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May 9, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-May-09 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 9 May 2006 Mardi 9 mai 2006

WEARING OF RIBBONS

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HOSPITAL FUNDING

INTERNATIONAL

WALK TO SCHOOL AWARDS

NURSES

EAST YORK STRATEGY

ENERGY CONSERVATION

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONIS

POLICE SERVICE AWARDS

CHILDREN'S MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES

NURSES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT ACT

(SEVERANCE ALLOWANCE), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE

(ALLOCATION DE DÉPART)

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

ENDANGERED SPECIES /

ESPÈCES MENACÉES

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

ATHLETES /

LES ATHLÈTES

ENDANGERED SPECIES

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

ENDANGERED SPECIES

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE.

CANCER TREATMENT

MEMBER FOR PARKDALE-HIGH PARK

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

NURSES

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

SCHOOL SAFETY

TENANT PROTECTION

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

COLLÈGE BORÉAL

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

BIOSOLID MANAGEMENT

PENSION PLANS

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

RECYCLING

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

COMMUNITY MEDIATION

GASOLINE PRICES

CAFETERIA FOOD GUIDELINES

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

LONG-TERM CARE

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

ABORTION

BORDER SECURITY

HIGHWAY 35

ORDERS OF THE DAY

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA LOCATION

À USAGE D'HABITATION

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

WEARING OF RIBBONS

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask for unanimous consent to allow members to wear this green ribbon, which

marks Children's Mental Health Week 2006.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Miller has asked for unanimous consent to wear the green ribbon for Children's Mental Health Week 2006.

Agreed? Agreed.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): Last Thursday the Minister of Health came to Markdale hospital with an approval to proceed with the

planning and design for a new hospital. That approval also came with $3 million, and on behalf of the residents of the area, Jim Wilson and myself, I would like to say thank you.

While we recognize that this is just another step in the process, it will certainly give all the hard-working individuals, who have raised $13 million so far,

some added incentive. However, I want to say to the minister and this government, don't let this fall off your radar.

It is a unique design. The proposed new hospital will be connected to Grey Gables, a country home for seniors, incorporating a new medical clinic and a community

health care centre.

The editorial in today's Owen Sound Sun Times captures this well: "This does not guarantee a new hospital will be a reality in Markdale. But it is a huge step

forward in a province that isn't winning any awards for the investments it is making in rural Ontario." In fact, a recent poll found that voters believe rural Ontario is being neglected by this

Liberal government and that it is biased toward cities. I challenge the minister and this government to prove that wrong and get a shovel in the ground in Markdale.

I urge other cabinet ministers to follow Minister Smitherman's example and include opposition members of a riding to attend this type of announcement. We are

either not informed or are notified far too late to change our schedules and attend events in our ridings.

For four years, the community and hospital officials have waited and worked for a new hospital. The demand from new residents and visitors to the area makes it

imperative that a new facility be built. Without it, there is no ability to sustain primary care services for Centre Grey.

INTERNATIONAL

WALK TO SCHOOL AWARDS

Mr. Vic Dhillon (Brampton West-Mississauga): I'm very pleased to announce to the House that Morton Way Public School in Brampton

West-Mississauga was selected from an inspiring list of applicants for the second International Walk to School Award. This award will be officially presented at the Melbourne Walk 21 conference in

October 2006 in Australia. Morton Way will be having its own special celebration later this month. Along with my son Robin, who attends Morton Way, and the Minister of Health Promotion, we invite

you to recognize the efforts of this school in promoting daily physical activity, community safety and cleaner air.

Their achievements are amazing and complement exactly what we as a government are striving for in health promotion through programs such as Active 2010. Morton

Way holds regular walking/wheeling Wednesdays, participates in the IWALK club, has organized parent-led walking school buses and has set a target of "25 or less" cars dropping students off at

school every day. They also accompany their Walk to School program with a walk at school program to ensure that all students have an opportunity to participate. They have increased participation in

the Walk to School program in the last six years from 40% to 90%, and it's still growing.

I'm very proud to recognize this very special achievement by a role model school in the promotion of healthy, active students.

NURSES

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I rise today to recognize the contribution of the nurses of this province. In particular, I would like to

recognize nurse practitioners who provide excellent services at the nursing stations in my riding. Nursing stations are located in the communities of Britt, Pointe au Baril, Argyle, Whitestone and

Rosseau. Moose Deer Point also has a nursing station. However, funding shortages have prevented operation of that office. In a rural area that suffers from chronic physician shortages, these

dedicated nurse practitioners offer vital health care services to both year-round and seasonal residents.

Nurse practitioners bring primary health care close to home. They provide vaccination clinics and home visits. They can also order lab tests, X-rays, mammograms

and other imaging tests. They also provide information on health promotion, injury and disease education. Nurse practitioners alleviate mounting pressure on local hospitals.

Just as importantly, these nurse practitioners are an important part of their communities. Despite funding challenges, these nursing stations continue to provide

excellent health care services to their communities. I urge the Minister of Health to consider increases to funding so that these nurse practitioners have the support they need to continue to

provide top-notch health services.

I would like to thank Carmen Broughten of Whitestone, Donna Kearney of Rosseau, Patty Riches of Pointe au Baril, Ann Palimar of Britt and Terry McDougall of

Argyle, who provide front-line health care services through these nursing stations.

EAST YORK STRATEGY

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): Last night, a group was founded called the East York Strategy. It is designed and run on the same model as

the Boston Strategy, that has proved so effective in that city. All members of the House will remember a few weeks ago, or perhaps a month ago, that Dr. Eugene Rivers came to Toronto and discussed

with community leaders, the mayor and other people how Boston got itself away from youth violence. The people of East York are very concerned about it as well, and last night they decided that they

needed a faith-based approach to reducing violence everywhere. They are also, at the same time, organizing mentorship opportunities for youth so that young people can learn from each other.

The whole thing was spearheaded by Rev. Jim Parker of Bethany Baptist church, and to his great credit there were about 100 people at the founding meeting last

night. There will be an additional meeting later this month, on May 24 at 7 o'clock at Bethany Baptist church, at Pape and Cosburn. For those who would like to get involved and would like to help

our youth to formulate a plan and to make sure that young people have an opportunity so that we can end violence everywhere, the website is eastyorkstrategy.com, or you can phone the church at

416-425-9470.

We would really welcome an opportunity for anyone at all to get involved and to help our youth stay out of trouble. Again, it's the East York Strategy.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): There are some exciting energy conservation initiatives taking place in London. Minister Cansfield and

London Hydro recently unveiled the Chill Out London appliance recycling program, which allows customers to retire their old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers at no cost and provides customers

with a rebate of $75 when they replace their unit with an Energy-Star-rated appliance. This initiative will save residents up to $175 per year in energy costs.

In addition to the Chill Out London program, the city of London, with funding support from London Hydro, undertook the municipal traffic and pedestrian signals

upgrade project. Traffic and pedestrian signals at 394 intersections, with over 11,000 bulbs, were converted from incandescent lamps to energy-efficient LED modules.

The two initiatives combined will result in energy savings of more than 10 million kilowatts per year, which is the average energy requirement of more than 1,100

homes. Also, the project will eliminate an estimated 2,790 tonnes of greenhouse emissions annually.

I want to commend the city of London and London Hydro. The McGuinty government understands that energy conservation does not mean compromising quality and can

lead to significant cost savings. Creating a culture of conservation is a priority of this government and part of the plan to keep the lights on in Ontario.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONIS

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): Another day, another broken Dalton McGuinty promise. Members will recall that Dalton McGuinty campaigned on a

promise to "let the public decide how elections work." And now what do we see in practice? Buried deep within an unrelated finances measure, a commitment to reduce the frequency of local elections

for municipal leaders and school board trustees to four years. Not only was it hidden deep inside an unrelated finance bill, but at the same time, not one single minister rose in this House during

introduction or second reading debate to defend or explain the policy -- not one single member or minister stood in this House to justify the changes.

Then, to make matters worse, they rammed the bill through with only two hours of committee hearings, limiting it so that I think only eight or so groups were

able to speak to the bill.

Dalton McGuinty said in 2004: "Elections do not belong to the party in power. They belong to all citizens. When it comes to how people elect their

representatives, the people of Ontario will have their say." Little did we know that that was limited only to members of the Dalton McGuinty cabinet and not voters across the province of

Ontario.

I see in the papers today that former finance minister Greg Sorbara -- and, I suspect, many members of the Liberal caucus -- is objecting to this measure. Please

follow what we did in our Democracy Challenge. Take

schedule H out of the bill. A stand-alone bill for province-wide public --

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

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Now the member for Markham.

POLICE SERVICE AWARDS

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): Recently I joined our Premier and more than 1,000 York region residents and business and community leaders to attend

the 14th annual York Regional Police Appreciation Night to celebrate the achievements of the region's "Proud Past and Bright Future" police officers.

That night, seven officers received police officer of the year meritorious awards for 2005. They are:

-- Constable Anthony Emanuel, who received the award for bravery in the line of duty for saving the life of a hit-and-run victim;

-- Constable Douglas Cooper, recipient of the outstanding service to the community award for devoting countless hours of his own time mentoring youth;

-- Constables James Hilton, John Loughry, James Ward and Detective Mike Slack, awarded with police officers of the year award for excellence in policing;

and

-- Constable Paul Chiang, recipient of the Herbert H. Carnegie community award for his involvement and efforts both in the community and in foreign aid

relief.

Every day we rely on the dedication and compassion of our men and women police officers. As the Premier said that evening, "These men and women do so much good

for so many."

The next time you meet an officer in the street, I encourage you to show your gratitude and support by saying thanks, for keeping our streets safe, our

communities secure and for making a difference in Ontario.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph-Wellington): I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak to you about a very important issue: children's mental health.

One in five children and youth between the ages of 13 and 17 are living with a treatable mental health problem. Left untreated, the mental health and behaviour of these children worsens. They may

become bullies. They may disrupt classrooms or drop out of school. They could develop an eating disorder. They might even abuse drugs. Worse -- far worse -- they may attempt or commit suicide.

