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June 13, 2012

40th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2012-Jun-13 (PDF)

L066 - Wed 13 Jun 2012 / Mer 13 jun 2012

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 13 June 2012 Mercredi 13 juin 2012

ORDERS OF THE DAY

TOBY’S ACT (RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM

DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

BECAUSE OF GENDER IDENTITY

OR GENDER EXPRESSION), 2012 /

LOI TOBY DE 2012 SUR LE DROIT

À L’ABSENCE DE DISCRIMINATION

ET DE HARCÈLEMENT FONDÉS

SUR L’IDENTITÉ SEXUELLE OU

L’EXPRESSION DE L’IDENTITÉ SEXUELLE

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’

PUBLIC BUSINESS

ORAL QUESTIONS

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

LONG-TERM CARE

LOCAL HEALTH

INTEGRATION NETWORKS

EMERGENCY SERVICES

EDUCATION FUNDING

ENERGY POLICIES

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETIES

EDUCATION FUNDING

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

CONDOMINIUM LEGISLATION

ABORIGINAL LAND CLAIMS

VISITORS

DEFERRED VOTES

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES

AMENDMENT ACT (RENT

INCREASE GUIDELINE), 2012 /

LOI DE 2012 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA LOCATION

À USAGE D’HABITATION

(TAUX LÉGAL D’AUGMENTATION

DES LOYERS)

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

RETIREMENT HOMES

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA

HEART INSTITUTE

WILLIAMSTOWN FAIR

MEMBER’S APPRECIATION

WHIRLPOOL CANADA

AND AMGEN CANADA

FRIDAY THE 13TH, PORT DOVER

HONG FOOK MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

MCINTOSH UNITED CHURCH WOMEN

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

LABOUR RELATIONS

AMENDMENT ACT (BINDING

ARBITRATION), 2012 /

LOI DE 2012 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES RELATIONS DE TRAVAIL

(ARBITRAGE EXÉCUTOIRE)

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS

PETITIONS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES

ANIMAL PROTECTION

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

FAMILY CAREGIVER LEAVE

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

TAXATION

SCHOOL FACILITIES

USE OF CONSERVATION RESERVES

TOURISM

KIDNEY DISEASE

HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

HYDRO RATES

ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES

GREY BRUCE HEALTH UNIT

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO ELECTRICITY SYSTEM

OPERATOR ACT, 2012 /

LOI DE 2012 SUR LA SOCIÉTÉ

D’EXPLOITATION DU RÉSEAU

D’ÉLECTRICITÉ DE L’ONTARIO

The House met at 0900.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

TOBY’S ACT (RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM

DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

BECAUSE OF GENDER IDENTITY

OR GENDER EXPRESSION), 2012 /

LOI TOBY DE 2012 SUR LE DROIT

À L’ABSENCE DE DISCRIMINATION

ET DE HARCÈLEMENT FONDÉS

SUR L’IDENTITÉ SEXUELLE OU

L’EXPRESSION DE L’IDENTITÉ SEXUELLE

Ms. DiNovo moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 33,

An Act to amend the Human Rights Code with respect to gender identity and gender expression / Projet de loi 33, Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne en ce qui concerne l’identité sexuelle ou l’expression de l’identité sexuelle.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I move third reading and ask for unanimous consent to speak later to this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Is there unanimous consent? Agreed.

Ms. DiNovo has moved third reading of Bill 33. Further debate? The member for Ottawa Centre.

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for recognizing me to speak on what definitely has been categorized as—and I will 100% agree—a historic day in the history of our province. I am very excited to speak on Bill 33,

An Act to amend the Human Rights Code with respect to gender identity and gender expression, in short referred to as Toby’s Act, co-sponsored by my colleague the MPP for Parkdale–High Park, whom I will speak a little later about, my colleague the MPP from Whitby–Oshawa and myself from Ottawa Centre.

This is a historic day because we are about to recognize, enshrine and codify the rights of trans Ontarians into our Human Rights Code. The last time we changed the Ontario Human Rights Code was in the mid-1980s. A lot of people will remember the debate that took place at that time because, at that time, we recognized the rights of gays and lesbians in our society by adding the term “sexual orientation” to the code. We were doing something remarkable as well, which opened the doors to many incredible social changes in our society.

We thought at that time that by just adding “sexual orientation” we were covering all kinds of people, but we recognized soon after that that was not the case, that we had excluded members of the trans community from the protections of the Human Rights Code. Today, we’re taking that very important historic step forward by adding gender identity and gender expression in the Human Rights Code so that no human being is left outside the scope, the protection, of the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The other reason I believe this is extremely historic is because we are on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Human Rights Code. I wish that the member from Parkdale–High Park, the member from Whitby–Oshawa and I had designed this in such a way—not the case. It happened. But historic, indeed, that on the 50th anniversary we are taking yet another important, bold leadership step to modernize our human rights protection so that no Ontarian is left behind.

I want to take this opportunity to really recognize the work and persistence of the member from Parkdale–High Park. She is a great definition of a defender of those who need their voice to be spoken. She never steps back from speaking for the vulnerable in our community and she has used this Legislature—the perfect place to do so—to raise issues that need to be discussed. So I salute you, MPP DiNovo, for bringing this bill not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times to ensure that we protect the rights of the trans community.

And thank you for working with the rest of us and bringing us into the fold as part of this debate, as part of this bill, to ensure that we get it done this time around.

I also want to recognize the MPP from Whitby–Oshawa for her courage in standing up for this important issue and putting her name. Too many times we get caught in partisan issues, we get caught in ideological labels and we make assumptions about ourselves and others as to how they will vote or speak on certain issues. I think that the member from Whitby–Oshawa demonstrated today in her work on this particular issue that ideology is of no consequence when it comes to the protection of human rights, and I salute her for that courage. Thank you very much.

I want to thank all the members who will be voting in support of this bill for demonstrating leadership, for doing exactly what needs to be done, which is our role, and that is that we always be on the lookout to protect Ontarians, that we be on the front lines of defending the rights of Ontarians. That, after all, as lawmakers, is our ultimate responsibility, and I am excited, happy and feel fulfilled that we are about to do that with, hopefully, the passage of Bill 33, Toby’s Act, which will codify gender identity and gender expression into the Human Rights Code.

But Speaker, most importantly, the people who deserve the recognition, many of them who have joined us today in the gallery, are the members of the trans community, for not giving up the fight, for believing in themselves for who they are, for seeking the recognition that is theirs to have. It’s taken us that long to come along with you, to understand you and to do what is so right, but you did not let it go. You deserve the real recognition today when—I have to say “if”; by law I’m required to do that—this law is passed.

There are many among us from the trans community who unfortunately are not here to see the day, and we have to remember them, Madam Speaker. They are not here because they couldn’t take the societal pressure that was put upon them. They are not here because they were discarded by society as outcasts, which should not be—is not—allowed in our society. They’re not here because they choose not to be here because of how they were looked at.

We need to change that, Madam Speaker. This bill is one step forward to accomplishing that. It’s not going to happen overnight. But by enshrining, codifying, the rights of trans Ontarians into the Ontario Human Rights Code, I believe, I hope, that we’re sending a very strong message out in the broader community that discrimination of any form against anyone, trans or not, is not allowed. It’s unacceptable, and after today it’s against the law.

That’s something that we need to work on. We need to work on that in our workplaces. We need to work on it in our neighbourhoods, in our community centres, in our schools. I think Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, which this Legislature so courageously passed, is a bold step in that direction as well, so that we protect our children, because we have to start early. We can’t wait for later; we have to start early to educate our children to accept everyone and to celebrate everyone. But that responsibility continues. That responsibility is on all of us.

I want to thank the members of the trans community, and a lot of the people who worked very, very hard on this issue are here today. Don’t stop the work. We’re getting the legal protection today, but we need to do the educating. We need to do the engagement. We need to continue to speak to people, to make them recognize that you are no different. We are all the same. That work, Speaker, I vouch to continue to do, along with the trans community in Ontario and in my community in Ottawa.

I think the other thing we are really demonstrating today is leadership, and hopefully we are sending a message across the country to all other jurisdictions. Hats off to the Northwest Territories for having that kind of protection some time ago. Hats off to other jurisdictions, like Manitoba and the House of Commons in Canada, also looking at that protection. But there are more places than just these two places, and there are members of the trans community not only across Canada and across North America but across the globe.

We need to make sure that these protections are accorded to them as well, because they deserve to be treated like all of us, and they deserve the protection of the Human Rights Code or any other relevant human rights legislation.

Madam Speaker, I will end my comments at that. I am reminded today yet again as to why I entered public service, the kind of things that I wanted to accomplish. This is definitely one big thing off my list of things to accomplish in terms of being a public servant, as a representative of my community of Ottawa Centre. We all have personal reasons that we bring forward when we run and we are elected to this place that motivate us, that drive us to get things done. This is one of the issues.

Issues around human rights, making sure that we remain and live in an equal society, is an important one for me, and I will continue to work on this issue. I’m very happy to see that today we are about to make history.

Thank you very much, Speaker. I look forward to hearing the other speakers.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: It is an honour to be able to rise today to speak in favour of Bill 33, Toby’s Act, for the third and final time. I have to say it’s both surprising and wonderful to be here today. It’s surprising because it has taken so long, first of all, to get here. There has been so much work done by many of the members who are present in the lobby today—in the gallery, I should say—who have worked long and hard on this, who have faced discrimination, harassment and marginalization as a result of the many misconceptions about trans people.

But it’s also wonderful that, once we actually got it here, into this legislative chamber, we’re able to move it through so quickly. We only went through second reading at the end of May, we had committee hearings on Monday, and here we are for third and final reading. I think it is a testament to all of the hard work that you’ve put into it, all of the members here in the gallery today.

To my fellow members here in the chamber: I also would like to pay tribute to the member from Parkdale–High Park, who has laboured long and hard on this. On the fourth time, we’ve finally gotten it to third reading. To the member from Ottawa Centre, thank you for your tremendous leadership on this file as well. I think this is one of those rare occasions when we can come together and actually do something for the people we serve.

I was listening to the prayers this morning, actually, and the second prayer talked about giving us a deeper understanding of the people we serve, and I think that’s what we have listened to over these last months and, in some cases, years. We have been educated in this process, and we have a much deeper understanding of some of the things that people in the trans community go through. That’s why we’re here today: to make sure that we amend our Human Rights Code to properly reflect the need to protect the rights of everyone in our society, and that’s what this is all about.

Here we are on the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Ontario Human Rights Code, and what we’re doing here is to recognize gender identity and gender expression as something that cannot be discriminated against. That’s something that I believe all of us as parliamentarians want: to make sure that we protect the rights of everyone in our society, and to give a voice to everyone in our communities, and I’m happy to be here to do that.

