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May 27, 2003

37th Parliament, 4th Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2003-May-27 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 27 May 2003 Mardi 27 mai 2003

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ENERGY CONTRACTS

BEVERLY PHIPPEN

HOSPITAL RESTRUCTURING

GLENN CUTHBERTSON

MUSEUMS IN MISSISSAUGA

VEHICLE INSURANCE

SCENIC CITY ORDER OF GOOD CHEER

WATER EXTRACTION

CANADIAN CANOE MUSEUM

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

COUNTY OF HALIBURTON ACT, 2003

GASOLINE CONSUMER

PROTECTION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LA PROTECTION

DES CONSOMMATEURS D'ESSENCE

ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT

PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT

(FAIRNESS IN DISABILITY

INCOME SUPPORT PAYMENTS), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LE

PROGRAMME ONTARIEN DE SOUTIEN

AUX PERSONNES HANDICAPÉES

(ÉQUITÉ DANS LES VERSEMENTS

DU SOUTIEN DU REVENU)

DISCLOSURE AND PROTECTION OF

ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR

LA DIVULGATION ET LA PROTECTION

DE RENSEIGNEMENTS

SUR LES ADOPTIONS

TORONTO CATHOLIC

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

STABILITY AND GOOD WILL

PROMOTION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 VISANT

À PROMOUVOIR LA STABILITÉ

ET LA BONNE VOLONTÉ

AU SEIN DES ÉCOLES ÉLÉMENTAIRES DU CONSEIL CATHOLIQUE DE TORONTO

POLICE SERVICES AMENDMENT ACT

(INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS

COMMISSIONER), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES SERVICES POLICIERS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE

UN COMMISSAIRE INDÉPENDANT

AUX PLAINTES CONTRE LA POLICE

COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'INDEMNISATION DES VICTIMES

D'ACTES CRIMINELS

HEALTH INSURANCE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L'ASSURANCE-SANTÉ

ONTARIO HERITAGE DAY ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LE JOUR

DU PATRIMOINE DE L'ONTARIO

STALKERS REGISTRY ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LE REGISTRE

DES HARCELEURS

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS'

PUBLIC BUSINESS

RUSSELL RAMSAY

PHILIP SHRIVE

VISITOR

ORAL QUESTIONS

SARS

EDUCATION LABOUR DISPUTE

HYDRO DEREGULATION

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING

MEAT INSPECTION

BSE

ADAMS MINE

LITERACY

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

SCHOOL CLOSURES

EDUCATION FUNDING

CHILDREN'S HEALTH SERVICES

PATIENT TRANSFERS

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

PETITIONS

ONTARIO DISABILITY

SUPPORT PROGRAM

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

HOG INDUSTRY

COMMUNITY CARE

WEST NIPISSING GENERAL HOSPITAL

MINIMUM WAGE

NIAGARA HOSPITALS

HOME CARE

EDUCATION FUNDING

HIGHWAY 69

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BACK TO SCHOOL

(TORONTO CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY)

AND EDUCATION AND PROVINCIAL

SCHOOLS NEGOTIATIONS

AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 PRÉVOYANT LE RETOUR

À L'ÉCOLE (SECTEUR ÉLÉMENTAIRE DU

CONSEIL CATHOLIQUE DE TORONTO)

ET MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

L'ÉDUCATION ET LA

LOI SUR

LA NÉGOCIATION COLLECTIVE DANS

LES ÉCOLES PROVINCIALES

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

MEAT INSPECTION

Tuesday 27 May 2003 Mardi 27 mai 2003

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ENERGY CONTRACTS

Mr Mario Sergio (York West): I want to bring to the attention of the House that the sleek scam artists are back at work, back in our communities

and prowling, preying on the most defenceless people, the seniors, those who have difficulties understanding our laws, contracts and languages.

I wonder why Consumers' Gas and Direct Energy keep on sending their representatives into our communities to prey on these people. Let me read from a letter I

received in my office. On April 27, a representative of Direct Energy Marketing Ltd came to this particular address, spoke to this particular lady, identified himself as a representative of the gas

company who had come to update their files -- updating their files is a new way of getting to these people -- asked to see a copy of the gas bill, took down the information and then let them sign a

receipt. Indeed, this was a brand new contract, and now the people are bound to a new contract at a higher rate.

We've been bringing this to the attention of the government, and again today I am raising this issue in the House. Our people need peace of mind. They need

protection when it comes to scam artists. I'm impressing upon the Premier and the government today to go after Consumers' Gas and Direct Energy and protect the people of Ontario.

BEVERLY PHIPPEN

Mr AL McDonald (Nipissing): Today I rise before the House to speak to you about a very special constituent of mine, an inspiration to all

Canadians, Mrs Beverly Phippen.

Beverly is a member of the Ontario Special Olympics team that participated in the 14th annual Special Olympics northern region power lifting invitational in

North Bay. Through Beverly's continuous hard work, determination and dedication to her sport, and as an athlete in the Special Olympics, her performances at the northern regionals earned her the

award of best female lifter, not to mention setting two new Canadian records for dead lift and total weights categories.

Beverly's win at the northern regionals has also given her the opportunity to represent Canada at the upcoming Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held in

Dublin, Ireland, from June 16 to June 29. There is also history being made, as this will be the first time in Special Olympics history that their World Summer Games are held outside North

America.

Beverly has represented both Ontario and Canada at numerous games locally, regionally and internationally. She has shown exceptional leadership, dedication and

courage as a Special Olympian.

It's very exciting for me, as MPP of Nipissing, to see one of my own constituents having the opportunity to represent North Bay and Canada in the summer games. I

would like to extend best wishes and congratulations to Beverly and all the Team Canada Special Olympians. Best of luck in your quest for gold in Dublin.

HOSPITAL RESTRUCTURING

Mr John C. Cleary (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): I rise today to address an important issue pertaining to health care and the well-being of

my constituents.

Since 1996, hospital restructuring in the Cornwall area has been an ongoing process, and while a made-in-Cornwall solution is currently ready to be implemented,

a funding commitment from the provincial government remains unavailable.

Following the advice of the provincial health care restructuring commission, the Cornwall community came together on January 22, 2003, to explore the possible

solutions to hospital restructuring in the area. The resulting town hall hospital services committee developed a plan which ensured that the community would be provided with the highest quality and

most affordable health care possible.

In April 2002, the committee of the Religious Hospitallers of St Joseph Health Centre Corp submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for

their consideration. On February 12, 2003, after much deliberation, Minister Clement announced his intention of support for the plan, which included the establishment of a community-based

corporation which was proposed to establish joint governance of the two hospitals, centralizing acute care services at the site of Hotel Dieu, and provided a price tag that Cornwall and area

residents could support.

The new corporation and board followed, with 12 directors.

Evidently, without provincial funding, this proposal cannot continue. As I stated, the funding was agreed to in principle, and the 30-day period for public

consultation has now come to an end. We know this plan will take approximately five years to complete. I call on the minister to take the appropriate steps to make the funding available. I want to

ensure that the health care of my constituents is not compromised and that the wishes of the community are fully granted. The community has lived up to its agreement, and now it's time for the

minister to do the same.

GLENN CUTHBERTSON

Mr Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I rise today to talk about some of the best teachers in the entire world, who are right here in the

province of Ontario. Many of them struggle long and hard to deliver education in what are often very difficult circumstances and to bring out the very best talents in our children.

Each year the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations names an Educator of the Year. It is my very proud honour to announce to this House that this

year's recipient is Glenn Cuthbertson, a grade 4 and 5 teacher at Presteign Heights public school in Toronto.

He was nominated for this award by two parents of his present students, one of whom is Nancy Laurain-Martin. She had a great deal to say, in our local newspaper,

about Mr Cuthbertson. She said that he was absolutely shocked to be nominated for this award. She said to him, "`You're the best teacher in the school and also the best educator in Ontario.' He

blushed. He was very moved."

"She said her son Joseph, who is in grade 5, can tell her about cloning and new scientific discoveries -- things he learned in Cuthbertson's class. `He reads the

newspaper and he's only 10,' she said."

She also went on to say that Glenn Cuthbertson treats each child with the utmost respect. "He helps them become citizens of the world. I'm in awe of his ability

to teach the curriculum and apply it to life learning."

Mr Cuthbertson, when given the award, said, "It's an incredible honour for me to be recognized in this way. Half of the people in my family are teachers. My

brothers were teachers and principals and my wife is a professor at the University of Toronto."

Our entire community takes our hat off and says congratulations, Mr Cuthbertson. A job well done.

MUSEUMS IN MISSISSAUGA

Mrs Margaret Marland (Mississauga South): May is Museum Month, a time to celebrate the vital role our museums play in preserving our heritage.

This is an ideal occasion to recognize the exceptional museums of Mississauga and the dedicated volunteers and staff who are responsible for their success.

The Bradley Museum, an 1830s farmhouse, was the home of United Empire Loyalist Lewis Bradley and his family. It has been restored to reveal the life of early

settlers. The Anchorage, a Regency-style cottage adjacent to the Bradley Museum, was the retirement home of Royal Navy officer John Skynner. It houses changing exhibits and a tea room.

The Benares Historic House, also located in Mississauga South, was home to four generations of the Harris and Sayers families. Benares is believed to be the

inspiration for the Canadian author Mazo de la Roche's famed "Whiteoaks of Jalna" novels. This Georgian-style house, with its beautiful park-like grounds, has been restored to reflect daily life in

Much more than windows on the past, these museums offer entertaining events year-round, such as a Christmas craft show and sale, Maple Magic, an old-fashioned

strawberry social, a teddy bear picnic and a fall fair.

Our community owes its appreciation to the museum board chairs, Wendy Davies of Bradley Museum and Margaret Adolphe of Benares, and the other dedicated board

members, as well as the volunteers who help with research, special events and fundraising. Along with our excellent museum staff, they have done a superb job of bringing local history to life for

the people of today.

Congratulations on your commitment and hard work. I'm proud that all these museums are in Mississauga South.

VEHICLE INSURANCE

Mr Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): It's almost impossible to convey the level of frustration faced by almost all drivers in

northwestern Ontario about the rapidly increasing cost for vehicle insurance in this province. While this is affecting drivers, I need to express particular concern to the Premier about the impact

this is having on businesses and commercial vehicles in particular, and specifically about how these totally unreasonable increases are threatening the northern economy.

The forest products industry is already facing enormous challenges, but the fact that massive increases in insurance are forcing logging truck operators out of

business is another serious blow to the industry.

If you happen to run a vehicle towing business, the example of Kevin Holland, whose insurance costs for one vehicle have almost quadrupled in price to over

$10,000 a year, despite no claims being made, represents the norm being faced by business people in the Thunder Bay district.

The insurance industry says that they are facing enormous losses unless they jack up the rates. Whatever happened to a company's loyalty to its customers? The

industry is simply cancelling insurance for long-time and claim-free customers, forcing many to access the dreaded and expensive Facility Association.

The government demands that we have insurance before we can drive any vehicle. Yet what are they doing to help? Recent legislation that would have potentially

reduced rates at least a fraction is sitting in limbo.

The Premier has made no effort to protect good drivers from these unconscionable increases, nor has he acknowledged that action is needed. While he is missing in

action, drivers are fuming, businesses and jobs are being lost and the economy is being threatened by a crisis that can no longer be ignored.

