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June 9, 2003

37th Parliament, 4th Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2003-Jun-09 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 9 June 2003 Lundi 9 juin 2003

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

RELAY FOR LIFE

FEDERAL FIREARMS LEGISLATION

CONSERVATIVE PLATFORM

MÉLANIE GUILLEMETTE

VISITORS

BEST START PLAN FOR CHILDREN

CONSTITUENCY STAFF

MUSIC AND FILM IN MOTION

EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

CARPENTER HOSPICE IN BURLINGTON

REPORT, INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Caledon Teen Ranch Act, 2003

JUNKET REGISTRY ACT, 2003 /

LOI SUR LE REGISTRE

CONCERNANT LES VOYAGES

AUX FRAIS DE LA PRINCESSE, 2003

CORONERS AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003

MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LES CORONERS

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT AMENDMENT ACT (SCHOOL BUSES), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LE CODE

DE LA ROUTE (AUTOBUS SCOLAIRES)

VISITORS

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

JUNO BEACH CENTRE

ORAL QUESTIONS

PROTECTION FOR

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

SCHOOL SAFETY

PROTECTION FOR

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

MINISTER'S EXPENSES

PROVINCIAL PARKS

EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

ASSISTANCE TO TOURISM INDUSTRY

HYDRO DEREGULATION

WAYNE LEWIS'S RELEASE

PETERBOROUGH LIBRARY

VISITORS

HOME CARE

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS INFORMATION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

VISITORS

MEMBERS' ANNIVERSARIES

PETITIONS

HOME CARE

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

HIGHWAY 407

HYDRO RATES

HIGHWAY SAFETY

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

LONG-TERM CARE

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

SCHOOL SAFETY

HYDRO RATES

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

EDUCATION FUNDING

VISITOR

ORDERS OF THE DAY

2003 ONTARIO BUDGET

Monday 9 June 2003 Lundi 9 juin 2003

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

RELAY FOR LIFE

Mr Dave Levac (Brant): On Friday, June 6, I was fortunate and honoured to participate in a wonderful and touching event in my riding of Brant

that brought over 100 volunteers, 500 participants and corporate and community leaders together to help fight cancer. Relay for Life is an annual event organized by the Cancer Society that raises

funds for cancer research and support services for people living with cancer, including their families. Over $100,000 was raised by 51 teams walking, skipping, running, and in my case crawling

around Lions Park track in Brantford for 12 hours, from Friday at 7 pm to 7 am Saturday morning.

There was an opening ceremony called the survivors' lap. Here, 94 cancer survivors did a victory lap to inspire all of us and to show us that cancer can be

beaten. To them and their families we say thank you for your courage and determination.

At 10 pm, a very moving and beautiful moment called the "luminaries" took place. Here, candles were lit that circled the track in memory of individuals who have

succumbed to cancer. These luminaries kept the darkness away for the rest of the evening. To these individuals and their families, our prayers are with you.

This event was held in ridings across the province. To all organizers, sponsors, participants, volunteers, entertainers, donors, and especially survivors and

luminaries' families, we say thank you for a job well done. We know cancer can be beaten.

FEDERAL FIREARMS LEGISLATION

Mr Marcel Beaubien (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): I rise in the House today to applaud the stand taken by the Attorney General to not enforce the

ill-fated federal firearms legislation. This is a victory for all Ontarians, and particularly the more than 3,000 law-abiding gun owners in my riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex who have written me

and made it very clear they oppose this useless waste of more than two billion of their hard-earned tax dollars to implement and enforce an out-of-control program.

It is worth noting that $2 billion would pay the cost of more than 20,000 front-line police officers who would truly make our streets, our homes and our families

safer; $2 billion would also go a long way to re-establishing Ottawa's fair share of health care funding, assisting Toronto and Ontario in their fight against SARS and funding the 16 SuperBuild

infrastructure projects, funded by our government but left stranded by Ottawa, not to mention providing our beleaguered farmers with their fair share of desperately needed safety net programs.

Given that there are now four provinces that have publicly stated they will not enforce this legislation, I am left wondering what it will take for the federal

Liberal Party to see the error of their ways. At the very least, I would hope the members opposite would endorse and support the commitment made by this side of the House to oppose this boondoggle

which was foolishly and unnecessarily enacted by their federal cousins. Until they do so, I will look forward to hearing the members opposite defend their support of the firearms legislation on the

campaign trail.

