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May 13, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-May-13 (PDF)

L040 - Mon 13 May 2013 / Lun 13 mai 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 13 May 2013 Lundi 13 mai 2013

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO BUDGET

ONTARIO BUDGET

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

POWER PLANTS

TRANSPORTATION

NORTHERN ONTARIO

ONTARIO BUDGET

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

LABOUR DISPUTE

HOSPITAL SERVICES

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

MANUFACTURING JOBS

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

CORRECTION OF RECORD

WEARING OF POPPIES

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

DISASTER RELIEF

LYNNE WOOLSTENCROFT

GUL NAWAZ

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

CITIZENS’ AWARDS

ANNIVERSARY OF ROMANOV DYNASTY

KIDS’ FISHING DAY

JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

JOHN TURNER

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PROMPT PAYMENT ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR

LES PAIEMENTS RAPIDES

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

COMMITTEE CONFERENCE TRAVEL

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY LIVING DAY

RENÉ FONTAINE

PETITIONS

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

FIREARMS CONTROL

ORDERS OF THE DAY

PROSPEROUS AND FAIR ONTARIO ACT

(BUDGET MEASURES), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 POUR UN ONTARIO

PROSPÈRE ET ÉQUITABLE

(MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES)

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m excited to welcome two friends from my riding: good family friend Mary Hamilton, from Glencoe, and also friend Sondra Sasse, from Wardsville. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

Mr. Frank Klees: It is Community Living Day today at Queen’s Park. The objective is to raise awareness toward issues faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families. I’d like to extend a special welcome to my constituent Colleen Zakoor, from Newmarket, and Helen Clark, from Mount Albert.

Mr. Michael Mantha: I’d like to officially introduce a wonderful, opinionated, very dedicated, strong-working intern who is working at my office with me. I’m going to be losing her soon, but she’s going to stay with me for a very long time because she has given me great laughs and great joy at my office. Her name is Lauren Tarasuk and she’s here with her mother, Anna, and her father, Steven, from Sault Ste. Marie.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my pleasure to introduce and to welcome two good friends from the riding of Richmond Hill, Roozbeh Farhadi and Banafsheh Salim, visiting Queen’s Park today.

Mr. John O’Toole: I’m pleased to introduce members from my community who are with Community Living in north Durham: Cathy Parker and Karen McKeown, as well as their friends Andrew Stewart, Jalissa Francis, Candace Castle and Angela Wakefield.

Furthermore, I’d like to introduce the group that is joining us from Community Living Oshawa/Clarington: Julie Neely, Crystal Little, Judy Quail, Caroline Kara, Patrick Grist and Jeffrey Dillon. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Kim Craitor: I’m extremely proud to recognize Gabriel Demizio. He’s a page here, and today he is the page captain. With us today is his entire family. We have his mother, Peggy Demizio; we have his father, Dean Demizio, who is also president of the Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce; we have his grandmother Regina Demizio; we have his grandfather Michael Demizio; and we have his grandmother Lynda Sawatzky.

I also have one special guest from Niagara Falls: Nancy Caruso.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Today, I have two constituents here in the audience. They are the aunt and uncle of Benjamin Comley, who is one of our pages. I’d like to welcome personally Bobbi Moore and Brad Shibish from Riverside South, in my riding, for coming all the way down to Queen’s Park.

Of course, Speaker, I’ve got great news: The Ottawa Senators won the first round of the playoffs.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Well, no. Actually your microphone was turned off, but you were still able to let everybody know.

The member from Beaches–East York.

Mr. Michael Prue: It’s my privilege and honour to introduce people who are here today for Madison Hogg, one of our distinguished pages. Her mother, Dianne Ryan, and her aunt, Marianne Ryan, are here in the gallery, and I hope we treat them well.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I’d like to introduce Mike Town from Community Living North Perth in Listowel. He’s here with us today.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to welcome folks from my riding who are here today to talk to me about the crisis in special services at home. Mary MacLauchlan and Scott Legault, who receive support, and Rosa Amicarelli and Barry Keith, who work for Community Living.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I’d like to welcome today Roxane Villeneuve Robertson from the great riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, who is the daughter of former Minister of Agriculture Noble Villeneuve, who sat here about 10 years ago.

And just to remind everybody, the best game last night was the Wings going into the next round.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to introduce Kelly Lovell, a constituent of mine. She’s a student from Western. She’s taking a dual degree: medical science and honours business. This is her first time at Queen’s Park. Please help me welcome her.

Ms. Cindy Forster: I have some folks from Community Living in my riding here today in the west gallery: Justin Marr, Kerry Thomas and Richard Taylor.

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

The member from Newmarket-Aurora on a point of order.

Mr. Frank Klees: I seek unanimous consent to ask a question of the leader of the official opposition. If granted, my question would be how he can possibly support the Boston Bruins over the Toronto Maple Leafs—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I think I heard a no.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It sounds like hockey brings us together and also separates us.

Interjection: That’s deep.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I know it is.

It is now time for question period.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. Tim Hudak: Before I begin, Speaker, I do want to extend, on behalf of the Ontario PC caucus, our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Peter Worthington. The man was a giant in the media. He was a leader. He is a great Canadian, and he will be deeply, deeply missed in this province of Ontario.

I have a question for the finance minister. Last year’s budget by your predecessor claimed $2 billion in annual savings from a wage freeze on all government workers. This year’s budget removes any reference whatsoever to a mandatory wage freeze. Instead, you used soft terms like you propose to “work together to get outcomes.”

I ask the finance minister, without a wage freeze how are you going to find those $2 billion in annual savings?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, I think he actually read part of the budget. Thank you. And he makes reference to the tone of working together, collaborating and working for the benefit of the people of Ontario. That’s right.

That’s exactly what we’re doing, and we’ve proven that we’ve been able to control spending at below 1% year over year. It’s why we exceeded our targets last year by $5 billion. We’ve negotiated and collaborated with the broader public sector, and we’re dealing with our compensation review by maintaining our envelope at zero. That’s very clear in the budget.

We’re working together for the benefit of people. You should be working with us as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Well, Speaker, there’s not much to work with in the finance minister’s budget, quite frankly. You, sir, chose to increase the deficit. It should have gone down. You’re piling on $20 billion more in debt, putting more burden on the back of a newborn here in Ontario because you cannot make the decisions necessary to hold the line on spending. In fact, Minister, you’ve gone in the opposite direction by ramping up spending and throwing out the window even the small steps we finally got Premier McGuinty and Minister Duncan to come around to. That was an across-the-board mandatory wage freeze and arbitration reform.

I did read your budget in detail. With my economics background, Speaker, budgets are actually pleasure reading for somebody like me, but I took no pleasure in the fact that he dropped the wage freeze altogether.

Why did you throw out a mandatory wage freeze that could save us $2 billion a year and that you yourself had previously voted for?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The budget is all about creating jobs, helping people in their everyday lives and tackling and eliminating the deficit in a very pragmatic, practical way. We’re not taking extreme positions. We’re trying our utmost to collaborate and initiate those positive changes for the benefit of the people.

The Leader of the Opposition just talked about his economics background. Well, it’s interesting because, not long ago, the critic for the opposition sent me a package of their projections—projections which would necessitate mathematics.

If I could give this to the page, please, and if he can provide it to the Leader of the Opposition.

Here are their projections. It is over $1 billion off. It doesn’t add up. He himself has been cut off by his own party for reckless spending. Now, with these projections that don’t even equate, he’s anticipating that he cannot only balance the budget a year earlier, he pretends that he’s going to be able to—

Interjections.

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

Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: I really don’t know what to say about the increasingly bizarre performance of the finance minister on a very basic question that, quite frankly, calls into question his competence to take on such an important matter of actually getting the books back into balance for the province of Ontario, making sure we reduce spending, not increase it so that the deficit actually comes down so that you can balance the books. But you’ve gone in the other direction.

That’s clearly why the PC Party believes the only way to get Ontario back on track, to bring good jobs back to our province, to get government to live within its means, just like families do every day, is to actually change the team, change the government in the province of Ontario to get us back on track.

Let me try a third time, Minister. I appreciate anything you send across to me, but what I’d appreciate is a yes or no answer on a very basic question. If you want to write it down—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Question.

Mr. Tim Hudak: —you want to answer my question. How are you going to balance the books? Did you actually toss out the window a mandatory wage freeze, yes or no? Where do you find the $2 billion?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, the only bizarre issue here is the numbers presented by the opposition, which don’t add up. He has put this—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Charles Sousa: Speaker, this is in fact very serious. It requires serious leadership, and it requires numbers that add up. The member opposite has put forward a YouTube video that talked about their projections which don’t equate by over $1 billion. Furthermore, they’re estimating that they’re going to be able to balance the books, knowing the challenges ahead, by cutting their revenues by $5 billion, and somehow they’re going to be able to balance the books. That is fantasy, Mr. Speaker.

We on this side of the House are doing what’s necessary to control our spending. We’re being disciplined; we’re being determined. We’ve proven that four years running. Next year’s deficit projection is $1 billion lower because of steps that we’re taking. Read the budget. It’s very clear what we’re doing. You should be supporting it.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the finance minister. No, we’re not going to support a Liberal budget that digs a hole deeper and costs jobs in the province of Ontario. My concern, again: the finance minister is not answering my question if he’s cancelling the mandatory wage freeze where he’ll find the $2 billion that will dig the hole deeper. The word “arbitration” appears nowhere in the 300-plus words in the budget papers either, so you’ve obviously tossed out binding arbitration reform.

Given that you’ve tossed out two cost-control measures that we finally got your predecessor to come around to before they closed down the Legislature, why is it, Finance Minister, that you in fact go in the opposite direction with 20 new spending initiatives? How is that affordable when we’re already deep in debt?

Hon. Charles Sousa: This is very much a budget for Ontario by Ontarians. We have sought out a lot of input from a lot of people. We have a lot of issues that we share in common. There are a lot of fiscal matters that are before us. We’re doing everything necessary to tackle and eliminate the budget and the deficit, and we’re on target. We’re on a path to balance, and it’s very clear as to how we get there.

One of them is to maintain and restrain our compensation. We’ve made it clear that it’s at zero going forward. We can work within that envelope, but what we need to do is be determined and be disciplined to control our spending growth, and we’re doing that.

More importantly, the investments that are being made in our youth, in our infrastructure—that’s stimulating jobs; that’s stimulating economic growth; that is what’s going to make us competitive in the long term; that you should be supporting, Mr. Speaker, because it’s for the benefit of all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Let’s just be honest about this, Finance Minister. This is a budget written by the Liberals to buy NDP support. It’s clearly a budget written to try to maintain your grip on power, to maintain your office space.