I say to the Premier: speak up and at least tell us you recognize the problem and are prepared to act.

SCENIC CITY ORDER OF GOOD CHEER

Mr Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I rise in the House today to support a local organization, of which I am member, named the Scenic City

Order of Good Cheer. The original Order of Good Cheer was founded in the year of Our Lord 1606 by Samuel de Champlain.

The Scenic City Order of Good Cheer is a successful organization with the focus of improving the waterfront, rivers and natural and cultural features of Owen

Sound and area. A total of 12 members and their spouses dedicate their time and effort to community projects.

Most recently, the Order of Good Cheer held its ninth annual gourmet festival dinner auction and entertainment cruise. It was held in association with the Sun

Times and the Owen Sound Transportation Co aboard the MS Chi-Cheemaun.

I would like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs 2002-03 team roster members who autographed this year's unique raffle prize item of a Leafs jersey. I would also

like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs alumni, who autographed two special live auction Leafs jersies.

The Order of Good Cheer has been involved in numerous other projects and community activities. Recently, they founded and built a gazebo on the waterfront for

the residents of Owen Sound. The organization has also provided funding for harbourside benches, and contributed to the electrical improvements at Kelso Beach amphitheatre, renovations to the Harry

Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, and stream improvement.

I congratulate all the volunteers who worked so diligently to make every event successful and thank them for their hard work.

WATER EXTRACTION

Mrs Leona Dombrowsky (Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington): It is indeed a cruel irony that the Minister of the Environment, Chris

Stockwell, chose Valentine's Day to break the hearts of the people of Perth, when he overturned an Environmental Review Tribunal ruling and granted a staged water-taking permit to the Swiss-owned

company OMYA.

For more than three years, the people of Perth have been fighting to protect their water source. In 2001, at great expense to taxpayers, the Environmental Review

Tribunal held a 35-day hearing and issued a decision that balanced the needs of the company with environmental concerns. OMYA appealed this decision to both a judicial review and the minister.

Did the minister wait and let the judicial process take its course? No. With a total disregard for the judicial process, he stepped in and overturned the

decision. Once again the Tories put their donors and friends above the concerns of average citizens whose only desire is to protect the environment.

But the people of Perth did not give up easily. Ann German, an 85-year-old resident of Bob's Lake, is taking the minister to court. Minister Stockwell approved a

two-phase permit. Miss German, with the aid of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, is arguing that the minister can only grant one permit at a time. This government may turn their back on

the environment and disregard due process, but the people of Ontario will not.

I commend Ann German, CELA and the other hard-working volunteers who know that the minister is wrong and continue to fight to protect their water.

CANADIAN CANOE MUSEUM

Mr R. Gary Stewart (Peterborough): Today I would like to draw to the members' attention a display that is located on the first floor of the

Legislative Building. This display features the upcoming Legacy Outdoor Learning Centre at the Canadian Canoe Museum, located in my riding of Peterborough.

The Canadian Canoe Museum evolved from Professor Kirk Wipper's canoe collection that was housed in what was then known as the Kanawa International Museum in

Dorset. In 1989, Mr. Wipper transferred control of his historic collection to the newly formed Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough.

Visit the Canadian Canoe Museum and you will do more than tour a museum; you will experience Canadian history. On any given day, you might participate in

activities from hearing creation stories inside a traditional wigwam, to building a 36-foot birchbark canoe, or you might choose to watch history spring to life as you re-enact a fur-trade-era

voyageur encampment.

In the year 2000, the museum developed a unique project entitled The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon, which explored the enduring significance of the canoe to

the people of Canada through nine new exhibits for the museum, three travelling outreach exhibits and curriculum-linked education programs. Now the Canadian Canoe Museum is preparing to take

interactive programming to the next level, with the development of an outdoor paddling centre and a visiting artisans program.

I invite all members to visit the display in the Legislative Building and then take a trip to Peterborough to see first-hand the evolution of the Canadian Canoe

Museum, from its beginnings in 1957, when Kirk Wipper began his collection, to a world-class museum that reflects on our Canadian history and attracts people from around the globe.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

COUNTY OF HALIBURTON ACT, 2003

Mr Hodgson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr18,

An Act respecting the County of Haliburton.

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

Pursuant to standing order 84, the bill stands referred to the standing committee on regulations and private bills.

GASOLINE CONSUMER

PROTECTION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LA PROTECTION

DES CONSOMMATEURS D'ESSENCE

Mr Crozier moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 58,

An Act to provide information to consumers respecting the price of gasoline and the ownership of gasoline retailers and to require certain additional

information from major oil companies / Projet de loi 58, Loi visant à fournir des renseignements aux consommateurs en ce qui concerne le prix de l'essence et l'appartenance des

détaillants d'essence et exigeant certains renseignements supplémentaires de la part des grosses sociétés pétrolières.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Bruce Crozier (Essex): In an effort to protect consumers in Ontario, this bill requires every gasoline retailer to advertise a change in

the price of gasoline at the retailer's gas station at least 72 hours before changing the price. The bill also requires gasoline retailers to indicate on their price signs what portion of the price

is dedicated to tax. The bill requires gasoline retailers that are affiliated with major gasoline retailers to indicate their affiliation on signs at their gas stations and on the receipts issued

at their gas stations. Finally, the bill requires large oil companies that produce, refine and market gasoline to file segmented earning reports with the Minister of Consumer and Business Services

annually.

ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT

PROGRAM AMENDMENT ACT

(FAIRNESS IN DISABILITY

INCOME SUPPORT PAYMENTS), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LE

PROGRAMME ONTARIEN DE SOUTIEN

AUX PERSONNES HANDICAPÉES

(ÉQUITÉ DANS LES VERSEMENTS

DU SOUTIEN DU REVENU)

Mr Martin moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 59,

An Act to amend the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997 to require annual cost-of-living adjustments to income support payments / Projet de

loi 59, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1997 sur le Programme ontarien de soutien aux personnes handicapées en vue d'exiger des rajustements annuels relatifs au coût de la vie en ce qui concerne

les versements du soutien du revenu.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): Some 269,000 people across this province have been waiting a long time for an increase in their income. This

bill will do that. It will ask the government to act immediately to not only increase the income of some of our most vulnerable, at-risk citizens but to act retroactively and to tie what they do to

the cost of living.

DISCLOSURE AND PROTECTION OF

ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR

LA DIVULGATION ET LA PROTECTION

DE RENSEIGNEMENTS

SUR LES ADOPTIONS

Mr Wettlaufer moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 60,

An Act to amend the Vital Statistics Act and the Child and Family Services Act in respect of disclosure and protection of adoption information /

Projet de loi 60, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les statistiques de l'état civil et la

Loi sur les services à l'enfance et à la famille en ce qui concerne la divulgation et la protection

de renseignements sur les adoptions.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Wayne Wettlaufer (Kitchener Centre): The bill amends the Vital Statistics Act and the Child and Family Services Act in respect of

information on adoption. It meets the concerns of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

I'd like to move unanimous consent for second and third reading.

The Speaker: The member has asked for unanimous consent. Is there unanimous consent? I'm afraid I heard some noes.

TORONTO CATHOLIC

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

STABILITY AND GOOD WILL

PROMOTION ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 VISANT

À PROMOUVOIR LA STABILITÉ

ET LA BONNE VOLONTÉ

AU SEIN DES ÉCOLES ÉLÉMENTAIRES DU CONSEIL CATHOLIQUE DE TORONTO

Mr Kennedy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 61,

An Act to promote stability and good will in Toronto Catholic Elementary Schools / Projet de loi 61, Loi visant à promouvoir la stabilité et

la bonne volonté au sein des écoles élémentaires du conseil catholique de Toronto.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park): This bill ends a lockout of elementary teachers employed by the Toronto Catholic District School

Board. It provides for dispute resolution by mediation and arbitration. It's a clean bill that we think, in the unusual circumstance of the 69,000 children, deserves the support of the entire

House.

POLICE SERVICES AMENDMENT ACT

(INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS

COMMISSIONER), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES SERVICES POLICIERS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE

UN COMMISSAIRE INDÉPENDANT

AUX PLAINTES CONTRE LA POLICE

Mr Hampton moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 62,

An Act to amend the Police Services Act with respect to the disciplining of police officers and to reinstate a fair and impartial process with respect

to public complaints about police officers / Projet de loi 62, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les services policiers relativement au processus disciplinaire d'agents de police et visant à restaurer

un processus équitable et objectif pour traiter des plaintes du public concernant la conduite d'agents de police.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): The bill amends the Police Services Act to require an independent police complaints commissioner

appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to deal with complaints by members of the public about the conduct of police officers. The commissioner is independent of police forces and reports

annually to the Attorney General. Any member of the public may make a complaint,

whereas at present a member of the public may make a complaint only if directly affected by the subject matter of

the complaint.

The bill also amends the act to reinstate the process for disciplining police officers that existed before the repeal of

part V of the act as of November 27,

COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'INDEMNISATION DES VICTIMES

D'ACTES CRIMINELS

Mr Bartolucci moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 63,

An Act to amend the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act / Projet de loi 63, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'indemnisation des victimes d'actes

criminels.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

The member for a short statement?

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): The bill amends the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act to allow victims of motor vehicle offences under the

Criminal Code, such as impaired driving, to apply for compensation under the act. At present, victims of those offences are not allowed to apply for compensation under the act.

Payments of interim compensation under the act are subject to the limitations specified by the regulations made under the act if the applicant is injured or

killed in Ontario, resulting from the commission of an offence described in

section 220 or 221,

section 249 (3) and/or (4),

section 253 or

section 255 (2) or (3) of the Criminal Code.

HEALTH INSURANCE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L'ASSURANCE-SANTÉ

Mr Duncan moved first reading of the following bill:

canadienne sur la santé.

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

The member for a short statement.

Mr Dwight Duncan (Windsor-St Clair): This bill incorporates the principles of the Canada Health Act into Ontario statute with respect to

health. In effect, it prevents any government from creating a two-tier health care system in Ontario. This government had a chance to vote against it once before. It's now part of our platform, and

people will choose change.

ONTARIO HERITAGE DAY ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LE JOUR

DU PATRIMOINE DE L'ONTARIO

Mr Agostino moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 65,

An Act to proclaim Ontario Heritage Day and to amend other Acts to include Ontario Heritage Day as a holiday / Projet de loi 65, Loi proclamant le

Jour du patrimoine de l'Ontario et modifiant d'autres lois en vue de l'ajouter comme jour férié.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Dominic Agostino (Hamilton East): This bill, if passed, would give us an opportunity once a year to celebrate our rich history, our

heritage and our traditions in this wonderful province of ours. It would designate the second Monday in June of each year to be Ontario Heritage Day. It would also be a statutory holiday, so

Ontarians could have the opportunity to spend time with their families and talk about the great province we have and the great and rich history of this wonderful province of ours.