I would like to just comment on some of the presentations that we heard in committee, too, because I think some of the presenters had some very thoughtful expressions. I would just like to read a few of them. One was from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. I’d just like to read a couple of passages from the verbal presentation that they gave to us. Their presentation indicated that:

“Toby’s Act is an essential step in providing full human rights protection for one of the most marginalized, economically and socially vulnerable groups in our society. Advocating for full human rights protection for trans Ontarians through legislation is an ethical and professional imperative consistent with registered nurses individually and collectively seeking to promote justice.

“Strengthening human rights protection enables people to be who they are. As was explained during the House of Commons debate on Bill C-389, a bill to amend federal legislation:

“‘Gender identity is a person’s innate feeling of being male, female, both genders, neither or in between. It is not a reference to people’s biological sex or their sexual orientation. Identity is something to be respected and honoured and gender identity is no different. Gender expression is the expression of that inner identity. It is the freedom to be, plain and simple, one’s self.’” Madam Speaker, I agree.

Another group that presented was Queer Ontario, and they indicated that, “Amending the Ontario Human Rights Code to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ would not only rightfully extend social recognition and legal protections, but also symbolically celebrate the courage, tenacity, spirit, and resilience of the trans communities in the face of severe discrimination and hostility.”

Finally, from Barbara Hall, the chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission: “Later this week, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The code has been amended many times during that period, including adding new protection for sex, disability and sexual orientation. The code has evolved as society’s understanding of human rights has grown and evolved. The time is right, now, to amend the code to recognize, promote and protect the rights of transgender individuals.” Again, Madam Speaker, I fully agree.

I think what’s amazing is that this is happening not just provincially but also federally. As you know, there was a vote taken in the House of Commons last week on second reading to pass a bill very similar to Toby’s law, and I’m very proud to say that it did pass. I’m proud to say it was also supported by my federal member, the member from Whitby–Oshawa, who also supported this bill, so we’re certainly ad idem at home on that issue. But I think this is something that is important that we recognize at both the federal and provincial levels, and I hope that will happen in provincial Legislatures across Canada—and I believe that’s already happening in at least one other province.

Finally, in closing, I would just like to say, Madam Speaker, that we can’t lose sight of the fact of the inspiration for this bill, Toby Dancer, who unfortunately is not here to see this bill passed. But in Toby’s memory and in thinking about all of the other people whom this bill is meant to support and protect, I am very pleased to be able to stand here today and fully support it. It is, in fact, a historic day. Congratulations to everyone involved in this.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Madam Speaker.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Bien sûr. Madam Speaker, madame le Président—it’s a rather extraordinary day. You don’t often in your life get a chance to be part of making history. I think this is a first in Canada, and it has been a rather incredible two weeks with Bill 13 last week and with this and making the world safer for a lot of kids.

In my many years of working on the streets of two Canadian cities—the one I grew up in, Montreal, and the one I lived in and was mayor of, Winnipeg—I used to often comment, working with gay and lesbian and transgender youth, that one of the worst moments I ever experienced was what I used to call when a child gives up hope, seeing a 12- or 14-year-old where the light has gone out of their eyes, when they’ve come to a place where—gay and lesbian and transgender kids come from a minority where, unlike most other minorities, when they go home at the end of the day, they’re not going home.

If a child is black, they often go home to black parents—not all the time. If they’re Chinese, they go home to Chinese parents. If a child is trans or gay or lesbian, they go home often to the most dangerous place in their life. Most of the kids I worked with on the streets that were trans kids and gay and lesbian kids were there because their parents weren’t a source of love; their parents were a source of violence and harm and, often, a source of physical or sexual abuse. I would say that was 80% of the kids that I worked with on the streets, and I would say that 80% of them were gay or lesbian or trans kids.

I don’t think there’s a worse moment of my life that I’ve ever experienced than just seeing the light go out, where that child no longer sees a future. They don’t see a family. They don’t see a loving relationship. They don’t see parents. They don’t see children. They don’t see love. They don’t see a career. They don’t see hope. They think that the world is a place in which they are entirely alone and in which they cannot construct a future.

This is why the suicide rate amongst trans youth and amongst trans, gay and lesbian folks is three, four times higher than it is for other folks, which is why this act and last week’s legislation and the power of using words like “gay” and “trans” and “lesbian” and other words and calling things for what they are—and what we learned from the feminist movement in my lifetime is that you have the right to define yourself, not to be defined by others—is so important: because we want not just to see the light of hope in children’s eyes; we want to hold our children up and celebrate them for their diversity and their uniqueness and make them feel respected and celebrated.

What we want for all of the children in our lives—our own children, our grandchildren, our friends’ children—is we want them to live celebrated, accomplished lives where they have high self-esteem and an extraordinarily good feeling about who they are.

e.e. cummings said, “To be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” I think that pretty much sums up the journey of anyone who chooses a different path.

It’s also, I think, important what we do with this piece of legislation now. I think for us as community leaders, we need to be inspired by our many friends from the trans community who are here today, for whom the great credit for this legislation is really deservedly placed. The reason we have gay and lesbian and trans rights, as I’ve said many times, is not often because of Legislatures. What has been so remarkable over the last two weeks is, this is the first time in my 40 years of activism where Legislatures are leading, not following, the courts in decisions.

We are not doing this under the duress of a Supreme Court ruling that is forcing us to change our laws, as happened with marriage, as happened with gay and lesbian rights in the Human Rights Code. And remember that all of the rights that we have as gay and lesbian and transgender people and sexual minorities in this country, we fought for, and we started that fight, for many of us, at very young ages, saying “I” and “we” rather than “they” and “them.”

There are still too many gay, lesbian and transgender people in powerful positions in our society who can’t come out yet and say “I” and “we” and “they” and “them.” We need our role models. There’s a responsibility that all of us who are in safe and powerful places in the world have to self-identify. It was a lot harder for me to say “I” and “we” as a gay and lesbian person when I was 14 or 15, and my father decided to not talk to me for three years because of that. I nearly lost my family. That was courage. It’s not courage as a cabinet minister to do that.

I am in a safe and powerful place I never thought I would be in, and it is my responsibility to make sure that other folks who are not in safe or powerful places have access to the same fundamental rights that we have.

I go out every day and talk about this. Every Friday, I go to one of the various mosques in my community, and I pray with my Muslim brothers and sisters, with the great support of my friend Yasir Naqvi, whom I’m a great fan of. We call it the gay-Muslim alliance that he and I have. I talk to the imams.

I hope that all of us will not shy away from this. The more you are perceived to be a socially conservative person in this House, the more powerful a voice you are for change. Go to your Knights of Columbus; go to your mosque. Explain to people why you voted for this. Do not run from it. Do not hide from it.

Do not say, “We just did it on a voice vote.” Do not say, “Well, I was forced to by my party.” If you really believe in human rights, all of us, especially those of us who are not gay and lesbian or trans, need to stand up in our communities and be proud and understand the positive consequence of this will only happen if this law changes attitudes.

This law will only change attitudes if we start our work today with the same non-partisan spirit that brought this bill forward, of putting kids first and deciding that we were going to be Ontarians before we were Liberals or New Democrats or Conservatives, and going out every day and working this.

We know that when we put gay and lesbian rights and sexual orientation in the human rights charter, the world changed—not because it was a dead law left on the books. It was because it started to affect the way people talked. It started to change our rights to be able to be visible, to not have to hide, to be parents and, because people felt that they had the support of the courts and the law, to act with personal courage in changing the way that they worked.

I want to thank my friend the member for Parkdale–High Park. I think it’s been mentioned a number of times: One of the major reasons this bill is before us is not just because of her unrelenting work on this but also because she reached out to others, and she played a very catalytic role in this. As my mother always says to me, “If you don’t worry about who gets the credit in life, Glen, you’ll get a lot more done.” I think that was important. I want to thank my friend Yasir and the member for Oshawa–Whitby, Christine.

It’s so nice that all the people—these are all straight people; a nice, straight woman from the suburbs, you know? She could probably be in one of those Loblaws commercials, behind the shopping cart with the kids, you know? She’s a very deceptively agile politician. It’s interesting to see two women and a man who do not come from this community play such a pivotal role. I want to thank all three of them. I’m very proud. I’m a little prouder to be an MPP when I get to keep the company of folks like you.

I also want to thank my friends Chris Bentley and John Gerretsen, the past and current Attorneys General, who are in some ways some of the unsung heroes of this. This stuff in government has to go through ministers’ files—and advocate for that. It is important that they played a role, sometimes quietly and silently, where their own strong feelings about this sometimes had to be muted, as we do as ministers from time to time, and were patient. It’s never a virtue I’ve held in high esteem or been able to operate very effectively with, but others do.

I want to thank John and Chris for their leadership as well, and Laurel Broten and Eric and so many others in my caucus—Madeleine—who were just very principled, decent people about this, who worked extra hard in quiet ways and gave this an extra nudge when it was needed.

Most of all, I just want to thank all of you who came down here today. You’ve been activists every time you get up in the morning and put on pants, or nylons—and God knows how you put on nylons. I did it once; I never want to do it again. I’ll tell you that story when there are less media around. It takes a great deal of courage to be you and to be you proudly, and it’s because of the “I’s” and “we’s” that you’ve been saying in the face of violence and hatred, with great personal courage and dignity, that we’re here today.

Thank you so much. God bless and keep you all safe. This is a great day to celebrate.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate?

Mrs. Jane McKenna: It is my pleasure to rise in the House to speak once again to Bill 33, Toby’s Act. I would like to offer thanks once more to the members from Whitby–Oshawa, Parkdale–High Park and Ottawa Centre for coming together to bring this legislation forward.

Not two months ago we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the signing of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, under which every individual is equal before and under the law and under which every individual has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination. These are the dreams we have for our Ontario, our Canada, but we must constantly work to make those dreams real. If we want all Ontarians to enjoy these fundamental rights and freedoms, they should—must—be extended to all Ontarians. Standing in opposition to that notion only serves to reinforce an imbalance; some might go so far as to say “an injustice.”

Under the current language of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the equalities and freedoms which most of us enjoy and which far too many of us take for granted are fuzzy, spelled out clearly for some and merely implied for others. Bill 33 looks to change that. It amends the Human Rights Code to specify that every person has a right to equal treatment without discrimination because of gender identity or gender expression.

There was widespread agreement in legal circles that transgender and transsexual persons are implicitly protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code. But if these protection measures are implicitly covered, as some would argue, then there can be no harm in making them explicit. The Human Rights Code was crafted with the express intent of protecting marginalized individuals and disadvantaged groups from discrimination arising from the very characteristics that define these groups. Trans and gender-variant Ontarians represent just such a disadvantaged group.

