role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

November 28, 2005

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-Nov-28 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 28 November 2005 Lundi 28 novembre 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

SCHOOL FACILITIES

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT RECREATION CENTRE

SENIOR CITIZENS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

VIOLENT CRIME

VISITORS

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

REPORT OF CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

RESPECT FOR

MUNICIPALITIES ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE RESPECT DES MUNICIPALITÉS

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

VISITORS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY SAFETY

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY /

INDUSTRIE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

COMMUNITY SAFETY

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS

ORAL QUESTIONS

PUBLIC HEALTH

COMMUNITY SAFETY

SCHOOL SAFETY

NUCLEAR WASTE

HOSPITAL FUNDING

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

COMMUNITY SAFETY

LOCAL HEALTH

INTEGRATION NETWORKS

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

TRUCKING INDUSTRY

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

CHILD POVERTY

HEALTH SERVICES

HYDRO RATES

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ORDERS OF THE DAY

FAMILY STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE

DES QUESTIONS FAMILIALES

DUFFINS ROUGE AGRICULTURAL

PRESERVE ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA RÉSERVE

AGRICOLE DE DUFFINS-ROUGE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

SCHOOL FACILITIES

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I rise in the House today to draw again to the government's attention the need for a new secondary school in north

Oshawa. Durham region is among the fastest-growing areas in Canada. Many communities in my riding of Durham are among the fastest-growing in Durham region. However, this growth may force students

in north Oshawa to travel outside local neighbourhoods in order to attend high school.

The area north of Taunton Road is hard hit by a lack of accommodation. The Durham District School Board is considering a proposal whereby some students will

travel to Donevan Collegiate in south Oshawa, even though they live in the north portion of Oshawa. Donevan is the only high school with some available capacity at the moment. Other schools are

also bursting at the seams.

One point that has been raised at public meetings is the need for a Liberal funding policy that would build the schools we need in the communities where they are

needed. I urge this government to take action on the policy, or lack of it, for building new schools. I would especially like to urge this government to look into high school accommodation in north

Durham so that students have the advantage of attending high school close to their neighbourhoods.

The McGuinty government school accommodation plan is falling apart. I urge the Premier to recognize that the high-growth areas, as well as the small rural

schools like the one I mentioned last week, Hampton Junior, are not ignored at the expense of students' futures. Premier, your government's school accommodation plan is failing students. I ask you

to respond as soon as possible.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr. John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): As a society, I believe we have a responsibility to recognize the importance of a decent, affordable place

to live as a starting point in establishing the dignity of a human being. That's why I was honoured this morning to represent the McGuinty government at an historic official opening of six

affordable housing projects in my community. The six projects, jointly funded by the provincial, federal and regional governments, provide 244 units of affordable housing for the region of

Waterloo.

Joining me in this morning's announcement were the federal housing minister, the Honourable Joe Fontana, local MPs and regional chair Ken Seiling. All spoke with

great enthusiasm about our joint vision for affordable housing that is producing real results.

Last April, Kitchener Centre was chosen as one of the places to announce the new $602-million Canada-Ontario affordable housing agreement under which Waterloo

region has already been allocated over $10 million in funding to create 300 additional units of rental and supportive housing, as well as $2.2 million to fund 160 housing allowances.

Today's celebration, however, was about the work that has already been completed, and I want to congratulate everyone involved: our federal partners, regional

chair Ken Seiling and members of his council, director of housing Rob Horne and his dedicated staff at the region, and the individual project proponents: the House of Friendship of Kitchener, Cook

Homes, Cypriot Homes, Menno Homes and the Old Firehall Lofts. By creating homes for individuals within our community in need, they have done their part to recognize their dignity as human

beings.

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): This past Thursday evening, I had the great privilege to attend a retirement celebration in honour of Agnes

Samler. For the past 12 years, Agnes has provided extraordinary leadership to the Toronto Association for Community Living. Under her leadership, the association has grown and expanded, providing a

long list of services and supports to both people with developmental disabilities and their families. She has also provided provincial leadership in advocating for policies and funding for those

with an intellectual disability. From closing institutions to repealing the Homes for Retarded Persons Act to a groundbreaking five-year plan that began in 2001, she has truly made a

difference.

In 2001, the Harris government announced a five-year plan to expand services and supports for people in the community, from day programs to special services at

home to places to live. I was pleased to see the current government complete the final two years of that program. It is essential that the Minister of Community and Social Services get the support

from her colleagues on all sides of the House, particularly the Minister of Finance, to build on the success of this initiative.

Groups in my riding such as the Tamir Foundation, the Ottawa Carleton Association for People with Developmental Disabilities, and Ottawa Carleton Lifeskills are

all counting on new support. Their staff need fair wages, aging parents need the confidence to know that their adult children will be cared for when they no longer can do so, and capital money is

urgently needed to repair and build new supportive housing.

Let's ensure that these quiet voices are heard. They are counting on our support. I hope our new Minister of Finance is as generous with people with

developmental disabilities as the former Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty.

UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT RECREATION CENTRE

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): I want to do two things with my statement: first, to congratulate the grades 5 and 6 students from

Hawthorne who are here in my office watching today's statements and question period. I welcome them to witness what happens here in this Legislature. Thank you for coming.

Secondly, the University Settlement Recreation Centre, which is located in my riding, recently celebrated its 95th anniversary. The University Settlement

Recreation Centre was originally called the University Settlement House. It was part of the settlement house movement that had its origins in 19th-century England, where Toynbee Hall, the first

settlement house, was established in 1884. The movement spread to North America, where one of the most famous settlement houses, Hull House, was founded in 1889 by Jane Addams, remembered today as

"the mother of social work." By the time the University Settlement House was established in 1910, the movement was well established in North America.

Settlement houses played a crucial role in helping new immigrants adapt to Canadian society. They offered adult education classes, worked with the children of

immigrants, offered after-school recreation and initiated public health services. Many of their volunteers were university students, and social work evolved as a profession along with the

settlement houses.

Today, 95 years after its founding, the University Settlement Recreation Centre continues its tradition of serving immigrants and helping them settle in this new

country. Today it is a multiservice agency offering daycare, recreation and wellness programs, ESL programs --

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

SENIOR CITIZENS

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): I rise in the House today to share some good news for seniors and caregivers in my riding of Markham. Community Home

Assistance to Seniors, or CHATS, and Carefirst Seniors will now be able to deliver enhanced services to seniors through the sharing of an annual $500,000 grant from the Minister of Health and

Long-Term Care.

The McGuinty government grant will fund core community services, including caregiver relief, home housekeeping, transportation, escort and

interpretation, group

dining and wellness programs.

What does this grant and partnership between CHATS and Carefirst Seniors mean for Markham residents? It will mean better health care and dignity for seniors from

all communities, including 35% of Chinese Canadians in my riding. For the estimated 500 additional seniors expected to benefit from this alliance, it will also mean greater freedom to shop for

groceries, do banking or pursue hobbies.

While the Tories chose to show a continual disregard for our seniors by hiking long-term-care facility fees without warning and removing core minimum standards

of care for LTC facilities, the McGuinty government is choosing to elevate the quality of life our seniors need and deserve.

This government's grant to community-based health and social service providers such as CHATS and Carefirst demonstrates a commitment to quality care and to

meeting the needs of Ontario seniors throughout our diverse cultural communities.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): I'm honoured to speak today on a critical issue; that is, the state of health care in Durham region.

First, my friend the member from Durham, the member for Oshawa and I had this driven home to us on Friday when we met at 8 o'clock in the morning to hear the

report of the advisory panel to the board of trustees of Lakeridge Health Corp. making it clear to us that in one of the most rapidly growing areas in North America, Durham region, it's being

ignored by the Liberal government that patient services -- basic patient services -- will have to be cut unless there is a renegotiation with the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care recognizing

the needs of Lakeridge Health: five sites in one, not to mention the rural-urban aspects. It's a very serious issue for a district in Ontario that now has more than 500,000 people.

Secondly, the perilous situation with respect to the delayed expansion at the Ajax-Pickering hospital: There is a meeting in Whitby tomorrow night about it,

because that hospital also serves part of Whitby.

Thirdly, the sad situation of access to care in Durham, which is supposed to be rolled in to this LHIN which is going to stretch from Victoria Park Avenue in

Scarborough to Algonquin Park in eastern Ontario, a ridiculous situation failing to recognize the rapid urban growth in Durham region. This needs to be urgently recognized by the government of

Ontario.

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): Certainly the Minister of Health has responded to the city of Vaughan. My riding of Thornhill shares a portion

of Vaughan and Markham. Vaughan, where I was on city council for 18 years, is Canada's 10th-largest city, with a population of 250,000 people, and is growing steadily. Needless to say, when the

Minister of Health announced that Vaughan would have a community health centre by 2008, my community was very pleased.

Vaughan CHC is one of 22 new community health centres and 17 satellites across the province to help reduce wait times and provide better access to primary health

care. These not-for-profit organizations have the potential to meet the specific needs of their communities with specially designed programs and specialized services. CHC teams include physicians,

nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and nutritionists.

There are currently 54 CHCs and 10 satellites across Ontario, serving over 300,000 Ontarians. It's expected that these 22 new CHCs and 17 satellites will serve

an additional 220,000 Ontarians.

I would like to thank the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for staying focused on our commitment to keeping Ontarians healthy. I look forward to more

investments in health care in the city of Vaughan and the region of York, where growth needs additional funding.

VIOLENT CRIME

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North): I rise today on behalf of all members of this Legislature to extend my condolences to the Beckles family.

Minister Gerry Phillips and I had the unfortunate duty and heavy responsibility of attending this young gentleman's funeral this Saturday. He was gunned down on the doorstep of a church, attending

the funeral of a young individual who had been gunned down in the prime of his life just a couple of weeks earlier.

It was in this regard that this morning I was able to host a meeting of the Etobicoke strategy group here at Queen's Park. I'm pleased to report that in

attendance with me were Ministers Kwinter, Kennedy, Cansfield and Bryant, representing community safety, education, energy and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Recommendations came forward

with regard to the involvement of the school communities, corporations, faith-based communities, homework clubs and youth sports clubs -- recommendations that we are acting upon, yet

recommendations that leave considerable challenges. I am pleased to recognize Minister Kwinter for his announcement of 1,000 new police officers, 250 of whom will be hired here in the city of

Toronto.

It's this collective action and leadership that will lead to a solution to this present problem.

