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November 23, 2015

41st Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2015-Nov-23 (PDF)

L123 - Mon 23 Nov 2015 / Lun 23 nov 2015

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 23 November 2015 Lundi 23 novembre 2015

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of scarves

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Oral Questions

Executive compensation

Alzheimer’s disease

Privatization of public assets

Privatization of public assets

Land transfer tax

Collective bargaining

Youth employment

Hydro rates

Privatization of public assets

Home warranty program

Health care funding

Hospital funding

Aboriginal education

Correctional facility employees

GO Transit

Visitors

Deferred Votes

Ending Coal for Cleaner Air Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur l’abandon du charbon pour un air plus propre

Members’ Statements

Hospital funding

Western Muslim Students’ Association

Gala de reconnaissance à Embrun / Recognition gala in Embrun

Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Ottawa Redblacks / Le Rouge et Noir d’Ottawa

Christmas Tree Day

Fiat Chrysler casting plant

Events in Etobicoke North

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent de la justice / Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Introduction of Bills

Disclosure of Information Relating to the Protection of Children Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur la divulgation de renseignements concernant la protection des enfants

Petitions

Privatization of public assets

Highway improvement

Tenant protection

Privatization of public assets

Curling

Poet laureate

Privatization of public assets

Privatisation des biens publics

Privatization of public assets

Automotive industry

Ontario Retirement Pension Plan

Health care funding

Health care funding

Diagnostic services

Sauble Beach land claim

Orders of the Day

Budget Measures Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur les mesures budgétaires

Correction of record

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): As we do our introductions, today we have with us a former member from Thornhill, in the 39th and 40th Parliaments, Mr. Peter Shurman. Welcome.

Mr. Jack MacLaren: I’m pleased to announce that Andrew Roberts is here with us today. Andrew, would you stand, please. Andrew is joining my office as executive assistant as of today.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Joining us today in the House are members of our legislative page Aaran Suthakar’s family. We have Aaran’s mother, Menaka; his father, Kandappu; his brother Gajan; and his grandfather Siva. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s a great pleasure today to introduce, in the west members’ gallery, Mr. Tim Schindel, visiting us today, representing Leading Influence. I know he’s going to meet with many members here today.

Mr. John Vanthof: I’d like to introduce Anthony Silva and Geneviève Fortier from the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, as you know, today is youth homelessness day. Joining us from the Oakville United Way is Kathryn Fleischer. Please give her a warm Queen’s Park welcome.

Mr. Todd Smith: I’d like to welcome all the members from the Ontario Real Estate Association who are joining us for question period this morning, in particular, a former staff member, Adam Yahn, who’s been known to patrol the blue line for the Ontario Legiskaters.

Hon. David Orazietti: It’s a pleasure to also welcome to the Legislature today two individuals from the Sault Ste. Marie Real Estate Board, Andrea Gagne and Rob Trembinski.

As well, I want to recognize Matthew Thornton, government relations, from OREA, who’s here today.

Mr. Michael Harris: I’d like to welcome and thank Ian Stedman, Chantelle Willson and Jennifer Hamilton, and their families, for joining me here this morning as I launch my rare disease private member’s motion.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I am so proud to welcome today three people from the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. I have Bhavana Varma, president and CEO; Kim Hockey, the director of community initiatives; Derek Brown, the youth engagement coordinator; and Jenn Goodwin, the United Way KFLA board member and director of communications at Providence Care, and her son Alec.

We also have Cody Allan, youth council member on ending youth homelessness in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.

We have, as well, Matthias Leuprecht, who is a student volunteer in my office and he’s the new youth engagement chair of our riding association. Welcome all.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’d like to introduce representatives from the Woodstock-Ingersoll and District Real Estate Board who are here with us: William Cattle, Nicole Bowman, Isaak Friesen and David Bellaire. We welcome them all to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Chris Ballard: I’d like to welcome Michael Braithwaite, Dr. Sylvain Roy, Adrian Bain, Amal Hanna and Erin Boudreau, who are all here for Youth Homelessness Awareness Day. Welcome to Queen’s Park, all.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to introduce Justin Bates, Evan Martinelli and Joseph Hanna, who are here representing neighbourhood pharmacies. They’re having a reception tonight in the dining room. I hope everyone can make it out.

Mr. John Fraser: It’s my pleasure to welcome this morning representatives from the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada who are here for their Queen’s Park day: Denise Carpenter, Karen Wolfe, Elaine Akers, Kevin Comeau and Lawrence Varga. They’re having a reception tonight so please stop by.

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’d like to introduce to the House today a community activist from Newmarket–Aurora, Darryl Wolk. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Amrit Mangat: I would like to introduce page captain Ajay Narayan’s mother, Surita Narayan; father, Camaron Narayan; grandparents Dai Narayan, Dharma Narayan, Malini Tiwari and Henjay Tiwari; and their family friend, Ferdinand Fortune. They are in the public gallery. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Joining us in both the east and west galleries here today are students from Don Valley East and one of the best schools in all of Ontario, École élémentaire Jeanne-Lajoie.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I’d like to welcome, from the Cornwall and District Real Estate Board: Robert Juhasz and Dani Tedesco-Derouchie. They’re not here yet, but they will be coming in. They’re here to stop the new tax coming through.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to welcome today, from the Ontario Real Estate Association, Wendy Giroux; Mike Heffernan from the Peterborough real estate association; and Debbie Vernon from Muskoka-Haliburton. Thank you and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Wearing of scarves

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I believe that you will find that we have unanimous consent that all members be permitted to wear scarves as part of the United Way campaign to eliminate youth homelessness. I would also like to request that you come to the grand staircase to assemble for a picture after question period, and come to our reception in room 228.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll try to capture most of that.

The member from Kingston and the Islands is seeking unanimous consent to wear scarves in honour of a campaign from the United Way, with a request to meet for a photo after question period. Do we agree? Agreed.

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice with respect to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I move that notwithstanding the order of the House dated Tuesday, November 3, 2015, the Standing Committee on Social Policy shall be authorized to meet on Monday, November 23, 2015, following public hearings on Bill 115,

An Act to enact the Representation Act, 2015, repeal the Representation Act, 2005 and amend the Election Act, the Election Finances Act and the Legislative Assembly Act; and on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, during its regularly scheduled meeting times, for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 73,

An Act to amend the Development Charges Act, 1997 and the Planning Act.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Naqvi moves that notwithstanding the order dated—

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense. Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Seeing no further unanimous consents, it’s now time for question period.

Oral Questions

Executive compensation

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is to the Acting Premier. The Premier continues to defend paying the Hydro One CEO $4 million. She is now defending this gold-plated paycheque by comparing it to corporate America. The Premier can’t find a single hydro company anywhere in Canada that would pay a similar salary.

Mr. Speaker, will the Acting Premier give us one comparable in Canada to justify this outrageous salary?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m delighted that the Leader of the Opposition is here and asking questions, but I sure wish he would ask a question about the infrastructure that will be built with the revenue generated from broadening the ownership of Hydro One. The truth is, Speaker, that the party opposite has absolutely—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order, please. I seek to hear both question and answer.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: He isn’t asking about building infrastructure. He isn’t asking about building hospitals. He isn’t asking about expanding natural gas across the province. He isn’t asking about Connecting Links. Speaker, on this side—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, come to order. If the shouting continues, I’ll move right to warnings.

Carry on.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: On this side of the House, we have a plan to build the infrastructure that this province needs. On that side of the House, they’re great at criticizing, but they have no plan to build the infrastructure that they are actually lobbying for every day.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Acting Premier: There is no new infrastructure money. Your plan is the same pre and post the hydro fire sale. Let me ask the question again: Can you give me one comparable—one comparable—anywhere in Canada? You won’t find it in BC, as their top three executive salaries combine to make just half that of the Hydro One CEO. You can’t look next door to Quebec, because their CEO makes one eighth of the Hydro One CEO’s salary.

How did this government sign off on this paycheque? Give me one justification of how you think a $4-million salary is appropriate. No more spin, no more distraction—it’s not about infrastructure—justify the salary.

Interjections.

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

Deputy Premier?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Part of our plan is to make sure that Hydro One becomes a better company, a stronger company, a more efficient company, with stronger management, committed to improved customer service and improved performance. Taxpayers will continue to benefit from the changes we are making, as the 40% share we continue to hold will generate revenue to the public. We have struck the right balance. The compensation is in line with other energy companies, but this is about better customer service. I know that your caucus hears the same stories about how Hydro One should be and could be a much stronger company.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Acting Premier: You say it’s comparable to other energy CEOs, but you won’t mention a single example.

People in Ontario are living in energy poverty. Tonight, a senior citizen in rural Ontario will have to choose between having a healthy meal for dinner or turning on the heat to keep their house warm. At the same time that this government continues to turn its back on these seniors, the Premier has somehow found the money to pay their Hydro One CEO $4 million.

How can this government look in the eyes of seniors in rural Ontario who can’t pay their energy bills and justify the salary?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think the member opposite knows, or certainly should know, that we have significant support for low-income Ontarians to help deal with their energy bills. The examples that the Leader of the Opposition continues to use are examples of people who will be the beneficiaries of the programs for families.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program is a new program. I hope he is urging his constituents to enrol in the Ontario Electricity Support Program. It will save them an additional $360 a year off their bill, or $430 when combined with the removal of the debt retirement charge. We are focused on the energy needs of low-income Ontarians, and I hope that the members opposite are informing their constituents about the relief that is available to them.

Alzheimer’s disease

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is to the Acting Premier. The government is well aware that there are over 200,000 senior citizens living with Alzheimer’s disease in Ontario. The current strategy for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on the government web page is just four bullet points with no real action or plan. For example, the second bullet point says “invest in long-term-care homes,” and clearly that isn’t happening. Actually, only six facilities in the province have units for seniors who need behavioural supports because of Alzheimer’s disease. The wait-lists are getting longer and longer.

Can the government tell us when we will see a plan and action on Alzheimer’s?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Associate Minister of Health.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I just want to begin by saying that the province has already embarked on a province-wide strategy to look at dementia. An expert panel has already been called and it’s making its way through and doing its consultations under the leadership of the parliamentary assistant, Indira Naidoo-Harris.

