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December 5, 2016

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2016-Dec-05 (PDF)

L039 - Mon 5 Dec 2016 / Lun 5 déc 2016

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 5 December 2016 Lundi 5 décembre 2016

Introduction of Visitors

Ian Deans

Oral Questions

Government’s record

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Hospital funding

Hydro rates

Government contracts

Government contracts

Child care

Energy policies

Youth employment

La Francophonie

Wind turbines

Hydro rates

Clean technology

Government services

Visitors

Correction of record

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Food cupboards

Eating disorders

Charles Walter “Wally” Carruthers

Mike Brennan

Diabetes

Franklin A. Lang

Medically assisted suicide

Family skate

Hockey towns

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Introduction of Bills

Kickstarting Public Participation Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 de démarrage de la participation citoyenne

Eating Disorders Awareness Week Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la Semaine de la sensibilisation aux troubles de l’alimentation

Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Jour commémoratif du massacre de Nanjing

Motions

Order of business

Sign-language interpreters

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

International Day of Persons with Disabilities / Journée internationale des personnes handicapées

Petitions

School closures

Energy policies

Energy contracts

Long-term care

Child care

Property taxation

School closures

Hospital funding

Employment standards

Energy contracts

Orders of the Day

End Age Discrimination Against Stroke Recovery Patients Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 visant à mettre fin à la discrimination fondée sur l’âge envers les malades se rétablissant d’un accident vasculaire cérébral

Children’s Law Reform Amendment Act (Recognizing Relationships with Grandparents), 2016 / Loi de 2016 modifiant la Loi portant réforme du droit de l’enfance (Reconnaissance de la relation avec les grands-parents)

Albanian Heritage Month Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Mois du patrimoine albanais

PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la Journée de sensibilisation au PANDAS/PANS

Bangladeshi Heritage Month Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Mois du patrimoine bangladais

Protecting Rewards Points Act (Consumer Protection Amendment), 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la préservation des points de récompense (modification de la

Loi sur la protection du consommateur)

Hindu Heritage Month Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Mois du patrimoine hindou

Nurse Practitioner Week Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la Semaine des infirmières praticiennes et infirmiers praticiens

Protecting Rewards Points Act (Consumer Protection Amendment), 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la préservation des points de récompense (modification de la

Loi sur la protection du consommateur)

Royal assent / Sanction royale

Time allocation

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you and good morning, Speaker. I’d like to introduce my friend Ishmael Van Der Rassel from the Ontario Métis, and my friend Becky Coles from Newstalk 1010.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I also want to add my greetings to Becky Coles, producer extraordinaire from Newstalk 1010. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I want to introduce Meghan Lang-Ferguson, who is here in our gallery from Mississauga South. Her uncle Frank was a World War II casualty in an unmarked grave that she found and was able to repatriate. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce students from St. Mike’s college school in Toronto. I actually went to St. Mike’s myself and they are here today: grade 8 students from St. Michael’s College School visiting the Legislature. They are joined by Darryl Giancola, Matthew Pagano, Steve Antolin, Kevin Shaughnessy and Chris Callaghan from their faculty. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I want to welcome to good friend of mine, Diane Deans, who is visiting Queen’s Park. Diane is also an Ottawa city councillor and I want to welcome her to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Robert Bailey: Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome today in the west members’ gallery Kerry Henrikson from Sarnia and her daughter Lena Henrikson, accompanied by Erin Kwarciak from PANDAS/PANS Ontario.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I’m just delighted to welcome to Queen’s Park today a constituent of mine, David Vandenberg. He is a wonderful young man who cares deeply about our community, works in the not-for-profit sector, and most recently did an amazing food drive. We’re very proud of David and I want to thank him and welcome him to Queen’s Park. Thank you, David.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Today’s page captain is Victoria Armstrong from Chatham–Kent–Essex. With her today is her mother, Lora Armstrong; her brother Richard; and a good family friend, Coleen Sanson, in the members’ gallery. Thank you and welcome.

M. Grant Crack: Il me fait grand plaisir de souhaiter la bienvenue à deux résidents de ma circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. I’d like to welcome M. Léo Proulx qui est ici avec M. Michel-André Lavergne. They’re with Sauvons La Nation.

Also, to Margaret Benke and John Irven, who are also here this morning, we welcome you. Thank you for the meeting with the Minister of Energy. It was wonderful.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I’d like to welcome Margaret Benke and John Irven from my riding of Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Would the members please join me in welcoming the family and friends of the late Ian Deans, MPP for Wentworth during the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st Parliaments, who are seated in the Speaker’s gallery: his daughter Megan McGovern; son Jeffrey Deans and his wife, Jenn; son Ian Deans Jr. and his wife, Melanie Barrick; daughter Trish Folino and her husband, Dave McCutcheon; his sister, Janis Gallacher, and her husband, Brian Gallacher; grandson Adrian Folino and his wife, Jaclyn Lee; his former wife, Diane Deans; and family friend Julia Keast. Welcome, and thank you for being here today.

Also in the Speaker’s gallery we have many former members who have come to pay their respects: Mr. Odoardo Di Santo, MPP for Downsview during the 30th, 31st and 32nd Parliaments; Mr. Stephen Henry Lewis, MPP for Scarborough West during the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st Parliaments; Mr. Ross McClellan, MPP for Bellwoods during the 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Parliaments; and Mr. David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament. Thank you for being with us to show your respects.

Ian Deans

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to recognize the former member of provincial Parliament from Wentworth, Mr. Ian Deans, with a representative from each caucus speaking for up to five minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent. Do we agree? Agreed.

Mr. Ted McMeekin: Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” That’s good advice, as forks in the road often lead to important personal transitions. Ian Deans understood this better than most: a family man, firefighter, professional soccer player, NDP MPP and House leader, professor, part-time MBA student—he did graduate—leadership candidate, NDP MP and federal House leader, and chair of the federal Public Service Staff Relations Board. The list goes on.

No matter what Ian did, he would blaze a trail. His mother, Margaret, and father, Bob, inspired him. His wife, June, was his rock. The whole Deans clan was always supportive of Ian because politics was a broad family affair.

As smart and charismatic and articulate as he was—in my opinion, next to Stephen Lewis, Ian was probably the most articulate member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly—Ian was, down deep, a very plain and simple man, a man who saw injustice and fought to end it, who saw pain and tried to heal it, and who fought for anyone and everyone with a just cause. He loved his constituents and they loved him back. They may not have always agreed with Ian but they trusted him, believing he always had their best interests at heart. Could that be said of all of us? Simply put, Ian gave those who held nothing sacred something to believe in.

I first met Ian Deans at my own fork in the road in the early 1970s when I undertook a graduate school internship with him here at Queen’s Park. Ian was the best professor I ever studied with and the person who most inspired me to a life of public service.

I helped organize a couple of his campaigns, which in hindsight was fairly easy considering his overwhelming popularity as a politician. We became lifelong friends. For a couple of years, I did constituency work with Ian. Good training, probably, right? No constituency office, no cellphones, no computers, little support staff—I think there was one for every six MPPs back then—but gosh, did he get things done.

I remember spending entire days in the Legislative Assembly library researching special topics for Ian. Once I prepared material on the warble fly act. Now, Jeff would understand what that is, and Ernie and John, but probably few others. I prepared the material, and Ian then gave a very well-received speech on the topic. He thanked me for my hard work, and kiddingly, even sarcastically, said, “You never know when your new knowledge of the warble fly act might come in handy.” Neither of us knew at the time he was speaking to a future minister of agriculture and food.

Ian excelled at holding the government’s feet to the fire at question period. He had a secret strategy, and I’m going to reveal it, probably for the first time. You see, back in those days, the Hamilton Spectator published twice a day—you may remember this, Andrea—at 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. June, his wife of many years, or I, would pick up the early morning paper and read portions of it to Ian on the way to Queen’s Park. He would then be quick on his feet, asking the government tough questions about the very emerging issues that reporters were preparing articles on for the afternoon or next-day paper. Needless to say, Ian appeared, and rightly so, to be on top of everything.

Ian once suggested to me that the single greatest ability any person in public service can offer is the gift of availability. He worked harder than anyone I’ve ever met in politics. He would frequently represent his constituents at various board hearings, including the OMB, and he would represent them better than any lawyer ever could.

Ian was as strong an advocate for organized labour as he was a relentless supporter of individual rights, including his own. A bit of a libertarian, Ian fiercely debated the seatbelt legislation when it was first passed. At one point, he simply refused to wear his seat belt. As a friend, I had to refuse to travel with him to Queen’s Park unless he did it up, which he did, but boy, was he ticked at me.

I want to extend my condolences to Ian’s family, especially his children, Trish, Ian, Jeff and Megan, and his sister, Janis. I know firsthand just how often the spouse and children of politicians pay the price for a life dedicated to public service. We thank you for sharing your husband, father, brother, grandfather with us, and with all the people of Ontario. Thanks largely to you, Ian Deans has left a legacy of difference-making.

Despite the fact that Parkinson’s robbed Ian of his spirit and ability to communicate over much of the last decade, Ian, as anyone who knew him would attest, continued as best he could to stay engaged with his family and his community. I will always remember Ian Deans with fondness and thankfulness for his friendship, mentorship and the great life he lived.

I want to end with the words of a good friend Ian and I shared, the late, great Reverend Dr. Tommy Douglas, who once said this, interestingly, at the funeral of a friend: “If, instead of flowers, we could plant a beautiful thought in the heart of a friend, that would be to give as the angels give.” Throughout his life, Ian Deans gave as the angels give. We give thanks for a life well lived. Rest in peace, buddy.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further tribute?

Mr. Toby Barrett: We in the Ontario PC party are honoured to be part of today’s tribute, and we welcome the family and the friends who are here joining us today.

When I think back to the 1960s and early 1970s, as a farm boy south of Hamilton, I vividly recall public awareness and debate on a number of hot issues: the Waffle party, the War Measures Act, and Ian Deans.

Back then, you relied on television aerials and rabbit ears. The only station we could get was CHCH, so we got the news from Norm Marshall, of course, from the Spectator and from Hamilton radio, all of which highlighted news stories and politicians that, as a young fellow, I always found a lot more exciting and controversial compared to our local offerings in Haldimand–Norfolk. Case in point: the Waffle party, as we knew it, was actually originally a radical left-wing group within the Ontario New Democratic Party that, back in 1969, drafted the Manifesto for an Independent Socialist Canada.

This was known as the Waffle Resolution, espousing Canadian nationalism and solidarity with Quebec’s sovereignty movement.

