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April 23, 2018

41st Parliament, 3rd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2018-Apr-23 (PDF)

L017 - Mon 23 Apr 2018 / Lun 23 avr 2018

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 23 April 2018 Lundi 23 avril 2018

Birth of member’s grandchild

Introduction of Visitors

Birth of child to Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Oral Questions

Government accounting practices

Executive compensation

Hospital funding

Pharmacare

Executive compensation

Collective bargaining

Minimum wage

Government spending

Government accounting practices

Access to justice

Labour dispute

Hospital funding

Education funding

Mental health and addiction services

Long-term care

Environmental protection

Visitors

Deferred Votes

Access to Consumer Credit Reports and Elevator Availability Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur l’accès au rapport de solvabilité du consommateur et la disponibilité des ascenseurs

Time allocation

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Face Off for Mental Health

Executive compensation

Vaisakhi

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Human trafficking

National Sovereignty and Children’s Day

Tammie Jo Shults

Long-term care

Young Canada Week

Estimates

Introduction of Bills

Organic Products Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les produits biologiques

Family Caregiver Day Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le Jour des aidants naturels

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Sikh Heritage Month

National Volunteer Week

Sikh Heritage Month

National Volunteer Week

Sikh Heritage Month

National Volunteer Week

Petitions

Health care funding

Doctor shortage

Voting age

Wind turbines

Pharmacare

Respite care

Government services

Celiac disease

Water fluoridation

Wind turbines

Lyme disease

Visitors

Orders of the Day

Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 / Loi de 2018 pour un plan axé sur le mieux-être et l’avenir (mesures budgétaires)

2018 Ontario budget

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Birth of member’s grandchild

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

Mr. Steve Clark: I am pleased to announce the birth of a new grandson. Rowen Scott Clark was born yesterday morning in Edmonton at 4:46 a.m., weighing eight pounds, six ounces, to proud parents Mitch and Megan and big brother Eli. Mom and little Rowen are doing well, and I hope to see them soon.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Very nice news.

Introduction of Visitors

Miss Monique Taylor: Since I’m the first member up after that wonderful introduction, I will congratulate the member from Leeds–Grenville.

I would like to welcome Chelsea MacDonald. Chelsea is from the great city of Hamilton, and she is a caseworker with women and children fleeing violence and abuse, with the Good Shepherd in Hamilton. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Chelsea.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: It’s really a great honour for me to first introduce, I believe for the first time in the House, Jagtaran Singh, who is legal counsel in the office of the government House leader. Jagtaran is fantastic to work with. What’s more exciting today is that his parents are visiting Queen’s Park, so please welcome his mother, Balwinder Kaur, and his father, Surjit Singh, to Queen’s Park.

I also want to welcome the parents and grandparents of our page captain, Joseph Berman. Please welcome to Queen’s Park Joseph’s mom, Pearl Gropper Berman, and dad, Drew Berman, but most importantly, Joseph’s grandparents Ruth and Lony Gropper.

Mr. Jim Wilson: On behalf of my colleague the member from Nepean–Carleton, Lisa MacLeod: The page captain today is Faraaz Jan. Shireeh and Salman Jan are his parents and they’re with us today. His brother is Faiz Jan, and he was a page in the 2016 spring session. They’re with us this morning and we welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’d like to welcome 10,000 members of LIUNA, who are on the front lawns right now. Would you like me to introduce each one of them individually?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Sure, go ahead.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: It would take me a little while, but I want to welcome them. They’re here demanding fairness in labour legislation. I want to welcome them here today to Queen’s Park.

Birth of child to Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport on a point of order.

Hon. Daiene Vernile: I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent from the House to convey our congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son, their third child, just a few hours ago. Congratulations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I hope I get this right: The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport is seeking unanimous consent to offer our congratulations to the royal family. Do we agree? Agreed. I will see that a copy of Hansard gets to the couple.

Oral Questions

Government accounting practices

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Acting Premier. The Financial Accountability Office was very concerned about the Liberal hydro financing scheme and asked MPPs to make certain the Auditor General approved. Not only did the auditor say the scheme does not meet accounting standards, she said that to flow the costs through Ontario Power Generation, as the scheme called for, will add $4 billion. She said, “We’re talking $4 billion more than needed” just “to get an accounting result.”

Now the Globe and Mail is taking this scandal national with a damning indictment of this government’s practices.

Mr. Speaker, now that the Liberal scheme has been disclosed, will the government follow the law and save the Ontario taxpayers $4 billion?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m pleased to rise and once again talk about the policy choice that we made as a government to ensure that we continue to have a reliable electricity system, a clean electricity system, and an affordable electricity system for the ratepayers of today and for the ratepayers of tomorrow.

The fair hydro plan, the plan that we brought forward, keeps the cost of borrowing within the rate base, not the tax base, because that’s the logical thing to do. The policies and the implementation process for the fair hydro plan were designed and extensively reviewed by senior bureaucrat officials from the Ministry of Energy, from the Ministry of Finance, from the Treasury Board Secretariat, from the Office of the Provincial Controller, from Cabinet Office, from the Ontario Financing Authority, from the IESO, from Ontario Power Generation, and we worked with third-party experts from firms such as KPMG, EY—

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: The logical thing to do is not spend the extra $4 billion.

The Globe and Mail clearly illustrates that not only will Ontario families pay tens of billions of dollars for this Liberal hydro scheme, but the secret accounting will cost taxpayers $4 billion more. The

article reads, “Alexandre Laurin, the C.D. Howe Institute’s research director, said he’d never before encountered such a convoluted arrangement in the public sphere. To him, the use of related party transactions between multiple entities resembles tax-avoidance schemes in the private sector.

“‘The same accountants that are advising the government are advising the private sector to build other types of complex accounting structures,’ he told the Globe. ‘How crazy is this, really?’”

Mr. Speaker, will the government come clean on what the Globe and Mail has titled “bad books”?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: President of the Treasury Board.

Interjections.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I know that the members opposite are anxious to hear the answer; that’s why they asked the question.

Speaker, our government presents the province’s finances fairly and accurately, and in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards. The impact of the fair hydro plan will be transparent in the consolidated financial statements of our province.

At the core of this issue is a technical issue about whether or not the IESO is a rate-regulated agency and should thus use rate-regulated accounting. The Auditor General does not believe that the IESO should use rate-regulated accounting, and we respectfully disagree, Speaker. Instead, the AG is advocating for an accounting practice that shields $17 billion in market transactions over which the IESO has oversight, and those are now transparent and in the public domain.

In closing, I know the member opposite mentioned the public. They are waiting, as are we, with bated breath to see what the other side is going to do about hydro. We’ve yet to hear.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Well, back to the Deputy Premier. It’s transparent, all right: We saw right through it. In a statement to the Globe, KPMG emphasized it had no formal role in selecting or approving Ontario’s accounting policies, nor did Deloitte. Ernst and Young declined to answer questions about its work, according to the Globe and Mail. Yet the energy minister keeps saying all of them have approved this government’s scheme. All of the firms deny that.

Mr. Speaker, do we need more gas-plant-style scandal hearings to get to the truth yet again?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: The Minister of Energy, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, I’m pleased to rise and talk about the work that we have done with our accounting firms, Mr. Speaker, and the policies and the implementation process for the fair hydro plan were designed and extensively reviewed, as I said before, by EY, KPMG and Deloitte.

In conjunction with that, we worked extensively with senior bureaucratic officials within my ministry, within the Ministry of Finance, within the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Office of the Provincial Controller, the Cabinet Office, as well as the Ontario Financial Authority and the Independent Electricity System Operator, and of course OPG. Through this work, we considered a range of implementation options and ensured that due diligence was completed.

Once again, these were policy choices that we made to ensure that we continue to have a clean, reliable and affordable electricity system.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ve listened carefully to the round of three questions, and we’re in warnings.

New question.

Executive compensation

Mr. Todd Smith: My question this morning is for the Minister of Energy. If the $4 billion wasted on the Liberals’ unfair hydro plan isn’t outrageous enough, Ontarians were shocked last week to learn that the Hydro One board secretly inserted a poison pill into the contract of the Hydro One CEO that would allow him to cash in $10 million in severance on the way out the door should he be fired.

Mr. Speaker, when was the Minister of Energy aware of this $10-million severance package?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: We recognize that executive salaries are high compared to the vast majority of Ontario salaries and remain committed to Hydro One’s regulation, accountability and transparency—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m serious.

Finish.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Thank you, Mr. Speaker—accountability and transparency through our government’s involvement as a majority shareholder. That said, Doug Ford knows very well that Hydro One is now a publicly traded company, not a government entity, and his rhetoric won’t take one cent, not one cent, off electricity bills.

Interjections.

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

Finish.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Hydro One’s governance agreement is publicly available, and we urge the Conservatives and Doug Ford to read it. Its purpose is to ensure that the structure of Hydro One benefits ratepayers and has allowed them to find $114 million in savings, translating to lower electricity rates and winter disconnections, and enhanced customer service. I’ll get more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, it was the Liberal government who sold Hydro One when more than 80% of taxpayers said that it was the wrong thing to do for the future of the province of Ontario. It was the Premier who said time and time again—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Niagara Falls is warned.

Finish, please.

Mr. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, it was the Premier who said time and time again in this House that the government retained the right to fire the board and the CEO at Hydro One. Yet this occurred behind closed doors, a $10-million severance package for the six-million-dollar man, should he be fired.

My question to the Minister of Energy: Did he even know about this secret arrangement at the board?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: What we do know about is the 25% savings that we brought to all families—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Niagara West–Glanbrook is warned.

Finish, please.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Thank you, Mr. Speaker—the 25% savings that we brought to all residents and families right across this province.

Again, we recognize that executive salaries are high compared to the vast majority of Ontario salaries. We’re going to remain committed to Hydro One’s regulation, accountability and transparency through our government’s involvement as that majority shareholder.

But we continue to be perplexed by Doug Ford’s out-of-control and erratic scheme to fire the leadership of the company, because he hasn’t said what his goal is or how this will leave the people of Ontario better off. We know that the rates are set independently by the Ontario Energy Board, not the CEO of Hydro One. We’ll continue to work in the best interests of the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. Todd Smith: I don’t know how the Minister of Energy does it. Every day during question period, he goes around and around and around and around like a broken record. But where was he when the people of Ontario were getting hit with $4 billion more than they should have in the Liberals’ unfair hydro plan? Where was he when this secret deal was being cooked up by the board at Hydro One to hand out a $10-million severance package to the six-million-dollar man, the CEO and president of Hydro One? Where was he?