STALKERS REGISTRY ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 SUR LE REGISTRE

DES HARCELEURS

Mr Bartolucci moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 66,

An Act to provide greater protection to victims of stalking by providing for a stalkers registry / Projet de loi 66, Loi visant à mieux

protéger les victimes de harcèlement en prévoyant un registre des harceleurs.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): This is a very, very serious issue across this province and this country. The bill would be modelled on

Christopher's Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000. It establishes a registry containing the names of persons who have been convicted of a stalking offence.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS'

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon Chris Stockwell (Minister of the Environment, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice

regarding private members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is there unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon Mr Stockwell: I move that notwithstanding standing order 96(d), the following changes be made to the ballot list for private members'

public business: Mr Spina and Mr Wettlaufer exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr Spina assumes ballot item 46 and Mr Wettlaufer assumes ballot item 14. I move that notwithstanding

standing order 96(g), notice for ballot item 11 be waived.

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

RUSSELL RAMSAY

Hon Norman W. Sterling (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs): I'd like to ask for unanimous consent to note the passing

of one of our former members, Russell Ramsay, and for all parties to make some comments.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is there unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon Mr Sterling: Russell Ramsay was a member for Sault Ste Marie in the period between 1978 and 1985. Russ came here after a by-election was

called in 1978 on the untimely death of John Rhodes, who was then the Minister of Trade and who had passed away on a trip in Iran at that point in time.

Those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Russ Ramsay would appreciate one of the most earnest and hard-working MPPs and cabinet ministers one could have

experienced in this Legislature. Russ served both as secretary for resources development for a short period of time, from 1981 to 1982, and as Minister of Labour from 1982 to 1985. He lost the

election in 1985, but was then appointed, I believe by the then Liberal government, president of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association. Russ served in that post for about 12 years, really

gaining the respect -- or had the respect I know -- of not only the Progressive Conservative Party but also the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party.

I did have the honour of being present at his funeral in the Soo shortly after his death on February 9 this year. I was heartened to see my colleagues Mike

Brown and Tony Martin and my former colleague Bud Wildman at the funeral, sharing the celebration of the life of Russ Ramsay. Russ was a quiet gentleman. Despite that characteristic of almost being

shy, he was a very confident man and really was a leader, not only in his community back in the Soo but here.

Russ loved sports. Before he came to Queen's Park, he was the operator-manager of the local radio station in the Soo and used to broadcast the Soo Greyhounds

radio broadcasts over that particular area. He carried on that love for sports in his community all through his political career, and at the time he was also serving as president of the IAPA. Each

weekend, he would go back to his community, where he lived with, and is survived by, his wife, Margaret, and participate in the Soo. I don't think anyone in the Soo ever doubted his loyalty to his

community.

I remember sitting in cabinet with Russ in the 1981-85 period and really getting to know him quite well, usually through private conversation. Russ had the

reputation of arriving at his office at the Ministry of Labour before anyone else was in the building. I think he used to arrive at some ungodly hour of about 6:30 in the morning. Russ actually

dictated a personal response to every letter he received from anybody, whether it be a constituent of his or a constituent of any of the other members in this Legislature. He was one of the most

hard-working MPPs and ministers I have ever known.

When I attended his funeral in February, along with my colleagues, you could not but be taken by the warmth and love that the people of the Soo had for this

man. Not long ago, I think three or four years ago, they held an honorary night in tribute to Russ. I believe they named a street or an avenue and a conference room in their civic facility after

this man.

Russ always had time for the common man, anybody who wanted to talk to him. He took each of his constituent's problems very seriously and was very effective in

solving them. He was also unusual in some ways. When an MPP holds a fundraiser within his party, he often invites ministers of his party to that fundraiser, hoping they will come because -- I know

some of the opposition wouldn't agree with this -- that does add some prestige to the event. Of course, there is sort of an unwritten law, when an MPP is invited to one of his colleagues, that

there really isn't a requirement for them to make payment, but Russ Ramsay always insisted on sending a cheque. I used to go back and say to Russ, "Look, Russ, we wanted to have you here and we

really don't want your money," and Russ would insist on paying his way with regard to that.

In the latter years, he ran for mayor after he retired as president of the IAPA, still taking an active role in his community in the Soo. He continued to help

people out in the Soo. He received the Canada Medal as an honour to this outstanding citizen and person.

He suffered, as well, from Alzheimer's in the last couple of years. I was invited to an event at one of the local restaurants here in Toronto while he was in

the initial stages of this disease, and all his colleagues from the radio industry had gathered with him. There must have been about 20 or 25 people celebrating with Russ. I was asked to say a few

words, having been a colleague of his. But I can only say again that the warmth and friendship and feeling that these people in the Soo exhibited toward Russ are really testament to this man's

life.

I think that all members here can celebrate and look to this man as an example of how to be a truly great public servant. I know each and every one of us will

express our sadness, sympathy and condolences to his wife, Margaret, and his five children, Russell David, Ronald Arthur, Karen Elizabeth, Kathryn Lee and Roderick Paul. I was happy to be a

colleague of Russ's. I really loved him very much and I know his family in the Soo will miss him forever.

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): I want to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to Russ Ramsay, an individual I respected very much

and whom I considered to be a very good personal friend of all of us in the House. I certainly would like to place myself in that category.

I was chatting the other day with Margaret Marland, the member for Mississauga South, about a few years ago when there was more collegiality in this

Legislature and when there were perhaps more personal friendships between people in the government and the opposition. Russ Ramsay was certainly a person who had many people on his side, even on

this side. I was going through some of the clippings about Russ in preparing for this today. One of them is from the London Free Press, March 17, 1983. The headline tells everything about Russ in

this House. It says, "Ramsay Just Too Nice a Guy for the Opposition." What it was referring to was that the opposition critics in the field of labour, though they were critics and had a lot of

issues to raise, found it was difficult to do so with Russ Ramsay as Minister of Labour. He was a hard person to take a personal shot or a political shot at because of his personality and warmth

for all who were near him in any particular way.

I remember something about Russ: often outside of the Legislature people in their own community are known more for other things than their political

representation. But Russ was known, as Norm Sterling said, as a person who found every problem that an individual constituent had, or anybody in the province had, to be important enough for Russ

himself to reply to the concern that had been expressed. I remember he knew that I had an interest in hockey, and he also had an interest in hockey. Many years ago, as a youngster, I lived in the

city of Sudbury -- I was born there -- and I remembered the old NOHA, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, which was senior hockey actually at its best in those days. Russ had been very much

involved in Sault Ste Marie with the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, as a broadcaster, a friend of the team, a supporter of the team. He took the opportunity one day to bring his scrapbooks from the

old days of senior hockey down to the Legislature, to allow me to take them home for the weekend to have a look at them and recount many of the memories.

That was Russ Ramsay. He exemplified the kind of person you really want to see in politics, who was genuinely concerned about constituents, who didn't care

what partisan stripe a person happened to have, who was prepared to deal with them on a person-to-person basis and to do the very best he could.

There are many quotes you find when you go back in the material, the headlines, the stories about a person. Invariably they refer to him as a nice individual.

One of the quotes I remember by an individual in the Sault said, "Everybody loved Russ Ramsay and Russ Ramsay loved everybody else in the Sault." He would be very difficult to run against in an

election campaign because of that kind of personality.

Norm Sterling said it appropriately when he said that should not detract from the fact that he was a very competent person. He wasn't simply a nice guy, which

of course he was, but he was a very competent individual and very hard-working. The hours he spent on the job often took a toll on him. He looked tired some nights, as all of us do, but that was

because Russ, both during the day sessions and the night sessions -- we used to sit on Tuesday and Thursday nights at one time in this Legislature on a routine basis from 8 to 10:30, and then on a

Friday morning -- were here all of the time. He commuted back and forth to Sault Ste Marie. As the present member for Sault Ste Marie knows, that isn't always easy to do, because it's some distance

and the flights are not always what you would like them to be.

Russ Ramsay will be remembered by those of us who were in the House at that time, by those who were touched by him in some way or other, by the people of Sault

Ste Marie, for what he did for the people of Sault Ste Marie but also for the people of Ontario.

I remember he did receive an appointment. You look at people and what they have contributed, and when Russ Ramsay left elected office, David Peterson appointed

him to a position. He was named to the Ontario Health Disciplines Board. He was chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board and named by David Peterson. That was because everyone in the House, I

think, felt he would do a good job. He would put his mind to it, he would spend the time. He had a genuine compassionate streak in him for the average individual in our society.

Sault Ste Marie, the province of Ontario and our country of Canada all are better places because Russ Ramsay was with us.

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): I am honoured and indeed feel privileged to speak today about my predecessor as member of provincial

Parliament for Sault Ste Marie, Russ Ramsay. There are times when I stand in my place in this House and I'm overwhelmed by the awesome responsibility that comes with the position, the history

embodied in every chair, and those who have served before: the likes of Arthur Wishart, John Rhodes and Karl Morin-Strom, but most particularly, and today especially, Russ Ramsay.

Russ Ramsay was a special personality in Sault Ste Marie, one who in many ways exemplified the best that society has to offer or aspires to. He was in many

ways synonymous with Sault Ste Marie. He was a gentleman -- and, more than a gentleman, a gentle man; father of five children -- Russ Jr, Ron, Karen McAndrew, Kathy Campbell and Rod -- and husband

to Margaret.

It was fondly known by many that Russ paid exquisite attention to detail, to correspondence and, as Mr Sterling said, to responding to correspondence. He would

often write a letter and, when you wrote back to thank him, he would quickly write back to thank you for thanking him. That was his style.

There were no boundaries or barriers, in my experience, with Russ Ramsay. He listened to and was interested in good ideas, wherever they came from, and gave of

his time and wisdom generously. In his retirement years, I would see him holding court at his favourite table at the Grand Festa Restaurant with a cross-section of community members, keenly

engaged, listening and giving advice. I was on occasion fortunate to be in that circle and to share stories, which always contributed to my greater appreciation and respect for this job, as Russ

held it in high esteem and honoured with his wisdom and presence those who served in that capacity, without concern for political affiliation. Our good friend and long-time colleague of Russ, Bud

Wildman, would often join us at that table.

Russ was a tremendous community supporter. He loved sports and had an intense interest that he shared widely in every detail, every game, every personality and

every important moment, particularly in Sault Ste Marie athletic history.

He served his community -- our community -- in many ways. Russ was honoured by the city in many ways. After serving as alderman for ward 2, elected in 1975,

and running for mayor in 1996, he served as member of provincial Parliament from 1978 until 1985, where he was appointed labour minister and secretary for resource development by Premier Bill

Davis.

The city renamed the civic centre's Algoma Boardroom, its largest and most significant meeting room, the Russ Ramsay Boardroom, and renamed Ferry Street as

Russ Ramsay Way. A sports gallery in the Sault Ste Marie Museum was named the Russell H. Ramsay Sports History Hall of Fame in 1991. He received Sault Ste Marie's highest honour or award when he

was honoured with the Medal of Merit in 1977. Recognition was given at this time for his having served as a member, director, president and chair of a host of organizations, including the Plummer

Memorial Public Hospital, Sault Ste Marie Rotary Club, Sault Ste Marie Chamber of Commerce and the Sault Family YMCA.

Russ spent 30 years in the broadcasting industry -- actually was the boss of Mr Spina over there, the member for Brampton today, and probably had an influence

on his political career, given his connections --

Interjection: His proclivities.

Mr Martin: His proclivities, yes.

