jun 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 1 June 2017 Jeudi 1 er juin 2017

Orders of the Day

Anti-Racism Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 contre le racisme

Order of business

2053266 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

2053266 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

Prosper Legal Management Inc. Act, 2017

Prosper Legal Management Inc. Act, 2017

1049491 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

1049491 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Braiseryy Chicken Ltd. Act, 2017

Braiseryy Chicken Ltd. Act, 2017

Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc. Act, 2017

Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc. Act, 2017

East York Foundation Act, 2017

East York Foundation Act, 2017

Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc. Act, 2017

Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc. Act, 2017

St. Pola Drugs Inc. Act, 2017

St. Pola Drugs Inc. Act, 2017

SKAS Auto Services Inc. Act, 2017

SKAS Auto Services Inc. Act, 2017

Millar Wajer Holdings Inc. Act, 2017

Millar Wajer Holdings Inc. Act, 2017

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Wind turbines

Wind turbines

Hydro rates

Hospital funding

WSIB hearing aid program

Health care funding

Economic development

Water extraction

Mental health services

Infrastructure program funding

Personal support workers

Indigenous education

Hydro rates

Hospital funding

Visitors

Legislative pages

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur le soutien à l’enfance, à la jeunesse et à la famille

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Pension plans

Government’s record

Portuguese History and Heritage Month

Chapman House

Public transit

Girls Can Fly!

Internet access

Community Justice Initiatives

Bruce Power

Introduction of Bills

Real Rent Control Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur le contrôle réel des loyers

WSIB Coverage for Workers in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la protection à accorder aux travailleurs dans les établissements de soins en résidence et les foyers de groupe par la Commission de la sécurité professionnelle et de l’assurance contre les accidents du travail

Transparency in Gas Pricing Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la transparence dans la facturation du gaz

Safe Night Out Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 visant à favoriser des sorties sans danger

Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 pour l’équité en milieu de travail et de meilleurs emplois

Motions

Consideration of Bill 148

Committee sittings

Petitions

Government advertising

Education funding

Hydro rates

Nanjing Massacre

Dental care

Inclusiveness

Anti-smoking initiatives for youth

School closures

Health care funding

Midwifery

Visitors

Private Members’ Public Business

Hospital funding

Visitors

Stop the Calls Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur les appels indésirables

Northern health services

Hospital funding

Stop the Calls Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur les appels indésirables

Northern health services

Committee sittings

Budget Measures Act (Housing Price Stability and Ontario Seniors’ Public Transit Tax Credit), 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur les mesures budgétaires (stabilité des prix du logement et crédit d’impôt de l’Ontario aux personnes âgées pour le transport en commun)

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Anti-Racism Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 contre le racisme

Resuming the debate adjourned on May 31, 2017, on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 114,

An Act to provide for Anti-Racism Measures / Projet de loi 114, Loi prévoyant des mesures contre le racisme.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister Coteau.

Hon. Michael Coteau: It’s a real honour for me to stand here in this House today as we move third reading of Bill 114,

An Act to provide for Anti-Racism Measures, which I’ll refer to as the Anti-Racism Act.

I want to start by acknowledging our indigenous past here in the province of Ontario, and recognize our First Nations, our Métis, our Inuit heritage here in this province and country, and in addition to that, recognize that we’re on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. People often say this at the beginning of a speech these days. In fact, the first time I ever heard anyone say that was listening to the Premier speak years ago, but I think it’s especially important today, considering that we’re talking about racism here in the province of Ontario.

Over the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across this province and to talk to people face to face. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve probably interacted with over 4,000 people during these consultations. I also had smaller meetings with different groups and also meetings one-on-one with people. And when we talk about racism here in the province of Ontario, there is no question that it exists. There is no question that there are different forms of racism that exist here in Ontario, including systemic racism. Some people have asked me, “What is systemic racism?

What does it mean?” The best way I can explain it is, systemic racism is racism that may be institutionalized within an organization. You may have folks who do not necessarily have racist tendencies; however, the system is set up in such a way where it doesn’t allow people to reach their full potential. My job is to look for ways to remove barriers that exist to eliminate racism.

Last month, I was at the Economic Club of Canada speaking about racism. It was the first time in the history of the Economic Club of Canada that they had a speaker come in to talk about racism. I made an argument. I made an argument that fighting racism is a good thing to do because it’s the right thing to do. When we talk about our morals and ethics, our values as Canadians, it’s the right thing to do. But I also talked about the economic side of racism. I talked about the fact that in the United States, it’s estimated that it costs the United States about $1 trillion in lost revenue each year.

The government alone loses about $100 billion in costs associated with systemic racism, and then there’s also a monetary value that’s lost through taxation.

Here alone, in Ontario, there’s no question in my mind that the more we remove the barriers that exist that are caused by systemic racism, the better our society is going to do.

I want to take a moment to talk about some of the things we’re doing as a government to build a fairer Ontario. I’m sure that someone in the opposition might think, “Why is he talking about things like free tuition or having a $15 minimum wage? What does that have to do with systemic racism?” But I would have to argue that what we’re trying to do here in the province of Ontario is make sure, at the end of the day, that people have a fair chance here in Ontario: that they have the ability to reach their potential and to really capture the benefits that this beautiful place called Ontario has to offer.

There’s no question in my mind that every single person in this Legislature agrees that Ontario is a beautiful place with boundless opportunity. We’ve been very fortunate, on this side of the world, to live in a place like Ontario. We know that we need to make sure that we can continue to have that place we call home.

As a government, we’ve been looking to do things to make sure that people can reach their full potential. Madam Speaker, we have proposed a $15 minimum wage here in Ontario. We proposed that because we want people to be able to earn the right type of income that’s aligned with the cost of living. We want to make sure that tuition is accessible to everyone. That’s why we put in free tuition. That’s why we put in a proposal in our budget that passed a new provision that if you’re 24 or under, medication would be free from now on.

We did this because we want to make sure that people are set up for success here in Ontario. Eliminating racism is aligned with building a fair Ontario. I’m very proud of the fact that as a government, we’ve introduced the first type of legislation in this country that is set up to combat systemic racism, to fight racism. It’s the first of its kind. It’s the first piece of legislation I believe anywhere in this country that has been set up by a government to take on systemic racism.

I want to thank the members on this side of the House, and I also want to thank members on that side of the House as well. I know that the member from Brampton–Springdale put in a lot of work in the committee process to get us to this point. So I want to thank her. I also want to thank the member from Eglinton–Lawrence for the work that he did because this was a huge passion for him, to look for ways to set people up for success and to eliminate systemic racism.

I want to thank all members of this House, because we went right across the province. I was in Kitchener. I went to Windsor. I was in Ottawa. The members that joined me at those meetings listened first-hand to the stories from people about systemic racism. There are stories that I can’t forget. I remember being in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay today—there are a lot of challenges that are taking place in Thunder Bay. You can open up a paper and see that for yourself. But in Thunder Bay, one of the teachers that was there—and he was of European background.

He stood up and spoke, and he talked about the way the school system was set up. He talked about how the system was set up based on agriculture and letting kids out during the summer so they can go back and work on farms, which is great if that’s aligned to your livelihood. But he was saying to me that as a teacher, he noticed that the kids in northern Ontario who were indigenous were not coming in in the fall period and he didn’t understand why they weren’t coming. It was aligned to their traditional hunting period.

So even our education system has been set up in such a way where it didn’t take into account the livelihood of some of those communities in that region. Really, that’s what systemic racism is all about: looking at the system and looking for ways to make sure that a young person—or a middle-aged person or an older person—can access the system in a way that’s aligned to their culture and looking for ways to remove barriers that exist.

We heard stories from people about blatant, overt racism—in-your-face kind of racism—where people felt that their human rights have been disrespected. Some pretty tough, nasty, horrible words have been presented to people. We also heard about the overrepresentation of indigenous and black children in child welfare; the overrepresentation in our corrections of indigenous and black people, mainly males. We heard many different stories.

At the end of the day, the message that I got is that there is a lot of pain out there. There are a lot of people who are suffering. Again, I don’t want anyone for a second not to understand that people do see Ontario as a great place. Even when they’re placed in a situation where they’ve been presented with some form of racism, they still looked at Ontario as a great place, but they knew it could be a better place. What we’re trying to do in this Legislature by developing this type of legislation, presenting it and having it be adopted is to build a better Ontario.

So we’ve been able to bring this bill forward—again, the first of its kind. The bill is quite unique. It has some very unique things embedded in it. I want to take a moment just to talk about some of those things because I believe they’re very important. They are necessary in order for us to go forward.

Within the legislation, it will recognize and back a three-year plan that we’ve put forward as the Anti-Racism Directorate to fight systemic racism. This plan itself is bigger than the directorate itself. It’s a pretty important piece because it captures the work that is going to take place beyond the work of the directorate.

While I’m talking about the directorate, I’d like to recognize three of the individuals who are in the west gallery this morning who have put a lot of work into developing the directorate. Let’s give them a big round of applause, folks.

Applause.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Thank you for being here. I know the rest of the team is going to be here for the vote later today, which we all hope passes, but thank you for being here today.

Today is a special day because we have Bill 114 and another bill that’s coming from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services which will be presented, Bill 89. So today’s a pretty big day in regard to legislation being proposed and going for third reading and hopefully being supported by all members of the Legislature.

If the bill does pass today, this legislation will establish a long-term plan to fight systemic racism here in Ontario. It mandates community engagement, and this is an important thing because I often hear criticism about the community engagement piece. When we went out there, there were some folks who were saying, “Why are you continuously engaging the community? Why are you doing this?” Some other folks would be saying, “You haven’t done enough engagement.”

There are folks out there who have been engaged; they’ve been engaged for years and years and years—10, 20, 30 years—from the Stephen Lewis report way back in the Bob Rae government to the Curling-McMurtry report on the roots of youth violence. People are exhausted when it comes to looking for ways to fight racism here in Ontario. The recommendations that have been made today are some of the same recommendations that have been made 30 years ago, 20 years ago. But there’s a difference between what we’re doing here today and what has happened in the past. The first thing, like I said, this is being backed by legislation.