He can spin like a broken record in the House, but does he believe it was the right thing to do to put a secret deal together for—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Be seated, please. The Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation is warned.

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: We’ve been standing here, right in this House, helping the people of Ontario, as they vote against every single thing that we do to bring forward an affordable electricity system. Making sure that we eliminate coal: They voted against that. Bringing in a 25% reduction for families—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I have three on my mind, but I’ll go for one. The member from Huron–Bruce is warned. And I think they know who I have on my mind.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, when we brought forward minimum wage to help families and help individuals across this province, they actually voted against it.

We know where we stand when it comes to the people of Ontario: We stand shoulder to shoulder with them. They vote against everything they can to make sure that it makes life more difficult for the people of this province. We will continue to work for the people of Ontario.

You know what, Mr. Speaker? When it comes to making sure that the electricity system is clean, reliable and affordable, it is this government that brought forward the fair hydro plan that has actually helped the people of Ontario. We’ll continue to do what’s right for the people of this province.

Hospital funding

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Acting Premier. After 15 years of underfunding hospitals, including five years of frozen operating budgets for hospitals, does the Premier realize—does this government realize—that you have created a crisis in health care in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Mr. Speaker, our budget this year has laid out precisely what we intend to do, and that is to continue to invest in hospital funding, as we have each and every year since we took office.

In this particular budget, we’re making a historic investment of an additional $822 million in Ontario’s publicly funded hospitals. This amounts to an increase overall, on average, of 4.6%. This will increase capacity, decrease wait times and improve access to care for families across Ontario. We are directly benefiting people living in Ontario, increasing their access to care in our hospitals.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Again to the Acting Premier or the minister: The Premier’s budget was more about trying to get headlines than trying to fix the problems that this Liberal government has created.

The CEO of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare said, “Hospital funding has not kept pace with many new and rising costs”—like hydro. “The ... budget is very disappointing, and does not address the multimillion-dollar operating shortfall we are projecting....”

Why doesn’t this government get it, Mr. Speaker?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I’m certainly pleased to give some specifics as to what our budget actually will mean for the people of Ontario. It will give patients access to 26,000 additional MRI operating hours; 14,000 more surgical and medical procedures; 3,000 more cardiac procedures; and it will give patients access to more essential services in hospitals, like cardiac care, critical care, chemotherapy and treatment for stroke. It will decrease wait times for hip, knee, cataract, shoulder, cornea and spine surgeries.

We’re increasing our investment each and every year. We’re doing it in a careful, thoughtful way, depending on the demographics of a particular region. We’re looking at that with the LHINs, and we’re increasing our investments.

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

Ms. Catherine Fife: In order to address a problem, you actually have to admit that there is a problem. Fifteen years of Liberal decisions have created a crisis in our health care system. It’s in all of our ridings. You cannot hide from it.

Instead of fixing hospitals, Doug Ford would further privatize health care or just close hospitals or health programs. The Liberals gave the people of this province hallway medicine; Doug Ford is going to give the people of this province parking lot medicine.

The good news is that we New Democrats have a plan to fix hospitals and end hallway medicine. But it is important to accept responsibility for what you have created in this province. Will this Premier accept responsibility and apologize to the people of this province for creating a crisis in health care in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Hospital funding in Ontario has increased by more than 65% since we took office in 2003. It is now at $19 billion. In the past two years alone, we’ve increased operational funding to hospitals by almost $1 billion. Also, last year, we committed an additional $9 billion to support hospital infrastructure as part of our plan to invest $19 billion in capital grants to hospitals over the next 10 years to keep our system sustainable for years to come.

Health care is a very complex issue, Mr. Speaker. We are doing our part when it comes to hospital funding.

Pharmacare

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Premier. New Democrats have a pharmacare plan for everyone. It will cover 90% of prescriptions, and no one is left behind. It is actually pharmacare for everyone. Why doesn’t the Premier believe in universal pharmacare?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Certainly our government is committed, at the end of the day, hopefully, to have a national universal pharmacare program. We on this side of the House, being the type of responsible government that we are, are moving incrementally towards that goal.

Of course, we did announce our OHIP+ program that started on January 1 of this year: free drugs for everyone under the age of 25. The entire number of drugs is 4,400 drugs that are now covered. We believe this is an excellent step forward. Over a million prescriptions have already been filled, Mr. Speaker. This is the first step. Of course, I’ll elaborate in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Again to the Premier: I don’t think “incrementally” is going to cut it. The Premier and the government have talked about pharmacare, but the reality is, the government has had 15 years to act. Why has this Liberal government ignored pharmacare for the last 15 years?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, of course we do believe in incremental improvement as a responsible way in terms of building our budget, and so, of course, we have now increased our coverage in OHIP+ for all seniors over the age of 65. There will be no copay; there will be no deductible. This will be of immense benefit, again covering all 4,400 drugs to ensure that no one is left behind.

We have a comprehensive plan. It’s going to make a real difference to the health of the community. I do want to point out that the NDP’s plan apparently won’t take place, won’t be realized, until the year 2020.

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

Ms. Jennifer K. French: It surprises me that this government defends their junior drug plan and their senior drug plan. It’s not fair to call it pharmacare when they don’t actually care about anybody in between. The Premier thinks children should have access to medication; she also thinks they should be cut off when they turn 25. New Democrats don’t think so. We don’t ask how old you are when you go to the hospital, so we shouldn’t care how old you are when you need a prescription.

Health care should be universal for a person with diabetes, asthma, HIV or any other chronic illness. They should have drug coverage. They should have coverage on their 25th birthday, their 30th birthday, their 40th, their 50th, and it goes on. Everybody, Speaker: That is what universal means.

So why doesn’t the Premier believe in universal pharmacare?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Mr. Speaker, I’m sure you will recall that in our budget of this year, we took a further step. We introduced coverage for those with no private insurance between the ages of 25 and 65, so that they will have 80% of their costs reimbursed for dental and pharmacare: $400 for an individual and $700 for a family of four. This is an excellent step forward. More and more people are being covered. We have one out of two people in Ontario now covered for pharmacare.

Executive compensation

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is to the Minister of Energy. Yesterday Hydro One’s chair released a statement on their egregious $10-million severance package for their six-million-dollar man.

Did the Premier or minister instruct Hydro One to release that statement and did they coordinate the statement with Hydro One? Yes or no, Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, the board is an entity that works on its own. I wasn’t aware that they were releasing that statement. But when it comes to Hydro One’s governance agreement, Mr. Speaker, as I said, that’s also publicly available and we urge the Conservatives to read that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jim Wilson: Mr. Speaker, that’s the fourth question today in which the minister has been asked what he knew about the $10-million severance package for the six-million-dollar man, when he knew it and whether this was a coordinated effort between Hydro One and the government. I can’t believe, as a former energy minister, that your hydro company wouldn’t inform you back in November about such a significant change in the rules of the game over there at Hydro One.

Minister, last week the Premier walked out and you ran away from a scrum. I want to know what you’re hiding, why you would walk away from a scrum and why you’re not being forthright with the people of Ontario.

Interjections.

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

Mr. Jim Wilson: Withdraw.

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

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I once again was very happy to answer questions to the media and stay there for about 10 minutes. The only person I know who is doing the “Doug-and-dash,” as it’s starting to get known within media circles, is the leader of the Conservatives, who makes sure he answers one question and then disappears in the bus, or actually makes the announcement that he’s going to fire the CEO and then leaves it to the member from Prince Edward–Hastings to answer those questions.

I don’t have a problem actually talking about our government’s record of making sure that we brought forward the fair hydro plan that reduced rates by 25%. I know that they sneakily snuck that into their—

Laughter.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Sneakily snuck; it’s new words.

They snuck it into the People’s Guarantee and then tossed it aside. You know what, Mr. Speaker—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. I try not to become emotionally involved in any of these kinds of things, but that one got me.

New question.

Collective bargaining

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Minister of Labour. Once again this Liberal government says one thing when it comes to being a friend of working people and then does another. Once again this Liberal government has chosen to introduce changes through omnibus legislation that favour one party, to effectively pick a fight and then stand back and watch.

In what universe does the Minister of Labour believe that it’s appropriate and, frankly, even constitutional for the minister of the crown to arbitrarily strip unionized workers of their historic collective bargaining jurisdiction and hand-deliver that jurisdiction to another union?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I’d like to thank the member for that very unbiased question.

Speaker, in the ICI sector, there’s been a long-standing dispute between the parties. What we did was, we went out and we got one of the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, we went out and got one of the pre-eminent experts on formwork, Kevin Burkett—world-renowned, internationally famous, somebody in the province of Ontario that people rely on to bring neutrality and fairness. He studied the current circumstances around the ICI formwork sector in the province and he made recommendations as to how we could move forward. We took that advice, and then we took it out again to Mike Mitchell, an expert in construction law, asked for specific recommendations, and that’s what is before the House as I speak.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: The Minister of Labour, the Premier and the Minister of Economic Development have concocted this plan in

schedule 14 of the budget bill to strip the historic jurisdiction from thousands of LIUNA members in the concrete-forming sector of our construction industry. If you listen closely, you can hear 10,000 of them right now on the front lawns ready to fight this legislation.

Speaker, not only will this cause immediate labour shortages, but it jeopardizes the economic welfare and pension security of retirees and the health and safety of workers in this sector. It will also impede the productivity of a sector that has literally built the communities in this province.

Will the minister reverse this draconian legislation, create a level playing field for all workers in this industry, and remove the dangerous, precedent-setting clause that the Liberal government brought in through their budget legislation?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, as we’ve spent the last couple of years going through this process—it’s been a long-standing dispute—we’ve tried to remain as neutral as we possibly can. The honourable member certainly has taken a side on this, and it’s clear what side he’s coming from, to the detriment of all the carpenters that have worked along with us on this, as well. So very clearly, I can see that there’s one side being represented here.

Our job is to represent both sides, Speaker. That’s why we brought in the arbitrator, why we brought—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, their recommendations are to level the playing field and ensure that we have continued fairness in the province of Ontario. In northern and eastern Ontario, no change; in southwestern Ontario, no change affecting the collective agreements. And in an expanded GTA, we’re enforcing—

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

New question.

Minimum wage

Mr. Ted McMeekin: My question is also for the Minister of Labour. Spring has seemingly finally arrived and it’s now time for students around the province to look for summer jobs. In my area, the folks at the Goodwill Career Centre work hard each year to help students find jobs across the city. Last year, they placed over 300 students into summer jobs, and this year the demand has increased. The Goodwill Career Centre’s message is this: If you’re between 15 and 29 and you’re looking for employment, we can help.