I think of the young graduates from college or university who are deep in tuition debt. They’re back home with mom and dad with no job to go to. They thought they’d be better off by now, out on their own, buying their own home, their own career. This budget fails to help them because their budget goal is to buy support of the NDP to maintain office.

The last time we saw this, the last time we saw the Liberal-NDP coalition, we had a credit downgrade. We actually added on 48,000 jobs to the public sector payroll and lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs. Minister, people don’t want to see a bidding war for more spending; they want to see an action plan for spending less. Why do you disagree?

Hon. Charles Sousa: This is very much a budget about helping create jobs and promoting economic growth. It’s very clear as to how we achieve that. It’s also a budget about helping people in their everyday lives. So what’s at stake, Mr. Speaker, is this: Here we are, helping rural and northern communities with a dedicated fund to help—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll rein it in.

Finish, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Here we have a dedicated fund to help rural communities with their roads and bridges—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont, come to order.

Hon. Charles Sousa: We also have a gas tax that we’re making permanent and dedicated to the municipalities.

The member opposite just spoke about youth. He wants to cut off our youth fund, which is there to support an integration of businesses with young people, helping them build on their skills and provide for entrepreneurial training, and enabling them to succeed so that they can be at work more quickly for the benefit of their future. It’s their future that’s at stake. They should be supporting this budget for that.

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: Well, our plan will actually bring jobs back to the province of Ontario, good private sector career jobs so people can advance their skills, not a bigger government bureaucracy. There’s an expression, Minister, that you’ve heard, I know, that says basically that time is money, and we’re rapidly running out of both. You made a deliberate decision in your budget to dig the hole deeper. You’re adding $20 billion to the debt, and bizarrely you actually have made the deficit larger than the previous fiscal year. Quite frankly, this ongoing dance the last couple of weeks of budget bribery between the Liberals and the NDP—that’s not going to bring one new job back to the province of—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I know what I’m doing. It’s on the edge, so I would ask him to be cautious of how he uses his words, please.

Mr. Tim Hudak: You’ve already caved in to $1 billion in new spending for the NDP. This dance is continuing. You’ve not said no to date. Finance Minister, are you going to say no to any more spending that will dig the hole even deeper?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let’s be clear: We have over 400,000 net new jobs since the recession. We’re taking steps in this budget to create even more jobs, and it has highlighted how we’re going to achieve just that.

The opposition don’t have a plan. Their plan is across-the-board cuts, a slash-and-burn policy that will hamper our economic recovery that is very sensitive right now. What is necessary is not more government, and I agree. It’s about more opportunity, and we are providing more opportunity in this budget. We are doing transformational changes to help Ontarians succeed.

The member opposite, by his own admission, is more intent on creating havoc and destroying labour relations and enabling cuts that will hinder our recovery. We won’t stand for that. We’re there to support Ontarians right through.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I want to start also, on behalf of New Democrats, by wishing our condolences to the friends and family of Peter Worthington and also, in fact, to Mr. Takhar, the member for—I don’t know what his riding is, but the former minister, who of course has had a loss with his mother’s death and is suffering some ill health. We wish him a speedy recovery, Speaker.

My question is to the Deputy Premier. People have had their faith shaken by scandals and billions of dollars of waste at eHealth, at Ornge and on the gas plants. Does the Deputy Premier agree that Ontarians are going to need to see something different than the same old status quo if they’re going to be able to trust the government again?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: What I think the people of this province really want is a decision to be made on whether this budget is moving forward or not. It is time for the leader of the third party to sit down with the Premier and talk about supporting this budget.

You know who’s waiting? I can tell you who’s waiting for these answers. We’ve got nine million drivers in this province who are waiting to see whether or not we’re going to be addressing the cost of their insurance premiums. We’ve got 30,000 young people who are really struggling to find that first job, who are waiting for the leader of the third party to determine whether or not they’re going to get the help they need to get established in their careers. Speaker, 46,000 seniors and their loved ones are waiting for the NDP, to find out whether they’re going to get access to the home care that they need.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I would say there are over 13 million Ontarians who want to see a government they can trust for a change in this province.

New Democrats have been very clear: We are focused on delivering real results for families. People have heard governments make promises before, but they’ve seen those promises broken, and they’re also seeing scarce resources wasted. They want to see a government that’s truly accountable to them, and they want to see the tools in place that will ensure that accountability. Is the minister ready to consider this?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: What I can tell you is that we are absolutely ready to have that conversation that we’ve been waiting for a couple of months to have with the leader of the third party.

But in the meantime, other Ontarians are waiting for answers. You know who else is waiting? The parents of kids in low-income families, who are waiting to see whether or not the Ontario Child Benefit is going to be increased this year. People are waiting. Those almost one million children who benefit from the Ontario Child Benefit are waiting for an answer.

People on social assistance are waiting for an answer. Are they going to be able to keep more of their earnings? Are they going to be able to have that opportunity to move off social assistance and into employment, where they desperately want to go? They are waiting for an answer from the leader of the third party.

People in northern and rural communities are waiting for an answer. Are they going to get the money they need to take pressure off their municipal taxes, to build the roads, to build the bridges? People are waiting for an answer. It’s time we had one.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: What people are waiting for are real results, and that’s what New Democrats are determined to get them. Ontarians want to have their voices heard, and they told us that they don’t think that the government has learned their lessons at eHealth, at Ornge and at the gas plants. They’re worried that this government is going to go on wasting their money and then cutting important services to make up the difference. A financial accountability office could help us to stop these scandals before they start, and Ombudsman oversight into the health care system will stop the next chemotherapy crisis before it happens.

Does the Deputy Premier agree that more oversight is needed? Or does she think that the status quo is good enough for the people of Ontario?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think it’s very important that we move forward on accountability measures, and that’s exactly what we are doing. I also think it’s time for the leader of the third party to have that face-to-face conversation that the Premier has been asking for for some time. We can have the conversations in question period. We can have them through the media. I think it’s time for that sit-down meeting. The people of this province are waiting for an answer.

Are we going forward with the initiatives in this budget that are very, very meaningful to everyday people in their everyday lives, or are we going to continue to play the game of let’s play this out in the media and in question period? It’s time for a decision, Speaker. The time is now.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Deputy Premier. Is the minister ready to give Ontario seniors in hospitals and those receiving home care access to the same oversight and protection as people have in our prison system?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: It’s very important that people, when they need health care, have the assurance that they are getting high-quality health care. People of this province deserve to know that they’re getting the best value for the money that they’re spending on health care, and that’s why we are moving forward with transforming the way the health care system is funded and how health care is delivered.

Our budget really speaks to this, Speaker. We are moving resources into the community sector so people can get home care faster, the home care that they need, so they can get out of hospital, back home where they want to be, where they can stay home longer so that they don’t have to move into long-term care prematurely. Speaker, this budget speaks to the health care needs of the people of this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Ontario’s Ombudsman provides accountability in our prison system, but he doesn’t have oversight in our health care system. In every other province, provincial ombudspersons have the power to advocate for patients and provide them with accountability. Will the minister consider doing the same for Ontario patients?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As the Premier has said, the leader of the NDP has put forward some interesting ideas and she wants to talk about those ideas. It’s time to have that face-to-face conversation. We’ve responded to a number of the NDP requests that overlap with our priorities too because we are absolutely committed to addressing issues that are facing the people of this province. The leader of the third party continues to add to the list of requests. I think it’s time for a conversation between the Premier and the leader of the third party.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It’s disturbing. I really don’t think that the Deputy Premier gets it. Families watched as governments dropped the ball at Ornge and wasted $1 billion at eHealth helping their friends. Then Ontarians watched as over 1,000 people were given the wrong cancer medication. Now the government’s promising that they’re going to hit a target of five days’ wait time for home care and that the quality of hospital care is not going to suffer as hospitals close facilities and lay off staff.

Will the minister admit that people actually deserve some real oversight, some real accountability, when it comes to their health care system and give the Ombudsman of Ontario the power to provide that accountability for patients?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As I have said, the Premier has acknowledged that the leader of the third party has some interesting ideas that she’s continuing to put forward, and she’s prepared to have that conversation where it belongs: in a face-to-face meeting with the leader of the third party. In the meantime, we need to move forward with this budget because people are counting on us to get this job done.

There are people who are waiting too long for home care. We acknowledge that, and we’re on our way to addressing that challenge through this budget: 46,000 more people. Think about that for a minute: 46,000 more people will be able to access the home care they need so they can get back on their feet faster, they can get home from hospital faster, and they can avoid going into long-term care. But we need this budget to pass to be able to increase that access to home care.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Deputy Premier. The Premier likes to take credit for starting the auditor’s investigation into the Oakville debacle. But the truth of the matter is, our public accounts committee tried to get the auditor to probe both Mississauga and Oakville last September 5. However, the Liberal members blocked that through procedures in committee. They ran the clock out on the committee, allowing only the Mississauga investigation. We should have known then just how bad Oakville was going to be.

The truth is that if it weren’t for the Liberal tactics followed by prorogation, we’d have the auditor’s report on Oakville by now. The Liberal Party continues to put their own interests ahead of taxpayers’ and must be put to a test of confidence.

Will you support our motion for non-confidence to be held in this Legislature?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: I’d like to inform members that on February 7 of this year, the new Premier—in fact, she had just become the new Premier—wrote to the Auditor General and asked him to look into the Oakville situation. I would also remind members that it was the new Premier who offered a select committee on this issue, which they rejected in favour of a witch hunt against a former member of the Legislature. It was the new Premier who asked Liberal members of the committee to put forward a motion to have a very wide document search across this province; to my astonishment, Mr. Speaker, that very member, his colleagues and the colleagues in the New Democratic Party voted against it.

The Premier has been forthcoming. She has appeared in front of the committee, something we haven’t heard from the Leader of the Opposition yet. I understand he may be there tomorrow morning; we certainly look forward to that. But there are no apologies when it comes to the openness of the Premier of this province when it comes to this issue.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: It’s amazing how the Liberals talk about the race to the moon but lead the race to the bottom. The Liberal record on these gas plant cancellations is telling: a snap decision 11 days before an election to save Liberal seats, side deals totalling tens of millions of dollars to keep the proponents from exposing you, a deliberate move to withhold documents requested by members of this House and, finally, sworn testimony of documents being destroyed.

If this is the Liberal idea of responsible government, I can tell you no one else in Ontario shares that view. This scandal should not be rewarded, certainly not by the third party. Will you bring our non-confidence motion to the floor this week?

Hon. John Milloy: When the honourable member spoke about a snap decision before an election to support the cancellation of the plant, I think he was talking about his own party because, if I recall correctly, it was the Leader of the Opposition, the star of that famous YouTube video, who came out and talked about their support for the cancellation of the project. It was the candidates in the various ridings that were affected who put out robocalls, dropped leaflets, put out press releases and put out statements on Twitter saying the only way to see the end of this plant was to elect the Progressive Conservatives to government.