We know that early intervention and treatment can ease the burden of the emotional and financial cost of mental illness. We also know that the funding for

children's mental health agencies had not kept pace with the increasing need for treatment. With that in mind, our government has invested an additional $38 million in children's mental health on

an annual basis since taking office. The funding went to enhancing services for children and youth with mental health needs, including the creation of 113 new programs and the expansion of 96

existing programs across the province to help communities respond to existing and emerging local needs.

Yesterday marked the beginning of Children's Mental Health Week. I would like to welcome representatives from Children's Mental Health Ontario to the Legislature

today. They are doing a tremendous job raising awareness around children's mental health.

NURSES

Ms. Deborah Matthews (London North Centre): Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the morning with Michelle Angelini, a registered nurse in

the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Joseph's health centre in London. I shadowed Michelle and her fellow nurses, including Val Rosum, the NICU director, and Marlene Ritchie, an admissions

nurse. I saw first-hand the challenges faced by our nurses, the hard work they do, and the dedication, commitment and love they bring to their jobs every day.

This work included caring for baby Carter Harris and the Vagueiro quadruplets: Maia, Haily, Cole and Sarah. I wish Christine and Paul Vagueiro the best of luck

with this quadruple handful, and all the best to Carter's mom, Raffaella Harris, too.

Although there's always much more to be done, our government has provided much-needed funding to improve the quality of health care at St. Joe's. The nurses in

the NICU are providing excellent care in what is clearly a challenging facility, and they all look forward to the completion of their future home at London Health Sciences Centre.

We are fortunate to have so many dedicated and skilled nurses like Michelle and her colleagues working in our hospitals, clinics, schools, health units and

seniors' homes throughout Ontario. I encourage all MPPs to participate in their hometown hospitals' Take Your MPP to Work Day. On Friday, I will be shadowing another nurse in my riding in the

cardiac intensive care unit at the University Hospital campus of London Health Sciences Centre.

Again, I want to thank Michelle and the NICU nurses for letting me disrupt their daily routine and for giving me a glimpse into their lives and those of their

patients.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT ACT

(SEVERANCE ALLOWANCE), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE

(ALLOCATION DE DÉPART)

Mr. Murdoch moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 113,

An Act to amend the Legislative Assembly Act with respect to severance allowances / Projet de loi 113, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'Assemblée

législative en ce qui concerne les allocations de départ.

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

The member may wish -- no?

Introduction of bills. Motions.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent

to move a motion without notice regarding Bill 56 and the standing committee on justice policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Caplan has asked for unanimous consent. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I move that in addition to its regularly scheduled meeting times, the standing committee on justice policy be authorized to

meet on Monday, May 15, after routine proceedings until 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting public hearings on Bill 56,

An Act to amend the Emergency Management Act, the Employment Standards

Act, 2000 and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

The Speaker: Mr. Caplan has moved that in addition to its regularly scheduled meeting times, the standing committee on justice policy be

authorized to meet on Monday, May 15, 2006, after routine proceedings until 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting public hearings on Bill 56,

An Act to amend the Emergency Management Act, the

Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act 1997.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

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

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

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 132. Is it the pleasure of the House that the

motion carry?

All those in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1352 to 1357.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Hardeman, Ernie

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Murdoch, Bill

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Scott, Laurie

Sterling, Norman W.

Tabuns, Peter

Tory, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 52; the nays are 19.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I rise with great pain and emotion to advise the members of this House that Min

Chen, the person accused of having murdered Cecilia Zhang, the nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped from her home in North York about two and a half years ago, pleaded guilty to second-degree

murder. I still remember attending the memorial service --

The Speaker: Order. Statements by the ministry.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

ENDANGERED SPECIES /

ESPÈCES MENACÉES

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): It gives me pleasure to rise in the House

today to announce that the Ontario government is launching a public review to update and strengthen the legislation that protects our province's species at risk and their habitats.

J'ai le grand plaisir de prendre la parole aujourd'hui pour annoncer à l'Assemblée que le gouvernement de l'Ontario vient de lancer un examen public

afin d'actualiser et de renforcer la législation qui protège les espèces en péril de la province ainsi que leurs habitats.

This is the first time since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1971 that Ontario's species-at-risk laws will undergo a comprehensive evaluation and

update. After 35 years, it's clear that the time to update this important legislation is overdue.

Ontario is home to more than 15,000 species of plants and wildlife, and together, these species and the ecosystems that support them make up our province's

amazing wealth of biodiversity. Although most of Ontario's species are stable, a growing number are not. In fact, Ontario has more species at risk than almost every other jurisdiction in Canada,

which lends some urgency to our task. Right now, 176 species of plants and wildlife in Ontario are identified as being at risk. This means that they may disappear from our province if their current

rate of decline continues.

Stronger legislation will give us the tools we need to help reverse that rate of decline and ensure that our native plants and wildlife have the habitat they

need to thrive. Stronger legislation will also support industries such as tourism that rely on healthy ecosystems as part of their business. As well, the updated legislation will provide a clear

legal framework and greater certainty for anyone wishing to pursue economic development opportunities that are environmentally sustainable.

Species populations in Ontario have declined, largely due to habitat loss, pollution and competition with invasive species. Our goal is to update and broaden

Ontario's species-at-risk legislation so that it addresses those issues and all aspects of protection and recovery.

In some ways, the job will be easier this time around because we know more about our natural world today than we did 35 years ago. Since then, there have been

significant advances in knowledge of natural science and in mapping technology that will boost our efforts to identify, monitor and conserve species and their habitats. Today, there's also a

greater overall awareness and acceptance that conserving biodiversity is essential to a healthy natural environment, healthy communities and a healthy economic future.

I would also like to point out that protection of species at risk is a key commitment under Ontario's biodiversity strategy, which was unveiled by this

government last summer, and is just one way in which that strategy supports a balance between conservation and sustainable use of land and resources.

In April, I established an advisory panel made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds with experience and expertise related to species at risk and

recovery planning. With input from the members of this advisory panel, my ministry developed proposals for a discussion paper that will be the basis for public consultation on species-at-risk

legislation.

One thing we know for certain at the outset of this review is that to be effective, species-at-risk protection and recovery efforts must be a shared

responsibility among governments, communities, organizations and individuals. That is why I'm strongly encouraging all interested members of the public, stakeholders and aboriginal peoples to take

part in the consultation process to help us determine the necessary measures for optimum protection and recovery of species at risk.

We also know that voluntary private land stewardship is essential to achieving our goals.

Nous savons aussi que la gestion écologique des terrains privés, sur une base volontaire, est essentielle au succès des mesures de protection et

de reconstitution des espèces.

A great deal is already owed to the farmers and landowners who have been volunteering for years to help with recovery programs on their land. There are also

many environmental, agricultural and community organizations that have taken on an important stewardship role to protect essential habitat and green space. The leadership and on-the-ground work of

these groups and individuals over many years have given us a strong foundation on which to build, and I am counting on their continued involvement and continued support.

Helping a species at risk to recover can be costly and complex, and the best course of action is to prevent any species from becoming at risk in the first

place through responsible land use stewardship practices. The government is encouraging group stewardship through a variety of programs, including the greenbelt, the natural spaces program,

incentives such as tax credits and conservation easements, land trusts, land acquisitions and new protected area designations.

I am very proud that the review we are launching today signals the beginning of a new era of species-at-risk protection and recovery in Ontario. Stronger

species-at-risk legislation will give us the tools we need to ensure our native plants and wildlife continue to have a home. Stronger legislation will also help us conserve more of our rich natural

heritage and provide future generations with the benefits of a healthier, more diverse and natural environment.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I rise today to draw attention to the observance of Emergency

Preparedness Week in Ontario.

Emergency Preparedness Week is a joint federal-provincial-territorial initiative to increase awareness about how being prepared for an emergency can reduce

risk and improve community safety. During the week of May 7 to 13, Emergency Management Ontario along with communities province-wide are coordinating a number of events aimed at raising awareness

of the need to prepare for emergencies.

I was pleased to join the Premier, the Minister of Energy and the Commissioner of Emergency Management this past Saturday in kicking off Emergency Preparedness

Week with the Girl Guides at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. I look forward to joining my colleagues in London for their Emergency Preparedness Week celebrations on May 10, which is tomorrow, in

Hamilton on May 13, and then in Cobourg on May 18.

Emergency Preparedness Week is about recognizing our first responders in a disaster and reminding people of what they can do to ensure that they and their

families are prepared in the event of an emergency, whether natural or man-made. Before I go any further, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our first responders for the exceptional job

they do. You put your lives on the line each time you answer a call, and for that we extend our sincerest thanks.

As a government, it is also our role to provide first responders with the tools they need to effectively respond to an emergency so that they can keep our

communities safe. While we actively encourage individuals to be prepared personally, we as a government are also working to ensure that communities and first responders serving our communities have

the tools they need to respond to all emergencies.

That's why our government has provided annual funding of $100,000 for five years to the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear units, and $300,000 to

the heavy urban search and rescue units to respond to significant emergencies. We've also provided $30 million to assist fire departments, especially in rural and small municipalities, to meet

their training needs and purchase equipment.

On Monday, I joined my colleague Gerry Phillips, the Minister of Government Services, to applaud and thank the employees of the Ontario public service who

provided assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane wreaked havoc along the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and Ontario assisted with relief efforts in the

United States. Sixty-four trained and highly skilled OPS employees were deployed to the hurricane-ravaged southern US for three-week periods. They were involved in helping the American Red Cross

with evacuee management and emergency operation centres, logistics management, food, clothing, registration and inquiry.

We're also working with communities across Ontario to ensure that they have programs in place to respond to emergencies and protect our citizens. Our recent

experiences have tested that capacity and taught us that we have to be prepared for the unforeseeable. No emergency is like the one before it, and that's why we've introduced Bill 56, which, if

passed, would give the Premier and cabinet the powers they require to deal more effectively with provincially declared emergencies.

We have also learned that the public is the first line of defence in any emergency. A little preparation on the part of individual Ontarians can go a long way

to mitigate the effects of disaster. That is the message of Emergency Preparedness Week: Prepare Now and Learn How.

At events during this week, EMO will educate the public on some of the steps they can take to prepare themselves to manage during times of disaster and so help

ease the burden of first responders. Some of these steps are as simple as preparing a 72-hour survival kit and having it on hand at all times. A survival kit would include a three-day supply of

canned food and bottled water, a flashlight and batteries, a first aid kit, blankets and sleeping bags, and other necessities.