This legislation mandates community engagement through multi-year strategic plans. It will obligate the minister responsible for this file to continuously go out there and engage community and ask them what they think, and have the ability to adjust that strategic plan based on the realities of today.

Now, I’ll tell you what the changes have been in the last 15 years, the last 20 years, in comparison to 40 years ago. We all know that there have always been anti-Muslim sentiments that have been out there in the past. Islamophobia has always been there, but we know that after 9/11, Islamophobia has become one of the fastest-growing forms of hate here in this country.

We have a great Muslim community here in the city of Toronto. In fact, I know that most Muslims who live in Canada live in Ontario, and most of them reside in the GTA. We have a very strong Muslim community, a very prominent community, occupying some of the most influential positions in society—from lawyers to academics, academia, to members of provincial Parliament, to heads of universities.

We know that there are many folks in our communities, our neighbours, who are Muslim. Over the last 15 years the hate towards that community has increased. We’ve seen it. We’re all aware of it. You can open up a paper and you can see those stories. We need to make sure that we continuously engage the public to ensure that our plans are reflective of what’s happening out there.

I need to take a moment to talk about what has happened in the Jewish community. Anti-Semitism is one of those institutionalized—one of those forms of racism that exists, one of those forms of hate that exists, that has been here for a long time. We know that 30% of the hate crime that takes place in the city of Toronto is against our own Jewish community. We need to monitor this stuff. We know what’s happening in the United States and around the world when it comes to hate.

In fact, last night before I was going to bed I was going through Twitter and LeBron James, the NBA star, found a hate word spray-painted in front of the gates to his home—had the N-word there. This week they found two nooses in front of the black museum of history in Washington.

Things are happening out there, and we need to monitor it. We need to continuously engage the community to figure out what they’re thinking and what they’re feeling. Are there forms of extremism that are taking place? We need to, as a responsible government, understand what’s going on. So I’m proud to be part of a government that is going to continuously engage.

One of the most important pieces that we have in this legislation is the ability to collect disaggregated race-based data and mandate organizations to collect that type of information. There’s an old saying, “No data, no problem, no solution.”

Madam Speaker, I always drag you into these debates because we were at the school board when that debate took place around disaggregated data. It was something that as a school board we embraced and as former trustees we acknowledged we had to focus on. It was a good thing for the city of Toronto.

In fact, now we look back 15 years later, or 10 years later—it was 2004, and then 2006 it was implemented, the first census. We look back, and it’s interesting. At the Toronto District School Board back then, when Bruce Davis and myself moved that motion, we won by one vote. Now the world looks at Toronto and the country looks back at Toronto and the TDSB, and they say, “How did you do this? What does it look like?” It’s something that everyone embraces, but it was a hard sell years ago.

So we’re going to make sure that we put forward a plan to collect the right type of data so we can make better policy decisions to fight systemic racism here in the province of Ontario.

I’m aware that I have about 45 seconds left. I want to end by saying this: This piece of legislation is not very complex when you look at it at first glance. But when you start to dig deep and you figure out what it empowers government to do, it becomes a lot more complex, because it’s multi-ministry and it goes beyond just the role of government, and goes out and looks for ways to work with community. I believe that this piece of legislation is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that, as a government, we could put forward.

I hope, at the end of the day, that all of us here in the Legislature can rise to the occasion and support this piece of legislation so we can end hate here in the province of Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Pursuant to the order of the House dated May 29, 2017, I am now required to put the question.

Ms. MacCharles has moved third reading of Bill 114,

An Act to provide for Anti-Racism Measures. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Order of business

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): I recognize the President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Liz Sandals: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private bills.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): The President of the Treasury Board has moved a motion. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Liz Sandals: I move that the orders for second and third reading of the following private bills shall be called consecutively and that the questions on the motions for second and third reading of the bills be put immediately without debate: Bills Pr56, Pr57, Pr58, Pr59, Pr60, Pr61, Pr62, Pr63, Pr64, Pr65, Pr66 and Pr67; and

That Mr. Bailey may move the motions for second and third reading of Bill Pr62 on behalf of Mr. Hillier; and

That Mr. Bisson may move the motions for second and third reading of Pr58 on behalf of Mr. Gates; and

That Mr. Potts may move the motions for second and third reading of Pr61 on behalf of Mr. Milczyn.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Ms. Sandals has moved—

Interjections: Dispense.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Dispense? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

2053266 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

Ms. Hoggarth moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr56,

An Act to revive 2053266 Ontario Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

2053266 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

Ms. Hoggarth moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr56,

An Act to revive 2053266 Ontario Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Prosper Legal Management Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Delaney moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr57,

An Act to revive Prosper Legal Management Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Prosper Legal Management Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Delaney moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr57,

An Act to revive Prosper Legal Management Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

1049491 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Bisson, on behalf of Mr. Gates, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr58,

An Act to revive 1049491 Ontario Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

1049491 Ontario Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Bisson, on behalf of Mr. Gates, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr58,

An Act to revive 1049491 Ontario Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Smith moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr59,

An Act to revive 564539 Ontario Limited.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Smith moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr59,

An Act to revive 564539 Ontario Limited.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Bailey moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr60,

An Act to revive 1476283 Ontario Limited.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Bailey moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr60,

An Act to revive 1476283 Ontario Limited.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Braiseryy Chicken Ltd. Act, 2017

Mr. Potts, on behalf of Mr. Milczyn, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr61,

An Act to revive Braiseryy Chicken Ltd.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Braiseryy Chicken Ltd. Act, 2017

Mr. Potts, on behalf of Mr. Milczyn, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr61,

An Act to revive Braiseryy Chicken Ltd.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Bailey, on behalf of Mr. Hillier, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr62,

An Act to revive Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Bailey, on behalf of Mr. Hillier, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr62,

An Act to revive Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

East York Foundation Act, 2017

Mr. Tabuns moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr63,

An Act respecting The East York Foundation.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

East York Foundation Act, 2017

Mr. Tabuns moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr63,

An Act respecting The East York Foundation.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Mangat moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr64,

An Act to revive Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Mangat moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr64,

An Act to revive Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

St. Pola Drugs Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Martow moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr65,

An Act to revive St. Pola Drugs Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

St. Pola Drugs Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Martow moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr65,

An Act to revive St. Pola Drugs Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Mrs. Gila Martow: I just want to ask, on the last day, if there’s an award for who gets the most private bills in from their riding?

SKAS Auto Services Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Martow moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr66,

An Act to revive SKAS Auto Services Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

SKAS Auto Services Inc. Act, 2017

Mrs. Martow moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr66,

An Act to revive SKAS Auto Services Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

Millar Wajer Holdings Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Yakabuski moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr67,

An Act to revive Millar Wajer Holdings Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Millar Wajer Holdings Inc. Act, 2017

Mr. Yakabuski moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr67,

An Act to revive Millar Wajer Holdings Inc.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): Orders of the day? I recognize the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: No further business, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Soo Wong): There being no further business, the House stands recessed until 10:30.

The House recessed from 0933 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Michael Harris: I want to welcome to the Legislature Alex Overton. Alex has been an OLIP intern in my office for the last few months. It’s a fantastic program. Alex, you’ve been tremendous in the office and we’ll miss you. Good luck at law school. Thank you so much.

Speaker, thanks again for the OLIP program. It’s a great program.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce some guests in the gallery. We’ve got the president of OPSEU, Smokey Thomas, here with us today; we’ve got Patti Markland from OPSEU; Miranda Ferrier, president of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association; Katie Scott, the VP from the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association; Ed Arvelin, executive board member of OPSEU; Clarke Eaton, a political liaison from OPSEU; and we have our own Rosario Marchese here today as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Gee, thanks.

Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Today is an important day. We’ve got two bills to vote on, Bill 89 and Bill 114. I’d like to welcome the men and women in the west gallery who are here from children and youth services and the Anti-Racism Directorate. I want to specifically recognize Deputy Minister Matthews and her team for being here today. Thank you for your hard work.

Mr. Toby Barrett: I wish to introduce two PSWs, Laurie Szakall and Michelle Gervais are in the visitors’ gallery. They work at Edgewater Gardens in Dunnville.

And also a Port Dover girl, Kathleen Scott.

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Our page captain today Gabriel Kotch is joined by his grandmother Barbara Shaw, grandfather Douglas Shaw, aunt Lorna McBrien and uncle Ed McBrien.

I would also like to welcome my OLIP intern—she’s absolutely wonderful—Stephanie Lowe and her guest, Dr. Gary Gould.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m really pleased to have in the House and joining us today Ben Menka from my office. Joining him is Gillian Kiessling. Gillian is in my office as an intern, and I really appreciate all she does. Thank you very much.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s a great pleasure to welcome my good friend and a former colleague, Dr. Amir Zangeneh and Ms. Fariba Zangeneh, who are visiting the House today. Please join me in welcoming them.

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature Rob Mackey, a constituent in my riding who participated in an agricultural round table that I hosted with the region of Durham this past month.

Mr. Granville Anderson: I would like to welcome Rowena M. Castaneda who is at Queen’s Park today from the lovely riding of Durham with the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association. Welcome.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to welcome all the PSWs here today, in particular Miranda Ferrier and Kathleen Scott from the Ontario PSW Association.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: It gives me great pleasure to introduce a couple of guests today. First I’d like to introduce my son, Galen Harris, today, who is joining us here at Queen’s Park. Welcome to the House, Galen.

Also here are guests of page captain Kenna Smallegange: her parents, Catherine and Gerry Smallegange, and her brother Cormick Smallegange. Welcome to Queen’s Park. It’s great to have you here with us today.

Mr. Ted Arnott: I’m very pleased to welcome the personal support workers who are here today, as well as Joan Corradetti, who I’m told is here, from my riding. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: I’d to welcome one of my constituents from Cambridge here today, who needs no further introduction: Miranda Ferrier, who is also the president of the Ontario PSW Association.

I also want to give a shout-out to all the PSWs who have joined us today. Thank you for the work you do.

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’d like to introduce, in the members’ gallery, my interns for the summer: Jack Rubin and Jason Ianno.

