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October 10, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Oct-10 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 10 October 2006 Mardi 10 octobre 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GERMAN PIONEERS DAY

ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE QUILT

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

HEATHER CROWE AWARD

MINISTER'S RECORD

GERMAN PIONEERS DAY

MISSISSAUGA SOUTH

MIDGET BASEBALL TEAM

WATER QUALITY

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

VISITORS /

VISITEURS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

STREET SAFETY

AWARENESS MONTH ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR LE MOIS DE LA SENSIBILISATION

À LA SÉCURITÉ DANS LES RUES

ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

MODIFIANT LA LOI ÉLECTORALE

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

CORPORATE TAX /

IMPÔT DES SOCIÉTÉS

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

CORPORATE TAX

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

CORPORATE TAX

IAN SCOTT

ORAL QUESTIONS

MANUFACTURING JOBS

HOSPITAL SERVICES

EDUCATION FUNDING

LONG-TERM CARE

PUBLIC HEALTH

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

CLASS SIZE

NUCLEAR WASTE

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

CURRICULUM

FOREST INDUSTRY

CITY OF CORNWALL

WATER QUALITY

PETITIONS

WATER QUALITY

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

MACULAR DEGENERATION

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

LONG-TERM CARE

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

CHILD CUSTODY

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

WATER QUALITY

LONG-TERM CARE

ORDERS OF THE DAY

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED

PROFESSIONS ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'ACCÈS ÉQUITABLE

AUX PROFESSIONS RÉGLEMENTÉES

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GERMAN PIONEERS DAY

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): Ontario is the first province to officially recognize the historic and ongoing contributions to our society of Canadians of German ancestry by proclaiming the day

following Thanksgiving Day in each year as German Pioneers Day.

I was privileged today to attend a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Legislature in honour of this occasion. Among the honoured guests in attendance were Dr. Klaus Rupprecht, Consul General of the Federal

Republic of Germany in Toronto; Karl Ruppert, the president of the German World Congress; and Mr. Gerry Meinzer, the founding president of the German Canadian Congress.

The emigration of settlers of German origin to Canada began with the coming of the first Loyalists at the end of the 18th century. In the 1820s, people of German origin in Ontario made up a full 70% of the

entire population of Ontario.

Famous German Canadians included Fathers of Confederation William Steeves and Sir Charles Tupper, Canada's sixth Prime Minister; Prime Minister John Diefenbaker; and Governor General Ed Schreyer.

As a proud German Canadian, and on behalf of John Tory and the official opposition, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our German community for its pivotal role in the historic and continuing

development of Ontario -- socially, culturally, economically and politically -- on this German Pioneers Day 2006.

ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE QUILT

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): This spring, my colleagues Andrea Horwath, Julia Munro and I asked all MPPs to donate a piece of fabric and their signature to create the Ontario

legislative quilt. It will be auctioned off October 24 for The Quilt: A Breast Cancer Support Project's annual Toronto auction.

Today we were honoured to unveil the quilt, created by Rosemary Schaefer of Kirkton, here at the Legislature. I am pleased to report that the generous contributions of all members have made this quilt truly

representative of Ontario.

Of course, today's unveiling would not be possible without the inspiration of my friend, breast cancer survivor and founder of The Quilt, Carol Miller. Founded in 1997 by Carol, The Quilt project is now in its

eighth season. This year, 412 donated quilts from all across Canada will be auctioned off to support women and their families affected by breast cancer. Events are held in Calgary, at the Stratford Festival and in Toronto's Distillery District. To

date, 2,200 quilts have been donated, and the project has surpassed $1.1 million in proceeds. One hundred per cent of the money raised through the sale of these quilts is directed to breast cancer support.

In view of today's momentous unveiling, I'd like to thank Carol, her Circle of Friends support group and all of members of this Legislature for their support and generous contributions to the Ontario legislative

Quilt.

I would also seek unanimous consent to display The Quilt until Thursday here in the legislative precinct, for all members to see this unique, beautiful and historic piece of art.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): This coming Sunday, October 15, there is a proposed rally in my riding of Caledonia, and the McGuinty government has declared it will keep the event

safe. For me, safety is a top priority.

The Toronto Star reports, "The provincial government doesn't have any plans to either sanction or stop the rally."

Minister Ramsay's spokesperson Anne-Marie Flanagan was also quoted in the Toronto Star as saying, "We'll monitor and take appropriate action to make sure people are safe." Further to this, the Toronto Sun

reports that "Attorney General Michael Bryant said his ministry wasn't seeking an injunction."

The question remains, what action is being taken by this government to ensure the safety of the people attending? Whether I speak or don't speak is predicated on a precondition that I have set with organizers in

September. My precondition is that the OPP and the McGuinty government ensure the safety of the people. I've made it clear that marching to the occupied site is a non-starter. All parties must respect the rule of law.

Where is the government's plan? To date, I have not heard of any action to ensure safety -- just promises. Simply put, it is incumbent on the McGuinty government and the Ontario Provincial Police to ensure the

safety of those people attending.

HEATHER CROWE AWARD

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): This past August, my riding had the privilege of a visit from the Minister of Health Promotion, the Honourable Jim Watson. Amongst other things, Minister

Watson was in Huron-Bruce to present the Heather Crowe Award to the Huron county health unit for its excellence in the prevention of public smoking by way of Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

The Huron county health unit was judged to have shown demonstrable leadership in tobacco control in the areas of youth prevention, protection from second-hand smoke and smoking cessation.

As you know, Heather Crowe was an Ottawa-area waitress and non-smoker who developed lung cancer after being exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace. Heather courageously told her story in powerful public

service announcements produced by Health Canada and aired by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Tragically, Heather passed away this year from her illness, but that hasn't stopped this government from keeping her crusade alive by implementing the

most stringent anti-smoking legislation in North America. This is just another example of the good things the McGuinty government is doing for the people of Ontario.

Congratulations to the Huron county health unit for all the work they have done in smoking prevention and cessation. Keep up the good work.

MINISTER'S RECORD

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): There is an

article in today's Liberal house organ suggesting Attorney General Michael Bryant is one tough guy. I didn't know whether to laugh or

cry.

Mr. Bryant's tenure as Attorney General has been a textbook case of public relations over substance, headline hunting over meaningful improvements in our justice system, political point-scoring over productive

co-operation. The Attorney General's posturing on the Karla Homolka appeal is a case in point: tough-guy rhetoric while failing to back it up with real involvement at the Quebec hearing that allowed her to gain her freedom.

This so-called tough-on-crime Attorney General has failed to appoint justices of the peace during his three years. We now have 18 fewer JPs than in 2003 and as a result we have thousands of people walking away

from Provincial Offences Act charges. We're also experiencing an epidemic of plea bargains on gun crime and impaired driving: expediency in the name of efficiency at the expense of victims, neighbourhoods and communities.

In Caledonia, we're witnessing a complete abandonment of the rule of law. We're now approaching the eight-month anniversary of this illegal occupation with no end in sight, and we've had the unprecedented

spectacle of an Attorney General fighting the enforcement of a court-ordered injunction requiring the occupiers' removal.

Michael Bryant as tough on crime is like suggesting Dalton McGuinty keeps his promises. It just doesn't compute.

GERMAN PIONEERS DAY

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): Today we celebrate a special day, German Pioneers Day. In 1788, King George established four counties, that is, four districts, for German settlement: Lunenberg,

Mecklenberg, Hesse and Nassau. We're here in Nassau today, for that matter. Since then, German Canadians have made a great contribution to this country, but specifically, I'm looking at the city of Toronto.

The co-founder of Toronto is none other than William Moll-Berczy, who came here with 64 German families from Pennsylvania. He was the co-founder with John Graves Simcoe. Together they laid out Toronto, they made

the grid, and Mr. Simcoe asked Mr. Moll-Berczy to establish and in fact to dig up what is called Yonge Street today, right from down where the lake is to near Keswick. As Yonge Street was being developed, a lot of these Germans -- there were 64

families, as I said earlier -- lost their lives.

Today, of course, we see also in the city of Toronto some other items that are of German background, namely, the Toronto-Dominion Centre, which bears the famous international Bauhaus style, Ontario Place, the

Eaton Centre, the Queen's Quay Terminal. There are a lot of contributions that German Canadians have made.

Today, in the gallery are a number of German Canadians to help us to celebrate this special event: Gerry Meinzer, the founding president of the German Canadian Congress; Rolf and Sybille Rentmeister from Echo

Germanica; Karl Ruppert, president of the Deutscher Welt Kongress; and Henry Betsch, Association of Danube Swabians of Toronto. Thank you for coming.

Remarks in German.

MISSISSAUGA SOUTH

MIDGET BASEBALL TEAM

Mr. Tim Peterson (Mississauga South): I rise today to recognize the Mississauga South midget baseball team. This team is a great band of fearless warriors in the game of baseball. Not only did

they take on Toronto and win the all-Ontario championship, they went on to PEI for the Canadian championships and won that as well.

Today in the gallery we have Stephan Kulchyk, Joe Jimenez, Max Christiansen, Mike Mathieson, Ian Campbell, Chris Piccini, Matt Piccini, Marc Spagnuolo, Curtis Kinden, Brandon Neuman, Andrew Dos Santos, Eric

Ventura, Billy Martin, James Macklem, Sean Lemon, Anthony Fantauzzi and Eric Wakeman.

When they were down in PEI, not only did they distinguish themselves with their unbelievable athletic prowess, when they were leading substantially, they backed off and worked with the other teams so that all

the players could participate. They won the hearts of all Canada, and especially the people watching down in Prince Edward Island.