I urge the members of this House to join us in spreading the word to their constituents during Emergency Preparedness Week that the best way to cope with an

emergency is to Prepare Now and Learn How.

ATHLETES /

LES ATHLÈTES

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): Earlier this afternoon, I was proud to welcome Ontario athletes and coaches who competed in

the Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Games in Turin, Italy, and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, to a reception with our Lieutenant Governor and Premier McGuinty. We had over 20

Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes. A number of them have stayed with us, and I'd like to welcome them to the gallery above and thank them for being here.

Applause.

Hon. Mr. Watson: We gathered to show our pride in the accomplishments of these amateur athletes. Every Ontario athlete present here today and

at the games abroad represented Canada with pride, and they should be an inspiration to us all.

The medal total for Team Canada athletes from Ontario speaks to our success: five of 24 medals captured at the Winter Olympics, four of 13 medals at the winter

Paralympics and 26 of 86 medals at the Commonwealth Games. But as Silken Laumann, who overcame injury to achieve bronze and silver medals in single sculls in 1992 and 1996, said, "It's important to

know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember. What you remember is the process -- what you learn about yourself by challenging yourself, the experiences you share with other

people, the honesty, the training demands. Those are things that nobody can take away from you whether you finish 12th or you're an Olympic champion."

At this year's Paralympics, Team Canada and its Ontario contingent experienced some exciting firsts. In the first-ever Paralympic wheelchair curling event,

skip Chris Daw of London led his team to a gold medal with a 7-4 win over Great Britain. Canada also won its first gold medal in sledge hockey, due in no small part to the efforts of the team's 12

players from Ontario. Bradley Bowden of Orton is one of the talented athletes on the sledge hockey team. Not only was he a star at the winter games in Torino this year; he is also an accomplished

wheelchair basketball athlete who won a gold medal in that sport in Athens.

Tracy Ferguson of Toronto is a highly accomplished athlete who has excelled at both the national and international levels in women's wheelchair basketball, and

decided it was time to take a new competitive challenge in athletics. At the Commonwealth Games, her first time competing at this level in athletics, Tracy gave a tremendous performance and managed

to qualify for the final in the 800-meter open wheelchair class race.

Jessica Zelinka of London, Ontario, competed in the gruelling heptathlon; that's seven events over two days. She finished with an amazing fourth, just outside

the medals.

In lawn bowling, Ryan Bester of Hanover, Ontario, who formally won the title of youngest world champion, won a bronze in the men's single. He's the first

Canadian to win a medal in that event in 72 years.

One of the most outstanding performances of these games was by rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Orlando, from Toronto. Alexandra won six gold medals and managed to

tie a Commonwealth Games record. It's not surprising that she was selected to carry Canada's flag in the closing ceremony.

J'aimerais personnellement féliciter tous les athlètes ontariens qui ont participé aux Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques ainsi qu'aux Jeux du

Commonwealth. Leurs performances inspireront certainement tous les Ontariens.

It also requires support from all levels -- coaches, volunteers and sponsors -- all who help to achieve these goals. The Ontario government, through the

Ministry of Health Promotion, is committed to amateur athletes. Last year we provided $15.6 million for amateur sport, and that includes the $2.9-million Quest for Gold program that this group of

athletes directly benefits from. The first phase of the Quest for Gold program has been a great success, providing $1.9 million directly to 892 athletes; $558,000 has been directed to providing

athletes with enhanced coaching; and $279,000 has been directed to training and competition opportunities.

Lorsque la seconde phase du programme Quest for Gold sera lancée cet été, nous nous ferons un plaisir d'offrir un appui continu aux

athlètes de haut niveau.

Actuellement, nos subventions pour les organismes provinciaux et multisports contribuent à la formation et aux programmes compétitifs de 2,2 millions

d'athlètes, entraîneurs et arbitres inscrits.

On another front, we now have in place an international amateur sport hosting policy. This policy will guide our decisions to participate in and determine the

value of the province's investment in bids to host sport events in Ontario. Members will know that international amateur sport hosting can deliver economic, community, sport and health promotion

and international exposure benefits. These events are the pinnacle of sport development globally. Not only will this policy allow us to bring international-level competition to our backyard; it

will raise the profile for and increase public support of Ontario athletes. Our recent win of the World Junior Hockey Championships for Ottawa in 2009 is an example of the potential of our

commitment to attracting and hosting international amateur competitions.

L'appui accordé à nos athlètes doit demeurer une priorité pour le gouvernement McGuinty. Les athlètes ontariens ont démontré

qu'ils avaient le potentiel, la détermination et la capacité d'exceller sous la pression intense associée à la compétition.

It is our responsibility to ensure that all athletes have the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. We must work together within our

communities and at the provincial level to develop our athletes, starting in the playground, all the way to the podium.

We are committed to supporting all of our athletes in their quest for excellence, and I congratulate each and every one of them. They inspire pride among us

all in their quest for excellence.

My thanks to his honour the Lieutenant Governor for graciously hosting our reception, and to the Premier and the many members of provincial Parliament who were

there to say thank you and how proud we are of the athletes and the others who are not able to be with us today.

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

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): It's my pleasure to respond to the statement made by the Minister of Natural Resources regarding

undertaking a review to modernize and strengthen the laws that protect the province's native species at risk and their habitats.

I think it's important, before this government embarks on new commitments, that they fulfill some of the existing commitments they've made in the past.

For example, during the election campaign the Liberals promised "to give the MNR the resources it needs to once again properly manage Ontario's fish and

wildlife." That was made in a letter -- one of many letters -- sent out by a certain Dalton McGuinty to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, I believe, saying that he would properly fund

the fish and wildlife department. That's just one of the many promises that have not been fulfilled by this government.

In fact, we learned from the OFAH in their statements during the pre-budget consultations that there is a some $25-million shortfall in funding for the fish

and wildlife division of the Ministry of Natural Resources. What the province should do is match the $60 million contributed annually to the special purposes account by fishing and hunting

activities. We've seen reductions in fish stocking and support for fish hatcheries, closures of field offices to the public, and reduced funding for park wardens and conservation officers. It's

illustrated in a letter to the editor in one of my Parry Sound-Muskoka newspapers: "Closure a Sign of Graver Financial Crisis at Ministry of Natural Resources." In the middle of it: "There has been

a dramatic decline in the ability of the MNR to fulfill its mandate. Fish hatcheries have been closed, invasive species programs cut back, fish-stocking programs gutted, the hats for hides program

given away, offices downsized or closed, conservation officers let go." That was written by Ron McIntosh of Bracebridge. That outlines the way the public feels about the activities going on in the

Ministry of Natural Resources.

I note in this proposed review that they're talking about consultation. I hope that the consultation will be more thorough than some of the consultation this

government has delivered so far. For example, on Bill 107, the Human Rights Code, I know there's a long list of groups that feel they were not consulted, despite the promises of this government to

do some consultation.

On the announcement itself, there are certain places in the province where habitat is posing a threat to species at risk; for example, the Thames River at

Springbank dam, where water quality is having an effect on species such as the bigmouth buffalo, the spotted sucker and the black redhorse.

I hope that the minister will show some real leadership and get on with doing a thorough job with this consultation.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I would like to respond to the minister's comments on Emergency Preparedness Week. I'd like to begin by

thanking all those folks who help us in any kind of a disaster, whether it's in our country or around the world -- they being emergency service workers, police, fire, paramedics, organizations like

Canadian Blood Services, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, all of our health care professionals and of course the volunteers who always come through at a time when we have emergencies.

This being Emergency Preparedness Week, I'd like to talk a little bit about the current government's actions in emergency preparedness. The first thing the

former government did following the 9/11 disaster was put in place a couple of key advisers -- some top Canadians: former RCMP Commissioner Norman Inkster, and we also had in place retired

Major-General Lewis MacKenzie. The first thing this government did when they came to power was remove the Ontario Security Council and get rid of these two outstanding Canadians, who acted as

advisers in key roles. As well, we know all too well that they unceremoniously removed a person who was a key adviser under the SARS epidemic, and that was Dr. James Young.

Bill 56 has taken three years to come, to date. They originally started with some kind of a committee bill, and now, here we are today; we still haven't passed

anything.

I'd like to read from an

article today and put it on the record, referring to Bill 56:

"`This power is awesome,' concluded Mr. Justice Archie Campbell, commissioner of an inquiry into the SARS outbreak. `It represents a profound change in our

legal structure and raises issues that must be addressed whenever a statute is proposed that so fundamentally alters our system of government by law.' He was analyzing the earlier private member's

bill, but a spokesman confirmed yesterday that his concerns apply equally to Bill 56."

What I'm trying to say here today is that this government has really done nothing to prepare for emergencies. They've waited three years, and right now we're

in a position where we have a controversial Bill 56 before the House.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): The evidence is everywhere that the Ontario Endangered Species Act is ineffective and needs to be

updated. I think we can all agree with that.

One of our concerns is that while the McGuinty government issued a white paper to begin discussions leading to legislation reform, it continued to make

decisions that negatively impacted the habitat of threatened and endangered species across this province.

New legislation, in my view and I think in the view of others, is not going to matter unless it provides for meaningful protection for the threatened and

endangered species, and protection for endangered species means protecting their habitat.

It's somewhat ironic that today, the government, on the one hand, is talking about stronger protection for endangered species while simultaneously an aggregate

quarry on the Niagara Escarpment, or on the gravel belt, I should say -- the greenbelt is what it's really called -- is destroying and threatening endangered species. Just today, a proposed quarry

inside the government's greenbelt is in the news because the quarry development will impact on the Jefferson salamander, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, as well as the

butternut tree, which is an endangered species under the provincial act. In fact, the proponent of the quarry, Neilsen aggregate, is reported as having already cut down several of those trees that

are already protected under the act. So it's quite clear from these actions that the government failing to protect endangered species, and we look forward to the debate.