In the meantime, I’d like to remind the Leader of the Opposition—in fact, I’m happy to invite him to showcase the number of investments we have been making in long-term-care homes across this province. Very recently, I was in Waterloo for the opening of a brand new facility, which was also attended by members of his caucus. Before that I was in Windsor, again for the opening of a brand new long-term-care facility. We’re talking about close to 500 beds in the last three months that I have witnessed opening.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Acting Premier—and I would invite the minister to actually speak to the families who don’t have the care for a loved one.

In 1999, a PC government introduced Ontario’s Alzheimer strategy. It was the first of its kind in Canada, and it was a strategy that wasn’t renewed by the Liberal government in 2004. It was a strategy that was actually commended and highlighted in the 2010 Rising Tide report by the Alzheimer society.

According to last week’s coroner’s report, the majority of residents in long-term-care homes have dementia. If that doesn’t spark action from this government, they must have no heart. The government has the responsibility to help these families. Will the government provide the House with a commitment that they’ll have more than simply four bullet points for dealing with Alzheimer’s—that they’ll deliver to the House, they’ll deliver to Ontario, a real strategy for dealing with Alzheimer’s?

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I know that the Minister of Health would also have a lot he would like to add, but as I’ve already said, we have embarked on a province-wide strategy to look at dementia for the entire province, not just in long-term-care homes, but at the continuum of care, because we know that people who have dementia don’t just live in long-term-care homes; they also live in the community. What we have done is come out with a proposal that broadly looks at dementia and Alzheimer’s, not just in Ontario, not just in Canada, but across the world.

Because we have an aging population, yes, the incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia is increasing. We have recognized that and we have already put in place an expert panel that is crafting a province-wide strategy. Let’s just wait for that.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the minister: Enough expert panels, enough talk—you’ve had 12 years. The last report expired over a decade ago.

I was at the Alzheimer’s gala last week and people were telling me their stories, their concerns about how their loved ones don’t have care.

I can relate personally. I saw my maternal grandmother pass away from Alzheimer’s disease. I lived with her; I saw it. It’s painful. So I’m asking the government to be serious about this. Listen to the former MPP—your Liberal MPP—Donna Cansfield, who tried three times to convince the Legislature to act. All she said after the failed attempts to get this government to act was that you’ve got an ethical, moral case that tells you that you have to do something. You should do something.

So I ask the minister: Will you do something? No talking points—will you actually act and make Ontario a leader?

Interjections.

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

Deputy Minister.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I know that the Minister of Health also has something to add, so I’m going to refer the question to him.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know it’s the job of the official opposition to paint a picture of inaction, but the truth is that we’re providing that leadership, we’re providing the funding to our important community partners—$18 million last year to the Alzheimer society.

We’re working nationally, as well. I was at the federal, provincial and territorial meeting just last fall, where we made a decision to develop a national strategy for Alzheimer’s. I think the member opposite would agree that it’s important that we have that continuity and consistency in leadership right across the country. With the hard work of my parliamentary assistant the member from Halton, we’re updating our strategy for Alzheimer’s and for dementias across the board in this province. We’re consulting with stakeholders.

But we’ve invested more than $1 billion since 2011 in our Aging at Home Strategy—over the last four years, Mr. Speaker—and $59 million alone for behavioural supports in our—

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

New question.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. The temperature is dropping, and there are families across Ontario who rely on electricity to heat their homes. For families who rely on baseboard heating to keep warm at this time of year, whether that’s a house in Thunder Bay or an apartment here in Toronto, higher rates will have a devastating impact on their ability to make ends meet.

Since the Premier decided to sell off Hydro One, prices continue to go up. Will the Acting Premier, on behalf of this Liberal government, promise Ontarians that selling off Hydro One won’t mean skyrocketing hydro bills for people who need to heat their homes this winter?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member opposite has raised the issue that we have been very concerned about too, and that is the issue of hydro prices. That’s why we have taken action—I have to say, supported by neither of the opposition parties—to lower the burden on people, particularly those with the lowest incomes.

Let’s look at what we have done. We have made the decision—and it’s a decision that actually was celebrated by the former Prime Minister during the last election campaign as if he had done it himself—to close the coal-fired plants. There is a cost to that, but there is an enormous benefit. I think everyone here understands the benefit of improved health from closing those coal-fired plants, not to mention what it does for the province.

We are helping families by removing the debt retirement charge—a legacy tax from when Harris was in government—two years earlier than planned, saving the average family $70 a month on their hydro bills. As I mentioned earlier, we are—

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

Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The prices, the rates are going up 20% already. They’ve gone up 25% between last winter and this winter, regardless of what your income is. It’s hitting everyone. Everyone’s bills are going up.

Ontario families are worried that the selling-off of Hydro One is going to mean the bills go even higher. The government has tabled legislation that could stop independent consumer groups from fighting for lower rates at the OEB. The government is giving another leg up to well-connected Liberal friends, but making life more expensive for families paying the bills.

Will this Acting Premier tell Ontarians just how much more it’s going to cost people to heat their homes because of the sell-off of Hydro One?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me just continue with some of the programs that are in place now. The Ontario Electricity Support Program: I really do want to take this opportunity to encourage all MPPs to inform their constituents of this. It will save low-to-modest-income families an average of $360 a year. The discount will be applied directly to their hydro bill.

In addition, we have the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, saving individuals up to $993 a year, and up to $1,131 for seniors. The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program provides emergency financial support of up to $600 for families and individuals having trouble paying their bills. The saveONenergy Home Assistance Program helps consumers manage energy costs by providing energy efficiency assessments. And of course the Northern Ontario Energy Credit helps low-to-middle-income families and individuals living in Ontario, saving individuals $143 a year, $221 for—

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

Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Many times this Liberal government has claimed that hydro rates are out of their hands, but they are enacting new legislation that could stop consumer groups from taking their cases to the Ontario Energy Board to fight for fairer rates. The new private sector owners of Hydro One can apply for hydro rate increases all they want, and there’s no protection for consumers here in Ontario.

Will this Acting Premier tell Ontarians why this government is muzzling independent voices who are trying to stand up for the people of Ontario, who are trying to stand up for lower rates?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let’s be very clear: Hydro One does not have the power to set rates. That continues to rest with the independent Ontario Energy Board—the open and transparent OEB; that’s how they engage. Furthermore, the government has introduced legislation to strengthen and enhance the OEB’s powers even further to protect ratepayers, increase accountability and improve transparency.

Here are some examples. In 2012, Hydro One asked for a rate increase. They received a 3% reduction of their capital request. Then, in 2011, the OPG also applied for a rate increase. They were denied their request and lowered those rates.

Interjection.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Furthermore—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Excuse me—second time, the member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

Finish, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: The Supreme Court of Canada recently reaffirmed the right of the OEB to ensure consumers pay just and reasonable rates for electricity. We are in a competitive market.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The OEB might be getting stronger, but consumer advocates are getting weaker because of what this government is doing. That’s what’s happening with the legislation he referenced.

My next question is for the Acting Premier. Can the Acting Premier explain why the Liberal government won’t rule out even more asset sales?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I do acknowledge that the leader of the third party has been asking about this. We have been very transparent about our determination to broaden the ownership of Hydro One so we can generate revenue to pay for important infrastructure investments, including in her home community of Hamilton.

We do have assets. We are optimizing the value of those assets. We have real estate that we don’t need to own. We had GM shares that we have sold. We are broadening the ownership of Hydro One.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I certainly didn’t hear a clear and transparent answer to my first question. The Liberals are obviously not prepared to rule out selling off more of our public assets. That means that selling more money-making, revenue-generating assets is on the table.

Will the Acting Premier tell Ontarians exactly what they, the Liberals of Ontario, are getting ready to put on the auction block next?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: We have been very open and we have been transparent. This plan was in our 2014 budget, our fall economic statement, our 2015 budget and our platform. We have said that we’re looking at the LCBO head office, we are looking at Hydro One, we are looking at OPG’s head office building, as well as the Seaton lands and the Lakeview lands, and that we’re not looking at the LCBO, we are not looking at OPG. We are not looking at any of those assets. We will not be selling Niagara Falls power station, we will not be selling Darlington or Pickering nuclear, amongst others.

What we will be investing in is the infrastructure that this province needs. We’re determined to do that. We will make the tough decisions so that we can build the infrastructure the people of this province need.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: In October 2014, the Premier of this province pretty much said the same thing about Hydro One, and look where we are now. Hydro One is being sold off. So excuse me if I have a little bit of a lack of trust in what this member just said.

The Liberal sell-off of Hydro One is a mess. The FAO says that the sale will only raise about $1.4 billion for infrastructure, less than half of the $4 billion that the government claims. The government has to count money that it can’t spend. The FAO has shown that it will increase the debt. The province of Ontario will be losing half a billion dollars each and every year in revenue, and the government cannot deny that rates are actually going to go through the roof.

When will this Liberal government actually learn from their failures, stop any further sell-off of Hydro One and make a firm commitment not to sell any further revenue-generating assets?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: The member opposite just made reference to a situation that is not a fact. She claims we are only going to get $1.4 billion in capital appreciation out of this corporation to reinvest. We’ve already netted $3 billion of that—going to reinvest in our economy, into new assets, into new revenue and new opportunities, and that’s with only 15% of broadening ownership.

We still own 85%, or, in this case, actually 84% of the company, which is now increasing in even greater value and dividends to the province. That’s a good thing. It’s a good thing because it’s creating greater wealth, greater opportunities and greater prosperity for all Ontarians.

At the same time, it’s independently monitored by the OEB to ensure that rates do not skyrocket. Those are the control measures that are put in place.

More importantly: Dollar for dollar, it’s being reinvested into our economy, into new assets, for the benefit of the people of Ontario.

Land transfer tax

Mr. Steve Clark: My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The minister claims that his plan to hit homebuyers with a $10,000 land transfer tax is all about helping municipalities. But if he’s paying attention, he knows that an increasing number of mayors are speaking out against this tax. They know what we know: that this will make Ontario the most uncompetitive tax jurisdiction in North America to buy a home. That’s bad news for a housing sector that creates thousands of jobs and drives important investment in our communities.

Speaker, does the minister agree that a municipal land transfer tax will hurt the economy by slowing down home sales?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: I want to begin my answer by reminding the member opposite that it was the previous PC government that burdened Ontario’s 444 municipalities by downloading, without providing any additional resource, $3.2 billion in costs—

Mr. Jim Wilson: What have you done in 12 years, Ted?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Simcoe–Grey, please come to order.

Finish, please.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: Obviously, we’ve touched a sensitive nerve.

