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December 5, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Dec-05 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 5 December 2006 Mardi 5 décembre 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE

CORNWALL AND AREA ECONOMY

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

FOODLAND ONTARIO

RETAILER AWARDS

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

FOREST INDUSTRY

NESTLÉ WATERS CANADA

ENERGY CONSERVATION

EMPLOYMENT IN

PRINCE EDWARD-HASTINGS

ANNUAL REPORT, AUDITOR GENERAL

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND

INSURANCE AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA SÉCURITÉ PROFESSIONNELLE

ET L'ASSURANCE CONTRE LES ACCIDENTS DU TRAVAIL

VISITORS

MOTIONS

ADDRESS BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

VOLUNTEERS

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

VOLUNTEERS

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

DEFERRED VOTES

LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES FOYERS DE SOINS DE LONGUE DURÉE

HUMAN RIGHTS CODE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LE CODE

DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

CT SCANS

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

GOVERNMENT AGENCY SPENDING

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

WORLD JUNIOR BASEBALL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION

AND HYDRO ONE

CONSERVATION

HEALTH CARDS

CT SCANS

REAL ESTATE FRAUD

PETITIONS

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

IDENTITY THEFT

SCHOOL FACILITIES

FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER

LAKEVIEW GENERATING STATION

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

GRAVESITES OF FORMER PREMIERS

HIGHWAY 417

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2006 (NO. 2) /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES MESURES

BUDGÉTAIRES (NO 2)

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

UKRAINIAN GENOCIDE

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): I rise to commemorate the anniversary of the Ukrainian genocide of 1932, known as the Holodomor. This genocide was to be for Ukrainians what the Holocaust was for

the Jews and the genocide of 1915 was for the Armenians: a tragedy of unfathomable proportions that traumatized the nation, leaving it with deep social, psychological, political and demographic scars that Ukraine bears to this day.

Stalin himself is reported to have said, "No one can deny that the total Ukrainian yield of grain in 1932 was larger than in 1931," and yet about 10 million Ukrainians died that year of a man-made famine as the

Communist state made its failed attempt to crush the freedom-loving Ukrainian people.

On behalf of the leader of the official opposition, John Tory, and the entire PC caucus, I extend our sincere condolences to the Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, whose own relatives were victims of that

genocide. And I extend our deepest sympathies to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and to the worldwide Ukrainian community on this tragic anniversary.

May the memory of the victims of the Holodomor be eternal. Slava Ukraini.

CORNWALL AND AREA ECONOMY

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): Around this time last year, I had the unfortunate duty of notifying this House of the closure of Domtar, the largest employer in the city of

Cornwall in my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh. At the time, there were fears about what that would mean for the city.

One year later, it gives me pleasure to tell you that Cornwall and all the communities of my riding have risen to face their challenges. While there is certainly more to do, excellent progress has been made.

This government has been a constant partner in this time of transition, offering assistance ranging from strategic investments and one-time grants to the forgiveness of Cornwall's downtown loan. The downtown

loan forgiveness has resulted in incredible dividends. Up to the present, a total of about $1.3 million in financial assistance has been offered, through the Heart of the City community improvement plan to help with repairs and enhancements in the

downtown areas of the city. That assistance has gone towards revitalization projects with a combined value of $6.7 million; in other words, a net return of more than $5 of private sector investment for every dollar of public assistance.

Recently, it was announced that Marimac Inc., a Cornwall producer of bedding and accessories, is expanding its operation in my riding to Iroquois, another sign that things are starting to happen in eastern

Ontario.

The city of Cornwall and the united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, with the full support of this government, are providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed and are reshaping

communities in the process. I am looking forward to continuing to assist them.

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): I encourage this McGuinty government to act quickly on a tobacco exit strategy, which they've been ignoring for far too long. Government interference

has decimated the industry, and tobacco farmers can no longer produce a viable crop. Farmers are fed up with this government pointing its finger at the feds.

Recently, Ontario's ag minister said, "Ontario is prepared to be an active participant in a federally led process to fund a long-term solution for the tobacco-growing region."

Is Minister Dombrowsky meeting with Minister Strahl in Ottawa to discuss the 60-40 split? The question remains.

As I've told this House, there is an underground tobacco trade that deletes $2.5 billion in taxes each and every year. This $2.5-billion loss in taxes across Canada would go a very long way in tobacco

country.

As the fight for a fair exit strategy continues, farmers in my riding are finding it increasingly difficult to hold their heads above water. Through no fault of their own, farm families have invested in

infrastructure -- infrastructure that is now worth very little.

In recent weeks, tobacco farmers have rallied outside not only federal but also provincial members' offices, and although I look forward to speaking with farmers this Friday at my office, I'm disheartened that

they have been reduced to nothing more than begging for action.

FOODLAND ONTARIO

RETAILER AWARDS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I'm pleased to rise in the House today to congratulate Morello's Your Independent Grocer and owner David Morello for his 2006 Foodland Ontario Retailer Award.

Since 2000, Mr. Morello's grocery store in Peterborough has participated in the Foodland Ontario program, which works to increase public knowledge and consumption of produce grown in our province.

At this year's 19th annual Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards, Mr. Morello and his hard-working staff were presented the Platinum All Seasons Award. This award recognizes the commitment and dedication to

merchandising excellence for Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables.

The Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards program recognizes grocery retailers for their innovative promotion of Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables. Every year, nearly 1,250 stores across our province take

part in

the promotion of Ontario-grown produce.

I'm pleased to learn that Morello's Your Independent Grocer has earned this prestigious award in the past, and I wish them continued success in the promotion of Ontario's high-quality foods in my community for

many more years to come.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): Today we heard from the Auditor General about widespread systemic waste in the McGuinty Liberal government: trips, luxury cars, gym memberships -- all

on the taxpayer's dime. It's just another day in the life of a McGuinty Liberal government that does not value the taxpayer's dollar; a Liberal government that measures progress in media releases and handouts to friends, not by real results; a

Liberal government that is adrift without a plan for the province.

Today is another sad

chapter in Dalton McGuinty's wasteful regime. We've already seen McGuinty and his entourage flush away our tax dollars on items like the $6 million to remove the "C" from the Ontario Lottery

and Gaming Corp.; $219,000 to redesign the Ontario trillium logo; $20 million to quietly give raises to appointees to government agencies and boards; $2 million for an inaccurate, partisan advertisement about health care; $91 million to fire

nurses; $16 million for Dalton McGuinty's "I won't raise your taxes" Liberal ad agency; $40 million and counting for the illegal occupation at Caledonia; enormous hotel bills; eye-popping consultant bills; and the list goes on and on.

In the last election, Mr. McGuinty promised to respect the taxpayer's dollar. The people of Ontario made the mistake of taking him at his word.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): Yet again, an example of how this provincial government, the McGuinty government, is not listening to the people of northern Ontario: We have today, yet

again, another press release in northern Ontario where Tembec, in this case, has announced the permanent closure of the Tembec mill in Smooth Rock Falls, the only employer in the community. We have 185 unionized jobs, with almost 50 jobs in

management, that are lost permanently. The community, the union and others have been after this government to work with them to find a way to assist in the restructuring that's necessary in the industry to save employers like Tembec's Smooth Rock

Falls mill. Where are we at? There's hardly a whisper from this government and, yet again, in this case, over 200 jobs lost.

This government doesn't get it. You have to be full partners in doing what needs to be done in order to restructure this industry -- no more platitudes about programs that nobody buys into. This government

stands up and says, "We've given hundreds of millions of dollars in loan guarantees." All of these people have credit, they don't need more, and there's about a 3% take-up on that program. What we need you to do is to deal with the key issues,

which are the cost issues for these particular employers that have basically closed down. In the case of Smooth Rock Falls, we need you to work with the workers through the union, with the community through the mayor's office and others in order

to assist in figuring out what we do now that Tembec has said, "We are walking away from that mill," and helping us to restructure some sort of offer to take that mill back over and to put it back into production sometime in the future. Anything

short is a sellout for those community members.

NESTLÉ WATERS CANADA

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph-Wellington): It gives me great pleasure to be able to rise in the House today to recognize a manufacturing plant in my riding that has shown a real commitment to

environmentally aware manufacturing.

In recent years, the Nestlé Waters Canada plant in my riding of Guelph-Wellington has made great strides in reducing their plastic and paper consumption. In the first quarter of 2007, they will reduce the

amount of plastic being used in bottles and caps by 19% and 10% respectively. The little plastic plugs that are blown into bottles will be one-fifth smaller come next year. They are also reducing the size of the labels, which leads to 20% less

paper use. Last year, Nestlé reduced the height of their cardboard trays in which the bottles sit by 30%, therefore using less corrugate, as well as reducing the amount of shrink wrap that is wrapped around each case of water.

Nestlé has also partnered with transport companies to secure new lightweight equipment. This resulted in 7% less CO 2 emissions for their trucks in 2006, and they expect this number to go up to

15% less CO 2 emissions in 2007.

One of the three Rs of waste management is "reduce." Nestlé Waters Canada is doing its share to reduce air emissions and packaging. Now we just --

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

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): Last Wednesday, I attended a conservation fair hosted by the Ministry of Energy. As you know, conservation is a priority for the McGuinty government, and

I was happy to participate and discuss the various methods of conserving energy right in your own home.

One of the methods promoted at the fair was the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL bulbs. These light bulbs are very important for our environment because they use 75% less electricity than an

incandescent light bulb and can save the consumer $50 per light bulb in their electricity bill each year.

One of the many participants in the fair was a group called Project Porchlight. Their goal is to distribute 250,000 CFL bulbs in the Ottawa area, a task they took on early last month. I was happy to help them

with their campaign back in November and hope that their initiative will be extended to other ridings in Ontario.