And I would remind the minister that there is another endangered species, and those are workers across northern Ontario who are losing their jobs as a result

of this government's policies in places like Smooth Rock Falls.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Well, I'm just so delighted that the government is recommending 72-hour survival kits, a couple of bottles

of Evian water, some candles, perhaps, and a sleeping bag. I mean that's the sort of hokum and jingoism that governments were trying to promote in the 1950s when they were telling kids, "If you

roll up in a ball once the air raid sirens sound and cover your ears, that nuclear blast isn't going to affect you." What silliness and what an incredible lack of content to the government's

purported concern and interest in emergency management. Quite frankly, Bill 56 misses the mark by a long shot. It doesn't even come close to the bull's eye; it doesn't hit the target.

The fact is that emergency preparedness is all about what's there on the ground in communities across this province, not just big-city Ontario but small-town,

rural, northern and remote Ontario. The reality is that if you don't have adequately staffed, trained, tooled and resourced firefighting services, if you don't have adequately staffed, trained and

resourced police services, if you don't have adequately staffed, trained and properly directed paramedics, and if you don't have health professionals working in our hospitals out there in public

health and across the field in the emergency rooms, as well as in critical care, you're not prepared for emergencies. This government has abandoned those people, those front-line emergency response

personnel here in the province of Ontario.

One thousand new cops: You haven't delivered, and police services across Ontario have a hard time delivering even core services, never mind responding to an

emergency. You still haven't sat down with health professionals represented by unions like OPSEU, SEIU and ONA to negotiate a protocol as to how they're going to conduct themselves in the context

of response to an emergency, and they were there, Minister, in a way this government wasn't during the SARS crisis. You haven't ensured that the same health professionals, along with other

first-time front-line emergency responders have the tools to protect themselves, for Pete's sake. Nurses got sick out there along with other health professionals caring for victims of SARS.

You can't expect communities, with your maintenance of the downloaded tax base, to be able to afford the adequate staffing and resourcing of firefighting,

policing or these health personnel. This government, rather than providing relief for communities with their increasingly stressed tax base, continues to download and refuses to fulfill its

obligation -- Dalton McGuinty's and the Liberals' obligation -- to support firefighters, health professionals, paramedics and police services.

I suggest to you, Minister, that rather than talking about history -- the $30 million for firefighting services is gone, it's finished, it's over and it's done

nothing to upgrade the levels of staffing in communities across Ontario. Your denial of the reality of the disaster-prone areas of this province puts people at risk, and your suggestion that a

72-hour survival package -- a candle, a couple of bottles of Evian, some matches and a sleeping bag -- is an adequate or realistic or meaningful response to an emergency is foolish, silly and

downright naive.

VISITORS

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne (Don Valley West): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like to draw members' attention to the members' gallery here.

We have summer interns Anika Khanna, who's working in community safety; Delia Greco, who's working in education; Andrew Block is going to be in community safety; Damien O'Brien, working in tourism;

Ted Gotlieb is working in education; and Amber Kanwar is working in education. We welcome you all, and we're glad to have you here.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Yesterday, your minister, despite being confronted by his own leaked

cabinet document, denied that you and your government are moving the Ontario drug benefit program towards reference-based pricing. He said that competitive agreements would keep this from being the

case.

However, the leaked document also indicates that competitive agreements, or "preferred formulary listings," are common in US-style HMOs, where of course we

have bureaucrats and managers making treatment decisions instead of doctors.

Premier, is it your intention through this bill which you're now trying to ram through the House to turn the Ontario drug benefit program into a US-style HMO,

where managers and bureaucrats make decisions about health care and drugs, and not doctors?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Health.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As I had a chance yesterday to say to the honourable member, who seems to have

taken a smoking gun and shot himself in the foot with it, no. The reality is clear. But I'm very happy to spend more time today and also to visit with the honourable member, if not at Bloor and

Jarvis, then on a street corner more familiar or comfortable to him, to have a very thorough debate about this subject. Because at the heart of it, this is about improving access for Ontarians to

important pharmaceutical product and at the same time making sure that the people of the province of Ontario get appropriate respect and acknowledgement for the volumes that we purchase.

I can only say again to the honourable member, this is not reference-based pricing; we've rejected that. This is not therapeutic substitution; we've rejected

that. This very simply is making sure that in respect of the volumes that we purchase, we get very good pricing so that we can turn that into improved and more timely access for the people, the

patients of the province of Ontario.

Mr. Tory: What this is, actually, is therapeutic elimination, which is even worse than therapeutic substitution. This leaked cabinet

submission dated March 30, 2006, which is about two weeks before you brought the bill to the House, states that your competitive agreements plan, the basis upon which you'll have these drugs

selected, is based on the US Department of Veterans Affairs model.

There's a study published last October by Frank Lichtenberg called Older Drugs, Shorter Lives? It looked at these veterans' affairs formulary listings and it

found that the majority of the drugs delivered by those programs are more than eight years old, and 40% of the drugs are more than 16 years old, meaning they're not new drugs at all; they are in

fact the oldest drugs, because those are the people who win these competitions that you're going to be running here in Ontario.

Your new scheme has proven to be a dismal failure elsewhere where it's been implemented. Why are you insisting on bringing in a US-style program where

bureaucrats and managers pick old drugs for people --

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

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: If it is so, if it is as the honourable member says, then why did the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada say the

following in response to the introduction of Bill 102: "Ontario appears to have set a new standard for access to drugs, one that other provinces can emulate.... Today, cancer patients have renewed

confidence that they have been heard and their needs will be addressed"?

Simply put, the honourable member is grasping at straws here. Like I said, he thinks he found a smoking gun, and he shot himself in the foot with it. But the

reality is that his imagination cannot create the circumstances that he is conjuring up. It is clear: We believe fundamentally that the relationship with respect to prescribing is primarily the

responsibility of a doctor and a patient, but that does not mean that Ontario should stand on the sidelines and pay any price. We believe fundamentally that because we purchase $3.5 billion worth

of pharmaceutical products, the patients of the province of Ontario deserve to know that they are getting --

The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplementary.

Mr. Tory: What the patients of Ontario deserve to know is that they're getting an excellent price and that they will get the drug their doctor

prescribed for them, which will work best for them, not a drug selected by some bureaucrat who works for you.

Now, you've denied all of this, but your cabinet submission speaks for itself. The fact of the matter is, if a manufacturer cannot successfully negotiate with

you or compete successfully on one of these agreements, then the people who are prescribed that drug are not going to get it paid for by the drug benefit plan. You have a quote; let me read you

this one. Gail Attarra, executive director of the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, says that the use of the word "similar" in your legislation is unacceptable. In fact, she says it's

outrageous because it will open the door to precisely this kind of thing and that your bill will allow interference in the doctor-patient relationship.

So my question to you is this: She wants the word "similar" removed from the legislation so that we're certain that what a doctor prescribes is what the

patient will get, paid for by our program, not something where you interfere with that. Will you commit to removing that word from the bill?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Now the honourable member, because he doesn't even understand the subject matter that he's delved into, is drawing us

into an altogether different arrangement. The use of the word "similar" in the legislation is designed to give Ontario the capacity, in a circumstance where a drug manufacturer chooses to change

the delivery mechanism from a capsule to a tablet -- the same product otherwise, but to change the delivery mechanism -- that we would characterize that as similar to ensure that if there was a

generic product available, Ontario would be in a position to take advantage of it. It is a very narrow range of circumstances. On this one, I'm involved in very detailed conversations with the

pharmaceutical industry in the recognition that as we move towards committee -- we don't presume it will happen there, but we will work hard to attempt, through better use of language and detail,

to address concerns that are raised. On this one, it's a very narrow definition and has nothing to do with the subject matter that the honourable member raised in his first question.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Premier. It has been some time since we heard from you and your government

with respect to the status of the Caledonia situation. I wonder if you could provide us with an update as to where things stand, progress made or lack thereof and how much longer we would expect

the discussions to go on and this situation to persist.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs.

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I have to tell you that this is the issue that

this government is seized with 24 hours a day. We have many ministries, many deputy ministers right across all the ministries working on this. There are daily conference calls between ministries,

also with Ontario's chief lead, David Peterson, as he gives us feedback on his discussions with the various groups, organizations and individuals involved in the Caledonia dispute. We feel we are

making progress. We have to be patient with the political and democratic processes of the aboriginal people, such as when we reach certain levels of agreement, then there has to be consultation,

and we wait for those responses.

Mr. Tory: Reports from witnesses close to the front lines indicate that things could be getting worse, and not better, while these discussions

are ongoing. We've been informed, for example, that the occupation perimeter has now been expanded to north of the Grand River. We've been informed that the protesters are now also occupying the

overpass over Highway 54. There are concerns that are increasingly being expressed with respect, for example, to objects falling off the bridge onto the highway below.

I wonder if you could confirm or deny that this is the case, that in fact the area of occupation and some of the things that are being occupied have expanded

in the last period of time, and give some indication to us as to what is being done to stop this from happening while the discussions are going on with respect to the original area that was being

occupied.

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I have to say to the member that I'm not aware of an expansion of the area of occupation. I have been concentrating on the

issues of resolution of this dispute with our chief lead, David Peterson, and working with other officials within the government. Again, I would ask that people have some patience with this. This

is a very difficult situation. We're dealing with various groups within the Six Nations community, not only the elected chief and council but also Chief MacNaughton of the Haudenosaunee

organization. So we're dealing with all the various organizations and groups there. It is taking time, but we're looking for a peaceful resolution to this, and I'd ask for the member's support in

trying to find this.

Mr. Tory: Of course you have our support in trying to reach a peaceful resolution, but I think these are questions that are quite properly

asked on behalf of the people.

There are signs. In fact, the OPP know about some of the new area that seems to be in question, which I made reference to earlier, so I would think you should

know as well from these briefings.

I also had an e-mail this morning in response to one I had written back, where that person had written to me. There was quite a change in the tone of the

e-mail, which I regret, because I reported to you that when I was down there to have a look, people had expressed a real wish to see the long-standing historical relationship between the First

Nations people and the other residents maintained. There's a change in the tone of these e-mails, but the one I got back this morning talked about other problems: Imperial Oil in Nanticoke not able

to ship by rail as the track is closed; Lake Erie Steel having problems with the ash, which they can't ship, and they're having issues with the Ministry of the Environment; various businesses

referred to -- Winegard Motors, Searles Chev, Zehrs etc -- noted a large drop in sales, as much as 50% to 75%; and add to that the fact that, from the e-mails I'm getting now, the tone from the

residents there is changing, which can't be a good thing.