He served as general manager of Highland Radio and TV Ltd and Lake Superior Cable Vision. He was the play-by-play broadcaster for the Soo Greyhounds. He went

on to work as executive vice-president and general manager of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.

Elie Martel was reported to have said, on hearing of Russ's appointment to the IAPA, "If I could give him a present for Christmas, I'd like to give him a

baseball bat. He is going to have to beat somebody into submission." Now, this would not have been Russ's style or choice of weapon, but I'm sure he would not have hesitated to tell someone, "If

you don't like what I'm offering, be careful or Elie will get a hold of you." Elie, as his critic, served as an excellent foil for Russ as minister, and I'm sure they were a formidable team.

To give a measure of the character of the man, he is on record as opposing the elimination of the Workplace Health and Safety Board in 1995:

"`I'm a strong supporter of what Premier Harris is doing concerning fiscal restraint, but I don't agree with what the government is doing on this. I think

there would be significant benefits in retaining the agency. It has helped to reduce costly job accidents, increased productivity and made Ontario companies more competitive,' said Ramsay, who has

extensive experience in workplace safety issues."

Today we remember Russ Ramsay's contribution to public life in this province and to the people of Sault Ste Marie, and we celebrate it. We also express our

sorrow at losing such a wonderful citizen, and express all that to his wife, Margaret, his five children, his 11 grandchildren and his two great-grandchildren.

The Speaker: I thank all the members for their kind comments and will ensure that copies of Hansard go to the family very shortly.

PHILIP SHRIVE

Hon Norman W. Sterling (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs): Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I would like to call for

unanimous consent to observe a moment of silence for OPP Senior Constable Philip Shrive, whose funeral was held today in Renfrew. Constable Shrive succumbed to injuries on Friday, May 23, as a

result of a two-vehicle collision on May 16 while serving his community and our province.

A dedicated officer who was well liked and respected by his peers and his community, he served as local branch president of the OPP association.

He will be greatly missed by his wife and children and by all those whose lives he has touched.

Could we have a moment of silence?

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Agreed? Agreed.

Would all the members and our friends in the gallery please rise for a moment of silence.

The House observed a moment's silence.

Mr Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I would like to ask for unanimous consent for immediate second and

third readings of the bill introduced today under the title Toronto Catholic Elementary Schools Stability and Good Will Promotion Act, 2003.

The Speaker: Is there unanimous consent? I'm afraid I heard some noes.

VISITOR

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Just before we begin question period -- I probably shouldn't do this -- Richard Brennan from the Toronto Star has

said he would like members to know that Maya Gupta is shadowing him today. She's a grade 10 student from Iroquois Ridge High School. I was going to do it, as we sometimes have introductions -- and

I know we shouldn't do that. But Maya Gupta is following Richard Brennan of the Toronto Star today.

ORAL QUESTIONS

SARS

Ms Sandra Pupatello (Windsor West): My question is for the Minister of Health, and involves a very serious issue.

Dr Donald Low said yesterday that your government closed the book on SARS prematurely. He said you didn't do all you could have to ensure we had actually

beaten SARS. You didn't require hospital staff to continue wearing protective masks or hospitals to screen new patients and visitors for SARS symptoms. In short, the "new normal" became the old

status quo. You became complacent, and now SARS is back.

It's clear that there are still many lessons to be learned here. Will you now agree to a full public inquiry so we can find out what went wrong and prevent

another outbreak in the future?

Hon Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Much as I hate to disagree with the honourable member, she's got her quotations

completely incorrect when it comes to what Don Low said. If anything, he was referring to the medical community, and not to this government or any particular individual.

Mr John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands): It's not their fault.

Hon Mr Clement: Excuse me. This is not about finding fault; it's about correcting the record. Let's be accurate before we start hurling

accusations back and forth about a public health issue.

I can tell you this: on May 2, the emergency committee sent a protocol to all hospitals respecting mask fitting, in which we indicated we had new forms of

masks that were available and should be used; on May 6, we sent another letter to hospitals to ensure compliance; on May 12, we dealt with patient transfer procedures, making sure that procedures

relating to transfers were adhered to. So I can tell you that right around the time of the flare-up -- unbeknownst to us, of course -- we were dealing with the protection of health care workers and

the protection of patients. I, for one, was saying, "We cannot be letting our guard down," and unfortunately for all of us, that proved to be all too prescient.

Ms Pupatello: Ontarians need to trust the government and our health care system right now. With all the government policies in the last eight

years, it's difficult to do that.

Here's why: funding to hospitals has been cut; you fired thousands of nurses and only offered part-time or casual jobs; you downloaded public health, and

public health funding has decreased; you fired our public health scientists. Our health system has no surge capacity. That has been acknowledged publicly by people in the public health system.

There's no surge capacity to deal with SARS because you've cut it to the bone. When it comes to SARS, both Dr Low and Dr Schabas say that after the World Health Organization lifted the travel

advisory, you let the guard down.

Minister, it's time for you to agree to a public inquiry so we can get to the bottom of this to find out what really went wrong. Our problem with your review

of this is that you will not look at Conservative government policies that affected the health system to make it more difficult to cope with a SARS outbreak. Will you have a public inquiry now?

Hon Mr Clement: As the honourable member knows, we have an independent panel, an expert panel, that is looking into all of the issues. But the

honourable member is sewing a web into her allegations, which is not becoming to the honourable member. Indeed, the person she refers to in her statement was quoted as saying on May 27 that he

didn't think there should be blame placed and didn't believe anyone let their guard down, the same Dr Richard Schabas who said that we were overcompensating at the beginning of this medical

emergency.

We are quite willing to take some recommendations from Dr Schabas, just as we're quite willing to take recommendations from anyone who wishes to suggest them,

but I would prefer to rely upon independent health officials like the World Health Organization, who said that Toronto has excellent experience in dealing with this outbreak, that they're well

along in containing it, that it seems to be a setback. But they are quite appreciative of our efforts to get the information out and to deal with the issue. That's what the World Health

Organization has said.

Ms Pupatello: Concerns have been raised about your ministry's failure to provide health care workers with the early signs they needed to fight

SARS. Your failure to properly fund hospitals forced one of the first SARS patients to lie on a stretcher in the ER for up to 12 hours, coming into contact with potentially hundreds of people

instead of a few had he been moved into a room. Your refusal to hire full-time nurses meant that some of our health care workers unknowingly risked transmitting this disease as they travelled from

job to job because we have not provided them with full-time work. There are serious questions about how the government's policies actually contributed to the spread of this outbreak.

I believe that your review will not do a review of how Conservative government policies contributed to this, and that's why we are asking so clearly for a

public inquiry, so that you too and your policies will be called to the table for a review. I am asking you again: given that your new normal is looking a lot like the old status quo -- people are

still waiting in the ER for hours, nurses are still working part-time and casual instead of full-time in this province, our public health units are still not funded properly -- will you --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): I'm afraid the member's time is up. Minister of Health?

Hon Mr Clement: I must say I'm quite shocked by the honourable member's take on this issue. I wish to say directly to any health care workers

or public health officials who are watching that we have confidence in them. We know they are trying to do the right thing for the people of Ontario. We know that Dr Young and Dr D'Cunha are trying

to do the right thing.

I ask the honourable member -- there's lots of time for campaigning; there's lots of time for electioneering; there are lots of issues that the people of

Ontario will have their say on -- please, let's work together. Let's work together and defeat SARS and make sure some very sick people get healthy again. That's what I'm concentrating on.

EDUCATION LABOUR DISPUTE

Mr Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park): I have a question for the Minister of Education. Minister, eight days ago, 69,000 kids were locked out

of their classrooms the same day that your political party started doing ads on TV about its willingness not to have lockouts or strikes. In the interim, the minister has not supported peaceful

solutions, and we are here today to give you an opportunity to do so, Minister.

We have proposed a normal bill that would bring stability and goodwill and put the kids back tomorrow morning. All I'd ask you to do is recommend to your

colleagues that you drop the parts of your election platform that you poisoned this bill of yours with.

I think all the parents and the public out there whom you've inconvenienced with your lack of action and your attitude toward this want to know: are you in

favour of a peaceful solution? Will you support our bill to put the kids back in school, while there can be a mediated or a negotiated solution?

Hon Elizabeth Witmer (Deputy Premier, Minister of Education): I find the member's remarks rather unbelievable. This member knows, more than

anybody else, that when it comes to students in Ontario, when it comes to solving problems using peaceful means, I have worked very hard to ensure that our students have the opportunity to achieve

success in the classroom. If you cared for the students in the classroom, as you profess, you would have passed this bill on day one.

Mr Kennedy: I and the other members, and the public watching, can detect a tone of defensiveness on the part of this minister, and she should

be defensive. It's her government, where she has been a ranking member, that has lost the kids in the province 24 million days of study, four times the last two governments combined. Here we are on

day 8 of this dispute and there's not one thing that you've done.

Presumably you counselled the Premier -- the bill is in the Premier's name -- and the bill brings in back-to-work terms that have never been seen in

back-to-work legislation. Today there's another bill, and this bill looks a lot like other back-to-work legislation. It asks very plainly: are you in favour of the kids going back to school, or are

you prepared to sacrifice your responsibility for education to the partisan political interests of the rest of your party? Which will it be, Minister?

Hon Mrs Witmer: I would repeat that this member's comments are just unbelievable. He professes to care about children. We have introduced

legislation that would allow the teachers to go back to the classroom, legislation that has encouraged the teachers and the board to get back to the table. We believe it's important that they

settle their differences. Our legislation also does what we believe parents and teachers want: our legislation calls for teachers completing report cards, teachers participating in graduation

ceremonies, teachers participating in co-op placement, teachers participating in testing and teachers participating in parent meetings. What do you have about teachers helping our students in the

classroom?

Mr Kennedy: She's created the mess and now she blames us.

You created the mess, Minister. You're supposed to be an advocate in this House for the kids who are out there and not in school right now. Where are you

today, Minister? You're hiding behind partisan lines, not willing to put these kids first. There is a bill here that has been passed by all three parties in the past. Your bill has 69,000 kids

hostage to your political agenda, and apparently you're OK with that. Apparently that's what you want.

By the end of today, every parent, every student and everybody around is going to know whether you are prepared to put the kids first or whether the partisan

agenda comes first. Again, will you agree to recommend to your colleagues to pass a clean bill that brings the kids back and maximizes stability and goodwill in their classrooms in the weeks to

come? Will you do that, Minister?

Hon Mrs Witmer: The member opposite knows full well that he and his colleagues --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order, please. The minister has the floor now. I apologize. Sorry, Minister.

Hon Mrs Witmer: The member opposite and his colleagues know full that they've had the opportunity now to get these students back into the

classroom, as we have wanted to do ever since we introduced this bill.

Also, this member opposite is talking about his bill versus our bill. Well, there is a difference, and the public in the province of Ontario does have a clear

choice between our legislation and their legislation. The Liberals would allow the union leaders to dictate that, even when in an illegal strike position, teachers can refuse --

Interjections.

The Speaker: This is the last warning for the member for Kingston and the Islands. If he continues, he will have to leave.

Sorry again for the interruption, Minister.

Hon Mrs Witmer: We believe it is important that teachers be allowed to do what they want to do, and that is, they want to make comments on

report cards, they want to participate in testing, they want to participate in the graduation ceremonies, they want to participate in co-op placements and they, like the parents in this province,

believe that is one of their duties.