I believe that many of these jobs pay minimum wage, which is now much higher than it was last summer. It is so encouraging that, despite what we have heard from critics, students in my riding are benefiting from a thriving summer job market and increased minimum wage.

Minister, can you please tell us more about what we can expect to see around the province as a result of the increase in the minimum wage?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member from Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale for that question.

We all know the previous Conservative government froze the minimum wage at $6.85 for nearly 10 years when they were in charge. As a result, people in this province who were working sometimes 35, 40 hours a week, and sometimes two or three jobs just to get by, could not get by. We knew we had to do better. That’s why we’ve raised the minimum wage 12 times since 2003. It’s now more than double what it was when it was frozen for all those years under the previous government.

But at the same time, we know the economy of the province of Ontario has grown. Our province is leading the G7 when it comes to economic growth; unemployment numbers as low as we’ve seen in years; 820,000 new jobs. Thanks to the minimum wage, Speaker, more Ontarians are able to benefit from that growth. That’s something we should be proud of.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted McMeekin: I’ve seen that first-hand in my community, and while we have businesses expanding and creating wealth, not everyone was seeing the benefits of the growth. There were parents who were working full-time and finding it difficult to provide the essentials to their family, let alone save to get ahead in the future. The increase to a $15 minimum wage means that they can more easily take care of themselves and their families.

I found it disappointing when our colleagues in the opposition voted against increasing the minimum wage, even more so when their leader promised he would roll it back. The simple fact is that these families cannot afford a rollback of the $15 minimum wage. They cannot afford the Leader of the Opposition’s plan to take money out of their pockets.

Minister, can you detail how our plan is different?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you again to the member for this very important question to people who need help a lot.

Our plan is simple. What we’re going to do is raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour on January 1 of next year. That is different from the Leader of the Opposition. He promises to roll that back and to take that money directly out of the wallets of working people.

This is money they rely on to put food on the table, to keep a roof over their heads. It’s lunch money. It’s money for shoes for the kids’ feet. These are the families that need our help. These are the people that rely on this.

At the same time, economists have already settled that an increase to a $15-an-hour minimum wage means more money for workers after taxes. Nothing the Leader of the Opposition can say by taking that money away from these people changes that fact.

We know it’s the time to invest in things that are going to help families. While they focus on making the rich richer, Speaker, we’re focusing on efforts like the minimum wage and OHIP+.

Government spending

Mr. Steve Clark: My question is to the Acting Premier. The Liberals have held a total of 39 campaign-style announcements. At an estimated cost of $7,500 each event, that brings the total amount spent campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime by the Liberals to $292,500. The Liberals are now under investigation by Elections Ontario. These events have to stop.

Mr. Speaker, will the Liberal Party pay back the taxpayer?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Acting Premier.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. I think the member opposite is a bit exaggerating what Elections Ontario have said in terms of their sort of boilerplate response they give when they receive complaints like the one they have received from the Conservatives.

Our focus is to make sure that we are talking about this very important budget, this budget that actually provides for a plan for care and opportunity for the people of Ontario, a budget that ensures that the people of Ontario get an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour by January 1, 2019, and that ensures that pharmacare is expanded to our seniors 65 and more—not to mention, Speaker, investment in building new hospitals, bringing wait times down.

The reason the member opposite and the Conservatives don’t want to talk about that is because they’re going to cut all those important services that are so deserved by the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Steve Clark: Back to the Acting Premier. This government is so desperate to cling to power, they’ll stoop to never-before-seen lows. There’s no amount of taxpayers’ dollars that they won’t use for their own self-serving needs.

Speaker, how much more in taxpayer dollars will this government spend campaigning?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Clearly, the Conservatives had a busy weekend and they are trying to do everything in their power to deflect from the scandals that continue to emerge from their own party, questions that people are asking about them. Is it the sudden nomination of 11 Conservative candidates, entirely bypassing the democratic nomination process? Is it that they are ashamed about the commitment to removing all safe-injection sites if elected, sites that have saved lives of those suffering from mental health and addiction issues? Is it the commitment to undo police oversight in our province that was recently passed in this House, oversight—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Have that discussion outside of the House.

Answer, please.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Or is it the nomination of somebody like Tanya Granic Allen as part of their party, who is known to take an anti-Muslim stance, who is known to take an anti-woman stance? That’s what they’re trying to distract from.

Government accounting practices

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Acting Premier. Over the weekend, an investigation by the Globe and Mail confirmed what the NDP has been saying for the past year: The Premier is wasting $4 billion on a complicated private financing scheme whose sole purpose is to conceal the fact that she’s using debt to artificially lower hydro bills prior to the election. After the election, hydro bills will skyrocket yet again, rising by more than 70% over the next 10 years. Ontario families and businesses will be forced to pay back the billions in hydro debt plus another $21 billion in interest.

Why is the Premier spending billions of dollars to mislead Ontarians into believing she’s lowering—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member will withdraw.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Withdraw, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Carry on.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Why is the Premier spending billions of dollars when, over the long run, she’s actually driving hydro bills up even higher?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, we reiterate the fact that we made a policy choice. This government made a policy choice to ensure that we continue to have clean, reliable and affordable electricity for ratepayers of today and for ratepayers of tomorrow. The fair hydro plan keeps the cost of borrowing within the rate base, not the tax base. We did that because that’s the logical thing to do. That’s how it’s been done for decades.

Electricity financing should remain within the electricity system, and so we worked within my ministry with officials within the Ministry of Finance, the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Office of the Provincial Controller, Cabinet Office and, of course, three outside audit experts, to make sure that the range of implementation options were available and our due diligence was completed.

I’ll answer more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Acting Premier: The Premier’s $40-billion hydro borrowing scheme will not only drive up hydro bills over the long run; it actually violates public sector accounting standards. Emails obtained by the Auditor General prove that government officials knew this from the start when they were designing this scheme.

The Premier knew that her private financing scheme would break the rules, but she chose to go ahead anyway and needlessly waste an extra $4 billion. Why is the Premier breaking the rules, wasting billions of dollars and destroying public trust in government just so she can win an election?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I confess to making an error. I should have deferred it through the Acting Premier the first time, so I will give it to the Acting Premier to give it back to the Minister of Energy if he wishes.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Let me be clear, and let’s talk about what two world-class accounting firms had to say in statements about rate-regulated accounting within the public sector accounting standards. KPMG said, “On the basis of our extensive research, deliberations and an opinion from another major accounting firm, we believe that the accounting policies adopted by IESO are in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.”

Deloitte “concluded that any regulatory assets and liabilities recognized through the appropriate application of these policies would meet the criteria for recognition” under the Canadian public sector accounting standards. Additionally, Ernst and Young is OPG’s financial auditor and is consulted on an ongoing basis.

Talking about wasting billions of dollars, their plan is to buy back millions of shares in Hydro One, and it will not take one cent off electricity bills for Ontario families. They voted against the fair hydro plan. We reduced rates by 25%.

Access to justice

Ms. Deborah Matthews: My question is for the Attorney General. We’ve known for a long time about the overrepresentation of indigenous people, racialized people and marginalized people in our justice system. This is a big concern for myself, for our colleagues and, I know, for the Attorney General. The current system seems to exclusively look at criminal behaviour and not at contributing factors, such as homelessness, poverty, mental health or addiction issues. There is, very simply, a lack of a holistic approach.

I think we need to ask ourselves, how can we start taking a person-centred approach and help address some of the underlying factors that may be causing people to engage in criminal behaviour? I know that in the recent budget, we announced a new project called community justice centres, and I’d like to ask the Attorney General, please, to explain how they will lead to a more holistic approach for people—

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

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member for this important question. Speaker, Ontario is moving forward with creating community justice centres to provide a new and innovative approach to criminal justice that increases access to justice services while reducing barriers faced by vulnerable people, especially people suffering from mental health and addiction issues.

Community justice centres move justice out of the traditional courtroom and into a community setting to help connect individuals to critical services that address the root causes of crime, before, during and after entry into the justice system. These centres are hubs that bring together services—justice, health, mental health and addictions, housing and social services—tailored to the unique needs of individual communities.

Community justice centres will strive to ensure that each point of contact with the police or justice system can be an opportunity to provide meaningful intervention that reduces the likelihood of further offending or victimization. This is part of Ontario’s commitment to work together to provide efficient and effective services to communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Deborah Matthews: Thank you to the Attorney General for his answer, but also for making this a priority.

Speaker, I’m very optimistic. We’ve seen CJCs, community justice centres, established in over 70 different communities around the world. There is very strong evidence that they reduce recidivism, reduce reliance on incarceration and enhance community safety and well-being. It is especially important for me because, as the member for London North Centre, one of the three pilots will be located in my community.

In London, one third of charges laid in the city are committed by youth between the ages of 18 and 25. I’m very pleased to hear that each location will have community-specific models that will be set up to be best equipped to deal with the community they are located in.

Please, Attorney General, can you tell us how the three different community justice centres will reflect the communities they are placed in?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: After extensive consultation, our government has identified three community justice centre models in Kenora, London and Toronto’s Moss Park.

In Kenora, Ontario is planning to establish a bicultural community justice centre that has parallel criminal and restorative justice processes. These two streams would, for example, support increased indigenous leadership in the provision of traditional and restorative justice practices.

In Moss Park, Ontario will implement an urban community health and justice centre that focuses on improving the social determinants of health that can lead to contact with the criminal justice system.

In London, a youth-in-transition community justice hub will connect transition-aged young adults with critical supports at an early age and provide targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of that population.

Speaker, overall this is a $14-million investment in our justice system, and I truly worry that if the Conservatives under Doug Ford were to be elected, with their promised billions in cuts, projects like these may be on the chopping—

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

Labour dispute

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is for the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development. The York University strike has now gone on for nearly two months, impacting more than 51,000 students. A letter from the vice-president academic posted recently to the university’s website said this: “If the strike does not end in time for winter term classes to resume by April 30 at the latest ... there will not be sufficient time ... to offer all of our summer terms.”

Speaker, will the minister finally take action to get the 51,000 students back into their classrooms?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member opposite for the question. This is obviously a very serious situation, as it affects and it impacts students. I would like to remind the member opposite that York is still open and students are still attending classes, as they have been through the duration.

That being said, this government has taken action. The Minister of Labour has appointed an experienced mediator to bring the sides together, to talk to each party and find a path to resolution. We are working on this issue and supporting both parties, because the best deal is a deal that is made at the table. We have been urging both sides to come to the table to resolve their issues—

Ms. Cindy Forster: The employer would have to go to the table.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Too many times. The member from Welland is warned.