There is a culture of conservation in our province, the results of which are reflected in a report written by the Conservation Bureau's chief energy conservation officer, Peter Love. In that report, Mr. Love

notes that Ontario received a B-plus grade from the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance in its 2006 national report card on energy efficiency. This grade is up from a C-minus, which we inherited from the Tories, and since we have taken power,

we've seen significant improvement.

We will see further improvements thanks to our energy efficient amendments to the Ontario building code, which will save Ontario forever into the future. The continuing co-operation between our government and

groups like Project Porchlight will bring us even closer to receiving an A-plus on our next report card.

EMPLOYMENT IN

PRINCE EDWARD-HASTINGS

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): I want to share with the people of Ontario that my community has a problem -- a good problem. It appears that the number of jobs available in the

Quinte area is exceeding the number of people available to fill them. This situation was highlighted for me last week when the city of Belleville held a job fair to attract individuals and families to our area. I particularly want to applaud Karen

Poste of the city of Belleville for organizing this event.

I would like to take this opportunity to do a commercial for my riding. Whether it be Quinte West, Prince Edward county, the city of Belleville, Tyendinaga township or the town of Deseronto, we offer a quality

of life second to none. We have beautiful geography and great people, and we are particularly blessed with a large number of high-quality, high-level, progressive employers. But for local industry wishing to expand or new industry locating in our

area, they are finding it increasingly difficult to attract new employees simply because of the current low unemployment rate in our immediate area. So I say to the people of Ontario or, indeed, of Canada: If you're considering relocating, please

consider Prince Edward-Hastings. It's a great place to live and a great place to work. Visit us for a day but plan on staying for a lifetime.

ANNUAL REPORT, AUDITOR GENERAL

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that I have laid upon the table the 2006 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND

INSURANCE AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA SÉCURITÉ PROFESSIONNELLE

ET L'ASSURANCE CONTRE LES ACCIDENTS DU TRAVAIL

Mr. Gravelle moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 168,

An Act to amend the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 / Projet de loi 168, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1997 sur la sécurité professionnelle et l'assurance contre les accidents du

travail.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): This legislation, if it is passed, will go a long way to restoring fairness and balance to the workers' compensation system by annually

indexing workers' benefits to the consumer price index, thus creating a cost-of-living increase for injured workers.

I appreciate the all-party support for this bill, and I want to particularly thank the Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group for their perseverance in moving this legislation forward.

VISITORS

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I wonder if people might join me in welcoming a fantastic group from Pathways to

Education Canada, led by Carolyn Acker and these fantastic students who are revolutionizing the way we do education in the great community of Regent Park.

MOTIONS

ADDRESS BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): First of all, I do not have a motion for night sittings, just to be conciliatory and nice

to the opposition at this time of the year. That's the only reason, of course.

But I do have another motion. I seek unanimous consent to move a motion respecting an address from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor.

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

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that, immediately preceding oral questions on Thursday, December 7, 2006, the House shall suspend during pleasure to receive a 10-minute address from His Honour the

Lieutenant Governor, and that, immediately following His Honour's retirement from the chamber, oral questions shall commence.

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

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): Our government fundamentally believes that children in need of protection must be better off as a result of involvement of

our child protection system in their lives. This fundamental principle is the driving force behind the work we do on a daily basis to improve and strengthen the child protection system.

Our government has taken unprecedented action to strengthen the performance of Ontario's child protection system, and today we are taking still more action: a new, higher standard of increased scrutiny and

greater accountability for children's aid societies in Ontario.

Our resolve for higher standards began the day we were elected. It began with the formation of a real Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Gone are the days of lip service to children with no money

attached. Under this government, Ontario children and youth have a seat at the cabinet table.

Our drive for higher standards continued with a new Child and Family Services Act, now in effect. That new legislation means more accountability for children's aid societies and protection for children. It

means a standardized complaints process and an independent, neutral third party to hear them. The Child and Family Services Review Board will make timely and binding decisions, and the Ontario Ombudsman has jurisdiction to oversee complaints about

that process.

We set higher standards by introducing a new regulation in February 2006 that requires children's aid societies to complete full criminal background checks for all placements, even where a child is placed with

members of an extended family. Our higher-standards agenda has also led to the introduction of legislation that would make the child advocate an independent officer of the Legislature. With the will of this Legislature, the child advocate will

never again be muzzled by the government of the day but will be a truly independent advocate, giving our most vulnerable children and youth the strong voice that they deserve.

Our commitment to higher standards is also found in this government's decision to shine the light on children's aid societies by expanding the mandate of the Auditor General to conduct value-for-money audits

of the broader public sector. We gave the auditor this power so that, for the first time ever, he could conduct an audit with full access to CAS files and therefore be in the best position to identify areas that require further attention.

Today, the Auditor General has released his report, which includes the first value-for-money audit of CASs in Ontario's history. I would like to thank the Auditor General and his staff for their work.

While I have found the findings disappointing and disturbing, this report presents us with an opportunity to take further action to strengthen the child protection system and the children's services sector as

a whole. Over the past several weeks, I have personally acquired a good understanding of the findings and given thoughtful consideration to the issues identified and the steps that must be taken.

I am pleased to announce today the steps our government is taking in response to the auditor's findings. It is an action plan for higher standards.

First, my ministry is implementing every single recommendation of the Auditor General. In fact, some of the ministry's action items were completed by November 30.

Second, I have directed all children's aid societies to implement every single recommendation of the Auditor General.

Third, all CASs are to provide a detailed report back to the ministry by the end of March to demonstrate their progress in this regard.

In addition to these steps, we are going further, because Ontarians' investment in protecting vulnerable children must be accounted for and must meet a higher standard.

We are creating a new accountability office that will monitor whether children's aid societies are meeting their legislated requirements for the care and protection of children and ensure that corrective

action is taken as needed. This office will assess and report on agency performance and provide my ministry's staff with the training and tools they need to provide better oversight and create a new culture of continuous improvement for CASs.

We are requiring children's aid societies to meet higher standards -- as non-discretionary as those of the Ontario public service for its own employees and programs -- in such areas as the procurement of goods

and services; travel, meal and other expenses; hospitality; and the management of fleet vehicles.

We are conducting an independent assessment of the fleet requirements of children's aid societies, so that where less expensive alternatives exist, CASs will be directed to relinquish vehicles as quickly and

economically as possible, with savings redirected into services for children and youth.

We are requiring regular audit reporting by all children's aid societies, and we are strengthening accountability and enforcement by including these higher standards in more detailed annual agreements with

CASs and all other ministry-funded agencies.

I have already met with the executive director, board chair and treasurer of each of the four children's aid societies audited. I shared with them my disappointment in the auditor's findings and committed that

my ministry would work with them to address the issues raised in the report.

My ministry has been working with these CASs to hold them accountable for the implementation of the Auditor General's recommendations that apply to each of them.

With the support of my ministry, each of the four CASs has already put into practice a number of policies and procedures that respond to the Auditor General's recommendations. Examples include tightening

controls on travel reimbursement policies to ensure that detailed and accurate receipts accompany all reimbursement claims; reporting back to their boards of directors to track improvements in areas identified by the auditor; introducing new

policies and reporting requirements for overtime, after-hours on-call service and mileage claims, which have already resulted in savings that are being redirected to front-line services; reviewing staffing structure in the context of the intake

process to ensure that adequate resources are available to respond to referrals in order to ensure that children at risk are seen within mandated timelines; and introducing performance plans for staff that are aligned to improvement targets based

on the findings of the auditor.

My ministry and I will continue to work with each of these CASs and with all other CASs to ensure that continuous improvements are made to address the auditor's recommendations.

I am also inviting the Auditor General to undertake a follow-up audit of these four CASs in 2007 to assess the progress that has been made.

The findings and recommendations in the Auditor General's report represent a real opportunity for everyone involved in the child well-being and protection system to work together to strengthen it.

There is an attitudinal change that is occurring. There is an understanding that it is a new day and there are higher standards to be met. It is about understanding that the almost 300,000 children and youth

served by our protection system every year deserve the very best and that taxpayers deserve peace of mind in knowing that their hard-earned dollars are being invested wisely. When it comes to protecting our children, no standard can be too

high.

VOLUNTEERS

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): Today, the province of Ontario is joining with jurisdictions around the world to recognize December 5 as International Volunteer

Day.

This important day of recognition was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 as a means to make visible the contribution of volunteers and to encourage committed volunteerism around the world.

In that spirit, I acknowledge with great pride the more than five million Ontarians who volunteer each year selflessly and generously in communities across this province.

This morning I had the opportunity to thank Ontario's volunteers at the Baycrest Centre. Every year, more than 6,000 volunteers generously offer Baycrest their specialized skills and expertise to lend a

helping hand. Baycrest is unique in its vision but is typical of the countless organizations that serve all of our communities across Ontario: the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation, Boys and Girls clubs, athletic associations, Victorian Order

of Nurses and Special Olympics, just to name a few of so many of these wonderful organizations of volunteers. The success of all these programs depends greatly on the time that volunteers give.

As the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, it has been my pleasure to preside over many volunteer service award ceremonies during the past year. Many of you in this House have joined me at these events.

This year alone, in our 20th anniversary, we presented more than 9,000 Volunteer Service Awards and 17 Outstanding Achievement Awards for Volunteerism in Ontario. Over the past 20 years, tens of thousands of Ontarians have been presented with the

trillium pin and wear it proudly as they serve.

As we honour these individuals, we must also be mindful of the collective impact that volunteers have on our society. Their influence does not end at helping one person or group or cause; it also enhances the

civil spirit that is at the heart of every strong community and strengthens Ontario as a whole.

International Volunteer Day also provides us with an important opportunity to thank and acknowledge the 45,000 non-profit organizations which are at work in every corner of this province.

This government is committed to its volunteers and to the newcomer community in Ontario. To engage our newcomer community in volunteerism further, I am pleased to say that we are working with three volunteer

organizations -- the Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa, the Maytree Foundation and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants -- on projects that will focus on strengthening key aspects of volunteerism in Ontario's growing, diverse

multicultural communities.