We’re doing our best to reverse that. We’re working hard at that.

I just want to say, through you, Mr. Speaker, that after every municipal election we review the Municipal Elections Act. It’s no secret that one of the concerns our beleaguered municipalities have is around revenue and the choices as to how they will raise revenue.

We’re having that discussion with them. We’ve made no decisions yet. It’s the same answer I provided before. The member opposite—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Steve Clark: Obviously, the minister’s spokesperson didn’t write his notes today. He told the Mississauga News that his boss’s tax will result in fewer homes being sold.

The minister isn’t listening to me when it comes to stopping the imposition of any new municipal land transfer taxes, but maybe he’ll listen to the other Steve Clarke. Here’s what Steve Clarke, mayor of Orillia, told the Barrie Advance about this tax: “It could potentially hurt economic development in that it would create a disincentive for somebody wanting to buy a house, land or business.”

Speaker, Steve Clarke is right. Will the minister take Mayor Clarke’s advice and support my motion on December 3 to close the door on this home ownership tax for good?

Interjections.

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

Minister.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: They’ve got more nerve than Dick Tracy over there, I think.

Let me be clear: Ontario is not going to impose any new tax, nor are we going to facilitate a municipal land transfer tax. We believe that municipalities are mature. They’re democratically elected. They’re looking for new revenue tools. We’re having that discussion, and we’ll make a decision based on that.

Shame on the member opposite, given the history of the PC Party, for ranting up the rhetoric on this—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Through the Chair, please.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: —when he knows, or ought to know, that, save the $3.2-billion download, municipalities would be in much better shape today.

Collective bargaining

Ms. Cindy Forster: My question is to the Acting Premier and President of the Treasury Board.

Last week, as part of yet another omnibus budget bill from this government, the so-called progressive Liberals continue to pay back well-connected insiders and friends by releasing corporate giant EllisDon from a long-standing obligation to hire unionized workers province-wide. Strangely, this government is reintroducing a Conservative bill that the Premier herself voted against just last year.

Speaker, can the Acting Premier tell us specifically who it consulted with on this

schedule of this bill, and explain to workers in this province why the government has once again introduced the EllisDon bill?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member for this question, which I had anticipated. What we’re doing with this legislation is we’re providing the authority to the government to make changes to implement a settlement that was reached by the arbitrator in a process that has been ongoing. It has made its way through the OLRB; it has made its way through the courts. At one point in the past, it appeared we were heading down the road that one side may get everything it wanted and the other side would get nothing at all.

With what we’re proposing to do with the legislation when it comes forward and with the regulation when it comes forward is ensure that both sides are treated fairly in this regard. We’ve had one of the best arbitrators in the country working on this file. He has met with all parties involved with this. He has brought me some recommendations that I will be bringing to the House at a later date that I think will result in a much fairer settlement than was anticipated before.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Cindy Forster: I’d say only that 1% is going to be making out okay in this deal. Let’s not forget that two separate appeal courts have upheld this 60-year agreement, and now this government is legislating. The problem is, it favours one party. That party happens to be a major donor to the Liberal Party. Never mind the Labour Relations Board; never mind the two courts of appeal; never mind the court of public opinion. It begs the question: Who really is in charge in Ontario?

Will this progressive Premier explain why she’s gifting legislation to a major corporate donor that would further erode the rights to collective bargaining in this province?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you once again to the honourable member for that question. At every possible opportunity, I personally, and the members of my staff at the Ministry of Labour, attempted to facilitate a settlement that all parties could agree to. The arbitrator sat down with the groups over a weekend and they were able to hash out a deal that was agreed to by the parties in the room. They took it out for ratification. One group was able to get it ratified and the other one was not. At the end of this, we called them back together again and asked them to sit down to see if they could work out a deal because I knew I was dealing with people that did want to achieve a settlement.

Despite best efforts, we were unable to reach a ratified deal within the room, but the arbitrator has reported back to me. He has asked me that, when I make a decision to bring in the regulation, I will be directed by the settlement that was reached within that room.

Youth employment

Mrs. Laura Albanese: My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Many young people in my riding of York South–Weston speak about the challenges they face in preparing for the labour market. I often hear that they lack the necessary skills and training that they need to find and keep good jobs. This is especially the case for young people who face multiple barriers to employment resulting from some combination of challenging life circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the minister recently announced the launch of a new youth jobs program: Youth Job Connection. Can the minister please inform the members of this House on how this new program will help our most vulnerable youth access the necessary training and employment services to find meaningful jobs?

Hon. Reza Moridi: I want to thank the member from York South–Weston for that question. Last month I was proud to announce the launch of Youth Job Connection, a new targeted program that will provide intensive support and training to youth who face the greatest challenges finding employment.

I am proud to say that our government is investing more than $160 million over two years to help over 27,000 youth across the province of Ontario to access a number of employment and training services. This program will be delivered at more than 130 Employment Ontario service locations across the province. It will have two components: a year-round component, which will help youth aged 15 to 29, and a summer component, which will provide high school students with summer job opportunities as well as part-time work during the school year.

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue investing in evidence-based programs to help connect our young people to the job opportunities they need to succeed.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Laura Albanese: Thank you to the minister for that answer.

All Ontarians, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to effective employment and training programs that give them the skills they need to succeed.

It is reassuring that a program like Youth Job Connection will provide much-needed intensive support to help young people access the labour market. I understand that this program is part of our government’s $250-million reinvestment in Ontario’s renewed youth jobs strategy, which will help support a comprehensive suite of new youth employment programs.

Many constituents in my riding of York South–Weston would like to know more about some of the other innovative employment and training programs that will be made available to young people. Can the minister inform the members of this House of the different programs that will be included in this new suite of youth job programs?

Hon. Reza Moridi: Again, I want to thank the member for that question.

Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely correct. Youth Job Connection is part of a comprehensive suite of new programs that will more effectively serve young people across a broader spectrum of needs and in more locations across the province of Ontario.

Youth Job Link, which will be launched next spring, is a program that will help youth who face fewer barriers for employment. I am pleased to say that every single service provider across the province of Ontario which belongs to the Employment Ontario network will be invited to deliver Youth Job Link.

We are also making an additional $25-million investment in Employment Service to help employers provide more on-the-job training and trial job placements for our youth.

Mr. Speaker, young people and their employers across the province of Ontario will be better served than ever with more than 30 government of Ontario programs now in place to help youth build skills and find jobs.

Hydro rates

Mr. John Yakabuski: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Premier. Ontarians are now being bombarded with a new ad campaign promoting the Liberals’ latest energy price shell game. When one shell game ends, a new one begins. The Ontario Electricity Support Program is just the most recent version of diversion and confusion when it comes to energy pricing. It is nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It pits one energy-poor family against another energy-poor family, and the Liberals draw the battle line.

The minister and the Deputy Premier must realize that every Ontario family needs real hydro relief—not another Liberal shell game—that can only come from a shift in policy direction from the wrong direction that this government is on.

Will the Deputy Premier stand in her place and announce a real policy change that will bring real relief to Ontario families?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I’m a bit surprised that the member opposite isn’t actually standing up and saying, “I’m really happy to see the debt retirement charge go,” because this will be off the hydro bills two years earlier than planned, saving families $70 a year.

In addition, we are focusing on the same people that you have brought up in question period, that your party has brought up in question period: those who really are burdened by high electricity bills. We know that the lower the income, the higher the burden of that bill.

As I said earlier, I really genuinely hope, politics aside, that everyone in this Legislature takes the time to make sure their constituents know about the new Ontario Electricity Support Program. It is a significant reduction in hydro bills. It is focused on people who have the lowest and moderate incomes. It is important that all members—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: Speaker, they love to talk about a cornucopia of programs, none of which would need to exist if they had a proper energy policy.

This is just another classic play from the Liberal governing handbook: Announce a redistribution program so that the minister and the Premier can have some nice photo ops, but when you examine the details, it is nothing more than another shell game.

Because of the sliding scale of the OESP, many families who need relief simply will not get it. But more important is the point that the $30 stipend from the OESP is nothing compared to the hundreds and hundreds of dollars this government has added to those same people’s hydro bills over the years, and the hundreds more that you’re going to add, each and every year, over the next decade.

Will the Premier just simply admit that the Ontario Electricity Support Program is more about photo ops and expensive ad campaigns than actually helping low-income electricity consumers?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Well, maybe the member opposite can sniff at $500-a-year relief for Ontario families, but that’s a meaningful difference for Ontarians.

I found it very intriguing, during the last federal election campaign, when the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Environment touted Canada’s progress on reducing greenhouse gases by citing the changes we made in Ontario on shutting down those coal-fired plants.

We’re proud of the decisions that we made to reduce greenhouse gases. We’re proud of the decisions we made to improve the quality of our air. We’re proud of the decisions we made to build a reliable energy system.

We all remember what it was like under their watch. It’s not time to go back. We’ve made investments. We don’t need more blackouts. We’ve got the kind of electricity system—

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

New question.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Acting Premier. Municipal electricity utilities currently make payments to the Ontario government in lieu of municipal and school taxes. This money is supposed to help pay down the residual stranded debt left over from the old Ontario Hydro. Under current law, when the residual stranded debt is finally retired, these payments are supposed to go back to the municipalities.

But now the government has decided to lay a permanent claim to these payments. Bill 144 changes the law so that this money will never flow to municipalities, even after the residual stranded debt is paid.

Why is the government keeping the money that is supposed to be going back to municipalities and schools?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: The payment in lieu of taxes—that is being released, as would any other company, be it municipally and/or Hydro One. A majority of the LDCs are actually owned municipally, and those payments in lieu of taxes continue. Notwithstanding the amount that is being received, the proportionate amount goes to the residual stranded debt and/or stranded debt. Now we also have that billion dollars more going directly to OEFC debt.

Ultimately, we are sourcing greater valuation from this corporation, enabling us to reinvest in infrastructure and into other programs, to provide even greater returns for the people of Ontario and, at the same time, paying down debt.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Back to the Acting Premier: The residual stranded debt should be nearly paid off by now. But by selling Hydro One, the government is making this debt bigger and forcing businesses to keep paying $600 million a year in debt retirement charges.

Now the government wants to permanently keep money that, under current law, is supposed to flow to municipalities and schools after the residual stranded debt is paid off.