CONSERVATIVE PLATFORM

Mr Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): I always find it interesting to hear what respected Conservatives are saying about the Harris-Eves

Tories. Take David Crombie, for instance. Crombie is a Tory's Tory. He was mayor of Toronto, he ran for the federal PC leadership and he was a senior cabinet minister under Clark and Mulroney.

Here's what David Crombie had to say about Ernie Eves's platform: "This government is more interested in delivering gimmicks than in delivering public policy."

That's what David Crombie said. He was then asked, would he vote for gimmicks in the upcoming provincial election? "No," Crombie said. "Gimmicks are not what we

need."

Truer words have rarely been spoken before. Mr Crombie was understandably upset at the Harris-Eves Tories' bullying and betrayal of municipalities. Crombie told

it like it is, saying, "In the last five or six years, the provincial government has basically humbled and hobbled municipalities."

Dalton McGuinty will work with municipalities to bring about a real change to improve the lives of people in Ontario. Dalton McGuinty will give two cents per

litre of the existing gas tax to municipalities for public transit. Dalton McGuinty will help municipalities put more than 1,000 more police officers on the street. Most importantly, Dalton

McGuinty's platform is a costed, responsible, realistic plan for change that will improve the lives of Ontarians.

Let Ernie Eves try to sell his gimmicks. Voters can choose real change by choosing Dalton McGuinty.

Now, if I had more time, and I regret I don't, I would like to run through what Bill Davis has had to say about the Harris-Eves platform on education. You can

read that yourselves. We'll get a little more time, perhaps, and we can bring you what another Tory says about your government.

MÉLANIE GUILLEMETTE

Mr AL McDonald (Nipissing): I would like to speak today about a young woman in my riding who evokes the true meaning of community spirit.

Mélanie Guilemette, who attends Algonquin in North Bay, will be traveling to the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago this coming June 19 as part of a group from across this province who

will be distributing wheelchairs to people in need on the islands.

Mélanie's journey began four years ago when she and her youth group called Jeunesse-Interact decided to volunteer their free time to do some meaningful

community services for those in need. After their teacher and mentor retired, and with no one ready to continue to guide them, these young adults rallied on as a group with their own determination,

inspiration and will for helping others within the community.

One of their ongoing missions was to collect enough bottle tabs so they could purchase a wheelchair for someone in need within the community. Eventually, the

North Bay Rotary Club took these young adults under their wing and has been kindly guiding and promoting them through the Rotary Club.

Mélanie heard about a World Community Service project that would involve delivering 280 wheelchairs to needy people in and around Trinidad and Tobago. She

became very interested and enthusiastic about becoming a participant in this project, so much so that her mother, Joanne, became just as excited and will be joining Mélanie and others from

around Ontario in order to personally distribute these much-needed wheelchairs. I would like to salute Mélanie's efforts and determination and wish her continued success in all her

endeavours.

VISITORS

Mr Michael Bryant (St Paul's): I'd like all members to welcome the family of a great legislative page, the first page from St Clare Catholic

school in the great riding of St Paul's, Kristian Mandarano. His family is here: Anthony, Teresa, Vince and Dominic Mandarano. We all welcome you.

BEST START PLAN FOR CHILDREN

Mrs Leona Dombrowsky (Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington): Today, I had the opportunity to present the Liberal Best Start plan for children

to the social services committee of the city of Toronto.

At this meeting I was appalled to learn that the city of Toronto's crisis with child care is getting worse. The city lost over 1,600 subsidized child care spaces

in 2002, in spite of the fact that there are over 15,000 children waiting for a space. This year, provincial funding shortfalls will require Toronto to cut a further 500 spaces, a decision the city

wants desperately to avoid.

The Ontario Liberal Party believes that access to quality child care is an important investment for our communities. Dalton McGuinty's Best Start plan for

children is a $300-million plan to expand child care subsidies in Ontario. Under a Liberal government, fully 75% of Ontario families would qualify for assistance with their child care costs.

In addition to our commitment, we will spend every federal dollar from the national child care agenda on regulated child care. Also, we will work co-operatively

with our municipal partners to develop a quality child care system and ensure that municipalities like Toronto will no longer have to make the untenable choices brought on by the Ernie Eves

government.

CONSTITUENCY STAFF

Mr David Christopherson (Hamilton West): As members will know, I will not be returning to this place after the next election; I'm not standing.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff I have been blessed to have over the years. I want to say very directly to every member who is here for their second term or more that I think

they will agree they got re-elected in large part because of the dedication of their staff and the fact that their staff care about their constituents just as much as they do.

I can't name all the staff that I've been fortunate enough to work with, having been a cabinet minister, parliamentary assistant and House leader, but I can

mention the staff who are with me now; many of them have been there for almost the entire 13 years.