Mr. Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre): I rise in the House today to talk about the need to keep Ontario streets safe and, by extension, the need

for strong law enforcement in our communities. Our government is committed to ensuring that our province has the law enforcement it needs to ensure the highest level of community safety. That's why

I couldn't be prouder that last Friday we announced the funding allocation that will enable the hiring of 1,000 new police officers across this province.

As we're all too aware, the city of Toronto in recent months has seen a rash of gun and gang violence in some of its communities. In order to help address these

gun and gang activities as well as other crimes, the Toronto police department said that it needed 250 new police officers on their force. I was pleased to hear our government on Friday confirm

that, indeed, Toronto will receive those 250 additional officers.

While Chief Blair has welcomed our announcement, the Leader of the Opposition, John Tory, clearly has not. This is surprising because, as we all know, Mr. Tory

ran for mayor of Toronto and was once upon a time an advocate for this city. But I must say, times have changed. Instead of championing Toronto and supporting this new, bolstered police service,

Mr. Tory last Friday complained that Toronto received too many officers in relation to the rest of the province. He tried to play off Toronto's allocation against the rest of the province, all but

ignoring the great need for more officers to address the proliferation of gun and gang activity in the Toronto area.

Mr. Tory also complained about Ottawa's allocation of 95 additional officers, refusing to acknowledge how elated the Ottawa police and municipal representatives

were with this announcement.

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

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): We have with us today in the Speaker's gallery a delegation from Italy, led by the president of the

province of Pordenone, Dr. Elio De Anna. Welcome.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): I beg leave to present a report on long-term-care facilities activity from the standing committee on

public accounts and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Sterling presents the committee's report and moves the adoption of its recommendations.

Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Sterling: This report follows, actually, two auditor's reports: the 2002 auditor's report and the 2004 auditor's report. In the 2004

auditor's report, the auditor reported on the progress that the Ministry of Health was making with regard to health and long-term care in the province and, in particular, on monitoring

quality-of-care issues.

I think the committee would like to stress that notwithstanding the Ministry of Health's desire and their investigation into the status of its examination of the

minimum data set -- MDS -- as a consistent assessment and quality indicator, the committee is still in a quandary as to how fast the ministry is really dealing with that issue.

Therefore, of the several recommendations that we made in the report, I think it would be fair for me as Chair to say that the committee would like the Ministry

of Health to get on or get off the whole notion of minimum data set. This has been used by 20 other jurisdictions as a measure of the quality and quantity of service, and we feel the ministry is

perhaps dragging its feet on determining and implementing this very important method of measuring the success or failure of our long-term-health-care facilities.

I move adjournment of the debate.

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

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it. Carried.

REPORT OF CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that I have laid upon the table the 2004 annual report of the Chief Election

Officer of Ontario.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

RESPECT FOR

MUNICIPALITIES ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE RESPECT DES MUNICIPALITÉS

Mr. Gerretsen moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 37,

An Act to amend the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 in relation to municipalities / Projet de loi 37, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1999 sur la

protection des contribuables en ce qui concerne les municipalités.

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

Does the minister wish to make a brief statement?

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

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

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

order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 28, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

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

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1354 to 1359.

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

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Flaherty, Jim

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Baird, John R.

Churley, Marilyn

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 64; the nays are 5.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I would draw members' attention to the members' west gallery and recognize our former colleague, Doug

Galt of Northumberland, who represented those fine people in the 36th and 37th Parliaments.

I would also like to draw members' attention to the Speaker's gallery and introduce to you players and officials from the Canadian national cricket team.

Welcome, gentlemen.

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): On a brief point of order, Mr. Speaker, if I might, and I hope this is in order: He

will more formally be introduced next week, but our member-elect from Scarborough, Bas Balkissoon, is in the east gallery.

The Speaker: Welcome. That of course was not a point of order.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I rise today to update members on one of our government's most

important community safety initiatives. The Safer Communities-1,000 Officers partnership program represents a significant investment in crime prevention and law enforcement and in making our

communities safer and stronger. Together with our municipal and police partners, we are investing in the safety and security of our families and our communities.

The program provides more than $37 million every year in perpetuity to help municipalities and police services hire 1,000 new police officers. In addition,

we've extended funding for those officers hired under the previous government's program, the community policing partnership, in perpetuity. This means that every year the McGuinty government will

provide over $67 million to fund over 2,000 police officers.

Under the Safer Communities-1,000 Officers partnership program, 500 new officers are being assigned to community-based policing, such as street patrols,

working with schools and traffic enforcement. The other 500 are being assigned duties related to six priority areas of serious crime, including youth crime, guns and gangs, organized crime,

domestic violence, dangerous offenders, and protecting children against Internet luring and child pornography.

We will fund 400 new officer positions hired between October 23, 2003, and March 31, 2006. All 1,000 officers funded under our program will be hired and on

duty by October 2007.

Our police partners responded in great numbers to this program. We based our equitable allocation formula on factors such as population, size of the police

service and number of requests received. I'm glad to say that every eligible police service that applied to our program is getting funding. No one was turned down.

Last week, we informed police services of their allocations. Mr. Speaker, 940 positions under our program will receive funding of up to $35,000 per officer per

year. That's $5,000 more per officer than they received from the previous government.

The McGuinty government recognizes the needs of the Ottawa Police Service, which provides policing for a city that last year grew by 14,000 people. Under our

program, the city of Ottawa will receive 95 new officers on the streets of our nation's capital during our mandate. Ottawa Police Chief Vince Bevan said, "We could not be more delighted with this

announcement by the provincial government. For years, our service did not receive its fair share of provincial funding. This announcement rights those past wrongs. Today we can all say that the

city of Ottawa received its fair share." Mayor Bob Chiarelli of Ottawa said the funding will have "a positive impact on every community in the city of Ottawa."

Toronto in particular has experienced a record-high number of gun-related murders this year. This program will help the Toronto Police Service fight guns and

gangs by providing funding for an additional 250 officers; 61 of those officers will be dedicated to the targeted areas of youth crime, guns and gangs, and organized crime. Toronto Police Chief

Bill Blair lauded the announcement, saying, "These officers will improve my service's ability to combat guns and gangs and violent crime in the city of Toronto." The McGuinty government is pleased

that more police officers will be patrolling our neighbourhoods, which is "key to public safety and building positive relationships with our diverse communities."

The McGuinty government recognizes the unique policing challenges in the greater Toronto area. To that end, police services in the GTA will be able to hire a

total of 531 new officers by 2007.

Furthermore, our program responds to the special needs of our northern Ontario and First Nations communities, many of which could not afford to participate in

the previous government's programs. For too many years, the voices of northerners have been ignored. It was time for a government at Queen's Park to recognize the challenges these communities

faced. We are committed to growing vibrant, strong communities in the north. We brought our northern partners to the table during the design of this program and together we tailored it to ensure

that it would meet their policing and economic needs. Northern and First Nations communities will receive enhanced funding of up to $70,000 per officer per year. That's $40,000 more per officer

than they received from the previous government.

In Thunder Bay, Chief of Police Robert Herman acknowledged the McGuinty government's full support to boost their ranks. He said, "The government listened to

the concerns of northern police chiefs by setting an appropriate funding formula that addresses the economic reality of our area." Commissioner Gwen Boniface of the OPP said that the Ontario

Provincial Police is pleased with the increased allocation of officers to rural and northern communities: "This initiative will help achieve safe communities and a secure Ontario." Chief Wesley

Luloff of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service thanked our government on behalf of the Ontario First Nations Police Services. He said this initiative "will allow us to put officers in dedicated

positions such as community service and drug enforcement."

In closing, I would like to thank Ontario's police officers, each and every one of them, for the important job they do every day. They help keep our

communities safe, and we are grateful for what they do.

Ontarians deserve to be safe and feel safe. One thousand new police officers will help make Ontario a safer, stronger province for years to come.

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): I am pleased today to introduce the Respect for Municipalities Act, 2005.

Our government strongly believes that the municipal leaders of this province lead mature governments and are our partners in public service. We have already

taken many steps that reflect this belief. Recently this House passed legislation that requires Queen's Park to consult the Association of Municipalities of Ontario on matters that affect them in

accordance with the memorandum of understanding that we have with AMO. We have been following through on our commitment to consult AMO with monthly meetings with the association, and the process is

working well. Last year, we added a protocol to the memorandum of understanding to ensure that AMO is consulted when the federal and provincial governments are negotiating agreements that have a

direct municipal impact.

Our government, for example, took an historic approach to recent discussions with the federal government on its gas tax. We enabled municipalities and the

federal government to work together directly to decide the best way to share federal gas tax revenues. As a result, the city of Toronto and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario are full

signatories to the agreement we reached.

The Respect for Municipalities Act is yet another way we propose to treat municipalities with the respect they deserve.

Let me give you a brief overview of the proposed legislation. The proposed Respect for Municipalities Act would, if passed, allow the province to give

municipalities a new fiscal authority. It would also allow the government to move forward with the proposed legislation to give new fiscal tools to the city of Toronto.

The recently released final report of the joint task force to review the City of Toronto Act recommended that new fiscal tools be provided for the city. The

report says, "Just as Toronto requires broader scope to make laws, so too does it require new tools for raising revenue and managing its financial and physical assets. Without these new tools,

Toronto's ability to shape development patterns, accommodate population growth and maintain necessary social and physical infrastructure will be compromised."

In its report, the Governing Toronto Advisory Panel speaks to the city of Toronto's need for new fiscal tools as well. "It is extraordinarily difficult to

realign resources and begin new initiatives, even of a very modest nature, in an environment of severe fiscal limitations," the report says.

The proposed act would pave the way for decisions about new fiscal tools within a community to be made by that community, through the actions of their locally

elected representatives.

Our proposed act is about respect for municipalities. It recognizes that Torontonians -- indeed, residents of any Ontario municipality -- can make decisions

and hold their councillors and councils accountable, just as Ontarians do across the province on provincial measures through the House.

On a CBC Radio program earlier this month, Toronto's mayor, David Miller, said, "I have to say on the taxing front the most important part of this is we have

new revenue tools that can help us meet our responsibilities properly."

In a May news release, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario called on our government to "grant municipalities access to new revenue tools to fund key

services." The release goes on to say that "progress must be measured by the extent to which municipalities receive revenue sources and authority commensurate with their growing

responsibilities."

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has been of great assistance to our government as we have set out to reform municipal affairs in this province and

to rebuild the trust that is so essential between the province and its municipalities for the benefit of all our residents. We are looking to AMO and the city of Toronto for valuable advice as we

continue to work together to build a stronger, more competitive, more prosperous Ontario.