HYDRO DEREGULATION

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Energy. Today, some of your friends at the Association of Major

Power Consumers are complaining because their hydro rates are up by 22% since deregulation. Deregulation, you said, was supposed to create jobs; instead, it's killing jobs. Another friend of yours,

a columnist in the Globe and Mail, Eric Reguly, says that high hydro rates are one of the reasons DaimlerChrysler decided not to invest $1.6 billion in Windsor.

Minister, will you move now and end hydro deregulation before more jobs are lost?

Hon John R. Baird (Minister of Energy, Minister responsible for francophone affairs): It's quite interesting that on one day the member

opposite and his union friends blame the lack of corporate welfare on the new loss of jobs at Chrysler, but others, including one of the individuals he mentioned, cited the skyrocketing Canadian

dollar and its effect on investment in the province.

We certainly believe that we have to reform the electricity sector. That's why we took the route to change things to encourage more generation in Ontario, to

open up the grid to green power and to have competition, which we believe will ultimately be in the best interests of the consumers of the province.

The record of this member opposite is no new power plants being constructed, his record is no plan to close our coal-fired plants, and his record was more debt

at the former Ontario Hydro.

Mr Hampton: Minister, you've been singing that song for eight years. People don't see any new generation. They simply see the price of

electricity going through the roof. I'll give you an example: River Gold Mines, despite the fact that the price of gold has gone up, lost $1.1 million in the first quarter of this year. Why? River

Gold Mines is very explicit. They say the problem is that their hydro bill has doubled since you implemented deregulation. Across northern Ontario, companies are asking why their hydro bill is

double what it is for a similar company in Quebec -- the pulp and paper industry, the sawmill industry, the mining industry, the refining industry.

How many people have to lose their jobs before you terminate hydro deregulation?

Hon Mr Baird: We brought forward legislation that had overwhelming support from both sides of the House to put prices back to where they were

on May 1, while we brought on new generation. This leader and his party were the only ones to stand in the way of that important legislation, legislation that's been welcomed by small business,

consumers and farmers right across Ontario.

The member opposite talks about the price of electricity. Let's look at this month. Just yesterday the weighted average was 3.32 cents, the day before it was

2.47 cents, and the day before that it was 3.75 cents. As new generation comes on line, like new green power, the new plant in Sarnia, a $75-million investment on new, clean, non-emission Hydro

plants, we're seeing a positive effect on price.

We could have chosen to do nothing and leave the old coal-fired plants open like his party. We could have chosen to do nothing and not embrace what is

important to ensure that we have more generation built in the province. I wish the member opposite would have taken the same concern for expenses of business and job creation when his government

raised taxes more than 33 times when they were in office.

Mr Hampton: You and the Liberals thought that deregulation was going to be a wonderful thing. Now you and the Liberals believe that phony rate

caps are going to cover up the problem. You know yourself that it has cost $1.5 billion to finance those phony rate caps.

Go to Kenora: the Abitibi Consolidated paper mill has taken downtime because of hydro prices. Go to Dubreuil Forest Products: they've laid off because of hydro

bills that have doubled. Go to Timmins and talk to Falconbridge about their refinery, which is going to take three months of downtime because they can't afford a hydro bill that's doubled. How much

evidence do you need, from Wawa to Kenora to Dubreuilville to Timmins, or from DaimlerChrysler, that your strategy of hydro privatization and deregulation is killing jobs and is going to cause us

to lose more jobs? How much evidence do you need before you see the light?

Hon Mr Baird: I think a fair examination of the challenges being faced in our natural resources sector -- the member opposite could look to

duties being imposed south of the border and the federal government's lack of action in that regard. They could look at the huge competition in the commodity of those industries of which he spoke.

The members opposite don't even want to listen, because they know everything. They could look at the surge in the Canadian dollar.

Interjections.

Hon Mr Baird: They think the loss of jobs is funny. The member opposite is right.

Where were they when they were whacking corporate Canada? Where were they when they were stifling free enterprise for five long years when there was a loss of

jobs, a loss of hope and a loss of opportunity? This side of the House is about unleashing the free enterprise, the spirit of the province of Ontario. Where was he?

Interjection.

Hon Mr Baird: The member from London talks about the social contract,.

We brought forward some constructive initiatives, and we're starting to see some benefits of that process. I find it quite astonishing for the member opposite

to talk about this.

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Education. Some very interesting things have happened at the

Toronto Board of Education. First you appoint a Conservative political hack, and Chris Stockwell's campaign manager, to run the board, and then you bring in Ernie Eves's fundraiser Hugh Mackenzie

to do the public relations and spin-doctoring over there, and then you start spending public money, taxpayers' money, on these blatant political ads which do nothing but manipulate our children and

attack our teachers. How do you justify your political hack at the Toronto Board of Education and Ernie Eves's political bagman spending education money on this disgusting political

advertising?

Hon Elizabeth Witmer (Deputy Premier, Minister of Education): I think the leader of the third party should probably check some of the facts

that he has just stated. I don't think they're quite accurate. I would just remind the member opposite that the reason we sent a supervisor to the Toronto Board of Education is because we felt it

was really important when some of the trustees on the board of education chose to break the law and not pass a balanced budget. We've had a supervisor working at the Toronto board of education in

order to ensure that we can provide stability to the students in the classroom and provide them with the best education possible.

Mr Hampton: It's about this disgusting, crass political ad. It's about manipulating our children, and the teachers who are in the classroom

teaching them, to promote your crass political agenda. That was the question, Minister.

The parents aren't fooled. They've already denounced your shameful manipulations at the Toronto board as, "A crass attempt to get re-elected." That's how they

see it. Minister, there are 200,000 students; they are in the classroom. There are 11,000 teachers; they are in the classroom. Will you stop defending public school money being used to promote your

crass political manipulation and state today that this won't happen again and that the money will be spent in the classroom where it belongs rather than on your crass political campaign?

Hon Mrs Witmer: The reason we sent a supervisor to the Toronto school board was to ensure that the money being flowed to the Toronto school

board would indeed be spent on the students in the classroom and also to ensure that no matter what part of the city of Toronto you lived in, all the students would have access to equal funding and

equal programs, which has not always been the case. I'm also pleased to indicate that I understand the board has announced today that they have a tentative deal with their secondary teachers. So

obviously the negotiations that are taking place between the board and its teachers are going extremely well.

MEAT INSPECTION

Mr Steve Peters (Elgin-Middlesex-London): Minister of Agriculture, consumer confidence is a key component of the agricultural industries in

this province. Farmers and food processing industries work hard to ensure the product they send to market is safe. An important part of that safety process is your ministry's abattoir audit

program. Under this program, the province's 204 licensed abattoirs are to be audited by veterinarians on contract with the ministry. Their job is to ensure that abattoirs are in compliance with the

Meat Inspection Act, including safety regulations governing waste handling and disposal, water sanitation, equipment and maintenance, pest control, temperature control and hygiene.

We have learned that no audits have been conducted since the end of March and none will be started again until close to the end of June, because after the

private sector contract for these inspections ran out, you took your time to get the RFP process started. Minister, your failure to get the job done means that meat processing plants aren't being

audited by veterinarians. That puts farmers and the public at risk. How can you explain your failure to ensure that these audits are being completed?

Hon Helen Johns (Minister of Agriculture and Food): I'm always surprised when the opposition comes forward in a time when we're having a

crisis in agriculture to ask some question about agriculture. Let me remind you very clearly that we have done 1,000 tests to ensure we have food safety in the province. Of those 1,000 tests, we

have tested every one to see if there is any indication of BSE in the animal, and there is no research that shows there is any BSE in the province. We have a huge food safety compliance issue.

We've put more dollars into food safety; we're over budget for the last five years in the province. We have a strong surveillance program, we have a strong lab testing program and we have a strong

training problem. Anyone who suggests differently is just wrong.

Mr Peters: Minister, you've obviously been sleeping at the switch. We want to instill confidence, and you're not instilling any confidence in

the food industry in this province with an answer like that. I didn't asked you about BSE. I have a copy of the request for proposals that the ministry put out for the audit program for the food

industry division. This RFP wasn't even issued until 15 May, a full six weeks after the veterinarians' contracts ran out at the end of June. The deadline for the submission isn't for another two

weeks and the new agreements won't be executed until 23 June. Minister, that's three months before an audit or inspection will take place in an abattoir in this province -- three of the busiest

months of the year for our abattoirs, and they've gone without veterinary supervision which, as your own document states, may be required to deal with very significant food safety issues. I think

it's important to add that these vets used to be OMAF positions before you privatized them in 1995. My sources are telling me that this RFP has sat on your desk for more than four months.

Why did you sit on your hands and jeopardize the safety of our food by allowing 204 abattoirs in this province to go without a veterinary audit for over a

three-month period?

Hon Mrs Johns: You should be ashamed of yourself; you should be completely ashamed of yourself.

Let me say very clearly that we have a surveillance program in the province. When the animal goes down the killing line, the meat inspector looks at that

animal and has the ability to call in a veterinarian any time they want to ensure that we know whether or not the animal should go through the line. We've also done more testing in this province in

the last year than has ever been done in the labs in the province. We've done 1,000 tests, and what we know from them is that there has been no indication of any BSE in our animals. Our research

shows us we're safe and that we're doing more and more with food safety every year. We're doing more and more surveillance, lab testing and training in Ontario. If anyone suggests that our food

safety program isn't the best in Canada, they're just wrong.

BSE

Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Food as well. Minister, could you provide the members of

the Legislature and the residents of Ontario with an update on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's investigation into the case of BSE, or the mad cow disease, that occurred in the west last

week?

Hon Helen Johns (Minister of Agriculture and Food): I'd like to say that the member has been very active in ensuring that his agricultural

community is being represented and that he's bringing his views about this important issue to Queen's Park.

The agricultural community will want to know that 17 farms have been quarantined in the country; 12 in Alberta, three in BC and the balance in Saskatchewan.

One of those herds has been depopulated already, and now we are working on 115 new cattle. They're being depopulated quickly so that we can test the tissue to ensure that they, like the first set,

are BSE-free.

You might ask why this is so important. It is very important so that we can open the export market for this very important beef industry that we have. This is

one of the largest segments of our agri-food business in the province and in the country, and it's imperative to all of us who represent rural ridings and care about agriculture that we move

forward and get this done as quickly as we possibly can.

Mr Dunlop: Minister, could you provide an update on BSE prevention and surveillance programs and the activities you have undertaken in the

past week to address the concerns of the agriculture industry here in Ontario?

Hon Mrs Johns: We spent a lot of the last week at OMAF ensuring that we have the right processes in place. We spent a lot of last week working

with the Ontario Cattlemen's Association and the processors in Ontario to ensure that we're doing the right things for them. I have worked with the rendering industry over the last number of days

to ensure that I support them in their quest of the federal government's funds for their industry so they can continue to do the important work that they do.

I have also ensured that the process is correct and I told you, in my last answer, that we have a surveillance program, a training program and a lab program to

ensure that our food is safe. Surveillance hours in Ontario are up to 160,000 hours. We have also increased management and administration around that. We have done more lab testing -- 1,000 tests.