I would ask this House to join with me in recognizing their contribution and their efforts to my constituents in Hamilton West and formerly in Hamilton Centre.

They are: Connie MacKay, Maria Massi, Linda Mitchell and Frances Lima. I want to thank them on behalf of my constituents.

These are the kinds of people who make calls at night when they have their own family responsibilities. They're the ones who go the extra mile so that when

you're out on the hustings, people say, "I'm going to vote for you, because I called your office and I got the response I needed."

In large part, while we're here they are the face of the MPP; they are the MPP. I have been blessed with phenomenal support of staff, and I thank you for

everything you have done that's allowed me to be here.

MUSIC AND FILM IN MOTION

Mr Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): Life can often be difficult for young artists with dreams for the future. This is especially true in

northern Ontario, by nature of its being a smaller market in comparison to the big cities of the south and the United States. However, these artists are persistent. Today it is my pleasure to bring

to the attention of this House a great organization in northern Ontario that is helping these people reach their dreams.

Music and Film in Motion is a non-profit organization. Its mandate is to promote and develop the north's music and film industries. This year, with the

leadership and vision of executive director Dennis Landry, Music and Film in Motion has begun the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards. These awards will be centred around an awards ceremony in

Sudbury, to be held on September 15. The awards will help to give the local industry the publicity and growth that it needs. Anyone who was born in or now lives in northern Ontario is eligible for

the honours.

This organization and its ceremony will help focus attention on the excellent talent that our artists have in the north and in all of Ontario. Money and exposure

are often barriers to an artist's success. Thanks to Dennis Landry and his co-workers, that barrier is starting to be eliminated. I hope that you all join me in recognizing their hard work and

leadership.

EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

Mr Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): Last week, something extraordinary happened. Bill Davis finally spoke out, and he

certainly wasn't bland. Here is what former Premier Davis told the Toronto City Summit Alliance: "I take exception to those who would view public education being, shall we say, fragmented by

vouchers or charter schools."

It's clear that Bill Davis, Tory Premier for 14 years, does not like your voucher for private schools. Bill Davis, the man Ernie Eves first ran under, said they

fragment public education. Bill Davis, education minister for nine years, made his choice and it's for public education. Here is a man the people of Ontario should be proud of.

The Harris-Eves Tories broke their word and funded private schools. The Harris-Eves Tories took $500 million out of public schools and put it into private

schools. Ernie Eves called the private school tax credit ludicrous, but he flip-flopped and today he supports it.

The differences between Bill Davis and Ernie Eves couldn't be more obvious. Bill Davis has always been totally in support of public education. Ernie Eves is

taking $500 million out of public schools to fund private schools.

Bill Davis stood up to his party and said what he believed. Ernie Eves knuckled under to the most extreme elements of his party and flip-flopped on everything

from private schools to jailing the homeless.

Bill Davis commands the respect of Ontario. Ernie Eves -- well, let's just say he probably wishes Bill Davis had been just a little bit more bland last week.

CARPENTER HOSPICE IN BURLINGTON

Mr Cameron Jackson (Burlington): The Carpenter Hospice in Burlington is Ontario's newest residential hospice. It was built entirely through the

generous contributions of our community. Since opening in August 2002, more than 75 families have been supported by volunteers and staff at the hospice.

There are nine residential hospices in Ontario that have evolved with different and varied funding allocations from the provincial government. The Carpenter

Hospice receives a modest envelope of nursing and home care funding through Halton CCAC, while its remaining resources are raised through private donations and fundraising efforts. The Victorian

Order of Nurses, through a managed contract with the Halton CCAC, provides limited nursing and home care services, with additional care provided by hospice staff.

On April 14, 2003, I wrote to Health Minister Tony Clement asking for a regulatory change to allow hospice programs to receive direct funding under this

long-term-care envelope. The results would be less red tape and more dollars driven to front-line services.

Under the proposal, accountability would still rest with the CCAC and they could continue to set the rate of pay based on salary ranges that they approve

locally. The main difference is that the staff would be hired directly by the local hospice, and this would create consistency, stability and reliability for patient-family contact and service

delivery.

This model would be very well received by the seven hospices that do not receive direct funding. This change would speak to our government's priority of

providing well-managed and enhanced health care services closer to home.