I just wonder, given the apparent deterioration, both geographically, if I can call it that, and also in terms of business and other things, what are you doing

to step up the pace of trying get this resolved to the maximum extent you possibly can?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: As the member knows, we did appoint David Peterson, former Premier of the province, highly qualified in this area, and let me

tell you that he and his team, backed by the Ontario government, are doing everything they can to resolve the immediate issues.

I'd remind the member that we are also looking at the long term. I have a very good relationship with the federal minister, Jim Prentice. Together, we have

both appointed long-term negotiators, he, Barbara McDougall, and I, Jane Stewart on behalf of the government here, two highly qualified people who will start tomorrow with long-term discussions.

Entering into that, we hope to get a short-term resolution and, in the end, solve this problem once and for all.

CANCER TREATMENT

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Lori Borsos is a 46-year-old mother from Hamilton. She has three

children. She also has cancer. She says that your government's new two-tier cancer drug policy doesn't bring her any closer to getting the cancer drugs she needs to battle multiple myeloma. I want

to quote her. She says, "It's such a shame. We're supposed to have universal health care, but it's going to be about who has the money. Everyone should be able to get it. It could mean the

difference between me living or dying."

Premier, your scheme will help wealthy Ontarians pay their way or buy their way to the front of the line for the cancer drug Mrs. Borsos can't afford. How is

that not a two-tier health care system?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'm pleased to take the question and lend some insight into our thinking

on this. First of all, we have not adopted any particular policy. We've asked Cancer Care Ontario to come up with their very best advice in this regard, and one of the things we've asked them to

consider is the model, of which the member is being critical, which has been adopted by Saskatchewan, the birthplace of Canada's medicare system. They have in place there a model which requires

that all their public hospitals administer drugs which are not publicly funded for cancer, for example, by means of intravenous administration. So all we're doing at this point in time is

considering the fact that what we have in place is kind of a hodgepodge. Some of our public hospitals are in fact administering these drugs, which are not funded through the public system, and

other of our public hospitals have chosen not to do so. So we're asking Cancer Care Ontario to look at the model which has been adopted in Saskatchewan and some other options as well.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, there is no such policy in Saskatchewan. Velcade is approved and funded for cancer patients in Saskatchewan.

Like many Ontario cancer patients, Lori Borsos is too ill to work. She's getting by on her workplace disability benefits, hardly enough to afford a drug like

Velcade for her multiple myeloma. The drug can cost over $40,000 a year. But as I say, seven other provinces pay for Velcade, Saskatchewan included, for cancer patients who need it. But instead of

doing that, your plan is to help people who are wealthy enough to buy the drugs for themselves, while people like Lori Borsos, who has a modest income, do without. I ask you again, how is that not

two-tier health care?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I think it's important for all of us to acknowledge that the second tier is already there. There are certain drugs that are

publicly funded and there are others that are not. Some are in a financial position to be able to buy drugs that are not publicly funded.

The issue we are grappling with today is whether or not our public hospitals should facilitate the administration of those drugs, particularly intravenous

drugs. That's what we're grappling with at this point in time. I gather that what the honourable leader of the NDP is telling us is that he does not feel that public hospitals should be

administering intravenous drugs that are paid for through that second tier which already exists in the province of Ontario. I appreciate that advice, and I'm sure that Cancer Care Ontario will want

to consider that together with their other considerations.

Mr. Hampton: What I advocate is that your government do a better job in terms of drug therapy. The most recent review, report card, of

provinces and their cancer drug therapies puts your government next to the bottom in all of Canada. For example, Saskatchewan is funding nearly twice as many of these drugs as the McGuinty

government.

It seems to me, Premier, that you have a choice: You can stand up for cancer patients like Lori Borsos, who doesn't have a lot of money, by making drugs like

Velcade available to them when their doctor says they need them, and make them available at no charge, or you can turn your back on medicare and promote your two-tier cancer drug scheme that will

help those Ontarians who are wealthy enough to buy the drugs, and turn your back on low- and modest-income Ontarians like Lori Borsos. My question to you is, which is it going to be: two-tier

medicine under Dalton McGuinty --

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

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Just so we're clear, our new drug funding program has been growing at an average annual rate of over 40%. Drug spending

overall, all drugs included, is growing in the double digits, an average of 13.6% per year over the last five years. It's going to be a real challenge, obviously, for Ontario to fund every possible

new drug that is introduced into the marketplace, as the Minister of Health indicated when he announced funding for Herceptin at a cost of $148 million.

What we're doing right now is trying to have an honest debate as to whether or not that second tier, which already exists, is something that the public system

should facilitate by way of administration. Do we tell these people, "No, you're going to have to go south of the border and pay that additional cost down there," or do we say in Ontario what

they're saying in Saskatchewan, which is that the public system does have some responsibility to help in the administration of those drugs which are not publicly funded? That's something that we're

grappling with. It is not an easy issue, but we're trying to do it in an open and transparent way.

MEMBER FOR PARKDALE-HIGH PARK

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: I think it's pretty clear you want to facilitate two-tier medicine.

Premier, during the last election you promised to strengthen democracy in Ontario, and it seems to me that the very least you can do to strengthen democracy in

Ontario is to make sure that your own MPPs treat their responsibilities as members of the Legislature as full-time jobs. For all intents and purposes, the MPP for Parkdale-High Park, Mr. Kennedy,

is no longer serving his constituents on a full-time basis; they're an afterthought in his current world. Yet he continues to collect from the public of Ontario an office, personal staff and $1,600

every week for his personal salary, all paid for by the average Ontarian. My question is this: Is this acceptable to you, Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Let me take the opportunity to say how grateful we are that Gerard

Kennedy committed himself to public service, served in our party for some 10 years and has now decided that he's going to carry on that public service in another level of government. He has always

worked long and hard on behalf of his constituents, and he has indicated very clearly that he will, at some point in time, resign, but that is a matter for careful consideration by Mr. Kennedy and

his constituents.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, let me tell you about some of the good work Mr. Kennedy has been doing for the people of Parkdale-High Park over just

the last two weeks. According to his own website, he has criss-crossed the Rockies of British Columbia, he has wandered the Atlantic coast of New Brunswick and on Saturday he announced he was

house-hunting in Quebec. Meanwhile, Ontario's working families are paying Mr. Kennedy $1,600 a week.

I ask the question again: Is this acceptable to you?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Something that the leader of the NDP overlooked in describing Mr. Kennedy's activities is that just last week a project

which he has been working on actively for some time now came to fruition. He announced the redevelopment of St. Joseph's hospital here in western Toronto, complete with its modern maternal and

newborn services, two surgical in-patient units, capacity for a six-bed child and adolescent mental health unit and added capacity for an up-to-28-bed medical unit. I know that's something Mr.

Kennedy has been personally very much committed to that has come to fruition on his watch, and I expect that he will continue to work in an active way for his constituents.

Mr. Hampton: I guess that was just before he announced he was house-hunting in Quebec.

Just a few years ago members of your caucus expressed serious concerns when the former MPP for Mississauga West, Mr. Snobelen, moved out of Ontario but

continued collecting his MPP paycheque. One of them told then-Premier Ernie Eves, "Your government and your leadership have been nothing short of an abysmal failure ... the people of Ontario

deserve much, much better."

Who said that? Why, it was Dalton McGuinty.

Premier, how is it that you condemned part-time MPPs just a few years ago when in opposition, but today, when it's one of your own MPPs, Dalton McGuinty's

standards suddenly change?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The leader of the NDP and I obviously see this differently. I think there's a difference between leaving the country and

spending four or six weeks in an adjoining province. I think there's a difference with an individual like Mr. Kennedy, who remains very much committed to his constituents, who has been actively

involved in supporting their causes, who was involved with an important health care announcement just last week, who has indicated clearly that he intends to resign and has also said that is a

matter for discussion between himself and his constituents. I think we have to take him at his word, and I ask the leader of the NDP to be patient in this regard.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. New question, the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): I'd like to continue with this with the Premier.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Stop the clock. Minister of Education, Member for Trinity-Spadina, order.

The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: If you listened to people calling this morning talking about this, they're of the view that it is almost impossible for someone who

is criss-crossing the Rockies and being in New Brunswick and being in Quebec for weeks at a time -- in fact, originally months at a time -- to serve their constituents. I think it is about

leadership and it's about example, because we are doing damage to the process and the confidence that people have in all of us by trying to pretend that it is possible for someone, when they're

gone from this place for weeks at a time, to also serve their constituents. So in that sense, I'm asking you to reconsider. You've said there will come a point in time. You've said that it's

someone else's responsibility. I would suggest it is your responsibility to say to him that you can't do two things at once and that the time has come, when he's crossing the country and indicating

his intention to move elsewhere, to step down from his seat.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I have every faith in the good people of Mr. Kennedy's riding to pass judgment on this. At some point in time, Mr. Kennedy

will step aside, there will be a by-election and the good people of that riding will be able to take whatever circumstances they wish to into account. In the interim, Mr. Kennedy, I know for a

fact, remains very much committed to his constituents. He continues to work actively on their behalf. Ultimately, his departure is an arrangement he's going to come to with his constituents.

The Speaker: Supplementary, the member for Leeds-Grenville.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): I think Mr. Kennedy is very much committed to his entitlements, and that's the Liberal mentality.

This really is about the Premier's leadership or lack of leadership. We can understand, given the Premier's sorry record in respect to broken promises, why he doesn't --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Minister of Education, I won't warn you again.

The member for Leeds-Grenville.

Mr. Runciman: Premier, given your sorry record of broken promises, I can understand your difficulty in trying to compel another Liberal to

keep a promise. But this is important. He's showing contempt for the constituents. You say that he referred this to his constituents. They can't find him: British Columbia last week, New Brunswick

next week, this man is never in the province of Ontario. How can you, as the leader of the Liberal caucus, endorse this kind of activity? How can you stand on your feet here and endorse that kind

of activity?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Nobody can muster indignation like the member opposite when it comes to these kinds of issues. Again, I have confidence

both in the member, Mr. Kennedy, and in his constituents. Mr. Kennedy remains very much devoted to his responsibilities. He remains very much committed to his constituents. Just last week, he

participated in a very important announcement that the members opposite may not feel is important to the constituents of that riding, but I know that Mr. Kennedy in fact feels is very much the

case. Eventually, Mr. Kennedy and his constituents will come to an arrangement regarding his departure, but until that time I'd ask the members opposite to remain patient.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is to the Premier. I'm tempted to ask again about the Liberal MPP who has gone Snobelen,

but I have another important issue to raise.