How many more cash grabs will the government sneak into law to replace the money it’s giving up by selling off Hydro One?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The member opposite likes to cite the FAO, but now he doesn’t want to cite the FAO, who says that as a result of this transaction, we’re able to source additional funding to pay down debt, and it’s undetermined and uncertain what the residual stranded debt will be going forward, because it is an uncertain process.

We are providing certainty. We’re removing the debt retirement charge from residences by the end of this year. Furthermore, we’re reducing it for all businesses and commercial by the end of April 1, 2018. That provides certainty nine months ahead of schedule, regardless of the degree of stranded debt that will still remain.

We know that that’s important for residences; we know that’s important for businesses. We know it’s even more important for us to reinvest those funds into new infrastructure and new assets. That’s exactly what we’re doing.

Home warranty program

Mr. Han Dong: My question is to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. I understand that the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is responsible for providing oversight to Tarion, an administrative authority that manages the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. As part of this oversight, the ministry recently announced a review of the act, with the objective of improving consumer protection for new homeowners.

I’m excited to see this review progressing, because home warranty coverage is a particularly important priority in my riding. Trinity–Spadina is a rapidly developing area, with new homes built regularly. Modernized legislation could potentially improve the coverage Ontarians receive.

The Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act review is particularly timely, as it builds on a series of important steps this government has taken to improve warranty protection for new homeowners. Can the minister please speak to the—

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

Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. David Orazietti: I want to thank the member from Trinity–Spadina for the question and for being a champion on this issue.

We will continue to work with Tarion to make improvements to the program, but let’s talk about the improvements we’ve made to date under our government. We’ve developed and expanded a builders’ registry that provides consumers with more information. We’ve doubled the warranty program from $150,000 to $300,000 for consumers. We’ve launched a new builder education program to ensure builders in Ontario meet the high standards we set, and we’ve removed an industry majority on Tarion’s board of directors. There is now a balance on that board.

I am pleased with these steps, but I understand that further improvements can be made. The Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act is nearly 40 years old and my ministry has committed to an independent review to assess how the legislation can be strengthened.

I’m pleased that former Associate Chief Justice Douglas Cunningham has committed to undertaking the review, and I look forward to commenting more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Han Dong: I want to thank the minister for his work on this very important issue. I have spoken to the minister on a few occasions after my constituents raised concerns about their new home warranty.

Many of my constituents were pleased with the announcement of the review led by Justice Cunningham. The purchase of a home is the largest investment most homeowners will make in their lifetime. The review will help to ensure the investment is protected. I see great potential in this review, particularly in its commitment to include multijurisdictional comparisons and detailed consultations with new homeowners and the public, consumer advocacy groups, municipal stakeholders and many other impacted parties.

I understand that this important work will take place over an eight-month timeline. I know the minister will have to wait until the completion of the review before making any commitments on his next steps. In the meantime, can the minister speak to what he expects this review to focus on, and how recommendations will help our government work with Tarion to strengthen the protection program?

Hon. David Orazietti: Thank you again to the member from Trinity–Spadina. As I mentioned, we’ve appointed Justice Cunningham to lead the review openly and transparently, with broad consultation and engagement from all stakeholders that are concerned about this issue.

I’ve specifically asked that the review focus on several key areas, such as how we can strengthen consumer protection in a number of ways, including warranty coverage levels and duration, as well as the dispute resolution process and the degree of government involvement in the policy changes of Tarion.

As well, Speaker, the review will focus on accountability and oversight of Tarion; any information disclosure requirements that would bring Tarion more in line with some of our other Open Government commitments are an objective that we’re looking for.

While Tarion no longer has an industry majority on its board, we’re also going to review board governance, and we’ll also be reviewing the regulation-making authority of the board.

I look forward to seeing Justice Cunningham’s report and acting on those recommendations.

Health care funding

Mr. Michael Harris: My question is to the Minister of Health. As the minister knows, for too many years now, we’ve seen too many patients forced to travel to Queen’s Park to plead with government for life-saving and life-transforming medication and treatment for rare diseases. In the last year alone—and today—I brought in families whose heart-wrenching stories cry out for the government’s attention, many going into debt to pay for the life-saving treatment that government is failing to provide.

Speaker, I’ve launched a website, treatraredisease.ca, where people can share stories and speak to the need for the health care support we all deserve.

This morning, I announced my private member’s motion calling on government to strike an all-party select committee to develop recommendations for the funding of rare disease treatment. Will the minister commit today to support my motion for meaningful long-term solutions for rare disease sufferers here in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, I applaud the member opposite for his advocacy on behalf of individuals living in this province with rare diseases. It can be as much as 6% of our population. I think it’s actually as high as 8% of the population who suffer from rare diseases.

I also want to acknowledge the courage of those who were invited by the member opposite, who came here today to tell their very difficult stories about how they’ve struggled with these rare diseases, including the challenge in our health care system of proper diagnosis.

Mr. Speaker, it’s important that the public know that Ontario is in fact co-chairing and leading a process nationally across the country. We’ve established a committee nationally, specifically to develop a strategy for rare diseases in this country. Ontario is leading that effort. We’re co-chairing the process. We expect, as a result of that process, to be able to have improvements in this province so we can provide the care these people so rightly deserve.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: This all-party committee would hear from experts, physicians, drug manufacturers and, most importantly, rare disease patients in a meaningful dialogue instead of the press conferences they are forced to hold to get your attention. Minister, I’m sure you agree that patients deserve more than words of understanding from government and a pat on the back when they are at your doorstep and the cameras are on.

This all-party committee will review recommendations the government has already received and hear from experts to make sure patients suffering from rare diseases are treated fairly in the system. It’s my hope that an all-party select committee will unlock that process, which has long remained out of reach. Will the minister join me and support my call to strike the select committee into funding and treatment for rare disease in Ontario? Yes or no?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I certainly look forward to the debate on your private member’s bill.

It’s also important that long before the member opposite had his press conference several weeks ago with patients who were suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, long before that, months before that, we struck a committee in government specifically on EDS, an expert panel where we brought together all the experts across the province. When he brought those patients to Queen’s Park, I made a commitment to them that day that I would invite them to participate in that panel and speak to that panel so that the panel would understand their specific circumstances and the challenges they face.

I’m happy to report that two weeks ago, I joined those families and those patients in front of the expert panel on EDS so that panel could hear directly from those individuals.

It’s important that we focus on the patients—and we need all the partners. We need our drug companies—drug companies like Alexion, which has perhaps the highest-priced drug in the world and which chooses to sue our federal government instead of working proactively with us so we can deliver those medicines to those who dearly need them.

Hospital funding

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. On Friday, we learned that 84 jobs will be cut at hospitals in Belleville, Trenton and Prince Edward county as the Liberals chop $11.5 million from those hospitals. It means fewer nurses and health care workers to care for patients in operating rooms, the ER, infection control, the women’s and children’s unit and rehab—the list goes on.

When local residents fall sick, they will feel the impact of these Liberal cuts because every one of those workers does an important job: They save lives.

When will this Liberal government finally decide that patients are the priority and put a full stop, a full moratorium on any more cuts to registered nurses and front-line health care workers in Ontario’s hospitals?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know the leader of the third party is referring to a process that was undertaken by the hospital corporation, the Quinte Health Care Corp., that involves four different hospitals. It’s an effort for them to move forward in a sustainable fashion with regard to their funding allocation. It’s true that there are some job losses that will result. That’s always a difficult thing, something we try to avoid at every step.

There will be some shifts, as well, where it’s deemed that that particular job description can be adequately or sometimes even better fulfilled by another type of individual, and that results in a shift of the job. But there are also 78 new positions that will be created as a result of these changes.

I’m working very closely with the Quinte Health Care Corp., working very closely with the LHIN, working very closely as well with members of our own caucus to make sure we do this properly.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Patients know how important nurses and health care workers are. I wish the Premier and the Minister of Health felt the same way, but under the Liberals, more than 625 registered nursing positions have been cut from Ontario hospitals this year alone, and more cuts are happening every week. Let’s think of that another way, Speaker. It means that at least two registered nurses have lost their job in Ontario hospitals every single day since January 1 under this Premier’s orders.

Why won’t the Liberal government take responsibility for the deep cuts to patient care and order a full stop right here and now to any further cuts to nurses and front-line hospital workers?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know that the leader of the third party focuses on the job losses. She doesn’t talk about net jobs in terms of the many hundreds of new jobs that are created, including for our nurses across this province.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the hard work of the member from Northumberland–Quinte West when it comes to Quinte because, particularly with the Trenton hospital but across that whole region, he has been working very, very hard to make sure that the services that those individuals and those communities deserve are retained.

In fact, through that process, we’ve been working where we created a community consultation process. More than 15 members of the local community that that member represents were consulted in terms of their health care needs and what they want to see in their health care corporation and the local community.

We’re also going to be undertaking—and this was at the initiative of the member from Northumberland—a feasibility study to see how we can actually strengthen, in the case of the Trenton hospital, its efforts towards a health community hub.

Aboriginal education

Mr. Yvan Baker: My question is for the Minister of Education. One of the most important aspects of what we do in government, I think, and one of the issues that I hear about the most in my riding of Etobicoke Centre is education, about providing our young people with access to excellent education. I know that our Minister of Education works very diligently and hard on that every single day.

When the government of Ontario and the Anishinabek Nation signed the first memorandum of understanding in 2009, it was clear that they made a commitment to ongoing collaboration that would support the establishment of the Anishinabek education system.

Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Anishinabek Nation, I understand, Minister, that you have met on a regular basis, to identify and discuss common educational issues.

To further this process, in January 2014 the Anishinabek and Ontario agreed to enter into discussions on a master education framework agreement. Minister, can you please tell this House what the purpose is of entering into discussions on a master education framework agreement?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Thank you to the member for the question on a very important issue for all of us.

I want to begin by recognizing the long history of First Nations people in Ontario and, in particular, the history of the Anishinabek peoples.

The development of a master education framework agreement serves as an outline—almost an index—to the objectives, scope, principles and processes for the negotiation of a proposed master education agreement. It gives us an opportunity to collaborate on and formalize those partnerships. In fact, the master education agreement, when we get it completed, will formalize the relationship between the Anishinabek Nation and Ontario.