I understand there are also some PSWs here from Guelph. Welcome.

Mr. Han Dong: It’s my pleasure to introduce a good friend of mine. The president of the Toronto Chinese Business Association, Mr. Evan Chau, is with us in the members’ gallery. He is here to host a reception in rooms 228 and 230, to promote the international dragon boat festival this year. I welcome all members to drop by and have some—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. The member from Perth–Wellington.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I’d like to introduce page Gracin’s father, Wayne Black, who is here today at Queen’s Park. Welcome.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I would like to welcome Lisa Baker, who is here for OPSEU’s personal support workers’ lobby day. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Chris Ballard: I have three really important guests in the lobby today: my sister-in-law Sandra Ballard and my nieces Eryn Ballard and Alison Ballard. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I’d like to introduce Willy Noiles from the Ontario injured workers’ association. He’s here today for their rally for injured workers across the province.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Today is Injured Workers’ Day in the province of Ontario, and I’d like to welcome members of the Injured Workers Advocacy Committee in Ontario. Please welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I am delighted that two extraordinary members of my team have joined us today for question period: Brock Ceci, who worked in both London and Toronto and is off to the London School of Economics this fall; and the famous, incredible, extraordinary Judy Bell, my boss, who came to Queen’s Park 30 years ago and is still with us. They’re wonderful people.

I also see Chris Shantz, a former member of my team who has joined the public service.

Welcome to you all.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I’m delighted to introduce Nicholas Ferreira, who is sitting in the gallery. Nicholas is interning in my office for the summer. It’s also his birthday today. Nicholas, it’s good to see you.

Hon. Bill Mauro: I had an opportunity this morning to meet with OPSEU members as part of the PSW lobby day. Two members are here from Thunder Bay: Terry MacGillvary and Kim Pereira. I welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m happy to introduce Chrissy Orr, a teacher at Neil McNeil high school, and her civics class, who are here today. Fidelitas in Arduis.

Mr. Granville Anderson: On behalf of my colleague Yvan Baker, I would like to welcome family members of Kate Winterton: her mother, Jennifer Krikorian, her uncle Jordan Winterton, and her aunt Jacqueline Krikorian. Welcome to Queen’s Park. They’re here today in the public gallery.

Ms. Sarah Campbell: I would like to welcome a third member from OPSEU who joins us here today from Thunder Bay: Ed Arvelin. Welcome.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Another important guest in the gallery today is a great part of our team: Michael Donolo, a summer intern. Welcome, Michael.

Mr. Norm Miller: I’m pleased to introduce, in the public gallery, grade 7 and 8 students from Otter Lake Christian School, which is located just south of Parry Sound. They’re here with their teacher Steve Weber.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further introductions? Further introductions?

As is the tradition and the convention of the Speaker to introduce former members—regardless of other members stepping on the Speaker’s role—I would like to introduce, from Fort York in the 35th and 36th Parliaments and Trinity–Spadina in the 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th Parliaments, Monsieur Rosario Marchese.

As the members know, I’ve started another tradition. On the first sitting day of each month, I’m inviting assembly employees who have retired or shortly will be retiring to be in the Speaker’s gallery and have their service to the assembly recognized.

In that regard, I introduce Mary Saulig, director of information services in the information and technology services division. Mary, who will be retiring at the end of this month, is accompanied by several of her assembly colleagues. Together with them, please join me in thanking Mary for her service to the assembly and wishing her all the best in her retirement.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Introduction? The member from Davenport.

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I just wanted to have this opportunity to welcome here to the House the mother and father of the page from Davenport. Page Matthew Harris has his parents, Angela Van Damme and Chris Harris, visiting here today. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on a point of order.

Hon. Laura Albanese: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent that members be permitted to wear pins in recognition of June 2, La Festa della Repubblica, which is Italy’s national day, and the beginning of June, which is Italian Heritage Month.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is seeking unanimous consent to wear the pins. Do we agree? Agreed.

The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Bill Walker: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: It’s my pleasure to introduce guests from Peninsula Shores District School. We have teacher Brenda Foster and her writers’ craft class students: Bailey Ahrens, Isabel Alaman, Emma Barfoot, Dexter Bridge, Madison Broadbent, Maiya Burgess, Mikila Elliott, Julia Francoeur, Alex Madill, Faith McColeman, Liam Miller and Marta Perez. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: On a point of order, Speaker: I am delighted to say goodbye to our intern from OLIP, Rachel Nauta. She has served us really well. Thank you, Rachel.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their introductions and—I am looking to the member from Parry Sound–Muskoka for an introduction?

Mr. Norm Miller: Yes, thanks. I think I see my intern up in the public gallery: Hanna Forsyth, who has done an amazing job in assisting me. I would hate to miss thanking her for all the great work she has done.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): My patience knows no bounds—for introductions only.

The member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I also see my OLIP intern, Sara Gajic. I want to thank her for all the great work that she has done.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Seeing—and accepting—no further introductions, it is therefore time for question period.

Oral Questions

Wind turbines

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: My question is for the Premier. Speaker, either the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change is unable to manage his own staff or he instructs them to circumvent existing rules. According to Global News, there is confirmation that between 2006 and 2014, his ministry chose to ignore thousands of noise and health complaints against industrial wind turbines. Just this past April, the minister shared how proud he is of his staff. But this is not a record to be proud of. Out of thousands of complaints, more than two thirds were ignored.

Will the Premier instruct this minister to do his job and investigate all of the complaints that he is receiving on industrial wind turbines from every corner of this province, especially those related to tonal noise?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Minister of the Environment will want to comment.

I also know that we take concerns from community members very, very seriously on a full range of issues. I’ve spent an enormous amount of time over the years listening to and talking to people who are concerned about wind turbines. In fact, when I became the Premier we changed the rules about municipal input and the siting of wind turbines.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m reading the signals and I’m prepared to do it.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the member opposite knows that under the current rules, municipalities have much more authority to indicate whether they are willing hosts or not—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Elgin–Middlesex–London will come to order.

Supplementary? The member from Elgin–Middlesex–London.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Back to the Premier: This government is forcing municipalities like Dutton Dunwich to accept some of the province’s largest turbines. The planned project in Dutton is the Strong Breeze Wind Project. They’re forcing them, even though a poll conducted by the municipality showed that 84% of residents strongly oppose the project, as did the municipality.

Now we’re hearing that the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has ignored thousands of noise complaints. Not only are the residents forced to accept wind turbines; they must now know that the ministry will not help them and will ignore all the problems caused by wind turbines.

This government has already admitted they do not need the energy that would be created by the Strong Breeze project in Dutton Dunwich. Will the Premier do the right thing and listen to the municipalities who say no and cancel the Strong Breeze Wind Project in Dutton Dunwich?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: First of all, I was not the minister in that period of time—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville.

Carry on, Minister.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Not only do we take these seriously; in the three years since I’ve been minister—and, I assume, in the period before—I have met with numerous people. We’re working with the member from Huron–Bruce on the K2 project. There is extensive testing going on. We are including and adding tonal testing, which is very important. We are expanding our role. I’ve talked to folks in the community; they are very concerned. We are working with them. We are not ignoring these things.

It’s passing curious to me that they never raise issues about nuclear waste, they never raise issues about coal pollution, about the challenges of electric transmission lines; they only attack renewable green energy. They have a singular obsession with anything that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This is the party that—

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

Final supplementary? The member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Back to the Premier: On Global News, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change claimed that industrial wind turbine noise complaints are isolated to one project up in Huron–Bruce. But these concerns are not isolated. The proposal for Snowy Ridge, a project in my riding, was reviewed by a former MOECC employee who pointed out flaws in the project. The employee’s assessment was redacted from the appeal process, two expert noise witness statements were redacted, the concerns of three residents were redacted, yet the minister—and he was the minister at the time—claimed that there were no expert witnesses to support health concerns.

The minister claims to take this issue seriously, but how can the minister explain this blatant scheme to redact information and hide the facts your employees are even telling you?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: So, Mr. Speaker—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville, second time. And we’ll discuss warnings later.

Finish, please.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: The party opposite, whose leader spent years in Ottawa denying climate change, actively undermining the efforts of Quebec and Ontario, attacking carbon pricing—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It starts up again, I’ll go to warnings for those banging their desks to prevent answers.

Minister, finish, please.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: The party opposite made the claim for the better part of 10 years that wind turbines cause health problems. This government spent a considerable amount of money hiring the leading experts and doing medical research, as did the federal government, and found out the totality of the opposition party’s claims were completely bogus and like so much, not science-based. The creationist party, the climate-denier party, doesn’t like—

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

Wind turbines

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Back to the Premier: It’s no surprise to me to learn from Global that the minister has failed to investigate noise and health complaints related to industrial wind turbines. Liberal ministers have been ignoring homeowners in Dufferin–Caledon for over 10 years.

In 2011, I asked the Minister of Environment to help the Whitworth family when the doctor recommended they leave their home because of noise and electrical pollution. In 2013, the Whitworths received a one-sentence email from the Minister of Environment that said, “The ministry has closed your file at this time and the minister will not be taking any action on your complaint.” Will the Premier do the right thing and reopen the Whitworths’ file?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, as I said in answer to the first question, I am and have been very concerned about the community reaction to the siting of wind turbines. I met with many groups over a period of years. I sat with them. I listened to their concerns. I made sure that—

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Do you want to live in the Whitworths’ home?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for Dufferin–Caledon, come to order.

Finish, please.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I made sure that we had studies in place, Mr. Speaker. I made sure that we worked with the federal government as the Health Canada studies were done. We made changes in terms of siting—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon, second time.

Carry on.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We made changes in terms of the siting of wind turbines. We gave more responsibility and more authority to municipalities. We have made changes, Mr. Speaker, based exactly on the concerns that the members opposite are raising.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry.

Mr. Jim McDonell: Speaker, to the Premier: Her minister is either willfully uninformed of the number of complaints about wind turbine noise filed with his department, or deliberately neglectful of his duty.

One of my constituents complained about how measurements were improperly conducted on the Nation Rise wind project. Now I know for a fact that the minister’s own account and his constituency office were c.c.’d in the complaints. He says there was only one complaint, but as reported on Global News, there were thousands.

