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May 3, 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-03 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 3 May 2006 Mercredi 3 mai 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

ENERGY CONSERVATION

TAXATION

CANUSA GAMES

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

ENERGY POLICY

ANNIVERSARY OF POLISH CONSTITUTION

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA LOCATION

À USAGE D'HABITATION

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

AWARENESS WEEK ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA SEMAINE

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU HARCÈLEMENT SEXUEL

MOTIONS

CONSIDERATION OF

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BILLS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

EDUCATION WEEK /

SEMAINE DE L'ÉDUCATION

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

EDUCATION WEEK

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

EDUCATION WEEK

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

CHILD CARE

ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES

TAXATION

TAXI INDUSTRY

WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP /

CHAMPIONNAT MONDIAL

DE HOCKEY JUNIOR

TRANSIT TAX CREDIT

LONG-TERM CARE

FIREFIGHTERS

LANDFILL

TIRE DISPOSAL

YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION

EDUCATION LABOUR DISPUTE

PETITIONS

LANDFILL

LONG-TERM CARE

LANDFILL

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

LONG-TERM CARE

NURSING STAFF

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

BORDER SECURITY

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

RECYCLING

LONG-TERM CARE

GASOLINE PRICES

OPPOSITION DAY

ENERGY POLICY

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): Last Friday I had the honour of attending the OPP recruit graduation ceremony, class number 390, a class of

84 outstanding Ontario citizens. I watched as OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface presented badges to 10 women and 74 men. These 84 constables come from very diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds and

will be stationed in communities throughout our province. I want to mention that of the 84 graduating officers, 16 had previously been active members of the OPP auxiliary.

The significance of this graduation is reflected in the fact that Commissioner Boniface was accompanied by all of her provincial commanders as well as

commissioned officers from right across the province.

On behalf of John Tory and the PC caucus, I want to extend best wishes to all the officers and their families. I want to thank them for considering a policing

career and thank them for choosing the OPP.

I want to mention in my statement the OPP vision, which is Safe Communities, A Secure Ontario; the OPP mission, which is Policing Excellence Through Our People,

Our Work and Our Relationships; and the OPP core values, "Accountability, Respectful Relationships, Fairness, Courage and Caring, Continuous Learning, and Diversity."

While I have the floor today, I have with me in attendance Mr. Joe Francoz from Orillia and his grandson Tyler Godel. They're over here, and I'd like everyone to

welcome them.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): I rise today to recognize World Press Freedom Day, but before I do that, I want to welcome my former colleague,

regional councillor Jack Heath, and my constituent Bernadette Manning from Markham.

More than 500 publishers and journalists were arrested and jailed in 2005 for simply doing their jobs. Dozens remain in prison today serving sentences as long as

20 years. Founded by the United Nations in 1993, World Press Freedom Day is a time to highlight their plight and to defend the freedom of the press.

The press plays an important role in keeping elected officials accountable and the public informed. They keep governments and public institutions from operating

behind a veil of secrecy and allow the public to make intelligent decisions about how they are performing.

Community newspapers play a valuable role in keeping Ontarians aware of successful government initiatives, as well as missteps and scandals. In my riding,

newspapers like the Markham Economist and Sun, as well as all of the York Region News Group papers, stand up for our community and work to keep me and other politicians accountable.

Everyone benefits from a free press allowed to do its job. We are lucky in Canada that governments do not seek to shut out reporters. Every journalist wrongly

jailed deserves our attention and our solidarity. I ask all members of this House to join me in calling on the federal government to push for change in regimes that hinder the freedom of the

press.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): Yesterday the Minister of Community and Social Services released a consultation paper regarding the

government's plan for services for the developmentally disabled in our province. This paper does not address how the most severely disabled will have their day-to-day needs met once they are moved

out of regional centres across our province. Much of the paper is based on the assumption that these individuals have an able advocate -- a family member, a mother or father -- who is willing and

able to speak on their behalf.

The residents of Rideau Regional Centre and its sister facilities are mainly in their 50s and older. Their parents, if they are alive, are older seniors with

their own health problems. This government expects these aging parents to take on the responsibility for accessing services for their severely disabled adult children. We are talking about

individuals with multiple challenges, many compounded by behavioural problems. The services they require are not widely available in the community, and tracking down these services is more than a

full-time job. The regional centres have the critical mass of patients to attract the necessary service providers for these very vulnerable citizens off ours.

On Monday, I asked the minister if she would meet with the Rideau Regional Centre Association when she is at Rideau Regional on Friday. I ask her again: Meet

with the parents who have not had the opportunity to meet with her to date.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend an event in my riding that highlighted the great strides

made by Purolator in energy conservation. In 2005, Purolator, along with others, identified energy savings by using newly introduced energy-efficient lighting at its London terminal. The result is

an impressive 40% reduction in energy consumption and demand, which exceeds Ontario's conservation challenge. As a result, Purolator was recognized by London Hydro. I was there to see London Hydro

present Purolator with a rebate cheque and to personally congratulate Purolator.

Purolator has also made similar electrical retrofits at terminals in five other locations, producing a similar reduction in energy consumption and demand. All

six facilities combined produced an energy savings that is equivalent to taking 45 cars off the road or planting 944 trees.

Purolator has shown that conservation can achieve cost savings. Fostering a culture of conservation is part of the McGuinty government's plan to keep the lights

on for all Ontarians.

TAXATION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I rise today to speak to the McGuinty government's tax-and-spend policies. Specifically, I refer to Bill 53, the

City of Toronto Act, and my concerns with the Liberal government's mandate that involves increasing taxes any way they can. Right now their plan is to let the city of Toronto do it for them. No one

disagrees with the City of Toronto Act, but instead of finding ways to deal with Toronto's fiscal problem, the McGuinty Liberals have decided that the answer is to force the city of Toronto to

reach inside the pockets of Toronto taxpayers.

As well, we all know that yesterday the federal Conservative government announced its first budget, which included 28 tax cuts to help Ontario families, yet

there was nothing being offered in the last provincial budget to help Ontario families.

One of the ways the Liberals are pushing forward is allowing Toronto to add taxes on drinks and entertainment. The Motion Picture Theatre Association of Ontario

stated, "If the city of Toronto adopts an entertainment tax, our patrons will be obliged to pay an entertainment tax to the city in addition to the amusement tax that they already pay to the

province. In addition to this entertainment tax, Bill 53 also allows for levying taxes on parking, liquor, and tobacco sales."

This industry made it clear that they cannot withstand three levels of tax on each movie ticket. Jobs will be lost and communities will suffer.

Another example is the housing industry. They're afraid that the city will impose land transfer taxes. The McGuinty Liberals are saying that the mayor won't

increase this tax, but will they add this to the bill? No. So we have to assume that, given the opportunity, this certainly will become a reality.

This is just another example of the Liberal government tax-and-spend solutions. The only ones who will get hurt are the hard-working families in Ontario.

CANUSA GAMES

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): The CANUSA Games event is an international sporting competition held yearly between the cities of Flint,

Michigan, and Hamilton, Ontario. It's one of the premier competitions of its kind. Many other cities have emulated the idea of twin-city games, but it all started in Hamilton. Our games have been

going the longest and the strongest.

Next year, Hamilton will host the 50th anniversary of the CANUSA Games. Since 1957 and every year since, Hamilton and Flint have participated in a contest where

amateur sporting excellence, friendly rivalry and great camaraderie go hand in hand. It's great to see and experience the international friendships among the young athletes, coaches and community

volunteers on both sides of the border.

The CANUSA Games emphasize participation, fun and enjoyment above all, in addition to the benefits of physical activity, fitness and the pursuit of excellence.

Hamilton volunteers, coaches and staff are working hard on planning the 2007 CANUSA Games, their 50th-year milestone.

Today I sent letters to the Premier, the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Children and Youth Services and to all of our Hamilton area MPPs. We need to work

together to ensure that the 50th annual CANUSA games receive the recognition and celebration they deserve. Let's be champions of teamwork and jointly bring Ontario's active support to this landmark

occasion. Hosting such an auspicious event will require additional funding and resources. The spinoffs for Ontario are well worth it.

I look forward to meeting with my colleagues across the way later on this month. By working together as a Queen's Park team, I can see every ministry stepping up

to the plate to deliver the best CANUSA Games ever in their proud 50-year history.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): Ever since the previous government refused to allow net metering and financial compensation for

renewable energy, small producers have been waiting for a signal from government that they are needed.

That signal came with our government's introduction of the standard offer program. On April 9, I took the opportunity to host 16 farmers in my kitchen for a

meeting with the Honourable Donna Cansfield, the Minister of Energy. The farmers of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, armed with their own research, were ready to tell the minister about projects they were

planning or had already launched on their farms.

In Lambton county, Christine and Jack Greydanus are ready to use cogeneration to produce carbon dioxide and heat for their greenhouses, and power for their local

community.

Simon and Rick Willemse have been researching and charting wind speeds so that they can build a wind turbine and produce an entirely different type of crop on

their farm.

The Baresich brothers and their neighbours want to develop an energy co-operative among farmers in their region of Middlesex.

Lou Jansen is manufacturing the agricultural heat exchangers that he designed. Two exchangers were installed in our own chicken barn last year, and the resulting

conservation of both propane and electricity are very evident in our monthly bills.

The farmers also talked about using bio-digesters to harness the methane that is currently lost in their livestock operations.

If Lambton-Kent-Middlesex is any indication, farmers in Ontario are ready for this important shift in energy policy and more than willing to be part of the

solution that will keep the lights on in Ontario.

ENERGY POLICY

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The member for Mississauga -- excuse me -- Scarborough Centre.

Mr. Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre): The other part of town, Mr. Speaker.

Ontario families want to know that the lights will go on when they hit the switch. They want to know that they're getting value for their money without putting

their children into debt. That is what the McGuinty energy plan is all about.

I am certain that every member in this House can agree on these four principles:

(1) We must make sure we have the infrastructure in place to support Ontario's long-term energy needs.

(2) We need to maximize our existing transmission and generation assets.

(3) We need to build new generation capacity.

(4) We must simultaneously create a culture of energy conservation.