The agreement also confirms that we will work collaboratively with the Anishinabek people so that there’s better co-operation between their schools and Ontario schools, which are actually where most of the Anishinabek students attend.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Yvan Baker: Thank you, Minister. Last Thursday, I understand that you visited with the Anishinabek First Nations in Sault Ste. Marie and successfully signed the master education framework agreement, which, I think it is fair to say, is an historic event. To my mind, it is evidence of your commitment and the ongoing commitment of our government and the Anishinabek First Nations to negotiate the terms of a new agreement in order to support First Nations students’ education across the province.

I am pleased to know that First Nations students will have better access to education in Ontario and will work toward closing the gap in Ontario. Minister, can you please tell this House what the successful master education framework agreement will mean going forward?

Hon. Liz Sandals: It was indeed a very moving and exciting occasion. There were chiefs from all over Ontario there to sign the master education framework agreement. Everybody who was there agreed that this was truly an historic occasion which gives us an opportunity to collaborate. As I said, if we are going to ensure that our Anishinabek students succeed, we must collaborate.

Some of the students are in First Nations schools; the majority are in Ontario schools. What the master education agreement will lead to, when it’s fully completed, is the ability to support students who are transitioning from one to another. It will enable us to share professional development. It will enable us to further expand on the agreements that we have between school boards and the relationship between school boards and First Nations.

Correctional facility employees

Mr. Rick Nicholls: My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Bargaining talks between the province and correctional officers and staff continued over the weekend without results. There is a cost that comes from failing to reach an agreement.

During one weekend this month, correctional officers didn’t sign up for voluntary overtime. As a result, the province is said to have paid its managers to be on call all weekend, at a cost of about $600,000. In May, we learned that the province had spent millions of dollars to prepare for strikes, months before negotiations ever began.

Speaker, how much money has the province spent to date due to the government’s failure to secure a deal with corrections staff over a year of negotiations?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member opposite for the question. I’m a bit puzzled by the question because I take it he wants to intervene in a collective bargaining process that is taking place right now. I’m sure he will be the first one to counsel me not to engage in collective bargaining on the floor of the Legislature. We should respect the process that is ongoing. Both sides are working hard. We are very proud that we were able to reach an agreement which was ratified with OPSEU at the unified and at the central table. The corrections table continues to work hard.

In the meantime, we take the health and safety of our inmates and our staff very seriously, and we’ll continue to make sure that all our correctional facilities are safe at all times and that services are provided to the inmates through appropriate staff.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Again, I would encourage the government to continue to bargain in good faith—something that we don’t believe is happening.

Unfortunately, years of Liberal mismanagement have led to a crisis in corrections. This has significantly impacted the relationship between correctional staff and the province. Staff have made numerous complaints about dangerous conditions in facilities, and have raised the alarm that our correctional facilities are understaffed. In return, correctional officers have been ignored. Even worse, some of them have been instructed by the government to stay quiet. Ontario’s correctional officers and staff feel disrespected by this government.

Minister, when will your ministry show Ontario’s correctional, parole and probation officers the respect that they deserve?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I think the question is a serious question. It is an important question that is being asked, and I want to give a serious response to the member opposite and all members.

We take our responsibility in terms of our correctional staff very, very seriously. We want to make sure that they’re properly trained and that they’re properly staffed because our correctional workers are on the front line when it comes to providing appropriate services around rehabilitation and reintegration for the offenders who are in our care and custody. That is why we have been working very hard since 2013, in an accelerated fashion, rehiring correctional, probation and parole officers. In fact, we have hired almost 500 new correctional officers in our institutions.

We continue to engage in robust hiring as well. In fact there are about 100 correctional officers being trained at the corrections college as we speak.

GO Transit

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Last week, a member of the Liberal caucus, the MPP for Kitchener Centre, publicly admitted that the Liberals’ current plan for Kitchener-Waterloo GO trains is inadequate. She knows, just like the people of Kitchener-Waterloo do, that your government promised two-way, all-day GO trains to Kitchener in five years just 18 months ago. In April this year, Premier Wynne backtracked. We won’t see the first GO train from Toronto to Kitchener arrive in the morning until 2025 at the earliest. Speaker, that’s just not good enough.

The people of Kitchener-Waterloo know what’s at stake. Last year, your predecessor, Minister Murray, said that there would be GO train service that runs every 15 minutes between Waterloo region and Toronto within five years. That’s what the former Minister of Transportation said to the people of Kitchener-Waterloo.

My question though is to today’s minister. It’s a simple one: When can the people of Kitchener-Waterloo expect more that one-way GO trains between Kitchener and Toronto: five years, 10 years or longer?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Mr. Speaker, my only regret is that I won’t have a chance to have a second friendly question like I just received from the member from Kitchener–Waterloo.

I want to begin answering by paying tribute to the member from Kitchener Centre in the government caucus and to the member from Cambridge because of their advocacy—not just their advocacy, but their real understanding of what’s required when you need to make the tough decisions to fund important, crucial infrastructure.

Perhaps that’s the kind of question that that member can ask her leader, who just days ago brought forward a motion and, in debate on that motion, neglected to tell anybody in her own caucus exactly how she, the leader of the NDP, would fund transportation infrastructure. More importantly, the leader of the NDP neglected to tell her own caucus members which one of their projects that they’re so desirous of she would cancel if she had the chance.

On this side of the House, we understand the importance of spending $31.5 billion over the next 10 years to move the province forward, to move Kitchener forward and to build Ontario up.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Chatham–Kent–Essex on a point of order.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: It’s my pleasure to welcome to the Legislative Assembly today the Assyrian youth group, a group of college and university students from across the GTA. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Etobicoke Lakeshore on a point of order.

Deferred Votes

Ending Coal for Cleaner Air Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur l’abandon du charbon pour un air plus propre

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

Bill 9,

An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act to require the cessation of coal use to generate electricity at generation facilities / Projet de loi 9, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de l’environnement pour exiger la cessation de l’utilisation du charbon pour produire de l’électricité dans les installations de production.

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

The division bells rang from 1142 to 1147.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On Tuesday, November 17, 2015, Mr. Murray moved third reading of Bill 9. All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Baker, Yvan

Balkissoon, Bas

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Chan, Michael

Clark, Steve

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Damerla, Dipika

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Fedeli, Victor

Fife, Catherine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Forster, Cindy

Fraser, John

Gates, Wayne

Gravelle, Michael

Gretzky, Lisa

Hardeman, Ernie

Harris, Michael

Hatfield, Percy

Hoggarth, Ann

Horwath, Andrea

Hoskins, Eric

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Jones, Sylvia

Kiwala, Sophie

Kwinter, Monte

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Martins, Cristina

Martow, Gila

Matthews, Deborah

McDonell, Jim

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

McNaughton, Monte

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Miller, Norm

Miller, Paul

Moridi, Reza

Munro, Julia

Murray, Glen R.

Naqvi, Yasir

Natyshak, Taras

Nicholls, Rick

Orazietti, David

Pettapiece, Randy

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sattler, Peggy

Scott, Laurie

Sergio, Mario

Singh, Jagmeet

Smith, Todd

Sousa, Charles

Tabuns, Peter

Takhar, Harinder S.

Taylor, Monique

Thibeault, Glenn

Thompson, Lisa M.

Vanthof, John

Vernile, Daiene

Walker, Bill

Wilson, Jim

Wong, Soo

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

Zimmer, David

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

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 86; the nays are 0.

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

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

Third reading agreed to.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It is not the process to interfere with a vote. I will not interfere with a vote, but if anyone ever uses unparliamentary language, I would offer them an opportunity to withdraw on their own.

Interjection.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, thank you very much.

There are no further deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1151 to 1300.

Members’ Statements

Hospital funding

Mr. Todd Smith: Enough is enough. Mr. Speaker, last week the constituents in my riding got news that 162 positions were being cut from Quinte Health Care. That’s 162 job cuts that are affecting Belleville General Hospital, Trenton Memorial Hospital and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, but most significantly, cuts that will affect the lives of thousands of patients and their families in the region. The 162 job losses at our hospitals include some of the most vital front-line workers, such as registered practical nurses, but extend to those who help the hospital run day to day, such as maintenance workers.

As the Ontario Nurses’ Association vice-president Vicki McKenna stated, “reducing ... in emergency departments puts patients at risk,” and “similar models have been tried elsewhere” with disastrous effects.

It’s obvious that these cuts will have a negative impact on patients. Every day, hundreds rely on the high level of quality care that our hard-working nurses provide to the most vulnerable and those in need. Last year, Quinte Health Care received an approval rating of 99.9% for its quality of care, but with further staff cuts it’s hard to imagine how care will ever improve at Trenton Memorial, Belleville General or Prince Edward County Memorial when this government is cutting jobs for people who deal with patients every day.

For the last couple of years, we’ve seen cut after cut forced onto local health care by this government. Eventually we’re going to have to ask: How much more can our community give? How much more can our hospitals give? How much more of Prince Edward County Memorial or Trenton Memorial Hospital can go under the knife before there’s no hospital left? The answer to that question is no more cuts.

Western Muslim Students’ Association

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Members’ statements? The member for London South.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the first annual gala of the Western University Muslim Students’ Association, or MSA, at the London Muslim Mosque. The event brought together more than 100 young Muslims from the Western MSA, the Fanshawe MSA, the Oakridge MSA from my riding of London West, which is London’s largest secondary school MSA, and many other students and community members.

I rise today to applaud the efforts of these young people to raise awareness, promote cross-cultural understanding and challenge negative and dangerous stereotypes. Proceeds from the gala will be used to support the Western MSA Islam Awareness Week, an annual campus initiative held to encourage dialogue between Muslims and people of other faiths. Information booths, seminars and presentations by guest speakers are organized to highlight diversity within the Muslim community and dispel common misconceptions.

With world attention focused on the horrific and brutal violence in Paris, the efforts of the Western MSA take on special significance. In order to stand strong in the face of terrorism, we must stand together across race, ethnicity, language, religion and nationality to acknowledge the attacks in Paris and Beirut for what they are: a perversion of Islam, not a reflection.

We can all take a lesson from the enthusiastic and dedicated young people who participate in Muslim student associations on campuses and in schools across Ontario. Understanding is the best and most effective way to prevent fear. I am proud to congratulate the Western MSA and support them in their efforts.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I apologize to the member from London West. I said “London South.” There is no London South; it’s London West.

Further members’ statements?

Gala de reconnaissance à Embrun / Recognition gala in Embrun

M. Grant Crack: Samedi soir, j’ai eu l’opportunité d’être présent au tout premier Gala de reconnaissance des gens de coeur.