These identities are a reality not just of modern life but of the human experience. Trans Ontarians come from cultural, ethnoracial and religious backgrounds of all kinds. They live in every part of this vast, proud province. They work in every sector of the economy, and they lead rich lives as children and siblings, parents and grandparents. Trans Ontarians are like us in every way that truly matters. They are strengthened by family, united by community, inspired by hope, restored by faith. They love and are loved. They are not less than us; they are part of us.

Yet trans people are not like you or I in one significant way: They are not regarded as being equal under the law.

You can’t work in this place and not cultivate some kind of social conscience. In the work we do, we constantly see wrongs that cry out for our attention. We are reminded daily that the world is imperfect and that there are people who need our help. We raise our voices here in service of our communities and in support of what we believe to be right. We do answer for our work here in this place. We answer to our constituents and we answer to history. May it be said of us here today that we were able to recognize an imbalance that we admitted could no longer be denied.

Equality must live as more than just a theory if it is to live at all. And may it be said that we took this moment to rise to our best ideas, that we valued our rights and freedoms enough that we extended them to all Ontarians. Call it the golden rule if you like; call it moral courage if you must. When you get right down to it, this is a decision about whether or not to deny our fellow Ontarians the full scope of freedoms, rights and protections that others enjoy as a birthright. It is a chance to affirm that human equality is a fundamental right, not a privilege to be enjoyed by the fortunate.

Thank you so much.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate? The member for Barrie.

Mr. Rod Jackson: It’s a great pleasure to stand before my colleagues today and speak in support of this Bill 33, Toby’s Act. This is the fourth time the member from Parkdale–High Park has introduced this bill, but, as others have mentioned, it’s the first time it has been sponsored by all three parties. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the member from Parkdale–High Park, the member from Ottawa Centre and our own member from Whitby–Oshawa for bringing this forward and spearheading this initiative that stands up for the rights of all Ontarians.

It’s unfortunate that even in this age we’re still having this debate about whose human rights should be protected in our community when the answer should be that everyone’s human rights deserve equal protection under the law in this province.

It’s equally unfortunate that even in this age, society still needs to address discrimination and prejudice at all. We should be past this as a society. We should just be past it.

It’s the respect for diversity that makes Canadians stand apart from other countries. I’ve lived in a couple of other countries, and I can tell you we are lucky as Canadians and Ontarians to live where we do. It is the fabric of our communities, this diversity, that makes us Canadians and makes us special. Why can’t we just expand that and make that—you know, that’s a place I want my kids to grow up in.

I have two young children, and I want them to grow up tolerant and understanding of people who are different from them, not afraid of them because they look a little bit different or they think a little bit differently. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they have a heart and a soul just like the rest of us, and that’s what we need to focus on.

If respecting diversity is one of our core values—and I think that it is—then we should make sure that it’s embodied in the wording of our laws. This is exactly what we are trying to do here: We’re explicitly stating that everyone’s human rights are protected equally under the law in Ontario.

Bill 33 is named for Toby Dancer. Many of us know her as Adrian Chornowol. She was a transgendered person and a musical genius. Since the provincial Conservative Party government, led by Premier John Robarts, enacted the Human Rights Code in 1961, our province has made leaps and bounds in recognizing and protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups. However, Ms. Toby Dancer’s tragedy is a reminder for all of us that there is still much more we can do in terms of combatting discrimination and treating each other with respect and dignity, no matter what your walk of life is, no matter what religion you are, no matter what sexual orientation you are. That is not what defines us.

If my memory serves, this bill was last introduced in 2010, and then the Attorney General rejected the bill on the basis that transgendered people’s rights were already protected under the code. I’d like to argue that this view missed the point of the bill, I think. The purpose of Toby’s Act is to explicitly state that transgendered people are entitled to the same human rights protection offered to all Ontarians. Are they not? Like I said, we all have a heart and soul and we have that in common. We all deserve the same protections.

Why do we want to make this explicit statement? Scholars from academic institutions around the world have produced empirical data and theoretical basis supporting the position that values embodied in laws can promote greater awareness and encourage good behaviour, even if the laws are rarely enforced. By explicitly stating that all and every Ontarian is entitled to the same human rights protection, we can reduce the amount of hidden discrimination facing transgendered people and—you know what?—frankly, everybody else, too, because we need a society where there is no tipping point anymore, that we go over that tipping point and we’re at a point where it doesn’t matter that we’re different.

Once again, I’d like to congratulate my colleagues from Parkdale–High Park, Ottawa Centre and Whitby–Oshawa for bringing attention to this important issue. I’m pleased that the bill has gone through committee and was called for third reading. It has been a long time and a long, hard battle for the member from Parkdale–High Park and for everyone sitting in the gallery as well. It’s one that was hard-fought, and I’m afraid to say that this isn’t the end. It’s probably just the beginning for everybody, but it’s a great start.

It’s my sincerest hope that my colleagues in the House would kindly lend their support to this bill. It should be everyone’s personal opinion, I think, that everyone’s rights are detailed and protected under the law. Thank you, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): The member for Parkdale–High Park.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wow. Can you believe this is happening? It’s astounding. It’s astounding for a variety of reasons, but it’s particularly astounding in a kind of slightly humorous way, because Toby, were Toby alive today, was a very private person and would be completely embarrassed by all of this.

I want to start by introducing some incredibly important people, and those are the people who are sitting in our gallery. We have Douglas Elliott from the Ontario GSA Coalition. We know Doug. We have the Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes—

Applause.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Actually, why don’t you save your applause till the end, because there are a lot of them.

We have Rev. Dr.

Brent Hawkes; Boris Dittrich; Andrea Houston; Kevin Beaulieu, Luka Sidaravicius—these are Pride people—another, Luka Amona, Francisco Alvarez, Evan Dean, all from Pride; Richard Hudler from Queer Ontario; Lynn Anne Mulrooney from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, senior policy analyst; Bahar Karbalaei—I’m going to massacre these names—again from the RNAO; Susan Gapka, famous Susan, the chair of Trans Lobby Group; Davina Hader, from Trans Lobby Group; Christin Milloy, from Trans Lobby Group; Martine Stonehouse, the famous Martine, from Trans Lobby Group; Nick Mule, also from Trans Lobby Group; Shannon Hogan and Pamela Bond, who were responsible for putting the stained glass window of Toby Dancer in our church, are here—two good friends; Alex Moakler; Stefonknee Wolscht; Rachel Lewis; Jonathan Mackereth; Dwayne Shaw; Amanda Ryan; Stephanie Williams; my own staff, Susan Rogers, Gerard Di Trolio, Ramesh Rajandram—thanks, staff, for all your work—and also Butila Carpacci, my EA, who’s not here; Emily McDonald and Debbie Wooldridge.

If I left anybody out, we love you too, whoever you are, so thank you.

I can still remember Toby’s playing. Every Sunday night, Toby played Amazing Grace. She was our music director at the church. The reason that Toby played Amazing Grace every Sunday night—although she hated playing it after a while, as you can imagine—was that the evening service was and is made up of people mainly on social assistance, people who are marginalized because of mental health and addiction issues. Many of them didn’t have glasses that worked, back in the day when Toby played, and many others had literacy issues. It didn’t even work to do overheads for them. So Toby had to play Amazing Grace, because everybody knows the words—at least, to the first verse—of Amazing Grace.

What Toby would have preferred to have played was jazz. Toby was a John Coltrane fan. She was a phenomenal producer of Ian Tyson albums, as was mentioned, and a great studio musician. I remember that one service we did, which we called John Squared, was the gospel of John and the music of John Coltrane. I think it had an audience of about four people, but that’s okay. We had a good time.

A few facts about not only Toby but about all trans folk that I think are really important to hold, that haven’t been mentioned yet: 48% of trans people attempt suicide. That is the highest suicide rate of any marginalized group you can imagine or mention. About the same number live in poverty, and Toby represented both those groups: attempted suicide and living in poverty.

Once Toby began to transition, Toby’s life went downhill. Certainly, we saw from deputations that not only in employment but in trying to find a place to live, in all of those markers of prejudice, trans folk are the ones who suffer most, out of all of the marginalized groups. What we are doing here today, ladies and gentlemen, is the first step towards saving lives. That’s what we’re doing. We’re making that first step towards saving the lives of those who are deeply, deeply discriminated against, and that’s why today is so significant.

Toby was doing really well, we thought, as well as could be expected, considering the facts that I’ve just given you and the fact that she herself found it extremely difficult just to walk down the street. I hold that image up, Madam Speaker: just to walk down the street.

We had another wonderful trans person who came through our congregation who was the first ordained trans person in the United Church of Canada: Cindy Bourgeois. Love to Cindy—she’s out there in Stratford, doing her church work. Cindy is six foot four. She didn’t pass very well; looked more male than female; constantly walked down the street to verbal abuse. Imagine walking out your door every day to verbal abuse. Cindy used to joke—she’s six foot four—“Come on. Come and get me,” right? But still, that’s hard. That’s difficult.

Jurisdictionally, this will be the first major jurisdiction in all of North America, not just Canada, to pass this gender identity and gender expression into its human rights code. That is significant. The Northwest Territories has been mentioned. Not to say anything negative about our Northwest Territories brothers and sisters, but there are only about 40,000 people who live there. We have 13 million in Ontario. This is huge. This is a huge, historic step forward for human rights, for all people, because when you stand up for the human rights of a minority of people, you’re standing up for the human rights of all people, and that’s what we’re doing here today.

I’ve had calls from New York state, from North Carolina. This will have an impact beyond the borders of Canada.

I was in Winnipeg, the mayoral town of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, just about a week ago, speaking to the attorney general there—and they’re copying us, by the way, on the record. They’re going to be bringing in gender identity themselves this week at some point. But we still beat them—yay! It was a friendly competition, I said, in which we all win.

Certainly, federally—here’s where I want to say, first of all, hats off to the member from Whitby–Oshawa. I have to say that if Toby were alive to hear Progressive Conservatives talk in glowing terms about her, she would have been verklempt. Thank you all, to the Progressive Conservative Party, who really showed your progressive conservative side today. Thank you for being progressive. And thank you for speaking to your husband. Thank you for speaking to the Minister of Finance, who voted in favour of this bill federally.

How amazing, that we live in a country where this bill can go to committee, and I’m sure it will eventually work its way out and be passed federally as well. But again, just to be a little competitive here, I have to say that when we pass it here today, it will cover the rights of more people than the federal bill will, still. The federal bill is a lot more constrained in terms of the numbers of people it covers, so again we’re making history for all of Canada here in terms of just the numbers of people that this bill will affect.

You ask, “Well, what will it affect?” I can think of a number of ways. One of the struggles for trans people is around identification. We heard lots of testimony about identification issues. This will help them get an OHIP card, get a driver’s licence. It will help them there. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for psychiatrists: This could open up a challenge to that. There are all sorts of ways in which this bill could begin to change the scenario for trans people in the way that trans folk are viewed and the experience that trans folk have.