These are the pillars of the McGuinty energy plan.

The plan is working. In just two years we set the wheels in motion to generate over 11,000 megawatts of new capacity, more than any other jurisdiction in all of

North America. This plan will leave our children a legacy of reliable, clean, affordable power, unlike the previous Conservative government. The Harris-Tory party failed to invest in energy,

leaving our supply to crumble. We remember the result: blackouts, uncertainty and irresponsible prices that left Ontario families $1 billion in debt.

The McGuinty government gets it. We know that Ontario families cannot afford to go down that road again, and we refuse to take them there. No matter how hard

John Tory tries to drag us back to those bad old days, we're moving forward successfully into the future.

ANNIVERSARY OF POLISH CONSTITUTION

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): In the history of mankind, a very momentous occasion took place in 1791, the writing and establishment of the

Polish constitution, which for the first time in Europe separated the executive from the judiciary and gave more power to the people.

I know that little did the writers understand at the time what awaited the Polish nation. They experienced war; they experienced destruction; they experienced

oppression. What did the Polish nation really want in 1791? Generation after generation was subjected to oppression. Today, as we raise the Polish flag out in front of this building, we know for

certain that there is a free nation, a nation that has its destiny in its own hands. It can indeed structure its own future. So we all celebrate the constitution of 1791 today, and some of us also

celebrate what Polish-Canadians have done in Ontario to maintain our economy and to exhibit the kind of work habits that all of us appreciate.

I'm delighted to introduce to you today in the gallery those people who have passed on the torch of freedom from one generation to the next, the Polish veterans,

and also members of the Canadian Polish Congress and members of the Polish Scouting Association.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA LOCATION

À USAGE D'HABITATION

Mr. Gerretsen moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 109,

An Act to revise the law governing residential tenancies / Projet de loi 109, Loi révisant le droit régissant la location à usage

d'habitation.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Does the minister wish to make a statement?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): I'll wait until ministerial statements.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

AWARENESS WEEK ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA SEMAINE

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU HARCÈLEMENT SEXUEL

Mr. Hoy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 110,

An Act to proclaim Sexual Harassment Awareness Week / Projet de loi 110, Loi proclamant la Semaine de la sensibilisation au harcèlement

sexuel.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Does the member wish to make a short statement?

Mr. Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): This act to proclaim Sexual Harassment Awareness Week is in memory of Theresa Vince, who was brutally

murdered in Chatham by her workplace supervisor. The first week of June has been chosen as Sexual Harassment Awareness Week because June 2 marks the anniversary of Theresa Vince's death.

The majority of women will experience sexual harassment at some point in their working lives. The objective of proclaiming Sexual Harassment Awareness Week is

to raise and increase public awareness, to foster change in societal attitudes and behaviour surrounding sexual harassment, and to prevent another tragedy from occurring.

MOTIONS

CONSIDERATION OF

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BILLS

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

to move a motion without notice regarding Making the Grade.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Mr. Bradley has asked for consent to move a motion without notice on Making the Grade. Is it agreed?

Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that Bill 93,

An Act to amend the Education Act, replace Bill 94,

An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to

community involvement activity hours and board support, in the motion respecting the May 10 sitting of the House passed yesterday.

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

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: To the motion that the House leader has just asked us to pass, which we did to

accommodate him, I would ask for unanimous consent that we in fact give equal time to the bill he has just removed, which also was part of that program. The students who developed that bill worked

very hard, so I think it's only fair that we commit at least an hour of debate to that bill.

The Deputy Speaker: The member for Oak Ridges has asked for unanimous consent to include a certain bill. Is it the pleasure of the House the

motion carry? I heard a no.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: As you will realize, the previous arrangement was that there be one bill from each of the parties. I'm sure the member for

Oak Ridges is aware of that and is being mischievous this afternoon. I shouldn't say that, because I'm ascribing motives to you. Sorry about that; I withdraw that.

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 Wednesday, May 3, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 123. Is it the pleasure of the House that the

motion carry?

All those in favour, say "aye."

All those opposed, 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 1353 to 1358.

The Deputy Speaker: All those in favour, please stand one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Barrett, Toby

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Delaney, Bob

Duguid, Brad

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

MacLeod, Lisa

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Sergio, Mario

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 61; the nays are 7.

The Deputy Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

EDUCATION WEEK /

SEMAINE DE L'ÉDUCATION

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I rise in the House today to recognize the optimism

and confidence that's building in the publicly funded education system. Teachers, parents, school boards and the McGuinty government are partnering to make students a priority.

During Education Week, schools across the province have good reasons to celebrate. The era of peace and stability is starting to reveal real dividends for our

leaders of tomorrow. Every student is being given the Ontario education advantage through new programs, resources and staff, supported by a $2-billion funding increase since we came to office -- $2

billion.

Appropriately, the theme chosen for Education Week this year is Making Every Student Count.

Durant la semaine de l'éducation, les écoles de partout dans la province ont de bonnes raisons de fêter. Cette ère de paix et de

stabilité commence à porter ses fruits chez nos dirigeants de demain.

Depuis notre arrivée au pouvoir, chaque élève profite de l'avantage éducatif de l'Ontario grâce aux 2 $ milliards que nous avons

injectés dans de nouveaux programmes, de nouvelles ressources et du nouveau personnel.

C'est donc avec à-propos que la semaine de l'éducation a été placée sous le thème « Faire en sorte que chaque

élève compte. »

In elementary schools we're reducing the number of students in our primary classes, providing teachers with training and resources and making the school

environment safer and healthier.

Student achievement is on the rise. An average of 62% of Ontario's grade 6 students are meeting the provincial standard in reading, writing and math. That's a

significant increase from the average of 54% when our government first assumed office in 2002-03. Congratulations to our students. Thanks to the hard work of educators and students across Ontario,

our goal to see 75% of students achieving at the provincial standard by 2008 is within our reach.

These young students will continue to succeed as they make the transition to high school. Right now in Ontario an exciting transformation of the high school

system is already under way. Through our $1.3-billion student success strategy, students are being given greater respect and more learning choices. Students are also being more engaged in the

classroom and supported in working towards all destinations after graduation.

I want to take just a couple of minutes today during Education Week to update the members of the House on the wonderful progress we've made to help every

student succeed in high school. Our student success strategy is making it possible for students to customize their education and continue learning to age 18 or graduation. Our government believes

so strongly in this strategy that we've also set an ambitious goal to increase the graduation rate to 85% by the year 2010.

That is great news. This is a big leap. Just 68% of students were graduating when we came to office. I don't think we realized that that was the rate of

graduation. We've already seen some improvement, with 71% graduating in 2004-05. It's a pledge to cut the dropout rate by half over the next five years.

The student success strategy will help us get there through important initiatives, including expanded co-operative education. We know that 25% more students

took co-operative education last year alone compared to 2003-04. We've also heard from students, teachers and employers that they want more high-quality choices that link learning with the

workplace, and that are relevant and beneficial to everyone. That's why we announced this year that students can apply up to two co-op credits earned after September 2005 toward the 18 compulsory

credits needed for graduation.

During my first month as Minister of Education, I've been energized by the inspiring stories I've heard about the positive impact of workplace learning. In

Windsor, in my hometown, I visited the Children's Safety Village of Windsor and Essex county, which partnered with Windsor Fire and Rescue Services to create workplace placements. This exciting

co-op allows students to shadow firefighters in all aspects of their career, including training sessions, real-life emergency response and public education.

I also heard about grade 11 co-op students in Sudbury. They're learning valuable construction skills while working with a local contractor to build a small

bungalow. In Niagara, a co-op student is gaining practical hands-on knowledge at a local dairy. And finally, at Queen's University in Kingston, a grade 12 co-op student is working as a research

assistant in the cytogenetics and DNA research lab. The budding scientist is helping with clinical research lab work.

These are real students and real employers who are reaping the rewards of our expanded co-op education program.

We've also put other key components of our student success strategy in place over the last couple of years. More than 200 technological education courses were

added and 500 current programs were upgraded, including robotics and community technology, through a $45-million investment. There are now student success leaders in all 72 school boards and 1,300

new high school teachers, including 800 dedicated to student success programs in Ontario's schools. We funded 131 lighthouse pilot projects during the past two years through a $36-million

investment.

These projects are helping students stay in school, accumulate needed credits, take programs linked to colleges and encourage those who have left school to

return.

Within the next year, Ontario's high school students can expect to start benefiting from several additional student success strategy initiatives. Specialist

high-skills majors will begin to be phased into the regular high school diploma for students who want to excel in areas such as arts, business, information technology, construction and

manufacturing. Yes, we are putting the arts back into education. New dual-credit programs will be offered so students can earn several credits toward their diploma through college, apprenticeship

and university courses.

There is also proposed legislation that, if passed in its present form, would keep students learning to age 18 or graduation.

The McGuinty government is confident that the student success strategy will work. We understand there's more at stake than ever before for students to get a

high school education that is high quality and meaningful, and prepares them for a variety of post-secondary destinations. By maintaining high standards and transforming our high schools, we're

helping more students reach their full potential, because they can customize their education to match their individual goals and interests.

So we are not going to waver in our target of graduating 85% of our students by the year 2010. Imagine the entire population of the city of Waterloo wearing

caps and gowns. That's about 90,000 people, the same number of additional students we want graduating by the year 2010.

En maintenant des normes élevées et en transformant nos écoles secondaires, nous aidons plus d'élèves à réaliser leur plein

potentiel, car ils peuvent personnaliser leur éducation en fonction de leurs objectifs et intérêts particuliers.

Ainsi, nous ne dérogerons pas à notre but de voir 85 % des élèves obtenir leur diplôme d'ici 2010.

Ce serait comme si toute la population de Waterloo était habillée en tenue de cérémonie de remise des diplômes. Ça fait

90 000 personnes, soit le nombre supplémentaire d'élèves qui recevront un diplôme d'ici 2010.

With a clear strategy and a bold graduation target, it's an exciting time to be in the education field. I feel fortunate to be the new Minister of Education

when the Ontario government is totally committed to listening and engaging everyone in education. I can promise my colleagues today that I will continue to work in partnership with the education

sector to build on this positive momentum.