Premier, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib First Nation is being sued for over $10 billion by Platinex, a mineral exploration company, because the First Nation has acted

to protect their traditional territory. This First Nation is a remote fly-in community of 1,200 people; 80% of the people are unemployed. They're poor. Yet this mining company is going to sue them

for $10 billion because the community has dared to stand up and defend their own traditional territory. The chief has asked me to ask you this question: Will you intervene on the side of the First

Nation in this vexatious lawsuit?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci (Minister of Northern Development and Mines): We certainly take this issue very seriously. The member would know that my

ministry staff have been in contact with both the First Nation community and the company. We were hoping for some type of resolution. It appears, at this point in time, that the company will be

taking the First Nation to court. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this as it could be the subject of a legal matter.

Mr. Hampton: Here's the great irony. This court case is due to be heard on June 21 -- National Aboriginal Day.

Premier, it was your government that issued the permit to this mining company. The First Nation said, "Look, we object to any kind of mineral exploration

taking place in our territory." They explained that to officials of your government. Since that date, they have not heard a word from your government.

Now, Caledonia is a situation where your government ignored all the warning signs. Here you've got a remote First Nation; there are no non-aboriginal people

who live anywhere near it. They're saying to your government, "Do not promote this kind of conflict. Do not issue these kinds of permits when you know the First Nation is opposed and when you

haven't consulted with the First Nation." They're simply asking you, since you created this problem by giving the mining company the permit in the first place, will you now intervene on the side of

the First Nation and help them defend their traditional rights and their traditional land, or do you want to see a more serious conflict here?

Hon. Mr. Bartolucci: To be perfectly honest with the member who's asking the question -- and he certainly knows that our ministry has been in

constant contact with the First Nations community. Because it is a matter that's before the courts, we're not --

Mr. Hampton: That is a bunch of BS.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Withdraw that remark.

Mr. Hampton: I withdraw --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Just withdraw.

Mr. Hampton: I withdraw the remark.

Hon. Mr. Bartolucci: The member would know that ministry staff have visited the community to hear the concerns of the First Nations people. He

would also know that mining claims and leases are valid under the Mining Act. Certainly it's the view of this ministry that we want to work with both sides to try to come to some resolution before

these matters end up in the courts. We will continue to do that, as we will continue to honour our commitments that we must live up to under the Supreme Court decision, which says that we have a

duty to consult. We take that very seriously.

NURSES

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, you announced an exciting new initiative

yesterday that will guarantee full-time employment for new nursing graduates. With Tom Closson at the helm, I have great confidence that our future nurses will find rewarding employment here in

Ontario.

In York region, which includes my riding of Markham, there is a growth rate of 100,000 people each year. This influx of residents, coupled with an aging

population, requires additional nurses to handle the increased volume. Nurses are vital to our health care system, and it is imperative that we value the incredible contributions they make.

Minister, we need to keep our new nurses in the province and the more experienced nurses working. How will this initiative help the nursing workforce as a

whole?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Of course, on a subject matter as important as nursing, nothing less than a

comprehensive strategy will do. Accordingly, that's what we've been developing, and we added important new elements of it yesterday.

I don't know about you, Mr. Speaker, but I'm one of those who believes it's just about time, in this province, that those young nursing grads being freshly

minted from our colleges and universities are given the opportunity to practise their craft in a fashion which is good for our patients, and that means full-time employment. So yesterday we moved

forward to implement a guarantee in 2007 that will see each of our new nursing grads given a guarantee of a full-time job.

We're making progress with respect to the nursing file. For the first time in nine years, we've flatlined the age. That means that the average age of nurses is

not going up any longer. We've been able to fast-forward by a full year the expansion of nurse practitioners seats to 150 --

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

Mr. Wong: It is encouraging to know that we at Queen's Park are listening to what nurses want and are taking action. Under previous

governments, the number of working nurses in Ontario dropped significantly, and I'm proud that under our government that number has considerably increased. Doris Grinspun of the Registered Nurses

Association of Ontario estimates that there are 4,500 new nurses working in this province. Minister, yesterday's announcement was part of the larger strategy called health force Ontario, with a

goal to make Ontario the employer of choice for health care workers. Can you elaborate on how the nursing graduate guarantee fits into the broader strategy as a whole?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I most certainly can. I want too thank the honourable member for Markham for his tremendous commitment to health human

resources in this province. Our goal, simply put, is that Ontario must be an employer of choice, that in an environment which is competitive, we have an obligation to do our very best. We haven't

yet achieved that, but we're making tremendous progress.

We're working with new and expanded roles in health care, including physician assistance. We're going to develop our workforce so that all of those

internationally educated health professionals -- not just doctors -- are given a single portal and an easier transition so they can be out there on the front lines working for Ontarians. We're

doing that in co-operation with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. We're going to compete for health human resources wherever we have to. The United States is home to 9,000 doctors who

have left our province. We're working to repatriate them.

The efforts of the honourable member for Markham and his commitment to his local community are going to be part of what we can sell: historic opportunity to do

a better job for our nurses --

The Speaker: New question. Thank you.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): To the Premier: The Caledonia standoff is in its 72nd day. Provincial Highway 6 is blocked. The

main street of Caledonia is blocked. The railroad to Nanticoke is blocked. This weekend the encampment moved north of the Grand River, and your minister was not aware of that, even on 24/7. Also

this weekend, in spite of all this, David Peterson is quoted: "We've made some headway. I feel positive." But now we have a native warrior flag flying on top of one of the new hydro towers.

Premier, just what headway have you and Mr. Peterson made in keeping the new power line project on track?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs.

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I say to the local member that I understand

his frustration and his impatience with what's gone on for a very long time. I want to assure him that the Ontario government is working very hard with all its resources to try to resolve this. It

is a very difficult situation. We want to make sure we resolve this peacefully. We're working with all the parties involved, with your community, keeping your municipal officials well informed as

to what's going on. It's a very challenging task for David Peterson and his team, but they're working very hard at it and they've got the support of the whole Ontario government behind them.

Mr. Barrett: Lack of leadership has turned this into a boondoggle. We now have trestles from one of the new hydro towers creating the new

blockade north of the Grand River. I know you're not aware of this; you should go down and take a look. A warrior flag is flying 130 feet high on top of one of the hydro towers. This is a massive

power project. It runs the length of the Niagara peninsula from Thorold into Caledonia and beyond. It has 800 megawatts of transmission capacity, reducing transmission losses, reducing the risk of

blackouts. I'm told it will serve 300,000 people. But now we have warriors on the towers, not Hydro One workers. Minister -- in your role as Minister of Energy perhaps -- how long can this project

be delayed before the lights actually go out in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I want to say to him, and reinforce what I said earlier, that we have a lot of people on the ground in your community

supporting David Peterson as the provincial lead in these discussions. As he knows very well, there are a lot of different groups involved in this dispute. We are totally engaged with all the

groups that are involved in this dispute. We're doing that 24 hours a day. I said to your leader earlier, we have to be patient with the consensus-building process of the Six Nations people as they

work through that. We think we are making progress. Believe me, when we get to the point where we think we've got this solved, I will be very happy to be informing this House when we get there.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): My question is to the Minister of Education. The so-called Safe Schools Act, sometimes known as the

gang recruitment act, is a proven failure. Teachers, parents, youth, even the Human Rights Commission, say that your government is targeting youth at risk and forcing them out onto the streets, and

in many cases sending them into the hands of gangs with this ill-conceived legislation. For three years, you've been promising changes. When are you going to deliver on this promised change?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I appreciate this question as well. This member likely

knows and has followed the work that my predecessor did in this ministry from the moment that we took office. We launched a very significant review of what we felt was a very difficult act called

the Safe Schools Act. That review has been done. It invited literally hundreds of participants to speak to us about what the issues were with this act. We believe that it has caused a tremendous

amount of difficulty for vice-principals, for teachers, for all of the supports in schools, in how to deal with our students. We know that now that we've received all of these submissions, a

special task force, which we have had in place for at least a year, is now doing a review and is preparing a final report that I should be receiving very shortly. We intend to act on that very

quickly.

Mr. Marchese: Minister, in December 2004 you said you'd have a report by the spring of 2005. In the spring of 2005, you said you'd have a

report by last fall. Last fall, you said the report would be complete by next year, which is this year. Meanwhile, parents of colour, parents of children with special education needs, continue to

file lawsuits on behalf of their children. Meanwhile, students are out on the street without a plan that would give the young people an opportunity to stay in school and get the social and

educational support they need to succeed. Why haven't you scrapped this regressive and ill-conceived legislation?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I think it's fair to say that in these 30 days as a minister I have spent an inordinate amount of time on the issues

around the Safe Schools Act and on the issue of special education. Those both happen to be particular interests of mine. I hope that people in communities across Ontario will recognize that it is

part of my own personal history as well. We know that there are significant changes that need to be made. I am determined to see that they be done so that students -- and I mean all students -- can

benefit from an educational experience, be they kids with special needs, kids with children's mental health needs. People such as those in our gallery today are representing those agencies that

take care of many of those same children. I will commit to you today that I will work as quickly as possible to make those changes and to do them well.

TENANT PROTECTION

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne (Don Valley West): My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Last week, our government

introduced Bill 109, the Residential Tenancies Act, and I'm very happy that happened. That bill aims to do three things: to protect tenants, to protect landlords and to promote investment in the

Ontario rental housing market.

Approximately 1.35 million households in Ontario are renters; that's 32% of Ontarians. In my riding of Don Valley West, approximately half of the residents are

tenants. They, along with all of the tenants in the province, have been concerned about the Conservative legislation that has been in place. My tenants' advisory council has been eagerly awaiting

the new legislation. We're setting up meetings in two parts of the riding to look at Bill 109. Minister, what's our government doing to help 1.35 million Ontario tenants who are looking for

legislation that will keep their buildings maintained?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): First of all, let me thank the member from Don Valley West for her tireless

advocacy on behalf of her constituents, on an ongoing basis. Let me also say very quickly that this legislation is fully balanced for good landlords and for good tenants. That's what the

legislation's all about.