I mean, just for a moment, can you actually imagine a child—for those with young children who are listening, and those with young children in the chamber, one of them, statistically, may be trans. Imagine the different world that that child will grow up in because of this bill and all that it entails and all that it will unleash in terms of the way we go about our lives in Ontario: who we hire, how easy it is to get hired; who we rent to, how easy it is to get rent; quality of life, income levels, education. Every aspect of one’s existence will be affected by this bill, potentially. That, too, is phenomenally historic.

Really, what we’re doing is simply one thing, and that is to recognize that trans folk are human beings like the rest of us.

I also want to give a shout-out to the member from Ottawa Centre, to Yasir, and to thank you so, so much for carrying this forward on your side. That’s the other aspect of this bill that’s quite wonderful. This bill shows how minority government can work. You’ll witness in about 40 minutes that we’ll all start yelling at each other again, but for this halcyon moment, that’s not the case.

For this halcyon moment, we’re actually all working together, with a common theme, to a common end, and that’s something that really overrides just about everything else, and that’s human rights itself, civil rights, which I’m sure inspires all of us to have even run to be here in this chamber. Showing that minority government can work is critical, and I think that’s what we were all elected to do. We were elected to a minority government to show that it can work. This is what it looks like when it works at its very best.

Shout-outs, too, to the Attorney General, who’s here, and the past Attorney General, who’s here as well. Thank you for your offices and for your staff, and thank you for becoming part of the solution and not part of the problem, which is amazing. I know, again, that this will open up all sorts of things, Mr. Attorney General, in your department as well. It’s great that we’re voting together on this so that that will roll out seamlessly—also good.

What else to say? I want to thank a few people. I want to thank the people from Emmanuel Howard Park United Church. I’m not part of that church anymore. When you leave the pulpit, you leave the church. But it was a phenomenal moment in history, a phenomenal group of people who actually allowed the church to be transformed, wrote a book about it, won a prize about it, but it really was the people in the church who allowed that to happen, who allowed a church to become inclusive and grow because of its inclusion. We have a great member here, the Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, who showed how one can do that in church: grow a church based on inclusion.

This is true, by the way, not just of Christians but of all faiths. I’ve had letters from some wonderful people of faith, including in the Jewish faith, supporting Toby’s bill. Again, that shows that all faiths can be open; all faiths can be inclusive.

I got a letter from a young trans person that was both tragic and beautiful. I’m going to paraphrase it and not read it. What she talked about in the letter was how she grew up constantly bullied, ostracized by her family, kicked out of the house at 14, lived on the streets, ended up in sex trade work and drug abuse, found her fleeting way back—this is not an atypical story, unfortunately.

She found her fleeting way back to a group of caring adults, finally got her feet on the floor, got a job—a minimum wage job—was putting her life back together one piece at a time, and talked about the trials and tribulations and the horrors of her day. Again, she talked about that searing moment that I described in the life of many trans folk, of just walking out the door into abuse every day on the streets of our cities. She said, “If this bill—Toby’s bill—passes, this will give me hope.” To extend hope to those who are hopeless is also the job of all of us here as legislators, and that’s what we’re doing.

Toby, we thought, was doing well, as I say, but, it turns out, wasn’t doing so well: had been clean and sober for many, many years and fell off that wagon and died of an overdose. We’re not even sure how or why. I want to send condolences and regards to the other organization in Toby’s life, which is Parkdale Activity–Recreation Centre—a phenomenal organization on Queen Street that feeds 150 people a day; phenomenal social workers who work out of there. Toby was also their music director and led a band there as well, and originally walked into that place to get food—just like she walked into Emmanuel Howard Park, because we had a dinner on Sunday nights. It slowly rolled out from there.

Again, Toby’s life was abusive. Her sister also was trans and also died of suicide—a phenomenally musical family; phenomenal success stories. As she transitioned and as her sister transitioned—Starr was her name—it became tragic very quickly. When Toby died, friends of Toby’s dressed her before she was placed in the coffin. Toby usually just wore jeans and T-shirts—that kind of gal—but for her funeral, she was dressed in a mini skirt, high heels, a beautiful blouse and full makeup. We hadn’t seen Toby as her true self until that moment—profoundly sad and yet profoundly glad at the same time. I know Toby is listening to this and I know Toby is watching.

After that, we put up a stained glass window—I’ve told this story before in this chamber. We thought we were the only church with a stained glass window of a trans person anywhere in the universe. It was a picture of Toby playing the piano, put up there and donated by Shannon and Pam, whom I introduced earlier. When I said that at the funeral, somebody yelled out, “Yeah, but what about Joan of Arc?”, which makes you think of historical trans folk as well. Who knows?

Toby would be embarrassed, shy; probably would not have shown up to this debate if she were alive. But certainly what we’re doing here today is to memorialize not only Toby Dancer—and I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have Conservative research do research on Toby Dancer; that’s just amazing; it would be amazing—but every other trans person who has died in an untimely fashion. We’re memorializing them all. We’re giving them a fitting funeral. Not only that; we’re providing them with a resurrection story, and that is that from now on, that doesn’t have to happen.

We will not only pass this bill but we will absolutely commit ourselves to our children and the children of the future that that story is never, ever repeated in quite that way.

We will be at the threshold of a new Ontario, a new Canada, because they’re all following suit after us, and actually a new North America, because I know it’s going to change south of the border as well, state by state by state. We’re the first. I herald that. Despite the Northwest Territories—as I say, there are only 40,000 people there. We’re the first. I’m proud, so proud, to be an Ontarian and so proud to be a Canadian and so proud to be part of an assembly where we’re all on the same page about this.

I think back to what I started with: Toby Dancer playing Amazing Grace. To that poor, young trans person who wrote me that letter: It’s not a hope we’re talking about here; it is grace, and it is amazing.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate?

Mr. Jonah Schein: In some ways, I regret taking the last two minutes, because there are members in this House who deserve absolute credit for making this come here today. But I’m happy to stand and speak to an issue like this in this House, because I think it does speak to the best parts about this province and this country and what people can do.

Sometimes I worry that things don’t change, and they certainly don’t change fast enough, but it’s clear that things do change, that things can change, and I think the ingredients for change are present here today.

Most important in changing things is community activism and bravery, and that’s what we see from the folks in the gallery. I think we all, across this province, across the country, owe a huge debt of gratitude to folks here, to activists.

In addition to that, it tells me, it tells my friends, it tells my community that this place also matters and that we do need people to step up and represent people in a way that matters. It speaks to the best parts of the traditions of the parties here today. The true meaning of liberal is reflected here, the true meaning of progressive in the Progressive Conservative Party, and the true meaning of democracy in the NDP. I think we should all be proud of that and remember that more often in this House.

I’ll just close with thanks to everyone present by expressing my own gratitude for bringing some hope to me personally, to my community. I just say thank you.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Further debate?

Pursuant to the order of the House dated Thursday, May 31, 2012, I am required to put the question.

Ms. DiNovo has moved third reading of Bill 33,

An act to amend the Human Rights Code with respect to gender identity and gender expression. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All those in favour, say “aye.”

All those opposed, say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it. The motion is carried on division.

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

Third reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): Orders of the day.

Hon. John Milloy: No further business, Madam Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Julia Munro): There being no further business, I declare this House recessed until 10:30 of the clock.

The House recessed from 1000 to 1030.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Frank Klees: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature Ernie and Janine Petrasovic from Aurora. Welcome.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: I’d love to introduce today a second-year student from Queen’s University, studying political science; she wants to be a politician: Tanya Irwin. Tanya, welcome.

Miss Monique Taylor: Today I would like to introduce a dear friend of mine who’s here for the passing of Bill 33: from Hamilton, Debbie Wooldridge.

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar: It is with great pleasure that I’m pleased to introduce in the Legislature a very well-known singer and a writer: Satinder Sartaaj. I had the opportunity to attend his live concert last Sunday, where he performed continuously for three and a half hours. Sartaaj has made a name for himself around the globe in the Punjabi community, but he gained his prominence right here in Toronto, so I want to extend him a very, very warm welcome.

He is accompanied today by—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Parkdale–High Park.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I’d like to introduce two very dear friends, Shannon Hogan and Pam Bond—oh, sorry. I thought you were finished, Minister; sorry. He recognized me, so I just jumped in. You know what? I’ll do it, then you go after. How about that? It’s all good.

I just want to invite everyone to a reception—it’s going to be in room 230—for the passage of Toby’s Law, which happened this morning. So, room 230, noon and on.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I apologize to the Minister of Government Services. I thought he was finished.

The Minister of Government Services.

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar: Mr. Speaker, he actually is accompanied by two very well-known Punjabi media personalities. I want to introduce Iqbal Mahal, who is actually a promoter for Satinder, and also Kuldip Deepak, a good friend. These are really the two founders of Punjabi media in the Toronto area. I’m very pleased to welcome you today.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Joining us in the gallery very shortly is Mr. Boris Dittrich, who was a former member of Parliament from the Netherlands, who has come a long way to join us. He was the first openly gay member of the Dutch Parliament. He is with an international human rights organization based out of New York, and he’s here to observe the passage of Toby’s Law today.

Hon. John Gerretsen: Sitting in the east members’ gallery is Jacob Hong, who’s working at Queen’s Park this summer and is a student from Queen’s University. Also joining us today is somebody who has put up with me for the last 17 years here at Queen’s Park. Mary Yoannidis is here. She has always tried to make me look good, and she’s here today. She’s joined by Judy Bell, who for many years worked with Gerry Phillips.

Hon. Margarett R. Best: Today I would like to welcome to the Ontario Legislature one of my intern students, Mr. Zaya Kuyena. Welcome.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Do we have any more introductions of visitors? The member for Peterborough.

Mr. Jeff Leal: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to take this opportunity to thank someone who has given her time and talents to making this House run so smoothly. Many of you know that Carol Price is retiring from the government House leader’s office to spend more time with her husband, John.

This is not the first time she has tried to escape the clutches of Queen’s Park. She left us once before, but we lured her back on a short-term contract. That was indeed eight years ago.

Since then, Carol has worked closely with all our government whips and helped us to navigate the complexities of the House and committees with consummate skill, poise and professionalism.

I hope you will all join me in wishing Carol all the best as she resumes her life beyond this place and in thanking her for all her good work and service.

Mr. Speaker, as a former Boy Scout, you’re always told not to lie. People should recognize who the real chief government whip is for this government.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Point of order, Speaker: I just want it noted for Carol that this side stood up too. Congratulations, my friend.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’

PUBLIC BUSINESS

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Before I ask for oral questions, I need to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 98(c), a change has been made to the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members’ public business such that Mr. Miller, Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, assumes ballot item number 59, and Mr. Tabuns assumes ballot item number 66.