On Saturday night, I had the privilege to attend the first recognition gala in Embrun, in the great riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. It was a wonderful evening where we gathered to celebrate collectively the great work done by our community volunteers, celebrate our local entrepreneurs and also recognize community leaders.

I want to congratulate all those who were nominated, and specifically those who won awards: le prix APHO—la

Loi sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées de l’Ontario—Patrice Dagenais; le leadership communautaire, la Banque Alimentaire Bons Voisins; la nouvelle entreprise de l’année, Boulangerie du village; service excellence, Euphoria Smoothies; and ambassador of the year, Jonathan Pitre.

Speaker, instead of choosing one winner, the review committee decided that all five nominees should win the Volunteer Community Service Award. Congratulations to Christian Therkelsen, Connie Johnston, Greg Rokosh, Judy McFaul and Marie-Claire Ivanski. We were thrilled to have with us as a guest speaker Jonathan Pitre, who also won the perseverance award. Fifteen-year-old Jonathan suffers from a rare genetic condition, epidermolysis bullosa (EB), and he delivered an inspiring speech perfectly in both official languages.

I want to congratulate all of the winners, and also the mayor, Pierre Leroux, and the council of the township of Russell for organizing such a lovely evening.

Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Last week, three of my constituents earned well-deserved recognition for their accomplishments and service through their induction into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Rex Crawford is a farmer who has served his community in a wide variety of capacities, including as a member of Parliament. In Dover, he farmed some of the finest and most productive land in the country. Rex has grown corn, soybeans, oats and wheat, sugar beets and tobacco. Rex is also a conservationist and has served on the boards of both the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority. I am proud to call Rex Crawford my friend, and I congratulate him on his induction.

Also inducted to the hall of fame were Bill and Diane Parks. Bill began as a soil and crop specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Meanwhile, he and his wife Diane had already begun the cultivation of blueberries. They moved their plantation to its present site near Bothwell in 1979. In 1990, Bill and Diane created the famous Parks Blueberries and Country Store. Today the Parks store employs 10 workers full-time and 25 part-time. Bill was named agriculturalist of the year by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Together, Bill and Diane were named agricultural innovators of the year, and they have received a lifetime leadership achievement award from the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association.

On behalf of all the constituents in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, I’d like to congratulate all the inductees in 2015.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I rise today in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which will be held on December 3, 2015. The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Here in Ontario, while persons with disabilities are active and engaged in society, there continue to be many challenges they must overcome. There is the pressing issue of affordable housing, with persons with developmental disabilities seeing long wait-lists, which hurts not only these individuals, but also families who are trying to support their loved ones.

Finally, there is the issue of mental health. I am proud to have introduced my bill, which will address many issues in the mental health system and will alleviate much of the stigma that surrounds mental health issues in this province.

It is my hope that on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this government will finally give these individuals the respect they deserve.

Ottawa Redblacks / Le Rouge et Noir d’Ottawa

Mr. John Fraser: Christmas came early for Ottawa this year. November 22, 2015, will be forever etched in the hearts of Redblacks fans. A spectacular 93-yard Henry-Burris-to-Greg-Ellingson touchdown in the final minutes of the game secured a victory and ended a 34-year Grey Cup drought for Ottawa.

The sold-out crowd was treated to a great back-and-forth game of football. I was proud to be there with both of my sons to watch the game. For years, Ottawa football—

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: I can hear the Hamilton fans over there; they’re still grumbling.

For years, Ottawa football has brought our community and its people together. Félicitations; congratulations to coach Campbell, his staff, the players, and all those connected with the organization for making it to the Grey Cup in your second year. Thank you to the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group and all their partners who worked so hard to realize the dream of bringing a team to Ottawa.

The Redblacks have been a great boost to Ottawa’s community spirit. I know that all of Ottawa is behind our team and there will be a lot of Grey Cup parties this weekend. I look forward to watching the game at one of those parties. One more game. Go Redblacks! Allez les Rouge et Noir!

Christmas Tree Day

Mr. Jim Wilson: I rise today to encourage members of this House to observe Ontario’s first Christmas Tree Day, which will take place on Saturday, December 5. The Christmas Tree Day Act, a bill supported by all parties of this House, received royal assent in June, making Christmas Tree Day in Ontario the first Saturday in December each year.

Aside from being part of our annual holiday tradition, Christmas trees make up an important part of our economy in Ontario. The $12-million industry involves 647 tree farms producing over a million Christmas trees each year. This industry employs thousands of people in the agriculture, transportation and retail sectors.

While a key part of our agricultural sector, the crop plays an important role in the environment also. According to the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario, tree farms provide a stable refuge and feeding area for wildlife. Christmas trees also help remove carbon dioxide from the environment, and after the holidays, they can be used as mulch.

I’m asking all members to promote Christmas Tree Day to their constituents because of the important role these trees play in our lives. I would ask that members encourage people to buy a real tree to support our economy and the environment.

In closing, I’d like to thank Mr. Fred Somerville of Somerville Nurseries and Mrs. Shirley Brennan of the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario for the work they do and for the assistance they provided to me so that Christmas Tree Day could become a reality in Ontario.

Fiat Chrysler casting plant

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I rise today in the House to share with members something of a tour of the Fiat Chrysler casting plant in Etobicoke–Lakeshore that I enjoyed a few weeks ago.

This facility was built in 1942 for the war effort. It was purchased by Chrysler in 1954 to make pistons and other engine components. During the 2008 financial downturn, the future of this plant was uncertain, but when Fiat bought it, they announced an investment of over $27 million to bring in production that would sustain the facility. In 2012, they had just over 200 employees. Today they have over 530.

This is one of the plants in North America that has cutting-edge technology and it’s actually employing people in highly skilled positions. That’s where the growth and employment is. It’s proof that innovation and success in Ontario are possible when we invest in our people.

I’m so proud of this facility. The employees there are multigenerational; some of their grandfathers worked there. For a car plant, unusually, many of the employees actually walk to work. Because they’re part of the community, they contribute to community causes. They are an example that “made in Ontario” in the auto sector is world-class.

Events in Etobicoke North

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I take this opportunity to rise and share some good news from the great riding of Etobicoke North. There are a number of developments.

First of all, of course, we’re very proud to be part of a massive expansion that’s going to be taking place at Etobicoke General Hospital. We’re not supposed to be talking about the dollar value, but I estimate it’s going to be at least $200-million-plus. We’re tripling to quadrupling the floor space, the actual imprint of the hospital. There are a number of new facilities that are coming online: a new cardiorespiratory diagnostic unit, massively expanded emergency room, birthing suites, renal dialysis, maternal newborn care and so on.

I look forward to being there for the opening. We’ve already attended many, many functions in terms of ribbon cutting and the architectural plans and the groundbreaking, etc., but we look forward to when it actually comes online to help my residents and constituents in Etobicoke North.

Along with that, I’d like to share with you an extraordinary development for Humber College. Again, as I recall, the share for the government of Ontario was something on the order of about $90 million. It’s a massive new and very elegant student centre. You’ll be pleased to know, Speaker, that the Finch LRT is going to be basically stopping at that—it’s the final end-point terminus, right in the great riding of Etobicoke North. There are actually eight stops that are coming to Etobicoke North.

Whether it’s transportation, education or health care, Etobicoke North is on the move.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their statements.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I beg leave to present a report on Cancer Screening Programs,

section 4.01 of the 2014 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Hardeman presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations.

Does the member have a short statement?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: As Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I’m pleased to table today the committee’s report, entitled Cancer Screening Programs (Section 4.01 of the 2014 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the permanent membership of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Lisa MacLeod, Vice-Chair; Han Dong, John Fraser, Percy Hatfield, Harinder Malhi, Julia Munro, Arthur Potts and Lou Rinaldi.

The committee extends its appreciation to officials from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Cancer Care Ontario for their attendance at the hearings.

The committee also acknowledges the assistance provided during the hearings and report-writing deliberations by the Office of the Auditor General, the Clerks of the Committee, and staff in legislative research.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I move adjournment of the debate.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Hardeman moves adjournment of the debate.

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

Debate adjourned.

Comité permanent de la justice / Standing Committee on Justice Policy

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Je demande la permission de déposer un rapport du Comité permanent de la justice et je propose son adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and move its adoption—sent to you via page Ross.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 113,

An Act respecting police record checks / Projet de loi 113, Loi concernant les vérifications de dossiers de police.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Carried.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to the order of the House dated October 27, 2015, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Introduction of Bills

Disclosure of Information Relating to the Protection of Children Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur la divulgation de renseignements concernant la protection des enfants

Miss Taylor moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 146,

An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 with respect to the disclosure of specified information relating to children and services in respect of children / Projet de loi 146, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2000 sur les normes d’emploi et la Loi de 2006 sur la fonction publique de l’Ontario en ce qui a trait à la divulgation de renseignements précisés concernant les enfants et les services à leur intention.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Miss Monique Taylor: The bill amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000, to provide protection for an employee against reprisal in situations where the employee takes steps in relation to reporting, under

section 72 of the Child and Family Services Act, a suspicion that a child is in need of protection.

Part VI of the Public Service of Ontario Act establishes a scheme under which public servants may disclose wrongdoing. The bill amends the act to provide that specified persons who perform professional or official duties with respect to children are public servants for the purpose of that part of the act.

The bill also extends the protection against reprisals to circumstances where a public servant has disclosed information in relation to the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act, 2007.

Petitions

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the current government under Premier Kathleen Wynne is calling for the sale of up to 60% of Hydro One shares into private ownership; and

“Whereas the decision to sell the public utility was made without any public input and the deal will continue to be done in complete secrecy; and

“Whereas the loss of majority ownership in Hydro One will force ratepayers to accept whatever changes the new owners decide, such as higher rates; and

“Whereas electricity rates are already sky-high and hurting family budgets as well as businesses; and

“Whereas ratepayers will never again have independent investigations of consumer complaints, such as the Ontario Ombudsman’s damning report on failed billing; and

“Whereas the people of Ontario are the true owners of Hydro One and they do not believe the fire sale of Hydro One is in their best interest;

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

“To protect Ontario ratepayers by stopping the sale of Hydro One.”

I support this petition, will affix my name and send it with page Noam.