Our goal with this legislation is to remove one of the obstacles to giving municipalities more tools to raise revenue. Our government recognizes that Ontario's

municipalities are accountable, mature governments that can ably understand, represent and address their needs for the benefit of their residents.

The Respect for Municipalities Act, 2005, is a bill that, if passed, would be a groundbreaking demonstration of how our government is committed to treating

municipalities with respect. Working with our municipal partners, we can maintain a quality of life in Ontario that is second to none.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY /

INDUSTRIE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): Today is Environment Industry Day at Queen's Park, an opportunity for my colleagues to

meet with some of Ontario's boldest entrepreneurs and environmental visionaries and learn about this vital industry in our great province.

What an industry it is. The provincial environment sector now includes more than 2,300 companies, with more than 60,000 jobs and revenues of almost $7 billion.

They are companies like Trojan UV, which uses ultraviolet light to treat drinking water. This technology has been adopted all over the world. Another company here today is Hybridyne Power Systems,

which is improving the efficiency of wind turbines so they capture more wind energy. The potential for continued growth of companies like these is almost unlimited.

I want to thank the Ontario Environment Industry Association for organizing this day. In particular, I want to thank Mark Vanderheyden, the chair of ONEIA, and

Ellen McGregor, chair of Environment Industry Day. ONEIA is a valued partner in our mission of raising awareness about the incredible potential of made-in-Ontario products and services.

In the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Steam is no stronger now than it was a hundred years ago; but it is put to better use." There is still vast

potential in the elements, it seems. Today, the same statement is true for sunlight and wind power, which indeed we are putting to better use. It is true of new fuels that will let us power our

cars with a bushel of corn or heat our houses with energy from methane from an old landfill.

New environmental technologies promote the values that business loves most: They are efficient, they create markets where none existed before, they create

value, and perhaps most importantly, they are sustainable. Ontario businesses understand implicitly that we have huge opportunities for growth in this sector.

Les entreprises de notre province comprennent d'emblée que les possibilités de croissance sont considérables dans ce secteur.

If government sets an example, business will rise to the challenge. Industry will find innovative solutions and technologies to meet our society's needs in

this most complex and fascinating time. Of course, there's still more we can do to give Ontarians the choices they deserve -- the necessary options for life in the 21st century -- for our good

health, the health of our communities and our province's economy.

We must continue to harness and use our expertise and experience here at home to make Ontario's economy as productive and competitive as possible. We need to

share our accomplishments with others who can benefit from them by marketing Ontario's environment know-how around the world.

We all recognize the vital role of research and innovation. Of course, the Premier knows this best. He has made this a priority by establishing a ministry for

this very reason, and I am proud to follow his lead and work with our partners to build and grow a culture of innovation within the environmental industry.

If Ontario is to have and keep the best and brightest minds and the highest quality of life in the world, we need to embrace innovation in every way.

Si nous souhaitons avoir et conserver les plus brillants cerveaux et la meilleure qualité de vie au monde, nous devons acquérir l'innovation sur tous

ses aspects.

What's good for the environment is good for business. Companies that reduce their energy consumption help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases while

saving millions in electricity costs. Companies that reduce packaging can cut costs by producing less waste. More and more, companies are finding that sustainability and social responsibility give

them a competitive advantage.

This week in Montreal, delegates from all over the world are gathering to address the enormous challenge of climate change. I will join them next week and, as

Ontario's new Minister of the Environment, I look forward to working alongside my colleague the Honourable Minister of Energy, Donna Cansfield, in bringing Ontario's message to the world.

This government has undertaken a number of initiatives that will not only help to improve Ontario's air quality but will make a major contribution to Canada's

meeting its greenhouse gas reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

If we have the world's best environmental industry in Ontario but we don't have the will to use it to its greatest potential, our potential is wasted.

Similarly, if people want to make environmental choices but technology hasn't caught up to their dream, they will be disillusioned.

Today, on Environment Industry Day, we need to spread the word that in Ontario there is both the will and the way. We have the spirit for change and the

ability to enable it.

New, cleaner technology is allowing us to make hundreds of environmentally conscientious decisions. It could be as small as buying an energy-efficient

appliance or as great as replacing our coal-fired electricity with newer, greener technology. Every step is made possible by the continuous advances of the environmental industry.

I am proud to partner with the Ontario Environment Industry Association today and every day. I am proud to be part of a forward-thinking government, and I am

proud to look ahead to a cleaner, greener 21st century. I want to encourage my colleagues, if they have not already done so, to find an opportunity to hear how vital the association's members are

to the future of our economy and how they have and will continue to contribute to a cleaner, greener and healthier Ontario.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): I just want to respond briefly to the announcement made today about the 1,000 police officers by the Minister of

Community Safety and Correctional Services. I just note that last Friday the minister had his eighth photo-op in two years about this announcement. Today is the ninth time he has announced that,

and he falls short.

I remember sitting through seven all-candidates meetings in my riding in the 2003 provincial election, and it was pretty clear that the Liberals were going to

pay 100% of 1,000 new police officers in this province. Today and last Friday, when we finally get the final details, we learn they're paying $35,000 per police officer. Everyone knows that a

police officer, fully equipped, costs over $100,000 -- in fact $109,000. So you're paying one third of what you promised the people of Ontario.

Municipalities have not seen a penny to date, including the 400 retroactive officers that this government has bragged about. I'll note that there are

disappointed detachments today. In the GTA alone, York region had asked for 291 officers, and they're going to get only 100. Peel region asked for 168 officers, and they're going to get only 97.

Durham region asked for 77, and they're going to get only 50. Halton region asked for 64, and they're going to get only 34. This is another broken promise by the McGuinty government. You're paying

for one third of police officers rather than 100% like you promised.

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I just wanted to reply to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the no respect for taxpayers act that he

introduced in the House today. As we look at the bill -- and this is a compendium to the bill, which says the bill proposes to "allow the province to give municipalities new fiscal authority." The

bill does not propose to directly extend any new revenue tools to municipalities. Minister, the municipalities already can administer the money they're getting. The problem is that they want more

taxation ability.

Now, I just wanted to read the line from the statement that's slightly reversed. The minister read this into the record, and I'd like to read it again: "The

Respect for Municipalities Act, 2005, is a bill that, if passed, would be a groundbreaking demonstration of how our government is committed to" tax and spend and now allow the municipalities to

help them do it.

I think it's very important to recognize that on November 15, our leader, John Tory, asked the minister about holding a referendum if they forced

municipalities to increase taxes that were not allowed under the Taxpayer Protection Act. The minister was unable at the time to answer it, but now, all of a sudden, he has realized that our leader

was right: It requires a referendum. So he has decided to change the legislation so they can tax on the provincial government's behalf. I think this is wrong, Mr. Minister.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): I'm pleased to stand today in response to Environment Industry Day, and also to welcome the

Minister of the Environment back to Queen's Park and congratulate her on the birth of her twin boys.

I'm also pleased, on behalf of our leader John Tory and our PC caucus, to welcome the Ontario Environment Industry Association to Queen's Park today. Tonight

they are holding their sixth reception at Queen's Park.

The Ontario Environment Industry Association represents almost 2,400 companies, with revenues of almost $7 billion. Overall, our environment sector in Ontario

employs almost 65,000 people. This is a growing business sector and there are many innovative and creative solutions being put into practice in Ontario, and we, as lawmakers, should be learning

more about them.

ONEIA members are at the forefront of working for a cleaner and greener Ontario. Their members are concerned with everything affecting our air, our land and

our water. The member companies are concerned with pollution and waste management, renewable energy, water use and soil remediation, among other things. They provide evidence that what's good for

the environment is good for business and good for the province of Ontario.

This is a government that talks about the importance of the environment, but they are often hollow words. There is a lack of real and practical solutions that

help businesses to succeed. There are still regulatory hurdles and barriers to the introduction of new technology in this field. There are no incentive programs in place for businesses to adopt

more environmentally sensitive solutions.

I welcome the ONEIA members who are here today and encourage MPPs to meet with members of ONEIA and attend the reception tonight. I also want to welcome Doug

Galt to the gallery.

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I want to respond to the Minister of the Environment. I too would like to welcome her back to the

Legislature and congratulate her on the birth of her twins. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): Be gentle, Marilyn.

Ms. Churley: I will. In fact, this is your first day back and it looks like my last day here, so I'm not going to have much opportunity to go

at you; I was looking forward to it.

Ontario's environmental industries play an important role in helping us reach our desire of truly sustainable development. We have some of the best right here

in Ontario, and we're very proud of the innovation they are showing us. We have numerous environmental challenges today, but perhaps none as great as those associated with climate change, as well

as other environmental problems. We need our environmental industries to provide the know-how and innovation to allow us to build an environmentally sustainable and prosperous future in Ontario. We

also need to have in place the kind of rigorous environmental law and policy framework that will not just see polluters meet best practices but drive polluting industries to work with our

environmental industries to innovate new environmental technologies for marketing on the global level, and we know they can do that; they have proven it.

For example, it is incredible that Ontario does not have a toxic use reduction act that would make pollution prevention plans mandatory and require companies

to reduce their use and emissions of toxic chemicals. More progressive American jurisdictions are doing this. Setting high standards actually drives innovation, and we must keep the bar moving to

create the space for Ontario's environmental industries to prosper and grow and to take their Ontario-developed technologies to the entire world.

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I'm responding to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. As I listened to him today, I was reminded of the

old saying attributed to Socrates. It went something like this: I would gladly be persuaded by you, sir, but not against my better judgment.

I was listening to what you had to say. This is a bill to remove a provision of a municipal referendum. That's all this bill does. It doesn't give any powers

to municipalities; it just means they don't have to go out and ask for a referendum. It's a good thing they don't have to go out and ask for a referendum. I know that the City of Kawartha Lakes

came out and asked for a referendum and held the referendum, and the minister said he would be bound by it. But what does he do? He ignores it. So I don't think there's much here for a municipality

at all, if that is the experience they are to live under.

What is here is not going to assist municipalities. It's not going to help them gain extra tax monies. These municipal corporations, the mayor and the

councillors are going to be given very limited tools, but they're going to take a lot of flak and a lot of heat if they try to use them. The minister knows full well the difficulty of trying to

raise taxes. Where the minister should be going with all of this, if he were to do it right, would be to let the municipalities not be bound by your rapacious instincts when it comes to their

taxes. Minister, you know full well that the province of Ontario each and every year takes some $9 billion to $10 billion directly out of municipal coffers, from property taxes. You take the money

for education, welfare and ODSP. You take the money for public housing and the money for child care. You take $9 billion to $10 billion, which municipalities had heretofore relied upon, and you use

it for yourself.