ORAL QUESTIONS

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

Mr. Frank Klees: To the Minister of Health: Rather than getting answers or getting closer to answers regarding the scandal at Ornge, through our public hearings we actually are getting more questions. Witnesses are coming forward and they are giving conflicting answers under oath. Ministry officials are evasive in their responses. The minister continues to defend a dysfunctional organization that continues to put patients at risk.

Now the deputy minister joins in on the obstruction of the work of the committee. This letter was sent to committee members last evening, and it is in response to very specific information that we have requested pursuant to standing order 110(b). I’d like to know: Does the minister know what her deputy has said in this letter, and does she support it?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. John Milloy: I think that we should allow the committee to do its work. Not counting this morning and Mr. Fred Rusk, who appeared in front of Ornge, the public accounts committee has sat for 40 hours; 38 witnesses have come forward.

We’ve learned a lot. We’ve learned about the dying days of the Harris-Eves government, that the PC Minister of Health, Tony Clement, paid tens of thousands of dollars to prominent Conservatives Lynne Golding, Guy Giorno and Kevin McCarthy to set up Chris Mazza’s corporate structure for him. We’ve found out that Lynne Golding and Guy Giorno, two of the most prominent Conservatives in Ontario, were the ones who in fact advised Dr. Mazza on how he could hide his salary.

We learned about Kelly Mitchell and the thousands of dollars that he was paid to schmooze members of the opposition, including the member who just asked the question.

We heard about the Oshawa airport, and the fact of the matter was that although Ornge said—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Frank Klees: Once again, it’s apparent that the minister doesn’t know what her deputy minister is doing and she asked the House leader to answer her questions.

Under standing order 110(b), the committee has requested very straightforward information. One of those requests was that we receive information regarding a proposal that Ornge made to the government in January 2011. The deputy minister’s response is as follows: “We wish to clarify that the responsive documents are subject to solicitor-client privilege.” No information.

I’d like to know from the Minister of Health: Who is the solicitor, who is the client, who is she representing, and why are they hiding this information from the committee?

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Be seated, please. Be seated, please.

Minister?

Hon. John Milloy: I know that the honourable member would want to make sure that all members of the Legislature know the overall request that was given, and that was for investigation reports.

I think members of this Legislature understand that an investigation report, by its very nature—all one has to do is cross-reference it with media reports—in fact could contain very, very sensitive personal health information.

What the deputy minister has said is that he wants to work with the committee in a way to make sure that that information comes forward without personal health information being jeopardized.

We are not on some crazy fishing expedition across the way, and I think the honourable member should be respecting the privacy of Ontarians.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Frank Klees: You’re absolutely right. Speaker, the House leader is absolutely right. They are not on a fishing expedition; they are on a cover-up expedition. That’s what they’re doing.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Be seated, please. Be seated, please.

Mr. Frank Klees: If the Minister of Health is going to have the House leader answer her questions, he should at least get it right. The issue that he’s referring to—

Interjections.

Hon. Brad Duguid: That’s unparliamentary, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Yes. Because of the response of the House, I have to ask the member to withdraw that unparliamentary comment.

Mr. Frank Klees: Glad to respond, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Pardon?

Mr. Frank Klees: I’ll withdraw.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Continue.

Mr. Frank Klees: But it doesn’t change the fact that they are hiding information—information that legitimately the committee has asked for. The House leader has not answered my question. It is not the motion that I was speaking to. The motion that I was speaking to has nothing to do with investigations. Will the House leader get it right? We are asking for background information: all correspondence relating to a proposal made regarding Ornge in January 2011.

Why is that being hidden under this guise of solicitor-client privilege? I’d like to know—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Minister?

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, again, I think that all of us recognize that the place to have these discussions is within the committee, not within the 30 or 40 seconds within question period.

The simple fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker—and the member knows this, as an experienced parliamentarian—there are rules around protecting personal information. There are rules around solicitor-client privilege, and there are ways for ministries to work out with committee to make sure that that information is put forward.

To stand up here today like a cross between Perry Mason and Atticus Finch and try to pretend that we are doing nothing more than following the usual rules and procedures is a disservice to the committee and a disservice to the fine public servants at the Ministry of Health who are trying to co-operate in a way that protects the rights of the people of Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): New question?

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

Mr. Frank Klees: The last thing this government is trying to do is co-operate. What we’re trying to do in that committee is to in fact do our work, and we are not asking for anything that has never been asked for before—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Who is the question to?

Mr. Frank Klees: I’ll ask the question back to the Minister of Health and see if she might answer this time.

I’d like to know from the Minister of Health: Will she look at this letter? Will she tell the House whether she agrees with the way that her deputy is hiding information from our committee? Why will the minister not get on our side, the side of the people who want to find out what went wrong, who was responsible? The only way we’ll ever do that is if we get the information that’s buried deep in the Ministry of Health that they’re now covering up.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Two minutes ago, I asked you to withdraw that unparliamentary remark. I need to ask you to do it again.

Mr. Frank Klees: I’ll withdraw the word “cover-up.”

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): You have to withdraw—

Mr. Frank Klees: I will withdraw.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Minister?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. John Milloy: Speaker, saying it louder and saying it with that Hollywood drama doesn’t make it correct.

The simple fact is that the committee has asked the Ministry of Health for information. What the ministry has said is that it wishes to work with the committee, to furnish that information to the committee in a way that protects private information and complies with parliamentary tradition and parliamentary and legal conventions. That is all that has happened here.

This is a matter that should be dealt with by the committee. This has been going on for years in this place. The committee has got access to information which, because of the nature of it, there has to be negotiations between the two parties to ensure that everyone is protected.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary? The member for Nepean–Carleton.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Back to the Minister of Health: I hope she decides to answer this question. Residents in the city of Ottawa are very concerned with the government’s weak response on the Ornge ambulance scandal, a scandal that has put patients’ safety and lives at risk.

While the members from Ottawa–Vanier, Ottawa West–Nepean, Ottawa Centre, Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, Ottawa South and Ottawa–Orléans want to sit by and watch you dance in this House, the PC caucus and the front-line staff at Ornge will not let you evade questions. We’ll continue to press this government.

We want to know, in Ottawa: Will the minister tell this House why air ambulances at Ornge’s Ottawa base were unavailable for 7,621 minutes this past year? That’s 121 hours. If she can’t tell this House why, she has to resign.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Be seated, please.

Minister.

Hon. John Milloy: Again, Mr. Speaker, the best-actor awards are coming out, because this drama does not make it right. A question that I would like to ask the honourable member, the question that I would like to ask all members of the Progressive Conservative caucus, is: Why will they not support Bill 50? It is the last piece of the puzzle, to ensure that the problems at Ornge, the challenges at Ornge, which have been identified by the Auditor General, will be addressed.

I think that it is outrageous that she stands here today, as I say, putting on her best Oscar performance, and then will not—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary. The member for Chatham–Kent–Essex.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Since the Minister of Finance won’t ask this question, I will. This morning, Speaker, we learned that the Windsor Regional Hospital wants out of the Ornge air ambulance service. This is a scathing indictment of your so-called new leadership.

But don’t take my word for it, Mr. Speaker. Listen to the words of Lesley Froome, the aunt of the young girl who died because of the minister’s incompetence. She says, “I want everyone held responsible … I want everybody held responsible. I want everybody to know what they’ve done. It’s about our children’s lives. It’s about Jamie’s life, that was wasted by all of these people.”

You know, Speaker, Lesley Froome was right. It’s about a life that was wasted because of this minister’s incompetence. Don’t you dare quote any statistics to me, Minister. This is about a six-year-old little girl. Now a major regional hospital in my backyard wants nothing to do with you and nothing to do with Ornge air ambulance.

Mr. Speaker, this minister simply needs to do the right thing and resign.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Be seated, please.

Minister.

Hon. John Milloy: I’m going to echo the words back: Don’t you dare stand up with a drive-by smear like that. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has done an outstanding job—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I have to ask the official opposition to come to order. The clock is ticking.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Member for Nepean–Carleton, come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Member for Simcoe North, come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Minister of Economic Development and Trade, come to order.

Minister.

Hon. John Milloy: The Minister of Health has done an outstanding job in addressing the challenges at Ornge. How dare that member stand up and turn a personal tragedy into some sort of political gamesmanship on the floor of the House? The member should be ashamed of himself, and he should stand in his place and he should apologize to the Minister of Health and to this Legislative Assembly and to the family of that young girl.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you. I recognize the leader of the New Democratic Party.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. The government has repeatedly promised residents of Ontario’s nursing homes a revolution in long-term care. Can he tell us if all nursing homes in this province are being inspected annually?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you for the question. I am extraordinarily proud of the changes that are happening in our long-term-care homes thanks to the superb work of one Monique Smith who, as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health, undertook a very thorough review of long-term-care homes, which culminated in the passage of the Long-Term Care Act. Inspections have changed dramatically since that time.

To answer the question: Yes, every year at a minimum, every home is visited by an inspector. We are transforming that inspection process, and the great beneficiaries are the residents of long-term-care homes.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I beg to differ. The fact is that the government has abandoned annual inspections, one of the many promises to Ontario’s elderly and their families that they are breaking. This is a promise that the government is breaking to those people. The government maintains that health care is a priority, but every day Ontarians hear about new cutbacks in health care.

Experts now say that the Liberal government is breaking its own laws to protect seniors in home care and in long-term care. Why has the Premier abandoned Ontario’s most vulnerable seniors by breaking the promise that he made and legislated?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I’m happy to speak more about the inspection of our long-term-care homes. What I can tell you is that we have zero tolerance for abuse and neglect. We have very big expectations of people who work in long-term-care homes to care for our parents and for our grandparents. The inspections are now unannounced; they vary in complexity; some require more time than others to complete.

I can tell you that in 2003 there were 59 inspectors. We now have 81 inspectors working in long-term-care homes; seven new inspectors were added just recently. In 2011, 2,430 inspections were completed in our 630 long-term-care homes.

I can tell you, Speaker, the other big improvement is that we have a hotline for people to call. We encourage staff members, family members and residents to contact immediately if they suspect abuse or neglect in our long-term-care homes.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Inspectors are saying that it’s going to take them five years to respond to some of the complaints that are coming in, because they simply don’t have the resources to do the inspections. The government has made a pretty basic commitment to the people of this province, but it’s a very important commitment. Our health care system is supposed to be a priority, yet seniors in long-term care and their families are learning once again that they are certainly not a priority.