Finally, I would comment in particular on the contribution of youth to volunteerism in Ontario. Ontario's youth volunteered at a rate of 63% and accounts for 18% of all volunteering hours in our province.

Ontario ranks above the national average of 55% and continues to rise. These remarkable young people not only contribute their time, but bring a fresh perspective to the organizations they serve. Youth are the future of volunteerism in Ontario and

demonstrate how powerful young people can be in effecting change.

I am confident that all members of the House share this government's commitment to building a strong and vital community of volunteerism in Ontario. We continue to recognize the contributions of Ontario's

volunteers through our awards programs. The Volunteer Service Awards, the Outstanding Achievement Awards for Volunteerism and the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers are just some of the ways the government of Ontario recognizes volunteers.

Volunteerism and the non-profit organizations they serve are leading Ontario into a much brighter future.

On behalf of all the people of Ontario and all members of this House, I would like to observe International Volunteer Day by congratulating all those who serve with dedication in communities across this

province. It is my hope that their tireless efforts and considerable achievements will inspire all Ontarians to become involved and to make a difference in communities across this great province. Thank you so much, volunteers of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Statements by the ministry? Responses?

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): I rise to respond to the statement by the Minister of Children and Youth Services today. When you listen to this kind of statement, adopting all the

recommendations of the Auditor General, and they describe it as an action plan, it sounds good at face value until you look at the fact that oftentimes the best defence you can try to adopt to suggestions -- indeed well-founded suggestions, in

this case, of complete incompetence, complete negligence or both -- is a good offence. In fact, when you look at the record here, what you see is a government and a minister that have not dealt with this, notwithstanding that a lot of this

material has been known to them for some considerable period of time.

If you go back to the first point in time when they knew -- a question we have been trying to get the answer to for several days now -- the deputy minister of this department had a briefing from the Auditor

General in September, when a lot of this information was brought to the attention of the deputy minister in detail, which means the minister as well. Here we sit, in December 2006, finally hearing from the minister that there's going to be an

action plan.

It gets worse: There were other communications, obviously, that took place between the children's aid societies, the Auditor General and the government, to the point where a senior official in the Ministry of

Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services could write, for example, to one children's aid society congratulating them on what they had done as of April this year in addressing some of the shortcomings that had

been identified.

But the worst thing of all is that the minister has not stood up in her place today and said that they've had quarterly reports -- quarter in and quarter out -- at the government and at the minister's office,

detailing budgetary and other kinds of spending practices by the children's aid societies for a long period of time. This government, the McGuinty government, watered down those quarterly reports so they wouldn't contain the kind of detailed

information on budget variances that would allow people to draw conclusions as to misspending that might be going on. Furthermore, the Auditor General found that "in two of the three regional offices we visited, there was little evidence that

ministry staff reviewed the quarterly reports or followed up with societies to ensure any necessary corrective actions were taken."

What did the Auditor General recommend in the wake of all of that? He recommended that we go back to the kind of quarterly reports that the McGuinty government and this minister abolished a year ago, which

contained the detailed information on spending variances and so on. What they have done is abolish the detailed quarterly reports that were previously received -- which, by the way, they didn't read anyway -- and substituted less-detailed

quarterly reports. That is what has allowed a culture to develop in the ministry and in the children's aid societies where they place Bermuda shorts for trips ahead of winter coats for the kids, Bermuda shorts for the people in this area ahead of

winter coats for the kids.

For the minister to get up and talk about how she is accepting every single recommendation without fail and that it's all going to be wonderful and every problem is going to be solved completely ignores the

fact that they've known for a long time and that their deputy minister knew in September -- there's evidence that the children's aid societies and the ministries themselves knew a lot sooner than that; perhaps as far back as April. If they had

been reading the original quarterly reports and hadn't decided to water them down to reduce accountability so that we've got more spending on SUVs, more spending on trips, more spending on expensive restaurants and less spending available,

therefore, for the vulnerable children of Ontario, then we wouldn't be in this mess, if they had been on the job and actually exercising any modicum of accountability whatsoever.

Far from deserving any congratulations for this, this government deserves to be condemned for the attitude, which has been allowed to seep through every ministry and every department, that the taxpayers' money

is Monopoly money and this is some sort of game show we're playing here, when in fact this money is sorely and desperately needed for a variety of public services.

They only act when they're caught out. That's the only time they act to show any accountability. That is disappointing and a disgrace.

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): In recognition of International Volunteer Day, I want to say thank you to some outstanding organizations and their volunteers, who are representative of the

volunteer spirit that contributes so much to the quality of life in this province.

Thank you to the 250 volunteers of the Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program that provides beds, meals and clothing to over 1,200 individuals and their families each winter season throughout York

region.

Thank you to the 1,200 volunteers of the Carefirst Seniors and Community Services Association who deliver a full range of community support services to more than 6,000 senior, disabled and other clients

annually throughout the GTA's Chinese community.

These organizations and many like them make Ontario the great province that it is, and we thank them.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To respond to the minister responsible for children and youth, the McGuinty government wants people to believe that problems with children's aid

societies and more serious problems within the Ministry of Children and Youth Services didn't happen until the auditor's report was about to be released last week. The McGuinty government wants people to believe that this suddenly cropped up.

Reading the auditor's report is very instructive because he spends 24 pages of his report detailing the inaction and the misguided action that has been happening within the Ministry of Children and Youth

Services under the McGuinty government. The auditor points out -- and I want to quote him here, because the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the McGuinty government, was receiving quarterly reports that were indicating there were serious

problems at children's aid societies. And what does the auditor say that the McGuinty government did with those reports? "[T]here was no evidence in most cases that ministry staff even reviewed [quarterly] reports or followed them up with society

staff to ensure the necessary corrective actions were taken." The McGuinty government that wants to pretend that it's somehow looking after these vulnerable children was ignoring the very quarterly reports, not just for one year but for many

years, that indicated there were serious problems and corrective action needed to be taken. That's what the auditor says.

But the auditor goes on. The auditor, in his year 2000 report, called for more effective monitoring of children's aid societies to make sure that children in need were being adequately protected. Is that what

happened? In fact, that didn't happen. In 2003, the reviews of child protection files were cut. The very things which might give an indication of, "Is there something seriously going wrong here?" were cut -- those kinds of reviews.

It doesn't end there. In 2005-06, the McGuinty government also cut the service and financial reviews. So the very things that the McGuinty government wants to boast about taking action on today -- they

actually cut those reviews a year and two years ago, the very reviews that again would have indicated that there are serious problems happening at children's aid societies, that some of the money isn't going to look after vulnerable children; it's

going elsewhere. The McGuinty government didn't increase the reviews; they didn't pay attention to the reviews; they cut them.

It doesn't end there, because we know, unfortunately, from the deaths of some of these vulnerable children and the investigations that were conducted into these deaths, that there were other warnings given to

the McGuinty government over the last three and a half years. What did they do with those warnings? They ignored them. And we know from the statements of the Provincial Ombudsman, who has said repeatedly, over more than the last year, that there

are serious problems at children's aid societies, that he is receiving complaints from a number of parties about things that should be happening at CASs that are not happening and other things that are happening which shouldn't be happening. A

repeated request by the Ombudsman to be given investigative and oversight authority as to what is happening at CASs, and what did the McGuinty government do? They ignored the Ombudsman as well; told the Ombudsman to mind his own business.

The McGuinty government should not be congratulated today. The McGuinty government should take a serious look in the mirror at itself, because what has happened here has also happened with autistic children,

the way that they have been taken advantage of and manipulated. It has also happened with the national child benefit supplement, where the McGuinty government continues to take $250 million of federal money out of the pockets of the lowest-income

families and the lowest-income children in this province.

The McGuinty government should not be patting itself on the back today. It should be asking itself how it could be so terribly neglectful of vulnerable children.

DEFERRED VOTES

LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES FOYERS DE SOINS DE LONGUE DURÉE

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of Bill 140,

An Act respecting long-term care homes / Projet de loi 140, Loi concernant les foyers de soins de longue durée.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1415 to 1420.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Fonseca, Peter

Gravelle, Michael

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Leal, Jeff

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Chudleigh, Ted

DiNovo, Cheri

Elliott, Christine

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Horwath, Andrea

Hudak, Tim

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Martel, Shelley

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Scott, Laurie

Sterling, Norman W.

Tabuns, Peter

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

The Deputy Clerk (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 57; the nays are 28.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

Shall the bill be ordered for third reading?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I ask that the bill be referred to the standing committee on social policy.

The Speaker: The bill is referred to the standing committee on social policy.

HUMAN RIGHTS CODE

AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LE CODE

DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 107,

An Act to amend the Human Rights Code / Projet de loi 107, Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Call in the members. This will be a 10-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1424 to 1434.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gravelle, Michael

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Leal, Jeff

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Chudleigh, Ted

DiNovo, Cheri

Elliott, Christine

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Horwath, Andrea

Hudak, Tim

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Martel, Shelley

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Scott, Laurie

Sterling, Norman W.

Tabuns, Peter

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Deputy Clerk (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 58; the nays are 29.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

VISITORS

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: We have our page Mackenzie Gunn from my riding of Durham, and with us today are her parents, Kim and Peter Gunn, grandparents Jim

and Sherri Richards, uncle Scott Richards, and another guest. Welcome.

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Labour): I'd just like to take this opportunity to welcome students from Regina Mundi in London. I hope you enjoyed your day here at Queen's Park and the

opportunity to have met the Premier.

ORAL QUESTIONS

CT SCANS

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. It's hard to know where to begin with this shocking outline of waste and mismanagement on so many fronts from the

Auditor General today, but I think it's best perhaps to start with the question of the CT scans.

We read in the Auditor General's writings that radiation levels in CTs are significantly higher than in X-rays, that physicians and staff seem unaware in many cases that CTs have higher radiation levels, and

that proper settings are not used on the children of Ontario when they have CT scans. On page 14, the Auditor General says that "children exposed to radiation are at a greater risk of developing radiation-related cancer later in life."