Highway improvement

Mr. Taras Natyshak: This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that reads:

“Whereas Highway 3 from Windsor to Leamington has long been identified as dangerous and unable to meet growing traffic volumes; and

“Whereas the widening of this highway passed its environmental assessment in 2006; and

“Whereas the portion of this project from Windsor to west of the town of Essex has been completed, but the remainder of the project remains stalled; and

“Whereas there has been a recent announcement of plans to rebuild the roadway, culverts, lighting and signals along the portion of Highway 3 that has not yet been widened;

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

“To revisit plans to rebuild Highway 3 from Essex to Leamington and direct those funds to the timely completion of the already approved widening of this important roadway in Essex county.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the Clerks’ table via page Ben.

Tenant protection

Mr. Jim Wilson: “Whereas our present land leases with Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc. are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA); however, they are exempted from the protection of rent controls under the act. Being

part 1,

section 6, subsection 2, and

“Whereas the landlord has the option to increase the monthly land rental by $50 above the existing rent, to a new purchaser, when a home is sold.

“Whereas ‘Country Meadows’ is a community of permanent homes located on leased lands whose residents are retired and living on fixed incomes. Continued rental increases beyond the guidelines of the RTA, is unsustainable to retired residents on fixed incomes.

“Therefore, we the undersigned residents of ‘Country Meadows’, petition the Legislature to change the RTA to include rent controls for retirement type communities located on leased lands and, to delete the option given to landlords to increase land rental rates upon sale of a home in such communities. The foregoing would enable retirees to remain in their homes and enjoy their hard-earned retirement years.”

I agree with this petition and I will sign it.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Privatizing Hydro One: Another Wrong Choice.

“Whereas once you privatize hydro, there’s no return; and

“We’ll lose billions in reliable annual revenues for schools and hospitals; and

“We’ll lose our biggest economic asset and control over our energy future; and

“We’ll pay higher and higher hydro bills just like what’s happened elsewhere;

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

“To stop the sale of Hydro One and make sure Ontario families benefit from owning Hydro One now and for generations to come.”

I sign the petition and give it to page Hannah to deliver.

Curling

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s curling clubs are experiencing significant spikes in hydro costs due in large part to the so-called ‘global adjustment’; and

“Whereas Ontario’s curling clubs have already been forced to raise rates and reduce services to their members; and

“Whereas if those costs continue to rise, it could affect their ability to provide curling services to current or future members; and

“Whereas there are over 200 curling facilities in Ontario used by approximately 50,000 curlers; and

“Whereas up to 100 curling clubs are already at risk of closing due to the high cost of hydro; and

“Whereas community building—multi-generations can play together or against each other, curlers come from a wide variety of backgrounds: professionals, business owners, tradespeople, teachers, students, retirees; and

“Whereas great exercise for all ages and ability, an affordable sport with many different levels of competition from little rocks, juniors, adults, seniors and even at the Olympics;

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

“To immediately develop new policies to address the inequities of the class allocation system for global adjustment charges that are impacting the existence of curling clubs and other non-profit associations across Ontario.”

I agree with this petition and send it down with page Michelle.

Poet laureate

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas poets laureate have been officially recognized at all levels of Canadian government and in at least 15 countries around the world; and

“Whereas the establishment of our own poet laureate for the province of Ontario would promote literacy and celebrate Ontario culture and heritage, along with raising public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word; and

“Whereas the member from Windsor–Tecumseh has introduced private member’s Bill 71 to establish the Office of Poet Laureate for the province of Ontario as a non-partisan attempt to promote literacy, to focus attention on our amazing poets and to give new focus to the arts community in Ontario;

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

“To support the establishment of the Office of Poet Laureate as an officer of the Ontario Legislature and that private member’s Bill 71,

An Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario, receive swift passage through the legislative process.”

I sign my signature to this petition and give it to page Megan Faith to deliver.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Robert Bailey: This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the provincial government is creating a privatization scheme that will lead to higher hydro rates, lower reliability, and hundreds of millions less for our schools, roads, and hospitals; and

“Whereas the privatization scheme will be particularly harmful to northern and First Nations communities; and

“Whereas the provincial government is creating this privatization scheme under a veil of secrecy that means Ontarians don’t have a say on a change that will affect their lives dramatically; and

“Whereas it is not too late to cancel the scheme;

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

“That the province of Ontario immediately cancel its scheme to privatize Ontario’s Hydro One.”

I agree with this petition, Mr. Speaker, and send it down with Aaran.

Privatisation des biens publics

M. Taras Natyshak: J’ai le plaisir de présenter une pétition à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Attendu que le gouvernement provincial conçoit un projet de privatisation qui entraînera une hausse des tarifs d’électricité, une baisse de la fiabilité et des centaines de millions de dollars en moins pour nos écoles, nos routes et nos hôpitaux; et

« Attendu que le projet de privatisation sera particulièrement préjudiciable pour les communautés du Nord et des Premières Nations; et

« Attendu que le gouvernement provincial conçoit ce projet de privatisation dans le secret, faisant que les Ontariens n’ont pas un mot à dire sur un changement qui affectera sérieusement leur vie; et

« Attendu qu’il n’est pas trop tard pour annuler le projet;

« Compte tenu de cela, nous, les soussignés, pétitionnons l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario comme suit :

« Que la province de l’Ontario annule immédiatement son projet de privatisation du réseau de distribution d’électricité de l’Ontario. »

J’appuie cette pétition et affixe ma signature pour l’envoyer à la table.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I have a petition here:

“Whereas the provincial government is creating a privatization scheme that will lead to higher hydro rates, lower reliability, and hundreds of millions less for our schools, roads and hospitals; and

“Whereas the Liberal government has already wasted $2 billion on the smart meter program and $1.1 billion on the gas plant scandal; and

“Whereas the Financial Accountability Officer has confirmed the Liberal government’s plan to sell off Hydro One will result in Ontario’s fiscal situation deteriorating; and

“Whereas it is not too late to cancel the scheme;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately cancel the fire sale of Hydro One.”

On behalf of my constituents, I completely agree with this petition and affix my signature on it.

Automotive industry

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to present this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the community of Windsor–Essex county has one of the highest unemployment rates in Canada resulting in stressful lives and financial inadequacies for many of its residents and businesses; and

“Whereas recently the Ford Motor Company was considering Windsor, Ontario, as a potential site for a new global engine that would create 1,000 new jobs (and as many as 7,000 spinoff jobs) for our community; and

“Whereas partnership with government was critical to secure this investment from Ford; and

“Whereas the inability of Ford and the Ontario [government] to come to an agreement for partnership contributed to the loss of this project;

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

“To insist that the Ontario government exhaust all available opportunities to reopen the discussions around the Ford investment in Windsor and to develop a national auto strategy and review current policy meant to attract investment in the auto sector.”

I fully agree with this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the Clerks’ table through page Megan.

Ontario Retirement Pension Plan

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government’s proposed Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) is a mandatory pension plan which would target small businesses and their employees; and

“Whereas there has been little to no discussion on what the costs would be, or who would pay them; and

“Whereas affected businesses would be hit with up to $1,643 per employee, per year in new payroll taxes starting in 2017; and

“Whereas affected employees would have up to $1,643 per year extra deducted from their paycheques, and it would take 40 years for them to see the full pension benefits; and

“Whereas the Canadian Federation of Independent Business predicts the unemployment rate in Ontario would rise by 0.5%, and there would be a reduction in wages over the longer term; and

“Whereas all of these costs would be shouldered exclusively by small businesses and their employees; and

“Whereas public sector and big business employees who already have a pension plan will not be asked to pay into the plan;

“We, the undersigned, do not support implementation of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan and petition the government of Ontario to axe the pension tax.”

I’ll support this, sign my name and send it with page Michelle.

Health care funding

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: “Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an increasing strain on our publicly funded health care system; and

“Whereas since February 2015, the Ontario government has made an almost 7% unilateral cut to physician services expenditures which cover all the care doctors provide to patients; and

“Whereas the decisions Ontario makes today will impact patients’ access to quality care in the years to come and these cuts will threaten access to the quality, patient-focused care Ontarians need and expect;

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

“The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care return to the table with Ontario’s doctors and work together through mediation-arbitration to reach a fair deal that protects the quality, patient-focused care Ontario’s families deserve.”

I sign this petition and give it to page Ross to deliver.

Health care funding

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an increasing strain on our publicly funded health care system; and

“Whereas since February 2015, the Ontario government has made an almost 7% unilateral cut to physician services expenditures which cover all the care doctors provide to patients; and

“Whereas the decisions Ontario makes today will impact patients’ access to quality care in the years to come and these cuts will threaten access to the quality, patient-focused care Ontarians need and expect;

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

“The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care return to the table with Ontario’s doctors and work together through mediation-arbitration to reach a fair deal that protects the quality, patient-focused care Ontario’s families deserve.”

I agree with this petition. I will send it down with page Ben.

Diagnostic services

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to present this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads:

“Whereas wait times are rising to 80+ days for an MRI in southwestern Ontario;

“Whereas experienced and qualified technologists are available to fill positions in this field, but lack of funding to hospitals only allows limited hours of operation;

“Whereas by allowing independent health facilities the licence to have MRI as an added modality, it would drastically cut wait times and create much-needed jobs;

“Whereas as a new open MRI would accommodate more patients with claustrophobia and larger size and keep tax dollars in our community;

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

“Decrease MRI wait times and create jobs by increasing the funding for MRI services and implement a plan to allow MRI as a modality in independent health facilities in southwestern Ontario.”

I agree with this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the Clerks’ table via page Prasanna.

Sauble Beach land claim

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas there are serious concerns with the government’s policy involving third parties named in land claim disputes in Ontario, namely the Sauble Beach land claim;

“Whereas there is no indication that any effort is being made to protect the interest of the public or third parties named in the Sauble Beach land claim dispute;

“Whereas the current process concerning the dissemination of information to third parties named in this land claim dispute is deeply flawed;

“Whereas there is no consultation with the third parties as to crown land planning and decision-making nor any engagement in a process that must be open as per the MNRF’s publicly stated principles on land negotiations;

“Whereas third parties named in the land claim should be consulted and their concerns should be reflected in negotiations;

“We, the undersigned, petition the government of Ontario to do the following:

“To review its guiding principles for land claim negotiations and the respective roles of Canada and Ontario in settling claims in an effort to enhance protection of third parties and all citizens affected by land disputes, to provide open communication and accountability to all pertinent stakeholders, and to provide appropriate financial support to ensure this matter is dealt with in a fair and timely manner.”

I support this petition, will affix my name and send it with page Benjamin S.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have available for petitions this afternoon.