The question, Mr. Speaker, is why? Why are they blocking their own candidates from coming before the committee so that they can answer questions about why they made that decision, what motivated that decision and the type of costing that was put in place? As I said, we may hopefully see the Leader of the Opposition in front of the committee tomorrow, and we look forward to him discussing with us why he made that decision and why he so aggressively opposed the plant in Mississauga.

TRANSPORTATION

Mr. Rosario Marchese: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Last week, I asked the minister for details about his government’s plan to implement high-occupancy toll lanes, but I don’t think I got an answer, so I’m going to ask it again.

The KPMG report to Metrolinx said it costs about $700,000 to implement one kilometre of high-occupancy toll lanes. That means we’re talking about over $300 million to create 450 kilometres of HOT lanes, and that’s if everything goes perfectly.

But Metrolinx puts the initial revenue from HOTs at a mere $25 million a year and says that the HOT lanes are not a significant source of revenue for transit. Why is the province building a risky, costly and complicated new payment system for the sake of a mere $25 million a year?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: The budget elaborates two things. The budget elaborates a very dramatic expansion of HOV lanes, which are for high-occupancy vehicles only. The budget also says that we are going to explore and develop—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I guess the race for the bottom is continuing, Mr. Speaker.

We’re also looking at HOT lanes. We are looking at the experiences of other jurisdictions. In some places, they’ve been very successful at alleviating congestion in certain conditions. We are not rushing into anything. We are carefully looking at the experience of other jurisdictions.

Metrolinx will be looking at the optimum implementation of these in locations and places where they make sense. HOT lanes also serve the full purposes of an HOV lane, in addition to opening it up to additional drivers in certain situations. Thank you.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: I mentioned that it would cost over $300 million to implement the government’s new tolling scheme if everything goes perfectly well.

But such schemes have not gone perfectly with this government, and I’m reminded of Presto. Presto was originally budgeted at $250 million, but the costs have now ballooned to over $700 million—a big cost to the taxpayer, but a wonderful benefit to the government’s partners in the private sector. We have already begun the process of integrating Presto with the TTC.

Why should we believe that the government’s new tolling scheme will not join eHealth, Ornge, the gas plants scandal and Presto on the growing list of this government’s wasteful private sector misadventures?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: This government’s spending on services is the lowest per capita in Canada, which means that it’s lower than in any of the provinces in which the third party is in power.

Second, the HOT lane proposals have not been developed yet. There has been no preparation in detail about where or how or what technologies would be used, so it’s a little premature to jump to those conclusions.

Finally, I remember the good old days when my friends in the NDP liked transit, when they actually understood that subways and LRTs actually cost money. We have—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Nepean–Carleton, come to order, please.

Please finish.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I know the official opposition really gets a little cranky when we talk about subways, because their only record in doing them is filling them in. They like to say they like GO transit; they just never fund it.

If we’re actually going to deal with the congestion problems, governments are going to have to be honest with the people of Ontario and work with them to find the right funding tools to move this forward. This party will do—

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

NORTHERN ONTARIO

Mr. Bob Delaney: This question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The 2013-14 Ontario budget is a forward-looking document that moves Ontario steadily toward a balanced budget. Much of the conversation on the budget has focused on issues affecting cities and southern Ontario municipalities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Windsor, Kingston and Ottawa.

The Ontario budget is also a document that speaks to the concerns of northern Ontarians. Northern needs include stable and affordable electricity, secure jobs and a reliable infrastructure.

Would the minister tell the House what Ontario’s budget does to help municipalities in northern Ontario become stronger, more sustainable and more prosperous places to live, work and raise a family?

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I want to thank my colleague for the question—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): There’s far too much interaction going on between the ways and also within themselves. Please bring it down. Thank you.

Minister?

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: Again, Speaker, I’d like to thank my colleague for the question. I’d like to reassure this chamber that our government listens to all of the people of Ontario. We continued that dialogue last Friday when I and the ministers of natural resources, northern development and mines, rural affairs and aboriginal affairs and the Premier attended the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities’ 53rd annual conference and general meeting, which was held in Parry Sound. We let them know that we heard their concerns.

That’s why, if the parties opposite support our budget, in 2013-14 we will spend $553 million on northern highways, create a $1-million fund for small rural and northern municipalities to help them build roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure, and spend $360 million to extend the northern industrial electricity rate.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bob Delaney: Minister, northern Ontarians need an update on how this province has acted to reverse the downloading of the 1990s. Have these costs been uploaded again to the province, where they belong, and removed from the tax base of northern Ontario municipalities, where they never belonged? What does the recent Ontario budget mean for northern Ontario municipalities and the pressure they face on their municipal tax bases? Would you give property owners, ratepayers and members of the more than 400 municipal councils in northern Ontario an indication of what the 2013-14 Ontario budget holds in store for them?

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I want to thank the member again for the question. I firmly believe in what the Premier has said numerous times: In order for Ontario to be prosperous, all of our communities need to be prosperous. That’s why we’ve continued our conversation with northern municipalities about how we can help them out. We’ve heard what they’ve told us and we’ve acted.

That’s why, in 2012-13, northern Ontario municipalities will benefit from $337 million in municipal supports through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and from our commitment to uploading. This means real relief for municipal budgets. It’s taking a huge burden off property taxes across the north. Our budget will continue to provide assistance to northern communities and for all municipalities across Ontario. I look forward to working with 444 municipalities across the province to learn how we can better help them become stronger and more prosperous.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is to the Minister of Finance. We know that the Premier is now preparing to give further ground to the New Democrats in secret budget vote negotiations, and we know that her government passed out a checklist of NDP demands on budget day. We know that the Premier likes to keep secret negotiations and backroom deals after we saw what happened with the gas plants and, of course, teacher union bosses.

Given all that, can you tell us here today how much more spending we can expect in order for the New Democratic Party to prop your government up?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We’re very clear that our spending is being controlled. It’s being disciplined. It’s less than 1%, year over year. It’s how we’re achieving results.

My question to the member opposite: How do you justify a leader who has put out information from your party that talks about these very issues that you’re telling me, and it doesn’t add up? You’re promoting numbers that don’t equate, and you want the legitimacy of somehow telling the people of Ontario that you can lead when you can’t even add. Answer me that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I’m quite comfortable standing behind Tim Hudak when he becomes Premier of Ontario in a few short months. The only spending that’s being controlled today in this assembly is by the New Democratic Party. They’re telling you what to spend on, and you’re saying, “Yes; I’ll give you a little bit more.” This is an NDP budget for the NDP so that this government can be propped up.

Let’s talk for a second about the economy. There’s an old expression: “It’s the economy, Sousa.” Let’s get back on track here.

Let’s be perfectly honest here. This is a government that only values democracy insofar as it saves their own political skins. After negotiations with rogue union leaders, we know that there is not enough money in this world that they can say no to. We know that they only value the truth when they have been caught.

I want to know: What dirty deal has this government cooked up with the NDP in order for the NDP to continue calling the shots and for this government to continue to be propped up?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The only deal we’re making here is a deal with the people of Ontario. This is a budget that speaks to the people of Ontario, the contributions that they have made, because what they want is leadership and what they don’t want are extreme views. They do not want to see an excessive slash-and-burn policy that puts things at risk, and they do not want excessive spending. They want control and they want discipline. We’re offering that.

Mr. Speaker, it is about the economy. The members opposite don’t seem to understand that the economy’s recovery is challenged and we need to take steps to stimulate that growth. So there are occasions when you have to provide support for our youth, for our infrastructure, for those most vulnerable, for the things that we all share in common in this House. It boggles my mind that you would put that at risk. You should be supporting this budget.

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Deputy Premier. As racetracks across Ontario close down, it’s clear that your OLG privatization plan is in shambles. One day Toronto’s getting a special deal to host a downtown casino, the next day it isn’t. One day there’s a transition program for the horse racing industry, the next day there’s a new committee that’s going to start the process all over again.

Will this government admit that its OLG privatization strategy was a disaster from day one and that it’s time to put a complete stop to this mess?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we all know that transforming OLG is an essential part of trying to enhance our revenue, support our schools and our education, and ensure that we continue to be socially conscious and socially responsible in those initiatives. This modernization plan is on the right track to take those and to deliver on that promise.

But in regard to transition around racing and in regard to our transition around service delivery, we need to be methodic, we need to be careful. We recognize that those initiatives were initially brought forward by the opposition in terms of an OLG component, but now we need to transform them. We’re taking those appropriate steps to ensure that we protect the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I really don’t think the government has any clue what they’re doing in terms of their modernization strategy, because rural Ontario has been dealt a massive blow with the decision to cancel the Slots at Racetracks Program. Thousands of jobs have been lost in rural Ontario and thousands more will be lost in the near future. Meanwhile, the OLG invited gambling operations to bid on a downtown casino and tried to entice Toronto city council members with a sweetheart deal on a hosting formula.

Will this government admit that its privatization plan is a complete disaster and end this sorry spectacle once and for all?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The Minister of Rural Affairs.

Hon. Jeff Leal: Our government is committed to a sustainable horse racing industry in the province of Ontario. We appointed three very distinguished former members of this House. The honourable Elmer Buchanan—he served on the benches over there, one of Ontario’s most successful ag ministers, from 1990 to 1995. I actually spoke to Mr. Buchanan last Saturday—I was in Havelock, Ontario, for Celebrate Havelock—and Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Snobelen and Mr. Wilkinson are doing an incredible job to provide a framework—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Essex asked the question. I’m sure he wants to hear the answer.

Hon. Jeff Leal: —to sustain horse racing in the province of Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my friends opposite to join me this Saturday at Kawartha Downs in Peterborough for the first race. I recommend that they bet Yankee Nick in the sixth. I think that’s a very hot prospect.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

Ms. Soo Wong: My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Across Ontario and in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt, we are concerned about aboriginal youth, who are recognized as Canada’s fastest-growing potential workforce. Almost half of aboriginal peoples—First Nations, Inuit and Métis—in Canada are under the age of 24.

Constantly, we’re hearing the concerns of high dropout rates for First Nations youth living off-reserve—Métis and Inuit youth are 22.6%, more than two and a half times the rate of non-aboriginal youth. We need to ensure that all youth have an equal and fair opportunity to be successful. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Can the minister inform the House what Ontario is doing to narrow this gap?

Hon. David Zimmer: Thank you for that question. Properly educating and providing for the proper education and closing the education gaps between our aboriginal communities, both on and off reserves, is absolutely crucial to developing the health and well-being of the aboriginal community.