REPORT, INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): I beg to inform the House that today I have laid upon the table the report of the Integrity Commissioner concerning

his review of expense claims under the Cabinet Ministers' and Opposition Leaders' Expenses Review and Accountability Act, 2002, for the period January 1, 2003, to March 31, 2003.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Caledon Teen Ranch Act, 2003

Mr Arnott moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr24,

An Act respecting the Caledon Teen Ranch.

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

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

JUNKET REGISTRY ACT, 2003 /

LOI SUR LE REGISTRE

CONCERNANT LES VOYAGES

AUX FRAIS DE LA PRINCESSE, 2003

Mr Kormos moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 88,

An Act to amend the Cabinet Ministers' and Opposition Leaders' Expenses Review and Accountability Act, 2002, with respect to keeping a registry of

travel expense claims / Projet de loi 88, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2003 concernant l'examen des dépenses et l'obligation de rendre compte des ministres et des chefs d'un parti de l'opposition,

relativement à l'établissement d'un registre sur les demandes de remboursement pour des frais de déplacement.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): The

short title of this act is the Junket Registry Act. It amends the existing legislation to provide that the

Integrity Commissioner shall maintain a register of documents regarding expenses and itineraries incurred in the course of out-of-province travel by all members of the Legislative Assembly. The

contents of the registry would be published on the Internet. This is part of the junk-the-junkets program. It will expose junkets, junketeers and those who would travel throughout North America and

abroad on summer flings, among others, at taxpayers' expense.

CORONERS AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 /

LOI DE 2003

MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LES CORONERS

Mr Hoy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 89,

An Act to amend the Coroners Act to require that more inquests be held and that jury recommendations be acted on / Projet de loi 89, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les coroners afin d'exiger qu'un plus grand nombre d'enquêtes soient tenues et que les recommandations du jury soient appliquées.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): This bill amends the Coroners Act so that all deaths on highways, in schools, universities, colleges or

hospitals are reported to the coroner. The coroner shall investigate all such deaths and the coroner is obliged to hold an inquest into a death unless he or she is satisfied that the death was due

to natural causes and was not preventable.

The chief coroner is required to forward jury recommendations to the person or entity to which they are directed. If the recommendations are directed to a

public sector entity, the entity shall implement them if the recommendations deal with matters of public safety. If the public sector entity fails to implement the recommendations, it shall report

on the reasons for the failure to the chief coroner within one year after the recommendations are made.

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT AMENDMENT ACT (SCHOOL BUSES), 2003 /

LOI DE 2003 MODIFIANT LE CODE

DE LA ROUTE (AUTOBUS SCOLAIRES)

Mr Parsons moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 90,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to require that school buses be equipped with flashing orange caution lights / Projet de loi 90, Loi modifiant

le Code de la route pour exiger que les autobus scolaires soient équipés de feux d'avertissement orange clignotants.

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

The member for a short statement?

Mr Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): This bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to require that school buses be equipped with flashing

orange caution lights that warn drivers when the bus is preparing to stop. This requirement applies to new school buses that are put on the road for the first time on or after the day the bill

receives royal assent.

VISITORS

Mr Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I would like to welcome grades 6, 7 and 8 French immersion students

from D'Arcy McGee and their teachers Ms Galecka, Mr Ferrari and Mrs Rashotte. Welcome to Queen's Park.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

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

regarding private members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Is there unanimous consent? I'm afraid I heard a no.

Other motions? Back to the government House leader.

Hon Mr Stockwell: I'll say it slower.

Mr Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members' public business.

The Speaker: Is there unanimous consent? Agreed? Agreed.

Hon Mr Stockwell: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 96(g), notice for ballot item 13 be waived. That would be Mr Bradley's bill.

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

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

JUNO BEACH CENTRE

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): It's my pleasure today to speak to a matter that is close to my heart and the

hearts of many Ontarians -- and Canadians, for that matter.

We all know of the courage and bravery of Canadian veterans of the Second World War, and we all understand that their contributions to peace, freedom and

democracy must always be remembered. The government of Ontario is committed to ensuring that future generations know of the valour shown by our veterans, hear of their stories, and understand the

great debt that our society owes to them. I am honoured to have participated in the opening last Friday of the new Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, the very place where Canadian soldiers landed on

D-Day, 59 years ago.

On September 10, 1939, Canadians went to war to preserve the freedoms that we all hold dear. By the time the Second World War had ended, more than 45,000

Canadians would sacrifice their lives for our freedom and another 55,000 would be wounded defending it. In the long, hard struggle to defend the ideals of the free world, the tide began to turn one

fateful and famous day: D-Day, June 6, 1944. As the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Eisenhower, told the Allied soldiers, "The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and progress

of liberty-loving people everywhere marches with you. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory."