Wentworth MPP Ian Deans was against it and, since his election in 1967, was known for fighting for what he felt was right. In 1970 he favoured a resolution that would force the Waffle to be expelled from the party. He was opposed to the Waffle because it recruited its own members, raised its own funds and created the manifesto. That resolution ended up passing at the NDP convention in 1972.

Back in the day, we clearly recall the War Measures Act. In 1970, Ian broke with his NDP colleagues and expressed support for Prime Minister Trudeau’s implementation of war measures during the FLQ crisis.

In 1978, Ian decided to run for leadership of the provincial NDP to replace Stephen Lewis. Deans’s earlier support for the War Measures Act became a point of contention, I’m told, even though he had, in later years, recanted his position, saying that it was wrong and that he regretted his decision. He was initially projected as the front-runner, but he did lose by a mere 200 votes to Ottawa’s Michael Cassidy—in part, as I understand it, because of his support for the War Measures Act.

Deans resigned from this Legislature; the next year, ran federally; won handily Hamilton Mountain; and served as acting official House leader and was the NDP’s trade, housing and industry critic.

Some of us do recall the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a bit of a rough-and-tumble Hamilton politician, one of the best speakers and debaters in this Legislature and also in Parliament in Ottawa. He was also seen as a great listener, known for his honesty—certainly when it came to political viewpoints. If he disagreed with you, he would tell you. He was known to act on things he felt were right, even if on occasion it meant crossing the party line.

In 1986, Ian decided to leave politics and accept an appointment from, of all people, then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to head the Public Service Staff Relations Board. Ian Deans’s relationship with Brian Mulroney during question period, I understand, is legendary. From what I read, he did have an ability to get under Mulroney’s skin on occasion.

He took an appointment from a man that he had publicly lambasted. It shocked his NDP colleagues. He indicated that that service in public office—something like 10 years—was one of the best jobs he ever had, second only to being an elected representative. At the board, Ian’s reputation and integrity were of utmost importance. He was very productive dealing with cases.

As recently as 2008, Ian seemed to continue running for office. He considered another run federally, but he did step aside.

Obviously, there are many here who know him better than I. I just knew him through the media, primarily CHCH and the Spectator. He will long be remembered as a passionate fighter. He put the best interests of others forward and had that fire within.

Again, on behalf of the PC Party, to Ian’s family and friends who are here today, we extend our heartfelt sympathies.

Thank you, Ian Deans, for your tireless service to the people of our province and our nation. Thank you.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further tribute?

Miss Monique Taylor: Alexander Fleming, Robert Burns, Johnnie Walker—just some of the people from Kilmarnock and its surrounding area in Scotland that the world can be grateful for. Johnnie Walker gave us his Black and Red Labels. Alexander Fleming revolutionized medicine when he discovered penicillin. Robert Burns, a poet at a time when class and privilege were accepted as the natural order, wrote of equality and global solidarity of honest working people.

We in Hamilton, and indeed, all of Canada, are truly grateful for another of Kilmarnock’s sons, Ian Deans, who chose to make Hamilton his home.

Ian Deans was the MPP for the riding of Wentworth from 1967 to 1979, a riding which included a significant part of the riding that I now represent. It is a great honour and a privilege to speak on behalf of the NDP caucus to pay tribute to him.

I would like to welcome his family and friends who are here with us today: his daughter Megan McGovern; his sons, Jeff and Ian, along with their spouses, Jenn and Melanie; his daughter Trish Folino, and her spouse, Dave McCutcheon; his sister, Janis, and her spouse, Brian Gallacher; Diane Deans, his former wife; his grandson Adrian Folino, and his spouse, Jaclyn Lee; and family friend Julia Keast. I’m glad you were all able to join us here today as we pay tribute to a remarkable man.

I also want to give a shout-out to those who can’t be with us today: grandchildren Melissa, Antony, Andrew, Sage, Evan, Willow and Henry, and great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Kaitlin, Ava, Ben and Caleb—quite an array, who I’m sure brought plenty of joy to Ian’s life.

I didn’t know Ian Deans, although I did have the pleasure to meet him a couple of times. But I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a number of people who knew him very well. From all accounts, I missed out on something special.

He is remembered as someone who cared passionately about people, someone who could relate and connect to all people from every walk of life, and he relished his role as an MPP and being in a position of one who could help those who most needed it. Perhaps that reflected his previous career as a firefighter. Perhaps it came from his love of poetry and, in particular, the work of Robert Burns. More likely, it was just who he was.

I don’t know if Burns created Ian’s passion to fight on behalf of the underdog or merely fuelled it. Either way, it made a great difference to the lives of many people when he took up their cause to fight for them. In one of his former colleagues’ words, “He worked like hell for the people in his riding, and they continued to vote for him because of it.”

He had a charismatic presence. When he entered a room, people would flock to him. He was known as a wonderful orator and debater. He did his research, and he knew the issues inside and out. When he stood up to speak, everyone listened.

He had an uncanny ability to be, at the same time, the guy next door and a respected legislator. That was reflected in his appointment as the NDP House leader during the first minority government in Ontario since the Second World War.

I know from speaking to Brian Charlton, the former MPP for Hamilton Mountain, of the significant role played by Ian in shaping him when he first arrived at Queen’s Park in 1977.

After leaving Queen’s Park, Ian became the member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, again becoming the House leader during his time in Ottawa. David Christopherson, the MP for Hamilton Centre, worked for Ian during this time and believes him to be a true leader among the people.

David tells this story of them driving to an event, sharing casual chitchat. When they got out of the car, Ian walked several yards ahead of them, not speaking to anyone. He went into a complete zone. Wondering if everything was okay, David asked Ian’s wife if there was a problem. She said, “No, he’s just writing his speech.” Fifteen minutes later, Ian stood at a podium, giving a barnburner of a speech that would have taken a whole team hours to write. But Ian did it in the walk towards the building.

The NDP was proud and fortunate to have Ian Deans in our ranks. But Ian was a political brand unto himself. He attracted votes from all across the political spectrum because of his dedication and commitment to the people who elected him.

After fighting fires, his fire never died. Even though he began to have health issues, he continued to run for political office later in life. Although he didn’t win, his dedication to making his community a better place never left him.

His daughter Megan tells me that she grew up in a family that lived for politics, but it wasn’t all serious. Ian enjoyed singing and playing the piano, as well as making people laugh with silly jokes.

Politics can be a demanding life, and from what I’ve been told, for those who knew him, that would have been particularly true of Ian Deans. For many, that would mean missing a lot of family events, but not for Ian. According to Ian Jr., his dad was a man of endurance. He would put in 25-hour days driving back and forth between Hamilton and Toronto, not only for the local events and meetings, but also so as not to miss his children’s events, and hockey and baseball games. That couldn’t have been easy for Ian or for his family, but to Ian, it was worth it.

To his family, thank you so much for sharing him with us. I hope you leave here today knowing that he made so many happy. Hamilton is a better place for having Ian Deans.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I would like to thank all the members for their very kind and heartfelt comments and tributes to Ian Deans. To the family, thank you for the gift of Ian. On behalf of the Legislature, we will see that you receive a copy and a DVD of the tributes paid today. Hopefully it will have a lasting memory for you.

Oral Questions

Government’s record

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Premier. As CTV’s Paul Bliss said last week, the Auditor General’s report “contains probably some of the worst examples of government waste, mismanagement, and incompetence that [he’s] seen in [his] 14 years” at Queen’s Park. The stories, he added, were “sure to trigger anger and disbelief.” And: “The auditor’s report details story after story of government incompetence and waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Mr. Speaker, now that the Premier has returned, which one of these examples of incredible scandal, waste and incompetence would she like to apologize for?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let me just say that I am very happy to be back, and I welcome the two newest members of the Legislature, the member for Ottawa–Vanier and the member for Niagara West–Glanbrook. Welcome to the Legislature.

I will report to the Legislature and to the people of Ontario that the trade missions to Japan and Korea were very successful—about $240 million worth of agreements and 426 new jobs for Ontario. But beyond that, the over 45 businesses and education leaders that travelled with us to Korea and to Japan made contacts that will lead to research, to further business, to benefits for both Ontario and their jurisdictions. So they were very successful.

It’s great to be back, and I’m happy to talk about the Auditor General in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier: That wasn’t even remotely an answer, so I’ll go back to the question about the Auditor General’s report.

Let’s talk about some of the highlights. The government built upside-down bridges. Let me repeat: The government built upside-down bridges. The Auditor General said that the cap-and-trade scheme won’t actually reduce emissions in Ontario, as the Liberals had—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Mr. Patrick Brown: The Liberals will force Ontario to send $466 million to California in the next four years. The government has now wasted $8 billion on eHealth for an incomplete system, with no end in sight.

Mr. Speaker, where do I begin? These stories are incredible, and I would appreciate an apology to the people of Ontario, rather than another answer that is a diversion. The people deserve an apology for this incompetence.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the ministers are very eager to reinforce what they said last week when the Auditor General’s report came out. But Mr. Speaker, first let me just say that we feel very strongly that the Auditor General has a very important role to play in looking at what is happening in government, on making recommendations and providing insight into the work of government.

In many instances, the work on implementing the auditor’s recommendations is already under way, because we know that there are challenges. She has identified some of those.

But it’s important that we work with officers of the Legislature so that we can make improvements. It is the Auditor General’s job to shine a light on issues within government, to work with ministries to make sure that changes happen, and that’s exactly what’s under way. Many of the recommendations are already being acted upon.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the Premier: The government paid $8 million a year in bonuses to companies that let roads crack and crumble. The Liberals rewarded one company with another $39-million contract after they built a bridge upside down.

The Premier is a former Minister of Transportation. How could she let this happen? Does the Premier have any remorse for rewarding a company that built a bridge upside down? Please, explain to the people of Ontario how you can reward incompetence like that.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Speaker, I want to begin by acknowledging where I was this morning. I was actually in the wonderful community of Barrie earlier this morning, and in Barrie I was standing alongside the member of Parliament for Barrie—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Steven Del Duca: As I was saying, I was there alongside the member from Barrie. I was there alongside Mayor Lehman from Barrie—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): All right. If we’re going to start, I’ll get into it as soon as I sit down. Member from Nepean–Carleton, come to order. If you’d like, I’ll go to warnings. Just signal.

Finish, please.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: As I was saying, I was there alongside the member. I was there alongside the mayor. We were there today specifically to announce brand new year-round weekend GO train service for that community.

Today is also the day that the brand new Gormley GO station, delivered on time and on budget, is open and taking trains in Richmond Hill. Both of these examples and so many more are a clear indication of our Premier’s and our government’s determination to build the province up.