With that note, let me acknowledge the coaches who are also here with them: David Huctwith, Wayne Brocklebank, Bob Kulchyk, Edd Bobot and Richard Newman.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Canadian champions from Mississauga South.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): If only we had champions for First Nations in either our federal or provincial governments. Yet again, here we are a year after Kashechewan and we have yet

to learn the lessons that we should have learned from that particular episode. Here we are a year later, the community of Marten Falls, almost exactly the same situation: a lift station that fails, a lift station that allows effluent to run down

the creek into the water supply where the water is taken into the plant. Again, children that I see appear to be infected with scabies; again, people who are not feeling well in that community.

What have we got? We have a federal government that, at the end of the day, has not been responding to the calls of Chief Elijah Moonias when it comes to getting INAC to go in there to secure the water plant and

to fix the lift station problem so that the water supply could be uncontaminated.

We have, yet again, the same response from the federal government. They say there's basically not a problem and that, in fact, regarding the First Nations people of Marten Falls, if they're getting scabies, if

they're getting sick, it's not because of anything that's happening that's under the federal government's responsibility.

I say to this Legislature: We've got to stop this. The province of Ontario knows how to manage a water system. The province of Ontario has the expertise. The province of Ontario should enter into negotiations

with First Nations and the federal government to take over the responsibility for water testing and running water plants so that they can fall under the system that the rest of us as Ontario citizens take for granted. How many more children have

to get sick before we fix this awful problem?

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): Through ReNew Ontario, this government, led by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and in co-operation with private sector partners, is investing

more than $30 billion by fiscal year 2009-10 to ensure a safe and reliable infrastructure foundation for Ontario's families. GO Transit will shortly start building the Lisgar GO train station, the first time in 25 years that a new GO train station

has been built in Mississauga. Next year, work will begin on phase 2 at Credit Valley Hospital to expand the hospital's maternity suite, expand its complex continuing care ward and alleviate overcrowding in the emergency ward.

To the previous sorry Tory Conservative government, Mississauga was just another cow to be milked. They neglected our provincial infrastructure, they dumped expenses onto cities through downloading. Just like

their leader, the Tories said anything, any time, anywhere, to anybody and did nothing.

The city of Mississauga and its Liberal MPPs have worked together with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. We started projects to get our city moving, to address traffic gridlock and fix a crumbling

health care system in all three hospitals that serve our city of some 700,000 people. We're building the foundations for future growth and ensuring safety and reliability for generations to come in the city of Mississauga and throughout

Ontario.

VISITORS /

VISITEURS

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to welcome the family members of one of our pages, Dominic, le père et la mère, the

father and mother, Guy and Sylvie Brisson, les grands-mères, the grandmothers, Lise Brisson et Louise Brunet, et sa soeur, his sister, Katia Brisson. Bienvenue. Welcome to Queen's Park.

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to welcome to the chamber a visitor from Jalandhar, Punjab, Mr. Ajit Randhawa, who is here with his nephew, Hargurnar

Randhawa from Brampton. Please welcome them.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

STREET SAFETY

AWARENESS MONTH ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

SUR LE MOIS DE LA SENSIBILISATION

À LA SÉCURITÉ DANS LES RUES

Mr. Kular moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 145,

An Act to proclaim the month of May as Street Safety Awareness Month / Projet de loi 145, Loi proclamant le mois de mai Mois de la sensibilisation à la sécurité dans les rues.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): In our province of Ontario, crime on our streets has become an everyday occurrence. Residents no longer feel safe walking in their own

communities. For this reason, there exist many programs and community initiatives within Ontario that attempt to foster safe streets, such as Block Parents and Neighbourhood Watch. These programs try to encourage people to safeguard their

communities, so it's appropriate to recognize the month of May as Street Safety Awareness Month in Ontario.

ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006

MODIFIANT LA LOI ÉLECTORALE

Mr. Patten moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 146,

An Act to amend the Election Act / Projet de loi 146, Loi modifiant la Loi électorale.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): This particular bill is a very simple bill. It's also the second time I've introduced it. If the bill is passed, in future Ontario provincial general

elections the ballot would contain beside each candidate's name the name of the registered party that has endorsed the candidate or the word "Independent" if the candidate --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Introduction of bills.

Mr. Patten: I haven't finished, Mr. Speaker. I was waiting because I was being interrupted.

The Speaker: The member for Ottawa Centre.

Mr. Patten: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If the candidate has not been properly endorsed by a registered party, then obviously "Independent" would be beside it.

Many Ontarians have advocated for these changes for many years, including past and present members of the Ontario Legislature. As far back as 1989, the standing committee on the Legislative Assembly

recommended and approved placing political affiliation on the ballot. Our federal cousins made amendments to the Canada Elections Act in 1970, over 36 years ago, to include the placement of political affiliations on the ballot for all subsequent

elections, and the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada has indicated to us that those amendments have worked well. As well, of course, a former colleague, Sean Conway, introduced this bill on two separate occasions. In addition, a

college student at Algonquin College did research and proposed party affiliation identification. His name is Rossano Bernardi.

I have to make the point that Ontario and PEI are the only provinces in Canada --

The Speaker: Thank you. That's an adequate explanation.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the membership

of certain committees.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that the following substitutions be made to the membership of certain committees:

On the standing committee on government agencies, Mrs. Munro replaces Mr. Hudak; on the standing committee on public accounts, Mr. Hardeman replaces Mrs. Munro; and that on the standing committee on estimates,

Mr. Hudak be added.

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

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, I think they thought I said "beheaded." It was "be added."

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I have another motion that's awaited with anticipation. 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 Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 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 those in favour will say "aye."

All those 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 1356 to 1401.

The Speaker: Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 193. All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Elliott, Christine

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Mitchell, Carol

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

DiNovo, Cheri

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Murdoch, Bill

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 58; the nays are 8.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): Today I have the distinct pleasure to rise and inform the House of the progress we have made with

one of Ontario's most critical initiatives; namely, to rebuild, revitalize and modernize the very foundation of this great province.

In May 2005 we launched, with the very good support of our colleagues in finance, ReNew Ontario, our government's five-year plan to rebuild and repair the public infrastructure that was crumbling from decades

of neglect. In just a year and a half, after the release of ReNew Ontario, I can proudly say that this foundation is getting stronger every day right across this province, for Ontarians today and for the almost four million more residents who will

call Ontario home over the course of the next 25 years.

With our partners, we have committed more than $30 billion to infrastructure investment. The province's own investment in the first two years of the ReNew Ontario plan will total over $11 billion. We're well

on the way to achieving the total planned investment. The return on the investment is already evident as we continue to make progress.

More than 100 projects are moving forward, including new, state-of-the-art hospitals in St. Catharines, as my colleague the House leader would like us all to know, and in Sault Ste. Marie. We're ensuring that

our hospitals are modernized, with upgraded diagnostic equipment. We're creating more spaces for medical students. We're working to build and expand new regional cancer centres. We've completed 36 long-term-care projects since last May, adding 771

new long-term-care beds and redeveloping over 3,500 more. With new and improved hospitals, Ontario families will get the health care they need where they need it and deserve it: close to home.

Now let me turn to another major priority that Ontarians have told us about, and that's education. Ontario students are getting the education they need and deserve in classrooms that are conducive to learning

because we're finally repairing crumbling schools. We're funding urgent repairs and construction at more than 3,000 school projects. Last year, we invested $60 million in universities and colleges to maintain and improve classrooms and

laboratories and to modernize equipment.

In transportation, we are working to unlock the gridlock that threatens to choke our economy and make commuting a nightmare. We provided $192 million in 2005-06 for improvements to 83 public transit systems

through our provincial gas tax program, we announced an additional $838 million in the 2006 budget to expand transit service in Toronto, York region, Brampton and Mississauga, and we're making substantial investments in public transit like the GO

rail system. The high-occupancy vehicle lanes, HOV lanes, that we opened on Highways 404 and 403 in the greater Toronto area are already surpassing expectations. In the north, my colleague the Minister of Northern Development and Mines reminds me

that we are moving forward, finally, with the $1.8-billion northern Ontario highways strategy. To keep our goods and our economy in as strong a shape as possible and flowing across the border to the United States, our biggest trading partner,

we're making improvements at Ontario's border crossings.

These are just a few signposts of our achievements, and there are many others.

We celebrated the groundbreaking of the west Don lands project, a new Toronto waterfront community that will include 6,000 new residences, including 1,500 units of affordable housing.

Together with the federal government, we have funded more than 60 water and waste water projects and 279 road and bridge projects.

We've committed to upgrade and expand court facilities in communities from St. Thomas to Thunder Bay, and we are finally moving ahead with a new Durham consolidated courthouse in Oshawa.

We're contributing to major cultural institutions that draw millions of visitors to our province.

Behind all of this formidable progress that I've been outlining in the few short minutes that I've had is the long-term thinking and strategies of ReNew Ontario. We'll be taking this thinking one stage further

on Friday, when I host an event called Building the Future: Leaders' Forum on Infrastructure. Here in Toronto, we are gathering pre-eminent thinkers and decision-makers from as far away as New Zealand and Spain. While I know there will be much to

learn, I will be as proud talking about our achievements through ReNew Ontario on Friday as I am here today, because as we rebuild the foundations of our province, we are renewing our commitment, literally and figuratively, to Ontarians, not just

today but for generations to come.

CORPORATE TAX /

IMPÔT DES SOCIÉTÉS

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): I rise today to inform this Legislature about an historic agreement between our government and the federal

government.

Last Friday, on October 6, the Honourable Jim Flaherty and I signed a memorandum of agreement that will lead to federal administration of Ontario's corporate taxes. Mr. Flaherty's career in Ontario politics is

well known and well respected, and his commitment to this agreement is part of that strong tradition.

The federal administration of Ontario corporate taxes will significantly reduce compliance costs for businesses. There will be a single tax form. There will be a single tax collector. And importantly there

will be one set of income tax rules.

À compter de 2009, les entreprises pourront produire une déclaration unique fédérale-ontarienne. En plus d'alléger le fardeau administratif des entreprises, cet accord permettra à

ces dernières de se concentrer sur ce qu'elles font de mieux, c'est-à-dire créer des emplois et de nouveaux marchés.