Carry on, please.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: —and to find the compromise that is necessary in the best interests of the students of York University. We’ve been taking this as a very serious issue and have been working towards supporting both parties to come to a resolution, and we will continue to do so.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Lorne Coe: Back to the minister: This could be the last opportunity the Liberal government has to act to save the semester of tens of thousands of students and allow them to graduate in June. Classes are on the verge of being cancelled, and many students’ summer job placements are at risk. Why does the minister continue to put thousands of students’ lives on hold?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I’d like to inform the House, because the member opposite is not providing specific and correct information: York University has, in fact, put plans in place. They have been doing so for quite some time, starting, first and foremost, with keeping the university open so that students can attend classes. Just last week, they announced additional supports so students can either have an assessment on their term or, if they have experienced hardships, they can come to the university and receive the necessary supports.

Our concern, first and foremost, is for the students at York University. We are urging both sides that are involved in this to come back to the table, to get a deal that recognizes that both sides will have to compromise in order to reach a deal and put the needs of the students first.

Hospital funding

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Minister of Health. Minister, you will know that there are 20 hospitals in this province that are considered medium-sized hospitals. Timmins and District Hospital is one of those hospitals.

When they heard the funding announcement that was made by your government, that supposedly hospitals were going to get 4.6% as an increase, they thought, “Well, this is going to go a long ways to helping us.” The problem is, for those 20 medium-sized hospitals, because of your health system funding reform, the formula works out such that Timmins and District Hospital doesn’t get the full amount; it gets 0.9%. As a result, our hospital’s looking at a deficit next year of close to $5 million, which is going to be catastrophic when it comes to service delivery.

Minister, can you tell us what your plan is to address the shortfall in funding for these 20 medium-sized hospitals across the province, including Timmins and District Hospital?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We made it very clear that when we talked about a 4.6% overall increase, we meant an average increase. There are many areas of this province with very high growth and tremendous population increases, and so this increase of 4.6% is an average.

Obviously, the smaller hospitals have not received necessarily that amount of an increase. The funding formula is being reviewed and has been reviewed in a manner to increase fairness and equity in terms of the number of patients served and the acuity of the cases. This is done in conjunction with our LHINs, and in conjunction with the Ontario Hospital Association as well. In fact, the president of that association co-chairs our funding review committee that is made up of representatives, including those from medium-sized hospitals.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: These are medium-sized hospitals; these are not the small ones. I’m not going to take issue with that. The point is, these hospitals are trying to provide services in an atmosphere where they’ve cut to the bone already. Timmins and District Hospital, as you well know, has done everything, including privatizing their sleep lab, in order to save about $60,000 in an already $66-million budget. These hospitals have done everything they can to trim out any kind of excesses they don’t need, and we’re seeing it when it comes to patient services.

You know as well as I do that in the system, when you look at hospital funding, the deficit that is incurred by these 20 hospitals is about $400 million, and there is a surplus of about $400 million with all of the other hospitals that they get in surpluses.

This is a question of shifting the dollars around to make sure that the money is evenly distributed so hospitals like TADH don’t end up with a deficit and are treated like every other hospital in this province so that they can provide the services people need.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I do appreciate the great efforts of many hospitals in terms of finding efficiencies.

Actually, just at this point, I would like to give a shout-out to some of our amazing health care workers. My husband was at Southlake Regional Health Centre for six days last week. I can only say that our nurses, our doctors, the food lady—everybody just shows amazing caring, and I was so impressed by our wonderful health care workers. I just wanted to do that for a very important, caring group of people.

In terms of continuing to work with the funding formula, the member obviously has brought forward an issue that is of importance to the medium-sized hospitals. We certainly are committed to continuing to work to ensure that the appropriate funding is there. It is certainly our commitment that we provide adequate funding for people to receive the type of care they need where they need it.

Education funding

Mrs. Cristina Martins: My question this morning is to the Minister of Education.

After inheriting an education system that was underfunded and in disrepair—a fact that was affirmed by the elementary teachers I met with in my office last week—our government has made it our top priority to invest in teachers, education workers, students and our publicly funded education system. The focus is to support the people of Ontario, including all students and thousands of staff who support student success.

Ontario is an international leader in education. We’re building new schools in Ontario communities, and we’re investing in school-based mental health supports and additional supports for students with special needs.

Minister, could you please share what our government is doing to support student achievement and their well-being?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you to the member for this important question.

Our government is making historic investments in education, including $625 million more in education supports in this upcoming year, bringing our investment in education to a historic $24.5 billion. This funding will add 2,000 more education workers in our schools, so that children will have access to more mental health workers, guidance counsellors and education assistants.

We are also equipping students with mental health supports in education, such as coping and resiliency skills, as early as kindergarten, and we’re increasing investments in art education to $21 million. This speaks to our top priority of supporting student well-being. In fact, since 2003, our government has added 40,000 education workers to our publicly funded education system. These investments in education are so important for student well-being and will go where students and educators need it most.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Cristina Martins: Again to the Minister of Education: I’m proud to represent a government that cares and is committed to providing opportunity to the people of Ontario, and access to mental health workers was highlighted by the teachers I met with last week as being paramount for student success.

What’s clear is that, when we hear talk of “efficiencies” across the aisle, we know that means “cuts.” We can’t afford to go back to a time where education was on the chopping block. In fact, cutting just $1 billion from our schools means thousands of teachers and education workers would be fired. I know that our government is focused on care, not cuts, by providing much-needed investments in special education, mental health and an increase in guidance counsellors in our schools.

Minister, can you tell us more about how investments in education are supporting Ontario students?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thanks again to the member for this important question.

This $24.5-billion investment will mean so much for staff and students. Instead of making cuts, we are making a clear choice to invest in helping our students achieve excellence in Ontario’s schools. We are providing enveloped, permanent funding of $300 million over three years to support students with special needs. This funding will clear special education assessment backlogs and wait times while reducing stress on parents, educators and students. Just think about that.

In addition to more staff, we will be able to support students across the province. This includes social workers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists.

Speaker, on this side of the House, we know that we need to invest in our students and invest in our school system, and make sure our children are on a strong path to success.

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Acting Premier.

Front-line mental health care and addictions workers are feeling and struggling with an increasing burden every day in this province. In many places in Ontario, many of those struggling with mental health and addictions don’t know where to go for help.

In my riding, in Nipissing, some head to the Nipissing district social services board office, which is at city hall in North Bay. One man showed up there last week and promptly collapsed in the hall, unresponsive. EMS was called, and he was rushed to the hospital. You can imagine how traumatic this was for the staff and for clients who were present at the same time. After 15 years, we shouldn’t be at this point.

To the Acting Premier, I ask, is this really the legacy the Liberals want to leave?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Of course, we have increased our investments in mental health and addictions dramatically through all the years that we have been involved in government. Our investment in the 2018 budget is a historic investment of some $2.1 billion. It’s the largest investment in Canadian history in mental health and addiction services.

We don’t know much about the PCs’ plan, but we do know that the leader of the official opposition has said that he is going to cut funding for supervised injection sites. This is obviously an addiction issue. We know that these harm reduction sites provide wraparound services for some of our most vulnerable people, supports that are saving hundreds of lives.

So before the member opposite questions our budget, I’d like to hear a little bit more about what they are considering to do about mental health and addictions, other than cutting the budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: The opioid crisis is well documented, and deaths continue to rise to all-time highs in Ontario—more than 1,000 people last year alone.

In the North East LHIN, which encompasses my riding of Nipissing, opioid abuse cases and mental health disorders are double the provincial average. The CAO of the Nipissing district social services board believes the local situation is a crisis. The board chair says, “Too many vulnerable people in our district are suffering needlessly....” They are asking our North East LHIN to establish and help lead a district crisis task force.

To the Acting Premier: Will the Minister of Health direct the North East LHIN to work with our local officials and finally take action on this?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Speaker, I’m having real difficulty reconciling the question from the member opposite with his leader’s comments, most recently this last week.

Of course, we’ve been extremely conscious of the opioid crisis. This is why we’re investing $222 million over three years to combat the opioid crisis. Part of our strategy has been expanding harm reduction services, hiring more front-line staff and improving access to addiction supports across the province. We have made naloxone kits available to pharmacies, public health units and police and fire services, and we’re now making an easy-to-use nasal spray available.

Mr. Speaker, we are doing everything that we possibly can to combat this public health crisis. We will continue to do so. And I will take no lessons from the member opposite on this file.

Long-term care

Ms. Cindy Forster: My question is to the Acting Premier.

The people who built this province and built our communities deserve comfort and dignity as they age, but too many people in my riding—the Welland riding—and across Ontario cannot get the seniors’ care that they need. Over 32,000 people are on the wait-lists for long-term care. And too many people simply cannot get the seniors’ care they need. They can’t get it in their own language. They can’t get their own foods and cultural activities that they’ve lived their entire lives to get.

Why has the Premier forced seniors to wait longer for long-term care than they need to?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We certainly acknowledge that we have a collective responsibility to support our seniors and to ensure the very best quality of life. That is why our government has almost doubled funding for long-term care since 2003.

As health care advancements continue, our population is living longer and developing care needs that are becoming increasingly complex. So, in our most recent budget, the 2018 budget, we’re investing $300 million over three years to increase staffing in long-term care. This is, of course, in addition to our announcement of 5,000 new long-term-care beds over the next four years.

We are working hard to ensure our seniors live in safety and dignity, and we will continue to do so.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Cindy Forster: Well, after 15 very long years, anything this government wanted to do, they could have and should have done already. But since this government took office 15 years ago, the problems in seniors’ care have gotten worse, not better. Wait times for long-term care have increased by 270%, and families in my riding, the Welland riding, are stuck waiting for care for their grandparents and their parents.

With just 45 days left in office, does the Premier regret not making seniors’ care a priority and leaving seniors across Ontario without the care that they’ve badly needed?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Through the years, our plan for health care has been extremely comprehensive. The member opposite will know that seniors do like to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Our Aging At Home Strategy a number of years ago increased funding for home care, and we have continued to increase that each and every year.

When it becomes, unfortunately, necessary for people to leave their homes, we have strengthened our retirement home community with new regulations in terms of safety and so on. We, of course, have announced our expansion of long-term-care beds, some 30,000 new beds over the next decade, and we’re continuing to rebuild and refurbish long-term-care beds across the province as well.

We have a comprehensive plan. We will continue to ensure our seniors live in safety and dignity.

Environmental protection

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: My question is for the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Last week was Earth Week, and yesterday was Earth Day. To celebrate, I encouraged community members in my own riding of Etobicoke North to take actions like recycling and taking public transport, as well as reducing energy consumption.