I don’t understand why that leader can’t see a way to support our initiatives to help his community of Barrie and every community around this province. I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: He should get on board with our plan.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, to the Premier: Since I can’t get a justification on the upside-down bridge, let’s try something else.

As of last Friday, the traumatic stress services workplace program at the London Health Sciences Centre is no more. It has been cancelled by this government. First responders battling PTSD have used this program, and it has incredible results, life-altering results. But now the next closest place for first responders—where they can receive treatment—is here in Toronto.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to funding to make sure that we can reopen the PTSD program in London? It is essential.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member for that excellent question, because it deals with an issue that I think society has been able to come to grips with just in the recent past, and that obviously, I think, society should have been paying a lot more attention to.

What the question, as I understand it, revolves around is that, in an attempt to ensure that services are available to all workers who end up having to deal with the symptoms of PTSD, there are regional centres for those workers to avail themselves of. There is one available in London, there’s one in Toronto, and there’s one in another area of the province that makes it easier.

As a result of a decision that was made by that organization, they have decided to wind up that program. There’s still a very strong interest from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to ensure that services are provided to people where they need them, close to their home.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Patrick Brown: To the Premier: The traumatic stress services workplace program at the London Health Sciences Centre was closing because of a $500,000 shortfall in funding from this Liberal government. First responders in London and in areas throughout Ontario have been calling the news devastating. These individuals have served our province with distinction and honour, but the government is turning their backs on them when they need help most.

Mr. Speaker, the AG’s report has shown hundreds of millions of dollars in waste. When it comes to our first responders—$500,000 to make sure we have access to PTSD treatment in London. Don’t turn your back on these proud first responders. Please ensure, Premier, that the funding is there. Yes or no: Will you make sure that treatment is available in London?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you again for the supplementary question. There’s no government in the history of the province of Ontario that has done more for PTSD and first responders than the government of Kathleen Wynne. I think the first responders will acknowledge that.

This is an issue that has plagued us. It has come through the armed forces. We have found that the same evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder exists in people who go to work for us on a daily basis. Our firefighters, our police officers, our paramedics and those who work in our corrections system came to us and asked us to take action on post-traumatic stress disorder. We’ve put in a presumptive program so that they don’t have to go through the typical application process at the WSIB.

But more than anything, what we’ve done is put in a prevention program, because as I stand today, PTSD is, as we know it, incurable. The best thing you can do is make sure that people don’t get PTSD in the first place.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the Premier, directly: I applauded the government when they finally listened to the opposition calls for legislation on PTSD treatment. But here’s the thing, Mr. Speaker: It’s one thing to bring legislation in—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Mr. Patrick Brown: It’s one thing to bring legislation in, but it’s all for naught if you can’t get treatment. They’re closing the places where first responders can get treatment. How disingenuous is that? How inconsistent is that?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): You can’t say that. Please withdraw.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Withdraw.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: How does it make sense to say that you want better access for people with PTSD and then close the treatment centre? Those first responders need somewhere to go.

I assume the Deputy Premier will be urging the Premier to do the right thing and not abandon London, not pass the buck. My question to the Premier is; Will you make sure that first responders in the city of London and southwestern Ontario can get treatment for PTSD and promise us here today that the funding will not be cut?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition sounds like the rooster taking credit for the sunrise. He knew it happened; he was around somewhere, but he had absolutely nothing to do with it, Speaker. That’s exactly what’s coming up here.

When we needed you in this House, you weren’t here. The member from Sarnia–Lambton raised this issue and said, “We need services right around the province. We need you to do something in London to make sure those services are still available.” You weren’t here; the member from Sarnia spoke up.

We’ve been talking with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Speaker. They have assured me that what they want is services for our first responders available close to where they live.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): A gentle reminder that you speak to the Chair, either through question or answer, please.

Hospital funding

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. For months, New Democrats have been raising the concerns that people have with overcrowded hospitals. We asked about hospitals across Ontario running at over 100% capacity. For months, the government refused to admit that there was a problem that needed solving. Last week, the auditor confirmed that 60% of hospitals in Ontario are overcrowded. Overcrowded hospitals mean more infections and longer wait times.

Will the Premier stop denying that hospitals are overcrowded and stop robbing our health care system of the resources it needs?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I believe that if the leader of the third party looks at the budget document, she will see that, in our recent budget, we added $345 million to hospital operations. On top of that, we have recently announced $140 million for hospitals.

We recognize that hospitals have made very difficult decisions over the last number of years. They have held their costs down as the health care system is transformed, as we have moved services from hospitals into communities. But at the same time, we recognize that hospitals have needed increases. That’s why the $345 million was in the budget, and that’s why $140 million was just announced.

We recognize and we appreciate, as I said earlier, the work of the Auditor General, and we will continue to work with her to make sure that we make the investments that are necessary, so that the health care system and all of the services that we deliver can be at the very highest quality.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: An overcrowded hospital means that when a parent takes a sick child to the hospital or a senior has a fall, they can’t get the care that they need. That’s what’s been happening in Ontario, year after year, under this government’s watch.

The auditor reported, “We saw patients placed on uncomfortable stretchers or gurneys in hallways and other high-traffic areas that were never designed for patient care.” This is hallway medicine of the worst kind right here in Ontario.

The government created this problem—no doubt about it. The government created this problem when they froze hospital funding for four years running, and they’re making it worse with budgets that still don’t keep up with the cost of inflation, never mind population growth.

Will the Premier stop underfunding Ontario’s hospitals?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I just said in my first answer, we have recognized that there needed to be increases to hospital funding, and we have put those in place.

We understand that all Ontarians deserve high-quality health care and that patients come first. In every decision that we make, we need to make sure that patients are at the centre of those decisions. The transformations that have been going on within the health care system are exactly about that: They’re about making sure that people get the care where they need it.

To the Auditor General’s report: As I said, it is the Auditor General’s job to look at the work of government and to make recommendations. She talks about certain specific cases that are unacceptable, and we agree with that and that they need to be addressed. But she also said that nine out of 10 patients—and these are emergency room patients—were generally treated and discharged within the ministry target time.

Mr. Speaker, that’s commendable. The 10%: We absolutely have to work on.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: People have to be able to trust that the health care system is going to be there for them when they need it. They want to trust that going to the hospital won’t leave them sicker, but that’s just one side effect of overcrowded hospitals.

After years of cuts, things are getting worse. People who are sick or need care are waiting longer because the government doesn’t want to admit that anything is wrong. We just saw the Premier once again make an excuse instead of owning up to the problem that she created in our hospital system.

Will this Premier stop pretending that nothing’s wrong, truly put patients first and stop the cuts to our hospitals?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I would never suggest that our work is done in the health care system. I would never suggest that. There is obviously more to do.

I recognize, in the quote that I read from the Auditor General—that 10% of people are not getting care within the ministry-targeted time—that that’s unacceptable. We have to work to make sure that 10% also gets the care within the targeted amount of time.

But the reality is that there are changes that have happened within our health care system that are positive. There are good things that have happened. So while I recognize there’s more to be done, we also have to recognize the work that has been done by the hospitals around the province, by the health care workers and the administrators, to deliver the best care possible to the patients.

Since 2003, we’ve increased our investments in health care each and every year. Both the Fraser Institute and the Wait Time Alliance have consistently ranked Ontario as having some of the shortest wait times in Canada. Those are good things.

Hydro rates

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. I don’t think the Premier realizes just how hard life is getting for people across Ontario. Last week, I asked about families and businesses struggling to pay their hydro bills. Instead of listening, instead of trying to understand what this means for people, the minister said, “I just don’t believe the premise” of the question.

Will the Premier start listening to what skyrocketing hydro bills actually mean for people and take an important step forward by getting those bills under control and stopping the sell-off of Hydro One?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, I recognize that there are challenges that people are facing with their electricity bills, which is exactly why we have been taking actions. We have taken the debt retirement charge off people’s bills. We are taking the provincial portion of the HST, that 8%, off everyone’s bills across the province. It seems to me that that’s something that the leader of the third party was calling for before we did it; then we did it, and now it’s not something that she can support.

We recognize that there’s more to be done. I have said that. The Minister of Energy is working. We are working very hard to look at the other things we can do, but the reality is that the leader of the third party conflates issues: The broadening of the ownership of Hydro One has to do with building transportation infrastructure in this province, which she also, I would have thought, as a member of the NDP, would be supporting.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Last week, I told the story of Sharon, a senior from the Soo. After question period, I got an email from a senior in northern Ontario who had heard that story. This senior asked me not to use his name. He uses candles because he’s worried about the cost of turning on the lights. He told me about the shame he feels because he can’t explain to his friends why he can’t meet them for coffee: because the hydro bill leaves so little money left over.

Nobody in Ontario should have to live with that kind of worry or feel shame for something that isn’t their fault. Will this Premier send a message to every Ontarian who is worried about their hydro bill and stop the sell-off of Hydro One, which is only going to make those bills climb higher?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m very pleased to respond. We recognize that there are families out there, there are seniors out there, who are having a very difficult time paying their bills. That’s why we acted with the speech from the throne. The speech from the throne brings forward that 8% reduction for all families, for all seniors across the province. There also is the 20% reduction for 330,000 households right across the province that actually live in rural or remote areas like northern Ontario.

But we also know that that doesn’t necessarily always cut it and there is room for more help. That’s why we have the Ontario Electricity Support Program. That will help seniors—up to $45. If they actually heat their homes with electricity, they can actually then claim that to get $75 back.

So we’ve recognized that; we’re acting on that. We’ve brought forward these programs. The Premier and I know that more needs to be done, and we’ll continue to do that.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Glow Juicery is a small business in Hamilton that just opened recently. Between May and July, the hydro bill for Glow was $1,400, and from July to September, $1,200. Jesse Briscoe is proud of the company that she started, but she’s worried that she might have to close up shop. This is what she said about the Premier’s hydro mistake: “Okay, you say it’s a mistake, what are you actually going to do about it?”

“Give small businesses a break. Do something. Anything.”

That’s the desperation that small businesses are feeling in Ontario today. So will this Premier take an important step for Jesse, for her small business and for small businesses across this province, and stop the sell-off of Hydro One?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m very pleased to say that this Premier has acted, along with this government, to make sure that it is better for small businesses out there. Again, that 8% reduction is applying to every small business and farm right across our province.

There’s also the saveONenergy program, which we encourage every MPP to talk to their small businesses about. They can save significant amounts of money. For example, Donaleigh’s Irish pub in Barrie took advantage of the business refrigeration initiative through the saveONenergy program. They received more than $2,500 in one-time incentives, and they’re saving $2,400 annually on energy. Arbor Memorial and the Chesswood Arena—there are many, many businesses that are saving on energy by contacting their local utility and finding ways that they can join these programs.