That, in turn, helps to create a stronger, more productive Ontario economy.

To be clear, the corporate tax collection system of the future will look very much like the personal tax collection system with which Canadians are already very familiar. Ontario businesses strongly support

this initiative, the real beneficiaries of which are the men and women across Ontario who work for and run our businesses. They represent the real lifeblood of our economy.

We were honoured at last week's announcement to see so many leaders of Ontario's businesses in attendance. Among them was Len Crispino, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. He welcomed the

initiative and noted that it would result in increased savings and efficiencies for both business and government, improving the competitive position of our province.

Provincial and federal officials have been working for many months to iron out the details of the agreement announced last week. I want to say to them, I am proud of your contribution to this process.

Au cours des 50 dernières années, divers gouvernements ontariens et leurs employés ont déployé de nombreux efforts pour s'assurer que le régime d'imposition du revenu des

sociétés répondait aux besoins du jour. L'accord que nous avons conclu constitue une autre étape de cette évolution.

I want to point out that this is just one step towards our goal of signing a comprehensive corporate tax collection agreement with the federal government. We still have a lot of work to do. We continue in our

efforts to develop the best possible human resources agreement and a business transaction agreement which speaks to how these services will ultimately be delivered. But we've already made real progress, and we are committed to working with the

federal government and our bargaining agents to ensure a smooth transition.

The agreement that Minister Flaherty and I have signed is, I think, solid evidence that Canada works best when there is a high level of co-operation between governments. This corporate tax collection agreement

was referenced in the 2005 Canada-Ontario agreement. I know that the Premier and many others, in this Legislature and elsewhere, would join me in urging the federal government to honour its commitment to uphold the rest of the Canada-Ontario

agreement. It is the right thing to do to ensure that Ontarians are treated fairly.

In the coming weeks, I will bring forward legislation to implement the changes required to move to a single corporate tax collection system. The legislation will focus, as does our existing agreement, on

creating a more streamlined, efficient and effective tax system. That's what businesses have told us they want. Clearly, it is what they need.

Nous sommes heureux et fiers d'avoir franchi cette étape importante en vue de réduire les chevauchements administratifs et le double emploi.

I look forward to discussing our legislation, once it has been introduced, with all members of this House.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Response?

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I'm pleased to respond to both of my colleagues' remarks this afternoon, first with respect to the public infrastructure renewal minister's announcement. I'd say

to the minister, like many Ontarians today, I spend over two-plus hours in my vehicle commuting to the city of Toronto. I know that people who work and live in the GTA in southern Ontario have seen gridlock actually become much worse under the

Dalton McGuinty government. All kinds of nice, pretty red signs on the side of the road with more Dalton McGuinty promises, but for additions to the highway system to relieve gridlock, no progress from the Dalton McGuinty government, and people

are stranded for longer periods of time in their automobiles.

In his ReNew Ontario progress report, the minister lists a number of hospital projects that in fact have not even seen a spade put into the soil. He lists Grimsby as progress. Well, there's been a press

release or two, but not even a blade of grass has been removed, and the same for the St. Catharines project. And in North Bay, they're already a year behind what was promised by the Dalton McGuinty government. In fact, not only have they not

broken ground, the Home Hardware has not even bought the shovel yet for that project because he doesn't believe that you are actually going to move that project forward in due course.

Similarly, the McGuinty government is claiming credit for new medical schools in Ontario, projects that we all know had begun under the previous Progressive Conservative government.

Interjections.

Mr. Hudak: I know: A lot of time spent buying that red ribbon from the Giant Tiger in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, but you're taking credit for projects that you played a very small role in,

except for slicing the ribbon.

Similarly with respect to new long-term-care beds, I was proud to be part of a government that invested in making 20,000 new long-term-care beds and redeveloping 16,000 long-term-care beds as part of a

$2.1-billion investment. I suggest, with all due respect, that the government's claims in their progress report today of 4,200 new or redeveloped beds are largely from the previous government. Sure, you might have changed the sheets to red or put

new red curtains on the wall, but I suspect not much real progress has been made in that respect. And the border infrastructure projects are similarly projects that had begun under the previous government. I'm pleased to see the work continuing.

I'm glad that you didn't stop those projects, but just painting those yellow lines red is not exactly improving infrastructure in Ontario.

Similarly, for the Big Six cultural renaissance projects in the province, I'm pleased that the Liberal government is continuing on the good work by the previous Progressive Conservative government in that

respect to help cultural tourism in Ontario, but, please, some credit to the previous work that was done, instead of putting up red signs.

Speaking of those red signs across the province, this has to be the hardest-working person in the province of Ontario, putting up all these propaganda signs, conveniently the same red colour as the Liberal

Party logo. I wonder when that new $220,000 ugly trillium is going to be transplanted onto those signs as well.

In reality, this should not be called Renew Ontario; it should simply be called Rebrand Ontario. It's an effort by the Dalton McGuinty government to take credit for work they have not done and obscure the lack

of projects that will see any money flow conveniently after the next provincial election. Dalton McGuinty is asking voters to trust him. I say that Ontario voters won't be fooled again.

CORPORATE TAX

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I would say to my colleague the Minister of Finance that I'm pleased to see work has progressed in the area of a single route of tax collection for corporate

income taxes. I know this work had also started under the previous government, and I'm pleased to see the work has continued. I congratulate the civil servants in the Ministry of Finance for their hard work. In fact, Minister Flaherty probably had

quite a role, both at the provincial and federal levels, in advancing these projects.

I want to say that I hope the minister will stand up soon and talk about lowering the tax burden for hard-working families and businesses in the province of Ontario, controlling runaway spending like the

trillium I mentioned or dropping the OLGC for $6 million and addressing the 90,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs that have fled the province under Dalton McGuinty's leadership since the beginning of 2005.

The only caveat I have about an initiative that's a positive step forward, albeit in 2009 -- the only worry I have is that giving Dalton McGuinty more access to taxpayers' money is like giving the keys to the

liquor cabinet to teenagers and going away for the weekend.

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): The announcement made today by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal masks some very disturbing trends. Of the investments announced today, about

$2.5 billion will be for the private financing of hospitals and courthouses. Now, most of that will go to hospitals and increasing the size of some hospitals.

The minister is using a method -- private financing -- that will ensure higher health care costs for this province and lower spending on patient care in this province. This is a method that his leader, in the

past, has said was wrong, a method that was denounced when it was put forward by those on the opposition benches, but one that seems to be embraced by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.

Now, the Brampton hospital is going to cost about $535 million, and the extra cost because of private financing is $175 million. That's $175 million not available for patients. It's $175 million not available

to hire nurses, pay for doctors, make sure that the emergency room is staffed. That $175 million will be a burden on the backs of the public and on the backs of the people who will use these facilities. Privatized finance is going to open the door

to privatized food services, privatized maintenance, privatized administration, all of this opened by the Minister for Public Infrastructure Renewal.

Overall, in the $2.5 billion dollars worth of infrastructure that is going to be privately financed instead of publicly financed, the extra cost to this province will be about $750 million. That's a big burden

to be carried by the public for expenses that do not produce results -- costs but not results. The minister, through utilization of this method, pioneered by a party that he disagrees with profoundly but a method that he seems to have embraced, is

undermining our future. He's providing for galloping privatization of our health care system.

The Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal is quite certainly, quite definitely on the wrong track with this policy direction.

CORPORATE TAX

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): In response to the Minister of Finance, this weekend when I turned on the television, I saw the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of Canadian politics, the

Minister of Finance and his counterpart in Ottawa, both speaking from the same songbook. But what wasn't said, and what needs to be said and what needs to be understood, is that the business service agreement that you have so proudly talked about

has not yet been negotiated. We need to know what is being uploaded. You haven't said what's going to be uploaded to the federal government. You haven't told us what business taxes are going to be uploaded. You haven't talked about the human

resources agreement with the federal government, because that has not been negotiated either. You haven't talked about the 800 public employees in Ontario who have done legendary service to the people of this province.

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): It's right there.

Mr. Prue: I know it's there, and I'm telling you your mistake. If you don't want to listen to your mistake, then don't listen. Tune out like you always do. Okay.

You haven't talked about the number who are going to end up in the federal government. You haven't talked about the 800 who are going to be reabsorbed or where they're going to be reabsorbed within the fabric

of Ontario service. You haven't talked about the number who are going to be, in the end, laid off.

We know what this is: This is a loss of expertise to the province of Ontario. It is a loss of expertise to all the taxpayers of this province. Yes, I can see the corporations singing the glory that they're

going to save some money. Yes, I can see the government saying they're no longer going to be involved. But I want to know is, are our tax revenues going to go down? Because I fear they are. With the loss of the revenue, they're going to go

down.

We have to look at our long-term finances. Would that all this had been explained, would that all this had been said in the same way that you had your little spat, with Tweedledum and Tweedledee having the

little spat about the fiscal gap and the uploading, because that's what really made all the newspapers. You can fight about that, but you're on the same side and the same songbook when it comes to the corporate taxation. We think there are answers

that need to be given.

IAN SCOTT

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I regret to inform the House that former MPP and Attorney General Ian Scott has passed away. We will most certainly speak

to his life at the appropriate time, but let me simply express, on behalf of all members present, our sympathies for his family and friends, and say that we are grateful for his public service and we have been inspired by his courage.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Oral questions. The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): I hope we will have a chance at some point, because I'll look forward to joining in those discussions. I first met the former Attorney General when I

was a young lawyer, and I'd very much would like to speak to what a very special person he was.

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): That was a long time ago.

Mr. Tory: It was a long time ago; you're quite right.