Rather than your saying, "We should upload some of these services and give you a tax break," which is really what they need to have happen, you take the

totally easy way out by saying to them, "You can raise taxes. You can get the public flak. We don't have to do it. We'll continue here to take the money from the side that people don't really

understand is going to the province."

I think what is here is really much ado about nothing. Here is an opportunity for the minister to say that he's trying to help municipalities, AMO and all of

those people who are elected to public office in the regions and municipalities, but what he's really doing is hiding behind the fact that he has the easy way out. If this government has the easy

way out, they continue the download, they continue to take money from municipal coffers and in reality are doing very little to give it back.

TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I believe we have unanimous consent

from all parties to speak for up to five minutes to recognize the members for Toronto-Danforth, Nepean-Carleton and Whitby-Ajax, and for each of these three members to have a short response.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley asked for unanimous consent for up to five minutes for each party in respect of the three

members he outlined. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: Mr. Speaker, if I may begin, the first thing I want to say is that none of this can be used in any election pamphlet.

Second, to be fair, none can be used by any opponent. When we speak in this House, we have a certain immunity from things that happen outside this House, so we'll ask that.

The first question I ask is, why on earth would these three people -- Jim Flaherty, John Baird and Marilyn Churley -- want to leave a House such as this and

all the good friends here? They've had a long and distinguished career. When you look at politics today and how quickly people move in and out of elected bodies, these three individuals have

actually been here now for a lengthy period of time. Norm Sterling and I, probably Bob Runciman -- Tony Ruprecht may not agree that it's as long as some others, but it's a long period of time and

each one has made a contribution to this House.

One of the ways you judge the contribution is by how annoyed people have become with them over the years. Using that criterion, all three have distinguished

themselves in this House. But we debate and we disagree in this House. I think it's because each one of these individuals has put forward a position, and put it forth very forcefully and

vehemently, not only for the members of this House but to the people of Ontario. Each one of these three people has not been afraid to be labelled as "ideological." In a time when people want to be

in the mushy middle, as we always say, suffice to say Jim Flaherty and John Baird would not at all be taken aback by being called "right-wing" and "ultra-Conservative." They're proud of that label

and have lived that label since they entered this House. Marilyn Churley is not afraid to be called "left-wing"; I wouldn't say "socialist," but "socially democratic." That is something that's

different in many Houses of assembly today: the fact that people don't want to have those labels put on. But each one of these individuals has spoken from a position of principle. Some in the

society, some in this House, may disagree with what they've had to say, but all three of them have been individuals who have been outspoken on the issues which mean so very much to them and, of

course, on behalf of their constituencies.

All have also served in both government and opposition, and so have a good perspective on how a legislative body works. They're an indication of the high

quality of members that we have in this House. I know everybody thinks that if you make it to the federal House, somehow that's the best place in the world, but our provincial Legislatures have

people who are distinguished in many ways themselves.

All three have been cabinet ministers. I notice that Marilyn Churley was Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations from 1991 to 1995. I'm trying to

remember who was minister before you. I think it was --

Interjection: Peter Kormos.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: Oh, it was Peter Kormos. I know Jim Flaherty has been the Attorney General of the province; he's been Minister of Labour;

he's been Minister of Innovation, Enterprise and --

Interjection: Finance.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: He's been Minister of Finance, and he's been the Deputy Premier of the province of Ontario.

John Baird has been the chief government whip; he's been the government House leader; he's been an opposition House leader; he's been a minister in several

different portfolios. Both of these gentlemen have a breadth of knowledge of the provincial government. All three, again, in the debates that have taken place publicly in our society in Ontario,

have made a major contribution. The issues have been advanced because they've been prepared to put them before the public in a very frank and forthright manner.

I appreciate the fact that they have taken time out of their personal lives to serve in public life. It isn't easy to do. Each of these people, as I look at

them, are individuals who, outside of a legislative body, outside of the body politic, could have been very successful if they had chosen another occupation rather than being an elected

representative. But each has had the public good first and foremost in mind and has made a decision to serve in this Legislature, and I'm sure each one now goes forward hoping to serve in yet

another elective body. We wish them well in their personal lives.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): I notice that the former speaker didn't say anything that anybody can use in any election

campaign.

It's a great honour for me to say a few words about three individuals who are energetic, who have participated in the process and who represent their

constituents so well. I believe that each one of them has a very good chance of victory in the upcoming federal election.

Marilyn Churley came here in 1990, and I've known her as a minister and in opposition over that period of time. No one in this House can say that she doesn't

do her job. She does her job with emotion, with great energy and with a lot of drive, and works very hard at what she does. Her only mistake was that she passed up her chance at immortality,

because in 1994, when she was the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, I went to her on behalf of a number of golf course owners and asked her if she would consider putting beer on the

golf course. She didn't go through with that, and if she had, she would have been immortal; she would have been known forever in this province. Now, she also allowed me a great opportunity to

become immortal when I became the minister of that particular portfolio.

Interjection: I think the wrong member's leaving.

Mr. Sterling: John Baird is with us, and his mom Marianne Baird is with us in the gallery. Marianne, maybe you could stand up, and everybody

would acknowledge you.

Applause.

Mr. Sterling: Many of us in this Legislature wish you had been here watching over your son more frequently.

I first learned about John Baird when Marianne submitted her application for his birth certificate. John always claimed that I signed his birth certificate.

Actually, when I was first elected, John was eight years of age. I have got to know the family; Marianne has lived in my constituency before.

John has been a tremendous, tremendous young star, not only for the Conservative Party but for the Legislature of Ontario. John served as president of the YPC

some time ago. I can never forget Mike Harris and I going down to London, Ontario, and participating in the conference when he was first elected. He participated in campaigns and then, of course,

his own campaign in 1995.

Since that time, John has occupied the riding adjacent to mine, and in 1999, when there was redistribution, John took over part of the area that I represented.

I always claimed that the reason he got such a plurality was that the people thought they were still voting for me in that constituency. Not so; they were voting for John, and John has just done a

tremendous job and will offer, no doubt, to the Parliament of Canada tremendous strength both as a member and perhaps as a cabinet minister in the next government.

Jim Flaherty came to me in 1995, after winning his first election, as my parliamentary assistant at the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. I

immediately knew that Jim was going to be a rising star. He was going to succeed as a parliamentarian, and he was going to succeed and become a cabinet minister and perhaps the leader of our party

at some future date. We know of his great success during that period of time.

Jim is blessed with a wonderful wife, Christine, who is a member of the law society as well, a lawyer, and three sons -- triplets. So during his period of time

here, he's not only shown his energy in what he has done here but has also shown his energy back home in taking care of his three boys: John, Galen and Quinn.

Jim, you've done a tremendous job for our party. John, you've done a tremendous job for our party here. I know you're going to do a tremendous job in the

Parliament of Canada. The great part about it is that the next sojourn for all three of you will be pensionable time.

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): It's been said our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against

each other; the noise is democracy at work. It's my honour and privilege today on behalf of New Democrats to pay tribute to three MPPs who have certainly clashed and certainly clanged on just about

all the issues, but at the end of the day have made democracy work better here in the province of Ontario. I'd like to say a few words about each of them.

I remember when a certain guy named Jim Flaherty was first elected. I remember that he, as a result of a certain event that happened, where we sat all night

and the Legislature couldn't vote, and it had something to do with a member who's no longer a member, something about a bottle -- anyway, Mr. Flaherty was quite upset. So he brought in a private

member's bill that said that particular member and his bottle were kicked out of the House. I remember that part.

Mr. Flaherty was so upset about the procedures being stalled, delayed because, under the rules, someone refused to vote and they so equipped themselves that

they didn't have to leave the chamber to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Mr. Flaherty brought a private member's bill that said that if you were kicked out of the House, you were

docked your pay.

He was quite proud of this private member's bill, but like a lot of new members, he hadn't bothered to read the rules. So he brought his private member's bill

here. He had all of the newly elected Conservative caucus vote for it and thought he was going to have this passed into law, when a bunch of New Democrats stood and denied a final vote. He was

furious. He was absolutely furious. I remember he was cursing at some of us. Our response to him was, "Mr. Flaherty, read the rules." Of course, he read the rules, and he found that in terms of a

private member's bill, if a certain number of members stood and denied the vote, that could happen. He was very angry that day, but let me say this about the member for Whitby-Ajax: He obviously

went home that night and read the rules backwards and forwards. I don't think anyone ever caught him on the rules in this Legislature after that event.

It's unusual that somebody who was elected in 1995 would very quickly be Minister of Labour; go on from that to be Minister of Finance; go on from that to be

Deputy Premier; and go on from that and run very quickly in a leadership campaign. Jim Flaherty accomplished all of those things. I think we need to recognize that in a very short time here, Mr.

Flaherty has certainly made his mark.

I will never be accused of having shared many views with Mr. Flaherty, and no one would ever accuse me of having a shared political philosophy with him, but I

just discovered I did have one thing in common with him: We both love to play hockey. Mr. Flaherty played at Princeton; I played at Dartmouth. I must say, I got to recognize his method of playing

hockey: head up, elbows out and always charge the net. If I can say, in a parting commendation of Mr. Flaherty, I think now, with Mr. Flaherty playing right wing on the Conservative line in Ottawa,

Stephen Harper may at last be able to say that he skates closer to centre ice.

Jim, we wish you all the best. You've indeed left your mark here in the 10 years that you were elected to the Ontario Legislature.

I want to say a few words about John Baird. John is another one of those people who was here, relatively speaking, for a short time. There are many of us who

have been here a lot longer, yet John Baird is someone else who has left his mark. The two single events that I remember about John the most are, again, when the Conservative government tried to

force through their legislation to amalgamate the city of Toronto. Some of us dreamed up the idea of presenting 10,000 amendments --

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): Fourteen.

Mr. Hampton: Eventually, it came to be about 14,000 amendments. Of course, we sat here night and day, night and day, night and day, for I

think it was 10 days.

John Baird was one of those people who I think read every book on parliamentary procedure. If I remember correctly, about every hour or so Mr. Baird would be

on his feet, "Point of order," pointing out why this process should be terminated and why the legislation should be allowed to proceed. John is another one who learned the rules, and learned them

very quickly. As a result, he became Minister of Community and Social Services, and then finally the job that I liked most for him, Minister of Energy. I remember the day he was appointed Minister

of Energy, I said to him, "Does Ernie Eves hate you?" John wasn't sure.