I’d also like to compliment the leader of the opposition, Doug Ford, for perhaps his only initiative on greenhouse gas reduction, and that is hiding from the press and getting rid of the media bus that would accompany him across Ontario. I believe that will save on greenhouse gas emissions all around.

In Ontario, we’re making it easier for everyone to do their part by investing billions in green programs, including $94 million in cycling infrastructure and hundreds of millions of dollars in energy efficiency retrofits for homes, schools, hospitals, social housing and beyond. Our cap on pollution is $2.4 billion and counting.

Despite the unseasonable weather—cold when it’s hot, hot when it’s cold, unseasonable flooding—there is a complete denial of climate change on the other side.

I’d ask the minister to please address our government’s programs in this area.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Thank you to the member from Etobicoke North for that question, which asks so many questions. I wish I had a lot more time to answer them all.

I can tell you that on this side of the House, we take the environment very seriously. A cornerstone of our protection of the environment is our protection and our fight against climate change. That means our cap-and-trade system that we have here in Ontario, which in its first year reduced industrial greenhouse gas pollution and raised $2.4 billion in proceeds, every penny of which we are reinvesting into programs to further reduce greenhouse gas pollution across Ontario.

I don’t think getting rid of the media bus is a good idea. It takes transparency away. They can’t ask the members opposite if they believe in climate change.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock on a point of order.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to introduce some family here from Winnipeg, Manitoba: my niece Teresa Lyons and her friend Cole. Welcome to the Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Deferred Votes

Access to Consumer Credit Reports and Elevator Availability Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur l’accès au rapport de solvabilité du consommateur et la disponibilité des ascenseurs

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

Bill 8,

An Act to amend the Consumer Reporting Act and the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 / Projet de loi 8, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les renseignements concernant le consommateur et la Loi de 2000 sur les normes techniques et la sécurité.

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

The division bells rang from 1140 to 1145.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On April 12, 2018, Ms. MacCharles moved second reading of Bill 8,

An Act to amend the Consumer Reporting Act and the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.

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

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Anderson, Granville

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Baker, Yvan

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bisson, Gilles

Bradley, James J.

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Dhillon, Vic

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Fedeli, Victor

Fife, Catherine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Forster, Cindy

Fraser, John

Gates, Wayne

Gretzky, Lisa

Hardeman, Ernie

Hatfield, Percy

Hoggarth, Ann

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Jones, Sylvia

Kiwala, Sophie

Lalonde, Marie-France

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Mantha, Michael

Martins, Cristina

Martow, Gila

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McDonell, Jim

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

McNaughton, Monte

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Miller, Norm

Moridi, Reza

Naidoo-Harris, Indira

Naqvi, Yasir

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pettapiece, Randy

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sattler, Peggy

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Todd

Sousa, Charles

Tabuns, Peter

Takhar, Harinder S.

Taylor, Monique

Thibeault, Glenn

Thompson, Lisa M.

Vanthof, John

Wilson, Jim

Wong, Soo

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

Zimmer, David

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

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 79; the nays are 0.

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

Second reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to the order of the House dated April 19, 2018, the bill is referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

Time allocation

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We have a deferred vote on government notice of motion number 7, relating to the allocation of time on Bill 31,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On April 19, 2018, Mr. Ballard moved government notice of motion number 7, relating to the allocation of time on Bill 31,

an Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes.

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

Ayes

Albanese, Laura

Anderson, Granville

Baker, Yvan

Ballard, Chris

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Chan, Michael

Chiarelli, Bob

Colle, Mike

Coteau, Michael

Crack, Grant

Del Duca, Steven

Delaney, Bob

Des Rosiers, Nathalie

Dhillon, Vic

Dong, Han

Duguid, Brad

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fraser, John

Hoggarth, Ann

Hunter, Mitzie

Jaczek, Helena

Kiwala, Sophie

Lalonde, Marie-France

Leal, Jeff

MacCharles, Tracy

Malhi, Harinder

Mangat, Amrit

Martins, Cristina

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGarry, Kathryn

McMahon, Eleanor

McMeekin, Ted

Milczyn, Peter Z.

Moridi, Reza

Naidoo-Harris, Indira

Naqvi, Yasir

Potts, Arthur

Qaadri, Shafiq

Rinaldi, Lou

Sandals, Liz

Sousa, Charles

Takhar, Harinder S.

Thibeault, Glenn

Vernile, Daiene

Wong, Soo

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Bailey, Robert

Bisson, Gilles

Cho, Raymond Sung Joon

Clark, Steve

Coe, Lorne

Fedeli, Victor

Fife, Catherine

Forster, Cindy

Gates, Wayne

Gretzky, Lisa

Hardeman, Ernie

Hatfield, Percy

Jones, Sylvia

Mantha, Michael

Martow, Gila

McDonell, Jim

McNaughton, Monte

Miller, Norm

Nicholls, Rick

Oosterhoff, Sam

Pettapiece, Randy

Sattler, Peggy

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Todd

Tabuns, Peter

Taylor, Monique

Thompson, Lisa M.

Vanthof, John

Wilson, Jim

Yakabuski, John

Yurek, Jeff

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 48; the nays are 32.

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

Motion agreed to.

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

The House recessed from 1151 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Harinder S. Takhar: I would like to introduce two of my constituency staff, Gurdeep Dhaliwal and Bal Takhar. They have both worked in my constituency of Mississauga–Erindale for the last 11 years or even more. They do a great job serving constituents day in and day out. They are here today to join us for the celebration of Vaisakhi in Queen’s Park.

Speaker, on that issue I also want to say to all members that we are celebrating Vaisakhi in room 268, and we would like to invite each and every member to come and join us from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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

Members’ Statements

Face Off for Mental Health

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from—Sarnia–Lambton.

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s my privilege to rise in the Legislature and speak briefly today about a unique program in my Sarnia–Lambton riding called Face Off for Mental Health which I hope will eventually be adopted by other regions across Ontario.

St. Clair Child and Youth Services launched this exciting campaign last year with the aim of raising awareness of mental health through local hockey associations. The goal of the program is to make hockey arenas and dressing rooms a safe place to talk about mental health. Each of the associations hosted a Face Off for Mental Health Awareness Weekend where teams from mite to midgets taped their sticks green in support of mental health.

Information about local mental health resources was available in arenas and over 2,600 registered players were provided with a hockey puck featuring helpline information. Additionally, each association made it mandatory for their bench staff to participate in a mental health education workshop.

With the issue of mental health becoming more and more recognized in our province, especially among young people, I commend St. Clair Child and Youth Services for introducing this great program in Sarnia–Lambton.

Using the popularity of hockey as a way of bringing youth mental health issues to the forefront, I’m very gratified to see the success of Face Off for Mental Health during its first year. I’m hoping that next season the program can continue to grow, not only in my riding but across the province as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I apologize to the member. When his desk moved, I looked at it and—what, what, what?

Further members’ statements?

Executive compensation

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’m rising today to talk about an issue I’ve talked about many times in this House: the outrageous compensation of Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt. Over a year ago, I spoke against this ridiculous $4-million salary of Mayo Schmidt. Since then, he has gotten a raise and is paid $6 million.

Mayo Schmidt told us that he feels the pain of people struggling with high hydro bills. How can anyone feel that pain when you’re raking in $6 million?

It’s important to note that the NDP has long advocated for a cap on public sector CEO salaries. In 2013, the NDP brought forward a bill to cap public sector executive pay at $418,000. The NDP brought forward legislation several times that would have capped public sector CEO salaries. The PC caucus all voted against it and ultimately defeated the bill. It’s incredibly unfortunate that that bill did not pass.

Mr. Speaker, 80% of Ontarians do not support the sell-off of Hydro One. They didn’t support the Conservatives either when they started the privatization.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Selling Hydro One is the biggest mistake this government has ever made. Without control of Hydro One, we cannot—we cannot—tackle the issue of outrageous executive salaries. We need to buy back Hydro One and bring it back into public hands to protect Ontarians who are struggling to pay their hydro bills.

Only the NDP has a plan to do that and protect Ontarians.

Vaisakhi

Mr. Harinder S. Takhar: On April 14, many Ontarians practising the Sikh faith celebrated the historical and religious festival known as Vaisakhi. It is a very important celebration of the beginning of a new solar year, the spring harvest, as well as the birth of Khalsa in 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh introduced the five K’s, which included the five items that Khalsa Sikhs must wear at all times. The five K’s, along with the turban, became the most visible symbol of Sikhism.

Vaisakhi is celebrated in all corners of our province and right here in Toronto, as well as in neighbouring cities like Mississauga and Brampton. Nagar Kirtans, also known as Khalsa Day parades, will be held.

Many volunteers will help to make these events a success, which reminds me of the dedication that volunteers all over Ontario exhibit in helping to make this a better province to live in. Coincidentally, it was National Volunteer Week last weekend, and I would like to acknowledge everyone who devotes their time to improving their communities.

In a multicultural society, celebrations such as Nagar Kirtans are important in establishing an understanding of each other’s faiths and cultures. As such, I am very pleased that during Sikh Heritage Month in April, so many people came together to celebrate Vaisakhi and will come together to take

part in Nagar Kirtans and be witness to the positive impact that the Sikh community has made in our great province.

Mr. Speaker, I had introduced my staff before who are here to attend the Vaisakhi function. They are here in the Legislature now. I really want to say thanks to them because they have done a tremendous job of serving the residents of Mississauga–Erindale.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Mr. Randy Hillier: I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit for being recognized as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. The RNAO designates health care and academic institutions as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization when they effectively implement and evaluate RNAO best practice guidelines.

The health unit programs are: enhancing healthy adolescent development; working with families to promote safe sleep for infants aged zero to 12 months; integrating smoking cessation into daily nursing practices; interventions for postpartum depression; and person- and family-centred care. These are the practice guidelines they would focus on during this period.

Their hard work has paid off, and now they will be recognized and designated by the RNAO. This is a wonderful recognition for the many staff involved in the project, but also important for all members of the local community, who will see a direct impact and improvement in the health care services offered to them.

I applaud the health unit’s success and wish them the very, very best at their celebration tomorrow evening.

Human trafficking

Ms. Jennifer K. French: This past Friday night, I was out on the road with Durham region police officers from the human trafficking division on a ride-along that went into the early morning. We spent 12 hours in the tangled and terrifying world of sex trafficking. My soul is still trying to file what I have seen and learned.