ORAL QUESTIONS

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Once again this weekend, the newspapers contained disturbing news about job losses in Ontario. For only the second

time in 30 years, Ontario's jobless rate is above the national average. Last month, Ontario lost 34,000 full-time jobs. Almost 90,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since the beginning of last year, in no small part due to the McGuinty

government policies on taxation, regulation and energy pricing, just to name a few. Warren Lovely of CIBC World Markets says we could lose 10,000 to 15,000 jobs each and every month for the foreseeable future.

Your party voted last December in favour of a resolution that called for a comprehensive strategy to address job losses. Will you bring forward that strategy, or is this yet another one of your broken

promises?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I just don't share the leader of the official opposition's profound pessimism when it comes to the economic outlook in the

province of Ontario. While it is true that we have had our businesses challenged by a high dollar, which grew at a skyrocketing rate, while we are being challenged by global competition of an unprecedented depth and strength, and while we have had

to cope with growing world energy prices, what I think is truly remarkable is how well the Ontario economy has performed, notwithstanding all of those things.

This year alone, over 103,000 net new jobs were created in Ontario. Since October 2003, some 254,000 net new jobs have been created. I would say that speaks to the confidence that Ontario entrepreneurs and

businesses continue to have in their economy.

Mr. Tory: It is not pessimism to talk about the facts that are affecting families, 90,000 families, for example, who have lost a paycheque, a good paycheque, from the manufacturing industries.

This is not pessimism; these are facts, cold hard facts being faced by these families. For you to get up and say it's pessimism, or to say it's anything other than what I asked you, which is, "Where is the strategy you promised?" -- I don't think

people are going to take any comfort from that at all.

The fact is that Ontario is the only province in all of Canada to experience a net growth in the number of unemployed people over the course of the past year. There is 5.5% more unemployed people in Ontario

today on your watch than there were at this time last year: 600 in St. Thomas at Sterling Truck; 250 at Wallaceburg Preferred Partners; 380 in Sarnia at Dow Chemical; 280 in Stratford at Dura Automotive.

Where is the plan? That's all I asked you. Where is the plan that you people voted for in this Legislature to help these families who have lost these jobs? Where is it?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Let me speak to some parts of the plan which the member continues adamantly to oppose. We put in place a strategic auto sector partnership fund: $500 million. The

Conservative Party says that that was a bad investment on the part of taxpayers. We disagree strongly.

I think we can conclude that the leader of the official opposition, if given the opportunity, would quietly preside over the continuing evolution of the economy. We take a different approach. We put together

this auto sector fund and we have used it to leverage $7 billion worth of new investment in the province of Ontario. For the first time since the invention of the car, we are now number one in North America when it comes to auto production, and

that's two years running.

As a result of that fund, in a partnership we did with Linamar, an auto parts company, we are landing 3,000 new jobs in that one business alone. Again, that establishes a contrast between their approach and

our approach. We're prepared to partner; they are not.

Mr. Tory: I challenge the Premier to bring into this House one quote I have ever made, ever, that said anything other than that I would continue with the investment in the auto sector. Find

one quote and bring it in here. Bring in one quote, just one quote.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. The Minister of Economic Development and Trade --

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): You just said --

The Speaker: The Minister of Energy will come to order.

Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: So bring in one quote.

Now, the plan we're talking about here is to help the 90,000 families who have lost manufacturing jobs on your watch. On December 8, 2005, some 31 members of the McGuinty Liberal caucus stood in this House and

called for "a detailed government initiative ... to deal with these communities, families and working men and women who are suffering from these rapid economic changes, and that this plan should come forward immediately." Not one member of any

party voted against it.

It's now more than 10 months since that resolution and we haven't seen a detailed initiative. In fact, we've seen no initiative at all. Will you commit to bringing forward that initiative by the end of this

month so the people of Ontario can see what you're going to do for these people in these communities who are hurting? Can we see it by the end of the month?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: In addition to our strategic auto sector partnership fund, which I am surprised to learn that the leader of the official opposition now supports, because he voted against

that originally as part of our budget, I can also say that we have been partnering with the manufacturing sector. We've established a $500-million advanced manufacturing investment strategy there. For example, Diamond Aircraft in London, Ontario,

as a result of the partnership we have entered into with it, is creating 550 new jobs.

To be more specific about those who have lost their jobs -- and we will not lose sight of their concerns and the challenges in those families -- we are proud that we have been able to put together a labour

market development agreement with the federal government. We are the first Ontario government to sign such an agreement. That's $1.4 billion. But there's one issue that is outstanding: It forms part of the McGuinty-Martin labour market partnership

agreement. I would ask the leader of the official opposition to pick up the phone, phone Prime Minister Harper --

The Speaker: Thank you, Premier.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is again for the Premier. Another weekend has passed and another emergency room closure has been narrowly averted as you continue the

pop-up strategy of dealing with these situations only as they become four-alarm fires rather than providing any kind of comprehensive province-wide plan for the dozens of emergency rooms that are in crisis across the province.

Your current handling of the strategy has meant that you've ignored nurses, the very people who are, most of all, on the front lines and have to deal most directly and most frequently with the patients who are

waiting hours and hours in your emergency rooms to see a doctor. I've spoken to nurses in many emergency rooms and they too are at the breaking point in many cases. We've heard a lot of what's supposedly being done to address the doctors'

challenges. What are you doing for the nurses in Ontario's emergency rooms?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Well, it takes a lot of nerve for the leader of the official opposition to ask that question, and I'll give him credit for

working up that nerve. But there's something that we won't forget -- and certainly, more importantly, Ontario nurses won't forget -- and that is, during the course of the former Conservative government, they fired nurses by the thousands. They

compared Ontario nurses to hula hoop workers. I am pleased that we have turned 180 degrees in a different direction. We are training more nurses. So far, we have funded the hiring of over 4,300 new nurses. The Minister of Health has made a

commitment to ensure that we hire all graduating nurses this year. So we have turned this ship around completely. It's proceeding in a 180-degree opposite direction. They fired nurses; we are hiring nurses.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): Temporary positions. Tell the truth.

Mr. Tory: Well, I know how well that claim worked out when you went out on the "give yourself a pat on the back" tour last week and were told by the very hospital you were at that they hadn't

seen any of these nurses materialize that you claim you've hired. They haven't seen any of what you talk about in your endless photo opportunities. Donna Simpson, a nurse at Rouge Valley, said on Global Television that compared to three years ago,

nurses have "a lot more challenges; a lot more demands are put on them." And it's not just the nurses at Rouge Valley but across the system at the ONA. They want to know what's happening on this so-called progress you're announcing if their

workloads continue to increase and none of them has seen any of this good news that you talk about all over the place. Can you tell us, if your so-called plan is working so well for the nurses in this province and everybody else, is it just you

who's right and all the doctors, all the nurses and all the patients are wrong? Is it just you who's right and they're all wrong? Is that what it is?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: At the hospital in question, I had an opportunity to speak with -- I remember that nurse specifically. Her name was Cathy and I was delighted to have the opportunity to have

a conversation with her. One of the things Cathy made reference to was not the fact that we haven't hired nurses, because in fact we've hired 46 new nurses at that very hospital. I'm sure the Leader of the Opposition knows that -- 46 new nurses.

What Cathy specifically said to me -- and I'm sorry I don't have her last name -- was that she was concerned that too many of those nurses were going into administrative positions and not enough on to the floor. I said that's something we'll

gladly take up with her hospital and other hospitals as well.

Again, we're very pleased to have these ongoing conversations with our nurses. We're proud of the fact that we've funded some 4,300 and, specifically, 46 new nurses at that hospital.

Mr. Tory: I'm sure everybody's wrong except you. Global Television is wrong; the nurse I quoted is wrong; the nurse you ran into who said she hasn't seen any of the progress is wrong. They're

all wrong except you.

You claim as part of the "three cheers for me" tour that you've hired 4,000-plus nurses, but 1,000 of them, as the member next to me points out, are temporary positions. Your health minister has admitted that

the promise you made to hire 8,000 nurses during your term in office will not be kept. That's yet another broken promise. Next year, nearly a third -- 30,000 -- of Ontario's nurses are eligible to leave the system. If nurses continue to be

overworked and underappreciated, and you're not going to keep your promise, then what's going to happen in the hospitals and the long-term-care facilities?

You, Dalton McGuinty, the Premier, then opposition leader, made the promise to hire 8,000 nurses. Unless you made it solely to win votes, you must have thought you could keep it. My question is this: Why are

you now telling us you're not going to keep the promise to hire the 8,000 nurses? You've got a year left. Do it.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, I say it takes a remarkable metamorphosis for the leader of the Conservative Party, a party which gladly wielded an axe and let go thousands of nurses in the province

of Ontario, to now portray himself as a champion of nurses in the province of Ontario. It is truly a remarkable metamorphosis.

We have been proud to fund the hiring of some 4,300 new nurses. I can say that in addition to that, we've done much to improve working conditions for our nurses, whether you're talking about lifts that save

nurses who were complaining about the burden that was being imposed on them physically or whether you're talking about the new programs we have put in place to ensure that we can retain our more experienced nurses so they can spend at least some

part of every day training younger nurses, as opposed to working with patients all along.

I'm confident that we will continue to work with nurses --

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

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: Students in classrooms all over this province are facing more cuts in their schools. In northern Ontario, 11 school boards have seen

their budgets slashed by the McGuinty government this year. Outdoor education centres are being shut down. And at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, you've ordered trustees to cut the reading recovery program.

Premier, you admit your school funding formula is flawed and inadequate. You promised to fix it, but you haven't. So the question is, are you now going to axe the Dufferin-Peel school trustees so you can force

your cuts in the classroom?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): We will continue to work with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic school board, as we have in the past, and as we work with all 72

Ontario public school boards.

We've been very pleased on behalf of Ontario taxpayers to invest a further $2.7 billion into public education. In return for that massive infusion of new dollars, of course, we impose a modicum of

responsibility on our trustees and school board administrators to ensure that that money is invested wisely. If there are boards that are experiencing challenges, then of course we will want to work with them in the best way possible to ensure

that they, like we, live up to our expectations and our responsibilities when it comes to improving the quality of the learning environment for all of our students.