When will the government commit to upholding their own legislation? Are they going to uphold their own legislation and begin to have annual inspections of every long-term-care centre in this province?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, that work is under way. As I have said, there is an inspector visiting every long-term-care home in this province at least once a year. When you hear that we did 2,430 inspections last year in 630 homes, you can do the math. On average, it would be close to four visits per home, per year.

We do respond based on the particular conditions. If there’s a serious allegation, we get there very, very quickly. We also do very intensive inspections that take 10 days. They start with talking to the residents, talking to family members, and that’s a very thorough investigation. So there’s a significant variation, but 2,430 inspections were completed last year.

LOCAL HEALTH

INTEGRATION NETWORKS

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier, but really, I can’t believe the minister who says, “Trust me. Believe me.” There’s not much trust on this side of the House. What’s happening to seniors in long-term care is really concerning to families—that’s the point—families who want health care to be a priority. Despite all of the promises, the front-line care that they rely on doesn’t seem to be a priority when they need it.

The government now says that they’re planning new changes at their local health integration networks. Will they strike the long-promised LHIN review before they make any changes? Will they do that first, Speaker?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The answer to that is yes. We’re looking forward to having a good review of the LHINs, but what I can tell you is that we continue to strengthen LHINs. The next step is bringing primary care under the LHINs. We really do believe that the entire health system, including that most important part, primary health care, should be under the umbrella of the LHINs.

We believe, Speaker, that while we’ve made enormous progress in getting people access to primary care, there’s more we need to do. There are parts of the province where it’s still hard to get a family doctor. There are still groups of people, sub-populations, who are not getting access to primary care that they need, so we need the LHINs to be part of that planning process to get the primary care where it’s needed the most. We also need primary care to be fully integrated with our whole health care system, with our acute care hospitals, with our home care, with our long-term care.

We’ve got great aspirations to make health care stronger, and LHINs will be an important part of that.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, here’s what people see: promises to make health care a priority, followed by cuts to the services that they rely on, and disturbing scandals like Ornge and eHealth, where well-connected insiders get rich on money that was supposed to provide health care in this province.

If we’re going to tackle the challenges in health care, we need to look at the health care system. When is this government going to finally deliver on the long-promised review of the LHINs?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I have to correct the member opposite. There are no cuts to health care. In fact, this government made a very clear decision. When we were faced with some significant fiscal challenges, our choice—and it was our choice as a government—was to protect health care, to protect education, to protect those core services that the people of Ontario turn to provincial government to provide.

We are increasing spending in health care. We are increasing spending by over 2% this year—not as much as we’re used to, but an increase nonetheless. We’re being extremely strategic in how we spend that increased funding.

There is no question, Speaker, that what the health care system needs right now is an injection of new resources into the community sector to get people the care they need at home.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, just because the minister says there are no cuts doesn’t mean that’s what people are experiencing. They are experiencing cuts and reductions in access to health care in this province.

If the government is truly serious about making health care a priority, then they shouldn’t be afraid to look honestly at the system. Instead, time and time again, the facts are being hidden from the public. No inspections are being made at long-term-care homes; no oversight in agencies like Ornge; decisions being made behind closed doors. Patients want to know that their concerns are being addressed and they’re being heard.

Now the minister is saying she’s putting the cart before the horse and she’s going to put more responsibilities on LHINs without even doing the review and getting the information that she should have before she gives them more power. When is the government going to deliver on their promise to review the LHINs?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’ve already said that we will, of course, be doing the review of the LHINs, but we have also got a lot of work under way in the health care system that is—I’m actually enormously excited about the future, and I’m enormously pleased to see so much support in the health care community for the change we want to make.

Our action plan lays out the road map; it’s a blueprint for the future of health care. We are absolutely committed to improving community supports—a 4% increase over the next three years, in each of those next three years. In order to do that, we do have to hold hospital funding at a 0% base increase. We’re holding physician compensation where it is. We’re not going to spend more on doctors, because we must spend more on the community.

We are moving forward with the improvements to health care. We’ve come so far, working together. The future’s very bright.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Mr. Michael Harris: My question is to the Minister of Health. Minister, it’s nice to see that you’ve finally decided to reply to the Waterloo region’s letter about emergency dispatching, after I raised the issue last week in this House. Unfortunately, though, your letter fails to properly address the issue at hand.

Minister, regional chair Ken Seiling wrote to you four months ago asking for your help to implement a local solution to significantly improve EMS response times throughout Waterloo region. Instead of addressing his concerns, you sent him a token letter to tout your ministry’s dispatching pilot project, which, Waterloo region EMS director John Prno said, “does nothing for speeding up the ambulance response.”

Minister, how can the people of Waterloo region take you seriously when the only solution you can propose doesn’t even improve ambulance response times?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, when it comes to land ambulance, I think the member opposite needs to understand that we have a responsibility across the province, so it is not unusual that ambulances cross those municipal boundaries to get patients to the care they need as quickly as possible. We need a provincial dispatch system. That’s what makes our ambulance system strong.

What I can tell you is that I’m very, very pleased that Kitchener-Waterloo is a pilot site for the EMS simultaneous notification, Speaker. We’ve got four sites where we’re testing something that I think is pretty exciting, where both fire and ambulance are notified simultaneously in the event of an emergency call to get care to people faster. We look forward to launching this later this summer at four sites: Kitchener, Mississauga, Barrie and Guelph. We are, as I say, very much looking forward to the results of these—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: Minister, that has nothing to do with the letter at hand.

Our local municipalities, police officers, firefighters and paramedics are all willing to work together now to improve emergency response times. The only thing that’s standing in the road is you.

Mr. Seiling indicated very clearly in his letter that the region supports former police chief Larry Gravill’s recommendation to bring all emergency dispatching centres under one roof, but your letter doesn’t even address this recommendation.

Minister, I know meeting with me personally to discuss this issue wasn’t a priority. You’d rather send an army of your staffers to obscure this issue. But would you at least have the courtesy to personally meet with regional officials pleading for your help? Yes or no?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: It’s wonderful to feel the spirit of co-operation in this place, Speaker. The member opposite met with members of my staff and got a thorough briefing. He doesn’t need to take cheap shots. This is more important than that.

I would be more than happy to meet with Mr. Seiling. I’ve met with him before and I’d be happy to meet with him again.

What’s important is that we move forward in improving response times when it comes to getting care to people who need that emergency response. The simultaneous notification is a great step forward. As I say, it will be rolling out later this summer. We’ve committed over $4 million to this project because we believe that it will provide better care for patients.

EMS operators at other sites will also have a real-time view of ambulance locations, allowing them to make more informed decisions about what services are needed and where. Several municipalities already have—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. New question.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Premier. Tonight, to balance their budgets, boards in Peel and Toronto will be forced to make what one trustee calls a “bloodbath” of cuts, cuts that will hit special education, social workers, speech therapists, building maintenance, cafeterias, continuing education, safe schools, teacher education and community access to schools. This is in addition to the 800 staff that the Toronto District School Board let go in April.

Is this what the Premier meant when he said he was going to protect education?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Education.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I’m so proud to be part of a government that has made such significant investments in education, Speaker. And despite challenging economic times, I think it’s important for Ontarians to recognize that in this year’s grants for student needs—those grants will be stable despite challenging economic times. That will preserve a $6.5-billion or 45% increase to board funding across the province since 2003.

When we talk about the TDSB, our record is even stronger than that: a 34% increase across the board, at the same time as seeing student enrolment go down by 12%. What does that mean? That means that since 2003, the Toronto District School Board has seen an increase in per-pupil funding of over 50%.

We have a strong record when it comes to schools in this province. We continue to roll out all-day kindergarten right across the province, and we will see 323 full-day kindergarten classes in the Toronto District School Board next year. We’re proud of our commitment to public education.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: The minister can cite as many numbers as she wants. The reality is clear: There’s a half-billion-dollar reduction in spending on schools. While this minister is citing numbers, Ontario students lose their educational assistants, social workers, psychologists and special education supports, and are denied a fair chance to succeed at school.

The chair of the Peel school board says some of the government’s messages have sounded like we’ve gone back to the Mike Harris era. How can this government claim they’re protecting education?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I think it’s so critically important to have a conversation with facts. Facts are critically important when we talk about what’s happening in our classrooms and right across the schools.

We should all be incredibly proud in Ontario of the education system that we have built. We are recognized around the world as a jurisdiction that is doing well by its students, and we’re doing well by our students in Peel as well. In the Peel District School Board, funding is up 81% since we took office. Enrolment is growing in Peel and we acknowledge that, unlike the Toronto District School Board, where enrolment is down. Enrolment is up in Peel, but it’s only up by 16%, and our funding is up by 81%.

In addition, across the board, we are rolling out full-day kindergarten. That investment is in addition to the grants for student needs. We will fully roll out all-day kindergarten, with new classes rolling out each and every year up to 2014, and that is the best investment that we can make in our future.

ENERGY POLICIES

Mrs. Teresa Piruzza: My question this morning is to the Minister of Energy. Minister, we all know that the past decade has given way to challenging economic times. My constituents in the riding of Windsor West have been wondering what the government has been doing when it comes to creating more jobs in the province, to see that our families remain strong and our businesses flourish.

We know that keeping large companies in Ontario and attracting new investment will help create more jobs. Speaker, through you, can the minister inform us what our government is doing to create more jobs in the province of Ontario for our families, and what we are doing to ensure our businesses continue to flourish?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Reliable and sufficient energy is essential, as the member from Windsor West has said many times. Reliable and sufficient energy is essential for businesses to flourish and thrive in the province.

For the past nine years, we’ve worked very hard to leave behind an era of brownouts and insufficient generation. We’ve made sure that we created sufficient supply in the province of Ontario. In the course of doing that, we’re building a very strong, clean, green industry that’s already more than 20,000 direct jobs in the province of Ontario.

We also now find ourselves, as a result of the world economic recession, with extra power. Yesterday, we launched the industrial electricity incentive, to make sure that we can put that extra power to work to create jobs in Ontario. We’re offering that extra power to those businesses that want to set up large plants in the province of Ontario on long-term contracts and to businesses that just want to expand production as well.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mrs. Teresa Piruzza: Thank you, Minister. I know that my constituents will be pleased to hear about this new initiative that will help attract jobs and investment to this province.

Minister, I know that finding ways to give large consumers a break on their electricity prices while protecting the bottom line of everyday consumers can be challenging. I know that while my constituents are pleased to see new programs that will help large customers, they don’t want to see additional costs placed on their bill as a result. We need to help families and businesses while being mindful of the bottom line for both groups of customers, and I know that we’ve been doing that through various programs like the Ontario clean energy benefit.

Speaker, can the minister please tell us how this new program will ensure that there will not be any additional costs placed onto our Ontario ratepayers?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Speaker, once again the member from Windsor West focuses on a crucial point. This is a great program. It offers extra power so that businesses can set up large new plants, or expand their production, and get a deep discount on the extra power they’ll be using.