He goes on to say that since children's organs are more sensitive to radiation than those of adults, the use of an adult setting for one CT examination of a child's abdomen and pelvis was estimated to be

equivalent to over 4,000 X-rays, which is eight times the radiation an adult would be exposed to on the same setting.

My question is this: Parents across the province are asking themselves today how this could happen. I wonder if the Premier could tell us: How could your government allow CT scans to be used on children and

adults in Ontario without proper training and without proper safety controls?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I'd like to start by saying that we're grateful for the work of the Auditor General. It gives us the

opportunity, of course, to have a detailed focus on a number of areas.

In this one in particular, I would note that CT scans are not something that has come to life in Ontario simply in the last three years. This challenge, which has been well presented by the auditor, is one

that presumably has been in place for some time.

We have been working under the auspices of the auditor's advice and working with the Ontario Medical Association on the creation of a diagnostic imaging safety committee. This has been in place for several

months now.

We're working very, very judiciously to bring forward recommendations that will allow us to do a more appropriate job of tracking all of the radiation associated with the advice on offer from the Auditor

General, we accept it, and we're working very vigorously to ensure that we take appropriate and due advice from him.

Mr. Tory: This minister has more reviews going on than a movie magazine.

There are parents in Ontario who have one very simple question: If their child is going in for a CT scan today, tomorrow or the next day, they want to know, "Is my child going to be safe? Is my child going to

be exposed to an unacceptably high level of radiation?"

As we've discussed with the Minister of Children and Youth Services, because of the way the system works, you have known about the auditor's findings for some period of time. You now say that you have a

committee and a study and a review going on about this.

What we want to know and what I ask you is this: What specific steps have you taken now, for example, to tell all of the hospitals in Ontario that have a CT scanner that they should, at the very least, be

making sure that the setting they use when a child is having a CT scan is a setting for a child, not what the Auditor General found in the hospitals he visited? Have you done even something as simple as that?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The honourable member seeks to draw a conclusion that is inappropriate for him to draw.

Indeed, related to the work of the Auditor General, we do receive benefit of the work that's ongoing. Accordingly, the ministry has been responsive, working, as I said earlier, through the auspices of our

partnership with the Ontario Medical Association, on a diagnostic imaging safety committee. This is designed to ensure that people are following the appropriate guidelines across the broad platform of the provision of these services in the Ontario

health care system.

I say again to the honourable member that if he turns to the member who sits beside him, he will know that this was a piece of business in which, if he draws the conclusion that I should have been more

proactive, he then should draw the conclusion that his seatmate too should have been more proactive.

The point is that the Provincial Auditor has given us a very, very good piece of advice and direction; we're heeding it to a T and working very vigorously with our partnership in the hospitals and the Ontario

Medical Association to ensure that radiation is being offered in a fashion that is --

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

Mr. Tory: I say with respect to the minister that there isn't one parent in Ontario who will take any heart or any comfort from your either blaming a previous government or failing to take

responsibility yourself or failing to indicate what you've done now about this, because, I repeat, what the parents of Ontario want to know is, if their child is going to have a CT scan now or in the future or if they had one in the past, "Is it

safe? Is my child going to be safe?"

You suggest that I made this up. I'm quoting the auditor, who says, "[I]n close to 50% of the selected cases, the appropriate equipment settings for children were not used."

All I asked you was whether you, having known about this for months, since you had the auditor's findings in your ministry's hands, have done anything to communicate with the hospitals of Ontario that, at the

very least, they should make sure that the children's settings that are referred to here are used when CT scans are done on children so they can be safe? Have you done anything other than appoint another committee?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The honourable member likes to stand in his place and pretend that it is not necessary to work forward on issues like this in partnership with those who are providing the

service on the front line, so he scoffs at the suggestion that a committee, as an example, is an appropriate way to respond to a circumstance that's occurring across a broad platform of service, involving hundreds and hundreds of different

officials in a variety of self-governed institutions.

Accordingly, we have worked with our partners through the Ontario Medical Association and the Ontario Hospital Association to ensure that as we go forward, we're doing so in a fashion which heeds the very best

advice of the Auditor General and which sees people who are responsible on the front line for operating the equipment in a fashion in accordance with its appropriate use.

This is work that has been ongoing as a result of the report and the information from the Auditor General. I say that we take that seriously and that we've been working vigorously since the information was

made available. It is an example of the additional capacity that our government has offered.

We're grateful to the Auditor General for the work he has done in the hospital environment. We are, on behalf of Ontario's --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. For more than a year now, we have been questioning the government, the Premier, the minister and others on the data

contained on the wait times website in the health care area. For that very same year, you've been telling us that all the data we have is up to date and accurate.

On the other hand, the auditor says today in his news conference that we should take this wait time data with a grain of salt. In fact, he referred to it as misleading, and he has raised serious doubts about

the accuracy of that data. He says, "The starting point for measuring the wait time for tests was not sufficiently defined. As a result, the hospitals reported wait times differently."

My question is: Given that the hospitals are reporting waiting times differently, why should anybody rely on any of the data you have when the auditor himself has found that it should be taken with a grain of

salt and describes it as misleading? Why should anybody else in Ontario rely on it if he can't?

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I think it's important to note that there will be, in response to this, a variety of views that are brought

forward, including from those who are medical doctors who are advising in helping to develop strategies with respect to greater absorption of access to MRI and CT. We've increased access to MRIs by 78%. We've seen a notable reduction in the wait

times, but we recognize that the Auditor General has determined distinctions with respect to in-hospital service and external. These are distinctions which the medical community is not presently operating around.

We will be responding on point to this, but I can assure Ontarians that through the work we have done we have made a priority of enhanced access -- 78% increase in access to MRIs -- as a view of reducing wait

times which were allowed to creep up in a very, very serious fashion. All of what the honourable member says may reflect work we have to do, but cannot separate the reality, which is that in Barrie, Ontario, you used to wait a year and now you

wait six weeks.

Mr. Tory: The government managed to have such confidence in the data that the Auditor General now says should be taken with a grain of salt and in fact is misleading, that they bought millions

of dollars of taxpayer-financed propaganda ad campaigns to say, "The doctor will see you now," and nobody has to wait; it's all wonderful.

But the fact is that people can't really find out how long they have to wait. One of the things the auditor points out is that you take the average waiting time of a patient who is in the hospital, which he

says is one day, and average that with outpatients, who wait 30 days, and what do you report to the unsuspecting public? That the wait time is 16 days. In fact, that has nothing to do with the reality of most people out there who are outpatients.

It's not an accurate picture. People can't find out how long they really have to wait. When are you going to fix this data so that you'll actually be able to keep your word and provide up-to-date, accurate information to people instead of this

information that the auditor says is misleading and should be taken with a grain of salt, and he's right?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Far be it from me to challenge the Leader of the Opposition on this point. But in the work I do, I am also required to abide by the advice and direction offered by medical

experts. The determination that the Auditor General has made with respect to the characterization of the data regrettably stands in contrast to that of the advisers who have provided this information. They do not believe it is appropriate to

create a distinction between those who are in hospital and out of hospital, but rather that we should look at all patients together. If we do that -- if we look at all patients as one group -- it is not appropriate to support the assertions the

honourable member has made.

We believe we are collecting this information in an appropriate way. We believe we're doing that in a standardized fashion on the basis of the information that is offered to all Ontario hospitals that are in

the provision of these services. If there are ways to improve this, we will look very, very carefully at those and make all members aware of distinctions and decision points --

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

Mr. Tory: Well, you know, when the McGuinty government resorts to the old "expert" defence -- the Premier and the Minister of Energy: The coal decision was all based on the experts. Now we

have what the Auditor General describes as misleading wait time information, and that's to be blamed on the experts.

I wonder if the experts are responsible for the two-tier wait times arrangement we have in place that the Auditor General talked about today. We have WSIB-funded patients receiving access to diagnostic

services quicker than other patients. The auditor says it's happening at least in part, in the hospitals tested and visited, because the hospitals would be desperate without the revenue they get from the WSIB. So what we have is a WSIB patient

waiting an average of five days while other patients -- everybody else -- wait 25 days. Of course, you then report the average number to the unsuspecting public.

When asked about this, the hospitals said the two-tier care was justified as long as other patients got their care within the benchmarks. What do you have to say about this, and again, what are you doing about

this inaccurate data?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I find it interesting that the honourable member stands in his place and suggests that if he were the government of Ontario, he would act in health care without the

benefit of experts. Here is a list of the experts we've worked with: Anne Keller, deputy chief of radiology, University Health Network; Leonard Avruch, assistant clinical professor, Ottawa Hospital Corp.; Paul --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. I'm having difficulty hearing the minister.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Would he guess at this work? Instead, we depended on Diane Barrafato, associate dean, medical radiation and rehabilitation sciences; Julian Chen, director, MR Centre,

Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor; Julian Dobranowski, chief of diagnostic imaging, St. Joseph's Healthcare. We've worked with a panel of 30 people across the breadth of the province helping to develop the standards. We put those in place. If

there's advice that's on offer from the auditor, we will look very, very carefully at that. But the honourable member's disdain for experts, doctors, who have schooled themselves in very expert ways -- the disdain that the honourable member offers

is much below him.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: Today's auditor's report is a scathing indictment of the McGuinty government's failure to stand up for Ontario's children. The

auditor's report confirms inadequate government oversight of $1 billion spent at children's aid societies -- vulnerable children left to suffer while executives waste money on luxury SUVs, exotic trips, high-priced meals and even $150 car

washes.

Premier, when did you first learn about this misuse of public money, and why has your government waited until now to do anything at all about it?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): This is my first opportunity to weigh in in an official capacity since the release of the report.

I want to thank the Auditor General and all those involved in this effort. I want to thank him, first of all, for taking full advantage of the new authorities that we extended to him through this Legislature.