Mr. Hampton: The trustees at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic school board don't feel you're working with them; they feel they're being worked over by your government. But it's not just the

Dufferin-Peel Catholic school board. Students in the Algoma school board lost classroom supplies and special education assistants. Students in the Near North school board are losing full-day senior kindergarten. Students in Hamilton have lost

education assistants to help kids with special needs.

Democratically elected school board trustees from across the province are telling you to fix the school funding formula. You admit it's flawed and inadequate. The question is, are you finally going to keep

your promise and fix the school funding formula, or are you going to axe the trustees and force your funding cuts in the classroom?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Education.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): In answer to the question about the northern boards, I think we have to acknowledge first off that we have a societal issue around school

enrolment: We have declining enrolment across the province.

Having said that, since we've been in office, we have increased funding for northern students by $2,500 per pupil. That's a 30% increase. We're investing an additional $95 million into the school foundation

grant for northern boards, and I just want to flag that. That's a change in the funding formula. I think the member opposite needs to understand that the funding formula is an allocation model. When you put more money into the model or you change

the categories, then you are changing the funding formula. That's what we've done, and we'll continue to do that.

Mr. Hampton: We admit this government is changing the funding formula. The issue is fixing the funding formula, and that's what school board trustees want to see. But it's not just northern

boards. Students in Grand Erie lost their vice-principals, students at the Lakehead board lost computer technology and technology supports, students in Toronto are losing teachers, textbooks, and some will lose their schools. Virtually everywhere

boards are being forced to exhaust their reserve funds, which means next year, when the reserve funds aren't there, the cuts will be worse.

We know you're fooling around with the funding formula on the fringes. But you haven't fixed the school funding formula, which is why kids are still experiencing cuts. The question is again: You admit the

funding formula is flawed; you promised to fix it. When are we going to see the funding formula fixed, instead of kids facing more cuts?

Hon. Ms. Wynne: I know that people in Ontario are very happy that there are 7,000 more teachers in our schools across the province since we were elected. So there's funding for 7,000 more

teachers. Students are doing better in our schools in terms of the tests. We've gone up from a 54% pass rate to a 64% pass rate on our provincial tests.

But I just want to speak to one particular issue. When we talk about fixing the funding formula, if we talk about a Liberal funding formula, which is what we're working on, one of the things we've done is put

in a new category, the school foundation grant, which allows for small schools to receive funding for principals. There's new money in that school foundation grant, and that allows small schools in rural and northern areas to have a principal and

a secretary and to stay open.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: For three years you have failed to keep your promise to seniors living in Ontario's long-term-care homes. The latest example is the

McGuinty government's no minimum standards for seniors act, which fails to set basic standards of hands-on care for our parents and grandparents who are living in long-term-care homes, care that includes everything from bathing to feeding. The

absence of minimum standards from your bill is a glaring omission that will mean a lower quality of life for our seniors in long-term-care homes.

You promised minimum standards of care. Why aren't they in your bill? Why haven't you kept, yet again, another promise?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Obviously, I'm not going to agree with the leader of the NDP's characterization of our new legislation. I hope he will see

his way clear to supporting this bill, which is something that has been long awaited in the province of Ontario, not just by those people who operate our long-term-care facilities, but more importantly, by our seniors, our parents, our

grandparents and their families. We think this is very good news for people who are resident in our long-term-care homes.

We've taken the approach that says each individual resident is unique. They are not, as the leader of the NDP would assert, somehow widgets to be treated all the same. We believe that legislated standards

would be unresponsive to residents' changing needs. We believe that front-line staff are the ones who are best positioned to make that determination. I am proud to say that we are enshrining 24/7 nursing in legislation, which is the single

greatest demand we've had from our long-term-care residents.

Mr. Hampton: It is passing strange to hear the Premier's comments today, because before the election, the McGuinty Liberals introduced a resolution in this House calling for minimum standards

of care for seniors. I want to quote one of those Liberals: It's "a shame that we need to make this resolution, that we've come to this in Ontario in 2002....

"We are hurting those who have built this province.... Now, in the last years of their lives, we have abandoned them."

Who said that? Oh, Hamilton Mountain MPP Marie Bountrogianni, who now sits in your cabinet, saying one thing before the election and now something totally different after the election.

Premier, if it was a shame before the election that seniors living in long-term-care homes did not have minimum care standards, why isn't it a shame today under the McGuinty Liberals?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I can only conclude that the leader of the NDP has, in fact, not thoroughly familiarized himself with the bill, nor does he understand how well received it is by seniors in

long-term-care homes.

If I can move on to the issue of staffing, we've hired 3,140 more front-line staff and 682 nurses. We've put in place new, extensive training requirements for all front-line staff and volunteers.

This bill will also mandate whistle-blower protection. It will require the promotion of zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of residents, including fines of up to $200,000 for convictions. It strengthens the

residents' bill of rights and enshrines those rights in legislation. It puts in place a policy to minimize the physical restraint of residents.

This is about dignity and respect for our residents, for our parents and our grandparents. This bill, this legislation, has been a long time coming.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, you know that minimum standards of personal care are at the heart of looking after our seniors.

I want to quote another of your cabinet ministers: "I find that, in this day and age, to actually have to be in this House to ask for a resolution to establish minimum standards, is almost as if we're

returning to the Dark Ages.... "

Who was that? The MPP for Sarnia-Lambton, Caroline Di Cocco, before the election. But after the election, under the McGuinty government, seniors still will not have minimum standards of personal care that they

need and deserve in our long-term-care homes.

Premier, will you take the advice of your own cabinet ministers, who said it was a shame not to have these standards? Send your bill back to the drawing board, keep your promise and introduce minimum standards

of care for our seniors who need them and deserve them.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: What I think Ontario seniors want to know is whether or not the NDP are going to support this legislation that's going to improve the quality of care that our parents and

grandparents can receive. I think that's the real question that weighs heavily on the minds of residents of long-term-care homes and their families.

Again, this is a bill that will bring about zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of residents. It includes fines of up to $200,000 for convictions. It puts in place whistle-blower protection. It strengthens our

residents' bills of rights and enshrines those rights in legislation. It puts in place a policy to minimize the physical restraint of residents.

Again, I say this is about dignity and respect for Ontario seniors. I think the single most important question here today, now, at this time, is whether or not the NDP are going to support a bill that's going

to improve quality of care for our parents and grandparents in the long-term-care residences in Ontario.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): A question for the Premier: Premier, the news of two people being stricken with botulism as a result of tainted carrot juice has raised some serious

questions about your government's handling of the public health system. We know that fully one third of public health units in Ontario don't have the legally required medical officer of health. In the last year, we've seen two legionnaires'

disease outbreaks, a rubella outbreak, one of the largest salmonella outbreaks in the province's history and now two cases of botulism.

You've had the capacity review committee's report for five months and your government has done nothing about it. Meanwhile, people are getting very, very sick. Would you agree to bring in a detailed response

to the capacity review committee's report by the end of this month, and if not, why not?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Let's recall that the Conservative government downloaded responsibilities for public health onto our municipal partners.

Again, this is another case where we're moving in a 180-degree direction opposite to that taken by the Conservative government. We are uploading costs connected with that.

The leader of the official opposition would also know that responsibility for food recalls lies with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA issued a recall for this carrot juice on September 30. Our

chief medical officer was informed. Our chief medical officer promptly notified the public health offices across the province to ensure that word was directed to the retailers as much as possible so that they could take the appropriate steps.

Mr. Tory: It's almost comical. That had absolutely nothing to do with the question that I asked you.

Now, let's go back to the fact that under your government, which has been in office more than three years now, one third of the medical officer of health positions in Ontario are vacant, contrary to the law.

The law requires that these positions be filled. The number of vacancies is up 50% since your government took office. The OMA, the medical association, told you this was urgent one year ago; one year ago they told you that. Nothing has happened on

the capacity review report since you got it in May -- absolutely nothing. You've broken another campaign promise, to make the chief medical officer of health an independent officer of this Legislature.

So the question is simply this: Why do you bother to receive these reports or to pass these laws that make requirements like this and then ignore them until a four-alarm fire breaks out? Why don't you follow

the law, fill these vacancies and pay attention to these reports and respond to them? Will you respond to the capacity review report by the end of the month? Yes or no?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, we have more downloading denial taking place here inside the Ontario Legislature.

Here's what Greg Flynn, the former president of the OMA, said late last year: "The Liberal government has been working very hard to revitalize public health in this province. We thank you for your continued

commitment to public health and the government's many initiatives that aim to protect the health of Ontarians."

We know that one of the issues connected with ensuring that we have an adequate supply of doctors working in the appropriate areas where we need them is pay. Again, we're proud to have negotiated with the

Ontario Medical Association an agreement that makes our family doctors the best-paid in Canada and our specialists the second-best-paid in Canada. I remind the leader of the official opposition that his health critic said at the time, "What you're

doing is you're taking all the health care money and throwing it into the physician pool." There was a complaint we were spending too much on doctors. Again, we see things differently. We will continue to work with our health community and our

human resources to ensure Ontarians have access --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Premier. New question.