We have done more training to ensure that all the people who work in meat inspection are doing the right job and understand what they're to be doing.

ADAMS MINE

Mr David Ramsay (Timiskaming-Cochrane): I have a question for the Minister of Natural Resources today. I want to ask you about your dirty

little land deal at the Adams mine. The Deputy Premier assured me 20 days ago in this House that you would be shortly releasing the status of the 60-day review that the ministry is conducting. As

of yet, you have not done so.

You were proposing to sell 2,000 acres at $22 an acre to your largest campaign contributor, whose North Bay partner is a convicted tax evader, who ran up

$279,000 in tax arrears to the crown and whose ownership of the Adams mine is in legal contention before the courts. Now you have a counter-offer before you at $30 an acre.

What is the status of this review? Who are you consulting with? With the ownership in dispute, just who would you sell it to?

Hon Jerry J. Ouellette (Minister of Natural Resources): We get requests in the Ministry of Natural Resources on a regular basis for these

sorts of land acquisitions. This has gone through a normal process at the local office, and the member knows that very well. This was reviewed through an EA process in 1998 and all consultations

were approved at that time. It's still under review by the local district office within the ministry, and once we receive the recommendations, we can look at what's going to be determined at that

time.

Mr Ramsay: I'd like you to go back and check, because this never was posted on the EBR, as your local district office says.

There's a broader context to this whole sordid mess. The environment minister has continually acted as a promoter for this project, mentioning it at every

possible opportunity. When the US border was temporarily closed last week, he put pressure on Toronto to come up with an emergency plan within 24 hours -- again, promoting the Adams mine as an

Ontario solution.

The minister does all of this while rejecting new technical data that show hydraulic containment at the site is questionable at best, meaning groundwater will

be poisoned.

The minister's brother, Bill Stockwell Jr, asked for and received a large package of documents from Cortellucci concerning the Adams mine, and Mike Harris has

been brought in to fix this situation.

This deal doesn't pass the smell test, and it never has. Will you confirm today that you're going to put a stop to this sale?

Hon Mr Ouellette: I refer the answer to the Minister of the Environment.

Hon Chris Stockwell (Minister of the Environment, Government House Leader): By the way, Bill Stockwell is my father.

Firstly, I can only say to you with respect to the C of A on that land, when the environmental assessment was done it was part of the C of A approval that they

acquire the land around the site.

With respect to the study that you speak about, I can only say to you that the study has been submitted to the Ministry of the Environment. We received it

yesterday and will review it.

As far as promoting the site, I've not promoted that site one way or the other. All I can tell you is this: last week, with the mad cow disease issue that came

forward, we were faced with a situation that we didn't have any place to put our garbage in the city of Toronto. I'm asking the local authorities at the regions of Peel, Durham, York and the city

of Toronto that, should the border close due to an emergency, we need a better plan than having no place to take the garbage. All I've requested is that they put a plan together to deal with the

garbage should the border be closed. If we didn't put that plan together and ask them to deal with that issue, you'd be jumping down our throats if the border were closed and there were no places

to take the garbage.

I think any responsible government, any responsible Minister of the Environment should at least know that if the border is closed and we can't ship our garbage

to Michigan, he's got a better answer for the people of the city of Toronto than, "Eat your garbage."

LITERACY

Mr AL McDonald (Nipissing): My question is for the Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services. Last month, you attended the

launching of a newborn literacy kit for Ontario families at a Toronto library. Can you tell my constituents and this Legislature how this kit will help parents and their children?

Hon Brenda Elliott (Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services): I thank my colleague from Nipissing for this question. It's a very

important question. The newborn literacy kit is part of our government's Early Years strategy. Our government believes that it's never too early to start reading to our children. We know that

literacy and the very early skills of language are key factors for success, not only for childhood but for overall lifelong learning, so we want to do everything that we can to ensure that parents

are their children's first and very best teachers.

So we've established a newborn literacy kit. These are going to be available through the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children's program. They will be distributed

by public health nurses as they visit each new family and each new baby born in the province. It's one more way that we can say to the people of Ontario, the children and the families, that we know

we want to make every effort to give their children the best start in life.

Mr McDonald: Thank you, Minister, and I want to thank you for your visit last July to the Early Years program for children in North Bay. You

were well received, and they were thrilled to see you.

On April 1, I had the opportunity to visit the centre to help celebrate its first anniversary. Crystal Spiess, Cathy Chippa and their staff have done a

remarkable job for parents and children in the north. My constituents appreciate the Ernie Eves government building on the early years strategy by initiating this new literacy kit. Minister, could

you share with my constituents what is included in this kit?

Hon Mrs Elliott: I had a wonderful time visiting the Early Years centre. I remind my colleagues here in the House that 42 centres opened in

the province of Ontario; 61 are about to open this year.

When I was in Nipissing, I saw a young dad reading to his child in one

section of the Early Years centre. Of course, our goal is that not just the fathers but

every single parent spend a great deal of time reading to their children. And so, in the newborn literacy kit, we have a wonderful book by a very famous Ontario author, called Read Me a Book. We

have a passport of information for new parents, called My Early Years. We have a CD with nursery rhymes and little stories to be read and shared, and songs to be sung with the children. We have a

video also, called Precious Minds. It was designed by the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa to help parents understand why it is so important to read to their children.

We believe it's very important to give children the very best start. The newborn literacy kit is one method of doing that.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Ms Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): My question is to the Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation. I have a very serious

question for you, actually. I want to know why you have abandoned the very people who make Toronto a great place to visit: our hospitality workers. Workers are facing a second wave of layoffs. Four

thousand hotel workers and 12,000 restaurant employees have been fired or had their hours drastically reduced. They can't make ends meet. Some are facing eviction. Some have had their gas and hydro

cut off.

Workers and industry have developed a plan that would involve all three levels of government to provide training during downtime. They need help now, and yet

your government and the federal Liberals have done absolutely nothing for them. When will you provide the support that these workers desperately need, Minister?

Hon Jim Flaherty (Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation): As the member quite rightly states, the impact of SARS has been quite

dramatic in the hospitality and accommodation industries in Ontario. My colleague the Minister of Tourism and I have been very actively involved, beginning with our initial meeting here at Queen's

Park, followed by the meeting with the Chinese business associations at city hall in Toronto, at which time the federal government and the municipal government and the Chinese business associations

asked the province to take the initiative and coordinate the efforts that are being made.

Mr Gregory S. Sorbara (Vaughan-King-Aurora): What have you done?

Hon Mr Flaherty: Specifically to answer the member from Vaughan, of course we've gotten rid of the hotel accommodation tax, right through to

September 30, to try to help the hotel industry in Ontario. I say "in Ontario," because the Niagara region has been significantly affected as well. Many people who visit Toronto also travel to

Niagara.

So the member is absolutely right. This is a major challenge for us. We are helping out financially those folks who have been quarantined. So far, I must say

it's been a co-operative effort, which is much appreciated.

Ms Churley: Minister, where have you been? All you've been doing is meeting with these folks. These workers already have a plan that we have

been telling you about for weeks. They need action, not more meetings, and they get nothing from your government, absolutely nothing. And they got nothing from the federal Liberals in Ottawa

either. They asked for the EI waiting period to be waived. They got nothing. They asked for protection from eviction and from having gas and hydro cut off. They got nothing. They want EI

regulations relaxed so that they can apply. They got nothing. They want your government to support their plan for training during downtime. They got nothing.

These workers, Minister, are the heart and soul of our tourism industry, and they are in crisis. Are you going to throw them a lifeline or are you going to let

them drown?

Hon Mr Flaherty: The key here of course is to revive the industry. The major initiative we have made is in our advertising and marketing,

particularly around Ontario, around Canada and the United States. We're trying to encourage investors to be here. We had a group of investors here on Friday morning who are part of the CoreNet site

locator group. This is vitally important to revive the economy, not only in Toronto but in all of southern Ontario, so that people can get back to work in the hospitality and tourism

industries.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Mr Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): My question is for the Minister of Education. Last October, your Hamilton school

board supervisor claimed to have balanced the board budget, even to have identified surplus monies for classroom use. He then proceeded to proudly announce that no community schools would

close.

Today, parents living in Dundas and area are stunned and outraged with your supervisor's plan to close five Dundas elementary schools and one Dundas high

school. The decision of your supervisor is now tearing our Dundas community apart. Minister, I met with these parents. They tell me there must be sufficient time for study, consultation and

deliberation before any Dundas schools close. Instead of following the normal requirement of a six-month review, our area accommodation committee has been given only six weeks to make decisions as

to which schools will close. Sadly, your supervisor has stated that given a possible provincial election, he's even prepared to "hyperspeed this decision" to ensure his school-closing plan is

implemented. Clearly this is not in the best interests of Dundas students.

Minister, will you stand in your place today and do the right thing? Will you intervene by declaring a moratorium on the closing of any Dundas school or,

failing that, immediately act to ensure my constituents the time and information required to --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): I'm afraid the member's time is up.

Hon Elizabeth Witmer (Deputy Premier, Minister of Education): As the member has pointed out, there is an ongoing school revitalization plan in

the Hamilton-Wentworth community. The supervisor in the community has worked extremely hard. He has done extensive consultation with parents and educational stakeholders. Part of that process is to

take a look at where new schools are going to be required for growing parts of the board. Also, at the same time, of course, part of that revitalization plan is to take a look at areas where

obviously there may need to be some school closings, maybe some amalgamation of schools.

I can tell the member opposite that this is being done in a way that does encourage full consultation with parents in order to give them the opportunity to

make the representation and make their case known.

Mr Dominic Agostino (Hamilton East): There are three schools in my riding that are scheduled to be closed. One of those, Woodward Elementary,

is actually a school that is over capacity. Last night there was a meeting, and parents expressed their raw feelings, their emotions, their passion toward keeping that school open. Minister, you

don't get that. You don't understand that closing these schools is ripping the heart out of our communities. It is not simply a building; it is a community centre, a centre where people go, where

kids play after school. You are taking that away from some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city of Hamilton because of your flawed funding policy.

The reality is this: the fix is in. It's a done deal. Your supervisor, under your marching orders, is going to close those schools in my riding, is going to

close those schools in Dundas, is going to close those schools in West Hamilton. That is wrong. You've only implemented one third of the Rozanski formula to date. Will you today freeze all school

closures until you've fully implemented the Rozanski funding formula for the city of Hamilton?

Hon Mrs Witmer: What the members opposite fail to realize is that the entire issue of school accommodation reviews has been taking place since

the 1980s. In fact, under the Liberal government of David Peterson, 1985 to 1990, 184 schools were closed. Between 1991 and 1995, 134 schools were closed. During that same time period, 1985 to 1990

Interjections.

Hon Mrs Witmer: Folks, this is no different. School closings and new school openings have always been the responsibility of local school

boards. They do this in consultation with the people in the community, and they make the decision based on what's in the best interests of the students. School closings and openings have always

occurred. Due process takes place and decisions are made.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question as well is to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education. In 1984, the Liberals pledged to

restore funding to a minimum of 60%, on average, across the province within five years. Yet by 1990, when the Liberals were voted out of office, the level of provincial funding stood at a mere 40%,

more than six percentage points lower than it was in 1985 when the Liberals took power. Similarly, the NDP made the same promise but never funded education to the level they said they would. Like

the Liberals, the NDP were unsuccessful at keeping their education promise, only ever reaching about 52%.