He is looking at our children's aid societies for the first time, our hospitals for the first time, our school boards for the first time, OPG and Hydro One for the first time, colleges for the first time, and we are grateful that he has taken a

careful look at some of those areas and provided us with new and very important information.

I say to the leader of the NDP that because there is a new process in place -- by that I mean the traditional audit of ministry direct spending involved the ministry officials in an on-going dialogue. When you

have an audit of a children's aid society or a college etc., that is done in much of an arm's-length relationship. So we get notice of this much later than we would have --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Premier. Supplementary?

Mr. Hampton: The question you have tried to avoid answering is: When did your government first learn about this? The auditor tells us that your government received in-year quarterly reports

from children's aid societies, reports that highlight the problems. What did the McGuinty government do with these quarterly reports? Well, the auditor is instructive there. He says, "There was no evidence in most cases that ministry staff even

reviewed [quarterly] reports or followed them up with society staff to ensure the necessary corrective actions were taken."

You got the first quarterly report -- you ignored it; the second quarterly report -- ignored it; the third report -- ignored it; the fourth report -- ignored it. Premier, the auditor says you had lots of

notice of problems at children's aid societies, yet the McGuinty government chose to do nothing about it. Why?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: My colleague is mistaken. The information presented today in the Auditor General's report was not found within those quarterly reports, and I think he knows that.

I think what's important here is the steps we have taken to date. Those include creating the first-ever Ministry of Children and Youth Services, passing legislation to allow the AG to look at the books of the

children's aid societies -- by "AG" I mean the Auditor General. We've passed legislation and created an independent appeals process for the children's aid society complaints. We've introduced independent child advocate legislation. Today we've

announced specific steps we are taking to ensure that we have ever-higher standards. We are implementing every single recommendation of the Auditor General, and the minister has gone even further by announcing an action plan for higher standards,

including setting up a new accountability office, directing children's aid societies to meet the Ontario public service standards for procurement, directing CASs to conduct a review of vehicles against OPS guidelines, and also requiring --

The Speaker: Thank you, Premier. Final supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: All of that is long after many of these issues should have been brought to your attention by the quarterly report.

But the auditor is even more instructive, because the year 2000 auditor's report called for more effective monitoring of children's aid societies to make sure that children in need are being adequately

protected. Instead of more effective monitoring, the opposite has happened under the McGuinty government. In 2003, the review of child protection files was cut, and in 2005-06, the McGuinty government cut service reviews and financial reviews of

children's aid societies.

Premier, how are our most vulnerable children to be protected and cared for if the McGuinty government ignores the reports that you get and you actually cut the very reviews that are supposed to indicate if

something is right or wrong?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The leader of the NDP will know that the only party that made cuts to the children's aid society in recent years was his party; he will know that.

Let me tell you a bit more about this action plan for higher standards that we've announced today. Firstly, there is a new accountability office for tougher enforcement. That will mean that we will monitor the

children's aid societies to ensure that they are meeting the legislated requirements of service. Secondly, it will mean that we will be able to direct corrective action when that is necessary. We are also directing the children's aid societies to

meet the Ontario public service standards for procurement, including vehicles and all expenses. Thirdly, we are directing the children's aid societies to conduct a review of vehicles against OPS guidelines, and they will be directed, where it

makes economic sense to do so, to sell the cars that do not meet those higher standards. Finally, we are putting in place a system that requires regular, audited reporting of expenditures. This is much better than quarterly reports; these are

audited reports.

The Speaker: New question. The leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: To the Premier: Let's look at pages 64 and 65 of the auditor's report, because while you and your minister were asleep at the switch, ignoring the quarterly reports and cutting

the reviews that would have indicated where the problems were, this is what was happening: CAS executives drove around in high-end luxury vehicles, dined at high-end restaurants, enjoyed exotic Asian and South American vacations, and bought gym

memberships and $150 car washes with public money.

Premier, working families across Ontario want to see our vulnerable children looked after. I ask again: Why did the McGuinty government ignore the repeated quarterly reports that indicated there were problems

at children's aid societies, and why did you cut the very financial and service reviews which would have further indicated where some of the problems were?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Does the leader of the NDP honestly think that children's aid society quarterly reports were going to disclose expenditures on SUVs, vacations and the like? Does he honestly

think that those individuals were going to make that kind of information public? The only reason we have access to this information today is because we asked the Auditor General to take a look at what's happening in the children's aid societies.

More than that, now that we have received that information, we are acting on that information.

I can say that the minister, when she received this information for the first time in the month of October, asked to meet with the individuals involved, as well as the treasurers and presidents of the

voluntary boards, brought them into her office, said, "Let's talk about this; let's find out what's happening," and directed them to take steps. I can assure you that on the basis of this action plan that we put in place today, every single

children's aid society in the province is required to take notice and understand that if they are doing these kinds of things, they will no longer be tolerated.

Again, I thank the Auditor General for bringing this information to us here in Ontario for the first time.

Mr. Hampton: I will thank the Auditor General where he says, "[T]here was no evidence in most cases that ministry staff even reviewed [quarterly] reports or followed them up with society staff

to ensure the necessary corrective actions were taken." On page 70, the auditor says, "In approximately one third of the files reviewed ... caseworker visits were an average of three weeks late, with one being 165 days late. As a result, there is

little assurance that all referrals are appropriately assessed and, if necessary, investigated in a timely manner...."

Premier, your government had lots of warnings that there were some big difficulties at the children's aid societies. Why did you wait until three and a half years into your government to finally take action on

things that were evident a year and two years ago?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): The interesting thing is that these issues really aren't new. What's really new is that we are addressing these issues.

What's new is that we are the ones -- it's our government that's shining the light on children's aid societies and not relying on children's aid societies to provide us with the information that they wanted us to see. It's as simple as that. In

establishing an accountability office in our ministry specifically for this purpose, we are not even relying on regional offices that have a whole range of agencies to review. We are focusing specifically on this sector, and what we have learned

from the auditor in this sector we will also expand to all other service providers within the children's sector.

Mr. Hampton: I say to the Premier, there's a reason why the auditor spends about 20 pages talking about CASs and about 26 pages talking about your Ministry of Children and Youth Services:

because it's the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that has really dropped the ball.

Here's the McGuinty government's record when it comes to children: You've taken advantage of autistic children and their desperate parents; you continue to claw back $250 million a year from the pockets of the

poorest children in this province; you force parents to give up custody of their children in order to get them the social services they need; and you have ignored repeated reports and reviews that indicated there were serious problems at the

children's aids societies. I ask the Premier, in view of that record, why should anyone believe any promise you make with respect to looking after our children now?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: It's obvious that the leader of the third party will say anything -- anything. I guess that's the role of the opposition parties in this House, to say anything to attempt

to suggest that they could do a better job. In fact, he made reference to custody and giving up custody of kids. That didn't happen in our term. What we did was return custody. What we did was to fix the problem that you speak about, just as we

will continue to fix -- let me give you an example of what I found when I arrived at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. I got a report on crown wards which covered a two-year period, and when I asked how come I hadn't seen this before,

they told me that the previous government did not want to see these reports of Ontario's most vulnerable children. That's what I was told --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

GOVERNMENT AGENCY SPENDING

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. The auditor's report today contained additional -- beyond the boondoggle of the children's aid societies and

everything else -- unbelievable allegations of $163 million worth of goods and services being purchased by staff at Hydro One using corporate credit cards, all without paperwork to back up the spending. We have $50,000, in the case of one

executive, for personal items: gift certificates, flowers, wine, dinner theatre, CDs and so on. At OPG, $6.5 million was spent without proper documentation: $300,000 on gifts, including 40 leather jackets worth $8,000.

What we have here is an all-you-can-eat McGuinty Liberal spending buffet. Nothing is too much. It's the taxpayers who are paying so who cares?

My question is this: This is the kind of waste and spending that drives taxpayers and ratepayers absolutely crazy when they pay their bills and their taxes. How can you justify having this kind of misspending

going on on your watch, and what are you doing about it?

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

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): I too would like to thank the Auditor General for the information and recommendations relating to procurement practices at OPG and Hydro. It was this

government that shone the light on OPG and Hydro, and we welcome the information he has brought forward today.

I am meeting with the chair of Hydro One and with the chair of OPG later this afternoon to review the recommendations and to look at courses of action to deal with the auditor's recommendations. It is

important to remember that prior to this government coming to office, nobody would have had a look at this. We are also proud of the fact that we applied freedom of information to Hydro One and OPG, and now we're prepared to deal in a meaningful

way with the --

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

Mr. Tory: I guess the answer to the question, "What you are doing about this gross spending?" is "Nothing." We kind of knew that before, but you hoped it might be different.

We have, in the same report, people in the education system spending $52,000 over two years on a purchasing card, including $4,000 on DVDs, eyeglasses and Christmas lights. Another person spent $2,800 on

candies, chocolates, household supplies, even flowers for their own anniversary. It is an all-you-can-eat-McGuinty Liberal spending buffet on your watch: in Hydro One, in the education system and in the children's aid societies. Anybody who wants

to do anything can, can spend anything they want on anything they choose, and you do nothing about it because you don't care. You think it's monopoly money, you think it's a game show; it's the taxpayers' money.

I don't know why the Premier won't stand in his place, and why you won't, get up and say what it is you're going to do about this disgraceful, gross misspending of taxpayers' money.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: I'll refer that to the Minister of Education. That was the original part of the supplementary.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): We want to put in place a higher standard. That's why the auditor has been asked to do his work, and I'm very grateful that he's done this

work.

On October 19, I sent a set of draft guidelines that had been initiated by the previous Minister of Education, Minister Pupatello, to all the trustee organizations. They had been worked on for a number of

months before that. Today, I was able to send a final copy of expenditure guidelines to all 72 boards in the province, which will deal with the use of corporate credit cards, travel, meals, hospitality, advertising and advocacy -- expenditure on

those things.