In that regard, I was in Winnipeg about a month ago at the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group. Ontario had chaired that for the past four years; Manitoba is the chair this year. One of the issues we discussed at that conference was this whole issue of closing the dropout rates, and the educational achievement metrics of aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities. There was a recognition across the board by all of the provinces and all of the territories that this had to be done. This was the right thing to do. But you know, Speaker, who was missing from that meeting in Winnipeg was the federal government. The federal government was not there. This is a gap—

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

Ms. Soo Wong: It’s good to know that action is taken on this very important issue.

Another very important issue is violence against—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew, I’ve been tolerant of you continually shouting people’s names out, and I’m not going to be tolerant any longer. Would you please either call them by their title or their riding? Thank you.

Ms. Soo Wong: Another very important issue is violence against aboriginal women and girls. I heard that about 15% of aboriginal women in Canada who had a spouse or a common-law partner in the past five years reported being a victim of spousal violence—more than twice the proportion among non-aboriginal women. I read that missing and murdered aboriginal women represent about 10% of female homicides in Canada, despite the fact that aboriginal women make up only 3% of the total female population in Canada. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, what is Ontario doing to address this issue in Ontario and in the national context?

Hon. David Zimmer: First, let me put a human face to those statistics. At a recent meeting—I think it was in Sault Ste. Marie, and we heard about this in Winnipeg. There was a meeting of some 231 women. The speaker at that conference asked the non-aboriginal women to stand up, and about 200 of them stood up. Then she said, “Please raise your hand if any of you have had a sister, a grandmother or a wife who has been murdered?” One person put up their hand.

She then asked the 31 aboriginal women in the audience to stand up and asked the same question: “Of the 31 of you, how many have a female relative who has been murdered or is missing?” Of the 31 who stood up, 29 raised their hands—29 out of 31; one out of 200 for the non-aboriginal community.

This is a tragedy. This has to stop. The Aboriginal Affairs Working Group in Winnipeg has called for a national inquiry into this issue of violence and missing aboriginal women. Ontario is pleased to support that call.

LABOUR DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Deputy Premier: I was at US Steel Nanticoke last night. One thousand Steelworkers are locked out—the third lockout in three years between Lake Erie and the Hamilton works. One thousand steel jobs support 4,000 others, and up to 9,000 jobs can be affected. Ontario has already lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Look at London.

Deputy Premier, what are you doing about these lockouts? A government mediator was involved. I asked your government, what does the mediator do? And I was told that can’t be divulged. What is he doing? What are you doing? Have you talked to the company? Have you talked to the union? What steps are you taking to get Steelworkers back to work?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Labour.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member opposite for raising an important question. As we all know, some negotiations are very challenging and some take place in the public eye. I want to commend all those who represent employers and unions at the negotiating table who have come together to develop a strategy that could work for both of them.

We know that agreements that are reached around the negotiating table are the best ones, and we really encourage, in this situation, both parties to come back to the table. As the member opposite noted, a Ministry of Labour mediator has been engaged in the negotiations. The mediator has been assisting the parties and has met with the parties on seven different occasions.

Our services are still available. We encourage the parties to come back to the negotiating table. We are willing to facilitate that conversation and come out with a negotiated settlement that will be in the best interests of all parties.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Toby Barrett: Ontario has 600,000 people out of work. Jobs are fleeing the province: Look at London, 9.9% unemployment; Caterpillar closed Electro-Motive and moved to Indiana; now they’re closing Toronto and moving to Michigan. And here we have the third US Steel lockout in three years. What have you learned from that? What have you done?

I’ve been talking to the union, I’ve been talking to the company. We have government for a reason. Will you personally pull all sides together—at least call a meeting personally? The steel business has changed. Your approach has not changed. You’re getting rusty. Please explain: What are you doing to deal with this new reality, not only in the steel business but in Ontario’s manufacturing in general?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I think the member opposite knows exactly how the labour relations process works, where both parties need to come together at their own will around the table and be able to negotiate a settlement.

I think the member opposite also knows the role of the government or that of the Ministry of Labour is to mediate or facilitate that conversation, and our mediators are available. They have participated in the process on seven different occasions and they are willing to get the parties back, but both parties have to agree to do so.

Now, what’s concerning is the approach that the party opposite continues to raise, and that is their right-to-work-for-less strategy. We know, Speaker, that approach does not work either, so I ask the member to stop advocating for a system that will take a race to the bottom for workers, and ensure that we have a robust labour relations process, like we have in the Ontario Labour Relations Act. I encourage both parties, in the case of US Steel Canada Lake Erie Works, to come together and negotiate a final settlement.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Just over a week ago in London, Andrea Horwath and I met with a group of distraught Londoners who are the victims of yet another damaging cut to health care. Despite all the talk about health care transformation, this Liberal government’s cuts to health care have led to the closure of St. Joseph’s hydrotherapy pool, a unique and vital therapy service for patients.

Will the minister explain how she can encourage people to be active, then cut this hydrotherapy program with no regard for the consequences?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thanks to the member from London–Fanshawe for that question. This hospital, of course, is in my riding so I know this issue well.

We are embarking on a very important and serious transformation of our health care system. We are committed to moving services that are currently delivered in hospital to the community whenever possible. We’re changing how we fund hospitals so that going forward, hospitals are going to get the money—their budget is going to depend on how many people they serve, what their community is and how many actual procedures they perform. There are changes under way. It’s all about delivering the best possible, highest-quality care in the most appropriate place.

Hospitals are making difficult decisions; I understand that. But the goal is better care for the people of this province, and that includes the people of London.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: St. Joseph’s hydrotherapy pool is health care too. Patients in London and across Ontario want to see accountability in our health care system—accountability measures like Ombudsman oversight over the health care system, which would prevent harmful cuts like this one.

Will the minister please explain to Londoners why her government can spend billions of dollars recklessly on scandals like eHealth, Ornge and the Mississauga and Oakville gas plants but can’t afford to keep St. Joseph’s hydrotherapy pool open?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member opposite unfortunately is not looking at the whole picture. This budget that we have presented in this House, that her party is so far dithering on whether or not they will support, speaks to improving health care for the people of this province, including the people she represents.

This budget expands home care to 46,000 more Ontarians. This is the kind of transformation that we must all support, because our constituents, the patients of this province—if they’re ready to go home from hospital, that’s where they want to be, and we need to be there to support them at home. People want to be home. They want to be able to be in the comfort of their own community with the people that they love. This budget is going to help more people get the care they need so they can be where they want to be.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

Ms. Dipika Damerla: My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Minister, in a few weeks families in my riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville are going to be celebrating the fact that young men and women are about to graduate from universities and colleges. Regardless of whether they are graduating from a university or a college, I know that these kids are really well positioned for the job market because they have a post-secondary education.

But, Minister, not every young graduate wants to look for a job. Instead, they want to go into business for themselves. What I want to know is—if you’re going into business for yourself, you cannot be worried about having to pay your OSAP loan. I’d like to know what this government is doing to help young entrepreneurs defer payment on their OSAP loans.

Hon. Brad Duguid: That’s a really good question. There’s nothing more inspiring than this new, next generation of young Ontario entrepreneurs coming out of our colleges and universities.

When you see some of these young people and you go around the world, they’re seen as some of the best and brightest young entrepreneurs anywhere in the world today. When you think about starting a business up as you’re graduating from university, it’s not only tough physically; it’s tough financially as well. So we want to give our young entrepreneurs a break.

The 2013 budget will, if passed, allow graduates choosing to start a business in Ontario to defer paying off OSAP loans and payment of interest until one year after completing post-secondary education, rather than the standard six-month grace period. This will support young entrepreneurs across the province as they work to build their careers, turning them from job seekers to job creators. But we need to get this budget passed in order to achieve that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Dipika Damerla: Thank you, Minister, for that great answer and for making sure that our young people have the opportunity not just to seek jobs but also to create jobs.

But there’s also a lot of young people looking for jobs in my riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville, and I know that this government has been working hard to help these young, bright graduates. Can the minister tell this Legislature what we are doing to help young graduates find jobs?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Absolutely. One of the barriers our graduates and young people face upon entering the job market is lack of experience. It’s the old adage we’ve heard before: You can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience without having a job. So it’s kind of tough. They’re kind of in that no-win situation.

We need to take action to help our young people get the opportunity to enter the workforce. This is a top priority in our 2013 budget. I urge all members on all sides of the House to pass this budget, because our budget will launch Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy, including a youth employment fund of $195 million over two years. The province would provide hiring incentives to employers to offer young people in all regions of the province an entry point to long-term employment.

The fund would use Employment Ontario’s extensive network of employment and training services across the province to find appropriate job placements. We’ve got to get this budget passed, though, in order to implement this.

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. Monte McNaughton: My question is for the Deputy Premier. Four months ago, Liberal insiders and special interests coronated Ontario’s Premier. At that time, Ontario’s unemployment stood at 565,000 people. Fast forward to today and, sadly, you will know that Ontario’s unemployment situation is even more dismal. Worse still, over the past 12 months Ontario’s government sector has grown by 48,000 people, but we haven’t added one net new job to the Ontario economy. In fact, during this time we’ve lost over 5,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs, which the Premier often refers to as a myth.

Do you think it’s right to force unemployed Ontario residents to pay for your political decision to move gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville to save a few Liberal jobs and buy the last election?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, to the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know he might not say it in here, but I know outside of the Legislature the member opposite believes that we’re on the right track in this province. The reality is—and he knows this—that last month alone, we created 9,000 new manufacturing jobs in this province. The member opposite knows as well that in the last few years since—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Eric Hoskins: So not only 9,000 new manufacturing jobs last month alone created in this province, but we’re on the right track because we’ve created over 400,000 new jobs since the bottom of the recession. We’ve brought back all of the jobs that were lost and 50% more. Compare that with other jurisdictions, like the United States, which has only brought back 70% of their jobs; we’re doing better than the United States. We’re doing better than the Great Lakes states around us as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Well clearly, minister, you need to get out of Queen’s Park more.

Speaker, back to the Deputy Premier: Sadly the numbers in London are even more devastating. The unemployment rate in London soared from a dismal 8.6% in January to a devastating 9.9% last month, giving London the highest big-city unemployment rate in the country for the second month in a row. In Windsor, the unemployment rate is now at 9.2%.

Minister, the stats don’t lie. Job creators in southwestern Ontario no longer have confidence in your Liberal government’s ability to help create jobs and grow our economy. With one in 10 London residents unemployed, do you think it’s right to ask unemployed Londoners to pay for your political decision to move the Oakville and Mississauga power plants and buy Liberal seats in the last election?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Again, I know just how difficult it was for the member opposite to actually express that question, because he knows as well as I do that the reason we created the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund was to address important issues like this. I hate to embarrass him, but I’ve got to bring up again that the first project that was funded, in fact, by the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, a fund that the members in the official opposition voted against, was in your riding. I’m sorry; it was in your riding. It was in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex.