We designed the program in a way so that we’re using the extra power that’s already available in the province of Ontario. We’re using it more effectively. No additional costs will be placed on families and businesses. That’s the design of this program. That’s the magic of this program. The incentive lasts—

Interjections.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I know that PCs don’t want to hear this. I know that. The incentive lasts only as long as the extra jobs that are created will last.

In addition to that, of course, we’ve got the clean energy benefit, the energy and property tax credit and the northern Ontario energy credit.

Interjections.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I know the PCs don’t want to hear this. They want to go back to the era of brownouts. They want to burn coal. We want to create jobs with a good, clean, strong energy system in the province of Ontario.

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is to the Minister of Health regarding a serious incident which occurred in Peterborough. Since the member for Peterborough has not raised it, I will, on behalf of his constituents.

On March 10, 2011, a critical care land ambulance arrived at Peterborough hospital, staffed by only one advanced care paramedic. After waiting for two hours, the hospital was forced to transfer the patient by Peterborough EMS, with the Ornge paramedic on board. The minister surely knows that under the Ambulance Act, land ambulances must be staffed by at least two medics.

Mr. Speaker, incidents such as this are now commonplace in Ontario, as the McGuinty government has presided over the dramatic deterioration of our province’s air ambulance service.

Will the minister admit to the people of Peterborough that her mismanagement has left them vulnerable in times of emergency?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The first thing I have to say is, the member from Peterborough is an outstanding representative of his community. I can assure you, and I can assure the people of Peterborough, that not a day goes by—indeed, not an hour goes by—that the member from Peterborough is not advocating for his community.

Interjections.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The proof of that is a new hospital in his riding—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: —new family health teams, new—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I’d ask the House to come to order. I can’t hear the minister. I have to hear the minister’s response.

Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Indeed, the member from Peterborough is often the one who’s advocating for the people of Lindsay, and indeed the people of Omemee.

What I can tell you is that the people at Ornge, those front-line staff, those paramedics who are making split-second decisions, every time do what’s best for those patients. They are an outstanding group of people. I am delighted that more people are choosing to join the Ornge team.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Quite frankly, Minister, the people of Peterborough and the people of Ontario deserve answers. They deserve the truth. But here you stand, denying them that right.

Nothing was done to address the issue in Peterborough. The leaked cabinet document confirms numerous examples of Ornge crews arriving understaffed and unable to provide adequate levels of care for critical patients.

Minister, you are well aware of the complaints of issues at Ornge, but you chose to stand idly by while patient safety was compromised, and it is. As much as you deny it, it is compromised.

When will you start telling the truth and do what is right by—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I ask the member to withdraw.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Haliburton, I have to ask you to withdraw.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I withdraw.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Will the members come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Will the member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Please come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Member for Oshawa, come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Halton, please come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, come to order.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I’m going to recess the House for five minutes.

The House recessed from 1115 to 1120.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): While we have calm in the House, I wish to inform all members that if this behaviour persists, I will have no choice but to identify members by riding, and if necessary, I will name members.

We now return to the Minister of Health for her response.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: A little time has passed and—

Mr. Phil McNeely: Point of order.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Continue.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Okay. Ornge has had some very troubled times. We all acknowledge that. That’s why we put in new leadership. That’s why there is a new board in place. That’s why there’s a new performance agreement.

But progress is being made. I know it’s hard for the members opposite to acknowledge that we now have 10 more paramedics working at Ornge than we did a year ago. We’re up to 98%. By mid-July, we’ll be up to 98% when it comes to fixed-wing pilots, and 95% of our helicopter pilots. We are making progress. It’s good news.

I need to say thank you to the people at Ornge for driving this change under very difficult circumstances. I think all of us in Ontario owe a big thanks to the people at Ornge.

CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETIES

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is to the Premier. Yesterday, I introduced a private member’s bill that would bring Ombudsman oversight to the children’s aid society. New Democrats have introduced this bill numerous times, and families across the province have been asking for years for the accountability and oversight that only the Ombudsman can bring.

My question is simple: Will the Premier finally listen to these families and grant Ontario Ombudsman oversight over the children’s aid society?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question. I know the member opposite certainly doesn’t intend to mislead the public into believing that there’s no oversight or accountability of our children’s aid societies. In fact, she might not know this: Unlike every other province in Canada, where child protection is a directly operated service of government, here in Ontario the system is completely different, where our CASs are community-based, non-profit organizations with independent boards, community oversight and community representatives that are on those boards.

It’s important here to note that these children’s aid societies are accountable not only to the government but to the communities they serve.

I’ll speak in the supplementary about measures that we’ve put in place to increase the accountability.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Miss Monique Taylor: Thank you, but we don’t want the minister misleading the public into thinking that there is independent oversight.

Interjections.

Miss Monique Taylor: He said it. I repeated him.

Anyway, Ontario is the only province in Canada that does not have Ombudsman oversight over child protection services. My bill would simply ensure that Ontarians have the same level of accountability that all other Canadians have. Parents, families and New Democrats have been frustrated that this simple change has been blocked by this government.

Can the Premier tell Ontarians how much longer they will have to wait for the Ombudsman to be given oversight of the children’s aid societies?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: As I mentioned, our government has taken many steps to ensure the accountability of children’s aid societies. We’ve required all the CASs to have clear, transparent and consistent complaint review procedures.

We’ve established the independent Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, which provides an independent voice for children and youth by partnering with them to bring issues forward, and, importantly, we’ve increased the mandate and the powers of the Child and Family Services Review Board to independently review complaints related to children’s aid societies and decisions of children’s aid societies and adoption licensees. In fact, the Ombudsman may investigate complaints about the Child and Family Services Review Board and report and issue recommendations arising from such a review.

The Child and Family Services Review Board is fully mandated under the Child and Family Services Act and operates independent of government to hear and resolve complaints brought to it relating to child protection.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Ms. Soo Wong: My question is for the Minister of Education. Before my election to this House last fall, I was privileged to serve as a Toronto District School Board trustee. This gives me a unique perspective on the current discussion about funding for the school boards.

As a former school board trustee, I also know that the McGuinty government’s support for education in Ontario is unparalleled. I know that this government has restored public confidence in our schools after many years of cuts and neglect under the previous PC government.

In spite of the significant investment in education we have seen over the past eight years, I read in the news today that some of the school boards are struggling to balance their budgets. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Minister, can you please share with the House what the government is doing to support the Toronto District School Board this year?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I want to thank the member for Scarborough–Agincourt for her leadership in this area and her long history of supporting public education in the city of Toronto, in particular the TDSB.

We’ve been very clear with our message to boards. We’ve held education funding stable this year, and it is our expectation that they will balance their budgets while protecting the classroom experience for our students.

Our record of support for the Toronto District School Board, the biggest school board in Canada, is incredibly strong. Since 2003, we’ve increased funding to the TDSB by almost $700 million, a 34% increase, and that is at the same time as we have seen the TDSB enrolment decline by 12%. So that works out to a more than 50% per-pupil funding increase in the TDSB. In addition, we’ve provided $1 billion in capital funding and funding for over 1,600 new teachers, and we’re rolling out full-day kindergarten, with more classes this year and next year.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Soo Wong: Thank you, Minister. I know that the school board shares your goals and the goals of this government of protecting the gains that we have made in education over the past eight years and protecting the classroom experience for students.

I hear from my constituents in Scarborough–Agincourt that good schools for their kids are one of the most important things to them. No one—not Ontario families, not teachers and not school boards—wants to go back to the dark days in education that we saw under the previous PC government.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Minister, what are you doing to protect education in Ontario?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I’m very proud to be part of a government that always focuses on our students in our classroom and ensuring that they are getting what they need in those classrooms.

We’ve taken an incredibly different approach than the previous PC government. The PC government closed 500 schools; we’ve opened 400 schools.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: Ontario lost 15,000 teachers under the last PC government, and we’ve hired almost 13,000 teachers. Students lost 26 million teaching days due to strikes.

I couldn’t be prouder of a government that continues to invest in public education. Despite these very challenging economic times, we’ve increased funding for education by 45% since coming to office, and it is having a real and meaningful impact in our classrooms. And if we focus just on one element, full-day kindergarten in the city of Toronto and the TDSB: 63 classes this year; 323 full-day kindergarten classes in September. What an incredible legacy—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

New question.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mrs. Christine Elliott: My question is to the Minister of Health. Minister, this session is drawing quickly to a close, and because the situation with my constituent Liam Reid is far from being resolved, again I have to bring up this matter with you.

As we all know, another child in Ontario has been approved by the Ministry of Health to receive treatment out of country for an eye disorder known as PFVS/Norrie’s. This child has received approval for 49 medical treatments in Michigan for exactly the same condition, so a clear precedent has been set by your ministry.

My question to you is, what possible justification could there be for refusing Liam the same opportunities to receive the treatment out of country for him?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I met your little constituent when you brought him here earlier this week, and he’s the same age as my grandkids. I can tell you that if it was my grandchild that needed that kind of treatment, I would fight as hard for my grandchild as those parents are fighting for Liam.

The member opposite knows I cannot speak to individual cases, but what I can say is that everyone in Ontario deserves the best possible health care. They deserve to get that care in Ontario whenever possible, and when it’s not available in Ontario, then it’s up to us to make sure they get that care outside of Ontario.

I can assure the member opposite, as she knows, that I have instructed my officials to look into this case, and that work is under way.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: Minister, here’s the problem with your response: There’s already another child who has been approved for treatment in Ontario, and you’re suggesting that the Reid family now go back to square one and start this process all over again. Time is of the essence here. This is a child who, within a year, without treatment, may well go completely blind. It’s untenable to suggest that you should put this family through this.

The specialist at the Hospital for Sick Children has already indicated that they do not want to operate on Liam anymore, that there’s nothing further that they can offer him locally.

Minister, I can tell you what I’m hearing from the people of the province of Ontario about this: Offers to support Liam personally are flooding in. But that’s not what our health care system exists for. We should be able to provide this child with the treatment that he needs to prevent him from going completely blind. He is suffering from the brunt of a bureaucratic failure. Will you please recognize that failure and do what’s necessary to give Liam the treatment that he needs now?

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Be seated, please. Be seated, please.

Minister.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, as I’ve said, I cannot speak to any specific case. The member opposite knows that. What I can tell you, though, is that we have highly, highly skilled people in Ontario right down the street at Sick Kids Hospital. We want to get the right care to this child, like we do for every child in this province—

Interjection.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Member for Halton.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: —so we are doing the work that is necessary. The member opposite understands that.

I also urge her to understand that every case is different. We are doing everything possible, and we must let the system work.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Every Ontarian deserves a family doctor and access to specialist care when they need it.