We can never appreciate our police enough for what they do, and I do not know how they are able to handle what they do. Thank God for these officers and the social workers who are committed to helping our girls who have been taken and are being controlled and sold for sex by the hour after hour after hour, until they can escape.

I met a survivor who was able to get out after nine years because of a police intervention that offered her a way out with the support she needed. She and a worker from a local women’s shelter are working to support other young women, when and if we can get to them, working alongside our officers.

Speaker, this is a world of fear and control. Girls in high school are being trafficked by their boyfriend pimps in the evenings and weekends, and go to school like usual during the day. Parents don’t recognize branding tattoos or second phones or boyfriend pimps for the signs that they are.

I saw hundreds of ads being placed in the middle of the afternoon to sell girls to predators in normal hotel rooms all along our 401: men who stop in for half an hour on their way to work in the morning; men who pay for after-game hotel parties and don’t ask where the girls come from; men who go home to their families.

I met a young woman who is still in this hell, where she has survived for 10 years, who trusted us with the story of her nightmare, but she doesn’t believe she can get out. To her and the hundreds of other girls in this web: Not everyone wants to hurt you. Call the police. Let them get you out.

And to the neighbours in our communities and guests at our hotels: Recognize what you are seeing. Help our girls. Help end sex trafficking. Call the police or call Crime Stoppers.

National Sovereignty and Children’s Day

Mr. John Fraser: Today, Monday, April 23, Turkish Canadians celebrate National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. In 1920, the new Turkish republic dedicated the day to the world’s children in recognition that the next generation will be the successor of the future. The declaration symbolizes that Turkish youth have been trusted to protect the sovereignty and independence of their nation.

Every year, schools host week-long ceremonies, including performances in fields and large stadiums. Today, children will replace government officials and high-ranking civil servants by working in their offices.

Children from all over the world are invited to attend special parliamentary sessions in the Grand National Assembly to discuss issues that concern children across the country and around the globe. Children then pledge their commitment to international peace and friendship.

UNICEF has also recognized and declared April 23rd as International Children’s Day. This is a truly unique and wonderful tradition that continues to unite us all.

I’d like to say a special thank you to the Turkish Canadian community in Ottawa, who hosted their annual gala and dinner in honour of Children’s Day. They’ve raised over $90,000 over the years for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in my riding.

Tammie Jo Shults

Mrs. Gila Martow: I’m really pleased to rise today and just talk about—I think a lot of our hearts have been thumping ever since we heard about the pilot who landed the plane last week, with a window that had blown out. Tammie Jo Shults was at the controls of Dallas-bound flight 1380 for Southwest Airlines when it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. The jet had apparently blown out an engine, got hit by shrapnel and a window got blown out.

She’s credited for having nerves of steel and helping to prevent a far worse tragedy. She took the plane into a rapid descent. The passengers had to don the oxygen masks. There are even some videos circulating out there from somebody who taped it.

I just wanted to mention that pilot Shults was among the first female fighter pilots in the US military. I want to thank our military for training so many of our great commercial pilots. We all have gone on planes, and sometimes we marvel at the experience that we’re able to actually fly. She’s really credited as somebody who really pushed to get into the military academy, to be able to learn and to train.

I just wanted to thank her on behalf of myself and my constituents, and I’m sure all the members here as well, and to remind everybody to please wear their seat belts, because, unfortunately, the passenger who passed away—it would have been even worse for her family. She was half out of the airplane, but the seat belt held her in.

We know that planes can be very bumpy and very dangerous and emergencies can happen. I remind everybody, on behalf of all of us here in the Legislature: Please wear your seat belts when you’re seated on an aircraft.

Long-term care

Mrs. Cristina Martins: On Friday, April 20, I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Minister Sousa to Via Norte Restaurant in my riding of Davenport to announce that the province has committed to building 256 new long-term-care beds that will offer specialized care to aging Portuguese Canadian communities.

The beds will be in a long-term-care facility called Magellan Community Care, or Casa Magalhães, named after the Portuguese explorer and navigator, and will be tailored for residents with roots in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cabo Verde and other Portuguese-speaking parts of the world.

As a proud Portuguese Canadian, I know first-hand the Portuguese community forms of lifeblood of this neighbourhood. Our Portuguese seniors quite literally built this community from the ground up.

Over the last four years as MPP and long before that, I heard fierce advocacy from my community on the pressing need to establish long-term-care facilities that cater to Ontarians with Portuguese language roots. Magellan Community Care will allow Portuguese seniors to better access high-quality care and continue to live happy and healthy lives, all while accessing services and programs in Portuguese.

As our population ages, creating comforting spaces for our elders is more than simply providing medical treatment. Long-term care is about engaging elderly individuals on a human level that allows them to connect with the people around them, unfettered by language barriers.

This announcement is part of the province’s commitment to build 5,000 new beds by 2022 and more than 30,000 new beds over the next decade. I am proud to be part of a government that values our elders and is committed to establishing environments where Ontarians can all age.

Young Canada Week

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Last month, I was happy to attend the 69th annual Young Canada peewee hockey tournament hosted by the Goderich Lions Club. The tournament has been hosted since 1950 and has drawn girls’ and boys’ teams from across Ontario. This year, the tournament had 22 teams from western and southwestern Ontario.

The tournament has a storied history. Countless future hockey stars have participated in the past. It’s great to see that in looking ahead to our young hockey players, time has been taken to celebrate the past as well. This year, the Stratford Y’s Men were honoured during the opening ceremony for winning the tournament back in 1969.

There’s another fun piece of trivia about the Young Canada Week tournament. I once had an opportunity to meet with Wayne Gretzky, and when I told him that the riding I represented was the great riding of Huron–Bruce, the moment he realized I represented Goderich, his face actually lit up as he remembered playing in Young Canada Week. I share that story because who knows how many more participants will be the next Great One, going through the Goderich Lions Club hockey tournament, known as Young Canada Week?

I would like to thank all the parents who make this opportunity possible for their young hockey players, who I am positive had lots of fun. Thank you to the Goderich Lions Club, to the president, Dave McDonald, and lastly to all the volunteers who make this week happen year in and year out.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. He happened to score a lot of goals on that weekend too. I just wanted to let you know—the guy from Brantford.

Estimates

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I have a message from the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Lieutenant Governor, signed by her own hand.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Please rise.

The Lieutenant Governor transmits estimates of certain sums required for the services of the province for the year ending March 31, 2019, and recommends them to the Legislative Assembly. Toronto, April 20, 2018. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Introduction of Bills

Organic Products Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les produits biologiques

Mr. Tabuns moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 59,

An Act to regulate the labelling and certification of organic products / Projet de loi 59, Loi visant à réglementer l’étiquetage et la certification des produits biologiques.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: This bill has been co-sponsored by the member from Dufferin–Caledon. It prohibits the marketing and labelling of products as “organic” unless they have been certified as organic in accordance with the act.

Family Caregiver Day Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le Jour des aidants naturels

Madame Gélinas moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 60,

An Act to proclaim Family Caregiver Day / Projet de loi 60, Loi proclamant le Jour des aidants naturels.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

M me France Gélinas: It will be very short, Speaker. The bill proclaims the first Tuesday in April of each year as Family Caregiver Day.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you—very short.

Madame Gélinas moved first reading of the following bill:

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Sikh Heritage Month

Hon. Harinder Malhi: I’m pleased to rise today to mark Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario. I’m deeply honoured to recognize this important occasion. In January, the Premier appointed me the Minister of the Status of Women in Ontario. In fact, I became the first Sikh woman to hold a cabinet position in Ontario in 151 years. It is a role and responsibility that I take very seriously.

The month of April was proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month by the Legislature of Ontario in 2013—Bill 52. Unanimously supported by the Liberals, Conservatives and the NDP, the proclamation of April as Sikh Heritage Month recognizes the important contributions that Sikh Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric.

This month is an opportunity to remember, observe and educate our future generations and society at large about Sikh Canadians and the important role that we play in communities across Ontario.

Sikh Heritage Month aims to celebrate the contributions and aspirations of all Sikh Canadians and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for a rich, unique and diverse heritage.

Some of the tenets of my faith that I hold dear include equality, truthfulness, tolerance, honesty and respect for all. These are important pillars for a civil society, a place where we can all work together to build up communities. My role as minister is informed by this. I believe that the work I’m doing is building a fairer and more equitable province. I’m honoured to be a part of a government that values diversity and fights for equality. I’m dedicated to building a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

In my role as the Minister of the Status of Women, I work very hard to address and break down the barriers that hold women back. I work hard to celebrate diversity and encourage equality and equity for all. Some of our most recent work highlights our government’s commitment to equal and fair opportunity for all Ontarians. It’s Never Okay, Ontario’s strategy to end gender-based violence, was an investment of close to $242 million, and it aims to create a system that better responds to the growing demands for services for survivors of gender-based violence.

We know that gender-based violence can happen to anyone, but the risk is even greater for racialized, indigenous and newcomer women, members of the LGBTQ2 community and women with disabilities. That’s why we put this important strategy forward.

Then Now Next: Ontario’s Strategy for Women’s Economic Empowerment is the first of its kind in Canada. It aims to eliminate barriers and make workplaces more equitable and accessible for women and men equally.

Speaker, I grew up in a family that was very politically active. I’ve always believed that the role of government is to provide people with the opportunity to realize their full potential. It is our role to recognize the value in engaging with as many different voices as we can.

Like many children of immigrants, my parents came to this country from India, and they worked many long hours to build a comfortable life for me and my brother. But they never lost sight of what was important, and for them, that was helping people.

When my father entered public life in 1993, it was with the trust and support of his community. He became the first turbaned politician to be elected outside of India. By the age of 12, I was helping my father knock on doors around Brampton. Our home bustled with neighbours. Sometimes they were there to seek help, and other times to complain. I watched my father work tirelessly to serve his community. It is from my parents that I learned the value of listening. I learned the true meaning of “community,” and it is a sense of community that lies at the foundation of Sikhism.

Guru Nanak Singh Ji started Sikhism as a social revolution, a faith based on principles of equality and social justice. The Sikh community is based on these fundamentals, including faith, unity and equality for all.

As the Minister of the Status of Women, these are the same fundamental values that drive the work that I do every day to achieve an equitable Ontario for women and girls, for now and for the future.

In Sikhism, we have a very important philosophy called Seva. It means selfless service, completed as a community action. It is performed for the goodwill and benefit of others. It is also done with no expectation of reward. You see, the reward is the act itself, because generosity and kindness are infectious. The concept of Seva is, however, more than just action; it is the very essence of Sikhism.