I know that since our government took office we have made many changes to the system to ensure quality and fairness by introducing our student-focused funding

formula. Recently, Dr Mordechai Rozanski undertook a review of the formula, as the Premier promised. Can you please tell the House what the Eves government has done to follow through on its

commitment to implement Dr Rozanski's recommendations?

Hon Elizabeth Witmer (Deputy Premier, Minister of Education): The member opposite is correct, we have moved forward in a way to recognize that

all students in this province deserve equal funding, no matter whether they live in the north, the south, the rural or the urban part of our province.

We did ask Dr Rozanski to do a review of the funding formula. He confirmed that the funding formula was working. He also made recommendations for additional

allocations of money, and I'm very pleased to say that of the $1.8 billion he recommended -- within the first three days we allocated an additional $610 million to the students of Ontario for

teachers' salaries and transportation, and we said we would make available $250 million for special education.

Mr Dunlop: It's obvious our government has continued to maintain a strong commitment to quality education in Ontario. People like Dave

McDonald, chair of the Upper Canada District School Board, have affirmed our government's strong commitment to Dr Rozanski and to education as a whole. Mr McDonald said, "The government was quick

off the mark to put Dr Rozanski's recommendations in place."

In his report, Dr Rozanski highlights the funding formula as being fair and equitable, which is something I know is important to the people in my riding of

Simcoe North and of course to all the people across our province. I also know that this government has raised education spending by record amounts every year. I would like my constituents and

people across Ontario to know what the Ernie Eves government is committing to education overall this year and to my local school boards in the riding of Simcoe North and the county of Simcoe.

Hon Mrs Witmer: Dr Rozanski recommended $1.8 billion, as I said. We are going to be investing $2 billion. We have made that commitment over

the next three years. This compares to the commitment by the Liberals of $1.6 billion. I'm very pleased to say that this year, 2003-04, we are going to be investing a record $15.3 billion to help

students in Ontario achieve success. This is an increase over last May of $1.1 billion. That is nearly 8%, while enrolment at the present time is decreasing by 2%. We appreciate the hard work of

our teachers. We appreciate that this money is helping them to help our students achieve success.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH SERVICES

Mr Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): My question is to the Minister of Health. An

article in the Ottawa Citizen today reports on a study

published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which looked at survival rates of patients who were undergoing complex surgical procedures in both large regional hospitals and local

hospitals. The study concludes that it is erroneous to assume that placing some complex procedures in larger hospitals reduces deaths. This

article made the link between these findings and your

government's decision to consolidate all pediatric cardiac surgery in Toronto.

As you will know, maintaining pediatric cardiac surgery at CHEO in Ottawa remains a major issue and concern for the people of eastern Ontario. They want to

know that program will be staying in the city.

Minister, your government placed full-page partisan ads in three Ottawa daily newspapers on May 17 regarding your government's commitment to the Children's

Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The information contained in the ads was nothing new. All the information was released on April 28. Why shouldn't your party be paying for these kinds of partisan ads

that are totally redundant to the news release and the media coverage?

Hon Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I'm not well versed in all the ins and outs of Management Board guidelines on

advertising, so I'll actually answer --

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): Well, I've got the guidelines, and they violate them.

Hon Mr Clement: I guess the issue is closed then. The honourable member for St Catharines has already revealed his judgment on the issue.

Thank you.

I do want to talk about actual issue that underlies this, if I might, to the honourable member. I think the critical phrase he used -- and I agree with the

phrase -- is it would be "erroneous to assume." I agree with the honourable member that one should not assume anything when it comes to what procedures should be done where in the hospital system;

one should base it on evidence. I would be pleased to run through the type of research that has been done in the answer to a supplementary.

Mr Patten: Minister, you didn't really answer the question about your party paying for those ads.

The basis of the evidence was a completely Toronto-centred model of moving everything to one centre. It was a managerial problem. It was not based on medical

evidence of quality at all, and you know damned well that that's the case.

Before the last election in 1999, the previous Minister of Health promised the people from London that their children's hospital would not lose its specialty

services. What happened? Two years later they lost them to Toronto. Why should the people in Ottawa or eastern Ontario believe now, just prior to an election, that you're not just going to snow

them and say, "We're going to review this."

I know you know it's a big issue in Ottawa. Let me tell you it will be an election issue in Ottawa, because the people there know that service should stay

there. Will you make a commitment today to keep that service in Ottawa and not try to find a face-saving device and say, "We'll do a review," and then after the election bring the service to

Toronto?

Hon Mr Clement: I guess I'll continue with the thread of my answer and indicate to this House the research that has been done on these very

important issues on how best to ensure that pediatric cardiac surgeries done in Ontario are done the right way: In March 1997, the HSRC provincial pediatric task force reported; in November 2001,

the Specialized Pediatric Service Review Committee; in May 2002, Dr Wilbert Keon's independent review of the work of SPSRC; then there was the Manitoba Sinclair report; CIHI's report, "Health Care

in Canada 2001"; Dr Hannan's "Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: The Affect of Hospital and Surgeon Volume on In-Hospital Mortality"; and Dr Williams also published a report. Dr Jenkins published a report

on in-hospital mortality as well.

As you can see, we've done a lot of research. That research should be put into the mix as well as the research we're doing right now.

PATIENT TRANSFERS

Mr Cameron Jackson (Burlington): My question is for the minister responsible for long-term care. On April 4 this year, 87 frail, elderly

seniors were abruptly taken from their residence at the Oakville Lifecare Centre in one of the winter's most severe storms. Residents and family members were justifiably angry, frustrated and

confused at the government's decision.

In a letter dated April 2, your ministry indicated, "This was done in order to provide a centralized location where potential SARS contacts can be isolated and

observed if required." Less than 48 hours later, another letter was sent, on April 4, contradicting that, saying that it was not due to SARS. In fact, it was done in order to make room for ALC --

alternate level care -- patients who were resident in this facility, to make room for other nursing-home-bound residents. Two residents died during this transfer.

I have asked the minister in a letter if he can explain, once his officials determined the facility was no longer needed for the SARS outbreak, why he put the

residents at risk by directing an unnecessary transfer of these frail, elderly seniors.

Hon Dan Newman (Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I want to thank the member for Burlington for his question. The transfer of

patients from Oakville Lifecare back in April was part of our government's initial response to SARS. Facilities like Oakville Lifecare helped patients who no longer required the care of a hospital

and who had not been exposed to SARS to move to a more appropriate health care setting. This was done so that hospitals in the greater Toronto area could deal with the increased stress on the

system due to SARS. Alternative level of care or ALC patients from GTA hospitals were transferred to Oakville Lifecare as part of this strategy. To date, 67 ALC patients have been transferred to

Oakville Lifecare.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and their families for their understanding and for their assistance in helping Toronto deal with

the original SARS crisis. I would also like to commend the staff at Oakville Lifecare who have shown tremendous professionalism and tremendous compassion during this time.

Mr Jackson: All of this doesn't explain why officials mass-moved 87 people in one of the worst storms of the year. Of the families I've talked

to, in many cases they were given less than half a day's notice that their parents were being removed from this location. What concerns me is that 33 residents of Oakville, in the Speaker's riding,

were transferred to the Brantwood centre in Burlington where there were 33, obviously, empty beds. The Oakville Lifecare Centre was so quickly vacated it sat vacant for an entire week. Yet, a week

later, the government then made a decision to take 33 people out of the Burlington hospital and send them to Oakville. This was a completely unnecessary step, I submit to the minister.

My question then is, what steps has this minister taken to ensure that this kind of unnecessary transfer, that put frail, elderly senior citizens at risk, will

never happen again in this province, as we wait for the coroner's inquest?

Hon Mr Newman: I want to say today that residents were transferred out of Oakville Lifecare as part of our government's response to SARS. As I

mentioned, 67 ALC patients have been transferred to Oakville Lifecare to help relieve pressures on GTA hospitals dealing with the initial SARS outbreak.

Of course, our first priority is always the residents, and we appreciate their understanding and their co-operation throughout this time. All of the residents

in Oakville Lifecare were immediately given priority placement in a facility of their choosing, and many of the residents have been placed in a nursing home of their choice. The ministry will

continue to work with the residents and continue to work with their families until each and every resident is in their preferred long-term-care facility.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has also met regularly with the residents and their families to discuss their questions and to address their concerns

face to face. As well, ministry staff have personally addressed questions and concerns regarding this transfer.

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

Mr Steve Peters (Elgin-Middlesex-London): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Pursuant to standing order 37(a), I wish to advise you of my

dissatisfaction with the response of the Minister of Agriculture to my question today. I have filed the appropriate papers with the table.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): I think the member said he has filed them, but just to remind him, he must do that.

PETITIONS

ONTARIO DISABILITY

SUPPORT PROGRAM

Mrs Marie Bountrogianni (Hamilton Mountain): I have a petition I am pleased to present.

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government has neglected the needs of people with disabilities in Ontario;

"Whereas people with disabilities in Ontario are forced to live below the poverty line;

"Whereas Ontario disability support program rates have been frozen since 1993 and have never been increased under the current government;

"Whereas clawbacks and punitive regulations prevent the disabled and their families from any opportunity of escaping poverty;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ensure that benefit levels of ODSP recipients are not eroded by inflation by providing

annual cost-of-living adjustments and to remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from improving their circumstances."

I proudly sign this petition.

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): I have a petition here this afternoon, "Stop the Clawback," with about 160 names from North Bay, Kingston,

Brampton --

Interjection: Everywhere.

Mr Martin: Everywhere.

"Whereas one in five children in Ontario live in poverty;

"Whereas, as part of the national child tax benefit program the federal government gives a supplement to low-income families across the country to begin to

address child poverty;

"Whereas that money, up to approximately $100 a month per child, is meant to give our poorest and most vulnerable children a better chance in life;

"Whereas in Ontario the Conservative government deducts the child benefit supplement dollar for dollar from those living on social assistance;

"Whereas this is leaving our province's neediest children without extra money they desperately need to begin to climb out of poverty;

"Whereas all children are entitled to a fair chance at life;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to demand that the provincial government of Ontario stop the

clawback of the national child tax benefit supplement and ensure this federal money reaches all low-income families in Ontario."

I sign my signature.

HOG INDUSTRY

Mr Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): I have a petition that came from Kelly Leblanc and concerned citizens of the Fournier

area.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"We, as citizens of Glengarry, Prescott-Russell, are opposing the industrial hog factories planned for the area within the nation municipality, of Pendleton,

Ste-Rose-de-Prescott and St Albert;

"Whereas similar hog factories are not permitted in Quebec;

"Whereas farms are an essential component of our rural communities and must be protected;

"Whereas establishment of mega hog factories is incompatible with the preservation of our rural communities and our quality of life in Glengarry and the United

Counties of Prescott and Russell and surrounding areas;

"Whereas establishment of mega hog factories is also incompatible with the protection of farms;

"Whereas Ontario is still addressing environmental laws and health issues associated with industrial hog factories and the spraying of pig manure;

"Whereas the South Nation River water pollution concerns are not yet resolved;

"Whereas an environmental assessment of aquifer and groundwater have not been done;

"Whereas local residents rely on wells or the water from the South Nation River situated along the proposed hog factory in Pendleton;

"Whereas waste/sewage from pigs potentially endanger the water supply and soil;

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

"To ensure the safety of the citizens of Glengarry and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell will be protected against the known dangers associated with

industrial hog factories. We petition you to immediately, before construction of farms in Pendleton, Ste-Rose-de-Prescott and St Albert, conduct an environmental study of the area to ensure there

will be no detrimental effects to our health, our safety and our properties as a result of the construction of the proposed industrial hog factories."