Mr. Baird: Oh, I was sure.

Mr. Hampton: The part that I liked the best, when he was Minister of Energy, was when the government that was going to deregulate and

privatize our electricity system suddenly, on November 11, 2002, decided, "Oops. This is not going very well. We're going to completely re-regulate the electricity system." Then, in a furtherance

of that activity on November 13, the Minister of Energy, John Baird, proceeded to hold a press conference in Oakville talking about energy conservation. On that particular day, that press

conference -- and I'll just read the coverage from the press: "A giant lizard dubbed `Hydrozilla' taunted Ontario's energy minister today, derailing the Conservative government's stage-managed

campaign to ease consumer concerns about high electricity prices and limited power supply.

"The rubber-suited monster -- a creation of the New Democrats -- hovered behind John Baird as he unveiled a series of initiatives to promote conservation.

"`It's never too late to shut off that light,' said the energy minister."

John, as you turn the lights out on this part of your political career, we again thank you for your spirited, dedicated service in this place. We wish you

well, and we mean that most sincerely. You've left your mark here, and I suspect you're going to leave your mark federally as well.

Finally, I want to pay tribute to the member from Toronto-Danforth, the NDP environment critic, women's issues critic and deputy leader, Marilyn Churley.

Energy, skill and integrity distinguish Marilyn's respected and accomplished political achievements. Over her 15-year career in this place, Marilyn has rightly

earned a reputation for getting things done and has been recognized by both community and political leaders and the general public as a knowledgeable critic and advocate on a wide range of

issues.

She was the first woman to be Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations and the first woman to be Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature. She's been a

strong voice for women. She's been a strong voice for health care. She's been a strong voice for arts and culture. She's been a strong voice for families. Just weeks ago, Marilyn's hard work and

advocacy paid off when Ontario passed into law new adoption disclosure laws.

Most of all, Marilyn is a strong voice for the environment. She's been at the forefront of some of the most important and influential environmental legislation

in the history of our province. Her Safe Drinking Water Act, designed to prevent another Walkerton tragedy, was so popular that the previous Conservative government brought in a similar bill based

on her work.

New Democrats and all Ontarians who believe in what we do here and what happens in this place will miss Marilyn Churley. We will miss her commitment to the

community, her dogged determination and her passion for doing right for people and the environment.

I think I can speak for other parties when I say with great confidence and conviction that I sincerely hope our loss will be a gain for all Canadians.

Marilyn, thank you for your years of service and your hard work. I say to you: Farewell, and give Paul Martin hell.

The Speaker: I am going to give each of the members -- I guess "rebuttal" would be the right word.

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): I would like to thank everyone for their kind remarks today. It almost makes me want to stay, but I won't.

Don't worry about that. I will make sure I go.

It's been 10 and a half years since I was elected to this place, which still means I'm kind of a rookie compared to Bradley, Sterling and Runciman. John Baird

and I have done our best to represent the caring, compassionate part of the Tory caucus here, and we're now pleased to pass the torch to Bill Murdoch and Bob Runciman, who can carry that forward

for us.

I've tried to bring forward policies that would of course promote inclusion and optimism. I helped promote Canadian unity. Some of you will remember the

fairness is a two-way street legislation, encouraging Ontario workers to work in Quebec back in about 1990 -- it helped get John Baird elected in Ottawa -- privatizing the LCBO, making unions more

democratic and my proposals to help the homeless. These were so popular that I would go from place to place in those days and there would be throngs, crowds of people screaming, I thought in

adulation, in support of the policies. That's what my staff told me, but I understand it was not all true.

I did get calls from time to time when I was Attorney General from hardware store people, the chain stores and so on, complaints about the decline in sales of

buckets and squeegees but, at another time, compliments from the food business for an increase in sales of waffles. Caplan remembers that waffle thing. I still have it in the garage if you want to

use it. I should offer it to the press gallery for the auction on Wednesday night. I still have that big waffle there.

I get asked from time to time why I ran for leader of our party, and now that I'm leaving I can be frank and open about that, I guess. I ran for the leadership

because I was assured -- in fact, Norm Sterling assured me -- that it would heighten my stature, and I thought I could use all the help I could get. The reward I got for that leadership race was

being named to a ministry that I still don't understand: MEIO or MEOI or whatever. It had something to do with travel and maybe a bit to do with exile at that time in my political career.

I have been honoured to serve in a lot of cabinet jobs, as Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Attorney General, Minister of Labour and other things,

demonstrating my inability to hold a job for more than about 18 or 19 months during my time here. But I have strived to represent the people of Whitby always, and sometimes part of Oshawa and

sometimes part of Ajax. I'm proud of our new university in Durham region, of the Durham skills centre in Whitby, the expansion to GO and the 401, the Durham Regional Cancer Centre that is under

construction and the environmental protection of the Lynde Marsh -- all of those good things that happened when Durham region, east of Toronto, got some attention when we were in government.

Now I'm doing probably the best thing I could do for my constituents; that is, I've figured out, watching the federal Liberals, that what you need is an

election to get a lot of stuff for your riding. So I am going to resign, causing a by-election in Whitby-Ajax, which I'm sure will result in provincial Liberal largesse in the riding for the

Ajax-Pickering hospital, for Lakeridge Health, get the cancer centre completed, and even, Mr. Caplan, the Durham consolidated courthouse. I'm doing all this to help my constituents.

Interjections.

Mr. Flaherty: I will accomplish more by leaving. Yes, you're right.

Obviously, I thank Christine, my wife, who was named Whitby Citizen of the Year last Thursday night, which is a great honour for her. I thank her.

As we all know, politics is wearing on the family. Our triplet sons, John, Galen and Quinn, have been terrific. They asked me whether I was taller when I went

into politics. I said, "Yes, I was six feet, four inches, but it wears you down over time in this place."

I thank the Liberal government and Dalton McGuinty for raising the issue of fiscal imbalance and convincing people that it's important to the people of

Ontario, because we're certainly going to run on that in the next six weeks or so.

I will say, finally, that I recall debate in this place in 1996 or 1997, in the afternoon. I was on the government backbench and talking about something or

other and I heard the usual stage whisper from the member for St. Catharines, Mr. Bradley, to Mr. Conway, who was here at that time. It was something like, "He really believes that stuff." I can

assure you that I did believe those Conservative principles then, I believe them now and I look forward to advancing them in another place. Thank you, Speaker.

Mr. Baird: I first want to thank the member for St. Catharines, the leader of the third party, and my good friend the member for

Lanark-Carleton, especially for recognizing my mother who came for a surprise visit at Queen's Park today. Norm did sign my birth certificate. Norm was elected when I was eight years old. He

doesn't tell people that he first ran for this place when I was two years old. He has certainly been at this for many, many years.

It is with mixed feelings that I rise to make some comments today. A part of me is tremendously excited by a new opportunity to make a difference for my home

town in the federal government, although another part of me has a certain degree of sadness on leaving this place. This job has been far more rewarding than I could ever have expected.

In government, my proudest accomplishment was working with Mike Harris, who changed politics, who did what he said he would do. That is something that I am

tremendously proud of.

I'm proud to have advocated for new schools in my riding. We will be opening the 11th new school in Nepean-Carleton on Wednesday, which is very exciting for

families in my area.

I'm proud to have worked with my good friend Norm Sterling in advancing the cause of Highway 416, which was one of the only major capital projects that went

forward anywhere in the province in our first term.

I'm tremendously proud to have worked very hard to see the Queensway Carleton Hospital expanded and its budget dramatically increased.

I'm also proud of our success as a government in reducing the welfare rolls, which really empowered hundreds of thousands to move from welfare to work. That is

indeed something I'm tremendously proud to have worked on.

I'm very pleased to have worked on advancing the cause of people with developmental disabilities: supports for them and their families. This probably has been

the most rewarding part of my professional life. I was pleased to have attended an event with that community with the Minister of Community and Social Services just the other day.

I'm looking forward to going to Ottawa with my friend Flaherty, though I hope the sojourn we're on together is less of a career-limiting move than the last

sojourn that we undertook. The member for Whitby-Ajax always likes to remind me that I am, in the history of the Commonwealth, the first associate minister where there was no minister or ministry.

People would say, "Who is the minister?" and I would say, "Well, there isn't one." They would say, "Who is the former minister?" "That would be me." And never call the party leader a serial

waffler. A good lesson.

I wish my leader all the very the best in the months ahead. He continues to have my respect and admiration. I look forward to working with him in the years to

come.

A special word to the Premier, who represents the riding beside me: I genuinely look forward to working with you in the months ahead for the benefit of the

people of Ontario. A new government in Ottawa won't be the solution to every problem, but I think it will bring a constructive approach to begin to address some of the many challenges you have

rightly campaigned on throughout the province.

I look forward to working with my colleague Ms. Churley, the member for Toronto-Danforth. I look forward to working where I'm going to be spending a lot of

time, with the junior member for Ottawa West-Nepean. I've been stalking him at community events in his riding throughout the last six months. I look forward to working with him.

I want to thank all my colleagues in caucus, who have been a tremendous privilege to work with. I want to thank everyone at the table whom I've had a growing

relationship with over the last 10 years, all those around Queen's Park who make this such a tremendously privileged place to work, and I thank those in the public service for their support over

the years. I've been blessed by having a very supportive riding association and executive, now led by Rich McDonald.

I want to give special thanks to my staff over the years. I've been very fortunate to have an outstanding group of men and women in support, especially my good

friends Chris Froggatt and Cara Salci, who will embark on this new journey tomorrow. I'm also pleased that Matt Gibson, one of my former staff, is with us here in the House today.

Most importantly, I want to thank tremendously the people of Nepean and the people of Nepean-Carleton for the great privilege they have given me to serve them.

I will be eternally grateful. Thank you.

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I just have to rebut or say something in response to the member for Nepean-Carleton. Because of his

government, I was able to save 11 schools in the east end of Toronto from closure that you guys were trying to close down. Because of you guys, I don't have to go out and buy especially warm

clothes for a winter campaign, because of the warm boots and warm jacket and scarf and mitts and everything I bought for all the winter protests and strikes and everything that went on under his

government. So I'm well prepared for this winter election.

I want to make sure I don't forget to acknowledge some people who are here today who are very special. The first person I want to introduce to you is Bill

Boertjes, who is sitting here and who is my birth son, who inspired the years of bringing adoption disclosure bills before this House. I'm glad that he's here today, and I do want to take this

opportunity to thank the minister for bringing forward the bill. I want to thank the delay in the election in Ottawa for keeping us here so I had the opportunity to stand on my feet and vote for

it. I want to thank all of you who supported me over the years, and particularly to the government for making it a reality. It's a nice legacy for me to leave. Thank you for that.