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Premier, I too want to ask you about the issue of tainted carrot juice. It was ordered recalled on September 30, but a week later, at least 10 stores

in Toronto are still offering it for sale. Now, that could only happen if public health inspectors aren't out there ensuring that the recall is enforced. So my question is this: How is it, under the McGuinty government, that tainted carrot juice

is still on the shelves in Toronto, available to be purchased, after it was ordered off the shelves over a week ago? How could that happen, Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I believe the leader of the NDP understands that it is the responsibility of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for food recalls. They made a call. They decided to recall

certain foods, carrot juice in particular. They issued that recall. They provided notice to the chief medical officer of health for Ontario. The suppliers of the juice as well were required to contact those who were running retail operations --

stores -- and in fact selling this carrot juice. But I think it is unreasonable to expect, and I'm not sure the leader of the NDP is saying this, that if there is a food recall issued in Ontario, whether that affects 500 or 10,000 stores, public

health officers are to visit each and every one of those stores individually, and that we're not allowed to count on information going by way of TV, radio --

The Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Hampton: Premier, it is your government's responsibility to protect public health. It seems that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did their job. They ordered a recall. But what we hear

from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies in Ontario is this: They say that underfunding by the McGuinty government makes it difficult for local health units to do their jobs, that it's difficult for them to be out there doing

everything that falls within their responsibility.

Premier, we noticed this weekend that your government has lots of money to spend on television ads patting yourself on the back. Why don't the public health units have enough money under the McGuinty

government to ensure that tainted carrot juice isn't being sold to the public and making people sick?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The CFIA has the overall responsibility of making sure that retailers pull products off their shelves. Local public health units can and do assist them in carrying out

inspections. But just for example, in the city of Toronto alone, over 180 stores were visited this weekend. There can be thousands of stores involved in these kinds of things. But there is a responsibility -- and I'm sure the leader of the NDP

does not intend to lift it entirely off the shoulders of the retailer -- on the part of retailers to pay attention to information that is being disseminated by the CFIA or by local public health officers, and as well to ensure that they take the

necessary steps, when they hear from their suppliers, to take anything off the shelf that might be dangerous to the health of a buyer. That is the system we have in place.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate PublicHealthOntario for the work they did and the efforts they continue to make to ensure that the food we buy every day is safe.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. In the last few weeks, students in Ontario, particularly in Willowdale, have returned to

colleges and universities, and many students have entered colleges and universities for the first time. Seeing these students in my constituency go to college or university for the first time in very high numbers has made me think about our

government's commitment to increase college and university enrolment by 50,000 students. Minister, could you give me and the members of this House an update on how close we are to that target?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I'd like to thank the member from Willowdale. We were at Seneca College, in his riding, not too long ago speaking

about opportunities. When Premier McGuinty made that commitment, it was 50,000 more opportunities for Ontario students to attend college or university in the province of Ontario. Well, the numbers are in. We were at the Rogers Centre just a few

weeks ago, but in fact we'd need more than the Rogers Centre to hold all the new students. We'd need the Rogers Centre, the Air Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Gardens to hold the 86,000 new opportunities for Ontario students. That's at Seneca

College, York University and throughout Ontario at every institution. It speaks to more opportunities for students to succeed.

Interjections.

Hon. Mr. Bentley: I know the NDP doesn't want to hear that, but every single new space is funded. That's a great, great achievement for the McGuinty government.

Mr. Zimmer: I know there was concern when the previous government ended grade 13. I well remember how worried my constituents were, because the previous government had not properly funded

colleges and universities to adequately receive those students. Now these very same students are graduating from college and university, and many want to continue with graduate studies. The previous government preferred to leave colleges and

universities guessing, unfunded and worrying about how they were going to accommodate these students. Could you tell us what we're doing as a government to ensure that colleges and universities are ready for these new postgraduate students?

Hon. Mr. Bentley: As part of the Reaching Higher budget, the McGuinty government recognized that increasing the number of postgraduate opportunities at both the Ph.D. and master's level was

essential if we were to achieve the economic potential of the future of this province and if we were to help students achieve their own potential.

As well as increasing undergraduate enrolment, the Premier and I were at sanofi in the north part of Toronto not too long ago. We made an announcement where we're increasing by 12,000 new spaces, by 2007-08,

the number of master's and Ph.D. opportunities for Ontario students. That will increase to 14,000 by 2009-10. That represents a 55% increase in postgraduate opportunities for Ontario students over what it was when we started, over 2002-03. Those

represent new opportunities for the students of Ontario and new opportunities for businesses to collaborate with those postgraduate students in the future.

CLASS SIZE

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Premier. Premier, the Ministry of Education website, under "Class-Size Tracker," has the following question: "Will smaller classes in

primary grades mean more students in other grades?" The answer is very clear: "As part of the commitment to reduce class sizes, boards must show that class sizes in grades 4 to 8 do not increase when class sizes are reduced in the early

grades."

Minister, either this statement is intentionally misleading or --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): You need to withdraw that word.

Mr. Klees: I withdraw. Either this response or this statement regarding your policy is incorrect or your Ministers of Education have not adequately managed the implementation of your classroom

policy. Which is it? Have your ministers mismanaged this or is this not your policy?

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): Before we came to office in 2003, it was extremely clear, from a very loud voice of parents around this province, that they were very tired of

averages across boards. They were tired of class size averages, which is what had been the case under the previous government, where you could have in one part of a board a class of 18 and, in another part of a board, 35. They knew that kids did

better in the early years if they were sitting in small classes.

The way to implement a class size cap is to put resources into the targeted grades and lower the class sizes in those grades, and that allows the other class sizes to remain even. That's what we've done. We've

put millions of dollars into the early years, kindergarten to grade 3, so that those teachers can lower those class sizes, and we're very close. Over 50% of our classes across the province in K to 3 are at 20 or fewer, and that's a great

success.

The Speaker: Supplementary.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): My riding would beg to differ. During the 2003 "say anything to get elected" election, your so-called education Premier promised a hard cap of 20 students

per class in "the all-important early years." Let me read this from an extremely concerned parent in my riding:

"Upon finding out in the first week of school that my oldest daughter's class size was sitting at 37 and that it was a grade 4-5 split French immersion, I decided to wait out my concerns. Thursday, I attended

the school's open house and visited the portable where my daughter spends the first part of her day.... Another parent raised her hand and asked the teacher what the exact number of children was. The teacher answered that it was down to 35. It is

not only the number of children in the class," it's also that "it is a split one. Out of a two-and-a-half-hour time slot, minus prayers, the anthem and recess, these children are only actually being taught for one hour."

Thirty-five students in a split grade 4-5, in a portable, being taught one hour each morning -- this is a sad commentary on this government.

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Minister.

Hon. Ms. Wynne: From having been in dozens of schools around the province, I know that teachers and parents are very happy that there are 3,600 more teachers in our schools since we were in

office. What we said was that, over the period of our term, we were going reduce those class sizes. Up to 90% of classes across the province were going to be at 20. We're in the process of doing that. We have moved so that more than 50% of those

classes, K to 3, are going to be at 20 or fewer this year. We will continue to make those investments and, by next year, 90% of classes K to 3 will be at 20 or fewer.

NUCLEAR WASTE

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Premier. Premier, Ontario Power Generation is proposing to construct a dump for radioactive waste at the Bruce nuclear site on the

shores of Lake Huron. This proposal marks the first time in Canada that a permanent radioactive waste dump will be constructed deep underground. Yet despite the dangers, your government is failing to require OPG's radioactive waste dump to undergo

a full provincial environmental assessment. It's opting instead for the weaker federal process.

Premier, will you commit today to subjecting Ontario Power Generation's proposed radioactive waste dump to an individual environmental assessment under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act?

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

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): Our government remains committed to the most thorough environmental assessment processes around. We have been storing, on a temporary basis, nuclear

waste at the Bruce site for many years. The member will be aware that there have been numerous public consultations in the areas around it. It's been endorsed by most of the surrounding communities.

In terms of the permanent storage of nuclear waste, the federal government, through its Nuclear Waste Management Organization, is currently looking at options for the long-term storage of nuclear waste. That,

of course, is a federal jurisdiction, and we look forward to that process being resolved and moving forward over time.

Again, I wish to stress that this government remains very committed to doing what is appropriate in the circumstances to ensure that all of this material is managed and stored in the safest and best way

possible.

Mr. Tabuns: It's interesting that it is Ontario Power Generation that is actually doing this and not the federal government. It's your low and intermediate waste that's being dealt with, not

your fuel rods.

Nonetheless, Ontarians know of the love that the McGuinty government has for all things nuclear. A project that poses this kind of threat to human health, to the Great Lakes, is one that must be subjected to

the most stringent environmental assessment, but it's not; contrary to what you said, it's not. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is proposing that this project not undergo the most rigorous level of environmental assessment at the federal

level.

Minister, Ontarians want OPG's deep underground dump for low and intermediate radioactive waste to be exposed to the clear light of day. Will you, as minister, act in cabinet to see that it undergoes a full

individual environmental assessment under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: I will remind the member opposite that in his own question, he referenced the fact that this is a federal jurisdiction.

Just so the member knows what we mean by low-level nuclear waste, we are including mops, plastic sheeting, protective clothing, floor sweepings, paper towels and rags. These can be compacted or incinerated to

reduce volume and then stored at the nuclear stations. If the member is proposing that they be shipped somewhere, we could talk about that. That would presumably involve moving them across provincial highways and roads.

Mid-level or intermediate waste comprises such items as replaced valves and filters used to decontaminate heavy water, as well as any other piece of equipment -- for example, pressure tubes -- used in the

production of power.

Low- and intermediate-level waste is stored in concrete dry-storage containers or in underground containers at the nuclear stations. They are monitored and regulated by an authority other than the owner of the

asset. I think that's appropriate --

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

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Mrs. Linda Jeffrey (Brampton Centre): My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. I understand that the $500-million auto fund was created to assist automakers. The

Leader of the Opposition says that he's always been in favour of the government's $500-million auto fund. Can you set the record straight?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): I think it's important to note that the Leader of the Opposition, frankly, is all

over the map. We wish he might have voted in favour of a budget that included our auto investment strategy, but he was opposed. Moreover, his own critic for economic development and trade is on the record as opposing government involvement in

attracting business here to Ontario.

Let me just read an interesting quote, since it seems to be the day for quotes in this House:

"Ontario's opposition Tories say Canadian governments should not be giving taxpayers' money to companies to attract mega-projects like a new automotive plant.