I also add my signature to the petition.

COMMUNITY CARE

Ms Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that's been signed by thousands of people who live in Kingston and area that was sent to me

by Cheri Dobbs, who is the national representative for CUPE, out of the Kingston area office. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the eastern Ontario branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses has been providing care to this community since 1897;

"Whereas community care will suffer by the closure of the eastern Ontario branch of the VON;

"Whereas community care in Napanee, Northbrook, Sharbot Lake and Cloyne will be drastically affected by the closure of the eastern Ontario branch of the

VON;

"We, the undersigned, implore the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to recommend to the Ontario government that the necessary funds be provided to the

community care access centre to ensure that the VON are able to maintain their community nursing programs."

I agree with the petitioners and I sign my signature to this as well.

WEST NIPISSING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Mr David Ramsay (Timiskaming-Cochrane): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas a decision has been made to remove the interim beds at the West Nipissing General Hospital in Sturgeon Falls:

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

"Let's keep our seniors here!

"We, residents and taxpayers of the municipality of West Nipissing, endorse our municipal council in a combined effort to lobby the Ministry of Health to

retain the interim beds at the West Nipissing General Hospital in Sturgeon Falls pending a permanent solution to better serve our population."

I will append my signature to this.

MINIMUM WAGE

Mr Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I have a petition to the Parliament of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the minimum wage in Ontario has not been adjusted since 1995; and

"Whereas at the current rate of $6.85 per hour, an employee working full-time based on a 40-hour week would earn only $14,248 per year, a sum that falls well

below Statistics Canada's low-income cut-off (LICO) line of $16,640, which is the amount required for basic human necessities;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to raise the minimum wage to meet the LICO line, which is $8 per hour, and that the minimum wage be

indexed to reflect the annual rate of inflation."

It is signed by approximately 1,000 people. I am in agreement and affix my signature thereto.

NIAGARA HOSPITALS

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the board of trustees for the Niagara Health System and the Hotel Dieu Hospital have unanimously endorsed a plan to construct a new general hospital

and regional cancer centre and new Hotel Dieu Hospital on existing Hotel Dieu property in St Catharines; and

"Whereas the proposed new hospitals would replace currently insufficient facilities and improve the quality of health care in St Catharines and throughout the

region of Niagara; and

"Whereas the proposal will streamline operations and save an estimated $10 million annually; and

"Whereas health care professionals in Niagara support the proposal of the Niagara Health System; and

"Whereas the construction of two new hospitals would attract new health care professionals to Niagara to help alleviate the shortage of medical professionals

the Niagara region is currently experiencing;

"We, the undersigned, call upon the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to immediately support the proposal of the Niagara Health System for the

construction of two new hospitals in St Catharines on the existing Hotel Dieu property and provide the appropriate funding to make this project a reality."

I affix my signature to this petition.

HOME CARE

Mr David Christopherson (Hamilton West): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the Conservative government has greatly restricted the eligibility criteria for Hamilton home care clients, causing drastic reductions in the amount,

duration and quality of services available to frail, sick and elderly people in their homes; and

"Whereas home care clients deserve the provision of adequate government funding for home care services as their needs grow increasingly complex in the face of

continued government cutbacks to home care; and

"Whereas the Conservative government shifted the costs of home care services on to the backs of the most vulnerable people in our communities; and

"Whereas home care services are more cost-efficient for the health care system because they are dedicated to serving families in their homes so that more

costly institutional care can be prevented or delayed;

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

"That the Conservative government review and change the criteria eligibility so that appropriate home care services can be provided to the most vulnerable in

our community when the need arises."

I support these petitioners from my riding and I add my name to the petition.

Mrs Leona Dombrowsky (Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington): To the Legislative Assembly:

"Whereas well-managed and adequately funded home health care is a growing need in our community; and

"Whereas the provincial government has frozen community care access centre budgets, which has meant dramatic cuts to service agency funding and services to

vulnerable citizens, as well as shortened visits by front-line workers; and

"Whereas these dramatic cuts, combined with the increased complexity of care for those who do qualify for home care, has led to an impossible cost burden to

home care agencies; and

"Whereas the wages and benefits received by home care workers employed by home care agencies are well below the wages and benefits of workers doing comparable

jobs in institutional settings; and

"Whereas front-line staff are also required to subsidize the home care program in our community by being responsible for paying for their own gas and vehicle

maintenance; and

"Whereas other CCACs and CCAC-funded agencies across the province compensate their staff between 29 cents and 42.7 cents per kilometre; and

"Whereas CCAC-funded agency staff in our own community are paid 26 cents per kilometre, with driving time considered `hours worked';

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

"To act now to increase funding to the CCAC of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington in order for it to adequately fund service agencies so they can fairly

compensate front-line workers."

I'm very happy to assign my signature to this petition. I will hand it to Sarah, the page, who is from my riding of Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and

Addington.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr David Christopherson (Hamilton West): I have a further petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the provincial Conservatives created the Education Equality Task Force and appointed Dr Mordechai Rozanski to review and make recommendations

regarding education funding in Ontario; and

"Whereas Dr Rozanski's report, Investing in Public Education, confirmed what parents, students, custodial staff and teachers already knew, that the education

system has been suffering greatly since the Conservative government started cutting education funding in 1995; and

"Whereas Dr Rozanski's report confirmed that elementary and secondary school education has been underfunded by $2 billion under the Conservatives; and

"Whereas the Conservatives made a series of announcements and re-announcements following Rozanski's report, they have yet to table a plan to fully implement

its recommendations;

"Therefore

be it resolved that the Conservative government should immediately commit to implementing all of Dr Rozanski's recommendations and start flowing

funding to school boards accordingly so that every Ontario student is given the opportunity to succeed and every Ontario school can be an excellent school" and that all inner-city schools may

remain open.

I'm proud to add my name to those of these petitioners from Hamilton.

HIGHWAY 69

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): Another tragic weekend on Highway 69, so I reluctantly have to read this petition into the record.

"Whereas modern highways are economic lifelines for the north; and

"Whereas the stretch of Highway 69 from Sudbury south to Parry Sound is a treacherous road with a trail of death and destruction; and

"Whereas the carnage on Highway 69 has been staggering; and

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government has shown gross irresponsibility in not four-laning the stretch of Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound; and

"Whereas immediate action is needed to prevent more needless loss of life; and

"Whereas it is the responsibility of any government to provide safe roads for its citizens, and the Harris-Eves government has failed to do so;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to urge the Harris-Eves government to begin construction

immediately and four-lane Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound so that the carnage on Death Road North will cease."

I affix my signature to this petition, and give it to Mario, our page from Thunder Bay, to bring to the table.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas long-term-care facilities in this province are understaffed, underfunded and ignored by the current government;

"Whereas many residents of St Catharines and of other communities in Ontario are unable to find a family doctor as a result of the growing doctor shortage we

have experienced during the tenure of the Harris-Eves government;

"Whereas cancer patients in Ontario requiring radiation treatment face unacceptable delays and are often forced to travel to other jurisdictions to receive

medical attention;

"Whereas many prescription drugs which would help patients with a variety of medical conditions such as macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, arthritis,

diabetes and heart failure are inadequately covered by OHIP;

"Whereas long waiting lists for diagnostic tests such as MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds are jeopardizing the health of many individuals already facing serious

illness;

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government has now spent $401 million on blatantly partisan government advertising in the form of glossy brochures, television and

radio ads and full-page newspaper ads;

"We, the undersigned, call upon the Conservative government of Ernie Eves to immediately end their abuse of public office and terminate any further expenditure

on political advertising and to invest this money into health and long-term care in the province of Ontario."

I affix my signature because I'm in complete agreement with the contents of this petition. I hand it to Kristian, who is a page just beginning this week at

Queen's Park.

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

The Acting Speaker (Mr Michael A. Brown): Pursuant to standing order 37(a), the member for Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington has given

notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question concerning rights information for children in care given by the Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services.

Similarly, pursuant to standing order 37(a), the member for Elgin-Middlesex-London has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question

concerning veterinary audits of provincial abbatoirs given by the Minister of Agriculture and Food.

These matters will be debated at 6 o'clock this evening.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BACK TO SCHOOL

(TORONTO CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY)

AND EDUCATION AND PROVINCIAL

SCHOOLS NEGOTIATIONS

AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 PRÉVOYANT LE RETOUR

À L'ÉCOLE (SECTEUR ÉLÉMENTAIRE DU

CONSEIL CATHOLIQUE DE TORONTO)

ET MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

L'ÉDUCATION ET LA

LOI SUR

LA NÉGOCIATION COLLECTIVE DANS

LES ÉCOLES PROVINCIALES

Mr Clark moved second reading of the following bill:

amend the Education Act and the Provincial Schools Negotiations Act / Projet de loi 28, Loi visant à régler le conflit de travail opposant l'Association des enseignantes et des

enseignants catholiques anglo-ontariens et le conseil scolaire de district appelé Toronto Catholic District School Board et modifiant la

Loi sur l'éducation et la

Loi sur la

négociation collective dans les écoles provinciales.

Hon Brad Clark (Minister of Labour): I stand in support of the Back to School (Toronto Catholic Elementary) Education and Provincial Schools

Negotiations Amendment Act, 2003. When I previously addressed the members on this matter, I spoke of fairness. Today I'd like to expand on that subject, if I may.

The act before us not only seeks to establish fairness between teachers and school boards but, more importantly, seeks to treat students fairly. As Minister of

Labour, my role can be seen as limited to supporting balanced, stable, productive labour relations. I'm also a parent and a legislator, and in these roles I know we have a responsibility to the

children of our province to ensure that we provide an education system that will prepare them for the world they face, and an education system that will give them the opportunity to make the most

of their talents and efforts.

When our children begin their first day of school, we make an implicit promise to them. We tell them that if they try hard and do their best, we will provide

them with an education that will secure a future for them in which they can achieve their potential.

So who are the "we" who make this promise? We are all of us in this House. We are all the adults in the province. We are the parents who send their children to

school with anticipation of accomplishment. We are parents who sit at the table to help our children with their homework. We are taxpayers who fund the education system and expect it to provide

what we are paying for. We are the citizens of this province who democratically elect the members of this House and who recognize that a well-educated citizenry is fundamental to the working of

this democracy. We are all of us in this House, and we cannot let our children down. This act is keeping that promise to our children.

Every day of our children's education is precious. It is a day that can never be recovered or redeemed. To allow a labour dispute between adults to stand in

the way of an unrecoverable day is unconscionable. Since 1985, almost 1,000 teaching days have been lost to labour disputes -- 1,000 days, almost three years. There is no way to calculate the

thousands of children who have been affected by adults who can't settle their disputes like adults. Isn't it time for a new maturity to be attained in our education relations system?

It is not only lockouts and strike