When Sikhs began arriving in Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they arrived on the west coast and worked the railway, lumber mills and mines. From these origins grew a vibrant and diverse group of men and women in this country. We now play a significant role in every aspect of Canadian life. We are politicians, lawyers, doctors, labourers, teachers and bankers. We have settled across every province, from British Columbia to Newfoundland. We have made this great nation richer.

As we celebrate Sikh Heritage Month, we should remind ourselves of how many Sikhs have found success here in Ontario, in so many fields and professions. Sikh Canadians represent a growing and dynamic population making significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Ontario.

I’m proud to stand before you today as a Sikh Canadian and recognize the most important contributions that Sikhs have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric.

I want to speak to you about one such hero, Buckam Singh, the first Sikh to enlist for World War I with an Ontario battalion. He was wounded twice in France and died in Canada in 1919. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener. His tombstone is the only known Canadian Sikh soldier’s grave in existence.

These days, Canadian Sikhs are breaking down barriers and forging their own paths, people like Jagjeet Singh Hans, also known as Tiger Jeet Singh, who rose to prominence as a professional wrestler. He went on to be almost as well known for his humanitarian work as he was known in the ring. There is an elementary school in his hometown of Milton, Ontario, named after him.

Sikhs have also made their mark and found great success in public service, serving in the House of Commons, the Ontario Legislature and on municipal councils across the province. Gurbax Singh Malhi, my father, became the first-ever turban-wearing politician to be elected in North America when he was elected to the House of Commons in 1993.

In 2016, Sarabjit Singh Marwah became the first Sikh appointed to the Canadian Senate. He is the former vice-chairman and chief operating officer of Scotiabank, retiring in 2014 after 35 years with the bank, where he began his career as a financial analyst.

In October 2017, Jagmeet Singh became the first member of a visible minority to lead a major federal party. The criminal lawyer, originally from Scarborough, had been an MPP since 2011 and the Ontario NDP’s deputy leader since 2015.

Herb Dhaliwal was the first Sikh minister in Canada’s federal cabinet.

Speaker, the list goes on.

I am a Sikh Canadian, MPP for Brampton–Springdale and the Minister of the Status of Women. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my fellow Sikh members. The honourable members from Brampton West and, of course, from Mississauga–Erindale—our very first Sikh cabinet minister in Ontario—and our member from Brampton South are also Sikhs and long-serving MPPs in this Legislature who have blazed the path.

Mr. Speaker, we now know that our province is made even stronger through the diversity that immigration creates. I believe many Sikhs are attracted to this province because we value diversity, independence, freedom and equality. We are extremely fortunate to reap the benefits of the different cultures and peoples that make up our province, and Sikhs are prominent among these.

In closing, I want to thank my fellow Sikh brothers and sisters for their immeasurable contributions to this province. To all, I hope that you have a joyous Sikh Heritage Month.

National Volunteer Week

Hon. Laura Albanese: Last week was National Volunteer Week. People across Ontario honoured and thanked the volunteers who have such a positive impact in their communities. Almost five million people generously donate their time and talents every year to a variety of programs, services and causes here in Ontario. Our province would be a much lesser place without the efforts of our volunteers to support people and make their communities a better place. Our volunteers deserve our recognition, our support and heartfelt thanks.

During National Volunteer Week, I had the honour of recognizing our volunteers, including awarding the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism to 12 outstanding individuals in four different organizations. I was also on hand, on April 19, to honour the 10 winners of this year’s Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.

As many of you know, the annual volunteer service awards ceremonies have been happening in communities across the province since March 19. It will continue until May 1. Through the volunteer service awards this year, more than 8,100 volunteers are being recognized across the province at 57 ceremonies in 45 different communities for their outstanding community service.

This year also saw important changes to our government’s ChangeTheWorld program. Since 2008, over 240,000 youth volunteers have contributed more than 1.2 million volunteer hours in their communities through the previous ChangeTheWorld program. Our government has revised ChangeTheWorld to help provide more meaningful volunteer experiences for young people. The time frame for the program has been expanded from six weeks in the spring to include volunteer activities throughout the entire year. We also broadened the age limit to include youth from the ages of 12 to 18.

We have increased the program’s reach by encouraging a wider range of organizations to consider delivering volunteer projects, and 32 projects worth $1.2 million over two years have received funding to engage youth by promoting volunteerism and fostering a sense of community responsibility.

Volunteers play a critical and essential role in building strong communities. During National Volunteer Week and throughout the rest of the year, people across Ontario have a reason to be grateful for the efforts of our five million volunteers.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s time for responses.

Sikh Heritage Month

Mr. Norm Miller: Sat sri akal.

I’m proud to rise on behalf of Ontario PC leader Doug Ford and the Ontario PC caucus in celebration of Sikh Heritage Month. I want to apologize if I mispronounce anything in this response.

April marks an important time for the Sikh community. That is why, in 2013, when Bill 52 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature recognizing April as Sikh Heritage Month, the Ontario PC caucus proudly supported it. Along with being Sikh Heritage Month, April also marks the coming of the Vaisakhi festival, one of the most important days of the Sikh calendar. During Vaisakhi, the Sikh community reflects upon the past year and expresses gratitude for the blessings received, while together looking forward to the coming year.

Vaisakhi also celebrates the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699, and observes the participation of traditional Sikh practices, such as the introduction of the Sikh articles of faith also known as the five Ks. Vaisakhi showcases true Sikh values for humanity: a passion for justice, equality, integrity and compassion, which is shown through acts of Seva, or selfless service. Individuals perform acts of charity for those less fortunate, encourage service to others and also promote positivity. These values are embraced by the Ontario PC caucus and are principles that we hold dear to us.

With a community of over 200,000 strong in Ontario, Sikh Heritage Month provides an important opportunity for recognizing the many contributions Sikh Canadians play in vibrant communities all across this province. It is also a time to remember, celebrate and further educate future generations on Sikh achievements in business, politics, medicine and culture. Canadians of Sikh faith represent an amazing success story across our province, worthy of appreciation. Your resilient spirit inspires us all.

As Ontarians come together this month to celebrate Sikh heritage and Vaisakhi at various Nagar Kirtans across our province, it’s my pleasure to convey to them this House’s and the PC caucus’s warmest wishes for a successful Sikh Heritage Month. Happy Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi di lakh lakh Vadhai.

National Volunteer Week

Ms. Sylvia Jones: It’s my pleasure to rise on behalf of the PC caucus and offer my comments on volunteer week. Today is an opportunity to recognize and thank the people who give up their time to make our communities better every day.

It’s not exaggeration to say that Ontario would be a very different place without the numerous hours volunteers have given to a cause they care about. The most recent data from Statistics Canada said that, in 2010, volunteers gave almost 2.7 billion hours to their communities through volunteering. That said, volunteers make an immeasurable impact on our communities.

I know, as we are wrapping up volunteer week this weekend, we heard the news in Orangeville that Kaden Young, the three-year-old who was lost on February 21, has been found—mercifully. I can’t think about volunteers and what they do for our community without thinking about the literally hundreds of people who, every single day, have been going out trying to find this young man and bring closure to his family.

So it’s somewhat fitting that, on the last day of the volunteer week in 2018, we finally brought Kaden home.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I appreciate that.

Sikh Heritage Month

Ms. Jennifer K. French: April is Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario. It was a 2013 bill passed by this House to ensure that we have a month every year to celebrate, educate and recognize the contributions of the Sikh community in Ontario. I’m glad to remind us that it was my friend and former colleague Jagmeet Singh who introduced this legislation five years ago.

Sikh Canadians have been in Canada for over 100 years. They have contributed to all of our fields and areas of focus in the province. Sikhs are active members of our society. They are also very visible members of our society, especially considering the visible principles of faith or articles of faith. But being visible, however, doesn’t mean being understood. I appreciate our heritage months in the province because it is a time to learn and to appreciate more about our neighbours.

I’d like to read from the conversation here in this Legislature five years ago from the then member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton: “Sikh Heritage Month is so important. It gives us a platform so that we can talk about the contributions that Sikh Canadians have made. We can talk about what they are about, their beliefs and values, so that we can share in celebrating their diversity and create a society that is more accepting. It should be one of our goals as parliamentarians, to make sure we create a society that is accepting of all people, and this could be one step towards creating a more accepting society for Sikh Canadians.”

Heritage months help us to learn to accept and to grow. I’d like to share one of Rupi’s poems:

To hate

Is an easy lazy thing

But to love

Takes strength

Everyone has

But not all are

Willing to practise

Speaker, may we all practise a little more love and share ideas and understanding with those around us. On behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, we hope everyone enjoys and appreciates Sikh Heritage Month this year.

National Volunteer Week

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Today we are marking National Volunteer Week and taking the time to say thank you. Today I have the opportunity to rise and speak as the critic for citizenship and immigration on behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats. Citizenship is about civic participation and involvement. It is about how people live in and join in activities in their neighbourhoods and communities.

People choose to participate in so many ways. Maybe they get involved in their churches, their service clubs, through their children’s activities. They join an interest group, engage politically or enjoy their public spaces and facilities. They work, they explore, they advocate, they enjoy, and, fortunately for the rest of us, they volunteer.

Every year we celebrate and recognize volunteers from across our communities at the volunteer service awards. Volunteers from across communities are recognized for their service, their commitment, their time, their dedication, their heart, their soul and their love for their community.

The volunteer service awards and our own Leading Women, Leading Girls awards night were wonderful. They were nights of smiles, appreciation and celebration, and something very special to be a part of. It is always nice to see our volunteers formally recognized.

It is my privilege to be an MPP representing Oshawa. All of us in this House have a tremendous job. We have the opportunity to meet with individuals, neighbours and organizations that make up the fabric of our communities, on a daily basis.

Speaker, often we don’t have a chance to really know all of the work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes, but it’s everyone behind the scenes who makes our province great. Growing up, I didn’t think about who was a volunteer, but like many of us, I grew up surrounded and supported by the folks who ran the skating club; my Brownie and Girl Guide leaders; the parents and teachers who made costumes and made the school play happen; the police who taught me bike safety; my softball coach, and the list goes on. I didn’t know they were volunteers.

I just knew that they were special people in my life, people that I loved and I learned from. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized that all of the special people of impact who were a part of my childhood and my life story were actually called volunteers.

To the coaches, the mentors, the program leaders, the board members, the tour guides, the seniors, the drivers, our church families, the social workers, the animal defenders, the hockey parents and everyone else who supports our communities: Thank you. To all the volunteers who are a part of someone’s story, who help, who give, who share and who care: Thank you. We need you; we appreciate you. Our province is better because of you.