People across Ontario deserve answers and a resolution to their complaints. This government recently stated that, because of the surplus of power, they were cancelling the next round of energy projects. Will the Premier do the honourable thing and order her minister to put an immediate stop to all wind turbine developments until the massive backlog of complaints can be addressed?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, Mr. Speaker, we have worked to respond to concerns. We have responded to the concerns of the municipalities. I take these concerns very seriously and we have worked to address them and we will continue to work with—

Interjection.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I have to ask the question: Is it not that this party does not want to talk about the reality that we are making changes in this province that they are labelling as “too much, too soon”? Because the changes that we are making are going to help people, as in the development of green renewable energy helps people, helps kids with asthma and cleans up the air.

This party doesn’t want to talk about a $15 minimum wage. This party doesn’t want to talk about 100,000 child care spaces. Their leader—

Interjections.

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

The member from Nepean–Carleton will come to order. Next time I have to stand for this kind of thing, we’ll go to warnings.

Final supplementary? The member for Niagara West–Glanbrook.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: It’s past time that the Premier paid attention. Hydro bills have skyrocketed by over 300%. Expensive and counterproductive power subsidies for turbines we don’t want or need have contributed to the soaring energy prices that are the greatest burden people are facing, yet this government has ignored the thousands of complaints they’ve received. This Liberal government has not paid attention to the many petitions MPPs have presented regarding this issue, nor have they paid attention to their own communities. Some of the 90 unwilling communities are in several of their ridings as well.

Just a few weeks ago, this government had the opportunity to reverse their folly, when my motion for a moratorium came forward. Respect for local decision-making was at hand, but they voted it down.

Mr. Speaker, why does the Premier continue to ignore and dismiss everyone’s concern?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, that’s absolutely not the case. I have met with folks in that member’s own riding, in Binbrook, and heard their concerns—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Huron–Bruce, second time, and the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. I’ve got a good memory.

Carry on.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I said, Mr. Speaker, I believe this party really does not want to talk about the concerns of people who believe that having a fair workplace and a $15 minimum wage is important.

Their leader has made it clear that he thinks that is too much, too soon, but I would ask this: Is it too much, too soon for the 30% of Ontarians right now who make less than $15 an hour? Is it too much, too soon for part-time workers to get paid the same as full-time workers—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Your time is up, Premier.

New question.

Hydro rates

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, to the Premier: The Premier has shown Ontarians time and time again throughout this session that she simply doesn’t get what they’re going through.

Families are at a tipping point when it comes to things like keeping up with their skyrocketing hydro bills. But instead of helping, the Premier has put herself and her party first by ramming through a borrowing scheme that she knows will cause bills to soar even higher than they are now.

When will the Premier apologize to Ontarians for putting her political agenda ahead of the very real struggles of the people of Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O.

Wynne: My plan—our plan—for the people of Ontario is to invest in this province; to grow the economy; to work with business; to make sure that young people have access to an excellent education, from preschool right through to post-secondary; to make sure that families have access to child care; to make sure that kids have access to the medication they need and that their families can afford to look after them; and to make sure that kids have access to all of the services they need and that families have the support they need, including a reduction in their electricity prices—a reduction that will happen this summer, not in the distant future if a federal government should deign to agree with them, as the NDP plan would have.

Our plan is to make sure that people have the resources they need and that they are able to take

part in the economic growth of this province. That’s what our fair workplaces plan is about. That’s what our fair hydro plan is about. That’s what our Fair Housing Plan is about—

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): As promised, the member from Prince Edward–Hastings is warned. We’re now in warnings.

Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Premier: The Premier is focused on bringing up her dismal poll numbers. This became obvious when, even after the Financial Accountability Officer confirmed that her hydro borrowing scheme would mean higher, not lower, bills for families and businesses, she rammed it through the House anyway.

This plan is not good for everyday Ontarians. It is good for those at the top, though. Why is the Premier more concerned about her wealthy Bay Street friends than she is about the people who voted for her?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Housing is warned.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: It’s the last day in the Legislature before we go on to the summer portion of our—I’m not going to say “break” because I know that everyone in this Legislature is going to be working very hard once the House rises. But because it’s the last day, I really have to say this: I know that the opposition parties believe that, by making a personal attack and raising the issue of my personal polling numbers, somehow that’s going to get under my skin and that’s a good political tactic. Here’s a news flash: I know what the polls say; I understand that.

I am absolutely focused on doing what’s in the best interests of the people of this province today and every day through till the election.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Feel free to continue to insult the Chair and be disrespectful.

Final supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Back to the Premier—that was strangely Nixonian, I have to say, Speaker—families and businesses have been telling the Premier for years now that they can’t afford more hydro rate hikes, yet she has pushed ahead with the sell-off of Hydro One and her borrowing scheme, both of which will drive up hydro rates. Why is the Premier ignoring what Ontarians are telling her?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Let’s talk about what happened in the House yesterday, Mr. Speaker. We voted in a plan that’s actually going to reduce everyone’s rates by 25%, on average. They voted against that.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry is warned.

I may move to naming. This is getting ridiculous—the disrespect you’re showing the Chair and to each other.

Carry on.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to making sure that you have in place a program to help the most vulnerable in this province and when it comes to lowering rates, both opposition parties voted against it. First Nations on-reserve individuals, many of whom live in abject poverty—we’re reducing their rates. One of the things that they did, Mr. Speaker: They voted against it. We made sure with our plan that we’re helping every single family in this province. That’s something they continue to vote against.

Hospital funding

M me France Gélinas: My question is for the Premier. It’s not just our electricity system that the Premier’s Liberal government has made worse. After years of frozen hospital budgets and cuts to front-line health care staff, the Premier’s 2017 budget shortchanges hospitals again; this time, by about a $300-million shortchange. Why is the Premier so intent on keeping our hospitals chronically underfunded?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think that the member opposite knows that there is, in our 2017 budget, a 3.1% increase to those hospital budgets and those operating budgets, across the board, and at least a 2% increase for every hospital in the province. On top of that, there is, I think, $9 billion that will be available for construction and capital costs.

We absolutely recognize the critical work that is done by hospitals. We also recognized that, on top of the more than $450 million that we put, in in-year funding, onto hospital base funding last year, there needed to be an increase to hospital operations. We put that in the budget in recognition of those concerns.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Budget freezes and cuts to front-line staff leads to overcrowding. It leads to poor quality care. It leads to hallway medicine. Hospitals like the ones in Thunder Bay or Sault Ste. Marie are in a constant state of gridlock. We’ve seen occupancy rates of 120% in acute care units, and people receiving treatment in hallways, TV rooms, shower rooms, storage areas, patient lounges, and the list goes on. The Premier’s constant cuts to health care are hurting people, the very people she is supposed to help.

Why does the Premier refuse to properly fund our hospitals?

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

Hon. Eric Hoskins: You know, when we provide a 5% increase to the operating budget of the Sault hospital that you just referenced—this year, more than $6 million—when Health Sciences North in Sudbury received an additional $6 million as well this fiscal year, in a budget that provides more than half a billion new dollars to our hospitals to help them address those issues that are most pressing to them, it boggles my mind that the member opposite would argue so vehemently in support of increasing hospital budgets, yet she would vote against a budget that does exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, we have a long list of hospitals that I’m happy to go through which received substantial increases in funding this year.

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

M me France Gélinas: What does hospital underfunding look like? Well, let me tell you about Henri Chartrand from my riding. What does his stay at HSN look like? His first two days was on a stretcher in the ER. Then he was moved to a TV room. What he told me was that it was humiliating, embarrassing and a demeaning experience that he never wants to have to go through again.

Unfortunately, Mr. Chartrand is just one of literally hundreds of people from across the province that have suffered the same indignity because of our hospital overcrowding, because of underfunding by this government.

When will the Premier stop the cuts and finally invest in people’s health and dignity?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, we just did last week in a budget that that member voted against and her party voted against.

I think perhaps she’s imagining what an NDP government would look like. She might be imagining 1994, when the NDP announced a $53-million cut to 10 of Ontario’s psychiatric hospitals, representing a 17% cut in those hospitals. Or she might be remembering the last time that they were in government, when they delisted 10% of all the drugs that were provided to Ontarians. By the way, more drugs were delisted by that government than are in their meagre proposal to add 125 essential drugs in their so-called pharmacare plan, Mr. Speaker. They closed 24% of the acute hospital beds in the province.

They closed, as I mentioned, 13% of the mental health beds, and they reduced hospital funding in, thankfully, their last year as government.

WSIB hearing aid program

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is to the Minister of Labour. It is Injured Workers’ Day. This past January, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board made significant changes to its hearing aid program without properly consulting audiologists and WSIB recipients. They have now hand-picked only three suppliers. As a result of these changes, workers across the province now have fewer options, which is negatively impacting their quality of life.

Speaker, as a result of on-the-job hearing loss, tens of thousands of workers now require hearing devices in order to maintain a baseline quality of life. The new system does not save money, but outcomes for WSIB recipients are much worse. How can the minister defend a policy change where no one benefits?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you very much to the honourable member for what is a very, very important question and one that I turned my attention to because of the same concerns that were being addressed.

At the Ministry of Labour and the WSIB, we’re committed to making sure we treat injured workers with the dignity, respect and services that they need and deserve.

We all know how important it is that Ontario workers who are dealing with the challenges of work-related hearing loss receive the highest-quality services and the highest-quality equipment.

I was made aware of some of the concerns that injured workers, and the audiologists themselves, have with some of the recent changes. I’ve personally been in touch with the WSIB on this issue. I’m confident that we can find a way to work our way through this, with the new changes, to make sure we serve injured workers in this province—who, through no fault of their own, find themselves dealing with the challenges of hearing loss—with the respect and the dignity they do deserve.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: Again to the Minister of Labour: I know the WSIB claims that there is an exemption process, but we’ve heard of cases where patients’ requests are being unfairly delayed, if approval comes at all. Moreover, the price cap on hearing aid devices remains the same, so the cost to the system is unchanged.