I think the proof is in our actions, and what we are doing is cleaning up. We know we've got the co-operation in education; the school boards are co-operating with us. The Auditor General was very

complimentary of the co-operation of the school boards. We are making it very clear --

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a question to the Premier. I want to return to the matter of wait times, because the Auditor General has seriously questioned the reliability of your

wait times data.

He said the starting point for measuring the wait times for CT scans and MRIs are not well defined, so hospitals are reporting the data differently; 33 hospitals which have MRI and CT scan equipment are not

required to provide wait time information at all; and thirdly, the practice of combining in-patient and outpatient wait times skews results. And, as the auditor showed, the median wait time for an outpatient CT scan was significantly higher than

the median that was actually reported by the ministry.

Premier, your wait times website data can't be trusted. When can the public and patients get accurate information about wait times?

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): First I want to say, again, thank you to the Auditor General for the work that has been done here. We're proud

to have been the government that unlocked the capacity to take a harder look at what's going on inside the hospital environment, and I rather suspect that there is much more that we can benefit from, without doubt.

We will take a very hard look at that. I must say that we have depended upon expert advice with respect to the establishment of these standards. I know that the official opposition scoffs at the idea that Dr.

Alan Hudson and 25 others expert in the area would be responsible parties to provide advice, but they have indeed.

I want to acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion with respect to the issue of collection, distinguishing if you will, between those inside the hospital environment and those outside. That is not

something, as best as I'm aware, that has been distinctly done in other environments.

We're going to take a good hard look at it. We believe the information has been collected in a fashion that is consistent. We'll take a look at the advice from the Auditor General, and one would anticipate

that Dr. Alan Hudson and his team of people, who are experts in this field, would give us advice for --

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

Ms. Martel: My supplementary to the Premier is this: It's interesting that the government wanted the Auditor General to do value-for-money audits at hospitals and now they don't want to accept

his recommendations. The Auditor General said that "at one hospital the ministry reported wait time for a CT was 13 days, but out-patients actually waited about 30 days." He said that at one hospital "median wait times for out-patient CT exams

ranged from six days to 35 days," depending on the site, but the ministry reported this as an average of around 21 days. At his press conference today, he also said that if the website says 60 days, you should take that information "with a grain

of salt."

I say again to the government: You wanted the auditor to do the audit. He has; he has made recommendations. When are you going to implement those recommendations so the public can get reliable information on

wait times?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Firstly, I would say that the information has been collected in a consistent way. If there's a difference of opinion between an auditor, who is an accountant, and clinical

advisers, who are doctors and specialists in radiology, then we should seek to take the advice that is on offer from the auditor and compare and offer that to the experts who have developed our system here. Dr. Alan Hudson is the person I will be

holding accountable to work through these issues. As I had an opportunity to say last week in a private meeting with the Auditor General, we most certainly will be taking the advice he offers.

All I suggest to the honourable member is that we differ on one small point, which is that we see a patient is a patient is a patient. We haven't, as other jurisdictions have not either, made a distinction

between those patients who are in the hospital environment and those who are external. This is an opinion that is on offer from the auditor that I'll be asking the experts, a group of about 25 people led by Dr. Alan Hudson, to take a look at. They

will take a good look at this, and we will make amendments, as required, to the way we're collecting information.

WORLD JUNIOR BASEBALL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mr. Bill Mauro (Thunder Bay-Atikokan): My question is for the Minister of Health Promotion. My community of Thunder Bay has a long history and is thought of primarily as a hockey community.

Given what the Staal family has been doing recently, I imagine that reputation has been further cemented. However, we do have a long and rich baseball tradition as well, and we in Thunder Bay are very fortunate to have a terrific volunteer,

non-profit-driven organization called the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association. The executive director of that association is here today in the members' east gallery, an old friend and old teammate, Warren Philp, whom I'd like to

recognize today.

This group has been doing terrific work around baseball in Thunder Bay and has been trying for some time to host an international event. Minister, can you tell me what your ministry has been doing to support

this group in acquiring the 2010 world junior baseball championship?

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): That's certainly not a softball question from my friend from Thunder Bay. First of all, I would like to thank Mike Gravelle and Bill Mauro for

their continuous advocating for support of the international baseball championship, which Thunder Bay has been awarded for 2010, something we can all be very proud of.

I also want to say, as a result of our international sport hosting policy, that the McGuinty government is pleased to support this wonderful opportunity for baseball players from around the world, and

particularly the host community of Thunder Bay, by providing $200,000 to help host these wonderful games. This funding will go a long way to providing some of the logistics that people like Warren Philp, Larry Herbert and other great community

stalwarts in Thunder Bay are going to have to do to make sure Thunder Bay is ready for 2010.

The McGuinty government was proud to be there at the beginning, providing that money. I believe that one of the determining factors in the international sport hosting body decision was that there was great

provincial support, and the games were awarded to Thunder Bay.

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

Mr. Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): There's no question that our commitment of provincial support went a long way toward securing the games for our community. May I say, that

also included a significant contribution from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. We're thrilled about that. We know that not only will the world juniors be a great sporting spectacle, but they will also contribute millions to Thunder Bay's

economy, as well as showcasing the region as a tourist destination, while significantly improving the community's baseball facilities.

Minister, the international sport hosting policy is clearly and significantly helping our community, but can you please provide this Legislature with details on how other communities can benefit from this

process? Also, can you speak to the needed, but still uncommitted, federal contribution that's needed to the World Junior Baseball Championships in Thunder Bay?

Hon. Mr. Watson: As part of the international sport hosting policy, I was pleased to go to Calgary to support both Toronto's and Ottawa's bids for the World Junior Hockey Championships in

2009, and was very pleased that as a result of a $2-million contribution to the World Junior Hockey Championships, Ottawa will host this internationally renowned competition in 2009.

I'm very proud of the McGuinty government's commitment to amateur sport. We've actually seen a 137% increase in funding for amateur sport. That compares with the previous government's cut of 42% of their

funding to amateur sport, which was really quite sad.

The other point is that the province has been there in Thunder Bay since day one, thanks to the intervention of Mike Gravelle and Bill Mauro. Once again, the federal government is missing in action. We call on

the new sports minister to come to the table and bring resources and goodwill to make sure that the Thunder Bay championships in 2010 are the best ever held in this country.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: We now have the Auditor General's report, and it's even worse than we thought last week: a $60,000 luxury

car, all-inclusive stays at Caribbean resorts, $150 car washes, $2,000 gym memberships, $2,400 personal trainers and car allowances on top of company vehicles. All the while, children at risk are waiting months for someone to check up on them.

What the auditor makes clear is not that these are problems that were only recently identified, but that these are serious problems that are hurting at-risk children and that she ought to have known about all along. Why was this minister so

negligent on this file?

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): Does the member from Nepean-Carleton really believe that these things started with our government? Where was your

government when these things were happening?

As a result of our government expanding the powers of the Auditor General, we now have this information, and our government is not afraid of having this information revealed, because it's only through knowing

that information that we'll be able to implement the higher standards that we are implementing as we speak, some of which have already been implemented. So I welcome the Auditor General's findings, and I don't think the previous government served

the children of this province well by hiding these kinds of things.

Ms. MacLeod: Today's not a day for patting themselves on the back. It was she who cancelled the reviews. It was she who ignored the reports. The minister's answers are devoid of all

credibility. She didn't care what was happening to the money.

The Auditor General writes that the McGuinty Liberals "discontinued reviews of service and financial data in the 2005-06 fiscal year." That's on page 36, if she wants to read it. The government stops reviewing

spending, and we end up with managers getting $60,000 cars; $60,000 would pay for foster care for six children for one year, just to put that into perspective. That is what's so heartbreaking about this utter failure on your part. You've traded

kids for cars. Why did you stand by and ignore your responsibilities, why did you abandon the reviews and why didn't you review the reports?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: It is very obvious from the opposition's reaction to the auditor's report that they would have been preferred to continue to hide this kind of information. Well, we are

establishing an accountability office, because we are working towards higher standards in protecting taxpayer dollars but also in protecting our most vulnerable kids.

We are using this opportunity to go even further than the auditor has gone, in introducing administrative policies that a transfer payment agency in this province has never, ever had to adhere to before. So

what we're doing is removing the discretion from boards of governments, removing the discretion from executive directors and having them abide by these higher standards which will better protect our children and better utilize taxpayer

dollars.

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION

AND HYDRO ONE

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Premier, people who are paying more for hydroelectricity across Ontario and workers who are worried because they've

lost their jobs as a result of skyrocketing hydro rates would be shocked to read the auditor's report, because on pages 162 and 163 it red-flags Conrad Black-style abuse of credit cards, millions of dollars charged without receipts, cash advances

received and charged, all without proper documentation. Premier, how could this still be going on in year four of the McGuinty government?

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

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): I am delighted that this government had the courage to move forward with allowing the auditor to look at Hydro One and OPG. I'm quite proud of the fact

that we applied freedom of information and salary disclosure to both corporations as well.

I have seen the auditor's recommendations. They are a cause for concern; no question about it. I will be meeting with the chairs of the board and considering what options we have to address them in due course.

Again, I want to applaud and thank the auditor for the fine piece of work he has done and to assure the ratepayers of Ontario that the reason we let the light shine in is so we could identify challenges and, yes, address them in a meaningful way

that will hopefully give people more confidence in the future.

Mr. Hampton: I say to the Premier: In too many communities across this province, low- and fixed-income people have their hydro shut off because they can't afford to pay the hydro bill. But

under the McGuinty government and Hydro One, executives hid $18 million worth of mystery expenses using a business expenses procurement credit card, with no documentation to back up the purchases. At OPG, the auditor was unable to verify the

existence and whereabouts of computer printers, computer monitors, fax machines and digital cameras purchased with OPG credit cards, and "OPG could not provide evidence" that these articles were in their possession.