I want to thank the parents, teachers, students, principals, employers and all other educators who put extra effort and time into giving us feedback and

implementing these new, exciting programs. Working together, we're making education exciting for all students by providing them with the learning choices they need to succeed, and we are building a

well-educated, highly skilled workforce that will become Ontario's economic edge in the 21st century. Ontario will prosper tomorrow because we're investing in the education of our youth today.

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): Today it is my pleasure to introduce the proposed Residential Tenancies Act,

2006. This proposed legislation is another tool we will use to build stronger communities across this province. The proposed legislation represents the results of our comprehensive consultation

with the groups that would be most affected by the proposed legislation; that is, both landlords and tenants.

Speaker, I would like to introduce, in the audience today, Mr. Dan McIntyre of the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations. His input and extremely hard work

contributed greatly to the reforms in this bill. He's sitting right up there.

We have consulted with housing experts to ensure that we took into account the current and future health of our residential housing market. All Ontarians need

a safe, secure and affordable place to live, and that is why we are introducing proposed legislation that we believe is balanced and fair. The proposed reforms would give tenants, who are often our

most vulnerable, more protection while keeping our residential housing market strong.

Let me provide you with some of the features of this most important proposed legislation.

For tenants, the proposed legislation would result in better-maintained buildings, a fairer annual rent increase guideline and a new above-guideline rent

increase system for utilities and capital expenditures.

One of our biggest proposed changes to the rental housing system is the elimination of the unfair default eviction process. The Ontario Ombudsman wrote in his

2003-04 annual report that "the default eviction process has resulted in large numbers of individuals being evicted without mediation or a hearing on the merits ... such evictions may have

Under our proposed legislation, all eviction applications would automatically go to a hearing or mediation. Adjudicators would have to consider the tenant's

circumstances and, in the case of evictions for rent arrears, all relevant outstanding tenant-landlord matters.

As for better-maintained buildings, the proposed legislation would give tenants the ability to stop all rent increases until serious outstanding work orders or

maintenance problems were resolved.

To ensure fairer rents, the annual rent increase guideline would be based on a real cost indicator: the consumer price index. Annual rent increases would be

more closely aligned with increases in the cost of living. Another proposed change is to create a new system for granting above-guideline increases that would be based on real and necessary

investment and that would provide for reductions once utility costs fall or capital improvements have been paid for.

With the proposed legislation, we would also help landlords protect their investment and offer incentives to them to maintain and invest in their buildings.

Under the proposed legislation, we would lower interest paid on rent deposits by basing it on the consumer price index to reflect current market conditions. Currently, a landlord must pay 6%

interest on rent deposits.

Our government would also create a faster eviction process for tenants who cause wilful or excessive damage or who are interfering with the reasonable

enjoyment of a landlord's home. The proposed fast-track eviction process would cut in half the time required to evict these tenants.

The other goal of our proposed legislation is to promote investment to keep our rental markets strong. Our government wants to ensure that the healthy rental

market we are currently experiencing continues. Ontario's vacancy rate is high. The vacancy rate in 2005 was 3.7%, and it is projected to remain that high until at least the year 2009. Average

going-in rents are static or falling. In 2005, average rent increased by less than 1% -- less than the rate of inflation. For example, in Toronto the 2005 vacancy rate for the least expensive

apartments -- that's the lowest 20% of the rental housing market -- was 5.5%. As well, the average rent was $726, just a $1 increase over 2004. Since 2003, rent increases for these units have been

below inflation. Tenants are benefiting from these favourable conditions when negotiating starting rents. The proposed Residential Tenancies Act would continue to allow landlords and tenants to

negotiate starting rents on vacant units so that tenants could continue to benefit from the renter's market.

To help tenants even further, we would give landlords greater flexibility to offer rent discounts, up to three months' rent, to attract new tenants.

The proposed legislation would also encourage investment in the rental housing market by continuing to exempt units built after 1991 from rent controls. These

provisions are and remain significant contributors to a favourable investment climate that would foster the renewal of Ontario's rental housing supply.

Of course, affordability will always be an issue for low-income tenants, and helping vulnerable groups such as low-income tenants is a priority for this

government. The proposed legislation is but one part of our integrating housing strategy to improve the availability, affordability and quality of housing across this province. This strategy

includes our $365-million total investment in the Canada-Ontario affordable housing program, the Ontario rent bank program and the Ontario strong communities rent supplement program.

Our final element of building a more balanced, fairer rental housing system is addressing the concerns that both landlords and tenants have with the Ontario

Rental Housing Tribunal processes. Both groups believe that much more could be done to make the tribunal more customer-focused and accessible and its processes more understandable. I will be

assistance with applications. As well, to reflect the spirit of the new proposed legislation and the tribunal's new mandate, we will be changing its name to the Landlord and Tenant Board.

In conclusion, we are ushering in a new era of tenant-landlord relations with this proposed legislation. We want to bring balance back to Ontario's rental

housing market and keep our rental housing market vital and robust. I think that this piece of proposed legislation will achieve these ends. I'm confident that with the proposed legislation

introduced today, we will bring about the kind of rental system that will bring strong communities across the province.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Earlier today, our government launched HealthForceOntario, a comprehensive and

far-reaching strategy to improve our province's health care system by improving one of its fundamental components: its human resources. Shortages of health care professionals are a worldwide

phenomenon, and these shortages, these challenges, will increase in the coming years due to factors like an aging population, an aging workforce and increases in chronic diseases.

Our government is determined to address this issue head-on. Our goal on this issue, on all issues, is to look at the bigger picture. Our health human resources

strategy, HealthForceOntario, is designed to address Ontario's health care issues for the next five to 10 years. Three fundamental components: new roles, develop Ontario's health care workforce,

and work for Ontario to compete for health care professionals. Four new health care roles: physician assistant, nurse endoscopist, surgical first assist, and clinical specialist radiation

therapist.

The second part of our HealthForceOntario strategy is developing Ontario's health care workforce. In order to do this, we will establish a one-stop centre for

internationally educated health professionals to quickly, clearly and easily obtain the information and counselling they need.

The third part of our strategy is to better equip our province to compete for health care professionals. We want health care professionals the world over to

come to Ontario and practise their skills here. We're also committed to giving international medical graduates increased opportunities, and we filled 200 spots this year.

Finally, we're going to aggressively recruit the best and brightest health care workers to our province through a marketing and recruitment body, including a

single portal for all health job opportunities.

These innovative reforms will make Ontario a better place for health care professionals to work. But what's far more important is that it will permit Ontario

to provide better health care to its citizens. They're the big winners.

I'm tremendously proud of HealthForceOntario. I know we will be seeing positive results from all these reforms for many years to come.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Responses?

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm not sure that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and

Housing had enough time to deliver his address. We'd entertain unanimous consent for more time for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The Deputy Speaker: The member for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke has asked unanimous consent for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to

have more time. Agreed? I think I heard a no.

The member for Oak Ridges.

EDUCATION WEEK

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): After hearing the Minister of Education's statement, it will be obvious to all that the art of spin and

substance is alive and well in the Ministry of Education.

The minister has the audacity to stand in her place and boast of an era of peace and stability. This rhetoric comes on the eve of a strike by 876 educational

instructional assistants who provide care to special-needs children in 186 schools in the city of London and in Elgin, Oxford and Middlesex counties.

While this minister tells this Legislature that schools across the province have good reason to celebrate, Pat Wilson, vice-president of the local CUPE

bargaining unit responds with these words, "We would rather be working than walking the picket line. Our struggle is about getting more time to devote to students, because the children deserve

better."

While the minister proudly claims that every student is being given the Ontario education advantage, she, her predecessor and the Premier have turned their

backs on children with special needs by refusing to invest in their special educational supports.

The minister and her government continue to spin multi-billion dollar numbers, but they callously ignore the individual needs of the most vulnerable children

in this province.

Until the minister can stand in her place and announce that she and her government will keep Dalton McGuinty's promise to autistic children, their boasting

will ring hollow to all who know the truth.

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): Here we go again from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, another bill presented in the House that

will not reach the objectives put out in the bill. As it was stated in the National Post on May 2 -- and I agree:

"Dalton McGuinty's Liberals -- who never met a bad election promise they couldn't keep or a good one they could -- will introduce a new rent control bill. It

will not go as far as Mr. McGuinty promised during the last election campaign, it apparently will go some way to punishing landlords and tenants by taking away more of their rights to a free market

in rents."

The minister said this will be good for all good landlords and good tenants, but this is not what the legislation is required for. This legislation was

supposed to be required to deal with problem areas. In fact, in my constituency the greatest number of calls are from landlords who can't deal with the problem of bad tenants. This legislation will

do nothing to help that situation, only make it worse.

Once again, I think the minister is pushing forward legislation just for the sake of meeting an election promise. The rental market vacancy is at a historic

high right now -- around 3.8% -- higher than it's been for years. This legislation does not do what it's supposed to do. The proposed changes are unnecessary and would have a negative impact on

rental housing. Why would you introduce a piece of legislation that (1) doesn't come close to meeting the McGuinty election promise; and (2) is going to destroy the market that has come full

circle and is working without your government's interfering?

What can I say? I even hear that Mr. McGuinty's own cabinet ministers don't agree with this piece of legislation. Once again the Liberals are missing the mark

totally.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): I'm pleased to respond to the statement from the Minister of Health. What we see today is yet

another announcement from the Ministry of Health, this time about health human resources. He announced new roles in health care but was short on details. How many more announcements will happen

before we see these new positions in our hospitals and doctors' offices?

The minister also announced a new website, but Ontarians know, like the government's wait times website, that access to a website does not mean access to

patient care. Again, how many announcements will we see before this website is up? How many before the centre is set up? There have already been over 20 announcements on family health teams, and

those aren't doing so well. We hear that there are just a few in operation, so should we expect at least that many announcements?

One thing that makes me think there are going to be a lot of announcements before we see any progress is that there are no details, no dates, no timelines and,

most importantly, no dollars. In fact, the minister today admitted in his press conference that he doesn't even know yet who will fill these new health care roles. And there are more questions that

need answers: Who will be eligible? Where will they train? What will they cost? Where is the Liberal plan?