I also want to introduce Louise Moran, who is sitting there, and has been with me for a number of years in my constituency office; Jasmyn Singh, who is my

executive assistant; Manna Wong, who has worked with me since I was elected, is in China -- her father is ill; and Christine Kemp -- all incredible staff. We all know in this place that it's our

staff who make us look good every single day. I want to thank them for all of their hard -- except for George Smitherman, of course. It's always about George. But I think we would all agree that

it's our staff who make us seem as smart as we are -- some days. Even they, on other days, just can't do it for us.

I want to also mention my daughter, Astra Crosby, who could not be with us today, and my grandchildren, her son James and my stepgrandchildren, Savana and

Kiern, who do not get to see me nearly enough, because we all know how hard we work in this place and in our communities. My family, I'm sure, like everybody here, are very special to me, and

without them we could not do what we're doing. I owe my family a lot of thanks for putting up with me and being there for me whenever I need them; and to my partner, Richard, as well.

I'm not going to say too much. I just want to take this opportunity, first of all, to thank all of the staff in the Legislative Assembly: the table officers;

the Clerk's office; Mr. Speaker, all the staff who work under you; the media; the broadcasting people; the cleaning staff; the cafeteria staff; all of the parking attendants -- and I could go on

and on. They're all tremendous. I've been able to form warm, personal relationships with many people in this place from all walks of life over the years. We all appreciate what you do for us on a

day-to-day basis. I am going to miss you very much, and I want to thank you for all of your support over the years and always being there whenever I had a question. Sometimes I didn't like the

answer from the table, but thank you, all of you.

I also want to thank all of my colleagues here. Some of you are newer to me, some older, and I mean that in both senses with some of you. Again, we are on

different sides of the House. Something that people don't know, usually, when they see us sparring every day -- and I admit, I can be as good as the best of them for being partisan and sparring,

and I'm sure you're glad to see the back of me; admit it. But I will miss you. I've learned a lot in this place; I've learned from each and every one of you. We all bring something to this place,

and even though we differ in our approaches and our politics, I can say about every single person here that we're all here for the same reason, and that is to serve our constituents.

That leads me finally to my constituents in Toronto-Danforth. When I first was elected here, it was called Riverdale, then the name was changed to

Broadview-Greenwood and now it's Toronto Danforth. I do want to say to them that it's been an absolute honour to be elected handily for four elections in that riding. The faith that people have put

in me has been truly appreciated, and I'm honoured by it. I want to say to those constituents, I will be just on the other side of Coxwell; I won't be that far away. All of the accomplishments I

have achieved that you hear people talking about, I did not achieve alone, as none of us do; it was through working in partnership with my constituents in Toronto-Danforth, just a tremendous

community that is welcoming to all. Although we haven't always agreed on approaches to everything, we've always been up front and honest with each other, and have always been able to work together

to achieve what is best for our communities. So I say to them in particular, thank you for putting your faith in me. It's been a real honour to have worked with you for 15 years as your MPP.

With that, I say that I'm very excited about the next journey of my life, and I'm hoping to have dinner with Jim Watson in Ottawa; he's already invited me. And

maybe we can go for a run together or something, or a skate.

Mr. Speaker, it has been an honour and a privilege to have served in this place for 15 years. Thank you very much.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would seek unanimous consent to have question period last its full one hour.

The Speaker: Mr. Bradley has asked for unanimous consent for question period to run the full one hour. Agreed? Agreed.

ORAL QUESTIONS

PUBLIC HEALTH

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): In 15 minutes, you may want a motion for reconsideration.

My question is to the Premier. Premier, do you think it's appropriate that taxpayer dollars are being spent to distribute crack cocaine kits in Toronto, given

that half of all homicides in the city, according to Toronto police, are due to gangs fighting over this illegal drug?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I know that members of Mr. Runciman's party have raised this issue in the

past, and we've been very clear that that is fundamentally an issue to be decided by the municipal government of Toronto.

The member will know that we are making tremendous efforts to help grapple with the crime issue as it presents itself, especially in the city of Toronto. But

again, that particular issue falls within the purview of the city of Toronto itself.

Mr. Runciman: Premier, we've obtained a so-called harm reduction kit that's being handed out now by the Queen West Community Health Centre in

downtown Toronto. These are the very centres to which you gave a $14-million funding increase in your first budget. This kit is a step-by-step guide for crack cocaine addicts, complete with a crack

pipe and detailed instructions on how to smoke crack; condoms; and a list of helpful hints, which include

"Pay your bills before you score.

"When doing sex work, try to make your money before you get high, and

"Clean your crack plate regularly."

Premier, why are Ontario taxpayers being stuck with the bill for enabling illegal drug use?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Health, Speaker.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Before the honourable member comes to the conclusion that community health

resources are involved in that, I believe we need to take a good, hard look at public health dollars and their application.

Long-standing debates have taken shape in the city of Toronto and, more recently, in Ottawa related to the reduction of transmission related to drug use. This

is a challenging discussion. It's a discussion that occurs very regularly in the neighbourhoods where I live, and it is where we attempt to strike the balance between those circumstances related to

drug use and the impact on communities, which we know is very, very severe; and the recognition as well that drug addiction is not simply a matter of criminal justice and application in community,

but it's about health needs and health risks of individuals who are engaged in those risky pursuits. Accordingly, we attempt to strike a balance, and harm reduction has been part and parcel of

that.

Mr. Runciman: The minister's response seems to be supportive of the Toronto drug strategy advisory committee to have the city of Toronto

"expand ... harm reduction outreach strategies including the provision of equipment to support safer use of substances ... in particular, people who use crack cocaine."

Minister, if this report is adopted by the city, the money would come from Toronto Public Health, which is funded 65% by your government. Already, at least one

community health centre in Toronto is using taxpayer-funded budgets to help distribute crack pipe kits to addicts.

Can you guarantee to us today that not one more cent of taxpayer dollars will be spent on distributing these kits, and further rule out any taxpayer dollars

funding any initiative by the city to fund these kits? Will you give taxpayers that commitment today?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: As the honourable member himself has concluded, by the nature of the way that he asked the question, we have no certainty

that there are any provincial dollars involved in those things. I've said before that Public Health has been an important provider of those services and, of course, the city of Toronto contributes

quite a lot of additional resources to Public Health capacity.

I could tell the honourable member that we follow very, very closely the discussions that go on in a variety of jurisdictions. We've seen that in Ottawa, and

we've seen that in Toronto. In this Legislature, twice in the last number of weeks I've been able to be very clear to you and to your colleague the opposition critic for health that, with respect

to the city of Toronto's drug strategy, this is designed to generate a conversation that is taking place at the city of Toronto. Of course, like all of the discussions related to public health,

we're following it very, very carefully.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): Again, to the Premier: The Toronto Police Service says that half of all homicides in the city are

related to gang warfare over crack cocaine. Now we see that taxpayer dollars are being spent to distribute crack pipes to addicts. Police in our cities have been stretched to the limit this year

with a record number of gun-related murders, many of which are tied to fights over crack.

What is the sum total of your response? Eight photo ops announcing new police officers that won't be fully hired until the fall of 2007. Premier, why haven't

you moved with urgency to get more officers on our streets? Why has it taken over two years to get to this point?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I know that the member will be very much aware of the multiplicity of

initiatives that we've taken that will enhance enforcement-related issues within the city of Toronto itself. He will know that we've also invested in programs designed to attack some of the causes

of crime. So our support for the city of Toronto, in particular, when it comes to addressing criminality, goes far beyond just putting more police on the streets, but we are very proud of that

initiative.

We have made a very significant announcement. The city of Toronto itself will now benefit from a tremendous number of new police officers, because we believe

in front-line enforcement, and we think that the people of Toronto are entitled to see more police patrolling their streets.

But again, our initiatives, when it comes to addressing crime issues within the city of Toronto, are much more, as the member himself well knows, and they've

been underway for a great deal of time now. They extend far beyond the issue of putting more police on the streets themselves.

Mr. Runciman: There have been 71 homicides in Toronto this year. The majority of those homicides involve a gun. On Friday, we saw your

minister make a long overdue announcement about the 1,000 new police officers, which you promised over two years ago, but now they're not going to be fully hired until October 2007.

Between 2000 and 2003, the former government increased the number of training spots for new police recruits by 100%. Now, if you are truly serious about

getting these police officers on the streets today to help fight the violent crime which our communities are experiencing, why haven't you moved to immediately increase the number of training spots

at the Ontario Police College to get the officers on the streets now?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the minister.

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I'd like to respond to the member's question. He should know

that, as part of our program, we have provided funding for 400 officers that have been hired since October 23, 2003, going forward to March 31, 2006. Many of those 400 officers have already gone

through the police college. Others are already in the process of going through that police college. That is why we've provided this funding in that manner: to make sure that we have the ability to

provide the training for those officers so that by the end of our mandate in 2007 we will have had all of those officers go through the police college, and they will be on the streets, serving the

people of Ontario in the way that they should.

Mr. Runciman: We know it has been two years, and there's another two years to go. While you've been dithering, criminals have been acting, and

people, especially young people, have been dying. You and your justice ministers were missing in action during a summer of death in Toronto, and now, over two years late, you announce 1,000 cops.

But just wait: They won't be in place for another two years.

The reality is that you've been reducing recruit numbers at the Ontario Police College over the past two years, and if you'd kept your promise from day one,

you could have had 1,300 new officers on the streets today.

Premier, communities have waited through eight press conferences over two years to see action on your policing promise. Why do they have to wait another two

years?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: You should know that this program was a campaign promise. Then we had to do something that you didn't do; that is, get it

right. We consulted with our police partners. We consulted with municipalities. We came up with a program that addresses the real concerns of policing in Ontario. We've provided 400 officers who

have been hired since October 23, 2003. We provided funding of $70,000 per officer for 60 spots in the north.