Now let's talk about what it does for tenants. First of all, we've eliminated the automatic eviction process. Every tenant facing eviction will have the right

to a hearing before the landlord and tenant board. Secondly, landlords will not be able to increase rent when there are outstanding work orders and maintenance issues. In effect, that means that

there will be better-maintained buildings. Next, as far as the annual guideline increase is concerned, it will be based on the consumer price index. In other words, it will be a much more

transparent process than is currently the case. This legislation is good for the tenants of Ontario.

Interjections.

Ms. Wynne: Contrary to the heckling from the other side of the House, I really think that this is very balanced legislation. It's legislation

that's good for good tenants and is good for good landlords.

Toronto Mayor David Miller has said this about our bill that the current legislation "is very anti-tenant and there are significant improvements in the" --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The member for Niagara Centre needs to come to order.

The member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Wynne: What David Miller said about this legislation is that the current legislation, the Conservative legislation, "is very anti-tenant

and there are significant improvements in the" proposed "legislation that will increase tenants' rights and make the system much, much fairer for them." That's why I'm pleased with this

legislation.

Ontario tenants are happy to hear that our government has introduced this bill that aims to protect them, and the landlords of rental properties also have

asked for a fairer system. They've asked for better protection so that they can offer a well-maintained living environment to their tenants, and that's the fair thing. Minister, how does our

proposed legislation better protect good landlords?

Hon. Mr. Gerretsen: Before dealing with that, let's just deal with another issue that's good for tenants. If there are above-guideline

increases that have been granted by the landlord and tenant board, either for capital improvements to a particular unit or for increased utility costs, those costs will come off once they've been

paid for or the utility costs go down.

It will help good landlords in a situation where a tenant does wilful damage to a unit. Under those circumstances, a landlord will be able to get rid of a

tenant who does wilful damage or is involved in illegal activities in that unit much quicker than is currently the case.

When you look at the bill in its entirety, it is much more transparent than the current legislation. I don't know why that member on the other side doesn't go

for this good, balanced legislation that is good for both landlords and tenants. This is what good landlords and good tenants want for the rental properties in Ontario. We totally support this bill

and we would ask the members on the other side to support this bill as well.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Since February 28,

the OPP have had a presence in Caledonia 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The officers at Caledonia have been dispatched from detachments right across our province, and many of them are from

detachments that are under municipal policing contracts. As you know, many of the municipal contract forces are already understaffed. Minister, how are you preparing to compensate the

municipalities for the use of their officers who are working full time at Caledonia today?

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I thank the member for the question. I'm sure he realizes that

the responsibility of the deployment of officers is in the hands of the commissioner and her senior staff. I have been assured by the commissioner that all of their responsibilities have been

covered and that they have adequate provisions to make sure that they can deal with the situation in Caledonia without in any way impacting their responsibilities in other areas of the

province.

Mr. Dunlop: Minister, a week ago I asked you what was the daily cost to the OPP to have officers in Caledonia. At that time you didn't provide

me with the answer, and I thought that was an answer you would have at the tips of your fingers. I am told by reliable sources that the accommodation cost alone to have officers in Caledonia is

$100,000 per week. In other words, since February 28, the OPP have likely absorbed accommodation costs alone in the range of close to $1 million.

Minister, with salaries, overtime, vehicles, accommodation and administration costs, I believe that Caledonia has cost the taxpayers of Ontario and the Ontario

Provincial Police budget somewhere in the range of $8 million. If you're not prepared to help the municipalities, are you prepared to go back to the cabinet table and find the millions of dollars

for the unexpected costs that the OPP have been subjected to at Caledonia?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: The member, with all due respect, is wrong. The OPP have a global budget. They don't go out and hire new people to deal with

a particular situation. So their budget is the same regardless of whether those people are in Caledonia or whether they're somewhere else, as long as they have the coverage, which they do. The only

time that would change is if they had to go out because they needed additional resources. To this point, they have indicated to me that they don't. So there's no additional cost; it has just been

reallocated within the province. They have assured me that the requirements to police the various communities under their contractual obligations are being carried out.

COLLÈGE BORÉAL

M. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-Baie James): Ma question est pour le ministre des Collèges et Universités. Vous savez que la population de

Timmins s'est prononcée en faveur de la construction d'un nouveau campus pour le Collège Boréal à Timmins. Plus de 500 citoyens vous ont envoyé des lettres exigeant que

votre gouvernement finance la construction de ce campus. Quand les gens de Timmins pourront-ils s'attendre à une annonce positive envers la construction d'un campus permanent à Timmins

pour le Collège Boréal?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): Merci, monsieur le Président, pour la question. I thank the

member for the question. What I indicated to the member several weeks ago, when he asked me about the campus proposals in Timmins, was the following: We are determined as a government to ensure a

very strong Franco-Ontarian college/university presence in the province of Ontario. It was one of the features of the Reaching Higher plan: more money for all colleges and universities; more

support in particular for Franco-Ontarian education; and a special advisory committee set up to ensure greater access to and success in our French-language colleges and universities.

What I said to the member was that we are working right now with the parties, in particular with the presidents of the two colleges, to develop a stronger

system. When that discussion is complete, we will have discussions about capital needs throughout Ontario.

M. Bisson: Ce qui est clair est que ce qui est là présentement comme localisation pour le Collège Boréal n'est pas

Timmins. Parfois ils choisissent d'aller soit à Ottawa soit à Sudbury parce que ces locaux ont les programmes qui sont capables de les attirer.

La communauté a fait ce qu'elle avait à faire. Ils ont fait les partenariats, ils ont engagé les jeunes et ils ont engagé la

communauté dans le processus de choisir le Collège Boréal. C'est un collège qui est actif. C'est un collège qui fait

partie de la communauté. Nous, on a fait ce qu'on

avait à faire sur le bord de Timmins et du Collège Boréal. C'est la seule proposition du Collège Boréal à travers l'Ontario.

On vous demande encore, quand est-ce qu'on peut s'attendre à une réponse positive pour pouvoir commencer la construction avec ce site permanent?

Hon. Mr. Bentley: Thank you once again. I think the member raises a very important point, which is ensuring access to post-secondary education

throughout the province of Ontario, not just in the largest centres of the province. It was for that reason that the Reaching Higher plan included an increase in the small northern and rural grant.

And so colleges, including French-language colleges, throughout the north, throughout the province of Ontario, received greatly increased funding during the past fiscal year to ensure that they

have a better ability to provide access to programming for young people, for persons not previously served in smaller and remote communities. It is also the reason that we are having discussions

through the various advisory committees, not just the francophone committee, not just the aboriginal advisory committee but also the first-generation committee, on how to expand the reach of

educational post-secondary opportunities to the community at large and in particular the Franco-Ontarian community. I look forward to continuing those discussions. We are going to develop a very

vibrant plan to improve --

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

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): My question is to the Minister of Transportation. When our government came to office two

and a half years ago, we faced not only a fiscal deficit but deficits in health, education and public infrastructure. I am proud that our government has stuck to the plan to address these deficits

and, in the most recent budget, the investments we have made in transportation infrastructure.

We know the opposition feels we should put off these necessary repairs. That seemed to be their policy for everything -- put it off until later -- and the

crumbling infrastructure of Ontario that we inherited was the result. We all know how much less expensive it is to repair roads before they deteriorate to the point of needing to be dug up and

replaced. I know from my time as reeve of the township of South Stormont that townships simply cannot afford to bear this cost entirely on their on. For example, we struggle in my area with the

provincial download of the old provincial Highway 2.

Minister, can you describe what our government has done to help smaller and rural municipalities fund road infrastructure after years of downloading by the

previous government?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): First of all, I want to thank the member for asking this question and I also want to

thank him for his advocacy for smaller and rural communities.

Let me just say what our government has done for smaller and rural communities. In the last budget that the Minister of Finance introduced in this House, we

provided $400 million for small and rural communities under the Move Ontario program so that these municipalities will be able to address some of their long-outstanding needs for bridges and roads

under this program. In addition to this, our government was the first government ever to provide stable funding for public transit for all communities across Ontario. Under that program, some of

the member's communities are also eligible to get some funding, and I can address some of these issues in the supplementary.

Mr. Brownell: After working so hard with municipal leaders in my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh to bring the message that our

transportation infrastructure needed provincial attention, I'm pleased to say our government listened. Move Ontario is truly a landmark investment, and I know municipal leaders in my riding were

relieved to see our government working with the city of Cornwall and the surrounding townships to help fund road projects. This relief was long overdue. Neglected for years, these municipal

roadways are important in linking smaller communities to one another, as well as connecting us all to the broader network of provincial highways. Beyond the tax savings that both municipalities and

the province can realize through preventative maintenance, how else do you expect that this investment in transportation infrastructure will help our economy?

Hon. Mr. Takhar: I want to thank the member again for asking this question. It is important for us to keep our infrastructure and our roads in

goods repair. As I said, in the last budget we provided $400 million under the Move Ontario program for rural and smaller municipalities. Under that program, the Stormont and Dundas community got

$2 million and the city of Cornwall got $2 million. Also, under our stable funding program where we share the gas tax with all municipalities, the city of Cornwall will get another $2 million. I'm

sure that with this funding they will be able to address some of their long-outstanding need for roads and bridges and also for public transit.

BIOSOLID MANAGEMENT

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): My question is to the Premier, in the absence of the Minister of the Environment. Last week, the municipality of

Clarington passed a resolution with respect to paper fibre biosolids. The resolution states that biosolids should not be used in our environment until advice from an expert panel is followed and we

can be assured that safety is addressed.

The impact of paper fibre biosolids has been a huge issue in my riding. SoundSorb is one product and another product they're using is NitroSorb. This has been

an issue for Durham region as well as other parts of Ontario. In fact, your previous Minister of the Environment would know much about it as well.