We’re there, we are acting, and we know we’ve got more to do.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Earlier, the Minister of Labour had made a reference to someone’s absence. I want to remind all members that you do not make reference in any way, shape or form to people’s presence in the House. I’d appreciate it if we stayed with that convention. It works well. So make sure that we don’t go down that road, please.

Government contracts

Mr. Michael Harris: While the Premier’s looking for new revenue tools to meet infrastructure demands, the auditor’s report is clear evidence she needs only to look in the mirror. In case after case, the auditor pulls back the curtain on millions wasted for poor planning, poor workmanship, and lacking oversight and accountability when our money is needed to spend on infrastructure.

We all heard about the reward contract for the contractor who installed the upside-down bridge truss, but that’s just the start. On page 491, Metrolinx paid $4.4 million for the construction of boiler rooms at GO stations. The only problem: The contractor never actually built the rooms due to design consultant failures, leaving us with no boiler rooms, a $4.4-million bill and another $760,000 to the same consultant to actually start over again. Will the Premier tell us: With all the vital infrastructure this province requires, how the heck does this happen?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member for his question. A couple of things right off the top: I said this last week, when the auditor provided her report—first of all, I thanked her for the report and accept the recommendations in the report.

I did stress that over the last five years, which is the window of time the auditor was looking at, by and large, as it relates to Metrolinx, 275 construction projects have been started and completed by Metrolinx. Of those 275, the majority have been delivered under budget or on budget. It doesn’t mean that we don’t have more work to do. We do, which is why I stressed that day that we are embarking on something known as the vendor performance management system, which will help take into account whether or not a contractor has the kind of track record we want them to have going forward. Again, right off the top, I would say the majority of projects are delivered on budget or under budget—

We accept the recommendations from the auditor. I’ll be happy to provide additional information in the follow-up.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Michael Harris: It’s 13 years later. We’re now going to start fixing the problems.

The auditor revealed countless examples of contractors being allowed to breach regulations without penalty, while many are paid well beyond approved budgets. At page 483, Metrolinx issued a contractor two payments totalling $1.2 million over the project’s approved budget without having authorization to exceed the budget; three years later, same project, three more payments of $3.2 million over budget without approval. Meantime, CN Construction charges to Ontario are sometimes 130% higher than other railway standards.

The waste just continues, Speaker, and we, the taxpayers, keep paying for it.

Speaker, will the Premier tell us when she will stop looking to taxpayers to bail her out for all the Liberal mistakes?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Last week, when I had a chance to respond to a question from the leader of the Conservative Party very similar in approach to the question I just got today, I had my own list.

These are projects I’m going to go through that have been contained in multiple budgets going back over the last three or four years here in this Legislature: GO regional express rail; LRTs in Toronto, Peel and Hamilton; GO train extensions to Bowmanville and Niagara; BRTs in York region and Durham region; new streetcars in Toronto; Union Station revitalization; the four-laning of Highway 69; the Morriston bypass; the 427 widening and extension; the 410 widening; the 407 extension, phase 1 and phase 2, which will help the people of Peterborough immensely; and the 417 upgrades in Ottawa.

Speaker, at the end of the day, all of these projects—four-laning the trans-Canada in northern Ontario—every single one of the projects I just mentioned and many more were voted against by that member and by that leader repeatedly. That’s what the people of Ontario cannot understand: why they don’t support building up this province.

Government contracts

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Last week, the Auditor General found that Metrolinx does not hold its contractors accountable for poor performance. Metrolinx keeps giving contractors that fail second, third and fourth chances. In one case, a contractor failed to show up for work for six months, and not only got a second chance; they got 22 more chances.

Two months ago, Metrolinx chair Rob Prichard was reappointed for another term as the chair of the Metrolinx board of directors. Did the minister know what was in this Metrolinx audit when he allowed Mr. Prichard another chance as chair?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member for the question. As I mentioned in my response to the member from Kitchener—275 construction projects completed by Metrolinx over the last five years, Speaker. The majority of those were delivered on budget or under budget, which I think is important.

At the end of the day, Speaker—and I said this last week. I’ve said it already in the House this morning, and I’ll repeat it now: I accept all of the recommendations, as does Metrolinx, that the auditor put forward in her report. We thank her for her report. We know that we have more work to do. But at the same time, we also know that we have a compelling responsibility to the people of Ontario and the people of this region to deliver on the transit mandate that they gave us in 2014. It’s what we’re actually doing. We’re putting more service out there. We’re getting more shovels in the ground.

We are delivering on the commitment that the Premier made to the people of the GTHA and beyond, and we’re going to keep doing it.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Back to the Minister of Transportation: The minister has promised that people who fail at Metrolinx will be held accountable, but no one has been held accountable for Presto cost overruns, the disastrous rollout of the Union Pearson Express, upside-down bridge trusses, and years of transit planning chaos. The minister has in fact decided that Liberal insiders like Rob Prichard are doing just a fine job at providing oversight at Metrolinx. Public support for transit investment won’t survive more Metrolinx audits like this last one. Public trust depends on accountability, and accountability needs to start at the top.

A simple question: Who does the minister hold accountable for the failures at Metrolinx?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Speaker, I thank the member for the follow-up question. One thing I mentioned last week—everybody in this House will know I sent a letter of direction to the board chair back in March, about nine months ago. As a result of that letter of direction, we now have more transparency around the activities that are taking place. The kind of rigour that’s now in place as a result of the report is something that will help a great deal.

But the rest of the premise of the question coming from the member from Parkdale–High Park—I’ve got to tell you, Speaker, it sounds like, as is all too often the case coming from the NDP, convenient mythology around whether or not we’re actually building or not building. I know that they want to paint a particular picture of what’s happening around transit in Toronto and beyond; it’s just not true. More weekend GO train service, a brand new GO station, hundreds of more train trips on the entire corridor, LRTs, VRTs, highways, Speaker—there’s only one Premier and only one party that’s actually interested in building up this province. It’s Kathleen Wynne and the Ontario Liberals.

Child care

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: My question is for the Associate Minister of Education for Early Years and Child Care. Minister, I’m proud that our government has made it a priority to improve and expand child care and early years programs in our province. It is encouraging to know that the government is working to address the needs of Ontario families.

In my riding of Kingston and the Islands, I’ve heard from parents who say that demand for quality affordable child care is great. I remember that when my children were young, they went to Pladec Day Care, Building Blocks Nursery School, and my grandson now goes to Bayridge Drive Child Care Centre. I know how important it is that parents understand that their children will be safe, well looked after and happy while they’re they are at work each day. Other parents clearly feel the same way, and it’s important that parents know that level of comfort and support. Going forward, my constituents would like to know what the government is doing to make sure that those needs are properly met.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you to the hard-working member from Kingston and the Islands for the important question. We are transforming the way we deliver child care in this province, and creating 100,000 new licensed child care spaces in the next five years.

But this is about much more than just spaces and jobs. This is about improving our early years programs to better serve Ontario families and developing a new vision focused on high-quality care for Ontario children. In fact, we’ve already begun our public consultations to inform our new framework. Recently, I visited Thunder Bay, Moosonee and Moose Factory Island, and we heard from people in the child care and early years sector. We held consultations, town halls, and I even visited several local child care centres.

The response has been wonderful. People are enthusiastic and thankful, and we have already received a lot of feedback and advice. We’re continuing our consultations in the coming months. I’m glad to say Kingston is one of the cities. To attend one of these consultations, visit Ontario.ca/morechildcare.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Thank you to the minister for that answer. It’s encouraging to know that we are heading to towns and cities across the province to meet with families and sector leaders, including my riding of Kingston and the Islands. This will ensure that the government hears from as many families as possible across the province.

I know that there’s a lot of work still to be done, but people involved in the child care and early years sector are keen to see how the system will be modernized, and parents are eager to see that these new spaces open up. We know that the demand for more spaces is high and that parents are looking forward to more support when it comes to child care. Like them, we want to ensure that their children have the best possible start in life and that parents are receiving the support that they need to provide for their families. The commitment of 100,000 new spaces is over five years. When can Ontario’s families expect to see these spaces rolling out?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’m pleased to answer the member’s question. I know families and stakeholders are excited about this, and so are we. This is a historic investment, one that will benefit all of Ontario, which is why we are moving quickly and thoroughly. Actions speak louder than words.

As we heard in the fall economic statement, we’ve already taken our first step in creating 100,000 additional licensed child care spaces by 2022. We’re investing an additional $65.5 million this school year to support the creation of 3,400 new spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. This investment promotes early learning and development while helping more parents find quality, affordable care. This is the first step of many.

Unlike the opposition, we have a plan. I want you to know that we are working tirelessly to build an early years and child care system that is high quality, affordable and responsive to the needs of parents and children. We’re working to get it right.

Energy policies

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is to the Premier. Earlier this year, I asked the then Minister of Energy why he was hiding the cost of cap-and-trade price increases on natural gas bills by putting them into delivery charges on ratepayers’ bills. Sadly, at that time, the minister put crass political calculations before sound public policy. Now in the Auditor General’s latest report, it was revealed that in a broad survey, a staggering 89% of respondents thought it was important to disclose the costs on the natural gas bill.

Will the Premier be open and transparent for once, disclose the true costs of their cap-and-trade on natural gas bills and order the OEB to include it as a separate line item on those bills?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m pleased to rise and to talk once again about this issue that we talked about a few months ago.

The decision on how to present cap-and-trade on consumers’ bills was made by the OEB, the Ontario Energy Board, an independent and arm’s-length regulator for the province’s energy sector. It did so based on extensive consultations with consumers, utilities, environmental stakeholders and including over 40 written submissions. In their decision, the Ontario Energy Board highlighted that cap-and-trade costs are part of doing business of delivering natural gas to home and businesses. To quote the board:

“In the OEB’s view, separating out cap-and-trade related costs as a line item on the bill is inconsistent with the manner in which all other ongoing costs of operating the utility are reflected on the bill.” The government does not have the legislative authority to make this decision. The OEB does.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. John Yakabuski: It’s included in other jurisdictions—and the government does have the authority. You’ve issued more than 90 directives; one more won’t change it.

On page 182 of the auditor’s report, it goes on to say that the cost of cap-and-trade should be revealed because it would help educate the public. The government refusing to disclose it—what I would call their cash-and-charade scheme—is just further evidence that this plan is not about reducing greenhouse gases but simply a way to take more money out of consumers’ pockets.