Again, it begs the question: Why was this change implemented in the first place? A hearing aid is not a one-size-fits-all. Choosing the right hearing aid is a choice for the patients and their hearing health care professionals. That decision should be left to them when there is no cost difference.

Will the Minister of Labour commit to ensuring that the WSIB reverses these flawed changes, so that workers can choose the device that suits them best?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Once again, my thanks to the member for the supplementary.

Let me tell you, Speaker, after the discussion I’ve had with the WSIB, the WSIB is working very closely with the hearing aid manufacturers themselves, the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, and clinics across Ontario.

The workers themselves deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have a smooth transition that goes along with that. I’m continuing to monitor the situation, continuing to ensure that injured workers are provided with the necessary resources. Whether they have exceptional needs or complex needs, we can deal with these.

But I’ll tell you, Speaker, that to take lessons from this party on the treatment of injured workers and the way they’re approaching what we’re trying to do about helping workers in Ontario—I would love to see them support increases to the minimum wage for the lowest-income workers in the province of Ontario, who face challenges on a daily basis paying the rent, buying clothes for their kids—ordinary expenses. Too much, too soon—

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

Interjections.

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

New question.

Health care funding

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Premier. Premier, I want to tell you the story of Richard and Theresa Madore, from Timmins. Richard, unfortunately, suffered a stroke some time ago, and was treated at the Timmins and District Hospital, doing their very best. What happens? The budget gets cut, and they get rid of physiotherapy.

Richard loses his physiotherapy and goes home. There are not enough services by CCAC to allow him to live at home alone, so his wife has to quit her job in order to care for him, because he can’t be left alone for long, long periods of time.

What makes matters even worse is he’s 64 years old. He has no drug plan. He needs medication in order to deal with his medical condition.

He gives me a call and he says, “Why is it that Kathleen Wynne invented a drug plan that doesn’t allow me, a person who is 64 years old, to get the medication that I need?”

So my question to you is this: Why did you leave people like Richard Madore out of the drug plan when, clearly, people who are 64, suffering from a stroke, need to have their medication costs covered, just like the NDP proposed?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Just to remind the member: to the Chair, please, and we use titles and riding names.

Premier?

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

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Obviously, when any of us hear stories like this, we’re moved and concerned. It’s important that all Ontarians have the supports that they need at those moments, those times, when they truly need that support.

We have a strong hospital system. We’re increasing the budget this year of Timmins hospital, to help it provide those highest-quality services. Our CCACs are going through transitions now by merging with our LHINs, so we can bring that care closer together and push the services to the front line, where they truly do benefit patients.

When it comes to drugs, and I’m happy to talk about it in the supplementary, we make every effort to provide drugs to those who do need them through a variety of programs, including Trillium, Ontario Works, ODSP and our seniors’ program. I’ll talk about that more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: You had a choice. Your government had a choice to be able to cover people like Richard and you chose not to. Not that people under 24 don’t need medication as well, but we know the vast majority of people who use medication are over 25 and under 65, and they’re not covered.

Yes, the Trillium drug plan is there, but they have to copay. He has no pension. She had to quit her job in order to be able to stay with him. So they have hardly the income to even pay the copay.

My question, again, to you, is very simply this: Why did you exclude people like Richard Madore, who’s 64 years old, from being able to get access to the medication they need to have some quality of life as they go through their illnesses?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: It is true, Mr. Speaker: if you’re one of the Ontarians who are lucky enough to be prescribed one of the 3%—less than 3%—of drugs that are publicly available in this province. That’s their proposal. If you’re lucky enough that the drug you’ve been prescribed by your health care provider—and God knows, we would not want to limit the ability of physicians and nurse practitioners to prescribe what they believe is the best medication. If you’re lucky enough to have one of those 125 out of the more than 4,400 drugs—that’s their proposal. But the vast majority of Ontarians would not fall into that category.

I know it irks the member and the party opposite when we have people like Steve Morgan, who stood up with the leader of the third party when they proposed their pharmacare program, who said bravo about ours. He said, “When we write the histories of pharmacare in Canada this will be seen as the time when a clear principle was laid down by” this government.

Economic development

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Growth. Minister, we always hear you talking about how Ontario’s economy is in a position of strength. We’ve been leading the G7 in growth for the past three years and have the lowest unemployment rate in 16 years. You’re right: We’re doing well today, and Ontario is incredibly competitive. This government has also made efforts to cut red tape by removing 80,000 unnecessary regulations and hosting sector round tables.

But Minister, that’s no guarantee we’ll be doing well tomorrow. We’re part of an aggressively competitive global economy. What is this government doing to ensure our businesses remain competitive and to make Ontario the easiest place in North America to do business tomorrow?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The member is absolutely right: We’ve done a lot to make Ontario one of the easiest places in the world in which to do business. But there’s still more that we can do, and we’re very ambitious in our vision to ensure that we continue to make Ontario the easiest place to do business in the new economy.

That’s why the minister of small business and myself, just last week, announced eight new key reforms that are going to help us get there. The first is a measure to reduce future regulatory administrative costs. For every dollar that we incur in administration costs, we’ll have to save $1.25 for any company that incurs that cost.

We’re taking measures as well to streamline compliance for small business to align our regulations with other jurisdictions, to recognize that businesses have unique compliance initiatives—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Answer.

Hon. Brad Duguid: There’s more, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll be referring the supplementary to the minister of small business, who will continue on with some of these important initiatives.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: My next question is to the minister of small business. Being someone who’s been involved in small business all my life, this ministry is very, very important.

Minister, it was recently reported that Canada’s big banks are forecasting that Ontario will lead the country in economic growth this year. We also know that Ontario has created almost 700,000 jobs since the depths of the recession; that is a recovery rate of over 250%. Minister, these are promising figures and we want to make sure that Ontario continues down this path of prosperity.

Would you please tell the Legislature what initiatives are in place to help support this economic growth in Ontario and, more specifically, what small businesses can expect in the coming months and years?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The minister responsible for small business.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the member from Northumberland–Quinte West, who knows a lot about small business. Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Brighton Speedway, a business that has been owned by the Rinaldi family for over 30 years. I’m telling you that on a sunny Saturday night, the place to be is at Brighton Speedway, because the member knows how important small businesses are to the province of Ontario.

Just this past Monday, I had the opportunity to be at the Galleria Supermarket when we announced that we’re cutting fees by $2,000 per year for independent grocers in the province of Ontario on their beer and wine sales. That is a 66% decrease in the cost of doing business in that particular sector of our economy.

And we’re doing a couple of other things. We’re looking at ways to increase government procurement for small businesses in the province of Ontario, and we’re launching a one-stop access to—

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

Water extraction

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. New regulations governing water-taking permits for water bottling companies were recently posted on the environmental registry. For years I have maintained that any decisions regarding large-scale water-taking permit applications should be science-based, to ensure that our groundwater is preserved and protected for future generations. I also believe that communities should be consulted, that their long-term growth plans should be taken into consideration and that hydrogeological studies should be peer reviewed.

Can the minister assure this House that his new regulations will ensure the long-term sustainability of our groundwater resources?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I want to thank the member for a very thoughtful question. From our ongoing conversations, I know he has a very sincere concern about this. He represents a part of the province which is water-stressed, particularly in the adjacent neighbourhoods of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, where we have groundwater being drawn off.

Our concern with these regulations is the security of groundwater resources, which are particularly challenging. Where they are being drawn off and also used by municipalities and private water bottlers, these are areas that are most water-stressed. It’s exactly for those reasons—to protect the security of Ontarians’ supply of clean, reliable water—that we are posting those.

Through the posting period and the review, the science-based teams that are looking at this and our partnership with community leaders and municipalities will do exactly what the member is asking.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Arnott: Each year, an untold number of plastic water bottles are thrown away, ending up in landfills or littering our countryside. I’ve said for years that the government needs to provide the necessary leadership and policies to encourage the recycling of more plastic water bottles.

Most Canadian provinces have a deposit or refund program that covers plastic water bottles to encourage recycling. I’ve been told that Manitoba will be launching a deposit system soon.

The government recently raised the fees charged to water bottling companies by $500 for every million litres of water drawn. I maintain that some of that money should be shared with host municipalities, and not just be a cash grab for the government. Will the minister commit to sharing some of that money with municipalities, and also put some of it towards improved efforts to recycle all plastic water bottles in province of Ontario?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Again, I’m going to rush to qualifiedly agree with the member opposite, because I know he and his party supported Bill 151 on the circular economy, the Waste-Free Ontario Act. At Ice River Springs, for example, the Gotts have 100% recycling recovery using extended producer responsibility, which is an economy-wide market mechanism that is working very well. Your party supported doing exactly that.

We are open to a discussion about alternatives, as the member suggested, but we want to make sure that we’re not creating a duplicate system. We want to allow industry and environmental groups to work with the extended producer responsibility, which the Gotts and the Ice River Springs company are familiar with as a global leader right now in resource recovery.

Should this not work, we will then have to look at alternatives, but I think we should first give a bill that was just passed months ago a chance—

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

Mental health services

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier. There is a province-wide crisis in student mental health that this government continues to ignore.

Between 2012 and 2015, Algoma University had to increase its mental health counselling budget by 133%, even as enrolment was declining.

At Georgian College, there was a 211% jump in the number of counselling appointments between 2013 and 2016.

At the University of Toronto, there was a 143% increase in the number of students receiving mental health accommodations between 2009 and 2016.

The additional $6 million this year for campus mental health, to be shared by 24 colleges and 20 universities, is a drop in the bucket compared to the explosion in the need.

Speaker, instead of one-offs, when will this Liberal government implement a comprehensive, long-term strategy, engaging both campuses and communities, to deal with this urgent crisis?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you for this question, because it is a very important one. I can tell you, as I travel the province, as I meet with student groups, the number one issue I hear about is mental health. There is no question that demand for mental health services is growing.

That’s exactly why this last budget, which the member opposite voted against, sadly, included a 60% increase in funding for campus mental health support.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Six zero.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: That is a six zero per cent increase, because we need to be there. When students are faced with challenges, when they want some help with their mental health, we need to be there.