We've also made sure that we redressed some of your inequities. To give you a perfect example, in your community policing partnership, you provided 22 officers

to the city of Ottawa -- 22. We have provided 95. The reason for that is that your program somehow or other suited your purposes and didn't suit the purposes of the people of Ontario and the police

services in Ontario.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Premier, last night, Citytv held a town hall meeting to raise the issue: What has gone wrong in our

schools? Community activists, parents and youth all say that the Safe Schools Act should be scrapped, that it disproportionately affects minority youth, that it is unfair to special-needs students

and that it throws at-risk students out of school and into the streets, where they really get into trouble. Even your own Ontario Human Rights Commission has found that the Safe Schools Act is

unfair and discriminatory. My question is, why hasn't the McGuinty government scrapped the Safe Schools Act?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'm very pleased with the announcement recently made by the Minister of

Education which, for the first time, puts some reliable data before all of us with respect to actual numbers and the actual impact of the safe schools legislation. Now that we have that information

before us, we can take the time to properly consider the best way to move forward.

But there are a couple of principles that are really important that guide us as we move forward. The first principle is quite simply this: We believe that

Ontario students have the right to a learning environment that is safe and free from unreasonable interruption. At the same time, we believe we've got a responsibility to ensure that those students

who are removed from the classroom because they constitute some compromise to the safety of the other students or constitute an unreasonable interruption to the learning experience of other

students have continuing learning opportunities.

Yes, we've got new information, we've got reliable data, but those are the principles that will guide us as we move forward.

Mr. Hampton: The Premier talks about information as if it's new. The Human Rights Commission had that information available over a year ago.

The Human Rights Commission pointed out that expulsions and suspensions have gone through the roof since the Safe Schools Act. The Human Rights Commission pointed out that black youth, for example,

were being unfairly targeted, that special-needs students were being unfairly targeted. That information has all been there.

In fact, I want to quote someone who said: "We find out that this bill is one of the thinnest pieces of legislation that could possibly be there, a fundamental

exercise in disrespect for the education system, for parents, for students, for anyone truly concerned with safe schools." Do you know who said that? Your own Minister of Education said that over

two years ago.

So the information has been there. The studies have been there. Why haven't you scrapped the Safe Schools Act?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To lend some accuracy to the information supplied by my friend opposite, there was some data collected relating to the city

of Toronto alone, but this new information related to data from across the province that is brand new. The information related to the impact it has had on some of our students suffering from

learning disabilities is also brand new.

I say to the leader of the NDP, we understand that there are some real issues connected with this legislation. Hearings are taking place as we speak. We want

to collect the appropriate information. We now have reliable data. The only issue is, what is the best way to move forward? If there are specific recommendations that the member wishes to table

with us, I say with the utmost sincerity that we'll be more than pleased to receive that advice.

Mr. Hampton: There too the Human Rights Commission and other bodies have come forward with lots of recommendations: First of all, scrap the

Safe Schools Act and set up fully funded alternative programs for all suspended and expelled students: second, restore the youth outreach workers who were cut, the guidance councillors who were

cut, the attendance councillors who were cut, the social worker positions that were cut. Those have all been taken out of the school system. You've had advocates from Toronto's black communities

come to you and say these things need to happen.

I'm left to ask the Premier, when the Human Rights Commission has told you this is wrong, when your own information tells you this is wrong, when you've got

people coming forward saying, "This is the way to move," what's left to consult on, Premier, other than to dither and delay?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, you won't be surprised that I take issue with what is offered by my friend opposite. We have been doing a few things

along the way. In fact, we've been accused by some of being much too activist in the field of public education since we earned the privilege of serving Ontarians as their government. For example,

in our high schools alone we have now hired another 1,300 new teachers, including guidance councillors, and a very big part of their responsibility is to help kids stay in school. It's to ensure

that they find success within the traditional school environment. So we are not sitting on our hands; we are working hard. We've made investments, and now we're taking the time to ensure that we

get the next step right, as we protect the rights of students in school and the rights of students to ensure that they continue their learning opportunities.

NUCLEAR WASTE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Premier, last month you announced a $6.5-billion deal with Bruce Power to refurbish an unreliable and

very expensive fixer-upper nuclear plant. You must know that nuclear plants create lots of high-level toxic nuclear waste, and the waste remains a potential health hazard, safety hazard and

security hazard for many thousands of years. Premier, since you want to generate more nuclear waste, can you tell ordinary families across Ontario how much more highly toxic nuclear waste your

Bruce deal will generate and where you are going to store it?

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

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): Thank you for the question. As you know, the issue for waste management belongs within the

federal government and the nuclear stations have been providing the dollars that are appropriate for the storage of that. There is now a detailed analysis that has been done by the waste committee,

and that report has gone forward to the federal government.

Mr. Hampton: It's interesting how the McGuinty government, when it wants to blame the federal government, always finds them a handy target,

and when it wants the federal government to take responsibility, they're always a handy target.

We know, however, that according to reports, Darlington may also be generating a lot more nuclear waste. In its recent report, "Choosing a Way Forward," the

Nuclear Waste Management Organization said there are basically two possible nuclear waste storage sites in Ontario: the Canadian Shield in northern Ontario or a swath of non-shield areas in

southern Ontario like London, Hamilton-Niagara, Windsor-Sarnia and land that stretches from Kitchener-Waterloo to Barrie. So before the McGuinty government generates more nuclear waste, will you be

straight with ordinary families across the province and tell them where you are going to store the nuclear waste? Will it be in the north, or will it be in the south?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: It is my understanding that each option was found to have distinct advantages, but none perfectly met all of the

objectives that the citizens said were actually important. This again has gone on to the federal government and it is under their jurisdiction. Those decisions will be made in the near future.

Mr. Hampton: It's interesting that the McGuinty government now wants to say this is all federal, but just a short while ago the Minister of

Natural Resources, your colleague, was in the Globe and Mail, where he said, "We don't like the idea of nuclear waste coming to northern Ontario." So far, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec have

already said no to nuclear waste. So, since you're quite willing to comment, or some of your ministers are quite willing to comment, I'm going to ask the McGuinty government again: Tell ordinary

families where the nuclear waste will end up. Will it be Atikokan, Terrace Bay, Chapleau, Kenora? Or will it be London, Hamilton-Niagara, Windsor-Sarnia or Kitchener-Waterloo? It seems to me that

before you start going down the road of generating more nuclear waste, you should tell the people who are going to look after the nuclear waste for thousands of years.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: It would be helpful if the member would identify that the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act actually requested that the committee

examine three options. Those three options were deep geological disposal in the Canadian Shield, storage at nuclear reaction sites and centralized storage. That was their mandate. They came back

and indicated that none of these options perfectly fits all of the requirements of the criteria of the act. They have now gone forward and sent that report to the federal government, and it may be

that the member is not particularly pleased with the fact, but it is a federal jurisdiction. There is a mandate, there is

an act and there have been consultations that have been taking place right

across this province.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): My question is for the Premier, and it concerns the critical state of health care in Durham region, part of

which I represent. Premier, what we did in the Conservative government was bring together the five hospitals in Durham region, which was done not without difficulty. We brought them together

primarily into Lakeridge Health. Lakeridge Health is unique in the province of Ontario because it has a rural component that is substantial and an urban component that is substantial. It is also a

multi-site hospital. There is no other hospital in this province that has that description.

They caused a report to be done that was released on Friday, a report of the advisory panel to the board of trustees of Lakeridge Health by independent people.

It paints a rather startling story. What it says is that, unless there is a renegotiation between your Ministry of Health and the hospital, patient services -- basic patient services -- must be

reduced. Surely, this is not acceptable, Premier. I ask you to read the report and commit to a response to the report, within a reasonable --

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

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I appreciate the honourable member's question. I would say a couple of things

that I think are important. We have lots of work to do there, no doubt, but I think it's important to note a couple of things. Firstly, Lakeridge Health has received more than $24 million in base

budget adjustment, in a positive sense, since our government came to life. I'd like to remind the honourable member that when he was part of a government, Lakeridge actually saw a significant

reduction in their budget. That hasn't occurred under our government. In fact, we've also offered stable, multi-year funding.

With respect to his assertion that Lakeridge is an anomaly in terms of its blend of hospitals, this is not entirely accurate. There are many multi-site

hospitals that are serving both urbanized and rural areas. Associated with that is the JPPC work that I'd like to comment on in the supplementary.

Mr. Flaherty: I had asked for at least a commitment to read the report and respond. You'd think that the minister or the Premier would at

least have the decency toward the people of Durham region to say, "Yes, we'll read the report, and yes, we'll respond to it within a reasonable time." Instead, do you know what they're doing? They

have this idea of a LHIN. Do you know where a LHIN for central eastern Ontario is going to go from? From Victoria Park Avenue to Algonquin Park. They can't even get organizational meetings together

because of the huge distances involved.

Let me say this: There's going to be a by-election in Whitby-Ajax after I resign. The Ajax-Pickering hospital has been waiting for their expansion money from

this government. The community has raised the money. There's a public meeting in Whitby tomorrow night, because that hospital serves Whitby as well. My question is: When will we see the money from

the provincial government to match the money raised by the good people of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby? Where's the money?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Minister.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Oh, and we ask, when will the members of that party stand in their place and, for once, represent accurately the

circumstances? The circumstances represented accurately are clear: In the dying days of your government, that honourable member and others, many of whom are no longer here, ran across the province

of Ontario with their great big rubber cheques and promised the people of Ontario, in community after community, resources that they knew could not be available. We have made an unprecedented

$5-billion investment in expanding hospital capacity in this province.

With respect to the issues mentioned and the multi-site capacity, our government is working through the JPPC to make sure that the smaller hospitals in these

multi-site organizations that this government introduced to the province's health care are appropriately considered so that we can define core services to give confidence to the people of Ontario

that those small sites will live on and will prosper.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I have a question for the Premier. While the UN conference on climate change began today in Montreal,

Canada's international climate change file is cluttered with the train wrecks of failed federal Liberal policy. In their infamous red book in the 1993 election, the Liberals promised to reduce

Co 2 emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2000. But under their watch, CO 2 emissions have increased by over 20%. Your government too is failing Ontarians in similar fashion to

your federal cousins. Last month, the David Suzuki Foundation said that Ontario does not have a climate change plan. The question is, when are you going to get it together and introduce a climate

change plan for debate in this Legislature?

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

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): As I indicated in my earlier remarks, the Minister of Energy and I very much look forward

to attending that conference next week. Climate change is a real threat to the environment and to human health, and it certainly knows no boundaries. Our government has been, and continues to be,

supportive of the federal government's decision to ratify the Kyoto accord, and we have signed an agreement with the federal government to address climate change. We have contributed our ministry's

expertise to the federal government and are working along with other provinces to ensure that we develop a system to report greenhouse gas emissions. Most significantly of all, the commitment by

this government to close our coal-fired generating facilities is one of the most significant contributions being made with respect to emissions of greenhouse gases in the country.