I’m so proud that Lambton Conveyor, with support from the Ontario government through this very fund, is not only doubling its workforce, but it is contributing to an important local economy, and I know the member opposite in his heart of hearts agrees with me.

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

Mr. John Vanthof: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. On Saturday, the weatherman was calling for snow across northeastern Ontario, and heavy snow is not uncommon in May in our part of the world. In Timmins, they got 26 centimetres.

The OPP closed many highways across the north after a dozen accidents. Fortunately there were no fatalities. There were a couple of cruisers in the ditch. They didn’t close the highways because of the snow; they closed the highways because of a total lack of snow clearing. There was no snowplowing. There was one snowplow between Highway 144 and Matheson. That’s an area bigger than some countries. There was no maintenance at all. Once again, snow in the spring is not that uncommon.

This is the second time that we’ve had to ask this question. Are the contracts not up to snuff? Are the contractors not following the rules? Are they not being paid enough? Or is the privatization scheme—

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

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I will be very, very happy to review what happened on the weekend. I appreciate the member’s question; I think it was sincerely asked.

It was very unusual weather this weekend, Mr. Speaker. In my neighbourhood, we had hail three times and rain and snow. This was not the kind of weather that one is used to.

Mr. Speaker, I have raised this when I was meeting with mayors in the north, and they have all said to me very clearly that this was one of the most difficult winters for municipal snow removal services because of the irregularity of the weather and the challenges of the weather. So we know we’ve been dealing with some difficult matters, Mr. Speaker, but I do take the member’s question as a sincere one. I will look into it and get back to him. I appreciate him raising it.

CORRECTION OF RECORD

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

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I wish to correct my record. Earlier I spoke, in an answer to the member, with regard to a $1-million fund for small, rural and northern municipalities to build roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure. In fact, our budget speaks to $100 million to do that work.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): That is a point of order; members are allowed to correct their record.

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

The House recessed from 1140 to 1300.

WEARING OF POPPIES

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order for the Minister of Rural Affairs.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I would ask for unanimous consent this afternoon, when we do the tribute to the Hon. John M. Turner, that we wear poppies for that tribute as he served in the RCAF from 1939 to 1945 and flew 30 missions over Europe in a Halifax bomber. So I’d ask for unanimous consent to wear the poppy during his tribute.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I understand that there have been poppies made available—they will be made available.

Before I ask for unanimous consent, just to bring clarity, the office contacted the Legions at my request, and the Legions apparently have given permission to do so under some circumstances. In this case, I would remind us that the poppies should be worn above everything, meaning if you have pins on or if you have anything else, the poppy is the highest to be worn.

Point of order on—

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: Further on this: The poppies need to be worn on the correct side, which is the left side, and the highest emblem on the lapel or any other aspect that people may be wearing.

Hon. Jeff Leal: If I could just continue—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We’ll continue on. I want to get this right.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank Mr. Fred Rathburn, who’s president of Branch 52 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Peterborough. Mr. Turner was a member of that Legion, and they very graciously supplied the poppies for everybody today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): With the clarity offered by the member from Oshawa, do I have unanimous consent to wear the poppy during the tribute? Agreed? Agreed.

It’s now time for introduction of guests.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: I have a number of guests from Oshawa Community Living. We have Julie Neely, Patrick Grist, Judy Quail, Crystal Little, Caroline Kara and Jeffrey Dillon joining us this afternoon.

Ms. Soo Wong: I want to welcome the students from North American Muslim Foundation, the Islamic Academy. They’re here with us this afternoon, and I want to welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’m pleased to rise today to welcome a group from Community Living Tillsonburg, who are here with us today. In the gallery are Michael Kadey, Joanne Maertens, Gary Pidgeon, Sandra Bray, Della Derrough and Crystal Saunders. We want to welcome them all here to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: Joining us today in the members’ gallery as part of Community Living Ontario are: Rick Strutt, vice-president of Community Living Ontario; Alan McWhorter, interim executive director; Chris Beesley, incoming executive director; Gordon Kyle, director of social policy and government relations; Sheila Kirouac, communications director; and Yvonne Spicer, who’s the self-advocate on the Community Living Ontario Council. I’m sure we’d all want to welcome them here today.

Mr. Bill Walker: I too would like to introduce my guests and welcome them to Queen’s Park; from Community Living Owen Sound and District: Tara Einoff, Shawna Shank, Karen Aspinall and Michael Drvodelic.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m very pleased today to welcome to Queen’s Park from Walkerton Community Living on the 15th anniversary or annual reception—we have Harv and Dave Benninger and Linda Batte.

Mr. Ted Arnott: I too wish to welcome Yvonne Spicer to the Legislature today. She’s here on behalf of Halton Community Living. We had a meeting this afternoon, and she does a super job of advocating.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

DISASTER RELIEF

Mr. Norm Miller: I rise in this House today to speak to a very important issue that has affected a number of communities in my riding, as well as across central Ontario. The effects of the recent floods have caused significant damage to the property of local residents, businesses and many cottages.

While the towns of Huntsville and Bracebridge are preparing to make claims to the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program, there are immense challenges facing these and other small communities already. I feel that Bracebridge’s deputy mayor, Rick Maloney, sums up the local sentiment when he recently commented that the current program left a bad taste in his mouth, to kind of reconcile that the ability of people to get back on their feet rests with the generosity of bake sales and barbecues.

The current conditions of ODRAP rely heavily on matching provincial funds to local fundraising efforts. This is an extremely heavy burden to place on small rural communities that reported damages running well into the millions. As well, it would take months for these communities to receive relief funds, due to the current structure of ODRAP, which was created in the 1960s. Surely there is room for improvement within this program to better meet the needs of Ontarians requiring assistance through disaster relief.

At this time, I would like to add my voice in support of my colleague from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock and the motion she put forward requesting that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing undertake a review of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program in order to better meet the needs of communities that are adversely impacted by extreme weather events.

LYNNE WOOLSTENCROFT

Ms. Catherine Fife: Today I would like to recognize with great sadness the passing of Lynne Woolstencroft this morning at the age of 69. Lynne was a former mayor of Waterloo, a three-term city councillor, chair of the Waterloo Region District School Board, and president of the Association of Large School Boards. She was also a dear friend.

I had the pleasure of knowing Lynne on both a professional and personal level. She was warm, open and a true leader for our community. It was during her term as mayor that planning and agreements for the Perimeter Institute, the Centre for International Governance Innovation and the University of Waterloo’s research and technology park began.

Just this past March, Lynne was honoured with the Jack Young Civic Award, the highest honour awarded by the region of Waterloo for those who exemplify the highest standards of political and civic life. She also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her outstanding contribution to the community and the region.

Lynne was well known for her commitment to making government more accessible. She served as chair of the region’s first environment committee during her 12 years representing the city of Waterloo at the regional council.

Over the course of her career, she inspired many young women to enter political life, myself included.

I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Lynne’s husband, Peter Woolstencroft, and to the rest of her family and friends during this difficult time.

Thank you, Lynne, for your dedication to the environment, to education and to our community. You set an example of service that we should all aspire to. Your voice and your passion will be dearly missed.

GUL NAWAZ

Mr. Bob Delaney: Mississauga lost a strong, generous, passionate community leader this past weekend, and Liberals and Conservatives lost a decent, honest, principled chartered accountant in Gul Nawaz. Allah called him home Saturday afternoon, May 11, while working at his desk.

Gul Nawaz obtained his chartered accountant designation 40 years ago and was a leader among his peers, serving as the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. He was honoured for his contributions to the CA profession with his FCA fellowship among chartered accountants, a rare honour.

Gul’s community and board governance contributions are as long as they are distinguished. Gul has helped the Mississauga Arts Council, the Credit Valley Hospital, Peel Multicultural Council, Canadian Spectrum, Sheridan and Etobicoke colleges, and the University of Toronto at Mississauga. And, Speaker, that’s only a partial list.

Gul stood as a federal Alliance candidate in the November 2000 election, and although he did not win that election, Gul Nawaz got my vote. He was our provincial Liberal riding association auditor. He was my constituent, and he was a friend of mine and Andrea’s.

His native land of Pakistan was always important to Gul Nawaz, who worked constantly to build better ties between Canada and Pakistan.

Our heartfelt sympathies to Gul’s wife, Ghazala, and to his family and his many, many friends. The legacy of Gul Nawaz Zindabad. Thank you, Speaker. Shukria.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I rise today to recognize the Reid’s Corners Women’s Institute in my riding of Huron–Bruce on the celebration of their 100th anniversary this Wednesday, May 15.

Women’s Institutes have been in existence across the country for 115 years, since it was founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario, in February 1897.

Over the years, the Women’s Institute has worked hard to lobby for some of the very things we use every day. Because of their outstanding lobbying efforts, we now have pasteurized milk, painted lines on the road, school bus signs, the flashing red lights on the school buses, bags for bread and small-town abattoirs.

Women’s Institutes are well known for their fundraising and community service efforts. Specifically, Reid’s Corners Women’s Institute members have raised funds, knitted and sent clothing in support of our troops, the Red Cross and hospitals overseas. They also support countries ravaged by national disasters.

The Reid’s Corners Women’s Institute is very active locally as well. Through fundraising efforts, they support local fall fairs, local hospitals and other events in the community. Their monthly meetings give the ladies a chance to come together and socialize and plan for their next fundraising efforts and community events.

Women’s Institutes play an important role across rural Ontario, and I’m very pleased to take this opportunity here in the Ontario Legislature to recognize the Reid’s Corners Women’s Institute on their milestone 100th anniversary.

CITIZENS’ AWARDS

Mr. Paul Miller: Last week, outstanding local citizens were recognized with Stoney Creek Citizen of the Year awards for their unwavering contributions to our community.

Citizen of the Year Bill Needham is a volunteer coach, official and instructor in youth, men’s and ladies’ hockey and slo-pitch. He’s also an OHL scout and a multiple sports mentor.

Honour student Gagandeep Virdi, Junior Citizen of the Year, has done 754 community volunteer hours. This list of activities that she has been involved in humbles those of us many years older.

Jayne Industries co-owners Duncan Robson and Chris Cashin received the Outstanding Large Business Award for donating to the food banks, ALS, MS, Sick Kids, and minor hockey, soccer and baseball teams.

Bobby Assadourian’s Triple R Inc. received the small business award. Bobby has helped home owners avoid renovation rip-offs; written a renovation book, giving the proceeds to the March of Dimes; hosts a TV show; hires youth at risk, training them in contracting, renovations and life skills.

iMatter received the Community Recognition Award for taking care of teen mental health at Cardinal Newman high school.