I have to say that I did this announcement with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care at the University of Toronto, and it was extremely well received, Speaker, extremely well received.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: This week, I met with both Colleges Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities, who told me that this government’s lack of action is forcing colleges and universities to become mental health providers as well as educational institutions.

Many of the 12,000 children and youth who are waiting in Ontario for mental health services are only able to access supports once they get to post-secondary. But without adequate resources on campus, many schools feel that they have no choice but to farm out support services to private contractors, something McMaster University psychiatrist Dr. Catharine Munn says will be a disaster for students.

Speaker, we don’t expect post-secondary institutions to treat physical illness. Why does this Liberal government expect them to treat mental illness?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, let me repeat: This budget contains a 60% increase—

Ms. Catherine Fife: So little, so late.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Kitchener–Waterloo is warned.

Carry on.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: —a 60% increase in funding that is earmarked for campus mental health.

But that is not the full extent of the investments that we’re making. We’re expanding access to psychotherapy services, while developing a new province-wide, publicly funded psychotherapy program to help people, including students, living with conditions such as anxiety and depression.

We’re supporting up to nine integrated youth service hubs, to provide young people with walk-in, one-stop access to mental health, which, as the member opposite knows, is in great demand because those students are using the services at the hubs. This will be a youth-focused service for people with mental health and addiction issues, as well as other supports under one roof—and free prescription medications for people 25—

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

New question.

Infrastructure program funding

Ms. Daiene Vernile: My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. Every member of this House knows that our province is well into an unprecedented period of investment in infrastructure. We’re building and repairing critical public infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and public transit, because we’re committed to making life better in Ontario.

In my own riding of Kitchener Centre, just last week, I announced $2.3 million to repair sewers and deliver clean water. As I said at the time, sewers may not seem that glamorous, but they’re essential to creating a livable city.

We know that this multi-billion dollar infrastructure strategy is improving lives, not just in my riding but in every riding in this province, including every single one represented by members of the opposition.

Could the minister please speak to how the benefits of these investments are being felt in communities right across Ontario?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Thank you to the member for the question.

I have to start by saying thank you to the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the third party. I’m sure they are aware that not one member of their caucuses has asked me a question on infrastructure in this place since I became Minister of Infrastructure: over two full sessions.

That must be because they think we’re doing a terrific job on infrastructure in the province, because it’s hard to criticize a plan that will deliver at least $53 million in OCIF funding directly to municipalities in PC ridings in 2017, and a plan that has delivered a $474-million mental health facility in the opposition leader’s riding, as well as over $8 million in OCIF and water infrastructure funding to communities in his riding.

Speaker, our record speaks for itself, and the opposition’s deafening silence on infrastructure is worth a thousand words.

Interjections.

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

Supplementary.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Thank you to the minister for his very informative answer. So, with these facts—and, Speaker, facts do matter—perhaps the Leader of the Opposition might stop giving speeches where he’s claiming that we aren’t getting shovels in the ground. Just come to my community of Kitchener Centre and you will see plenty of shovels in the ground: the LRT project, the Shirley Avenue widening and the new GO train and GO bus storage facility. It’s important for every member of this House, and every constituent we represent, to have these facts.

We’re moving forward with our $190-billion infrastructure investment plan. Our economy is responding to the steps that we’re taking in making life easier and more affordable. Our unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 16 years, and we’ve added 700,000 net new jobs since the height of the recession.

Could the minister please share more facts on how he is helping to build Ontario up?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I’m glad to share some important facts about our infrastructure investments.

Here’s a fact for the leader of the third party: Our government has procured four major health care projects in Hamilton, worth almost a billion dollars. All four used the AFP procurement model the NDP detests so much. And of those four, all were delivered on budget and all but one were delivered on time.

Another fact: Hamilton is receiving $1 billion for its LRT and up to $33 million this year for water and waste water infrastructure, and our current budget added $30 billion more for critical infrastructure.

Both leaders opposite voted against enhanced quality of life for all Ontarians by opposing our budget. So the next time those two leaders go to the ballot box, they should take a good, hard look in the mirror and then vote for Kathleen Wynne.

Personal support workers

Mr. Bill Walker: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Back in December 2016, the minister received a proposal from the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association requesting the right to become the provincial governing body of PSWs. The minister will know that there are many more PSWs in the health care system today than ever before. This means there’s a greater need and role for our hard-working PSWs to match the increased need for home and community care. It also means there’s a big need for proper oversight by a governing body to oversee the needs of PSWs and their clients.

The minister purports to be supportive of a health care system that protects all patients and health care providers. Therefore, can he tell this House when we can expect a response or action regarding this proposal?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the government investments in our personal support workers. I have to say I have the greatest respect for the thousands upon thousands of personal support workers who work so hard, day and night, and often on very short notice.

When you talk to people who are receiving care from them, wherever that might be—it might be in a long-term-care facility; it might be in their home—I think, alongside nurses, the individuals, the type of health care worker, that are most highly respected by individuals and the ones that they develop that strong, respectful, and at times challenging relationship with are our PSWs. So we’ve made investments where we’ve dramatically increased the minimum wage here in Ontario; now $16.50 is the minimum. It reflects the talents that they bring.

But we’re doing much more with regard to our PSWs, and I’ll talk about that in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bill Walker: Perhaps the minister should look at the people in the audience who are here who are PSWs. They were shaking their heads no. I remind the minister that his government already failed just a year ago, when they opened and closed the PSW registry, a failure that cost Ontarians over $5 million.

With an increasingly aging population and our health care services being rationed, it’s imperative that he takes action and gets this right. The OPSWA’s proposal is comprehensive and outlines the importance of safety, accountability, legitimacy, trust and oversight, things you claim your government upholds. Mr. Speaker, the minister’s response acknowledges the important and expanding roles of our PSWs and our health care system, but will he now agree to give them their right to have a say in the future of their profession?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: We are continuing to work on the future of the PSW registry. It is true that I made the decision to close the previous registry in 2016, because I had respect for the profession and I wanted to make sure the registry was a powerful tool for PSWs to gain employment, for employers to find employees and for individuals that rely on PSWs to get that support. We’re working hard on that.

We’ve also created a standardized curriculum for PSWs. We’ve got a $10-million annual fund for training for PSWs who want to advance their training further. We contributed an additional $100 million this year alone to enhance support to home care clients. That translates into 1.3 million more hours of personal support care in home care. These are the kinds of investments that we’re making to this important profession.

Indigenous education

Ms. Sarah Campbell: To the Premier: Josiah Begg, 14 years old, was found dead in the McIntyre River in Thunder Bay on May 18. Tammy Keeash, 17 years old, was found dead in the McIntyre River less than two weeks earlier. Stacey DeBungee, 41, was found dead in the river in 2015.

Three more deaths to add to the seven unexplained deaths of young First Nations people in the river in the last decade, there to pursue public education and health care they can’t get in their home communities—I named those seven students as well, and called on this government to investigate what happened to them.

A year ago, the coroner’s inquest made a list of recommendations, including for this Liberal government. What has been done?

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

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: I thank the member opposite for that question. As I said to Grand Chief Fiddler and Chief Leonard yesterday on behalf of all of us, our condolences for the loss of life that has been taking place.

Certainly, as the minister responsible, I want to make sure—I would say that on this side of the House we really would like to address the situation and we are addressing the situation, Mr. Speaker. We are completely committed to working with our First Nation partners. We value the positive relationship we have with indigenous communities across our province.

At this point, the member fully knows there is a component where, because of the ongoing reviews that are taking place, I am unable to answer some details. But I have full confidence in the OCPC—the Ontario Civilian Police Commission—and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, who will conduct a thorough and fair review.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sarah Campbell: To clarify: My question is about action and what this Liberal government has done. In fact, the jury in the coroner’s inquest recommended that all levels of government, including this Liberal government, acknowledge that, “Without the improvement of conditions in First Nations reserve communities, a gap in education outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous students will remain; and that, where jurisdictional divisions between governments threaten to delay services—such as a quality of on-reserve education or funding for First Nations children—the government of first contact should provide the services or funding without delay.

So I ask again: Without excuses, without passing the buck, what has this government done to act on the recommendations into the ongoing deaths in Thunder Bay?

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Hon. David Zimmer: The question is a fair one, it’s an important one. So much of what happens to indigenous youth here in Ontario, and particularly with respect to your question in northwestern Ontario, revolves around the issue of education. Education is a responsibility that the federal government and the provincial government share.

We are working with the federal government to facilitate ways in which those children who are sent from, for instance, the northern, remote communities to the southern communities to complete their high school can find that education in southern Ontario in a cultural environment and in a protected environment. Many of the youth who come from northern Ontario, the remotes, are 13 or 14; they find themselves in very difficult circumstances in Thunder Bay, in the largest cities. We are working to provide a situation in Thunder Bay where they can achieve their—

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

Hydro rates

Mr. Arthur Potts: My question is to the Minister of Energy. This week, I’m so delighted to say, we all know that we passed legislation with the government’s fair hydro plan, which will lower electricity bills by 25% on average across the province. This change is going to result in significant and much-needed relief for every household in Ontario. I know that my constituents in Beaches–East York are looking forward to their discounted hydro bills in the coming months.

However, there are other elements of the government’s plan that provide additional supports, particularly to communities that need it the most. Many low-income Ontarians are taking advantage of the Ontario Electricity Support Program, which provides an on-bill subsidy to those qualifying for the program. I understand that the fair hydro plan will be expanding on this program.

Speaker, would the minister please provide the House with more details on how the OESP is being expanded for the benefit of low-income families and individuals across the province?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’d like to thank the member for the question and, of course, for his hard work on this file for his constituents in Beaches–East York as well.

Unlike the opposition parties, our government has made support for vulnerable communities a central pillar of our plan. The official opposition have no plan. The third party forgot to talk about vulnerable Ontarians in their energy plan. We didn’t. We’ll use existing funds through the Ontario Energy Board, which they already have, to expand the OESP, based on our direction.