Our party has a proud record on expanding the role of health care practitioners in Ontario. We created nurse practitioners. We expanded the role of registered

practical nurses. Our government hired over 12,000 new nurses. We created the first new medical school in over three decades, the Northern Ontario Medical School.

The government is failing in its attempts to keep its promises to hire 8,000 nurses. We know and the minister knows that 1,000 of the 3,000 he has hired are

temporary. Once again, the Minister of Health shows that he can hold a glitzy press conference with fancy backdrops. But when will he actually address the health care situation in Ontario?

EDUCATION WEEK

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): The Minister of Education begins by saying, "Student achievement is on the rise." I want to tell you

how --

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Order.

Mr. Marchese: I want to tell the Liberals how they have achieved this. Here's how they've done it: They have manipulated the test. What

they've done is, they have reduced the testing time from 12 hours to six hours. They have increased multiple-choice questions to more than ever before, and on the multiple-choice questions they

have now allowed for the use of calculators. In spite of the denials of the minister and the EQAO, they have made the tests simpler, and that's how they are able to get an increase in student

achievement. I guarantee that their numbers are going to go up this year and next year because they will continue to manipulate the test.

The reality is this: ESL students are being shortchanged. We have more ESL students than we've ever had, yet we have fewer and fewer ESL classes. We have

school boards robbing from different programs to provide for special education because the money that should be given to special ed is simply not enough. More and more of our boards are having

deficits than ever before, and they're having to cut vital programs to make ends meet. The transportation funding formula that needed to be changed has still not been changed. School boards are

crying for more money for the teacher salary line that's causing deficits, and the government that promised to fix the Conservative funding formula has yet to do this. They have not changed that

formula.

Our educational system is in trouble. They need support. In spite of all this blah, blah, blah from this minister and this government, our student needs need

to be addressed, and the Liberals are simply not doing it.

LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): Then we go to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. I want to say this for your benefit and the benefit

of the rump here. "Here's a promise: We will get rid of vacancy decontrol, which allows unlimited rent increases on a unit when a tenant leaves. It will be gone." That was a Liberal promise. Here's

another promise.

Interjections.

Mr. Marchese: The other promise this government --

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Member, please take a seat. Stop the clock. I would like the government side to come to order while

this member has the floor.

The member for Trinity-Spadina.

Mr. Marchese: Here is the other promise: "Ontario Liberals will restore real rent controls and provide a variety of measures to protect

tenants. The Liberal plan is clear. We will bring in real rent control legislation within one year."

Today's announcement was an egregious betrayal of those promises. They have maintained vacancy decontrol, and what does it mean? It means every time a tenant

leaves, they get whacked by increases in rents. The theory is that with an increased supply of units, the market will drive rents down. The reality is that rents have been increasing across Ontario

whether the vacancy rate is high or low. Rents for two-bedroom apartments increased in Kitchener by 26.5% between 1998 and 2005, while the vacancy rate mostly increased. That's what tenants are

facing in this province. It is an egregious betrayal of tenants.

Not only that, this government says it is going to fast-track the eviction process. Imagine that -- fast-track the eviction process. Let me tell you the

current reality: 92% of all applications heard at the tribunal are from landlords. In 2005, the tribunal processed close to 70,000 applications to evict tenants from their homes. And this minister

says, "We're going to fast-track the eviction process even more." The tenants have a lot to thank you for, Minister, and we're looking forward to debating your bill.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): In response to the statement by the minister, there are concerns expressed today by RNAO and ONA that the

position of physician assistant will not be regulated. That's why they say today, "There is a lot we don't know about how this new role will function, how it will be regulated and what protection

exists for patients if they have a complaint about the ... care they receive."

Here's a second concern that's been raised by both ONA and RNAO with respect to this recruitment from abroad: "`This is a negative signal for nurses here at

home,' emphasizes Doris Grinspun, RNAO executive director. `It is a signal that the McGuinty government has become distracted with quick fixes to the nursing shortage and is not addressing the

serious shortcomings Ontario nurses are facing. The focus must be on homemade solutions rather than looking at luring nurses from other, often more needy, countries.'"

Lots of concerns were expressed with this announcement today.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. As I travel the province, people from all walks of life are telling

me that they are working harder than ever but are falling further behind. They point to the McGuinty health tax. They point to the skyrocketing hydro rates. They point to soaring property

assessments occurring on your watch. Their experience is, of course, that all of these charges, which are directly or indirectly your responsibility, are more than exceeding the modest wage

increases they have been receiving.

GST, an employment tax credit for working Ontarians, help for students with their books, and even a physical fitness and sports tax credit, which your Minister of Health Promotion likes even if you

don't.

Can the Premier confirm that he supports all of this tax relief given to Ontarians in yesterday's budget?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I am delighted to receive the question, and I hope that the leader of the

official opposition and his colleagues will take note of what happens when a government is preceded by another government which acted in a fiscally responsible fashion. This Prime Minister Harper

government inherited a wonderful legacy from the previous government and found itself in a very strong fiscal position.

Contrast that, Mr. Speaker, with what you and I inherited on this side of the House when we first formed the government. We inherited a fiscal mess, which was

the result of determined and dedicated irresponsibility on the part of the previous government. We ended up drowning in a deficit. The federal Tories ended up swimming in cash. Believe me, I envy

their state of affairs and I only wish on behalf of the people of Ontario that the previous government had acted responsibly when dealing with their money.

Mr. Tory: Only this Premier could call the sponsorship scandal and the hundreds of millions of dollars that were defrauded from Canadian

taxpayers strong fiscal management on the part of the previous Liberal government.

That was a very interesting dissertation from the Premier, but let's try answering the question.

employment tax credit; a tax credit for workers for their tools; a tax credit for students for their books; a physical fitness and sports activity tax credit; pension income relief, and so on.

All you have to do is stand up in your place and tell us -- the answer is yes or no -- do you support these tax relief measures introduced by the government of

Canada yesterday? Yes or no?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Yesterday, he was asking me a question that led me to believe he was running against Mayor Miller, and now I get the sense

that he longs for life in the federal government by asking about federal policy.

I'll tell you, we have nothing to do with that particular budget, but what we can do is work together to ensure that Ontario gets its fair share when it comes

to dealing with the fiscal imbalance. There is something to which Mr. Tory can lend his support. An important question that Ontarians are asking themselves is whether or not we are going to be

supported by Mr. Tory and the Conservative Party of Ontario when it comes to ensuring that the people of Ontario in fact have their fair share of the fiscal imbalance allocated to them. That is a

very important question. I think that is more relevant to the debate that will be taking place inside this Legislature and indeed throughout our province.

Mr. Tory: I can only say to the Premier that not once but twice I have met with Stephen Harper -- before you did in both cases -- once when he

was Leader of the Opposition to support --

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Order. Stop the clock. Once again, I ask the government benches to come to order while someone has the

floor. The leader of the official opposition.

Mr. Tory: I met with him once when he was Leader of the Opposition to support the all-party resolution in this Legislature to support

Ontario's case, and once since he was Prime Minister, where I did exactly the same thing.

Yesterday's budget was well received by working families all across Ontario, because finally somebody has recognized their plight of working harder and falling

further behind, and somebody's given them some of their hard-earned money back. In light of this good news, the only nightmare scenario would come if the McGuinty government decided to tax any of

that money back. We've seen that before.

My question is this -- and I recognize that we'll have to take the answer with a large grain of salt, given our prior experience. The question is very simple:

Will you stand in your place today and indicate to this House and to the people of Ontario that you will guarantee Ontario families that you will not be raising their taxes?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I say to the member opposite that we long for the day when we will have our books in order in this province. We are working

long and hard to achieve that objective and we hope to be there sooner rather than later. But there's an important lesson to be drawn by all Ontarians, and it's the difference between a government,

whether federal or provincial, that assumes its proper responsibility to manage the books carefully, understanding that we don't have any money other than the money that is given to us by Ontario

taxpayers.

Again I say to the member opposite, who is apparently determined today to talk about federal tax cuts in an Ontario Legislature, we long for the day -- and

hopefully it will come sooner rather than later -- when we can, together, in this House, provide some relief to the people of Ontario by way of their financial contribution to our government,

because we have been working long and hard to restore stability and integrity to the management of Ontario finances.

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. We can talk about the careful management that takes in $6 billion in

extra revenue and still ends up with a deficit of $2.5 billion, but that's for another day.

Yesterday, the federal budget provided for an extra $2 billion to be spent on agriculture over the next two years. This year alone, they are allocating more

than 1.5 billion new dollars towards this critical sector. This has been met with positive feedback. Dave Start from the Oxford corn producers says he's glad that the federal government recognized

the importance of agriculture to the Canadian economy. Martin Lang, president of the Glengarry Federation of Agriculture, was encouraged to hear that they put in $500 million more than

expected.

My question to the Premier is this: If the federal government has now announced a significant increase in their budgeted assistance, when can we expect you to

come to the table and reverse the disastrous spending cutbacks you have planned for this year that were announced in your budget? When are you going to reverse those?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Again, I appreciate the question, but in fairness to the member opposite,

he must be misinformed, because farmers know and Ontarians know that we continually increase the amount of funding that we make available, either through operating dollars or through extraordinary

assistance, to farmers who find themselves struggling.

Now that we've been told there's a certain amount of money that's going to be flowing to Canadian farmers right across the country, the real issue is, are

Ontario farmers going to get their fair share? That's the issue. I'm asking, with all sincerity, that Mr. Tory stand in his place and commit to this House, but more importantly to Ontario farmers,

that he will stand side by side with our government to ensure that we get our fair share of those dollars for Ontario farmers.

Mr. Tory: The only place from which Ontario farmers are not getting their fair share is from the McGuinty government, which has reduced

planned spending on agriculture by $284 million in this year's budget.