The Auditor General wants the Premier to reveal the cost on bills, natural gas companies want you to reveal the cost on their clients’ bills, and consumers want the costs revealed on their bills. I say to the Premier: Stop playing politics. Do the right thing for once and order the OEB to include it as a separate line item on natural gas bills.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: It’s very interesting that they want to get themselves involved with a quasi-judicial organization when they don’t like something, but when they do like something, they don’t want anything touched. That’s very unique about the PC Party.

Let’s be very clear. The OEB regulates the natural gas sector in Ontario, with a strong mandate to protect the public interest and ensure that consumers receive reliable and cost-effective natural gas service. Their decision on the presentation of cap-and-trade costs was made after extensive consultations with stakeholders.

I know in the first question, Mr. Speaker—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Prince Edward–Hastings, come to order.

Finish, please.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: As a quasi-judicial regulatory body with a mandate to protect consumers, it’s just like the federal government: They can’t dictate terms to the Supreme Court or to the Bank of Canada or expect that decisions will be in the favour of the Ontario Energy Board. The Ontario Energy Board has the authority to do this. They did the consultations. This is their decision.

Youth employment

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier. Last week, Statistics Canada released their long-term perspective on the youth labour market. It shows that young Ontarians are less likely to be employed full-time than they were in the 1980s. If they can find work, it is often precarious work.

It is increasingly difficult for the young people of this province to establish themselves. Life is becoming more unaffordable. Costs are going up and wages are staying flat. When is the government going to wake up to the realities facing young people and make the changes that will allow them to stay and prosper right here in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Economic Development and Growth.

Hon. Brad Duguid: This government cares deeply about the challenges of young people finding their way into the workplace. That’s why we’re leaders globally when it comes to creating experiential learning experiences for those young people. It’s why we’re leaders—and she would know this, being from the Waterloo area—in leading co-op programs. That’s why we came forward with a youth employment strategy that has provided 30,000-plus young people with an opportunity to work.

That being said, there are still challenges. But we can’t ignore the fact that, just last week, we saw that our unemployment rate in Ontario has dropped to the lowest level in eight and a half years, the lowest level since May 2008: 6.3%. That’s something that we can be proud of as Ontarians, and something all of us can take advantage of. At the same time, we’re going to work to get that unemployment down even lower so more and more of those young folks will have opportunities in the future.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Back to the Premier: Young Ontarians right across the province are hurting. They are leaving school and not finding work. The youth unemployment rate is higher than 30% in Barrie, 17% in Hamilton, and 16% in London.

To make matters worse, wages are actually declining. According to Stats Canada, young, full-time employees are making less today than they were in the 1980s. Mr. Speaker, the numbers don’t lie.

Premier, it’s getting harder to live in Ontario and build a good life for the young people of this province. Will the Premier admit that the status quo isn’t working and take an important step by raising the minimum wage to $15?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to build this province up. We’re going to continue to invest in infrastructure. We’re going to continue to ensure that we can grow this economy. We’ve seen 660,000 net new jobs created since the global recession. Three quarters of those are in the private sector, and 76% of those—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Niagara Falls.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, 76% of those 660,000 jobs created since 2003 earn above-average wages. Some 90% are full-time jobs—90%, Mr. Speaker. Those are good jobs. Those are jobs that our young people will have for many generations to come.

We’ve still got work to do. The unemployment rate for youth is still higher than we’d like. There still are some people being left behind. Our job now is to ensure that they also share in the prosperity of this growing economy.

La Francophonie

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question est pour la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, l’honorable Marie-France Lalonde.

En juin 2016, quand la ministre a débuté son mandat, elle a annoncé que notre gouvernement avait soumis une demande d’adhésion en tant qu’observateur à l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. C’était une première étape importante afin d’emmener notre francophonie en dehors de nos frontières.

Je sais que la ministre est allée à Madagascar la semaine dernière pour le Sommet de la Francophonie, et nous sommes d’ailleurs honorés que la demande d’adhésion de l’Ontario comme membre observateur au sein de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie ait été entérinée.

Est-ce que la ministre peut nous faire part de la décision prise pendant le Sommet de la Francophonie?

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Premièrement, je remercie le député d’Etobicoke-Nord pour l’excellente question.

L’adhésion de l’Ontario est un vote de confiance envers les efforts de notre gouvernement pour faire avancer la langue et la culture franco-ontariennes. Cette entrée sur la scène internationale est un moment historique pour l’Ontario et, particulièrement, pour les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes.

Moi-même, je suis très fier d’avoir une communauté francophone très active et dynamique dans ma circonscription d’Etobicoke-Nord. Est-ce que la ministre peut nous en dire plus sur les avantages d’une adhésion à l’OIF?

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Merci encore une fois au député d’Etobicoke-Nord.

En bref, notre adhésion à l’OIF est un grand pas pour tous les Ontariens et les Ontariennes. Merci.

Wind turbines

Mr. Jim McDonell: To the Premier: Recently, the Minister of Energy put a stop to the LRP II projects due to the power not being needed in the province. There is no need for the power from the Nation Rise wind project in my riding either, a project which scored nothing but zeroes on all the rated criteria and should not have been imposed on the unwilling hosts of North Stormont.

The Premier made an attempt to apologize for her mistake on the energy file, but keeps implementing her failed policies, making her apologies ring hollow. Will North Stormont see some substance in the Premier’s apologies and have the Nation Rise wind project cancelled?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m very pleased to once again rise and speak to the importance of renewable energy in this province. We’ve invested, as a government, to ensure that we can eliminate coal. We haven’t had a smog day in this province since 2014, and do you know what, Mr. Speaker? That’s because of the fact that we’ve had to invest heavily in renewable energy to rebuild a system that they left in tatters.

I understand that when we’re looking at renewable energy and wind around the province, there are concerns coming forward from the community, and I understand that the IESO is the entity that looks after those contracts. I know they get all in a huff on that side when you talk about energy, because they are the pro-coal party. They are the ones who want to go back to coal. We on this side will continue to work with communities. We’ll continue to work with the IESO to find solutions, to continue to have a clean, green and reliable system.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Jim McDonell: Back to the Premier: The Nation Rise wind project had no municipal council support resolution, no municipal agreement with all project communities, no abutting landowner support, and no First Nations agreement—a complete and utter failure in the rating criteria score, and yet it was approved.

North Stormont is an unwilling host, as thousands of letters that I will soon hand over to the Premier will demonstrate. The LRP I projects have yet to break ground, and there’s still time to cancel those. Those are the hosts who want nothing to do with them.

Will the Premier listen to Ontarians, as she committed, show some integrity and cancel the Nation Rise wind project?

I’m going to need two pages to pass these on.

Interjections.

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

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: The LRP I process really tried to strike the right balance between early community engagement and achieving value for ratepayers by putting an emphasis on cost. I do have to say that the MPP from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell has been a very tireless advocate on behalf of the constituents we met with today to try to find solutions.

That’s what we’re doing on this side of the House: trying to find solutions, because the one thing that the MPP from across the way didn’t talk about is that even when a contract is offered, the process is not over. Maybe he should learn about the process and actually do some investigating with the IESO.

Project developers must obtain all required licences and approvals, such as the renewable energy approval and environmental assessments, before they can start construction on the projects. The environmental approval process includes additional community engagement requirements that provide further opportunities for communities. That’s something that this member knows, and he is working with these groups to make that happen.

Hydro rates

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Premier. For months, my constituents have written letters, signed petitions and even sent their hydro bills to the Premier and Minister of Energy calling for relief. Businesses in my community are struggling to keep the lights on.

For Kabab N Curry, the lights may be off permanently if relief from skyrocketing hydro bills doesn’t come soon. Other area businesses say that the cost of hydro is their number one barrier to expansion, the number one barrier to bringing more jobs into my community.

Speaker, will the Premier take immediate action to reduce the cost of hydro so that businesses in Windsor can continue to operate and expand?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Yes, we already did. Mr. Speaker, we brought forward the speech from the throne. They’re going to see an 8% reduction on all of their bills—that’s for small businesses. For those businesses that are actually a little bit bigger, that use one megawatt of power, they will now qualify for the ICI program, expanding their businesses—to make sure that they can do it—by up to one third.

It’s not just us saying this, Mr. Speaker; it’s the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, who are applauding this decision that we brought forward because they are going to see more businesses now expanding their businesses, growing the jobs in our province. This is good news for many of them.

There are many programs that we also have out there to help small businesses, and I look forward to talking about those programs when we get into the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Again to the Premier: Every time someone in my riding opens the hydro bill, they’re reminded how this Liberal government is failing them. They’re making them choose between heating and eating, between paying their hydro bill and taking their medication. Come Christmastime, they’ll be reminded, when they open your bill, the one that you send to them because you’re not providing support to them—

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

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: —and they’ll have to explain to their children why they don’t have gifts under the tree.

With the winter upon us, life is only going to get more difficult for the hundreds of families in Windsor who are already struggling to keep the lights and heat on in their homes. Community programs like Keep the Heat do all they can to help people pay their hydro bills, but with a 12% increase in applicants from last year, there simply isn’t enough money to go around.

Speaker, will the government act today, get energy costs under control, stop the sell-off of Hydro One, and ensure that hundreds of people in Windsor can heat their homes tomorrow?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: We do recognize and empathize that families are having difficulty with paying their hydro bills. That’s why we acted very quickly, when I took over as minister, to make sure, in the speech from the throne, that we have an 8% reduction coming for all families—that’s very important—on top of the debt retirement charge that we already eliminated plus the programs that we’ve put in place, like the Ontario Electricity Support Program that helps families. We had 145,000 families sign up by the end of October. I know we’re looking forward to getting the numbers for November.

But there is room for more, and I do encourage them to contact their local utilities to find out if they qualify for this program.

Because you know what? As a government, we’re continuing to invest, to make sure that we can help all families and all businesses right across the province. I know that in the first question we were talking about Windsor. Windsor—up to 11,000 net new jobs, year over year, and that’s due to the great work that we’ve been doing as this government. We’re continuing to do that. We’ll continue to invest and find—

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

New question.

Clean technology

Mr. Arthur Potts: My question is to the Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. Speaker, you don’t need to be a nuclear scientist to know that this government is working hard to encourage new technology sectors that will yield exponential job growth and economic growth in Ontario, but it helps.

One such area is clean tech. Today, Ontario has 35% of Canada’s clean tech companies, and I believe that clean tech is an industry that will help us build a better future for all Ontarians. I want to give a shout-out to my friend Bryan Watson, who is the coordinator of CleanTech North, a networking organization for all the various stakeholders in clean tech.