I just say to the McGuinty government: You say you've shone the spotlight on OPG and Hydro One. How could these misuses of public money continue if you've shone the spotlight on OPG and Hydro One?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: The member would be aware that this is the first time the auditor has reported on these corporations. We welcome that and we'll continue to welcome it. The reason we needed

this information is so that we could see these challenges. There's no doubt that we can address these problems. We will address these problems, and we'll address them in a timely and responsible fashion. That's why we brought this legislation in.

This is the first report of the auditor. I welcome that report and I welcome this kind of scrutiny in the future because the ratepayers of Ontario deserve to know this information. This government will respond in a meaningful and timely fashion to

the challenges that the auditor has pointed out.

CONSERVATION

Mr. Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Minister, you were recently in my riding and made an announcement between our government and the

Nature Conservancy of Canada, an organization committed to conservation, renewing a long-term partnership. It seemed to me that at that particular time, about a week ago or two weeks ago, you were talking about 22,000 hectares of ecologically

sensitive land. I think the members of this House would like to know: What does that really mean for us and how does this fit into our conservation plan overall in Ontario?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I'd like to thank the member from Ottawa Centre, who has always had an interest in conservation

and preservation issues in this province. I'd like to reinforce that, by working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we have ensured that some of the most ecologically significant areas of Ontario are now being conserved for future

generations.

After working together for many years, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Nature Conservancy of Canada have renewed their partnership through a five-year agreement to secure ecologically sensitive

private lands in Ontario. Under the agreement, the province will invest an additional $3.1 million in the first year and the Nature Conservancy of Canada will at least match the province's contribution. The partnership builds on a shared

commitment to identify, secure and care for significant natural areas in Ontario.

Combining MNR's stewardship mandate with NCC's science, securement and management expertise will result in the efficient and effective identification, securement and stewardship of more than 50,000 acres of

ecologically significant lands --

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

Mr. Patten: Thank you, Minister, for that. I think the members will really appreciate the statement that you just gave.

There are other initiatives, as you well know, that are being taken in Ontario, so my question is: With this significant one of protecting ecologically important and valuable parts of Ontario, how does this

complement some of the other initiatives that are taking place?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: This area that I just spoke about is bigger than Killarney park altogether, and this complements the other government initiatives such as the greenbelt and the natural spaces

program of the MNR to protect critical ecological systems and habitats.

The partnership supports several programs with a range of conservation goals, including expanding Ontario's system of parks and protected areas, supporting the securement of significant natural heritage lands

by other Ontario partners, and conserving important wetland habitats. It has secured a wide variety of habitat types and landscapes, from 17,000 acres of globally rare alvar habitat on Manitoulin Island -- which I know, Mr. Speaker, you're very

supportive of -- to 32 acres of rare habitat at Turkey Point in southwestern Ontario. The partnership has also protected critical habitat for threatened and endangered species such as the globally rare lakeside daisy and the Acadian flycatcher, an

endangered bird.

I'd like the member to know that the MNR is committed to the conservation of biodiversity and the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner.

HEALTH CARDS

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. In the Auditor General's report, it is indicated that there are 305,000 more OHIP cards in circulation than there are

people in the province of Ontario. It's indicated that there are 11,000 cardholders having claims in all three regions of the province in one nine-month period in 2005.

Meanwhile, over at the ministry of studies and reviews, inaction and bullying, Health and Long-Term Care, what we have there is the ministry indicating, "We'll review our options." That's what they're going to

do.

I ask the Premier this question: Mightn't it have been better to reassure the people of Ontario that their health tax dollars you made them pay are going to be spent better by saying, "We are going to get rid

of half of that backlog and half of those extra cards in the next 12 months and the other half the year after that"? Why wouldn't you try something accountable like that?

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I believe that the ministry's response was a desire to give me the opportunity to offer to the Legislature the

appropriate explanation. So, on point to the honourable member's question: Obviously we've been under active consideration by the auditor on this report for about a year. In the year since that began, I'm very pleased to be able to tell the member

this: As of October 1, 2006, the total number of valid and active health cards in the province of Ontario is 12.52 million, while Ontario's population is 12.69 million. So I do think that this is an area -- I appreciate the question from the

honourable member -- where we've taken very seriously the concerns that have been raised by the Auditor General. We're working to further strengthen our procedures to ensure the valid nature of all of those cards. We have more work to do for sure,

but I'm very pleased to be able to report progress on this matter to all members of the Legislature.

Mr. Tory: It's a shame we hadn't heard about this good news before today. Isn't it interesting that just today we find out? It would be helpful if the minister would table in the Legislature

what steps were taken and how --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. The government House leader. The Attorney General.

The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: If we could see the detail of what happened and how this was done and make sure we can confirm these numbers, I'd be the first to stand up and say that that's good progress.

We then have, in the same Auditor General's report -- and hopefully you'll stand up and tell me that this one has been dealt with as well -- that we have a backlog of 255,000 cases where citizenship

information has not been authenticated and people have health cards that they're out there with. This is a number, the Auditor General says, that has doubled since 2004.

So my question is this. The ministry, in the case of that instance, said, "We will complete a review of the options." You're big on reviewing options over there. My question is this: You had 305,000 cards that

were out there, and you say you've got rid of them all. Show us the data. Bring it in here and table it. Maybe tomorrow would be soon enough.

Secondly, what are you doing about these 255,000 cards that are unverified and where you have a backlog that has doubled on your watch?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Your arrogance and condescension are really quite startling.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. I need to be able to hear the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: When we had the first report, when the Auditor General initiated his report, there were 12.9 million OHIP cards; today there are 12.5 million. This is evidence, I think,

that the ministry has worked very hard. I appreciate that there's always more work to do. The honourable member suggests that that means we review things. Of course, these are matters which do require some consideration before one moves

forward.

In addition, I can tell the honourable member that we've worked to dramatically enhance our capabilities to confirm information, to the second question that the honourable member asked. I'll be very happy to

send some more information along to him that outlines the steps we've taken to improve the circumstances, and other things we have ongoing to continue to improve the circumstances, related to OHIP cards in Ontario.

CT SCANS

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): My question is to the health minister. One of the very serious concerns the auditor reported on today involved radiation exposure of Ontario children to CT

scans. In 50% of the cases he reviewed, it was adult settings on CT scans that were used on children, and the result of that is a level of exposure in the order of about 4,000 X-rays, or eight times the exposure that an adult would receive.

Britain and the US have radiation dose levels to guide professionals in establishing CT radiation exposures for patients. Why can't Ontario use these guidelines now so that we can protect children right away?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As I had a chance to answer an earlier question to the Leader of the Opposition, we've been working through the

formation of a diagnostic imaging safety committee to move forward across the platform of services where radiation is an issue, to be able to do exactly what is on offer. This is an example of a very good piece of advice that has been made

available as a result of the decision point that this Legislature took to give enhanced powers to the Auditor General.

We've moved quickly in response to the information. We'll be working with experts -- I know that meets with disdain on some sides of this House -- to inform all of those who are providing these important

services of the most appropriate way to do so. I take the request, the advice that is on offer from the honourable member, as direction, in a sense, that our committee is already working to establish with the OMA and the OHA in partnership.

Ms. Martel: Experts in other jurisdictions, mainly the US and Britain, have looked at this issue and have issued guidelines with respect to appropriate levels of radiation, and I'm wondering

why we can't do the same in Ontario now to protect children. You see, the auditor pointed out that physicians and staff at hospitals weren't aware that CT scans exposed patients to significantly more radiation than conventional X-rays. The auditor

also pointed out that in a recent survey of pediatricians in the Toronto area, 94% of them underestimated the level of radiation children are exposed to when they have a CT scan. This is critical because exposure can also lead to long-term cancers

related to radiation.

I say to the minister again, we have experts in other jurisdictions who have effectively dealt with this matter. Why can't Ontario put in place these guidelines here and now to protect our children here and

now?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I'm sorry if I didn't say this clearly enough for the honourable member, but that is exactly what is under way. I'll be pleased to take a future opportunity to inform all

members of the House about the specific nature of the steps that have been taken.

REAL ESTATE FRAUD

Ms. Deborah Matthews (London North Centre): My question is for the Minister of Government Services. Media reports over the summer made constituents in my riding of London North Centre aware of

what is called real estate fraud. People are wondering if their homes are safe and what protection the government can provide. For many Ontarians, their home is their largest single investment and it's only natural that they should be worried

about some fraudster stealing something so valuable. I've received calls from people in my riding demanding that the government take action to help prevent this despicable crime.

Minister, my question to you is this: How widespread is real estate fraud, and what action have you taken to safeguard people's investments in their homes?

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): I appreciate the question from the member from London North Centre. I must say to the Legislature that all three parties are working

co-operatively on this issue. We have a piece of legislation before a committee today that we're working on.

The first part of your question was about the size of the problem. I would say that real estate fraud consists of two things: title fraud and mortgage fraud. Title fraud has not changed significantly. We get

about 10 cases a year, and that hasn't changed significantly. It's on the mortgage side where we've seen an increase, and it looks like, to the best of our knowledge, it's about a $15-million problem. So we must deal with it.

The Legislature has a piece of legislation at committee. I think the most significant part of it is that if someone loses their title fraudulently, it will be restored, and if a document is registered against

that title fraudulently, that document will be null and void. That's the first, very significant step.

Ms. Matthews: I look forward to hearing more about that. But clearly, Bill 152 does take strong and necessary steps to make sure that no homeowner in Ontario will lose their largest

investment, their home, because of title or mortgage fraud. That, I can tell you, will be very welcome news to people in my riding, many of whom have contacted me through my office or when I've met them on the street or in the grocery store.

They're concerned about it. They're just wondering whether they're a potential victim of it. I understand that completely.

I look forward to this bill moving forward through the Legislature. I had the honour of sitting in committee yesterday, where I heard some people make presentations on it. And I look forward to third reading

debate starting very, very soon.