This report was filed with your government in January 2005. When are you going to respond to the expert panel report on the use of paper fibre biosolids on our

land in the discussion around Bill 43, the source water protection bill? It's very important.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I appreciate the opportunity. I know the Minister of the Environment is

carefully considering this issue, is taking the appropriate time to ensure that all of the interested parties have an opportunity to provide some advice and reaction to the report, and that in due

course she will be speaking to it with some detail.

Mr. O'Toole: I would like to put on the record that I would like a written response to this from the minister because it is a technical issue.

You would know that the real essence of the issue here is regulation number 347. This regulation exempts what would otherwise be a waste by calling it a product. By mixing paper fibre biosolids

with sand or other materials, it becomes a product. That's the issue. It has been before you for a number of years, and I'm now asking for you to respond to the expert panel. You're the government.

In the context of source water protection, this is a fundamental issue. What you apply to the land ends up in the aquifers and other source water protection areas.

Premier, will you assure me that you will get back not just to me but to the people of Ontario about safety in our soil as well as our drinking water?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I know that the member opposite would want to admit that the challenges created by this regulation are the result of

regulation created by the previous government. Let me say that I know the minister will give this municipal resolution all the serious consideration it deserves. Again, I know she's carefully

considering the matter and will get back in due course.

PENSION PLANS

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is for the Minister of Labour. The McGuinty government plans to appoint an anti-labour,

anti-worker Liberal Party hack as the chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, but while you push the partisan appointment of your well-pensioned friend Steve Mahoney into the WSIB chair,

will you push equally hard for WSIB workers who are fighting to have some say over their own pension plan? Recently, I asked you this question and you mentioned the issue of an RFP that has been

issued, but the RFP restricts the consultant from even considering joint trusteeship. Will you encourage the WSIB to expand the scope of the RFP and include joint trusteeship as a governance model

for the WSIB pension plan?

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Labour): I'm disappointed to hear the member's comments about the selection that has been put forward, and I

would ask her to partake in the government appointments process that is in place. It's an open and transparent process, and I would encourage you to be there. As the member should be aware too, the

WSIB is an arm's-length agency. The issue she has raised has been raised previously in this House. I know it is a matter that the WSIB is addressing, and I thank the member for the question.

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly dealing with tomorrow's special session.

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have intellectual disabilities are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are deprived

of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services

sector to address critical underfunding of staff salaries and ensure that people who have intellectual disabilities continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

RECYCLING

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas waste from Ontario public schools that could otherwise be recyclable is contributing to increased landfill sites; and

"Whereas diverting waste is critical to sustaining a healthy environment now and in the future; and

"Whereas there is a need to encourage recycling initiatives in all schools; and

"Whereas the private member's bill proposed by the geography club from Georgetown District High School under Making the Grade will require all Ontario school

boards to have two recycling bins in each classroom, one for paper and one for drinking containers. As well, cafeterias must have adequate recycling containers outlining items acceptable to be

recycled;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the private member's bill that will amend the Ontario school boards education act to

divert waste from Ontario high school classrooms and cafeterias."

I'll sign this petition.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

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

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

"That the government of Ontario address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services sector to address critical underfunding of

staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to live meaningful lives within their

community."

I have signed this.

COMMUNITY MEDIATION

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I'm very pleased to present this petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. I especially want to thank

Patrick Thomson and Navpreet Randlay, both from Brampton, for having gathered the signatures for me. It reads as follows:

"Whereas many types of civil disputes may be resolved through community mediation delivered by trained mediators, who are volunteers who work with the parties

in the dispute; and

"Whereas Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services established the Peel Community Mediation Service in 1999 with support from the government of Ontario

through the Trillium Foundation, the Rotary Club of Mississauga West and the United Way of Peel, and has proven the viability and success of community mediation; and

"Whereas the city of Mississauga and the town of Caledon have endorsed the Peel Community Mediation Service, and law enforcement bodies refer many cases to the

Peel Community Mediation Service as an alternative to a court dispute; and

"Whereas court facilities and court time are both scarce and expensive, the cost of community mediation is very small and the extra expense incurred for lack

of community mediation in Peel region would be much greater than the small annual cost of funding community mediation;

"Be it therefore resolved that the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of the Attorney General, support and fund the ongoing service delivery of the

Peel Community Mediation Service through Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services."

This is an excellent petition. I am pleased to sign it and to ask page Haakim to carry it for me.

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): A petition to the Parliament of Ontario:

"Whereas gasoline prices have increased at alarming rates during the past year; and

"Whereas the high and different gas prices in different areas of Ontario have caused confusion and unfair hardship on hard-working Cambridge families;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Parliament of Ontario as follows:

"

(1) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government immediately freeze gas prices for a temporary period until world oil prices moderate; and

"

(2) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government and the federal government immediately lower their taxes on gas for a temporary period until world oil prices

moderate; and

"

(3) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government immediately initiate a royal commission to investigate the predatory gas prices charged by oil companies

operating in Ontario."

As I agree with the petition, I affix my name thereto.

CAFETERIA FOOD GUIDELINES

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades in Canada; and

"Whereas the annual amount of money the health care system uses to mend preventable obesity-related illnesses is $1.6 billion; and

"Whereas the Ontario food premises regulation only provides safety policies that must be followed by the Ontario school boards' cafeterias, but no defined

regulations regarding the nutrition standard of the food being served at the cafeterias; and

"Whereas there is a need to encourage nutritious standards in high school cafeterias that support Canada's Guidelines to Healthy Eating; and

"Whereas the private member's bill proposed by Nupur Dogra under Making the Grade and her fellow students at Iroquois Ridge High School will require all

Ontario school board cafeterias to adopt and abide [by] healthier eating standards (similar to Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating) that will govern the food choices;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the private member's bill," number 93, "that will amend the Ontario school boards'

cafeteria food guidelines" to educate students about nutritional standards in all Ontario high schools."

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Sir Frederick Banting was the man who discovered insulin and was Canada's first Nobel Prize recipient; and

"Whereas this great Canadian's original homestead, located in the town of New Tecumseth, is deteriorating and in danger of destruction because of the inaction

of the Ontario Historical Society; and

"Whereas the town of New Tecumseth has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement with the Ontario Historical Society to use part of the land to educate the

public about the historical significance of the work of Sir Frederick Banting;

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

"That the Minister of Culture endorse Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson's private member's bill entitled the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act so that the

homestead is kept in good repair and preserved for generations to come."

I obviously agree with that petition, and I've signed it.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

This is brought to me by many long-term-care centres in the riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock.

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): I have a petition, signed by good citizens of Cambridge, directed to the Parliament of Ontario. It's

headed:

"Preserve Our Seniors Drug Plan

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberal government is considering cutting and diminishing the present program of necessary prescription drugs for Ontario seniors;

and

"Whereas Ontario's seniors are presently struggling to maintain their health and homes against cost-of-living increases, including Ontario's new health tax,

Ontario's increased hydro rates, increased municipal taxes and gasoline prices;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Parliament of Ontario as follows:

"That the McGuinty Liberal government of Ontario maintain the present program of providing prescription drugs for seniors."

As I agree with this petition, I affix my name thereto.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have a petition sent to me by a constituent, Carol Harrison from RR4, Woodstock. It is a petition to the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas over one million Ontarians of all ages suffer from communication disorders relating to speech, language and/or hearing; and

"Whereas there is a growing need for awareness of the profound developmental, economic and social consequences that communication disorders have on people and

their families; and

"Whereas persons with communication problems require access to the professional services of audiologists and speech language pathologists who provide

treatments to improve and enhance quality of life; and

"Whereas effective treatment of communication disorders benefits all of society by allowing otherwise disadvantaged persons to achieve their academic and

vocational potentials; and

"Whereas investments in treatments for communication disorders pay economic dividends in reduced reliance on other social services,

"We, the undersigned, in conjunction with the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

to proclaim the month of May as Better Speech, Language and Hearing Month."

I affix my signature, as I agree with this petition.

ABORTION

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): I have a petition signed by good citizens of Cambridge directed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas 68% of Ontarians do not support the funding of abortion on demand in our province (Leger poll, November 2003); and

"Whereas over 30 million health dollars are spent annually on abortion on demand; and

"Whereas the Ontario health system is overburdened and unnecessary spending must be cut; and

"Whereas pregnancy is not a disease, injury or illness, and abortions are not therapeutic procedures; and

"Whereas the vast majority of abortions are done for reasons of convenience or finance; and

"Whereas the province has the exclusive authority to determine what services will be insured; and

"Whereas the Canada Health Act does not require funding for elective procedures; and

"Whereas there is mounting evidence that abortion is in fact hazardous to women's health; and

"Whereas Ontario taxpayers funded over 39,544 abortions in 2000;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to stop provincial funding of abortion on demand in Ontario."

As required, I affix my name thereto.

BORDER SECURITY

Mr. Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the United States government, through the western hemisphere travel initiative, is proposing that American citizens require a passport or

single-purpose travel card to travel back and forth across the Canadian border; and

"Whereas a passport or single-purpose travel card would be an added expense, and the inconvenience of having to apply for and carry a new document would be a

barrier to many visitors; and

"Whereas this will mean the loss of up to 3.5 million US visitors in Ontario, losses of $700 million, and the loss of 7,000 jobs in the Ontario tourism

industry by the end of 2008; and

"Whereas many of the northern border states in the United States have expressed similar concerns regarding the substantial economic impact of the

implementation of this plan; and

"Whereas the safe and efficient movement of people across the border is vital to the economies of both of our countries;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the establishment of a bi-national

group to consider alternatives to the proposed border requirements and inform Prime Minister Harper that his decision to not pursue this issue with the United States is ill-advised."

HIGHWAY 35

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "Highway 35 Four-Laning

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas modern highways are economic lifelines to communities across Ontario and crucial to the growth of Ontario's economy; and

"Whereas the Ministry of Transportation has been planning the expansion of Highway 35, and that expansion has been put on hold by the McGuinty government;

and

"Whereas Highway 35 provides an important economic link in the overall transportation system -- carrying commuter, commercial and high tourist volumes to and

from the Kawartha Lakes area and Haliburton; and

"Whereas the final round of public consultation has just been rescheduled;

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

"That the Liberal government move swiftly to complete the four-laning of Highway 35 after the completion of the final public consultations."

It's signed by many constituents in my ridin