One of your favourites is "compare and contrast." This is one of your favourites. Let's compare and contrast these Liberal representatives talking about the

federal budget. We have the Welland Liberal MP, "Maloney had some praise -- he said the winery excise tax reduction and more money to assist agriculture were good for Niagara's economy." And then

we had -- proving there's hope yet -- Peterborough Liberal MPP Jeff Leal pointing "to the federal agriculture funding and the tax credit for people who buy transit passes as positive initiatives

for the Peterborough area."

Let's compare that with Jim Wheeler, ADM of your Ministry of Agriculture and Food, commenting on the plight of Ontario farmers and saying, "How long should

society support the production of a commodity that shows no hope of being profitable?" -- Ontario Farmer, March 28, 2006.

Is this the policy of your government? Does this man's comment, Mr. Wheeler's, reflect the policies your government?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I take it from that that Mr. Tory is not prepared to stand with Ontario farmers and, if necessary, take up our cause with

the federal government to ensure that Ontario farmers get their fair share.

Again, from one question to the next it's difficult to figure out where this leader and this party are coming from. In the first question, they're telling us

that we should be spending less by way of supports, either through health care or education or protections for the environment or support for farmers or support for the forestry sector or support

for manufacturing and that we should be putting more money into tax cuts. But in this particular question, he's saying no, we have to spend more money to support Ontario farmers.

Our record is very clear. We have stood beside farmers through thick and thin. We're now, this year, putting $120 million more for farmers than the Tories

invested in their last year in government, by way of contrast. It's hard for us on this side of the House to figure out from one question to the next where this leader and his party stand.

Mr. Tory: What is very clear is that I will continue to stand with Ontario farmers. The question is, when are you going to start? That's the

real question.

When Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Ron Bonnett had a look at your recent McGuinty budget, he was quoted as saying, "We need proof the government

is serious about supporting agriculture in Ontario, and yesterday's budget offered none."

In commenting on yesterday's federal budget, the London Free Press said that Ron Bonnett was encouraged by yesterday's budget. Albert Witteveen, president of

the Niagara North Federation of Agriculture, said, "It's good news" and added that it "should create optimism out there in the agriculture community, especially for the grains and oilseeds

farmers." The CFIB says that confidence in our agriculture sector is declining and they expect their businesses are going to be weaker than 12 months ago.

Premier, we need action from your government. My question is this: By what specific date are you and your minister going to come forward with specific measures

to help the farmers of Ontario? When are you going to bring forward a plan to help the farmers?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I want to welcome the leader of the official opposition in lending apparently some modest support to Ontario farmers. It's

unfortunate that it was induced as a result of a federal budget.

But let's get to the issue of the day, and that is just how much of this new money is going to in fact come to Ontario farmers. I can tell you that that's the

question that weighs heavily on the minds of Ontario farmers. I can also say that we have, throughout our mandate, worked closely with Ontario farmers. Each and every year, we have provided

extraordinary assistance to farmers. I think we have a total of close to $800 million by way of extraordinary assistance that we have brought to the table.

What we're saying to the federal government at this time, and I'd ask Mr. Tory to relay this to his colleagues on Parliament Hill, is that we are eager to sit

down with them and work out a long-term plan to ensure that farmers no longer have to run to Parliament Hill or Queen's Park on an ongoing basis. The Minister of Agriculture has extended that

invitation on an ongoing basis to the federal government --

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. New question?

CHILD CARE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Once upon a time, before Stephen Harper became Prime Minister, before

even Paul Martin became Prime Minister, Dalton McGuinty promised to invest $300 million of Ontario money to create 25,000 new child care spaces for Ontario's kids. My question is, when is the

McGuinty government actually going to invest $300 million of Ontario money to create those new child care spaces that children so desperately need?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): When the leader of the NDP begins to wonder why Ontario families are not

going to be able to benefit from the commitments we had made jointly with the federal government when it comes to ensuring there was an adequate supply of new, quality, affordable child care spaces

in Ontario, he need look no further than in the mirror. His party was more than complicit in ensuring we had an election here in Canada, and they did not take the necessary steps to ensure that

that child care agreement was protected. If the leader of the NDP wonders why Ontario families will no longer be able to benefit from that remarkable achievement, that new program of bringing child

care to the people of Canada, again I say he need look no further than in the very mirror itself.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, everyone knows that Stephen Harper is not a supporter of child care. But Dalton McGuinty, on the other hand, claims that

he is a supporter of child care. It's Dalton McGuinty who promised to spend $300 million of Ontario money to create 25,000 new child care spaces. I think what's bothering people is that it is the

McGuinty government that has gone deadbeat on this promise. In the past year, you had $3 billion of revenue windfall, but you couldn't find money for child care. Premier, don't blame the federal

government. We know where they're headed. What's your reason for your failure to invest Ontario money in new child care spaces?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: It's not surprising to find that the Conservatives are apologists for the federal Conservative government, but it is

passing strange to see that the leader of the NDP is now saying that somehow Prime Minister Harper bears no responsibility when it comes to what's going to happen to the promise of child care in

the province of Ontario. Apparently, Prime Minister Harper had nothing to do with the promise of child care in Manitoba or Saskatchewan or British Columbia or Nunavut, for that matter.

We are pleased that we were able to put in place 14,000 new spaces. We've made that perfectly clear to Ontario families. We would like to be able to do more.

If the leader of the NDP were to speak to his colleague on Parliament Hill, maybe they could move the federal government in the right direction so that together we could bring to Ontario families

what we had arranged with the previous government, what would have been a total of 25,000 new child care spaces for Ontario families.

Mr. Hampton: I sense some desperation on the part of the Premier. The Premier, who promised $300 million for new child care spaces, has failed

to deliver and is now looking around, anywhere and everywhere, to find someone to blame. This is not about Saskatchewan, it's not about Nova Scotia, it's not about Manitoba, it's not about Alberta;

it's about Dalton McGuinty, who promised $300 million of Ontario money to create 25,000 new child care spaces, and now, three years into the McGuinty government, when you had a $3-billion revenue

windfall, you failed to keep that promise. Children want to know, parents want to know when Dalton McGuinty is going to keep his promise and stop blaming everybody else in Canada for his

failure.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Ontario families and Ontario parents and Ontario children, were they to voice their concern, would see it differently. I

think what they really want to know is whether the leader of the NDP is prepared to join our government in making our case to the federal government to ensure that this new federal government will

support the agreement we struck with the old federal government to ensure that Ontario families benefit from 25,000 new child care spaces. That's what we went to the wall for; that's what we earned

for Ontario families. Then we had a change in government, and the question we have now is whether Mr. Hampton stands with our government in our case that we're making before the federal government

to ensure that we get those 25,000 spaces.

ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier again: Your speeches blaming the federal government, saying they're not sending you

enough money, might have some credibility if you actually spent the money you do receive from the federal government on the purposes it was intended for.

Let's take affordable housing: The federal government sent you $150 million -- federal money -- for affordable housing, but your own budget shows that you

invested only $62 million in affordable housing. The question is, where did the rest of that federal money that was intended for affordable housing go? What did you use it for? Don't blame them if

you're not going to spend the money they send you for the very purposes it was intended for. So tell us, where did that money go?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): The leader of the NDP is wrong. Every penny we have received from the federal

government and that we're putting in ourselves is being spent on affordable housing.

It was about a year ago today that the historic agreement was signed with the federal government so that $702 million of federal and provincial money could be

invested in affordable housing. As a result, that housing has started to be built across this province. We implemented an early build program, a strong start program, that made sure that projects

that were ready to go were actually being built. As a matter of fact, we've had some very good meetings with our service managers, who are making sure that that housing is being delivered at the

local level, to make sure that housing is being built as quickly as possible. Right now, over 1,600 units have been built and another 1,600 units are under construction. Every penny of federal

money and provincial money allocated for housing has been spent.

Mr. Hampton: I think housing advocates will really be interested to know that under the McGuinty government we now have phantom housing. But

it's not just affordable housing. There are 443,000 children in Ontario -- one in six -- living in poverty. The federal government responded to that by creating the national child benefit

supplement. But the McGuinty government claws back that federal money, $1,500 a year per child, from the very poorest of Ontario's children. My question to the Premier is, why is the McGuinty

government taking $1,500 a year of federal money from the poorest children in Ontario and then blaming the federal government?

Hon. Mr. Gerretsen: I refer that to the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): I want to tell the leader

of the third party what we have done with the money we received. All the money we received went towards children. First of all, we have flowed through permanently the July 2004, 2005 and 2006

national child benefit money. So it's done, and the money has been used to offer services to children. It's going towards Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, the Ontario child care supplement for

working families, children's mental health programs and children's treatment centres. So I'm asking the leader of the third party which one he wants us to stop financing.

Mr. Hampton: It is your government's record. You complain that Ottawa doesn't send you enough money for child care, but you fail to make your

own $300-million investment in child care. You complain that Ottawa doesn't send you enough money for kids, but you take $1,500 a year of federal money away from the poorest kids in Ontario. You

complain about affordable housing, but the money that the federal government sends to Ontario for affordable housing hasn't been invested in affordable housing. People can't find the affordable

housing.

My question to the Premier is this: With this kind of record on child care, with your failure in terms of the national child benefit, with your failure in

terms of affordable housing, why do you expect anyone to believe you when you complain that it's all the federal government's fault and Dalton McGuinty doesn't have any responsibility for the

failures in these areas?

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Mrs. Meilleur: I wanted to refer it to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Hon. Mr. Gerretsen: Let's just go over the facts. The actual number of housing units that will be created with the affordable housing money,

the agreement that was signed last year, is 9,000 rental units, 4,500 ownership units, 1,500 northern units and 5,000 housing allowance units to help low-income individuals. Housing allowance

agreements have been signed with just about every service manager out there, and we expect that the vacant units that exist around this province will be made available at a lower rent for

low-income individuals in the very near future.

We're on this on a day-to-day basis, because we know that housing is absolutely essential for our most vulnerable in society. We want to make sure that all of

the money that we're investing and that the federal government is investing goes into either home ownership, housing allowances or affordable housing programs. It's being done as we speak.