Speaker, I understand that the minister is working hard on a clean tech strategy that will strengthen Ontario’s position as a leader in this sector. I would like to know if the minister would inform the House on our strategies for a new clean tech growth sector.

Hon. Reza Moridi: I want to thank the hard-working member from Beaches–East York for that very important question. I’m glad to inform the House that Ontario has the highest concentration of environmental and clean tech companies in our country of Canada. The clean tech sector plays a critical role in keeping Ontario’s economy competitive worldwide.

Going forward, my ministry will be working in close collaboration with other ministries to find ways that clean technology can improve recycling, power production, water and waste water solutions.

Our government is working with industry partners to reduce environmental harm and create an industry sector that is friendly to emerging technologies.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Arthur Potts: Thank you to the Minister of Research, Innovation and Science for the excellent work that he is doing to expand clean tech in our province. It’s great to see that the ministry is assisting companies on the cutting edge of new technologies, creating jobs and cementing Ontario’s leadership in this newly emerging marketplace. After all, creating jobs and growing the economy is a huge priority for our government and a priority that we on this side of the House are making good on.

Speaker, will the minister inform the members of the House on the very specific clean tech programs that are helping grow this vital sector in Ontario?

Hon. Reza Moridi: I want to again thank the member from Beaches–East York for his advocacy for our knowledge-based economy in this province.

Since 2003, our government has committed over $436 million in 1,100 clean tech and bio-economy projects. Because of those investments, the clean tech sector has grown to generate $8 billion annually and to have 3,000 companies with 65,000 employees. Some of our industry partners include Trojan Technologies, a leader in the ultraviolet purification of water; Electrovaya, a global leader in developing advanced lithium-ion battery solutions; and Ensyn, a biofuel developer that is helping manage CO 2 pollution in our province of Ontario.

Our government will continue to invest in clean technology so that we can protect our environment and grow our economy in the meantime.

Premier, on October 31, you told this House that you were considering this. Will you agree to do it today?

We recognize that, as we have developed standards in other areas, as a health standard is being developed, that there also needs to be a standard developed in the education sector.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Bill Walker: Back to the Premier: You’ve had 10 years and you spent $8 billion on the eHealth registry. I hope that this isn’t going to be another fiasco like that.

Can you tell a third of a million students with disabilities and their families: What’s the holdup after five years of this issue being before your government?

There’s a lot more to do, which is why we are working in the health sector right now. There are billions of dollars that are spent within the education system, whether it’s on special education or the $1.1 billion in additional funding that is going into building and renovating schools—all of which goes toward building schools that are more accessible.

The reality is, when many of the schools were built—particularly in the Toronto District School Board, where there are many old buildings that are still being used as schools—they were not up to standard. They were not accessible in any way.

We recognize that there’s more to be done, and there will be an education standard developed.

Government services

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Premier. Back in June, the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services announced that nine ServiceOntario offices across the province were under consideration for possible closure, including the Blind River office, which is part of my riding of Algoma–Manitoulin. A very successful Keep Our ServiceOntario Open rally was held in Blind River, and the government announced that these closures have been suspended, pending re-evaluation and reconsideration.

Here we are, six months after the original announcement, and we have yet to receive any update, with a cloud of concern hanging over these many communities. We have seen the government overturn and flip-flop its decision in the past, such as the Guelph ServiceOntario office.

I ask again one more time: Can you confirm that no further ServiceOntario offices will be closed, taking away these much-needed services from our communities?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: I would like to say thank you to the member opposite for the question.

We as a government are committed to making the best decision possible regarding delivery options for ServiceOntario, and we are continually refining services and service delivery options to better match customer demand. We’re also examining the decisions to close those certain ServiceOntario locations, as we want to provide the very best service for our customers. The decision will be determined, as mentioned before, on a case-by-case basis, as the locations in question are all unique in circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all set of criteria that would be appropriate for all locations.

Customer service is and will continue to be our top priority.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Municipal Affairs on a point of order.

Hon. Bill Mauro: I’d quickly like to introduce, from northern hospitals, Wade Petranik, the CEO of the Dryden Regional Health Centre; Nicole Haley, CEO of the Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre; and Fabien Hébert from the Smooth Rock Falls Hospital.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Chief government whip on a point of order.

Mr. James J. Bradley: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to correct the record. On Thursday afternoon in an address to the assembly, I indicated that the Lougheed family had donated the land where St. Albert school was for the purpose of helping the needy in the community. That was the original purpose. It ended up being donated for the purpose of a park. It was actually St. Clement’s church which was donated by the Lougheed family to be used by the community free of charge.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. All members are able to correct their record.

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

The House recessed from 1201 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’m pleased to rise to introduce a visitor from the great riding of Oxford: Chaplain Stewart Deller. He’s here today to meet with Tim Schindel, who is a volunteer chaplain here at the Legislature. I want to thank them both for being here at Queen’s Park today. Welcome.

Mr. Lorne Coe: In the Speaker’s gallery, I’d like to introduce Sherrill Difelice, Steve Madeley, Lorraine McEwen and Jim McEwen. They’re here to listen to the debate on Bill 9. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to introduce—they’re not here yet, but a high school of mine is coming. Regina Mundi will be here this afternoon. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: We are joined here today by Wendy Preskow, the founder and president of the National Initiative for Eating Disorders, and Lynne Koss, also of NIED. Both Wendy and Lynne are passionate and dedicated advocates joining us for the introduction of my bill calling for the first week of February to be proclaimed as Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Also joining us is Leonida Sheffield, a student journalist from Centennial College, who came to Queen’s Park today to report on the introduction of this most important bill.

Please join me in welcoming our guests to the Legislature.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I want to take a moment to recognize all the representatives of the Bangladeshi community who will be coming here for the reading of the bill later on this afternoon. I’m sure they’ll be in the House shortly.

Members’ Statements

Food cupboards

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: “Neighbours Helping Neighbours” is the motto of many of the local Ottawa food cupboards, particularly in my community of Nepean–Carleton. I’ve always been a proud supporter of our local food cupboards, and never before has it become more important for us, as people are choosing between heating their homes and putting food on the table. This is a big concern for many of the food cupboards across Ontario. That’s why at this time of year “Neighbours Helping Neighbours” goes a bit further.

At this time of year, when we celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, just having finished Diwali and Eid, we are focused on the betterment of mankind and protecting the people who cannot protect themselves. That’s why I’m urging all Ontario residents to look at their local food cupboard and consider a donation.

I know many food cupboards are now asking for financial contributions so that they can get fresh produce and other fresh foods, but they also like to have non-perishable food items. But I urge Ontarians that if they do take that route for non-perishable food items, that they don’t give expired food. I recently did a food cupboard foodraiser in Barrhaven for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, and unfortunately a couple of hundred pounds of that food was actually expired and it didn’t go very far.

At this time of year, in Nepean–Carleton, please support FAMSAC, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, the North Gower food cupboard, the community food bank in Manotick and the Osgoode food cupboard. These people are doing a lot of work with very few resources, and they do need your help. That’s why this Friday I’ll be doing another foodraiser for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. Unfortunately, after the Christmas parade was cancelled last Sunday, they lost an opportunity to raise food, and they were expecting quite a bit.

I urge all Ontario residents to look at their neighbours, help their neighbours and join their local food cupboard.

Eating disorders

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: It is my pleasure to rise today and speak about a bill that I am tabling this afternoon, to declare the first week of February as Eating Disorders Awareness Week in the province of Ontario. Too many Ontarians are suffering in silence from these potentially fatal disorders, and it’s time we begin to shine a light on these fatal mental illnesses and educate the public about them.

However, last week the Ontario Auditor General reported, “The lack of needed services in Ontario between 2011-12 and 2015-16 resulted in the ministry spending almost $10 million to send 127 youth to the United States to obtain mental health services (primarily for severe eating disorders) as the needed specialty services were not available in Ontario.”

Today, Dr. Woodside from Toronto General Hospital’s Eating Disorder Program told us that the $10 million this government spent to send 127 youth to the US for help could have helped more than 500 people suffering from eating disorders right here in Ontario. The chilling fact those numbers prove is that this government is failing families and children. It’s time to tackle this problem head-on and ensure that our health care system is there for Ontarians when they need it.

I also want to recognize the Hope’s Garden Eating Disorders Support and Resource Centre, from my hometown of London, for the incredible work they do in providing services free of charge for individuals 18 and older who struggle with disordered eating or have been affected by an eating disorder.

My hope is that this bill will be a good first step towards healing. We are here to help people and—

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

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Thank you, Speaker.

Charles Walter “Wally” Carruthers

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Today I pay tribute to a constituent of mine who passed away on November 15 at the age of 89. Charles Walter Carruthers, or “Wally,” was born in Barrie and was passionately involved in his community, serving as a long-standing member of Rotary, Probus and Kerr Masonic Lodge.

As an athlete and a sports enthusiast, Wally’s contributions led him to become a Barrie Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was a respected businessman, both owning and operating Carruthers Cartage and Carruthers Rent-All.

Wally loved to sing. He belonged to the barbershop group in Barrie for many years, and neighbours at his cottage on Gibson Lake heard him singing merrily as he went visiting from cottage to cottage. He loved jazz and to dance, and would often ask Phyllis Rolls, “Come on, Phyllis. Let’s go show them how it’s done.”

Wally was a devout Christian. When he was worried that people weren’t saying “Merry Christmas” anymore, he decided to go around delivering Merry Christmas signs to convenience stores. He was surprised and pleased when all of the convenience store clerks enthusiastically allowed him to display the signs prominently.

Wally is one of the people for whom we are changing the election finance rules, as he appreciated the democratic process and would always contribute what he could afford.

Wally lost his wife of 65 years, Audrey, and is survived by his children, Wendy and Scott, and his grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Wally was an unsung hero. We will miss him greatly. Merry Christmas, Wally.

Mike Brennan

Mr. Todd Smith: Speaker, several years ago, before being elected to this place, I was at a hockey coaching clinic in Kingston with another guy from Belleville. A couple of weeks ago, Mike Brennan, who I’ve been friends with since we met at that coaching clinic, saw his neighbours’ house burning and sprang into action.

At this time of year, the Christmas lights out on Blessington Road in Thurlow are one of the real wonders of the season. It’s no surprise that when Mike Brennan stoked the fireplace at his home at 2:40 in the morning a few weeks ago, that’s what he thought he saw out of the corner of his eye. It soon became obvious to him that the bungalow of his neighbours on nearby Forsythe Road had gone up in flames.