The on-bill rebates offered to recipients have increased by 50% with the maximum credit now $900 a year, and a special credit for those with unique electricity needs—they can see that credit up to $1,300. The expanded program not only offers higher credits but is also accessible to more people because we have increased eligibility for the program. We heard, we acted and we listened.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Arthur Potts: Thank you to the minister for the incredible work that he is doing to make electricity affordable for all Ontarians.

On this side of the House, we were so thrilled to see that bill pass. I know that Ontarians are asking the opposition on the other side of the House, “What were they thinking? How could they be voting against lowering people’s electricity bills?”

The OESP, however, provides important supports to low-income households in my community, and I’m proud that our government is demonstrating our commitment by helping these people in expanding the program. But expansion of the OESP is not the only social initiative that is being taken in the fair hydro plan, because while all taxpayers in the province will receive the savings of 25% on average, there are other programs which would support savings of upwards of 40% and 50% for certain customers who qualify.

Speaker, would the minister please explain to this House what these other programs are and how they will help provide relief on electricity costs?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I want to thank the member for that follow-up. One of the other programs that would be expanded under our fair hydro plan is one designed to lower delivery rates and that is called the RRRP. This program provides a subsidy that lowers distribution costs for those in the most expensive-to-serve areas of our province. That’s 800,000 families that will see a 40% to 50% reduction.

I could only assume that the opposition voted against that because that 40% to 50% reduction was too much, too soon. Just like when you’re talking about bringing forward a minimum wage that will help families in this province, that’s too much, too soon. But what about part-time workers to get paid the same as full-time workers? I know that for the official opposition: too much, too soon. Some 100,000 new child care spaces, free tuition: too much and too soon.

Hospital funding

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is for the Minister of Health. By now, the minister would be well aware of the need for new hospitals in my riding. I’ve brought this issue to the government’s attention on a number of occasions. I’ve written letters; I’ve made statements; I’ve asked questions; I’ve collected thousands of petitions. The local health integration networks in my riding have indicated that their top priority is new hospitals in Collingwood and Alliston. To date, the government has been very good at listening to our concerns, but has never really indicated its support for the new hospitals in Alliston and Collingwood.

Today’s litmus test is to see if our hospitals really do have the government’s support. Later this afternoon, all parties will debate my private member’s resolution that calls on the government to approve the planning grants requested by both hospitals. So I ask the minister: Will the government do exactly that and approve the planning grants?

Interjections.

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

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I’m honoured to have the last word in question period before the summer break, especially on such an important subject. However, I do have to say that it’s slightly ironic because a party that has consistently told the government to spend less—this is a question about investing in hospitals and spending more. And ironic, as well, of course, because we had $9 billion of new capital infrastructure in this year’s budget that was just recently passed that that member and that party voted against, notwithstanding that the Collingwood and the Stevenson hospitals are important hospitals to their communities and important hospitals to this government.

They have both submitted pre-capital submissions; they’ve now moved on, with the ministry’s support and the LHINs’ support, to stage 1. We continue to move forward, and I think it is positive that we continue to work collaboratively as we move through, as all hospitals in this province do, the various processes and stages required.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound on a point of order.

Mr. Bill Walker: I’d like to welcome Kinni Burgess and Sabrina Kreiner, parents of students from Peninsula Shores District School, joining our students here.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I rise on a point of order: I’d like to welcome a group from my riding from the Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services, Kingston Road. A group of 70 of them are here today with Indira Basu.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would like to welcome and thank the father of one of our pages, Claire Le Donne. Dino Le Donne has had three pages here at Queen’s Park. Claire is the youngest, so I’m sure this will be his last visit. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and thank you for everything that you’ve done.

Mr. Jack MacLaren: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two people in the gallery as guests: Queenie Yu and Tanya Granic Allen from Parents as First Educators.

Legislative pages

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Speaking of introducing pages and pages’ parents, I have some sad news. Please allow me to let you know that regrettably this is the last day for our pages. I know you want to express your thanks for the wonderful work they’ve done.

Applause.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Extend the sitting another week. I want to stay.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Absolutely not.

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We do have business to do, though. We have a deferred vote on government notice of motion number 34, relating to allocation of time on Bill 134,

An Act to implement 2017 Budget measures.

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

The division bells rang from 1150 to 1155.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On May 31, 2017, Mr. Sousa moved government notice of motion number 34, relating to allocation of time on Bill 134,

An Act to implement 2017 Budget measures.

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

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Anderson, Granville

Baker, Yvan

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Dhillon, Vic

Dickson, Joe

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fraser, John

Hoggarth, Ann

Hoskins, Eric

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Kiwala, Sophie

Lalonde, Marie-France

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Martins, Cristina

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Moridi, Reza

Murray, Glen R.

Naidoo-Harris, Indira

Naqvi, Yasir

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sousa, Charles

Takhar, Harinder S.

Thibeault, Glenn

Vernile, Daiene

Wong, Soo

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Campbell, Sarah

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Fedeli, Victor

Fife, Catherine

French, Jennifer K.

Gélinas, France

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Michael

Hatfield, Percy

MacLaren, Jack

MacLeod, Lisa

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Paul

Munro, Julia

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pettapiece, Randy

Sattler, Peggy

Smith, Todd

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Thompson, Lisa M.

Vanthof, John

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 52; the nays are 34.

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

Motion agreed to.

Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur le soutien à l’enfance, à la jeunesse et à la famille

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 89,

An Act to enact the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, to amend and repeal the Child and Family Services Act and to make related amendments to other Acts / Projet de loi 89, Loi édictant la Loi de 2017 sur les services à l’enfance, à la jeunesse et à la famille, modifiant et abrogeant la

Loi sur les services à l’enfance et à la famille et apportant des modifications connexes à d’autres lois.

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

The division bells rang from 1158 to 1159.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On May 31, 2017, Mr. Del Duca moved third reading of Bill 89,

An Act to enact the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, to amend and repeal the Child and Family Services Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

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

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Anderson, Granville

Baker, Yvan

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bisson, Gilles

Bradley, James J.

Campbell, Sarah

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Dhillon, Vic

Dickson, Joe

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Fife, Catherine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fraser, John

French, Jennifer K.

Gélinas, France

Hatfield, Percy

Hoggarth, Ann

Hoskins, Eric

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Kiwala, Sophie

Lalonde, Marie-France

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Martins, Cristina

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Miller, Paul

Moridi, Reza

Murray, Glen R.

Naidoo-Harris, Indira

Naqvi, Yasir

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sattler, Peggy

Sousa, Charles

Tabuns, Peter

Takhar, Harinder S.

Taylor, Monique

Thibeault, Glenn

Vanthof, John

Vernile, Daiene

Wong, Soo

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Barrett, Toby

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Fedeli, Victor

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Michael

MacLaren, Jack

MacLeod, Lisa

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McNaughton, Monte

Munro, Julia

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pettapiece, Randy

Smith, Todd

Thompson, Lisa M.

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 63; the nays are 23.

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

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

Third reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you, Speaker. Her Honour awaits.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario entered the chamber of the Legislative Assembly and took her seat upon the throne.

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell (Lieutenant Governor): Pray be seated.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): May it please Your Honour, the Legislative Assembly of the province has, at its present meetings thereof, passed certain bills to which, in the name of and on behalf of the said Legislative Assembly, I respectfully request Your Honour’s assent.

The Deputy Clerk (Mr. Trevor Day): The following are the titles of the bills to which Your Honour’s assent is prayed:

An Act to enact the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, to amend and repeal the Child and Family Services Act and to make related amendments to other Acts / Loi édictant la Loi de 2017 sur les services à l’enfance, à la jeunesse et à la famille, modifiant et abrogeant la

Loi sur les services à l’enfance et à la famille et apportant des modifications connexes à d’autres lois.

An Act to provide for Anti-Racism Measures / Loi prévoyant des mesures contre le racisme.

An Act to enact the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017 and to make amendments to the Electricity Act, 1998 and the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 / Loi édictant la Loi de 2017 sur le Plan ontarien pour des frais d’électricité équitables et modifiant la Loi de 1998 sur l’électricité et la Loi de 1998 sur la Commission de l’énergie de l’Ontario.

An Act to revive 2053266 Ontario Inc.

An Act to revive Prosper Legal Management Inc.

An Act to revive 1049491 Ontario Inc.

An Act to revive 564539 Ontario Limited.

An Act to revive 1476283 Ontario Limited.

An Act to revive Braiseryy Chicken Ltd.

An Act to revive Roy Wilson Real Estate Inc.

An Act respecting The East York Foundation.

An Act to revive Sierra Cleaning Solutions Inc.

An Act to revive St. Pola Drugs Inc.

An Act to revive SKAS Auto Services Inc.

An Act to revive Millar Wajer Holdings Inc.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): In Her Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor doth assent to these bills.

Au nom de Sa Majesté, Son Honneur la lieutenante-gouverneure sanctionne ces projets de loi.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I just wanted you to sit down.

Pray allow me one comment. Be safe. Enjoy your family. Enjoy the break, although the break is not just from here. You work hard. You work very hard on behalf of the people of Ontario, and I know you deserve credit for all the work that you do for those people you represent. I thank you for the honour of allowing me to be your Speaker.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): There are no further deferred votes. Therefore, this House stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1210 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to welcome to the Ontario Legislature some developmental service support workers who are here for the changing workplaces act and for a private member’s bill I’ll be putting in this afternoon. We have Sandy Green, Jaqueline Haynes and Jennifer Biro. Thank you very much for being here.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I’d like to introduce a number of people who are here with us today. We’ve got, from UFCW, Tim Deelstra; from SEIU, Michael Spitale, Fatima Perez, Cecilia Platerooe, Sandy Green and Jennifer Biro. Thank you for joining us at Queen’s Park.

Speaker, please welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I, too, have a number of people to introduce here at Queen’s Park this afternoon. From the Ontario Federation of Labour, Rob Halpin and Melisa Bayon; from the UFCW, Mark Hennessy and Joe Pereira, who is no stranger to my constituency office; and from the SEIU, Hilario Mario Manzano, Tom Galivan and Jaqueline Haynes. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Members’ Statements

Pension plans

Mrs. Julia Munro: It is my pleasure to rise today to make a brief comment on the budget. I can’t say it’s very often that I rise to congratulate the government on what they have done, but today I want to mark on the record my appreciation of the inclusion of the pooled registered pension plan in this most recent budget.