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): A question to the Premier: Yesterday, as you know, we saw a budget coming out of the new Conservative government

in Ottawa that cut taxes for working families and seniors in Ontario. It was a budget that kept its promises, unlike what we've seen here in Ontario in recent times under Dalton McGuinty, full of

broken promises and the largest tax hike in the history of the province; a government that tries to hoover up every last penny out of the pocketbooks of hard-working, middle-class families in this

province.

Premier, my colleague the Leader of the Opposition asked you a very direct question: Are you going to move into the tax room caused by the tax reductions out

of Ottawa? Are we going to see an increase in taxes coming from the McGuinty government to take up that tax room?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I know they're looking forward to the budget of next year, and we look

forward to delivering that at the appropriate time, but in the meantime, we will stay focused on our priorities, which we firmly believe are the priorities of Ontarians.

We're improving the quality of their health care. More specifically, we're getting wait times down. I think that's really important to the people of

Ontario.

When it comes to education, we're getting class sizes down and student achievement up, and we want to get the Learning to 18 initiative under way. At the

post-secondary level, we have a massive investment that will bring about 75,000 new spaces in training, colleges and universities.

When it comes to supporting the economy, we'll continue to work with our farmers, manufacturers, people in the forestry sector, and to build on our successes

in the auto sector. We will continue to bring about protections for the environment so that we can guarantee to our children, and grandchildren in particular, that they will enjoy the quality of

life that we experience here today. Those are the priorities of the people of Ontario, and we will remain focused on their priorities.

Mr. Hudak: I find it disconcerting that the Premier will not say he is not going to jump into the tax room now created by lower taxes coming

from Ottawa and hope the Premier will clarify that he has no intention to further raise taxes on working families and seniors in Ontario. Premier, taxes are way up, hydro is way up, gas prices are

way up, home heating costs are way up -- and new user fees. Thanks to Dalton McGuinty's recent budgets, they can no longer afford tax hikes like they've seen from you in the past.

I know that your finance minister is now, interestingly, in the Republic of Ireland, trying to sell his big spending and big taxing budget. Premier, you know

that Ireland reduced their taxes significantly, shrunk the size of government and saw a major expansion of jobs that's the envy of the world.

Are we going to see from your finance minister a conversion on the road to Dublin? Is he going to come back with eyes open to lowering taxes or will we

continue to see a gluttonous attack on the pocket --

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The question has been asked. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I don't know if there was a question there or not, Speaker, but I did like the line about "conversion on the road to

Dublin."

We will remain focused on the task before us. We want to improve the quality of public education for all Ontario children. The party opposite wants to take

money out of public schools and invest those in private schools. We see things differently.

We've invested ever more money in health care. The party opposite would take $2.5 billion out of health care.

We think it's really important to eliminate coal-fired generation in the province of Ontario. The party opposite would put their faith in a technology that has

yet to be invented.

I think there are some really good contrasts setting up for the people of Ontario as we move forward. But more than anything else, at this point in our mandate

we remain focused on the most important job at hand, which is improving the quality of public services that Ontarians are entitled to rely upon.

TAXI INDUSTRY

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Premier. Taxi drivers are worried after a wave of violence against cabbies. One of

the victims, Mahmood Bhatti, a 40-year-old father of four, is dead. He was dead after an assailant attacked him from behind, stabbing him in the neck, killing him.

One way to help prevent violence against taxi drivers is to exempt safety shields from provincial sales tax, to make those safety shields more affordable to

those who want them. Premier, will the government consider taking action to make that more affordable?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Let me take the opportunity to express my sympathies, I'm sure on behalf

of all members on all sides of this House, to the family and friends of the victim who experienced this terrible tragedy, and of course this falls hard upon the heels of other similar incidents. I

think we all feel for the jeopardy, apparently, which some of our taxi drivers are now placing themselves in simply by going to work every day.

I say to the member opposite that it is the first time I've heard of this particular proposal. Let me just say that if there is anything our government might

do that would have a real and lasting impact that would promote the safety of our taxi drivers, we are more than prepared to consider that.

Mr. Tabuns: As the Premier has indicated, driving cabs is one of the most dangerous jobs. It ranks in the top 10 most dangerous in terms of

occupational safety. It ranks in the top five most dangerous in terms of being a victim of crime. Each day on the job, cabbies put themselves in harm's way. The least we can do to act to protect

the lives of taxi drivers is to move forward on an exemption from the provincial sales tax. Is your government prepared to act quickly on this measure or others?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, I want to commend the member opposite for the spirit with which this advice is tendered, and to repeat once again

that we are more than prepared to consider any proposals that would have a real and lasting impact when it comes to promoting greater safety for our taxi drivers.

I just think as a matter of fundamental principle that people, no matter where they work, should be able to go to work and their families should be able to

have a sense that when somebody is going to work, they will return home at night and not expose themselves to undue hardships and undue danger regardless of where that workplace might be.

Again, I thank the member opposite for his suggestion. I say that we will take it under advisement and that we will consider any other thoughtful proposals as

well.

WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP /

CHAMPIONNAT MONDIAL

DE HOCKEY JUNIOR

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): My question is to the Minister of Health Promotion. Earlier this afternoon we heard the announcement

that the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship is coming to Ontario -- to our hometown of Ottawa, the future home of the Stanley Cup.

Any hockey fan here today will know what a great event this is, attracting the best junior hockey players from around the world. The event also attracts tens

of thousands of visitors and international media attention.

Minister, my question is about the impact this event will have on amateur hockey in Ontario. How will the World Junior Hockey Championship benefit the over

404,000 Ontarians involved in amateur hockey?

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): I think all members of the House will join me in congratulating the Ottawa bid team for

winning this very prestigious tournament.

Applause.

Hon. Mr. Watson: It's the first time the New Democrats have ever applauded me, so I thank them for that.

We had tough competition from Toronto, Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal. I also want to salute the Toronto bid team, who represented Ontario very

well. They did a great job. Darryl Sittler was their honorary chair. But I want to put on the record the bid committee for Ottawa, who put a lot of time, effort and expertise into their bid: Eugene

Melnyk, the chair of the Ottawa Senators; Mayor Bob Chiarelli; Cyril Leeder, the COO of the Ottawa Senators; Scotiabank Place; Jeff Hunt of the Ottawa 67s; and Jules Lavictoire, president of the

Ottawa District Hockey Association.

The great thing about the World Junior Hockey Championship: Net proceeds go back into amateur hockey and the young --

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): Oui, les gens de l'est de l'Ontario se réjouissent aujourd'hui de cette grande

nouvelle.

Je félicite l'équipe de la ville d'Ottawa et le président de l'ODHA, Jules Lavictoire, pour leur travail à la préparation de la

soumission qui a connu un franc succès.

Et à vous, monsieur le Ministre, merci d'avoir été présent à la présentation de ce projet de grande envergure.

Minister, it's been 20 years since we've seen a World Junior Hockey Championship in Ontario. Obtaining a major sporting event like this is great news for

Ontario and for Ottawa, creating a great economic impact for the province, the city and also for the communities in my riding. Can you detail for this House how we, our government, were able to

support Ontario's two bid cities and win these games for Ottawa?

Hon. Mr. Watson: I thank the member from Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. It was a great pleasure for me to join the Toronto and Ottawa bid

committees during Easter weekend on behalf of Premier McGuinty to support those two Ontario cities. I also want to thank the Premier for personally involving himself in the bid. That did make a

difference, both his contact with Hockey Canada as well as a video that he provided.

The estimated economic impact when the games came to Vancouver last year was $41 million. I'm pleased today to announce that the McGuinty government is

supporting the Ottawa host bid committee by providing $2 million in provincial funds to support the operating costs of this very worthwhile activity.

The Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association is behind this bid, because they understand that the economic impact is not only good for the local economy but

also for hockey in general. We wish the organizers the very best. The province will be there to help them in any way we can to make this the best World Junior Hockey Championship in the history of

the tournament.

TRANSIT TAX CREDIT

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): My question is to the Premier. You'd be well aware of the leadership shown yesterday in the federal budget with

respect to a transit tax credit for citizens of all ages who choose to use public transit. For example, it's important for the citizens that in this program a typical TTC rider, who pays $99.75 a

month for a Metropass, would now receive a tax credit of $185 a year. The credit would cover almost two months of transit travel.

The federal announcement is an excellent opportunity for the provincial government to show similar leadership. I put to you that it's probably time for a

vision for you to work in partnership with Prime Minister Harper. Will your government consider a similar incentive that would harmonize the transit program with the federal government?

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

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): We are very proud of the investments we have already made in transit. In the last

budget, we provided another $1.2 billion extra, for three major transit projects and $400 million for roads and bridges. We are really wondering, which is not very clear in the budget that was

presented yesterday, whether they will ever match the $670 million we are providing for the Spadina subway, another $65 million we are providing for the Mississauga Transitway and another $95

million we will be providing for Brampton Transit. So we look forward to getting some details that these projects will be matched.

Mr. O'Toole: I would remind the Premier this is really a fiscal question. The Minister of Transportation is talking about the last budget. It

just shows how disconnected he is to the issue of public policy. I mean that respectfully. My question, Premier, to you, is quite direct and quite simple; you can deflect it to him as well. What

this is about, Premier, is respecting the users here. We're not talking about Brampton Transit and the 10-year money you announced in the budget for the subway station that'll be built sometime

under John Tory's government, that's for sure. What I'm asking you is to look at working in partnership, by harmonizing the transit tax credit, to make transit more affordable for the users. We're

always talking about encouraging or incenting people to use public transit. It helps the environment; it helps gridlock. Premier, just stand up today, as you did with the taxi issue and do the

right thing: Try and help make public transit affordable. Will you work with the federal government on this issue?

Hon. Mr. Takhar: Actually, I'm very surprised at the questioning of this member, because that is the government, the previous government, that

actually did nothing for public transit; nothing at all. In 1995-96, there was $660 million being spent on public transit; in 1999-2000, it came to $68 million. They thought that was too much. Then

they decided to decrease it to $38 million later on.