Before dawn that morning, over 100 ships of the Royal Canadian Navy manned by 10,000 Canadian sailors steamed toward that very coast. Overhead, streams of

Canadian bombers dropped thousands of tons of explosives on enemy defences. Canadian fighter pilots battled the enemy in the overcast skies. Then, at just past 8 am, over 21,000 Canadian soldiers

stormed the beach that had been code-named Juno. Ahead of them lay kilometres of enemy machine-gun emplacements, concrete forts and barbed wire.

That day 340 Canadians gave their lives. Another 574 were wounded and 47 were taken prisoner. But by the end of the day, the Canadians had pushed through enemy

lines, advancing farther than either the British or the American forces. They fought on, despite heavy enemy fire, destruction all around them, the death of their friends and allies, and often in

spite of their own wounds.

That courage is something that few, if any, of us can begin to fathom. The soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought on D-Day didn't set out to be heroes. They

were simply ordinary young men from all over Canada, many of them from the province of Ontario. By the end of the day, however, they had become heroes, immortalized in the eyes of Canadians and the

entire free world. If Vimy Ridge was where Canada was baptized as a nation, surely Juno Beach marked our passage into adulthood. It was a day when we stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain and the

United States as one of the world's pre-eminent powers of peace, justice and freedom.

For almost 60 years we have benefited from the peace and freedom that these soldiers earned with their sweat, bought with their blood, and many paid for with

their lives.

Last week I was pleased to announce that in addition to supporting the Juno Beach Centre, the government is also creating a veterans' memorial on the grounds

of the Legislature.

We must always remember these courageous young soldiers. We must remember their spirit of camaraderie, their heroism, the lives and the families they left

behind to serve freedom. We must pass these stories on to the generations that follow. We must ensure that our children and grandchildren know that democracy, freedom and justice are not just

ideals to live by, but principles to fight for. We must teach them that not only do we owe our veterans our thanks, but we owe it to them to respect those principles in our daily lives. We must

remember each and every day that our many decades of freedom and peace have come at a huge cost in human life and suffering.

There can be no doubt that time has taken its toll. The young men and women who went off to war are fewer and fewer each year. On behalf of the province of

Ontario, I want to thank these veterans. Thank you for having the courage to make a difference, to pass the torch, to defend our freedoms and to preserve our peace. These veterans are true heroes

in every sense of the word. I salute them; the people of Ontario salute them; Canadians and free people everywhere salute them.

Ontario is honoured to participate in the Juno Beach Centre. It is a fitting tribute and a permanent reminder that good triumphs over evil, justice prevails

over tyranny and God almighty watches over the spirit of human decency everywhere. A Canadian, Padre Hickey, witness to the battle at Juno Beach, said, "The wheat field that once bent like any

other wheat field back home, now is torn with shell holes, and everywhere you could see the pale, upturned faces of the dead. We dug narrow graves and lowered them to rest. I blessed the group of

graves and said the burial prayers. I often thought that somewhere a mother, a father, a wife, a sister or brother still hoped and prayed."

In closing, let us never forget the ultimate price paid for our freedoms and beliefs that, unfortunately, we sometimes take for granted. Let us thank each and

every one of our veterans for helping to light the flame of the human spirit in each and every one of us so that future generations may live with dignity in freedom and in peace.

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): I want to begin by thanking the Premier for his statement. I appreciate the opportunity to

respond today on behalf of our caucus.

Every day, we Canadians do something simple but yet profound: we choose. We choose what we'll wear, where we'll go and how we'll get there. We choose our

friends, our place of work and our place our worship, if we do in fact choose to worship at all. We choose what we'll say, whether that be about the weather, the news or those who govern us. And

from time to time we choose those governments through free elections. We are free to choose because of the choice made by young men and women some 60 years ago. They could have chosen to ignore the

travesty and atrocities occurring an ocean away. Instead, they crossed that ocean, landing eventually on a beach in Normandy. They chose to confront and ultimately defeat those who sought to impose

dictatorship where there had been democracy, fear where there had been hope and coercion, even death, where there had been choice. By so doing, these young Canadian soldiers traversed another

ocean, one that separates good and evil.

Twenty-one thousand Canadians fought their way ashore at Normandy, and with each courageous step they secured the freedom to choose that we enjoy today.

On behalf of our caucus, I want to express my thanks to those Canadians -- those with us and those who have passed on -- and their families. I thank them also

on behalf of my children and all of our children, who have known nothing but the freedom to choose because of the choice these soldiers made some 60 years ago.