Ms. Churley: With all due respect, I asked the Premier a question about a climate change plan, not an air quality plan. The David Suzuki

Foundation knows that you broke your promise on closing the coal plants by 2007. But closing coal plants is different: It doesn't mean you have a plan for climate change.

Manitoba does have a plan. They have set targets beyond the federal targets aiming to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 18% by 2010 and up to 23%

by 2012. Manitoba is boldly setting targets and introducing energy efficiency programs like the Power Smart residential loan program, while Ontario has no plan whatsoever. Minister, I want to ask

you again, will you introduce a plan, a real plan, for debate, including emissions reduction targets?

Hon. Ms. Broten: Certainly, the issues with respect to climate change are being specifically met as we close our coal-fired plants. It is

somewhat surprising that the member indicates that there is no effect with respect to greenhouse gases, when closing our coal-fired plants will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by 30

million tonnes a year. That's a significant commitment with respect to the effect of greenhouse gases.

Other steps that our province has taken with respect to clean air in this province: Air quality is intrinsically linked to greenhouse gases. They both affect

the quality of life here in our province. Our government has worked very hard to ensure that we will continue to have a healthy life in Ontario, and the Minister of Energy and I very much look

forward to being part of the discussion and debate next week.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. In the

recent by-election in Scarborough-Rouge River, one of the issues raised by constituents as being of paramount importance was community safety. This is also a concern for the people in my riding of

Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh. Although the problems we face, taken as a whole, aren't nearly as severe as those in other jurisdictions, they are real and weigh heavily on those who live in

communities like Cornwall and Akwesasne.

On Friday, you announced the details of our government's Safer Communities-1,000 Officers Partnership program. This program will, as the name implies, see

1,000 more police officers patrolling our streets. For this, I commend you. The people of this province have indicated that security is one of their top concerns, and you have addressed this.

Having more officers on the street is beneficial, but that does not address some of the specific concerns afflicting the communities of this province.

Minister, can you tell me how this announcement will affect our organized response to specific issues like domestic abuse and dangerous offenders?

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I thank the member from Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh for his

question. Not only are we funding 1,000 officers, but there were criteria for how those 1,000 officers were to be allotted. What we did was make sure that 500 of them would go to community safety.

That's looking after street patrols, working with schools and looking after other areas like traffic enforcement. The other 500 addressed six key areas that we had identified, and that was

important. When the police services across Ontario submitted their applications, they had to indicate how they were going to address those concerns that are important to us and, more importantly,

important to the people of Ontario. I can tell you that when it comes to domestic violence, when it comes to dangerous offenders, those are two of the criteria that we have. It isn't just the

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Supplementary.

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I'll wait till your supplementary.

Mr. Brownell: Knowing that there will be more police officers on our streets will certainly make people feel safer as they walk those streets,

and knowing that some of these officers will be directly focusing on concerns such as guns, violence and domestic abuse will certainly make citizens sleep better as well.

Crime prevention is an issue we all agree must take precedence. People want to feel that their government is protecting them. Unfortunately, due to perception,

circumstances and the occasional negative portrayal of police in popular culture, specific groups often feel they are singled out by our officers. In my community, as in many others across Ontario,

this is often youth. It is essential that our police forces dialogue with our youth, making them aware of the responsibilities of police officers while simultaneously learning the concerns of our

young people. Minister, can you explain to us how this program will address this issue?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: Again, when we designated how we wanted these officers placed, of the six target areas, two of them had to do with youth

crime. The other one is guns and gangs. I can tell you that police services across Ontario have taken this to heart.

I was at a meeting this morning with our member from Etobicoke North, where we had an incredible group of people -- the police, the religious community, the

faith-based community and community workers. We took a look and said, "We have to interact with our youth. We have to get to the issues, not only to be tough on crime, but to be tough on the causes

of crime." That is something that we are working on with our police partners and our community partners to make sure that we deal with this problem, which everybody acknowledges is very serious and

which we have to make a concerted effort to solve.

LOCAL HEALTH

INTEGRATION NETWORKS

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): My question is to the Minister of Health. Last Thursday's announcement about the future of LHINs and CCACs

has raised significantly more questions than you were able to answer last week. The media have reported concerns about the downloading of health care costs to these new entities.

In a management board document, management board actually expressed similar concerns about your plans. In fact, the document confirms that unaccounted-for in

your year two costs were $25 million to $50 million in severance costs; $7 million to $14 million in additional legal costs; $15 million to $24 million in wage harmonization costs; and, perhaps the

most stinging indictment, questions about the request not including a realignment of funding for ministry regional offices whose functions will now be taken over by LHINs.

Minister, we in this House would simply ask you if you would please come forward with a more detailed costing of what this plan is going to cost. Clearly,

there are hundreds of millions of dollars over the next two years that are unaccounted for in any of your public statements or correspondence. When will we, the media and the public get those

answers?

Interjection.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Oh, I thought you were going to answer the question for me. Those answers

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): At least he'd answer it.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: You're not even in your seat. You're not supposed to heckle at me like that.

I think the answer is pretty clear, because the answer was provided last week. Local health integration networks are coming to life, and of course there are

costs associated with the construction of that structure, but we've already been achieving offsets against them. The best example I can point to is that more than $20 million in costs related to

district health councils are not being borne this year. Accordingly, those dollars are a beginning point of the contribution toward the cost of the local health integration network structure.

It's crucial that we deliver on the award system in our province by creating more capacity for community engagement in health care decision-making. Last week,

I answered to the honourable member's leader that all of the costs associated with local health integration networks will be dealt with from within our government's current allocation. The

allocation for the cost of local health integration networks can be found in this year's estimates. I believe we've answered quite on the point on all of those questions that were raised.

Mr. Jackson: I was very clear to indicate that there are only a few months left in this year, and we know about the $10 million to $20 million

that you've allocated just for the LHIN conversion. I'm talking about the $100 million that you've left unaccounted for next year.

The media are also expressing concern about your downloading of accountability for health delivery in this province because of your preference for non-elected,

appointed persons, in particular as it relates to CCACs. Here's what your own documents that you tabled in this House on Friday say: "That CCACs would select their own members and directors under

the provisions of the Corporations Act"; "The Corporations Information Act would not apply to the CCAC..."; " ... the requirement for a community advisory council would be repealed." It goes on:

"CCACs would no longer have to provide audit and annual reports..."; "The minister would have the power to order the specific transfer of assets"; and you "would not be entitled to compensation,"

at the discretion of the minister.

Minister, these are serious questions. How is it that you can move the delivery of community-based care from --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. There must have been a question there.

Mr. Jackson: How can you justify that as community service?

The Speaker: Minister.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: You sure are confused.

In the year 2000, that member was part of a government that robbed the community of community care access centres, that took away from the community the right

to appoint people who were involved in the coordination of delivery of some of those most essential community-based services.

The legislation, Bill 36, that is before this House, if passed -- and I recommend it to members -- will restore community responsibility for community care

access centres. This is fulfilling an important commitment to drive health care to the community level, where people from the community are much better able to help make decisions about which local

priorities must be supported.

Accordingly, this is not about debt. The member used the phrase "downloaded accountability."

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Yes. Actually, Leah Casselman did. It's nice to see that you're using a phrase that they use.

No one around here pretends that we're not responsible for health care. We're very, very keen to do our job well. Accordingly, we want people from the local

community to exercise important decisions so that at the ministry, at the head office, we can exercise our more strategic objectives better than they have been so far.

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Government Services. On Wednesday, just before the Paul Martin

government announced that it would not tax trusts and would cut the tax on stocks that pay dividends, trading in many income trusts and dividend-paying stocks became much heavier than usual.

Experts say there's only one possible explanation for this increase in trading, and that is that investors clearly knew about the government plan. Al Rosen, a respected forensic accountant, said,

"Clearly, there was a leak."

The Ontario Securities Commission is responsible for investigating corporate malfeasance; in turn, they report to you. Can you tell us, is the OSC

investigating this apparent case of insider trading?

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): First, I'd say that I have complete confidence in the Ontario Securities Commission.

It's an organization with an impeccable reputation and with a new chair of the OSC in whom I have an awful lot of confidence.

The member will know that they are clearly an arm's-length organization. You would know that, clearly, a minister would not be in any way involved in whether

or not they are conducting an investigation. I have complete confidence in them. They properly monitor their markets on an ongoing basis, and I will leave that decision, frankly, in their

hands.

Mr. Prue: Mr. Minister, this is the same OSC that cleared Conrad Black. But the Americans seemed to find out a great deal of information to

lay charges.

The people out there in Ontario, the people out there in Canada, have seen huge amounts of money exchange hands just before a government financial

announcement, and it looks bad. They are asking themselves the questions -- and this is not my question to you -- "Was there a leak? Did insiders profit? Did well-connected Liberals' friends

benefit in any way?" Canadians need to know what happened. The minister won't say if the Ontario Securities Commission is investigating. You won't say that today.

Can you at least tell the House, and this is my, question, did anyone in Ontario's finance ministry at least notice the suspicious surge in income trust

trading, and if so, did they pass that information on to you and to the OSC?

Hon. Mr. Phillips: The member, I think, should know, and if he doesn't I'll just make it clear again, that I do not get involved in any

direction of the OSC. They are an independent organization.

I would say to all of us that the Ontario Securities Commission is well regarded. They monitor the markets on ongoing basis, and I have complete confidence in

them that they will take whatever steps are appropriate. If there are any steps necessary, they will take them. The securities commission is well regarded, well respected in monitoring the markets,

operating at arm's length from government interference, and would I hope that the members of the Legislature would not want it any other way. I hope the member is not suggesting that there should

be political interference in the Ontario Securities Commission.

TRUCKING INDUSTRY

Mr. Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East): My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. You recently announced a new

trucking apprenticeship program for the province of Ontario. This being such an important industry for Ontario, and vital to my great riding of Mississauga East, where we have many logistic

companies, we want to ensure that we have highly skilled and well-trained people operating these trucks. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to learn from an experienced person who knows the

skills that these apprentices will want to gain. I'm glad the McGuinty government is dedicated to increasing apprenticeships across the province and raising the profile of apprenticeships to show

how important they are to the prosperity of our province.

Minister, can you please tell my constituents and the rest of the people of Ontario how this program will work and how it will improve the trucking industry

and enhance apprenticeships throughout our great province?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I'd like to thank the member from Mississauga East for his

advocacy on behalf of the trucking industry, of which I know a substantial

part is located in his very riding