Mike screamed, “Fire,” to alert his wife to call 911. On his way out the door, she handed him his robe and he ran over to his neighbours’ house. When he got there, the garage roof was collapsing and he was worried the whole house was going to come down. One of his neighbours had come out of the window and was on her hands and knees on the ground, while the other was hanging about halfway out the window. Mike got to him and helped leverage him out of the house. By this point, the bedroom was starting to burn.

Temperatures in the home, according to Belleville fire prevention officer Dave MacMullen, would be equivalent to inside of a broiler, he said. Mike even went back in the house to get the family’s dog out. Officer MacMullen says he intends to nominate Mike for an award from the Ontario fire marshal’s office.

The amazing thing is, it’s not the first time that Mike Brennan has rushed into a burning building. Almost two decades ago, while working as a security guard at a Wellington group home that had burst into flames, he entered the burning building, retreated from the smoke and broke a window to save a man from the fire. If he gets his award from the fire marshal’s office, Mr. Speaker, his mantel is going to start to get a little bit crowded.

We commend him for his heroism.

Diabetes

Mr. Paul Miller: Speaker, 4.6 million Ontarians have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes contributes to 30% of strokes, 40% of heart attacks, 50% of kidney failures requiring dialysis and 70% of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. It also is a leading cause of vision loss in Canada.

It is so important that we do everything we can to prevent diabetes and to manage it properly. For children with diabetes, a supportive school environment is critical to keeping them safe and healthy. Proper diabetes management reduces the risk of life-threatening emergencies, prevents or reduces the risk of serious long-term complications and ensures that students with diabetes are able to learn and fully participate in all school activities.

In Ontario, some schools and school boards have policies in place to address the needs of students with diabetes while others have none. This means that supports vary widely from one school district to the next. As a result, students with diabetes are often put at risk, and many parents are left struggling to find adequate support for children who are unable to self-manage their diabetes.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador all have province-wide policies or guidelines to support children with diabetes. It’s time for Ontario to do the same.

Franklin A. Lang

Mr. Arthur Potts: I stand in the House today to speak about Franklin A. Lang, a trooper in the Elgin regiment of the Canadian Forces, and his great-niece, Meghan who is here today in the gallery.

Frank joined the Canadian Forces in 1942, just after he turned 18. He served Canada with pride during the Second World War, the Korean War and during the Cold War in France. Unfortunately, Frank found life difficult once his service was complete, and he tragically passed away in 1977 at the age of 52, having never married and with no family to call his own.

Fast-forward many years and Meghan, with a young daughter of her own, began a scrapbook project to teach her about the family’s storied military history, which is where she learned about her great-uncle Frank. She discovered that Frank’s war medal had been issued but never received, and so she worked tirelessly with Veterans Affairs Canada over many months, eventually having it awarded to her, along with his service badge.

This was just the beginning of her search for Frank, whom she discovered was buried in an unmarked grave, not far from his own parents, in St. Thomas.

On October 31 of this year, thanks to her hard work, Meghan stood with the family, some of whom she had discovered during her search for Frank, as a military marker was placed upon his final resting place.

Meghan continues her tireless advocacy in this area in the hopes of inspiring others to look into their own soldiers and find their own Uncle Franks.

I would like to thank her for sharing Frank’s story with all of us today, and for her advocacy on behalf of all veterans. You are both a shining example of what it means to be Canadian.

Medically assisted suicide

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Earlier this year, the federal Liberal government implemented Bill C-14, which legalized medically assisted suicide across Canada. It specifically included a stipulation that health care professionals should not be compelled to provide medical aid in dying if they have conscience objections.

But in Ontario, our doctors and other health care providers are being deprived of that protection. Instead, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has adopted the effective referral protocol for medical aid in dying, which may force doctors to choose between their profession and their faith, conscience or commitment to the Hippocratic oath.

This effective referral protocol is globally unprecedented and it’s unnecessary. There are viable alternatives for the provision of effective access that would allow these health care professionals to continue to practise with ethical integrity.

I want to urge every member of this House to advocate for the rights of doctors and health care professionals who may be compelled to perform euthanasia or other procedures, or risk losing their licence to practise medicine.

We need a collaborative process that respects patients’ wishes while not infringing on freedom of conscience. I support doctors’ conscience rights, and I stand with the thousands of doctors and medical professionals across Ontario who are concerned about this new law. I strongly encourage the government of Ontario to take action to protect the integrity of our health care system and the rights of Ontario citizens.

Family skate

Mr. Bob Delaney: At least twice a year, we invite our neighbours in Lisgar, Meadowvale and Streetsville to bring their skates to one of our local arenas for a free family skate. Young and old alike get some exercise, I say hello to the moms and dads and try to coax some of the new skaters into enjoying the quintessential Canadian activity of ice-skating.

On Sunday, December 4 at Meadowvale 4 Rinks, about 300 people came out to share our Pre-Christmas Family Skate. I spent some time skating with Allen, a little guy whose dad was himself new on skates. Allen is a natural skater, and he took to the ice like a duck to water.

Folks in western Mississauga now recognize Merlin, our family’s 13-year-old pure white cat. Merlin came for a few spins around the rink in my arms and said hello to all the kids who rushed over to pat him.

From Andrea and I, and from my office staff—Andrzej, Monika, Magnolia and Manraj—who serve families in Lisgar, Meadowvale and Streetsville, a very Merry Christmas, joyeux Noël and a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2017, as together we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada and of Ontario in Confederation.

Hockey towns

Mr. Bill Walker: It’s a privilege to share good news from my great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. The city of Owen Sound, also known as the Scenic City, has been named as one of the 22 must-visit hockey towns in North America in an online

article by Expedia.ca. The Expedia list included six American cities, such as Detroit, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, and the remaining 16 are all in Canada. Sadly, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, all homes to National Hockey League teams, were passed over.

The good news, however, is that the

article describes Owen Sound as “tiny but mighty.” Owen Sound and area “is big on pride when it comes to the Owen Sound Attack,” the

article explains. “It might be the smallest market team in the Canadian Hockey League, but it has the largest percentage” of fans “attending home games.”

The city—and every small town, in fact—has excellent outdoor and indoor facilities, and backyard rinks are a part of the landscape. In other words, the Owen Sound area “lives and breathes hockey,” the

article concludes. The

article also says Owen Sound has a long association with hockey, and due to its long winters, cold temperatures and open water, most residents “grew up with skates and sticks.” It’s a hockey bastion, a hockey hotbed.

It mentions that the city was honoured to be selected as a Rogers Hometown Hockey site in 2015, and is home to such stars as Harry Lumley, whom the Bayshore Community Centre is named after, Cyclone Taylor, Chris Neil from Flesherton, Paul MacDermid from Sauble Beach, the Owen Sound Mercurys, the Greys, the Wiarton Redmen—it just goes on and on.

My constituents are very honoured to be acknowledged as one of the must-visit hockey towns in North America. I invite all members—and all people, in fact—to consider putting Owen Sound on their Christmas bucket list, visiting a rink in their area or in our great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, or perhaps, a Canadian tradition, playing a game of shinny over the holidays. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I beg leave to present a report on Toward Better Accountability (Chapter 5, 2015 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario) from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and move the adoption of its recommendations.

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

Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Yes, Mr. Speaker. As Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I’m pleased to table the committee’s report today entitled Toward Better Accountability (Chapter 5, 2015 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario).

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the permanent membership of the committee: Lisa MacLeod, Vice-Chair; John Fraser; Percy Hatfield; Monte Kwinter; Harinder Malhi; Peter Milczyn; Julia Munro; and Arthur Potts.

The committee extends its appreciation to the officials of the Treasury Board Secretariat for their attendance at the hearing.

The committee also acknowledges the assistance provided during the hearings and report-writing deliberations by the Office of the Auditor General, the Clerk of the Committee and staff in the Legislative Research Service.

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

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Hardeman has moved adjournment of the debate. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Debate adjourned.

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Mr. Joe Dickson: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills and move its adoption. We’ll pass this document to Charis.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Trevor Day): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 9,

An Act to amend the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act/ Projet de loi 9, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur le ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée.

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

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 24, 2016, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Mr. Joe Dickson: I beg leave to present the third report, 2016, from the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills and move its adoption.

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

Does the member wish to make a short statement?

Mr. Joe Dickson: I move adjournment of the debate.

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

Debate adjourned.

Introduction of Bills

Kickstarting Public Participation Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 de démarrage de la participation citoyenne

Mr. Hillier moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 77,

An Act to enact the Kickstarting Public Participation Act, 2016 / Projet de loi 77, Loi édictant la Loi de 2016 de démarrage de la participation citoyenne.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Randy Hillier: This bill requires the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport to maintain a website to facilitate the funding of projects that benefit local communities through the use of crowdfunding. The bill establishes the requirements to submit a proposal for publication on the website, as well as the manner in which the minister is to collect and distribute the donations via the website.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la Semaine de la sensibilisation aux troubles de l’alimentation

Ms. Armstrong moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 78,

An Act to proclaim Eating Disorders Awareness Week / Projet de loi 78, Loi proclamant la Semaine de la sensibilisation aux troubles de l’alimentation.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: The bill proclaims the week beginning February 1 in each year as Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Jour commémoratif du massacre de Nanjing

Ms. Wong moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 79,

An Act to proclaim the Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day / Projet de loi 79, Loi proclamant le Jour commémoratif du massacre de Nanjing.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Ms. Soo Wong: The bill proclaims December 13 in each year as the Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day.

Motions

Order of business

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members’ bills.

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

Government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I move that the order of the House dated October 6, 2016, referring Bill 36,

An Act to proclaim the month of November as Albanian Heritage Month, to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills be discharged and that the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated October 20, 2016, referring Bill 44,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Bangladeshi Heritage Month, to the Standing Committee on General Government be discharged and that the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated November 3, 2016, referring Bill 56,

An Act to proclaim the month of November Hindu Heritage Month, to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be discharged and that the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That during orders of the day on Monday, December 5, 2016, the orders for third readings of Bill 9,

An Act to amend the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act; and Bill 34,

An Act to amend the Children’s Law Reform Act with respect to the relationship between a child and the child’s grandparents; and Bill 36,

An Act to proclaim the month of November as Albanian Heritage Month; and Bill 43,

An Act to proclaim PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day; and Bill 44,

An Act to proclaim the month of March as Bangladeshi Heritage Month; and Bill 47,

An Act to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 with respect to rewards points; and Bill 56,

An Act to proclaim the month of November Hindu Heritage Month; and Bill 63,

An Act to proclaim Nurse Practitioner Week, shall be called and considered consecutively; and

That 15 minutes shall be allotted to the third reading stage of each bill, apportioned equally among the recognized parties; and

That at the end of this time, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of this stage of each of the bills without further debate or amendment; and

If a recorded vote is requested, all divisions shall be stacked and there shall be a single five-minute division bell; and

That no vote may be deferred.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader moves that—

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? I almost heard a no.

Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Sign-language interpreters

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I believe that you will find that we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the use of sign-language interpreters in the House.

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

Government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I move that sign-language interpreters may be present on the floor of the chamber today to interpret statements by the ministry and responses.

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

Motion agreed to.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

International Day of Persons with Disabilities / Journée internationale des personnes handicapées

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I rise today in honour of the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

I would also like to recognize the rich and enduring history of indigenous peoples in Ontario. Toronto is a sacred gathering place for many peoples of Turtle Island, and I would like to pay particular respect today to the Mississaugas of the New Credit.

On December 3, Ontario stood in solidarity with governments around the world. Le 3 décembre, l’Ontario a manifesté sa solidarité avec des gouvernements des quatre coins du monde.

We came together to promote the inclusion and equality of people with disabilities. We believe it’s an issue of human dignity, a matter of social justice and a driver of economic prosperity.

The year 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. More than 160 states have signed the convention and endorsed its ideals.

It’s worth noting that the convention defines “disability” as an evolving concept instead of a fixed reality, one that results from the interaction between an individual and the obstacles that prevent his or her participation in society. The more obstacles there are in society, the more disabled someone becomes. That’s a powerful thought because, at some point in our lives, we will all know someone, live with someone or become someone with a disability.

In this sense, “disability” becomes something we must address collectively, for ourselves and for others. That’s why Ontario is focusing on breaking down these obstacles in a systematic way, in a sustainable way that brings all of society together as agents of change.

For 11 years, Ontario has been working collaboratively to establish and implement five standards in key areas of everyday life, and we’re about to add a sixth. This is no small feat. The standards—information and communications, transportation, design of public spaces, customer service, and employment—are all moving parts on a different path to reach a single goal: an accessible Ontario by 2025. They affect the one in seven people in Ontario who live with disabilities, their friends, their families and communities.

En Ontario, une personne sur sept est handicapée, et ces normes touchent ses personnes ainsi que leur famille et leur collectivité.

And they engage and obligate some 400,000 organizations province-wide.

It’s a process, a continuum of change from introduction to full implementation that takes years because it needs to be done right, and because it’s never been done before in any jurisdiction in the world.

The health standard will remove obstacles that make it challenging for people with disabilities to receive services in an accessible way. Reviews are an important part of the process. They ensure that standards are working as intended and allow us to make adjustments collaboratively and transparently. It reflects the evolving concept of disability, Speaker, and our commitment to inclusion.

We are living in an age where digital technology is transforming both employment and communications. The information and communications standard review will take account of all of these changes. It will help ensure that the standards make it easier for people with disabilities to readily obtain and share information.

Everyone in this House knows that people with disabilities have remarkable talents to offer, and that many are able and willing to work. But they’re being shut out of the labour market, often because they lack the experience and training that would help them build a resumé and get a job. Speaker, it’s time for action.

We’re developing a comprehensive provincial Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. That strategy will help to connect more people to tailored training, and more employers to a talented labour pool. It will be the beginning of a long-term plan that will take into account the diverse abilities and aspirations of people with disabilities, and the business needs of employers.

One thing that can increase the employment rate faster, and help achieve our goal of an accessible 2025, is a cultural shift or change in attitudes. That’s why we’re raising awareness among businesses, and the public at large, that we are really ready and on a landmark journey to create an accessible province.

Les entreprises et les organismes sont de plus en plus nombreux à se rendre compte que l’accessibilité n’est pas qu’une obligation; c’est une opportunité.

As I close, Speaker, I just want to mention that I’ll be sharing my remaining time with the Minister of Community and Social Services. Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further ministers’ statements? The Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which occurred this past Saturday, December 3. Since 1992, this day has been recognized around the world as a reminder of our goal to build a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities. The theme for the 2016 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want.” This theme notes the recent adoption of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals and the role of these goals in building a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities.

In Ontario today, nearly two million people have some type of disability, and approximately 70,000 of those are people with a developmental disability—and my remarks will concentrate particularly on this population. Our government continues to make meaningful progress to remove barriers to inclusion for those with disabilities so they can take

part in every aspect of social, economic, political and cultural life.

Les ministères du gouvernement oeuvrent de concert pour promouvoir l’inclusivité au sein de nos collectivités ainsi que pour concourir à l’indépendance de toutes les personnes handicapées et hausser leur qualité de vie.

We want to ensure that people with developmental disabilities have a secure and safe place to live, can join community recreation programs, find employment, go to school and live independently in their communities.

In 2014, our government made an unprecedented investment of $810 million over three years to improve and expand community and developmental services. Thanks to the support and hard work of our agency partners, we have already begun to see results. We eliminated the 2014 wait-list for the Special Services at Home Program in just eight months, well ahead of the two-year goal stated in our 2014 budget. We funded 18 housing projects recommended by the Developmental Services Housing Task Force to help address the growing need for a broader range of housing solutions that offer individuals more choice and flexibility.

We are supporting a pilot project that will enable 1,100 adults with a developmental disability to develop their own person-directed plans to help them choose what they want to do in life, connect with their communities and reach their goals. And through this pilot project, more than 450 people are working with independent facilitators to plan their futures. We have launched 38 projects under the employment and modernization fund to foster a culture of change in the developmental services sector. Earlier this fall, we released a second proposal call to fund further projects.

We’re investing in the skills, development and personal growth for thousands of Ontarians, while building their independence, empowerment and inclusion in society. By working co-operatively with agencies, families and individuals with developmental disabilities, we have begun to gradually move away from sheltered workshops towards inclusive employment and meaningful community participation.

Nous sommes toutefois bien conscients que certaines circonstances financières peuvent faire obstacle à l’accessibilité.

That is why my ministry provides approximately 480,000 Ontarians with support under the Ontario Disability Support Program. ODSP provides financial and employment supports for adults with disabilities in order to help them find a job and keep it.

We continue to make this program work better for individuals with disabilities. Just this September, we raised ODSP rates by another 1.5% for individuals with disabilities. That’s a 20% increase in ODSP rates since 2003. In particular, many adults with developmental disabilities rely on ODSP funding supports. In fact, more than 19% of ODSP recipients have a developmental disability.

That is why we are taking steps to improve people’s experience with our developmental services and social assistance systems. As of this past September, once a person is eligible for adult developmental services, they will no longer have to go through a second process to prove they qualify for ODSP.

Our Passport Program also provides direct funding to give families and individuals more choice and the flexibility to purchase the supports that best fit their needs. Today, more than 19,000 individuals with developmental disabilities receive Passport funding.

Just last week, I hosted a developmental services housing forum with people with developmental disabilities and their families, developmental service agencies and supportive housing experts here in Toronto. The forum provided an excellent opportunity to share ideas on how to help remove barriers, improve opportunities and support the creation of innovative and inclusive housing for adults with developmental disabilities.

Looking ahead, the Ontario government and service agencies are committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families to shape a pathway to make services easier and ensure the experience always puts the person first.

Nous allons continuer de déployer de grands efforts pour monter constamment la barre en matière d’inclusion.

In the coming months, we will be working with our partner agencies and Developmental Services Ontario to explore new ways we can improve people’s experiences, making it easier to navigate the system and access services.

Similarly, we are looking to improve how we can better administer direct funding programs like Passport to better serve individuals and families to manage their funding more independently and streamline how they are reimbursed for services.

I’m sure everyone here would undoubtedly agree that people with developmental disabilities have the right to live as independently and safely as possible in their communities. Looking ahead, we will continue to work to create new opportunities and build a better future for all people with disabilities.

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

Since being proclaimed 24 years ago by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the observance of the day has ushered in a new era with the passing of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act in Ontario and a commitment to make our province accessible by 2025.

There is the pressing issue of providing timely treatment and support services to children, youth and adults with physical, developmental and communication challenges. There are unacceptably long wait times to access supports for services from autism to residential living.

We have heard disturbing stories about adults with severe special needs who are ending up in jail, homeless shelters and hospitals because no care or services were available for them here in Ontario.

We also continue to face delays with the Assistive Devices Program that impact some of Ontario’s most vulnerable, severely disabled citizens—people like Jeff Preston, who was left to wait one year for a new wheelchair, wondering every day why he was made a prisoner in his own home.

Finally, there’s the issue of mental health. This is an issue that most of us are very passionate about, yet, as the Auditor General reminded us last week, this government continues to chronically underfund this critical area. As a result, children and youth with mental illness continue to go without access to the psychiatrists, beds and mental health resources they so desperately need. Sadly, it is this chronic underfunding that is perpetuating much of the stigma around mental health in this province.

In my community of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, we have people like Yolanda and Jamie Cameron of Wes for Youth and organizations like HopeGreyBruce and the CMHA doing amazing work every day to provide clients—that’s people with special needs and disabilities and mental health and addiction needs—the best services they can with the little resources they have. But I don’t think this government realizes just how hard life is getting for all of them every day.

Last week, I issued a call for action on mental health resources in Bruce-Grey and across all communities facing huge gaps in services. As I informed the House, the long-standing problem of the shortage of beds, psychiatrists and outreach is putting the safety of patients and workers in dire straits. Dr. Boron of Hanover and District Hospital called it a crisis and warned that it could easily turn into a publicity nightmare for the province.

So, in spite of the best efforts done by everyone else, it’s really all up to Premier Wynne and the government to practise what they preach so they can say with all sincerity that we are an inclusive society that strives every day to identify and remove any limitations and any barriers facing our friends and neighbours and any person who lives with a disability.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I rise today with mixed feelings to talk about the 2016 United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Inclusion includes ensuring that everyone has access to the workforce. Nearly half of all adults who have a disability are not currently participating in the workforce due to barriers that they face—50%. We must challenge ourselves as a province to improve employment opportunities and career pathways that lead to stable, well-paying employment for people with disabilities. The government should lead in this regard. I have heard the minister talk about a culture shift. That culture shift should happen here, in the people’s House.

We can do better and we must do better, Mr. Speaker.

Ontario’s NDP has consistently raised AODA compliance issues and will continue to do so.

Despite its commitments, this government requires pressure from the opposition to follow through on what they have said that they would do. It doesn’t inspire confidence, Mr. Speaker.

However, I was inspired to create a petition calling for the expansion of A