I want to commend, on behalf of our caucus and our party, everyone, including the government, associated with the opening of the Juno Beach Centre

commemorating Canada's role in the D-Day landings.

I am proud to be leader of my party, but perhaps my most important job was one I held when I was just a young man myself. Between high school and university, I

took some time to work as an orderly in the veterans' hospital in Ottawa. I provided basic hands-on care to war veterans. I bathed them and shaved them and combed their hair and brushed their

teeth. I turned them from side to side. I learned how to treat bedsores. I sat at their bedside and often listened to their stories. I can tell you they showed the same courage in the twilight of

their years as they had shown at dawn in Normandy decades earlier, the same kind of courage the Premier himself referred to, that few of us can even begin to fathom in today's world.

Let us honour that courage with ceremony and memorials, with brick and mortar. But let us honour it as well in another way, with each choice we make as

individuals, as Ontarians and as Canadians. Let us choose wisely and bravely as well. Let's choose to never take for granted the freedom to choose and those who fought for it and died for it on our

behalf and on our children's behalf. Let us choose to never forget those brave young Canadians.

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I am pleased to be able to take

part in this act of remembrance today for a number of reasons. The

Premier and the leader of the Liberal Party have referred to the number of Canadians who took

part in D-Day: the airmen who flew above the beaches; the sailors who took many soldiers to the

Normandy beaches; even the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, which, although it hasn't received the publicity of some other airborne operations, certainly was very distinguished on that day; and

then all of those Canadian soldiers who landed on the beaches -- the Regina Rifles, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, the Queen's Own Rifles, the North Shore Regiment, the Fort Garry Horse, the 1st

Hussars.

The first time I visited Normandy, I was a 20-year-old university student. I must confess, I knew some of the history of the Second World War, but not a lot.

What struck me at that time was that there were museums along Normandy. Yes, there were remembrances to British soldiers, to American soldiers, but there were really only a couple of plaques which

acknowledged that so many Canadians had been part of that memorable day and so many Canadians had given their lives. So I think what happened just a few short days ago, the opening of the Juno

Beach memorial, is long, long overdue, is something that every one of us should feel some sense of pride in and some sense of, finally, their recognition.

I also want to say something personal. When you're a young boy growing up, you probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about these things. When I was just

a student in high school, oftentimes hockey practice would be late in the evening, and I can't say how many times a fellow called Joe McKelvie, who used to work late in the evening at the paper

mill -- he was always getting called in because he was a machinist, and whenever something went down he had to fix it -- used to give me a ride home. I'd be hitchhiking home from hockey practice at

9 o'clock at night and he'd pick me up.

I learned later on in life that Joe McKelvie was one of the people who had gone ashore with the Queen's Own Rifles that day. He was somebody I always saw at

Remembrance Day ceremonies, always very proud, always dressed in his uniform -- very proud of what he had accomplished and what other people had accomplished.

I wonder what someone like Joe McKelvie would feel today if he knew this was finally happening. Regrettably he is one of those who has passed away -- he passed

away last summer -- but he knew this memorial was being built, and he used to tell everyone how proud he was of it.

I hope the families of those people who gave so much -- the children, the grandchildren -- will feel equally proud. I hope all citizens of Ontario and all

Canadians will recognize what an incredible act this is and how important it is.

Whenever I think about these issues, I'm always drawn to a book that Desmond Morton and Jack Granatstein wrote. It's called A Nation Forged in Fire: Canadians

and the Second World War. There's a quotation in it that I think summarizes better than anything I have ever read the nature of the people who were there. They quote a member of the Belgian

Resistance named Gerard Adriaenssens, who every November 1 takes

part in a remembrance ceremony for Canadian soldiers. He was just a boy at the time, but this is what he remembers. Some Canadian

soldiers spent the night in their barn, and he said:

"They were not Rambo soldiers, as one now imagines, but rather quiet, simple boys with a dull look in their eyes, who mourned their comrades who fell that day.

They sat there quietly and knew that it might be their turn to offer their lives the next day so that we here in Europe might live in freedom, friendship and peace.

"This is what we must tell the youth: the sacrifice these young Canadian soldiers freely gave for us ... they will always be remembered."

I believe, now that the Juno Beach memorial is there, not just for Canadians to see but for the world to see, they indeed will always be remembered. On behalf

of New Democrats, not only here at Queen's Park but across Ontario, we will remember them and we are very proud of them and the sacrifice they made.