McDougall’s Garage, established in 1918, received the Legacy Award. It began as a carriage/blacksmith garage, and the first single-bay garage was built in the 1960s.

Josh Tiessen received the 2012 young entrepreneur award. As well as being an accomplished artist, he founded the Josh Tiessen Foundation to coordinate his endeavours for the community.

I thank all of these role models for their ongoing community involvement. I’m proud to represent them in our riding and here at Queen’s Park.

ANNIVERSARY OF ROMANOV DYNASTY

Ms. Dipika Damerla: On May 7 last week, I was pleased to take

part in a ceremony at Queen’s Park marking the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and the independence day of the Russian Federation. It was a chance for Russian Canadians to celebrate the rich culture and history of their great land.

The day had a particular significance for me as a member representing Cooksville. That is because there’s a little bit of Romanov history right in the middle of my riding in Cooksville.

Grand Duchess Olga was the youngest child of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. Olga was only 11 years old when her father, the emperor, died, and her brother Nicholas II became the emperor.

When the horrific murder of the Romanovs took place in the summer of 1918, Duchess Olga was already married with two children. Since there was a bounty on the heads of any surviving Romanovs, Olga, as the sister of the emperor, was understandably at risk and went into exile, first in Denmark; and when Europe became too dangerous, she came to Canada.

Duchess Olga arrived with her family in Montreal in the summer of 1948. They first settled in Campbellville, Ontario, where she and her husband farmed, and later settled on Camilla Street in Cooksville, where she lived until her death on November 24, 1960.

Although the duchess died, the Romanov connection continues to live on in Mississauga.

KIDS’ FISHING DAY

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: This past Saturday, we hosted our 13th annual Kids’ Fishing Day at Heber Down Conservation Area. I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all the groups and volunteers who worked so hard to make this day special for the kids. Everyone looks forward to this day, and we had a record crowd to take part again this year. As a matter of fact, Speaker, by 10 o’clock the hundreds of rods and reels that we have out on loan were all loaned out.

Everything was free, and the many activities included conservation, wetland and trapping displays, lure-making, face painting, fly-tying and fish identification.

Numerous groups and organizations gave their time and effort to this special day and I’d like to thank them, including Ducks Unlimited; Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority; the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Zone E; Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire; Muskies Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources, Aurora District; Ontario Sporting Dog Association; the Ontario Deer Hound Association; Durham Regional Police; Pickering Rod and Gun Club; Lindsay Trappers Council; Valu-mart Lindsay; Gagnon Sports; Black Angus Fine Meats and Game; Boys and Girls Club of Durham; Simcoe Hall Settlement House; South Central Ontario Fish and Wildlife Association; WT Hawkins; Calvary Baptist Church; Optimist Club of Oshawa; Kingsview United Church; Orono Fish and Hunt Club; Blair and John Wilson and the Westmount Kiwanis Club for all their help.

Once again, a big thank you goes out to Walter Oster and the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, who contributed greatly to the success of Kids’ Fishing Day across Ontario, as well as Doug and Roli.

And special thanks goes out to Josh, Garrett, Simon, Max and Jacob, who made over a thousand snow cones and popped five gallons of popcorn, on top of the 1,600 hot dogs and hamburgers that were given out.

There were hundreds of rainbow trout caught by the young anglers, and Mr. Speaker, the smiles said it all.

Thanks again to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this day a huge success for the children of our community.

JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH

Mr. Steven Del Duca: I rise today to recognize those celebrating Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario this May. Ontario is home to approximately 200,000 Jewish Canadians, who together have formed a vibrant and distinguished community that continues to make significant contributions to both the growth and prosperity of our province.

As the MPP for Vaughan, I am proud to say that my own community has a very active and involved Jewish-Canadian contingent. Just last week, I held a town hall at the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, and I certainly appreciated the insight of those in attendance that evening.

Ontario’s Jewish community has had to overcome tremendous challenges, but the tenacity and resolve that they continue to show is truly remarkable. Occasions like Jewish Heritage Month provide all of us with the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the important role that Jewish Canadians have played and continue to play in Ontario.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks and greetings to all of those celebrating Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario this May.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I rise today, on Community Living Day, to share the concerns and comments of my constituents in Dufferin–Caledon regarding the government’s changes to Special Services at Home and the Passport program. Individuals with special needs, and their families, are experiencing many challenges when transitioning from one program to the next.

Interjection.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: You should listen, Minister. This is important.

Many families in Dufferin–Caledon and throughout Ontario have children with special needs who require ongoing support to be able to live and participate in our community after leaving school. However, funding changes that came into effect last year have meant that those children are now falling between the cracks because the transition between the two programs is not seamless.

Community Living Ontario reports that there are over 4,000 adults on the waiting list for the Passport program. This means children today who are now reaching their 18th birthday and receive Special Services at Home will be cut off from funding and placed on a waiting list for the Passport program.

Worse still are those young adults with special needs who remain in school until the age of 21. They are not eligible for Passport until they complete school, but their Special Services at Home funding is cut off on their 18th birthday.

Children with developmental disabilities wake up with the same special needs on their 18th birthday. What changes is that the services they received when they were 17 years old will no longer exist. Instead, they will be forced to take a number and wait.

When will this government step up and remove the red tape it has imposed on families who rely on these vital support services? When will this government acknowledge—

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

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member from Haldimand–Norfolk has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Minister of Labour concerning the US Steel and Steelworkers lockout. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

JOHN TURNER

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader on a point of order.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I believe you’ll find that we have unanimous consent to pay tribute to Mr. John M. Turner, former member of this Legislature from Peterborough from 1971 to 1975; 1977 to 1987—and 1981 to 1985—with a representative from each caucus speaking for up to five minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader has asked for unanimous consent to pay tribute to John Turner. Do we agree? Agreed.

The member for Beaches–East York.

Mr. Michael Prue: It is indeed an honour for me to pay tribute to John Melville Turner. Every day, when I come to my office, outside of my office there are pictures of the Speakers. One of those Speakers is John Turner. You can look at that picture and see a man of some considerable distinction and look at that picture and see how proudly he wears his war medals—his service medals—on his chest and how the picture, I believe, captured who he was and the role that he played in this Legislature as Speaker.

John Melville Turner lived a life defined by service to his community, to his province and to his country. Like many of us here today, his path to Queen’s Park came by way of municipal politics, after a successful career in the private sector. But that is only one small part of his story. John Turner was a businessman turned politician, that much is true, but he was also a distinguished member of Canada’s greatest generation. We are all here wearing poppies today in remembrance of him.

He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 as a 20-year-old and would serve as a pilot officer for the remainder of World War II. He was part of a special group of people who understood that their sacrifices were the foundation of a stronger future and who willingly rose to the challenge. This type of tenacity and commitment seems to paint a true portrait of the type of man John Turner was. As I said, that true portrait is hanging right outside room 153 of this Legislature.

After winning a narrow victory in 1971, John Turner’s career at Queen’s Park may have been a short one because of the election that ensued; he lost the election of 1975 by a very small margin. But as fate would have it, in 1977 John Turner was back at the Legislature and he erased, I think for all time, the heartbreaking memory of his small loss with a landslide victory. In the 1981 election, he cemented his place at Queen’s Park, almost tripling the margin of his 1977 campaign.

From 1981 to 1985, he served the assembly as Speaker. It was clear that John Turner was not only a respected member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, but of the House itself. Even as the sun set on that government, the Davis government, and that party faced tough times in the elections that followed—remember, in the mid-1980s, it could not have been easy being called John Turner. People often, I would think, confused him with the other John Turner in Ottawa, who was, of course, a Liberal. Even though that was the case, the people of Peterborough knew who their John Turner was, and they sent him back to Queen’s Park in 1985 with nearly a 5,000 vote margin.

As members, we are acutely aware of the role that our loved ones play in our success as MPPs. To the Turner family—and we have a great many people here today. His wife, June, and his sons Timothy, James and Ian are all present; plus there’s a huge, long list of Turners who are here to pay respect to a very great man. To that family, we thank you for sharing John with us.

It is difficult, sometimes, in life for the politicians to spend so much time here, but it is even more difficult for the members of the family who have to wave goodbye on Sunday night and not see their loved one again until Thursday night or Friday morning. You sacrificed along with him for all those many years while he did service to the people of this province. Because of your sacrifice, because of his sacrifice, both Peterborough and Ontario are better places to be. We are thankful for the life and the dedication of John Turner. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Jeff Leal: It is truly an honour for me to rise this afternoon to pay tribute to John Turner, a former member from Peterborough and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the 32nd Parliament.

It’s a pleasure for me, and an honour, because John Turner and I were good friends. I remember this past January—in fact, January 26 of this year—I arrived at the Rotary Club of Peterborough, where John and his brother Dr. Art Turner had been members for so many years. I knew instinctively that something was different on that occasion, because normally John and his brother Art would be sitting at the front tables. On 10 occasions, John was always most gracious to thank me at my rotary address, so it was very, very different to be at Rotary on that day and not to see a friend in front of me.

I’d also like to recognize John’s family, who are here today for today’s tribute to a kind and decent man who served his community and, indeed, his entire country. I want to recognize June and his children, grandchildren and many other family members who are here today for this tribute.

John was a member of Canada’s greatest generation. Born and raised in Peterborough, he was a decorated veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying over 30 missions over Europe during the Second World War in a Halifax bomber. He was among a group of very dedicated veterans that, of course, led the restoration of the Halifax bomber that now sits at Canadian Forces Base Trenton as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force museum.

On many occasions, I had the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of both June and John at 371 Park Street North, a very distinguished home, home of great warmth and a very friendly atmosphere. Of course, their home was beside the home of another Canadian icon, Dr. Tom Symons, the founding president of Trent University. It was remarkable that two homes would be side by side for two individuals who have made such a remarkable contribution to our way of life in the province of Ontario.

John was an alderman in Peterborough from 1969 to 1971. He was first elected to the 29th Parliament. He was then elected to the 31st, 32nd and 33rd Parliaments, served as the MPP for Peterborough from 1971 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 1987, and was Speaker from 1981 to 1985. You, Mr. Speaker, of course, often refer to decisions that were made by Speaker Turner.

Two members of this House served with Mr. Turner: the honourable member from York Centre, Mr. Kwinter, and the honourable member from St. Catharines, Mr. Bradley.

In 2003, he became a member of the advisory committee for the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, a role for which the breadth of his experience and the integrity of his character made him uniquely qualified amongst Ontarians. His commitment to community transcended political affiliation; indeed, he worked to improve the well-being of everyone. He became concerned—often he and I chatted about this—by the poisonous partisanship that has entered today’s politics, which can prevent good things, and he always sought ways to assist everyone to do things in a community.