On behalf of Andrea Horwath and Ontario’s New Democrats, thank you, thank you, thank you.

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

Petitions

Health care funding

Mr. Norm Miller: I have some 505 petitions, collected by June Tebby of Huntsville, to maintain hospital services in Bracebridge and Huntsville. They read:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare has been considering the future of the Huntsville District Memorial and South Muskoka Memorial hospitals since 2012; and

“Whereas accessible health care services are of critical importance to all Ontarians, including those living in rural areas; and

“Whereas patients currently travel significant distances to access acute in-patient care, emergency, diagnostic and surgical services available at these hospitals; and

“Whereas the funding for small and medium-sized hospitals has not kept up with increasing costs including hydro rates and collective bargaining agreements made by the province; and

“Whereas the residents of Muskoka and surrounding areas feel that MAHC has not been listening to them; and

“Whereas the board of MAHC has yet to take the single-site proposal from 2015 off its books;

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

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario requests that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care” commits to maintaining “core hospital services ... at both Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and ensures all small and medium-sized hospitals receive enough funding to maintain core services.”

I sign this, Mr. Speaker, and I give it to Rowan to take in.

Doctor shortage

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank a whole bunch of physician students for these petitions.

“Whereas 25 residency spots were cut in Ontario in 2015;

“Whereas 68 medical graduates went unmatched in 2017, 35 of them from Ontario;

“Whereas the AFMC predicts that 141 graduates will go unmatched in 2021, adding to the backlog;

“Whereas an estimated $200,000 of provincial taxpayer dollars are spent to train each graduate;

“Whereas the ratio of medical students to residency positions had declined to 1 to 1.026 in 2017 from 1 to 1.1 in 2012;

“Whereas wait times for specialists in Ontario continue to grow while many Ontario citizens are still without access to primary care providers;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“

(1) Stop any further cuts to residency positions until a long-term solution is well under way;

“

(2) Reinstate the 25 residency positions cut in 2015 to bring Ontario back to its previous steady state;

“

(3) Create extra Ontario-only residency spots that can be used when there is an unexpected excess of unmatched Ontario grads to guarantee a spot for every graduate every year;

“

(4) Pass Bill 18 as part of the solution to develop actionable long-term recommendations; and

“

(5) Improve communications between the MAESD and the MOHLTC so that medical school admissions correspond with residency spots and Ontario’s health needs.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Mia to bring it to the Clerk.

Voting age

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Election Act to lower the voter age.

“Whereas pursuant to S. 15(1)(

a) of the Election Act, every person is entitled to vote who, on the general polling day, has attained 18 years of age; and

“Whereas youth in Ontario want to be politically engaged; and

“Whereas younger person(

s) have a vested interest in the selection of their political representatives; and

“Whereas young person(

s) should not have to pay taxes without representation; and

“Whereas jurisdictions including (and not limiting) Austria and Brazil have extended the eligible voter age (1); and

“Whereas electoral polls indicate a higher rate of electoral turnout in these jurisdictions (2); and

“Whereas young person(

s) have the knowledge and maturity to participate in the electoral process;

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

“That the province of Ontario lower the eligible voter age to 16 years old, pursuant to amendments made to S. 15(1)(

a) Election Act.”

I’m going to give this to page Faraaz just as soon as I sign my name.

Wind turbines

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

“Whereas on July 7, 2017, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) deemed the renewable energy approval (REA) application of Otter Creek Wind Farm LP complete; and

“Whereas Otter Creek’s REA stands at the technical review stage; and

“Whereas we believe that environmental studies to date have been insufficient with regard to species at risk; and

“Whereas we believe that studies to date have been insufficient regarding the adverse effects of wind turbines at Otter Creek to migratory birds and waterfowl; and

“Whereas the construction methods required for the Otter Creek site are similar to those being employed in the construction of North Kent Wind 1, where 14 water wells have now been contaminated due to vibration; and

“Whereas Ontario has already postponed the proposed LRP II (large renewable energy projects) because further production of electricity is not required;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to take immediate action to stop any construction or construction planning for the Otter Creek Wind Farm until the above-mentioned environmental concerns, and particularly the issue of water quality safety, are re-examined by expert consultants mutually agreeable to MOECC, the municipal council of Chatham-Kent, and the residents affected by the proposed wind farm development.”

I agree with this, will affix my signature and send it down with Eric.

Pharmacare

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition here called “Universal Pharmacare for All Ontarians.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas prescription medications are a part of health care, and people shouldn’t have to empty their wallets or rack up credit card bills to get the medicines they need;

“Whereas over 2.2 million Ontarians don’t have any prescription drug coverage and one in four Ontarians don’t take their medications as prescribed because they cannot afford the cost;

“Whereas taking medications as prescribed can save lives and help people live better; and

“Whereas Canada urgently needs universal and comprehensive national pharmacare;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support a universal provincial pharmacare plan for all Ontarians.”

I wholeheartedly support this, affix my name and will send it with page Joseph.

Respite care

Mr. Han Dong: I have a petition from the Flexible Options Network to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas we are concerned about the elimination of respite care from the core suite of services in the EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the undue hardship this will cause for families who rely on this service;

“Whereas too many Ontarians who have children do not have access to part-time/flexible/short-term or respite care in their communities; and

“Whereas the Ontario government is rolling out the Renewed Early Years and Child Care Policy Framework so that ‘families can have access to programs better suited to their needs’;

“Whereas families in Ontario said that ‘they wanted more; more responsive hours of care that meet the demands of modern life’;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to sustain and fund respite/flexible child care under the banner of EarlyON Child and Family Centres as a viable option for families and their children.”

I support this petition. I will sign my name to it and give it to page Ryan-Michael.

Government services

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Ontario drivers aged 80 and over must complete group education sessions, driver record reviews, vision tests and non-computerized in-class assessment in order to renew their licences; and

“Whereas in Cornwall and Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry classes have been cancelled without notice due to staff shortages; and

“Whereas seniors are forced to drive needlessly and wait at offices for temporary licences, which is neither productive nor fair to clients; and

“Whereas seniors in Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry who require a functional assessment must drive to Ottawa or Smiths Falls and complete driving tests in a stressful and unfamiliar environment; and

“Whereas it is the government’s duty to serve Ontario residents locally and conveniently;

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

“

(1) To deliver group education sessions and assessments on a walk-in basis at an existing facility such as the Cornwall DriveTest Centre; and

“

(2) To take immediate steps to bring local delivery of functional assessment services to Cornwall and the united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.”

I agree with it and pass it off to page Sophie.

Celiac disease

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Melissa Secord from the Canadian Celiac Association for this petition.

“Whereas the IgA TTG blood screening is the internationally recognized standard as the first step in diagnosing a person with celiac disease;

“Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that can strike people with a genetic predisposition at any time of life and presents with a large variety of non-specific signs and symptoms;

“Whereas many individuals, such as family members of diagnosed celiacs, are at higher risk and pre-symptomatic screening is advised;

“Whereas covering the cost of the simple test would dramatically reduce wait times to diagnosis, save millions to the health care system due to misdiagnoses, unnecessary tests and serious complications from untreated celiac disease and reduce the painful suffering and health decline of thousands of individuals;

“Whereas Ontario is the only province in Canada not to cover this blood test;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario “to cover the cost of the diagnostic blood test (IgA TTG) for celiac disease for those who show symptoms, are a first-degree relative or have an associated condition.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Hannah to bring it to the Clerk.

Water fluoridation

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly to update Ontario fluoridation legislation.

“Whereas community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and scientifically proven means of preventing dental decay, and is a public health measure endorsed by more than 90 national and international health organizations; and

“Whereas recent experience in such Canadian cities as Dorval, Calgary and Windsor that have removed fluoride from drinking water has shown a dramatic increase in dental decay; and

“Whereas the continued use of fluoride in community drinking water is at risk in Ontario cities representing more than 10% of Ontario’s population, including the region of Peel; and

“Whereas the Ontario Legislature has twice voted unanimously in favour of the benefits of community water fluoridation, and the Ontario Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Municipal Affairs and Housing urge support for amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and other applicable legislation to ensure community water fluoridation is mandatory and to remove provisions allowing Ontario municipalities to cease drinking water fluoridation, or fail to start drinking water fluoridation, from the Ontario Municipal Act;

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

“That the Premier of Ontario direct the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Health and Long-Term Care to introduce legislation amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and make changes to other applicable legislation and regulations to make the fluoridation of municipal drinking water mandatory in all municipal water systems across the province of Ontario.”

I support this and I will be giving it to page Eric.

Wind turbines

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I have a very important petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas on July 7, 2017, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) deemed the renewable energy approval (REA) application of Otter Creek Wind Farm LP complete; and

“Whereas Otter Creek’s REA stands at the technical review stage; and

“Whereas we believe that environmental studies to date have been insufficient with regard to species at risk; and

“Whereas we believe that studies to date have been insufficient regarding the adverse effects of wind turbines at Otter Creek to migratory birds and waterfowl; and

“Whereas the construction methods required for the Otter Creek site are similar to those being employed in the construction of North Kent Wind 1, where 14 water wells”—now 20—“have now been contaminated due to vibration; and

“Whereas Ontario has already postponed the proposed LRP II (large renewable energy projects) because further production of electricity is not required;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to take immediate action to stop any construction or construction planning for the Otter Creek Wind Farm until the above-mentioned environmental concerns, and particularly the issue of water quality safety, are re-examined by expert consultants mutually agreeable to MOECC, the municipal council of Chatham-Kent, and the residents affected by the proposed wind farm development.”

I support this petition and send it down with the page.

Lyme disease

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition called “A Lyme Disease Strategy for Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario does not have a strategy on Lyme disease; and

“Whereas the Public Health Agency of Canada is developing an Action Plan on Lyme Disease; and

“Whereas Toronto Public Health says that transmission of the disease requires the tick to be attached for 24 hours, so early intervention and diagnosis is of primary importance; and

“Whereas a motion was introduced to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario encouraging the government to adopt a strategy on Lyme disease, while taking into account the impact the disease has upon individuals and families in Ontario;

I wholeheartedly support this, affix my name and will send it to the table with Colin.

Visitors

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I see the member for Perth–Wellington may have a point of order.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Thank you, Speaker. I’d like to introduce members of the Cedarvale Christian School from Harriston in my riding of Perth–Wellington. They just sat down.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Not technically a point of order, but we welcome you to the Ontario Legislature.

Orders of the Day

Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 / Loi de 2018 pour un plan axé sur le mieux-être et l’avenir (mesures budgétaires)

Resuming the debate adjourned on April 18, 2018, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 31,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statu