ORAL QUESTIONS

PROTECTION FOR

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): My questions today are to the Premier. Today nurses came to the Legislature with a very simple

message to you: they want a full, independent public inquiry to look into how we handled SARS in Ontario. They want the assurance that all the tough questions will be asked and answered through a

full, independent, objective process conducted by an individual who is entirely removed from the government and who is equipped with all the tools necessary to get the job done: ask those

questions, get those answers and provide all of us with the benefit of a road map so we can manage these things in the best way possible in the future.

Premier, my question to you is, why are you afraid to call for a full, independent public inquiry on the matter of SARS in Ontario?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): The reality is that we're not, and the reality is that we are right now

talking to an individual of exactly that stature and asking for their input to the terms of reference of a full, open and public process so that the people of Ontario can understand exactly what

happens in their health care system.

Mr McGuinty: Premier, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I'll tell you what nurses are asking for and what I think we owe not only

those nurses but all Ontarians. A real public inquiry comes with whistle-blower protection; your internal review does not. A real public inquiry comes with the power to compel testimony; your

internal review does not. A real public inquiry comes with the power to subpoena files; your internal review does not. A real public inquiry is conducted in public and is truly independent; your

internal review is not.

If you are telling me that those are the characteristics that are to be found in what you're proposing to do, then you and I are talking about the same thing,

and we can get on with the public's business of having a full, independent public inquiry. If you're not prepared to do that, then tell us why you are afraid to do so.

Hon Mr Eves: Perhaps the leader of the official opposition is confused. There is a review going on, headed by Dr Walker, of the public health

care system's ability to respond to other situations like SARS in the future and to look at the SARS experience to develop proper procedures as we go forward.

That is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about coming out of a meeting that I held last week in my office with various representatives of

health care professions and institutions in Ontario, having a full, open, public investigative process to look into what is going on, what has gone on in the health care system, and exactly how our

health care system has the ability to respond.

Mr Dwight Duncan (Windsor-St Clair): -- weasel words.

Hon Mr Eves: I say to the honourable member from Windsor, if you want to refer to the individual who we are considering as a weasel, do that

outside the House when he or she is appointed.

I find it absolutely despicable that the leader of the official opposition or any other member of this Legislature would stand up in this House and try to make

a political issue out of what is a very public health care system in this province. You might want to wait until you see who the individual is, what the process is and what the terms of reference

are before you start to criticize them, because you might be very embarrassed in very short order.

Mr McGuinty: I'm still trying to figure out why you are afraid to agree to a full, independent public inquiry. As to the politics, I'm trying

to take the politics out of this. I'm trying to take it away from you and me and put it in the hands of an independent, objective commissioner who will get the job done. That's what we did in the

matter of Walkerton. What we're talking about here is the same kind of process that was used subsequent to the Walkerton inquiry. I think that process served the people of Ontario very, very well.

I think it was very effective at taking you, me and the leader of the third party out of the picture and having the matter given justice by an independent, objective commissioner.

Here are the questions: Why are you afraid of real whistle-blower protection? Why are you afraid of the power to compel testimony? Why are you afraid of the

power to subpoena files? Why are you afraid to have an inquiry that is full, independent and conducted in the face of the public? Why are you afraid of all those things?

Hon Mr Eves: Who said that there wouldn't be protection of people who appear? Who said that it wouldn't be a public process? Who is making

this stuff up? Who is playing politics with people's lives?

You should be ashamed of yourself, standing up here, trying to score political points. We are trying to share information in the Ontario public health care

system with the public, not score political points, which is more than I can say for you. You should be ashamed of yourself for standing up in the House.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): New question.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. We'll give the opposition leader time. The leader of the official opposition has the floor.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): I have a second question to the Premier. I want to return to the matter of the Ontario pension

fund in that very unusual deal that was entered into with the single biggest contributor to your party. Let's go over the basic facts here.

Your party's biggest fundraiser lent your party's biggest donor millions of pension fund dollars. The deal is very unusual, both from an industry perspective

and from the perspective of the Ontario pension fund itself. It is so unusual that the Ontario pension fund has never entered into this kind of deal since or before. We also learned last week that

Mr Weiss for nine months was working both as a fundraiser for your party and as a member of the board of the Ontario pension fund. Fundamentally, this comes down to your leadership, your ethical

standards, those that you set for yourself and your government.

I'm asking you, Premier, now that you fully understand those facts, if you believe there is nothing wrong there, that there was no conflict, and you feel it is

fine for that to have happened on your watch.

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I believe the Chair of Management Board has looked into this matter and has

an answer to this question.