John Turner was a man who both fought for and served democracy. I know I am the beneficiary of that, because I am standing here today. I got the chance to serve because of John M. Turner. I recall, after I got the privilege to represent the riding of Peterborough in 2003, John called me for an invitation to his home to have a chat with me, to provide some very good advice as I assumed my responsibilities.

On that particular day, June—the wonderful, warm June Turner—was in the kitchen preparing a snack for John and I, and he called me into his study. He gave me a unique gift: four crystal glasses that are emblazoned with the coat of arms of the province of Ontario. What was so unique about those glasses was that they were a gift from Premier William Grenville Davis when John became Speaker in 1981—one of the gifts from his caucus. John gave me that gift and I was overwhelmed. I said, “Why?” John said, “Don’t ask any questions, Jeff. I just want you to have these, and I know they’ll be in safekeeping for many years to come.” So it’s a personal gift that I’ll always relish.

It’s a privilege to be standing here in tribute to an MPP for Peterborough, for a man who served so ably. He’s deeply missed in this community. We always talk about things that John did in the fields of health care, education and business development. You know, not a day goes by when people remind us in Peterborough about the contribution that he made to our community, that everlasting contribution to our community.

So in that vein, shortly I’ll be requesting my colleague the Minister of Transportation—I think one of the greatest projects that John was involved with was the four-laning of Highway 115/35 from the 401 in Peterborough. I’ll be asking the Minister of Transportation, on that

section of Highway 115 that comes from the boundary from the county of Peterborough into the city of Peterborough, to rename it the Honourable John M. Turner Way, and that signs be adorned with a poppy symbol. That will be a reminder for the generations to come that a man from the greatest generation did so much for Peterborough.

In closing, I want to say to my friend John Turner, farewell, my friend. Until we meet again. Thank you so much.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’m very pleased to rise today in order to pay tribute to a personal friend and former MPP and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, John Turner, who passed away this January at the remarkable age of 90.

I’m particularly pleased that so many members of John’s family could come here today. They’re up in the Speaker’s gallery, which is very appropriate. We welcome them to the Legislature. We had a wonderful lunch just before we came down.

My family would often meet up with John and June Turner, as John’s provincial riding overlapped the federal riding of my dad, Bill Scott, who was the long-time member of Parliament for what was then Victoria–Haliburton. I’m sure he would have enjoyed the lunch that we had before, because my dad just loved people and loved the Turners. I’m sure he’s looking from up above with John and thinking, “That’s very nice of them to do that,” and enjoying the company.

Over the years, John, and his wife, June, and my parents, Bill and Betty Scott, became good friends, with the families often joining each other at the many events that we have throughout our riding, which of course included attending the famous Kinmount Fair many times, I’m sure. I have very warm memories of that time, as does my mom, Betty, who is watching on TV today from Fenelon Court. She knew that the tribute was coming and was thrilled that she could be able to see it on TV.

We’ve heard that John was a devoted husband of June and a devoted father to David, James, Robert, Timothy, Ian and Heather. I know not everybody could come today but I think we’re up at over 30. Some of the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren join us today also.

I think John is primarily remembered at Queen’s Park for his years of service to the Legislature. There was far more, certainly, to that legacy, as has been said. In World War II he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a bomber pilot, completing 34 missions over Europe. He was highly respected in his profession as a mechanical contractor and president of W.R. Turner Ltd., a firm founded by his grandfather.

John was committed to his community, serving in a number of capacities. He was active in many, many organizations that have been mentioned—the RCAF, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Peterborough YMCA, the Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge and St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, of which he was a staunch member.

In 1971, the PC Party was looking for a candidate to run against the famous NDP member Walter Pitman, a ranking member of the party and a former leadership candidate against Stephen Lewis. So when Sandy Fleming came to visit John and June and asked if he would run, he did, and we all know that he was successful in 1971.

In 1974, Premier Davis did appoint John as parliamentary assistant to the provincial secretary for justice. He had a short hiatus in provincial politics from 1975 to 1977, but John was re-elected again in 1977, 1981 and 1985.

One Saturday in 1981, Premier Davis called and asked John if he’d be willing to serve as Speaker of the Legislature. In those days, the Speaker was determined by an understanding between the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. Bill Davis recalls that John seemingly sounded surprised—when I talked to Mr. Davis this weekend—at the offer and took a day before accepting, and I think that speaks to John’s humility in life.

Because of the tight time constraints, there wasn’t an opportunity for him to be measured for the customary tailor-made robes before he assumed his duties. On the day he took his seat in the Speaker’s chair, he was quoted in the media as saying, “Everything I have on is borrowed, except for my trousers.”

John served as Speaker from 1981 until 1985, a role which he excelled at, not just because of the booming voice that carried throughout the Legislature, but because he seemed to generally fit the chair. He combined the skills of a dignified statesman with the talents of a no-nonsense hockey referee. He was determined to maintain the decorum and civility which he had always personally practised. He was a warm, down-to-earth man who treated everyone with fairness and respect.

I know when I asked Deb Deller, the current Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, she fondly recalls that as a new committee Clerk, she was shocked one day to see that the Speaker had personally walked to her office and was standing in her doorway, looking for information on a bill that was before her committee. He could easily have sent a staff member or simply called, but he made a personal effort himself. Deb said that’s who John was. He was everyone’s equal and made every employee feel that they and the jobs they were doing were important.

John and June, I know, regarded the Bill Davis years as a marvellous time in their lives. Both John and June genuinely liked people, and it showed. They both threw themselves into their roles, developing warm relationships with members, spouses, staff, pages and visiting dignitaries, often hosting lunches, dinners and barbecues. I know Janet and Gloria joined us for lunch earlier because they have such fond memories of the Turner family, also.

John and June had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on two different occasions. They also met the Queen Mother, as well as Pope John Paul II.

During John’s time as Speaker, June told me the story that when they went over to England, they were invited by Sir George Thomas, the Speaker of the British House of Commons, to visit him for dinner at Westminster. They so enjoyed each other’s company that Sir George gave them a personal tour not only of the building but of course of the antiques that were involved in the building. The dinner that was supposed to end at 8:30 ended at about 11:30, and I think everyone was very happy at the time they spent together.

When John stepped down as Speaker in 1985, all the party leaders paid tribute to him, and I just wanted to quote a few, because I think it sums up who John was.

Premier Frank Miller said, “In carrying out the duties through some of the most … difficult debates ever witnessed in this chamber, the member for Peterborough evidenced a courteous and patient nature that often differed from the tone set by the debates themselves.”

Opposition leader David Peterson praised the outgoing Speaker, saying that John was a gentleman who “distinguished this province as its official host, along with his wonderful wife, June.”

Bob Rae, the leader of the NDP, said:

“We too very much appreciated the way he served as Speaker and presiding officer of this House....

“We congratulate him and Mrs. Turner on the wonderful job they did serving as hosts and, in a sense, as guardian angels of this place....”

It’s the kind of unanimity that is seldom witnessed in the Ontario Legislature.

Premier Davis told me that he liked and respected John and he had such respect for him that John was the type of person that we should have more of at Queen’s Park representing our communities.

John didn’t seek re-election in 1987 but continued his keen involvement in Peterborough. I know from the many times I had to sit down with John and June after he finished his political career that they were always on top of what was happening in Peterborough and in the province and were razor-sharp on your memories, and I think corrected a lot of your judgments that you were recalling.

John’s legacy will certainly live for a long, long time. Today is a continuation, I think, of the celebration of a life well led.

John exemplified the best of being a devoted family man, a tireless volunteer in his community and a dedicated public servant. He always lived his life based on a solid foundation of uncompromising decency, integrity and generosity. We are all better off in this House for having known him, and it is a better place for him having served here.

I would like to thank June and the Turner family for allowing me to be part of this tribute. Thank you.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I would like to thank all members for their kind and heartfelt comments. I thank the family for being here. On behalf of all of us, we thank you for allowing us to celebrate the triumph of a special person. Thank you very much.

Just to show you that I probably wouldn’t be able to fill his shoes, I forgot something, and that is to let the family know that we will have copies of Hansard and a DVD of the tribute sent directly to the family. Thank you all.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PROMPT PAYMENT ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR

LES PAIEMENTS RAPIDES

Mr. Del Duca moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 69,

An Act respecting payments made under contracts and subcontracts in the construction industry / Projet de loi 69, Loi concernant les paiements effectués aux termes de contrats et de contrats de sous-traitance dans l’industrie de la construction.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Steven Del Duca: I’m very happy to be in the House today to introduce my very first private member’s bill, the Prompt Payment Act, 2013. The act sets out various rules and requirements in relation to payments made under construction contracts.

Among other things,

part II of the act entitles contractors and subcontractors to receive progress payments and to suspend work or terminate a contract if such payments are not made. It also provides that payments can only be withheld if the payor notifies the payee that a payment application is disapproved or amended within 10 days after it is submitted. Limits are imposed on the amount that can be withheld.

Part III of the act requires owners to provide contractors with certain financial information before entering into a contract. It also entitles subcontractors to receive certain financial information.

I would like to very briefly thank my colleague the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville for some of the outstanding work she has done on this particular issue. I would also like to acknowledge that the member from Brant—the Speaker himself—in a previous Parliament did introduce a bill on the same subject—Bill 211, I believe—prior to the 2011 election.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the Standing Committee on General Government.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Milloy has asked for unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. John Milloy: I move that the Standing Committee on General Government be authorized to meet for two days during the constituency week of May 20, 2013, for the purpose of conducting public hearings as part of its standing order 111(

a) study relating to traffic congestion.

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

Motion agreed to.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. John Milloy: I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members’ public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is asking for unanimous consent to put forward a motion. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. John Milloy: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(g), notice for ballot item 27 be waived.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Milloy moves that, notwithstanding standing order 98(g), notice for ballot item 27 be waived. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

COMMITTEE CONFERENCE TRAVEL

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.

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

Hon. John Milloy: I move that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts be authorized to attend the 2013 annual conference of the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees in Regina, Saskatchewan, from August 25 to 27, 2013; and

That the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly be authorized to attend the 2013 National Conference of State Legislatures in Atlanta, Georgia, from August 11 to 15, 2013.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Milloy moves that the Standing Committee—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense.

All those agreed that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY LIVING DAY

Hon. Ted McMeekin: I’m pleased to rise in the House today to recognize Community Living Day at the Legislature. I’d first like to welcome our guests who have joined us today from Community Living Ontario and from various Community Living groups across the province. You represent a wonderful legacy of change, and we are pleased—indeed, honoured—to have you with us here today.