But despite the new protections for homeowners under Bill 152 that will guarantee that they don't lose their home, a fraud attempt can still occur and a victim may incur costs such as hiring a lawyer. I

understand --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question's been asked. Minister?

Hon. Mr. Phillips: A part of dealing with it is what we call the land titles assurance fund; LTAF is the jargon. I think it's fair to say that I don't think the fund has been as responsive to

the public as it should have been and as the public has a right to expect. It's been seen as the fund of last resort, and there is some merit in that. But I think, as my colleague said, there's nothing quite as traumatic as this issue, other than

your health. So what we've done with the fund is move it to a fund that you can access quickly -- and I mean quickly. Within 60 days of your application, provided you have some evidence that a fraud actually has taken place, we will make a

decision. Within 30 days, your title will be restored. And within another 30 days, we will ensure that the issue the member raised -- that is, individuals having to put up money to deal with the issue -- is dealt with. So within 120 days, we will

have dealt with this. I think that's a very significant step forward in making this a responsive fund.

PETITIONS

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I'm receiving more and more petitions to do with the Mary Lake dam, and I have one here.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the dam at Mary Lake has historically provided a pedestrian walkway for use by the community and visitors since the dam's construction; and

"Whereas the walkway provides a vital link and a tourist attraction for the community of Port Sydney; and

"Whereas restricting access to the walkway would result in pedestrian use of the roadway where motor vehicle traffic poses a danger to pedestrians; and

"Whereas closure of the pedestrian walkway across the dam is inconsistent with other provincial government programs, including Ontario's action plan for healthy eating and active living and the Trails for Life

program, both of which promote active lifestyles; and

"Whereas all ministries should strive to encourage and support healthy lifestyles;

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

"That the Ministry of Natural Resources continue to permit the use of the pedestrian walkway over Mary Lake dam indefinitely."

I support this petition and affix my signature to it.

IDENTITY THEFT

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): I have a petition that comes from the Consumer Federation of Canada and is addressed to the Parliament of Ontario, especially the Minister of Government

Services. It reads as follows:

"Whereas identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in North America;

"Whereas confidential and private information is being stolen on a regular basis, affecting literally thousands of people;

"Whereas the cost of this crime exceeds billions of dollars;

"Whereas countless hours are wasted to restore one's good credit rating;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, demand that Bill 38, which passed unanimously on November 30, 2005, be brought before committee and that the following issues be included for consideration and debate:

"

(1) All consumer reports should be provided in a truncated (masked-out) form, protecting our vital private information such as SIN and loan account numbers.

"

(2) Should a consumer reporting agency discover that there has been an unlawful disclosure of consumer information, the agency should immediately inform the affected consumer.

"

(3) The consumer reporting agency shall only report credit inquiry records resulting from actual applications for credit or increase of credit, except in a report given to the consumer.

"

(4) The consumer reporting agency shall investigate disputed information within 30 days and correct, supplement or automatically delete any information found unconfirmed, incomplete or inaccurate."

Since I agree with this petition, I'm delighted to sign it and send it to you with page Arianne.

SCHOOL FACILITIES

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): "Whereas Longfields and Davidson Heights in south Nepean are some of the fastest-growing communities in Ottawa and Ontario; and

"Whereas the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has voted to authorize the final design phases for a grade 7 to 12 school to serve the Longfields and Davidson Heights communities; and

"Whereas the government of Ontario has lifted a three-year moratorium on school closings in order to make way for new educational facilities;

"We, residents of Nepean-Carleton, petition the Parliament of Ontario to ensure that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board continues with plans to build a new grade 7 to 12 school no later than autumn of

2008 to serve the Longfields and Davidson Heights communities."

I have affixed my signature to this.

FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I have a petition.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Northwestern Ontario Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) Diagnostic Clinic has been operating as a demonstration project since December 2004 with funds received through the Ministry of Health

and Long-Term Care;

"Whereas this funding expired July 31, 2006;

"Whereas there is an enormous need in northwestern Ontario for regional access and accurate diagnosis of FASD;

"Whereas, without the northwestern Ontario FASD clinic, services are only accessible through a clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba, or St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, for which there is a four-year wait;

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

"Be it resolved that the provincial government commit to provide ongoing funding for the maintenance of the regional FASD diagnostic clinic, with two sites in northwestern Ontario."

I have affixed my signature to this, which has been signed by many residents of northwestern Ontario.

LAKEVIEW GENERATING STATION

Mr. Tim Peterson (Mississauga South): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

"Whereas there should be no decisions on the future development of the Lakeview generating station grounds until a full, independent environmental assessment, including air, water, soil samples and a health

study of long-term residents, is completed to determine the historical, current and accumulative impact of industrial pollutants on the existing environment of Lakeview, southeast Mississauga, and its citizens; and

"Government includes this assessment and gives its findings equal weight in all mandatory environmental reports regarding the future development of the Lakeview generating grounds."

I am pleased to affix my signature to this petition.

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Sir Frederick Banting was the man who discovered insulin and was Canada's first Nobel Prize recipient; and

"Whereas this great Canadian's original homestead, located in the town of New Tecumseth" -- Alliston -- "is deteriorating and in danger of destruction because of the inaction of the Ontario Historical Society;

and

"Whereas the town of New Tecumseth has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement with the Ontario Historical Society to use part of the land to educate the public about the historical significance of the work

of Sir Frederick Banting;

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

"That the Minister of Culture endorse Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson's private member's bill entitled the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act so that the homestead is kept in good repair and preserved for

generations to come."

I agree with that petition, obviously, and I've signed it.

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I have a petition here from the Canadian Federation of University Women Ontario Council, Toronto branch. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the national child benefit supplement was created to reduce the depth of poverty across Canada for low-income families earning less than $35,000;

"Whereas the government of Ontario claws back the supplement from families receiving income from Ontario Works or the Ontario disability support plan;

"Whereas Premier McGuinty decried the discriminatory nature of the NCBS clawback and vowed to end this practice in his first mandate;

"Whereas the government of Ontario has failed to end the clawback for those families on OW or ODSP;

"We, the undersigned from CFUW Ontario Council, petition the Legislative Assembly to end the clawback of the national child benefit supplement."

I'm in accordance and would affix my signature thereto.

GRAVESITES OF FORMER PREMIERS

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): I have a petition signed by a number of members of the Cornwall Township Historical Society. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Premiers of Ontario have made enormous contributions over the years in shaping the Ontario of today; and

"Whereas, as a result, the final resting places of the 18 deceased Premiers are among the most historically significant sites in the province, but have yet to be officially recognized; and

"Whereas, were these gravesites to be properly maintained and marked with an historical plaque and a flag of Ontario, these locations would be a source of pride to the communities where these formers Premiers

lie buried, and provide potential points of interest for visitors;

"Now therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Legislature Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"Enact Bill 25,

an Act that will preserve the gravesites of the former Premiers of Ontario."

Since I approve of this, I shall affix my signature and send it to the Clerk's table.

HIGHWAY 417

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas modern highways are the economic lifelines to communities across Ontario and crucial to the growth of Ontario's economy; and

"Whereas the Ministry of Transportation has been dealing with the planning and design of the extension of Highway 417 for several years; and

"Whereas the previous Conservative government followed through with their commitment to extend Highway 417 to Arnprior; and

"Whereas Highway 417/17 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway system; and

"Whereas local municipal governments, the county of Renfrew and MPP John Yakabuski have continued to press the Liberal government on this issue;

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

"That the Liberal government move as swiftly as possible to approve the extension of Highway 417 through Arnprior to Renfrew and beyond and that this be included in their next five-year plan."

Of course, I affix my name to this, as I support it.

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I again have a petition from the Canadian Federation of University Women, this time from the branch in Aurora-Newmarket. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the national child benefit supplement was created to reduce the depth of poverty across Canada for low-income families earning less than $35,000;

"Whereas the government of Ontario claws back the supplement from families receiving income from Ontario Works or the Ontario disability support plan;

"Whereas Premier McGuinty decried the discriminatory nature of the NCBS clawback and vowed to end this practice in his first mandate;

"Whereas the government of Ontario has failed to end the clawback for those families on OW or ODSP;

"We, the undersigned from CFUW Ontario Council, petition the Legislative Assembly to end the clawback of the national child benefit supplement."

I'm in agreement and would affix my signature thereto.

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly regarding access to trades and professions in Ontario. I'd like to thank the Moje family of Credit

Pointe Drive in Mississauga for sending it to me. It reads as follows:

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

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm pleased to affix my signature in support of this petition, and will ask page Philip to carry it for me.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a petition to do with hydro in Parry Sound-Muskoka. It reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Hydro One Networks Inc. provides hydro to many communities in the region of Parry Sound-Muskoka; and

"Whereas there have recently been several lengthy power outages in this region affecting both private residences, schools and businesses; and

"Whereas rural customers pay among the highest distribution and delivery charges for electricity;

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

"That the Minister of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board require Hydro One Networks Inc. to make improvements in line maintenance and forestry management in the region of Parry Sound-Muskoka to ensure

reliable energy for its customers."

I support this petition.

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I have another petition, again from the Canadian Federation of University Women, this time the Peterborough branch. They write to the Legislature as

follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the national child benefit supplement was created to reduce the depth of poverty across Canada for low-income families earning less than $35,000;

"Whereas the government of Ontario claws back the supplement from families receiving income from Ontario Works or the Ontario disability support plan;

"Whereas Premier McGuinty decried the discriminatory nature of the NCBS clawback and vowed to end this practice in his first mandate;

"Whereas the government of Ontario has failed to end the clawback for those families on OW or ODSP;

"We, the undersigned from CFUW Ontario Council, petition the Legislative Assembly to end the clawback of the national child benefit supplement."

I'm in agreement and would again affix my signature thereto.

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have another petition in support of skilled immigrants. I especially want to thank Johnny Tang and Bing Gong for collecting the signatures to it. It reads

as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

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

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

economy as a whole;

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

"That all members of the House support the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 200