Orders of the Day

Budget Measures Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur les mesures budgétaires

Mr. Sousa moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 144,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact or amend certain other statutes / Projet de loi 144, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter ou à modifier d’autres lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Finance to lead off the debate.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be sharing my time with my parliamentary assistant, the member from York South–Weston.

I am pleased to stand today in the House for the second reading of Bill 144, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, a bill that would help us implement our economic and fiscal plan, as laid out in our 2015 Ontario budget, a bill that helps build Ontario up, a bill that helps build Ontario businesses up. Helping Ontario businesses succeed and grow helps create rewarding and high-paying jobs.

We’ve already made great strides in supporting Ontario businesses, Mr. Speaker. Ontario’s business tax reductions have positioned our province as one of the most attractive locations in the industrialized nations for new business investment. Ontario is one of the top destinations for foreign direct investment in North America.

The government has done a lot to get to this point. We eliminated the capital tax, which corporations paid whether or not they had a profit. This provided $2.1 billion of tax relief per year. We’ve cut corporate income tax rates for small and large businesses alike, providing another $2.3 billion of tax relief each year. And we eliminated the employer health tax for thousands of small employers in Ontario.

All these measures promote a more competitive business climate and attract new business investment, helping to support the backbone of innovation in our economy. But the marketplace is ever-changing, Mr. Speaker, so we must continue to adapt and evolve the support we offer businesses. That’s why this government is proposing Bill 144, the Budget Measures Act, a bill that, if passed, would enact five new statutes and amend other statutes. It would further the economic plan set forth in the 2015 budget and demonstrate the government’s commitment to create a dynamic and innovative business climate, an environment that enables us to spur greater opportunities.

The bill contains a number of significant steps as we move forward with our plan. The government is proposing to remove, for example, the debt retirement charge cost, substantive amounts that will then be released by April 1, 2018, for all non-residential consumers. That’s nine months earlier than previously estimated. It would also reduce businesses’ electricity bills. Ending the DRC on a legislated, fixed date would provide certainty to commercial, industrial and other users, to help them plan their investments more effectively.

To further help businesses succeed and grow, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, also proposes to make amendments to the Liquor Control Act to operationalize the sale of beer in grocery stores. It simplifies rules in the Securities Act on the regulation of takeover bids and issuer bids, and it provides one-time relief to eligible Ontario interactive digital media companies.

The bill will also move forward Ontario’s infrastructure plan by proposing amendments to the Trillium Trust Act to designate the following as qualifying assets: the LCBO head office lands, Ontario Power Generation’s head office building, the Lakeview lands, and the province’s shares in Hydro One and Hydro One Brampton. Also under the proposed amendments, net revenue gains from the sale of these assets would be dedicated to the Trillium Trust.

Other proposed changes in the Budget Measures Act, 2015, include improving and streamlining the regulation and promotion of the horse racing industry in Ontario, amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act to strengthen oversight of raw leaf tobacco, and improving the management of corporate land forfeited to the province of Ontario.

To give further insight into the proposed new statutes and amendments, I call upon my colleague Laura Albanese to provide this House with further details on the Budget Measures Act, 2015.

Mrs. Laura Albanese: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to stand today in the Ontario Legislative Assembly to provide further details on the new statutes and amendments this government is proposing in the Budget Measures Act, 2015.

Bill 144 proposes a number of changes to help Ontario businesses. First, we’re looking at the cost of running a business. As you know, this government is committed to reducing electricity cost pressures on small businesses and industrial consumers.

Previously, the government announced that it is removing the debt retirement charge from residential users’ electricity bills on January 1, 2016, saving a typical residential user about $70 per year. This new bill, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, proposes to remove the debt retirement charge for commercial, industrial and other non-residential electricity users nine months earlier than previously estimated, on April 1, 2018. This would provide more certainty to commercial, industrial and other users, and help them plan their investment decisions more effectively.

This would save a large industrial company using 3,000 megawatts per month $21,000 per month, and a small business using 20,000 kilowatts per month, $140 a month.

Second, we are proposing a number of amendments for business tax credits. For instance, the government is proposing changes to the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit. The 2015 Ontario budget announced a number of changes to this tax credit.

Since its introduction in the 1998 budget, interactive digital media products have become mainstream, and tax support has grown at an unsustainable rate. To better meet the needs of this growing industry, the 2015 budget proposed to focus the credit on entertainment products and educational products for children under the age of 12.

To enable regulatory amendments, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, proposes to remove a requirement that all, or substantially all, of a product must be developed in Ontario by a qualifying corporation.

On November 2, 2015, the Ministry of Finance released draft regulations for public comment that would replace the requirement, as well as make other amendments to the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit that were announced in the budget.

Third, we are looking at the business of horse racing in this province. In the 2015 budget, our government committed to enabling the long-term success of Ontario’s horse racing industry. We recognize that this industry is vital to rural communities across Ontario, and it is an important part of Ontario’s rich heritage. It supports rural jobs and economic development in the agricultural sector, particularly as it relates to the horse breeding sector.

In June 2012, the government established a panel to determine how to best modernize the industry. After extensive consultation with stakeholders and the public, the panel’s final report, released in October 2013, included a number of key recommendations. Based in part on these recommendations, the government created the Horse Racing Partnership Plan and raised the investment in this plan to $500 million over five years. This plan will support a world-class horse racing industry in the province. This plan reflects the willingness of many in the industry to build a new partnership with government and work together to ensure long-term success.

As part of the HRPP, the Horse Racing Partnership Plan, the government directed the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., OLG, to integrate horse racing into its gaming strategy as permitted under existing statutory authorities. In the 2015 budget, the government committed to strategically realigning provincial horse racing regulations, adjudication and funding within the government and its agencies. That is why, Mr. Speaker, the Budget Measures Act, 2015, proposes to improve and streamline the regulation and promotion of the horse racing industry in Ontario.

Specifically, if passed, the amendments would authorize the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to support live horse racing in Ontario, excluding operation of a parimutuel system of betting. The amendments also authorize the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to undertake the regulation of horse racing in the province, with the licensing adjudicative functions to transfer to MAG’s Licence Appeal Tribunal.

OLG are experts in promoting gaming. By integrating horse racing into OLG, the industry will benefit from centralized marketing and expertise that would expose more Ontarians to this live sport.

New provisions would also authorize the Minister of Finance to establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting live horse racing in Ontario. A transitional provision would authorize the minister to designate such a program as the successor to the Horse Racing Partnership Funding Program. This is part of our framework to support the long-term success of the horse racing industry in Ontario.

Fourth, we are strengthening the securities sector through amended legislation.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, Toronto is the financial capital of Canada and a leading global financial centre, recently moving up to eighth place in Z/Yen Group’s Global Financial Centres Index, and is now ranked second in North America, behind only New York. Toronto is home to many leading banks, securities dealers, insurers, pension funds and financial services firms. The financial services sector, overall, accounts for almost 10% of Ontario’s GDP and employs around 380,000 people. Ontario’s financial services sector remains the province’s second-largest sector after manufacturing, based on output.

In 2014, the sector created jobs almost twice as fast as the overall Ontario economy. According to the Conference Board of Canada, 43% of Canada’s financial services headquarters employees are based in Toronto. That’s triple the next largest, which is Montreal, at only 12.4%.

The securities sector and its regulation are very important to Ontario’s economy. Over half of the Canadian securities industry GDP and employment, and 80% of market activity in Canada, by some measures, take place in Ontario. That is why Ontario is taking a leadership role in the establishment of the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System, or CCMR.

Further to a 2015 budget announcement, proposed amendments to securities legislation would largely repeal

part 20 of the Securities Act. These amendments are intended to more closely harmonize the provisions in the Securities Act with those of all other provinces and territories and with the proposed approach under the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System.

If this change is enacted, the OSC would make proposed National Instrument 62-104, takeover bids and issuer bids, a rule in Ontario, and most substantive regulatory requirements would be included in the rule. That is consistent with the current approach in all other provinces and territories and the planned approach under the co-operative system. These changes would facilitate transition to the co-operative system, and participating in the system would make capital markets in Canada safer, more efficient and more competitive.

The proposed amendments to

section 142 of the Securities Act would further extend certain exemptions under Ontario Securities Commission rules regulating derivatives markets as they apply to the crown and the Ontario Financing Authority.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, there are other areas that we are focusing on to help grow the economy, and the Budget Measures Act, 2015, supports those areas as well.

We continue to make investments in what matters most to Ontarians: investments in infrastructures like roads, bridges and transit. We know that modern infrastructure is the basis of a well-functioning economy and a prosperous society. It supports Ontario’s industries, creates jobs and provides long-term benefits to Ontarians and the economy. In fact, the Conference Board of Canada estimated that the province’s infrastructure investments from 2006 to 2014 would add more than $1,000 to the average annual income of Ontarians by 2014. The Conference Board also said that these investments would lower the unemployment rate by almost 1% relative to where it would otherwise have been.

The opposite side of the coin is this: If governments fail to invest in infrastructure, economic and productivity growth slows and quality of life suffers. That is why Ontario is investing more than $130 billion over 10 years in public infrastructure projects. This represents the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history. Total investments are expected to support more than 110,000 jobs per year, on average, in construction and related industries, including 20,000 jobs from investments made as part of Moving Ontario Forward.

Excuse my voice, Mr. Speaker; I’m getting over a cold.

Our Moving Ontario Forward plan makes $31.5 billion available over 10 years for public transit, transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across Ontario. About $16 billion will be invested in transit projects in the greater Toronto and Hamilton area and about $15 billion will be invested in transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across the province outside the GTHA.

To support these investments, we are unlocking the value of provincial assets to help fund these necessary infrastructure investments. As you know, the 2014 Ontario budget established the Trillium Trust, an account dedicated to fund infrastructure investments from asset sales to ensure transparency. As part of the Budget Measures Act, 2015, we are proposing amendments to the Trillium Trust Act to increase that transparency.

The changes would confirm certain assets included in the government’s asset optimization strategy as qualifying assets under the act, for which net revenue gains from a sale would be dedicated to the Trillium Trust. These assets include the province’s shares in Hydro One and in Hydro One Brampton, as well as the LCBO head office lands, the OPG head office building and the Lakeview lands. The net revenue gains from these assets, in turn, would be used to fund infrastructure projects that will create jobs and strengthen the economy.

To conclude