What we have done is we have provided clear leadership on transit projects because we thought that was the only way to deal with some of the congestion issues

in this province. We are really looking forward to getting some details from the federal government to see if they have in fact matched the leadership we have provided in our last budget. We look

forward to those details.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): A question to the Premier: Rhonda Jane Wiley from Welland has been a front-line health care aide in

long-term care for over 20 years now. She says, "I am horrified that seniors that fought for us to be free, and (who) built Canada, are treated like yesterday's trash. I don't blame this on the

staff; I blame it on the government." Rhonda asked me to "tell Dalton McGuinty to ... check himself in for a month or two, and his bath day will be every Tuesday," but only on Tuesday. Premier,

when are you going to keep your promises to the seniors who worked so hard to build this province?

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I would say to all members of provincial Parliament that we have 1,618

long-term-care homes in the province of Ontario. I've had the privilege of visiting many of them, sometimes announced and sometimes unannounced. My colleague my parliamentary assistant from

Nipissing made a very regular occurrence of visiting long-term-care homes on an unannounced basis. What we find there as MPPs is important, I suppose, for the kind of questions we ask. The

experiences I enjoy in my riding with quite a number of long-term-care homes is that they provide a very good quality of care.

We've invested 740 million additional dollars since coming to office in the provision of long-term care. By way of supplementary, I will enumerate some

additional things we did, but I think it's incumbent upon us, and accordingly we've created an action line that has very prompt response to any complaints, such as those of the nature that might

have been advanced by the honourable member. I encourage Ontarians to avail themselves of that if they do feel that the circumstances --

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Kormos: You see, Rhonda Jane Wiley's experience with long-term care doesn't just include her own work in her workplace. She talks about

her elderly mom, who was left on the toilet for over 30 minutes, ringing and ringing a bell that no one had the time to answer. She says, "My mother, brother and I decided to bring her home to pass

away," to die. "We could not stand any more indignity. Our mother might not have been a lawyer, doctor or the person that discovered a cure for cancer, but she was our mother."

Premier, when are you going to keep your promises to folks like Rhonda and her mother? When are you going to make long-term care liveable for our seniors --

our folks and our grandfolks?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Again, I'm dissatisfied in any circumstance where an Ontarian does not believe the level of care being provided in a

long-term-care home is appropriate. But the honourable member has just raised a question in a fashion to suggest that every one of the 75,000 long-term-care home beds in operation in Ontario is

being operated in an unsatisfactory circumstance. This is a preposterous suggestion. If the honourable member believes that, then I think he's not spending time in long-term-care homes.

I'd be happy any day to walk over to Wellesley and Sherbourne or to nearby long-term-care homes to take a look at the quality of care being provided there.

Yes, we've done a lot in this area and we're working very hard to enhance the quality of care, because we recognize that these individuals are our most vulnerable. That's why I think it's

appropriate that we have invested $740 million and that we have 2,334 additional employees in long-term care as a result of our very, very distinct investments.

FIREFIGHTERS

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): My question is for the Minister of Labour. We all know that firefighters in this province face considerable risk to

their health and safety, day in and day out. They willingly and courageously place themselves in harm's way in order to protect others and their property. They routinely work in extremely dangerous

conditions, yet never allow the danger to deter them from their responsibilities.

But some of the occupational dangers firefighters face may not be as obvious as others. In fact, firefighters face a particular risk of developing certain

occupational diseases such as cancer as a result of exposure to various chemicals, known and unknown. Under the current policy, the WSIB has presumptions that certain cancers are work-related to

our firefighters; however, it does not cover all cancers.

Minister, I have received calls from constituents, stakeholders and, in particular, their families for the government to review the Workplace Safety and

Insurance Act to create presumption in the act for firefighters making cancer claims. Minister, can you please tell me what steps we've taken to respond to such requests, which I've been working on

since 1999?

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Labour): I thank the member for Brant; I know this is an issue that's close to his heart, and he's been a great

advocate for firefighters in this province. As well, we at the Ministry of Labour take these concerns of firefighters very seriously. That's why we continue to work with the fire service health and

safety advisory committee.

On the issue of presumptive legislation, we know it has been considered by other Canadian jurisdictions. Because of that, I have directed my parliamentary

assistant, the member for Thornhill, Mr. Mario Racco, to undertake a comprehensive review of the treatment of firefighter cancer claims and to compile an inventory of scientific literature.

As part of this review, I have asked my parliamentary assistant to meet with officials from the occupational disease research and policy branch of the WSIB,

the chair and members of the research advisory council of the WSIB, employer representatives and representatives of the professional firefighters' association. I know that this review will assist

me as Minister of Labour to look at where we go with this complex issue, and I've asked him to report by July 15.

Mr. Levac: Minister, that's extremely good news, and I appreciate the efforts you're making to take care of our firefighters. It's good news

that we're taking proactive steps to gain an understanding of this complex issue. By meeting with representatives from the WSIB, the professional firefighters' association, employers and all the

stakeholders and by examining other jurisdictions, your parliamentary assistant, Mr. Racco, will be able to gain comprehensive knowledge of this very difficult issue. I look forward to his report,

and I hope that it's timely.

I do understand, however, that the WSIB recently announced that nine previously denied colorectal cancer claims from firefighters have been reconsidered and

allowed. This is certainly good news for the firefighters, and especially their families, who are deeply concerned about their livelihood.

Could you please tell us what the WSIB is doing to ensure that the firefighters and their families are fairly compensated, before your review is finished, when

they experience occupational diseases?

Hon. Mr. Peters: We recognize that the WSIB is an arm's-length agency and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any individual

claim. But you correctly noted that they have reviewed a number of claims. We thank the WSIB for that; it is good news. I can also tell you that the WSIB does recognize the link between certain

cancers and firefighting activities, and compensates firefighters who contract these work-related cancers. Over 80% of firefighter claims for some types of cancers are allowed. This is a much

higher allowance rate than for other occupations. As well, I think it's important to recognize that the Ministry of Labour and the WSIB will continue to work with firefighters in Ontario and the

fire service health and safety advisory committees.

We recognize that this is an extremely difficult issue. I reiterate that I have asked my parliamentary assistant, Mario Racco, to undertake a comprehensive

review of this issue, to undertake a broad-based consultation and to report back to me by July 15, 2006, with recommendations as to how we can move forward.

LANDFILL

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. There is a proposal for the Carp landfill site in the

city of Ottawa to more than double its size. While we're sure proud as heck that we're going to get the World Junior's and probably the Stanley Cup, the residents in the national capital are

opposed to this landfill expansion. Through myself and the member for Lanark-Carleton, they have petitioned this Legislature, and by next Thursday some 10,000 signatures will be introduced into the

Legislature opposing this landfill expansion.

My question is this: My constituents want to know, will the Minister of the Environment accept these signatures from the residents of Ottawa as 10,000 separate

comments opposing the expansion of this landfill in the draft terms of reference for the environmental assessment?

And Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the silence on the other side.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): As always, I want to assure the member opposite that we consider the comments brought

forward by all Ontarians. On January 12, 2006, Waste Management corporation announced it intends to go through an individual environmental assessment. Currently it's undertaking its own public

consultation, and as I indicated when I was in Ottawa last week, the opportunity is now presenting itself for the community to come together and indicate their prospectus with respect to this

landfill. That's what's taking place. That material comes before the ministry as we examine how to move forward with respect to the Carp landfill. These are important comments that will be coming

forward, and I look forward to hearing more and receiving them.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Supplementary? The member for Lanark-Carleton.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): Madam Minister, the next step of the process is for you to set the terms of reference for the

environmental assessment. You have a wide discretion in setting those terms. I believe the terms of reference should be as wide as possible. Will you assure the citizens who are living close to

this site that all other alternatives to a landfill site at this particular area will be considered, including an alternate landfill alternative, in their proposal for an environmental

assessment?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I know the member opposite understands that individual environmental assessments are proponent driven. The individual

environmental assessment and the terms of reference of the EA are put forward by Waste Management corporation. But it is important that the community understand that if an EA were to proceed, the

draft terms of reference the company is consulting on now, Waste Management corporation would evaluate alternatives to its proposed undertaking, alternatives to this site, identify and evaluate the

potential impacts on human health and the environment and the surrounding community, and very importantly, demonstrate to me that it undertook public consultation and identified concerns and

proposed satisfactory solutions to address those concerns.

I invite the community to participate in an individual EA process, if it goes forward. I invite them to continue to express their views to Waste Management

corporation. This is what the EA process is all about. This process is about protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians, and I take that responsibility --

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. New question.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Minister, study after study suggests that burning

tires in cement kilns can lead to dramatic increases in emissions of cancer-causing dioxins and metals, yet you are proposing to allow the first operational tire-burning cement kiln in Bath,

Ontario. Why are you proposing to let Ontario residents and our environment pay the price for your abandonment of a used tire recycling program?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I'm very pleased to have an opportunity to set the record straight. The instructions I

provided to Waste Diversion Ontario in the preceding weeks were to proceed at first with a household hazardous waste program, an electronics diversion program. I want to ensure that Ontarians who

want to divert more waste from landfill have the tools they need to be able to do that. At the WDO AGM, what I said to them was, "Focus your attention in the immediate on those two programs."

In the interim, I am working with my ministry to consider options to mitigate the potential adverse impacts from existing stockpiles and to crack down on those

illegal tire dumps. That's what we're doing in the province.

With respect to Lafarge, as I indicated yesterday, the process is under way. An application has been made. The scientific research will be analyzed in that

context and a decision will be made by the ministry.

Mr. Tabuns: Minister, the facts are clear. In a speech on April 20, the one you're referring to, to Waste Diversion Ontario, you stated that

the development of a tire recycling program for Ontario is being set aside. Now communities like Bath, Ontario, face the potential of increased health and environmental risks from tires being

burned in cement kilns without even an environmental assessment. Will you protect Ontario residents and our environment from increased emissions of carcinogens and metals and ban the burning of

tires?

Hon. Ms. Broten: As I indicated yesterday, my friend opposite should do more research as he asks questions. Let me refer specifically to the

comments I made to WDO at their AGM: "Turning now to the used tire diversion program, I want to thank them for their work. We have carefully reviewed the options ... and I have decided to defer the

finalization of a used tire program for the immediate future." The issue of used tires needs to be examined in this province.