On Monday, I visited Kitchener–Waterloo to talk to them about doctor shortages in their community. The situation of doctor shortages is a tough enough one, a stressful enough one, for healthy Ontarians, but imagine how hard it is on a family whose loved one is dealing with complex life-threatening issues.

Cody Richards is a brave kid who’s falling through the cracks of Ontario’s health care system. His mother, Heather, has written to the health minister for some help, but nobody seems to be listening to Cody and his mother.

What is the government doing to make sure that Kitchener–Waterloo residents like Cody and people across the province with complex cases have the access they need to a family doctor and specialist care?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you very much to the member opposite for this very important question. She’s asked an important question, and she has made an important statement: that people in Ontario do deserve access to primary care. I could not agree more.

We’ve actually made tremendous progress. In fact, Speaker, in the Waterloo region, we now have 134 more physicians working than when we took office. That is a remarkable accomplishment: 22.3% more physicians working now than just eight years ago.

We’ve got 10 family health teams in the Kitchener–Waterloo area. They’ve hired 168 doctors, 136 health professionals to support the work of the family health teams. They’re providing care, those 10 family health teams, to a quarter of a million people in the Kitchener–Waterloo area. Some 48,000 of those people previously did not have a doctor. So we’re making tremendous progress, and we will continue to do exactly that.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, 20,000 people in Kitchener–Waterloo still don’t have a family doctor, and Cody is one of them. Cody has no family doctor, he has no diagnosis and he has no referral to a neurosurgeon. In fact, 17 Ontario neurosurgeons have refused to treat him, based on the complexity of his case, which is only getting worse day by day.

Cody and his family need to focus on his health and not worry about scrambling to find doctors who are willing to help him. He has lost feeling from the waist down, his vision is failing, he’s suffering from seizures and body tremors, and maybe things will get even worse. Cody is losing hope.

Will this government show some compassion and see to it that Cody Richards gets the medical care he so desperately needs and should have access to in a province like Ontario?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: We are working very hard and achieving tremendous results, in partnership with our doctors, to provide the best possible care for all Ontarians, and that includes the people in Kitchener–Waterloo. We do rely on the best advice of doctors. We are working very hard. In fact, we’re doubling the number of doctors who are starting to practise, every year.

The system is responding to what frankly was a very, very troubled system when we took office. We had a terrible brain drain when we took office in 2003. Doctors were leaving Ontario to practise elsewhere. They were leaving by the dozens. We’ve turned that right around in Ontario because it is such a great place to practise medicine. It is attracting people here because they want to practise here in Ontario. That work is not complete, but we have made significant progress.

CONDOMINIUM LEGISLATION

Mr. Michael Coteau: My question is to the Minister of Consumer Services. There’s a huge condo community in my riding of Don Valley East. It includes residents who have been living there for years and residents who have recently purchased condominium units.

Many of these residents have raised concerns about the Condominium Act. They feel that the act, which is supposed to address their concerns, is either not applicable to their specific situation or it does not adequately cover their specific concern.

Minister, with many areas in Ontario undergoing an explosion in both condominium development and an increasing number of individuals choosing to purchase condominium units, can you please tell this House how we plan to address their various concerns?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: I thank my colleague from Don Valley East for this very important question and for being such a great advocate for his constituents.

The condominium sector has undergone significant changes since the Condominium Act came into force some 11 years ago. In fact, in Ontario, over one million people live in condominiums. It was estimated in 2010 that there were over 525,000 condominium units in this province. It is expected that this year alone, 35,000 new units will be added to the GTA market.

The rapid growth in the condominium marketplace has outpaced the Condominium Act. We all agree that the Condominium Act is in need of modernization to better reflect the needs of Ontarians, and it must be done in a collaborative manner. Our government recently announced that the Ministry of Consumer Services will be conducting a broad review of the act—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Supplementary question.

Mr. Michael Coteau: Thank you for the answer, Minister. I’m excited to hear about the proactive action being taken in order to address the issues affecting the overall sector. It is true that it is a growing sector, one that requires not only an effective government involvement but involvement from the sector, which includes both owners and residents.

What I have seen in my own riding is the evolving nature of the condominium market. I find that many who buy condominiums are not aware of all the complexities involved in owning this type of housing, as it differs quite extensively from owning a freehold house.

Some of the concerns I hear from my constituents with their own condos are so wide in different issues and range in different points. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, can the minister explain how this public engagement process to review the act will be able to address these wide-ranging issues in the condominium sector?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: The aim of this public engagement process is to identify a comprehensive set of issues and address them through long-term solutions in a co-operative and consultative manner, as were brought up by the member from Don Valley East.

The public engagement approach we are proposing will provide the opportunity to hear the full spectrum of issues the sector faces so we can find solutions that work and that ultimately reflect our goal of providing active protection to consumers.

Mr. Speaker, the key word here is “active”—solutions that work well into the future as the condominium marketplace continues to evolve. Given the complexity of the issues involved, the diversity of condominium types, owners, demographics and the change in landscape of the condominium marketplace, it is important that all stakeholders have an opportunity to voice their input during the process. That is why we will be using a broad public engagement process.

ABORIGINAL LAND CLAIMS

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Minister, during your ministerial statement last week you stated about taking “the responsibility for creating a new relationship very seriously, including provision” of building “stronger relationships” with First Nations. Yet during my reply, you were quite upset when I questioned the consultation process dealing with the Algonquin land claim.

Minister, if the consultation process is so well received, then why is it that I’m receiving responses from organizations like the Land O’ Lakes tourism, the Canadian Sportfishing Industry and the Archdiocese of Ottawa, claiming, “Please be advised that I do not recall any formal consultation process?” And these are from your own organizations.

Minister, can you explain why I’m receiving responses like this if the consultation process is being open and fair?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m pleased to talk to this land claim because it is ongoing, and I think the point that the member opposite is missing is that the consultation is ongoing. In order to find a practical settlement, we know that we have to continue to talk with many groups, including elected local government officials, sport, recreational and environmental groups, local businesses, aboriginal communities and many others across the land claim areas.

We’re very clear that there are groups that haven’t been spoken with. We understand that. We’re hoping that an agreement in principle will be able to be reached this year. Being able to reach that settlement will provide certainty for all of those people that I spoke about. But the bottom line is that we do need to continue to consult. That is ongoing, and all of those groups will be included.

VISITORS

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Point of order, the member for Peterborough.

Mr. Jeff Leal: Earlier today, we had grades four and five from Queen Elizabeth Public School in the public west gallery. I’d like to welcome the students, the teachers, the parents and grandparents. They certainly enjoyed question period today; no doubt about that.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Point of order, the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m delighted to welcome two of my constituents to the House today. Cynthia Gentle and Ciara Gentle are joining us in the gallery. Welcome. I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I hope they enjoyed question period more than the Speaker did.

DEFERRED VOTES

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES

AMENDMENT ACT (RENT

INCREASE GUIDELINE), 2012 /

LOI DE 2012 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA LOCATION

À USAGE D’HABITATION

(TAUX LÉGAL D’AUGMENTATION

DES LOYERS)

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

Bill 19,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 in respect of the rent increase guideline / Projet de loi 19, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation en ce qui concerne le taux légal d’augmentation des loyers.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1144 to 1149.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): On June 12, Ms. Wynne moved third reading of Bill 19.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time.

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Armstrong, Teresa J.

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Best, Margarett

Bisson, Gilles

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Campbell, Sarah

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Craitor, Kim

Damerla, Dipika

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dickson, Joe

DiNovo, Cheri

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Forster, Cindy

Gerretsen, John

Gélinas, France

Gravelle, Michael

Horwath, Andrea

Hoskins, Eric

Jaczek, Helena

Jeffrey, Linda

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Mangat, Amrit

Mantha, Michael

Marchese, Rosario

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Murray, Glen R.

Naqvi, Yasir

Natyshak, Taras

Orazietti, David

Piruzza, Teresa

Prue, Michael

Qaadri, Shafiq

Sandals, Liz

Schein, Jonah

Sergio, Mario

Singh, Jagmeet

Sorbara, Greg

Sousa, Charles

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Wong, Soo

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): All those opposed will please rise one at a time.

Nays

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Harris, Michael

Jackson, Rod

Jones, Sylvia

Klees, Frank

MacLaren, Jack

MacLeod, Lisa

McDonell, Jim

McKenna, Jane

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norm

Milligan, Rob E.

Munro, Julia

Nicholls, Rick

O’Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Pettapiece, Randy

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Todd

Thompson, Lisa M.

Walker, Bill

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 60; the nays are 26.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion carried.

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

Third reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): This House stands in recess until 3 o’clock this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1152 to 1500.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

RETIREMENT HOMES

Mr. John O’Toole: It’s a real pleasure to rise today and address an issue that the McGuinty government may not even be aware of but they are responsible for. The members of the House should know that the McGuinty government has a new tax, and this tax is targeting the most vulnerable citizens of Ontario: seniors.

In 2010, the government passed

an act dealing with the regulation of retirement homes through the creation of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority. This organization was given complete power to collect new fees and charges from retirement home residents.

Sure enough, on May 25, this Liberal government slapped retirement home residents with another rate increase of $10 per month per resident. That’s $120 a year out of their pockets. The minister responsible for seniors will say that this was done to improve safety at retirement homes. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, this has turned into another tax on seniors—like electricity.

I would like to thank those who have raised this issue, including my constituents Mike and Karen Ross, who have contacted me on behalf of their father. Seniors are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. How are fixed-income seniors going to afford the cost of living in Ontario? This is simply unacceptable.

The members of the government side should be ashamed of themselves. When you think of it, their mothers and fathers—all of them—will need care. There are no more long-term-care beds being built. They think that retirement homes are going to solve the problem. The average cost at a retirement home is between $3,500 and $7,500 a month. It’s unbelievable what they’re doing to seniors in this province. They can hardly afford to stay in their homes. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Somebody should stand up for the seniors of the province of Ontario.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I rise to address the situation of Mr. Gabe West in my riding. Mr. West is a 35-year-old man who has been diagnosed with cognitive impairment, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cortical blindness and a non-functioning bladder. Gabe requires 24-hour support to meet his health and safety needs.

He has a dedicated group of people in his life, his support team, who ensure that he continues to live in his own place in an independent way and will have strong relationships and connections with the communities he chooses. Gabe’s friends have developed a model of support that works for Gabe. They’ve developed a creative support plan that’s built on his gifts and his strengths.

The funding Gabe currently receives is inadequate and poses a barrier to allowing him to exercise his right to live in and contribute to his community. His current funding allotment is not sufficient to address all his support needs. His support team has submitted a proposal for funds to ensure that Gabe has the right supports in place to meet his unique needs, ensure his health and safety and allow him to continue to contribute to the comm