"`I don't think it does anything to strengthen the province across the board, so I think it's a wrong-headed way to go,' said Conservative economic development critic Ted Chudleigh."

I say he's wrong. I say we have great proof that the work of this government in partnering with our business community is working.

Mrs. Jeffrey: Last week, the Premier was able to visit the Brampton Chrysler facility, and I know the three Brampton members were very proud, because about $786 million has gone into Chrysler.

Our community would be the poorer had that investment not been made, so we're very grateful.

Minister, can you tell us the benefits to other parts of the province? This auto fund has also helped other communities. What other communities have benefited from this fund?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I appreciate that this member in particular from Brampton understands the value of a significant development by DaimlerChrysler, as should members of the opposition.

Unfortunately, they do not.

Likewise, people who work at Ford Motor Co. understand the value of our government bringing a significant investment to Ford Motor Co., affecting both Windsor and Oakville; in addition, General Motors, with

the massive Beacon project, as well as Linamar, as well as Navistar, and the list goes on and on. In total, being part of a government that leverages $7 billion in auto sector investment does work for Ontario.

While all of automotive around the world is shifting, and we acknowledge that, this province is getting ready for the next generation of auto. I can tell you that our investments mean that this government will

be ready for the next generation of auto.

CURRICULUM

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): My question is to the Premier. Last week, the Environmental Commissioner stated that your record on the environment is right there in the title:

Neglecting Our Obligations. In the report, he stated that the McGuinty government lacks action in nearly every area of environmental management, including outdoor education.

An

article in today's Toronto Star states that some young children are expecting to see whales in Lake Simcoe. This is from a government where the Premier calls himself the education Premier. It's clear that

the McGuinty Liberal government has failed to provide the children of Ontario with adequate environmental education.

Minister, other than the sudden closure of the Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre two years ago, what are you doing to educate our children to be good environmental stewards?

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): There's always a debate with some of these subjects around whether you have a set module or whether you weave the issue throughout the

curriculum. Let me tell you what we've done.

The revised grades 1 to 8 social studies, history and geography curriculum that was released in August 2004 and the revised grades 9 to 12 Canadian and world studies curriculum all have the environment and

environmental studies as part of what they do. I think that's the philosophy, that we need to weave environmental studies throughout all of our curriculum areas.

The other issue is that we are in the process of setting up a curriculum council, and these are the kinds of issues -- whether it's gender studies or whether it's environmental studies, those need to come to

the curriculum council and be assessed at that point.

Ms. Scott: Minister, there's nothing that can replace going to an outdoor education centre and children seeing first-hand the effects of nature and how we have to work in conjunction with

nature to be good environmental stewards. The Environmental Commissioner says that under your government, outdoor education is increasingly under threat. If you're so committed to education and the environment as you say you are, will you tell us

today when you're going to reopen the Frost Centre? Or is this just another broken promise by the self-proclaimed education Premier?

Hon. Ms. Wynne: I know that the member opposite wasn't in the caucus in 1998, when the previous government cut environmental studies from the curriculum altogether, but she does have to take

some responsibility for the philosophy of the previous government.

What we've actually done in our review of the curriculum is build environmental studies back into the curriculum. There is a school of thought in pedagogy, in elementary particularly, that suggests that you

really shouldn't be segmenting these subjects; you actually should be weaving environmental studies and science and geography together. It's called an integrated curriculum. What we are doing is providing those pillars of learning throughout the

curriculum. That's sound pedagogical practice.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. Minister, the north corridor assessment resources services program provides counselling services to

employees in the forestry sector. Unfortunately, as you know, there have been a large number of layoffs in communities like Opasatika, Smooth Rock Falls, Kirkland Lake, Chapleau -- and the list goes on. However, at the very time the demand for

their counselling services is up, the north corridor assessment resources services budget has been cut by 25% due to their per capita funding formula.

Minister, we've been asking you since last spring to provide emergency funding for this organization so they can do the important work that they've got to do with those workers who are being laid off. Are you

prepared, today, in this House, to commit to emergency funding for the north corridor assessment resources services?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I think the member would obviously know, because he represents the town of Smooth Rock Falls,

about the efforts that the government of Ontario is making with the community there. They've now hired a new economic development officer. The mayor has now got a team in place that's helping the workers. There's a community that has been very

hard hit. Obviously, this indefinite layoff that has happened there very much saddens us. We are putting the resources in there to work with the community, to make sure the workers have the proper adjustment program. We think this is the right and

proper role of government -- and that's what we're doing.

Mr. Bisson: The worst

part is, this minister knows what I'm asking him, and he can't even answer the question. The question is about the north corridor assessment resources services budget,

not the town of Smooth Rock Falls or Opasatika. These people are charged to do employee assistance. We have many people who, because of layoffs, are having problems within their families when it comes to family violence. We have the issue of

alcoholism and others that have to be dealt with. These employees need the assistance of this organization. There are many people in your riding, as in mine, who are being affected because they've lost their jobs, and they're asking for help.

They're asking for that help from this particular organization, and they're not going to be able to get it because the organization doesn't have the funding necessary to provide the services.

So I'm asking you again, are you prepared to provide emergency funding for this organization so they can support your constituents, my constituents, and the constituents of northern Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I'd say to the member that I'm prepared to work with him on this. I understand how important he feels this is, and of course it is, when we see displaced workers right across

northern Ontario. We need to do all we can to help them with the adjustment that the industry is going into.

As the member knows, we're investing over $900 million in our forest adjustment program. We have seen many investments as of late, including one just down the road, where some of his constituents work, in

Kenogami, outside of Kirkland Lake. I met with union officials there, and they really understood the benefit now of this conversion from a very small sawmill that wasn't very viable to a new value-added facility that's making finger-joint lumber

that's of high value.

I'm committed to working with the member and making sure that we regain these jobs in northern Ontario. In the interim, we have to work on some of these adjustment programs.

CITY OF CORNWALL

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Minister, for many people coming to Cornwall, Brookdale Avenue is the key point of entry.

The first impressions they have of the city -- the only city in my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh -- come from that stretch of roadway. Also, it is the main thoroughfare for traffic heading toward the Seaway International Bridge and on

to the United States -- and I can remember that thoroughfare as a country road, a rural road, unpaved, back in the 1950s. For that reason, it is important that Brookdale Avenue be upgraded to handle an extensive traffic load and provide an

enticement to passersby to perhaps explore the rest of the city as well.

Minister, can you share with us what work is being done in the Cornwall area that will benefit my constituents, visitors to my riding and those crossing the international border?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I thank the member. The member has been a strong force within his community. I recall him so eloquently saying that

Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh is back on the map because of the McGuinty government, and there's just no question. I'm proud to say that we've made record investments not only in transportation in terms of the roads but in transit as well. Since

October 2003, this government has committed over $1.7 million to the city of Cornwall to support public transit including, by October 2007, an additional $1 million for the total gas tax funding. We've also provided Cornwall with $700,000 in terms

of what they're going to do with their public vehicles and a loan. We've put $1.9 million into Move Ontario funding for the city. We've also put $8 million to assist Cornwall in the construction and reconstruction of Brookdale Avenue linking

provincial traffic to the international bridge. Finally, we are investing $17.7 million --

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

You may have a supplementary.

Mr. Brownell: Minister, I can tell you that Cornwall and all of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh are thrilled to finally have a government that acknowledges their needs and is certainly doing

something about them. Having faced some economic difficulties recently, my riding is in a state of transition. The Minister of Finance saw that this summer. The Minister of Labour was down and he saw it this summer. You were down this summer. I

was thrilled that you came into the riding and were able to see some of the concerns and some of the issues that I have been talking about here in the Legislature.

Minister, can you please tell us what this government is doing to ensure continued growth and prosperity for the people of Cornwall and all of those from my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: I'm delighted to be able to say that in addition to the Brookdale project, as an example, there's new infrastructure for three new capital hospital projects, water and

waste facilities, cultural funding, discretionary funding and general support with this government. The difference between the previous government and this government is inaction to action. Not only that, we've put a little bit of money behind our

action to ensure that the people of Cornwall are being listened to not only through their member who does this so regularly by contacting us and involving us in the issues that are necessary, but also by ensuring that your community is being

listened to, as we just did when you brought somebody in as we were talking about the noise barriers along the highway, as we're putting that investment of $17.7 million into the 401 from Cornwall to the Quebec border. So we recognize that the

challenges are there, and we've addressed those challenges by actually putting the dollars -- as I said, action -- into the community.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. As you'll recall, some time ago we had some discussions in this House about whose responsibility

it is to look after the rivers in this province. I would just like to ask the minister when he will live up to his responsibility and look after the Saugeen River and fix the Saugeen River so it won't take out the lagoons in Neustadt.

As he knows, there was another study done. The people of Neustadt cannot afford to fix this river. It is his responsibility, and I would like to know when the minister will announce in this House that he's

going to look after his responsibilities and look after the rivers in this province.

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I think we'll do a little River 101 for the member there and talk about the evolution of rivers.

I have to say to the member, they get bigger. That's just what rivers do, because they erode and they get larger. That's the course of a river, if you will.

We have talked about this. If people put some sort of structure by a river, then they have the responsibility to protect that value. Whether it be your house, a commercial property or, in this case, a

municipal infrastructure, then it's up to the owner to protect that asset from the erosion of the river. But we tell people, you shouldn't be building assets close to rivers and beaches, because these things erode. That's the nature of the

evolution of watercourses. I'm saying that to the member, and it's up to the municipality to fix it.

Mr. Murdoch: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like to remind the minister that it was the province that put the lagoon there in the first place.