Some 60 years ago, a group of families came together with a common goal: to ensure the right for their sons and daughters to go to school. This would become a monumental first step in a decades-long journey that would fundamentally change the way we provide services to people with a developmental disability.

Over the years, the Community Living movement became about far more than just the right to an education; it became about the right to be included in all aspects of community living. I applaud Community Living Ontario for their tireless efforts to help change public attitudes about people with a developmental disability. You have inspired countless individuals throughout this province to become involved in their communities, you have brought hope to families whose biggest wish is for their child to have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and you have inspired governments to join you on this journey towards a truly inclusive society.

Together, you have helped open our eyes to new ways of thinking. Since then, we have worked hard together to help people live more independent lives in their communities. We closed the last three remaining provincially run institutions; we introduced modern legislation that better protects and supports adults with developmental disabilities; and, together, we gave adults and families greater choice about how they participate in the community by creating the Passport direct funding program.

Now we are in the midst of a large-scale plan to modernize Ontario’s developmental services system to make it fairer for everyone, consistent across the province and financially sustainable in the long term. To support this plan, in the 2013 budget we proposed a new annual investment of almost $43 million in developmental services that will provide about 1,000 adults and their families with new or additional support.

I am proud of what we’ve achieved together so far, but I know there is much more work to be done. For example, we are continuing to look for ways to encourage more inclusive workplaces that help break down barriers for people with disabilities who can and want to work. That’s why in the budget we also announced our intention to work with corporate leaders to establish a Partnership Council on Employment Opportunities for People With Disabilities to champion hiring people with those disabilities.

Community Living envisions a society where people who have an intellectual disability belong and feel respected, where everyone is worthy of dignity and respect. It’s a vision that we, as a government, share. From education and employment to recreation and daily living, we strive to encourage the full inclusion of everyone, and together, with the support of our communities, we can make it a reality.

As we take our next steps, we are thankful to have partners like Community Living Ontario and like the families and individuals here with us today, showing us, helping us to lead the way. Today, we celebrate how far we’ve come and we celebrate our hope for the future. We celebrate the relationships and the partnerships that have been built throughout this journey together, and we celebrate all those whose lives have been made better, thanks to those inspirational first families, our Community Living organizations and everyone who has joined their efforts to make such important differences.

I invite all honourable members to please join me in welcoming Community Living Ontario and their members here today. Welcome.

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

Mr. Toby Barrett: I appreciate the opportunity to speak about Community Living today. Earlier, I and a number of MPPs enjoyed the Community Living reception, and many of us also met with representatives of the organization, many who are in the House this afternoon.

Since 1953, Community Living Ontario has advocated for people with intellectual disabilities to be fully included in all aspects of community life so that all people are able to live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in our communities and have the opportunity to be better enabled to fully participate.

Community Living Ontario has over 12,000 members across the province and is represented through 117 local associations in our own home communities, offering a number of things: support to children and/or adults to live, learn and work within the community; help communities themselves welcome and include people; and advocate for change so that people have a better time of it in their home community.

The work is not without its challenges. I think of the 12,000 with an intellectual disability on the waiting list for residential support. I think of 4,000 adults waiting for daily living support through the Passport program; 7,000 families of children are on the wait-list for Special Services at Home, the SSAH program. And we see more and more parents in their 60s, 70s and 80s supporting a son or daughter with an intellectual disability, with little help.

We’ve all seen the stories, regrettably, in the media: A desperate parent who has run out of options, dropping a child off at the doorstep of a social service agency that was unable to accommodate them—lack of funding, lack of space. I really cannot imagine anything more heart-wrenching than a decision like that.

Speaker, we hear of the $42 million in the recent budget to support the needs of families and young people. We’ve asked for details; there are none. Last week, I asked twice for some more information on that particular program and how the money would be allocated that goes with it.

I note the proposal to encourage employment for social service recipients through allowing them to keep more of the money they make. At the same time, I do question why the disabled were shut out of a proposed asset limit increase that we did see for clients of the Ontario Works program.

As far as employment, those on ODSP—and I received a brochure today, and as it indicates, people on ODSP are ready, willing and able. Hiring those with disabilities is easier than one would think. They want a job, like everybody else. They’re punctual. They want that independence that goes with it.

We welcome the representatives here in our Legislature. We know that, through the budget, we’re looking at something like $10 billion budgeted for social services. Obviously, the opportunity is there. There’s a lot that can be done with $10 billion through effective support of the elderly, the disabled, the truly disadvantaged. So we do have an opportunity. We’ve got a chance to refocus, to reset priorities.

In my view, it’s time to wake up Ontario’s social services system through approaches, through programs, perhaps new programs, laden with fresh, cost-effective ideas to better help us to deal with these very complex problems—problems that can be dealt with in a flexible way and by offering choice.

Stay tuned. Our health critic, the member from Whitby–Oshawa, will be calling for a more clear focus with respect to developmental services later this week.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: First of all, I just want to say to all of those from Community Living here, a great thank you for all that you do and all that you are, from Andrea Horwath and all of the New Democratic Party. Thank you so much.

What you’ve done, as you know better than anyone, is without a great deal of help from anybody, and particularly this government. In fact, this government, since 2010, has envisaged cuts to many of the services that you have, I wouldn’t say “enjoyed” because they’ve never really been there very much, but certainly they haven’t got any better since this government has taken power—and in some cases, worse.

In fact, 30% of those agencies that have been put in place to assist you are now working with deficits constantly. Every day in the House, I read out petitions around that very fact.

As you’ve just heard, 23,000 children and adults are on waiting lists—you say, and you’re right—and 12,000 are waiting for a home. The average wait time is from one year to four years.

For example, for something like IBI, the only sustained treatment paid for by the province, by the time children in that region begin receiving IBI, they are on average 7.6 years old, past the critical window between the ages of two and seven when scientists have shown this type of intervention has the best chance of success.

We know, for example, that the Ombudsman is right now conducting a study and will have that report soon. We don’t have to wait for that report, do we? We know what he’s going to say. We know that he’s going to say the services are woefully inadequate. I want to put a face to the inadequacy of those services, and it’s not the Telford face, that poor family. It’s a face in my own community—and this is a plea to my friend the Minister of Community and Social Services on behalf of this family. I helped, in a very small way, to build the house this family lives in.

Her name is Lorena Sinato, and she is a single parent who lives in a Habitat for Humanity house, one of the very, very lucky ones. Very few people have that opportunity; she’s one of them. She lives in this house with her son, Bryan, and a whole group in our community got together in 2012 to help build the house she lives in.

Her son, Bryan, was born at 27 weeks. He has cerebral palsy, he’s autistic and he’s blind. And she cares for him, but she also works. She works in a bank. She has to work, because if she doesn’t work, she will lose the house we built for her—that she helped to build for herself. If she doesn’t have a job, she can’t get a mortgage, such as it is, a very small one, and she can’t keep the house. And yet she’s facing that very possibility because of Bryan’s needs.

Because of Bryan’s needs, she’s managed to find some respite care—we’re talking about after school and when she desperately needs it—just to the end of August. The CCAC has thrown up their hands. They can’t help her. No wonder they can’t help her. She’s one of thousands waiting for that help.

We’ve heard about the $42 million. My friends, you know better than anyone that that represents about 14% of the people on the waiting list. What about everyone else? I’ve even talked about aging parents with children with developmental disabilities and others. There’s no response at all for them right now. So a personal plea for this family, because time is running out. I can’t imagine a tragedy like hers, again like the Telfords and other families across the province face. In this case, she’ll lose a house that was a charitable work as well.

So what are we saying to my friend across the aisle? We’re saying this is a start, but it’s a very small start. Please step up—please, please step up for Lorena. Please, please step up for Bryan. Please, please step up for all the families that are here today, pleading with you to step up. They’ve done what they can. They’ve done more than they can, and they continue to work and do a yeoman’s and yeowoman’s task here. But they need your help, and that help has to be more than a promise. It has to become a reality.

Please, on behalf of Community Living, I make that plea on behalf of all the families here.

Again, thank you for what you’ve done with very little help in the past.

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

RENÉ FONTAINE

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader on a point of order.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to pay tribute to Mr. René Fontaine, a former member of this Legislative Assembly from Cochrane North from 1985 to 1990 and a former provincial cabinet minister, with a representative from each caucus speaking for up to five minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is looking for unanimous consent to pay tribute to—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I may go a little bit longer than five. I just want to let you know.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. It throws me off when I’m in the middle of a sentence.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Do we have unanimous consent for the tribute, please? Agreed? Agreed. Thank you.

Mr. Steve Clark: It’s an honour to pay tribute to René Fontaine. He was, as the Kapuskasing Times newspaper headline declared following his death on March 17, 2012, a true northern icon.

On behalf of the entire Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Yolande, and the other members of his family who are here today in the Speaker’s gallery. Thank you for coming today.

René Fontaine served here at Queen’s Park as the MPP for Cochrane North for two terms between 1985 and 1990. As a new member, he stepped right into the cabinet as Minister of Mines and Northern Affairs. His service in this place wasn’t long when measured in years, but like everything else René did in his remarkable life, he used his time effectively. When one studies his record, there is no question that he managed to accomplish what he came here to do: to make a real difference in the lives of those he was elected to serve.

I was a young mayor of Brockville at the time René served in the cabinet of Premier Peterson. Although I didn’t get to know him really well, I do distinctly recall meeting him on several occasions when I was involved with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. René Fontaine was one of those people you really never forget meeting. He knew how to leave a lasting impression. He was a larger-than-life character. If you went to central casting and asked them to come up with a man who personified the spirit of northern Ontario, they’d come back to you with René Fontaine.

Hearst Mayor Roger Sigouin chuckled last week when recalling René’s personality: “He was so colourful. Even today, when I see people who worked with him, they say what a character he was. What a great guy he was.”

René Fontaine was 51 when he became an MPP and cabinet minister, but he had already accomplished so many things in his life. He was a successful businessman, operating the Fontaine family’s lumber company since the 1950s. He was no stranger to politics, having served as a municipal councillor in the town of Hearst from 1963 to 1966, and then on to being mayor from 1967 until 1980.

During his quarter-century of municipal service, he left a very impressive legacy as a builder. It’s evident when you look at Hearst today, including the airport that bears his name.

One of the most notable achievements came in 1977, when Hearst was proclaimed officially bilingual, a step no other Ontario municipality had taken. In addition to standing up for Franco-Ontarians, he was a visionary in understanding the need to include First Nations in the dialogue about developing the north. That’s considered essential today, but 30 years ago—that was when he was promoting that approach.

When he decided to enter provincial politics by running as a Liberal nominee in 1985, I have to say, he didn’t exactly pick what was considered a safe seat. In fact, Cochrane North hadn’t been represented by a Liberal MPP in 37 years. So what did René