As many of you will remember, I introduced and debated a private member’s bill on this very topic back in 2014. At the time, I argued, and still believe, that the PRPP is a flexible tool for retirement savings that presents an opportunity for those without a workplace pension plan. I am glad to see that this government recognizes the importance of this savings vehicle, and it is my hope that people from across Ontario will be able to build a more secure future with this tool at their disposal.

As a private member in the opposition, it is not often that one has the pleasure of seeing their ideas translated into legislation. While we all represent different parties come election time, the most important function we, as elected officials, have is to serve those who place their trust in us. I am pleased that this issue transcends partisan lines and will provide opportunity for those without a workplace pension to save for a more secure retirement.

Government’s record

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: I got elected in 2011 and, at that time, there were three pressing issues in the riding. Concerns were around emergency services at the hospital, there were concerns around auto insurance rates and there were concerns around temporary job agencies and the precarious employment that flows from that.

After six years, this government has done nothing to address these issues. On each issue this government has failed. Whether it’s emergency wait times, people continue to face problems not just in my riding but across this province.

Auto insurance: On this file, this government continues to prefer to prioritize the profits of insurance companies over the protection of the people of this province. They’ve seen their protection slashed time and time again, putting more profits in the pockets of insurance companies.

With precarious employment, on this issue of grave importance, particularly when it comes to racialized people, women and newcomers to this country, we see that this government has allowed temporary job agencies to exploit workers in this province. They continue to work in conditions which are substandard, and they continue to face the scenario where sometimes as much as half of their pay is clawed back by the agency.

This is unacceptable. We deserve better. The people of this province need better, and New Democrats are the only ones who will deliver it for the people.

Portuguese History and Heritage Month

Mrs. Cristina Martins: As a proud Portuguese Canadian, I’m honoured to rise today to speak about Portuguese History and Heritage Month in Ontario and about Portugal Day, or, as it is known throughout the Portuguese diaspora, Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas.

June 10 has been enshrined as Portugal Day in memory of the great Portuguese poet Luís de Camões and his famous epic poems, the Lusiads. Camões died on June 10, 1580.

Throughout the month of June, cultural performances, history seminars, poetry readings, street parades and many other activities will take place all across Ontario to celebrate and promote the richness of the history and traditions of the many regions of Portugal. These celebrations help to educate the Portuguese Canadian youth of their origins, as well as other communities across Ontario about the Portuguese culture and about the many economic, political and social contributions that the Portuguese Canadian community has made and continues to make to our province.

As the member of provincial Parliament for Davenport and a proud member of the Portuguese community, I’m privileged to represent the riding with the largest Portuguese Canadian community in Ontario and, in fact, in all of Canada.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone about the annual Portugal Day parade organized annually by the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario, this year being held on Saturday, June 10. I hope to see you there. Obrigado, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The same to you.

Chapman House

Mr. Bill Walker: I rise to share good news today. Last Friday, I was honoured to join 1,000 supporters from my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound at the grand opening of the new 18,500-square-foot Chapman House hospice, located in Owen Sound.

The hospice is a community project that has been years in the making and involved many supporters of compassionate end-of-life palliative care. The Chapman family and Chapman’s Ice Cream of Markdale generously donated $1 million towards this important project. Members of the Chapman family were among the people who attended Friday’s ribbon-cutting event.

Hospice executive director Scott Lovell praises everyone at last week’s celebration, recognizing, “We’ve done really well. We’re really proud of the way the community has supported this project.” But he did remind us that we’ve got a bit more to go, with another $289,000 left to be raised in our community—a little plug in case people are listening.

The hospice is a community-owned, community-operated facility and a building project that has been entirely funded by private funds, with operating funds provided by the provincial government.

Ashley Chapman, the famous ice cream company’s vice-president, also announced that a large number of their staff have donated and will continue to donate from their paycheques to support the ongoing operation of Chapman House and, furthermore, that Chapman’s would also be donating a lifetime supply of ice cream to the hospice so visitors and others can always enjoy a frozen treat.

About 360 patients from across Grey-Bruce have stayed at the hospice since it opened in its temporary location at Seasons Retirement Communities in May 2013, with construction starting in April 2016. The first patients officially arrived today.

I invite the House to join me in congratulating the good work of hospice staff, board members and volunteers, as well as everyone who financially supported the project to bring to the people of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and area compassionate care in a setting that feels like home.

Public transit

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I rise to address the whole question of a relief line for the Bloor-Danforth subway. People may be well aware that that subway is facing a crisis.

In my riding, at Pape subway station, people have to wait two or three trains at rush hour to get on a train. They are packed.

People who are coming down from Don Mills on buses to Pape and trying to get on the subway can’t get on. They’re stranded on the platforms.

When people get to Yonge Street, the platforms are packed there. They have to wait multiple trains to get on the subway.

People in this city depend on the strong, reliable, accessible operation of that subway system. The reality is that the city is planning a relief line that will go through Pape subway station and make a huge difference to the operation of the system, but no funds have been allocated from the province to do this work. As much as the Premier talks about the huge amount that’s going to be allocated with infrastructure money, this project does not have a budget allocation.

The city of Toronto has called for an allocation of funds so that this critical piece of infrastructure can get built. I support that call. If we’re going to avoid congestion in this city, if we’re going to deal with pollution and with climate change, we have to have a transit system that works, and this is a key piece to ensure that it does work.

Girls Can Fly!

Ms. Daiene Vernile: The annual Girls Can Fly! event at the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre highlights something that is very near and dear to my heart, and that’s the promotion of women in STEM careers: science, technology, engineering, and math. It’s an open invitation to girls who are eight to 18 to come out and tour the facility, meet women in aviation and even get a free flight in a small airplane or a helicopter.

Speaker, when you look at how many women actually work in Canada’s aviation industry today, the numbers are quite dismal—only 5%. While women have made great strides in other streams, in aviation there’s still a very long way to go. That’s what Girls Can Fly! is all about—offering girls the opportunity to get inspired by experiencing first-hand the possibilities.

I’m pleased to say that over 240 girls and teens came out to the airport to take

part in the daylong event. One of the speakers, Anne Hoffman, works in the control tower at Pearson airport. She’s only one of two women controllers on a team of 43. Another speaker, Contessa Bishop, is a Q400 airplane captain. And Siobhan O’Hanlon is a 22-year-old first officer at Sunwing airlines and a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s geography and aviation program.

Speaker, these women are helping to inspire the next generation of females in flight—something that might seem out of reach for many young girls. But as Amelia Earhart once said, “Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn’t be done.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll remember that.

Internet access

Mr. Lorne Coe: Access to the Internet is becoming increasingly tied to the economic development of local communities. In order to attract investments, jobs, families and build a knowledge-based economy, a community must be able to provide fast and affordable Internet connections.

That’s why I welcome Flashfibr’s $400-million investment in Durham region to upgrade the aging Internet infrastructure. This will allow for affordable and fast fibre optic Internet, television, phone and IT products and services, beginning with the city of Oshawa in the summer of 2017.

This fits with the region of Durham’s strategic vision to fuel economic growth and attract new business. This new IT infrastructure will connect the region’s many thriving economic sectors, including education, manufacturing and health care. Building on these sectors strengthens the economy, leading to job growth, and attracts families to the area who want to live, work and play in Durham region’s communities.

Community Justice Initiatives

Ms. Catherine Fife: Waterloo region is fortunate to be home to Community Justice Initiatives, a groundbreaking, non-profit organization that teaches us about the principles of restorative justice and helps all people who are impacted by crimes and violence heal in a more holistic and meaningful way.

I recently attended a Fresh Start Creations donation ceremony at Grand Valley Institution, a federal penitentiary in Kitchener. Fresh Start Creations is a grassroots initiative that started when the women of GVI decided that they wanted to give back to society. The cards are created with volunteers from CJI and sold in our community, with proceeds donated by the women to a charity of their choice. On the night that I was there, the women at the maximum-security unit donated $500 to Anselma House, a non-profit that supports women and children who are fleeing abusive environments.

I promised the women I met at GVI that I would take their kindness and resiliency with me back to Queen’s Park and share what I’ve learned about the importance of restorative justice with my colleagues. I also promised them that we would start selling their beautiful cards at the Legislative Assembly gift shop. The cards are now for sale, so I encourage you all to stop by the gift shop and support the creative work that the women at GVI are doing to change their own lives and perspectives about incarcerated women.

Mr. Speaker, everyone deserves a chance to give back. And quite honestly, these women at GVI are inspirational.

Bruce Power

Mr. John Fraser: I stand today to recognize Bruce Power, as they are the first and only Canadian company to win the Top Innovative Practice Award. The Top Innovative Practice Awards are the nuclear industry’s highest recognition of excellence, bestowed by the Nuclear Energy Assembly this year in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Since 1994, these awards have recognized creative new ideas and techniques developed by the nuclear industry’s talented workforce. They have a direct impact on improving the safety and reliability of the nuclear energy industry around the world.

The TIP Award was given to Bruce Power for their production of Cobalt-60 with an Ottawa-based company, Nordion. Cobalt-60 sterilizes more than 40% of the world’s single-use medical devices such as sutures, gloves and syringes, and saves countless lives by treating cancer patients. Cobalt-60 is also used worldwide for alternative treatments to traditional brain surgery and radiation therapy for the treatment of complex brain conditions through a specialized, non-invasive knife.

Speaker, this is really a great Ontario news story and a great Canadian news story. This partnership provides the balance of the world’s Cobalt-60, which is critical not just for medical but for food needs as well.

I’m proud to stand today and recognize Bruce Power.

Introduction of Bills

Real Rent Control Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur le contrôle réel des loyers

Mr. Tabuns moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 144,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 / Projet de loi 144, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: This bill is meant to address the many problems facing tenants that have not been addressed by the Liberals in their rent control bills that have come forward.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): One can still be warned or even named in the afternoon.

The member is reminded that explanatory notes are supposed to be used