PETITIONS

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): I have a petition here for the Legislative Assembly, asking this government to amend the Clean Water Act.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas every Ontarian wants the best water quality possible; and

"Whereas the goal of clean water can be achieved effectively through amendments to existing legislation; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals are determined to hammer through the flawed legislation known as the Clean Water Act; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to put in place adequate, stable, long-term funding into the bill; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to effectively address the numerous problems in the bill; and

"Whereas rural Ontario stands to suffer significantly under this poorly-thought-out policy;

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

"To not pass Bill 43 (the Clean Water Act) until proper funding and amendments are in place."

I support this petition and affix my signature to it.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I'd just ask members if they would take their private conversations outside.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, managerial and professional talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

I agree with this petition and I will sign my name to it.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the government of Ontario's health insurance plan covers treatments for one form of macular degeneration (wet), and there are other forms of macular degeneration (dry) that are not covered,

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government of Ontario as follows:

"There are thousands of Ontarians who suffer from macular degeneration, resulting in loss of sight if treatment is not pursued. Treatment costs for this disease are astronomical for most individuals and add a

financial burden to their lives. Their only alternative is loss of sight. We believe the government of Ontario should cover treatment for all forms of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance program."

I affix my name in full support.

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): The petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the McGuinty government is committed to establishing measures that will break down the barriers for Ontario newcomers; and

"Whereas these measures will ensure that the 34 regulatory professions in Ontario have admissions and application practices that are fair, clear and open; and

"Whereas these measures will include the establishment of a fairness commissioner and an access centre for internationally trained individuals; and

"Whereas, through providing a fair and equitable system, newcomers will be able to apply their global experience, which will not only be beneficial to their long-term career goals but also to the Ontario

economy as a whole;

"We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Legislature of Ontario as follows:

"That all members of the House support the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, Bill 124, and work to ensure its prompt passage in the Ontario Legislature."

I agree with the petitioners and affix my signature on the petition as well.

LONG-TERM CARE

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

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

that they deserve; and

"Whereas, even with recent funding increases and a dedicated staff who do more than their best, there is still not enough time available to provide the care residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and

sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

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

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

long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I'm pleased to support this on behalf of my constituents and to present it to Dominic.

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have petitions that have been sent to me by members of SEIU Local 1.on, that read as follows:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said, `Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors

will be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios'; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I agree with the petitioners and I've affixed my signature to this.

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North): I have a petition here addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"In Support of Skilled Immigrants -- Bill 124:

"Whereas the McGuinty government is committed to establishing measures that will break down barriers for Ontario newcomers; and

"Whereas these measures will ensure that the 34 regulatory professions in Ontario have admissions and application practices that are fair, clear and open; and

"Whereas these measures will include the establishment of a fairness commissioner and an access centre for internationally trained individuals; and

"Whereas, through providing a fair and equitable system, newcomers will be able to apply their global experience, which will not only be beneficial to their long-term career goals but also to the Ontario

economy as a whole;

"We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Legislature of Ontario as follows:

"That all members of the House support the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, Bill 124, and work to ensure its prompt passage in the Ontario Legislature."

I wholeheartedly support this and send it to you via page Julia.

CHILD CUSTODY

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): I have a petition from Cangrands to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the people of the province of Ontario deserve and have the right to request an amendment to the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and

grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 20(2.1) requires parents and others with custody of children to refrain from unreasonably placing obstacles to personal relations between the children and their grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2) contains a list of matters that a court must consider when determining the best interests of a child. The bill amends that subsection to include a specific reference to the importance

of maintaining emotional ties between children and grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.1) requires a court that is considering custody of or access to a child to give effect to the principle that a child should have as much contact with each parent and grandparents as is

consistent with the best interests of the child.

"Subsection 24(2.2) requires a court that is considering custody of a child to take into consideration each applicant's willingness to facilitate as much contact between the child and each parent and

grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child.

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and

grandparents."

As I'm in agreement with this petition, I'm pleased to affix my signature to it.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly that has been signed primarily by executive directors of different multicultural groups, and I

especially thank Haroon Khan of Mississauga for the work that he did in collecting the signatures. It reads as follows:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, managerial and professional talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

I absolutely support this petition. I'm pleased to affix my signature and to ask page Annaliese to carry it for me.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm pleased to present another petition from the riding of Durham. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas every Ontarian wants the best water quality possible; and

"Whereas the goal of clean water can be achieved effectively through amendments to existing legislation; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals are determined to hammer through the flawed legislation known as the Clean Water Act; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to put in place adequate, stable, long-term funding into the bill; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to effectively address the numerous problems in the bill; and

"Whereas rural Ontario stands to suffer significantly under this poorly thought-out policy;

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

"To not pass Bill 43 (the Clean Water Act) until proper funding and amendments are in place."

I'm pleased, as a member of the committee that dealt with this, to sign and support this and present it to Sarah.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): These petitions are sent to me by members of SEIU Local 1.on. They read as follows:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said, `Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors

will be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios'; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED

PROFESSIONS ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'ACCÈS ÉQUITABLE

AUX PROFESSIONS RÉGLEMENTÉES

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 3, 2006, on the motion for second reading of Bill 124,

An Act to provide for fair registration practices in Ontario's regulated professions / Projet de loi 124,

Loi prévoyant des pratiques d'inscription équitables dans les professions réglementées de l'Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): When we last debated this bill, the member for Toronto-Danforth had the floor. I recognize the member for Toronto-Danforth to resume his presentation.

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): Where I'd left off when we were discussing this bill previously was going through the amendments that the NDP feels are necessary to give this bill some

teeth, to make sure that it has the impact on new Canadians and on our job market that it has to have, because so many people's lives are being wasted, so much economic potential is being wasted, so much has to change to make this province live up

to its promise.

Where I had left off was the need, frankly, to include in this bill the list of professions to be regulated. I had said before that Judge Thomson had actually listed them in his report, and he has. There's a

list in the appendices that one can go through. No big mystery there. It would be very easy for the people responsible for writing the legislation to take that list, simply put it into the act, and provide in the act power for the government of

the day to add other professions as they become regulated.

Many in the McGuinty government are reluctant to include in the act the actual list of professions to be regulated. I've found in my short time here in this Legislature that this government has tremendous

fondness for leaving items out of the legislation, making sure that the real substance will be decided at a later point in the regulations themselves, and that has tremendous problems.

A week ago, the Environmental Commissioner for Ontario, in his report Neglecting Our Obligations, talked about a change in regulation to the Nutrient Management Act. He was very clear that that change in

regulations resulted in

an act and regulations that were virtually unenforceable. What that says to me is that giving this government a blank cheque with regulations means that we've given them far too much power, that we have undermined our

authority as legislators to put in place protections for those internationally educated professionals to know that the professions they are interested in are covered by the legislation.

It eliminates the wiggle room that this government wants to put in place in this legislation. Put the list in the legislation from the beginning so we know what's being regulated, so we know which professions

are going to be covered by the act. Give the government of the day the powers necessary to add more regulated professions as time goes by.

A fourth amendment that I believe needs to be made is to fully establish a fair registration practices code in the legislation. Judge Thomson, in his report, called for the establishment of a fair registration

practices code. If you look in the legislation, there's reference to "fair registration practices," but I would say that if you look at the Thomson report and you look at what's being legislated, not all that Judge Thomson called for actually made

it to the legislation.

He called for the code to include a requirement that regulators periodically review and make improvements to registration practices on the basis of the code and on the basis of recommendations of the Thomson

report and published reports of innovative registration practices developed in other jurisdictions. Frankly, I think we're going to need that piece that's not included in the legislation. We need constant assessment and review of our registration

practices to ensure that ossified, old, rigid systems don't set the future for us; that we set the future for ourselves; that we look at what's being done in other jurisdictions that allows those jurisdictions to fully realize the talents of the

people who live in those jurisdictions. We should, on the basis of the professions themselves, protect them and protect new Canadians, to make sure that the fair practices code includes this requirement for review, for improvement on a constant

basis.

I know that in the course of going through this bill, in the course of committee hearings, we will hear from many people; many people who will say to us, "Here are elements of a fair practices code that will

make this bill better, stronger, more able to actually deliver on what has to be in its substance." I think that element, making sure that all of Judge Thomson's requirements are included in the fair registration practices, are incorporated in the

bill -- and we, as legislators, should be ready, as we listen to the public, the people, when they come to speak to us, to incorporate their changes to that fair practices code so it's complete and thorough.

We need to establish a department within the access centre that will be established in this bill, that the act creates, which will evaluate the equivalence of standards between regulatory bodies and

educational institutions in other countries, and compare their standards to those set here in Ontario. This data will be provided to regulatory bodies to assist them in determining equivalence of credentials.

This is a very big issue, and it comes up time after time when I talk with internationally educated professionals. They know that in different jurisdictions around the world, the requirements they have -- the

requirements for practice, the educational standards -- are already equivalent to those existing in Ontario. But there is not a government body there assessing those things and making that information generally available.

We're often reminded that we live in a global economy. We do. And in this global economy, capital, talent flow between borders. In 1989, Canada signed a UNESCO convention, and it committed itself to the

international mobility of teachers, researchers and professional workers by recognizing foreign-earned credentials. We need to take that commitment by Canada, that commitment made at the UNESCO convention, and make sure that it can be actualized,

realized, by assigning a responsibility in this act to a body that will on a regular basis be assessing the equivalence of credentials.

We know that the mobility Canada committed itself to doesn't exist right now. When people come to this country, the value of their credentials is not recognized. Their expertise and their knowledge are

devalued. That's why people express intense frustration, intense anger at times, about the fact that licensing bodies and employers don't give them adequate credit for the work, the prior learning, the accreditation they've accrued overseas. The

very experience that allowed them to come to Canada, the points they were given when they were assessed by immigration officers, mean nothing when they come here -- nothing. Too often, all of the work they've done, all the experience they've

acquired, all of the skill they've demonstrated, means nothing. They need to have a backup. We need to have a system in place, an office in place, that will evaluate those skills, those experiences, the standards of regulatory bodies in oth