With respect to Lafarge, I think it is incumbent upon all of us to take a look at the sound scientific research that has been undertaken. We are not scientists

here in this room, but there are many wonderful scientists in this province. I listen to the advice that those scientists give me as we make decisions, and I will be listening to that advice as we

move forward with respect to the examination of the issues in Lafarge, as we should in each and every circumstance across the province.

YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION

Mr. Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Our government is committed to tackling both

crime and the root causes of crime in order for us to live in safe and vibrant communities. These efforts are essential. Minister, last month you made an exciting announcement that is sure to

reduce reoffending rates among youth who have come into conflict with the law. Could you tell us more about this announcement and how it will benefit Chatham-Kent Essex?

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): I would like to respond to the question from the member from

Chatham-Kent. He's referring to an announcement that I made last month about 12 new youth intervention centres. This is in addition to 15 that we opened a little more than a year ago. Of the 12 new

centres, Lindsay, London, Cornwall, Belleville and Sault Ste. Marie are in operation now. The member's centre in Chatham is in the development stage. In fact, that particular centre will receive

$450,000 per year to run programs.

These programs are for young people between the ages of 12 and 17 who have been ordered by the courts to participate --

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Answer?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: -- in these types of interventions as part of their probation. I have met with a number of these young people at different

centres and, clearly, this is an effort to address their anger management issues, their life challenges --

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Hoy: Minister, this initiative appears to be an important step forward in making our communities much safer. At the same time, it provides

youth who have come into conflict with the law the tools they need to choose a better path. I know there has been a greater focus on reducing the overuse of custody in favour of community-based

programs. These programs will help a young person reintegrate into the community in those cases where the youth does not pose a threat to a community and its safety. Minister, what led to this

shift, and in what other ways is our government responding to this change in direction?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: In the year 2003, the federal government introduced the Youth Criminal Justice Act. That new Youth Criminal Justice Act is

designed to strike a better balance between the use of custody and the use of other programs which are intended to address dysfunctional behaviour when the incidents are of a minor nature. So this

act balances the use of custody for those youth who have committed more serious offences with programs for youth who have committed minor offences. I have to tell you that that's where the majority

of youth actually fall.

This type of approach has been found to work and to reduce recidivism. We are in fact spending $22 million per year on a variety of programs, including those

delivered through these intervention centres.

EDUCATION LABOUR DISPUTE

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): My question is to the Minister of Education. Minister, you spoke earlier in your announcement about stability in

the school system and about all students deserving the same opportunity. As of tomorrow, this will no longer be true in the Thames Valley board of education, as the educational assistants and

instructional assistants who look after the most vulnerable in the school system are asked to go out on strike in order to achieve a contract.

I have a letter here that was sent to you, Madam Minister. It says, "It is with great concern that I send you this e-mail." In fact, it's sent by Ann Larson,

an EA at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London. What's most important is that she asks for your assistance to help create that stability you spoke of. It says, "It is the students who

are losing out. They have special needs and we need to have the time to address them."

Madam Minister, the main issue seems to be that they need more time to look after these vulnerable students. Will you do what you can to make sure that this

work stoppage doesn't happen so these special-needs students are not put at greater risk than they presently are?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I do appreciate this question. I know that in your

time, when this member was on the government side, not having peace and stability was the order of the day. That is not the case since 2003 in our Ontario today in our education system.

I happen to know that the individuals involved with the Thames Valley area are in negotiations right now as we speak. I am extremely hopeful that because they

are continuing in a dialogue, they will be able to resolve their issues. I am extremely hopeful that these groups coming to the table to negotiate, as is their right, will produce results that will

make all of us particularly pleased. We believe that we need to keep the students first -- all students. I certainly hope that's the case today.

PETITIONS

LANDFILL

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): This is about the Carp landfill site.

"Whereas there is currently a proposal to more than double the size of the Carp landfill in west Ottawa; and

"Whereas this site has been in operation for some 30 years and had been expected to close in 2010; and

"Whereas the surrounding community has grown rapidly for the past 10 years and is continuing to grow; and

"Whereas other options to an expanded landfill have yet to be considered; and

"Whereas the municipal councillors representing this area -- Eli El-Chantiry" and Peggy Feltmate -- "and the MPP Norm Sterling" and Lisa MacLeod "all oppose

this expansion;

"We, the undersigned," some 500, "support our local representatives and petition the Minister of the Environment not to approve the expansion of the Carp

landfill site and instead to find other waste management alternatives."

I have signed that.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): I'm pleased to present a petition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the next two years...."

I affix my signature to this.

LANDFILL

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): It's no surprise that I stand here before you with a petition for the Carp landfill site from the

residents of Nepean-Carleton.

"Whereas there is currently a proposal to more than double the size of the Carp landfill in west Ottawa; and

"Whereas this site has been in operation for some 30 years and had been expected to close in 2010; and

"Whereas the surrounding community has grown rapidly for the past 10 years and is continuing to grow; and

"Whereas other options to an expanded landfill have yet to be considered; and

"Whereas the municipal councillors representing this area ... and the MPP, Norm Sterling" -- and Lisa MacLeod -- "all oppose this expansion;

"We, the undersigned, support our local representatives and petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ensure the Minister of the Environment does not

approve the expansion of the Carp landfill and instead to find other waste management alternatives."

I obviously support this and will affix my signature.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): I have a petition on the subject of the transformation of the developmental service sector.

"We, the undersigned, petition the Ontario Legislature to express our gratitude to the government of Ontario for taking the lead in beginning discussions with

the federal government on the development of a national income supplement program for people living with developmental disabilities and where we have seen the government work tirelessly for the

betterment of the developmental service sector; and

"Whereas we agree that the three remaining institutions should be closed to integrate the clients from those institutions into the community and moving them

out through an individualized plan that meets the needs of the clients and offer those with developmental disabilities the best opportunity to live in total community inclusion; and

"Whereas we urge this government to invest in services and local community agencies for people with developmental disabilities so they can increase wage rates

and ensure the continuum of service with great personnel that comes with the commitment necessary for a sustainable sector; and

"Whereas we thank the Premier of Ontario for his leadership role in closing the three remaining institutions and showing commitment to this sector that will

guarantee that people with disabilities finally have the opportunity for total community inclusion;

" ... we urge this government to continue its work in the transformation of developmental services, as this is the first review of this magnitude that this

sector has seen in over 20 years."

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): I am presenting this petition on behalf of the member for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey. It comes from

Caressant Care in Arthur, and it reads as follows:

"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)."

I support this petition as well.

NURSING STAFF

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

"Whereas we, the citizens of Ontario, ask that you will revoke layoff notices given to six RNs (five full-time, one part-time). The nursing staff currently

work at Thamesview Lodge and Victoria Residence in Chatham-Kent, but residents of both homes will move into their new facility `Riverview Gardens' in early April. Layoffs at that time will result

in 233 hours less of nursing care per week at the new facility.

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows: to revoke the layoff notices and consider that:

"As they are going to a new facility, the elderly residents will need time for readjustment; they will need more emotional support and understanding, someone

to listen to their concerns;

"Higher-needs patients require more care, and both Thamesview Lodge and Victoria Residence were recognized as having higher needs in 2005 compared to the

previous year;

"More nursing staff will be required in order to ensure the residents' care, safety and protection.

"If layoffs occur, more pressure will be put on remaining staff to cope with all of this, resulting in health issues such as burnout, stress on staff and also

[on] the residents themselves."

I have signed this petition and I hand it to Billy Barnier, our page here from Chatham-Kent.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm pleased to present a petition on behalf of my constituents from the riding of Durham.

"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;

"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 an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

I'm pleased to sign this in their support.

BORDER SECURITY

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I'm pleased to present this petition on access to cross-border travel on behalf of my colleague from Mississauga

West, who is unable to be here. I wish to thank Streetsville Secondary School for gathering the signatures, and especially thank Joyce Hsieh and Jennifer Choi for their help. The petition reads as

follows:

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

single-purpose travel card to cross the Canada-US 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 for many Canadian and US cross-border travellers; and

"Whereas the George Bush government proposal could mean a loss of as many as 3.5 million US visitors to Ontario, and place in peril as many as 7,000 jobs in

the Ontario tourism industry by 2008, many of which are valuable entry jobs for youth and new Canadians; and

"Whereas many of the US states bordering Canada have expressed similar concerns regarding the punitive economic impact of this plan, and both states and

provinces along the US-Canada border recognize the importance of a safe and efficient movement of people across that border is vital to the economies of both countries;

"Be it therefore resolved that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario support the establishment of a bi-national group to establish an alternative to the proposed

US border requirements, and inform Prime Minister Harper that his decision not to advocate on behalf of Ontarians is ill-advised, and contrary to the responsibilities of elected representatives in

Canada."

I will affix my name to this petition.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): This petition is titled, "We Demand Leadership in Land Dispute." It's to the Legislative Assembly

of Ontario.

"Whereas the McGuinty government was notified of this land issue over a year ago; and

"Whereas the standoff has been ongoing since February 28, 2006; and

"Whereas there has been no leadership from senior levels of government;

"We, the undersigned, demand that the McGuinty Liberals start showing some real, consistent and timely leadership in dealing with the current standoff in

Caledonia."

I continue to support these petitions and affix my signature.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Mr. Mario Sergio (York West): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, which I would like to read to you.

"Whereas the people of Ontario deserve a universal, high-quality public health care system; and

"Whereas numerous studies have shown that the best health care is that which is delivered close to home; and

"Whereas the McGuinty government is working to increase Ontarians' access to family doctors through the introduction of family health teams that allow doctors

to serve their communities more effectively; and

"Whereas the McGuinty government has fulfilled its promise to create new family health teams to bring more doctors to more Ontario families;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the McGuinty government's efforts to improve access to family doctors through

innovative programs like family health teams."

I concur with the petitioners, and I will affix my signature.

RECYCLING

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): I have a petition 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 agree with this petition, and I'll sign my name to it. Thank you, Isaac, for taking this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Mario Sergio (York West): I have a further petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I present this to the Legislative Assembly, and I will sign it.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have a petiti