Hon David H. Tsubouchi (Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, Minister of Culture): I guess I could refer continuously to the Hansards of

last week as well. I will tell you the same thing as I've said on numerous occasions: what we're concerned with here is whether or not due process was followed and whether or not due diligence was

followed, and we're satisfied that that's the case.

Mr McGuinty: Premier, back to you. Ultimately, this is about your ethical standards. These cabinet ministers are responding to nothing more

than the standards that you set for yourself and your government. I want to make it clear at the outset that these are not our standards. We would not allow this kind of thing to happen under our

government. Maybe this Premier feels this is OK, but we think it is wrong.

Premier, once more: your party's biggest fundraiser lends your party's biggest donor millions in pension fund dollars. The deal is very unusual for the Ontario

pension fund itself and it is very unusual given industry standards for pension funds in this province. It is so unusual that the Ontario pension fund has never done this kind of deal before, nor

has it done this kind of deal since. Mr Weiss was appointed to this position by your government. For nine months he acted in two capacities: both as fundraiser and as an individual on the board of

the Ontario pension fund.

Here's another fact for you to consider today, Premier. We have learned that during that nine-month period in which Mr Weiss had a foot in both camps, $21,300

was contributed by Mr Cortellucci's companies to your party. I ask you again, Premier: given that this has everything to do with your ethical standards and the standards you set for your

government, do you see nothing at all wrong in these facts?

Hon Mr Tsubouchi: The Leader of the Opposition is reaching a little bit here. First of all, for him to connect dots, there have to be some

dots for him to connect.

Let's deal with the so-called unusual nature of these types of investments. As I reported last week, if we look at the industry standards, they were reported

in Benefits Canada's report: of the top 100 pension funds in Canada, 1.7% of total assets are invested in mortgages for pension funds. In the case of the Ontario pension fund, this represents 0.3%

of investments in mortgages, which is $36.3 million. Clearly, in contrast with what the Leader of the Opposition is saying, the industry standards for investment in mortgages are much higher than

for the Ontario pension plan.

You deal with facts. He hasn't listened to what I said last week. Obviously I'm giving the same facts today. Hopefully he doesn't return to the same thing

again tomorrow. But these are facts reported by Benefits Canada.

Mr McGuinty: Premier, you can duck, you can bob, you can weave, but this is sticking to you. It's not a matter for the minister. This is

ultimately a matter for you. This is a very, very unusual deal. This deal stinks. It's like an odour in an elevator: it's just not going to go away. It's going to hang around for a long time, and

we'll keep bringing it back to you, because that's where the buck stops.

It is my understanding that you were going to provide strong leadership over there; you were going to set high standards; you were going to do things

differently from your predecessor. Then tell us, Premier, what you intend to do about this deal. Are you going to allow this deal to stand? Are you going to say, "It is fine. This may have happened

on my watch. We've appointed this guy. He was our biggest fundraiser. He may have received money from our biggest donor. This may be an exceptional deal, but as far as I'm concerned as Premier of

Ontario, as leader of this new government, there is not a damn thing wrong with this"?

Is that what you're telling us, Premier? Because if that is what you're telling us, I want to make it clear we have nothing to do with those standards. If

you're such a strong leader, then stand up and say, "I will set this aside. I will not allow this to happen."

Hon Mr Tsubouchi: I am trying to deal with facts here. It's unfortunate the Leader of the Opposition hasn't listened to the facts as stated

last week, and he still seems to want to try to smear people. I would suggest you either listen to the facts or go out and speak as you think the facts are outside of the House and see how long you

stand on your kind of facts when you try to smear people.

I get back to the facts. The fact of the matter is that the Ontario Pension Board has always had the power to invest in real estate mortgages. The authority to

make these mortgage investments --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Come to order, please. Sorry to interrupt. Chair of Management Board.

Hon Mr Tsubouchi: Getting back to the facts, the authority to make these mortgage investments has existed unchanged since 1991. The board

adopted an investment policy containing these elements in the Statement of Investment Policies and Goals in 1991. Clearly the authority was there to make these investments.

All I hear over there are all these spurious accusations. I would suggest that if the members of the opposition believe that these are true facts, they don't

go under the protection of the Legislature there. Go out and make these facts, as you state them, outside there and see how long you stand on them.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Today, parents in Toronto are terrified that their children are not

safe at school. A month ago we saw the terrible death of Holly Jones. We've heard reports of a man trying to abduct children on the street. Most recently, an intruder was found in Essex-Hawthorne

public school trying to make contact with children.

Premier, your government has cut education funding. You've eliminated school principals and vice-principals. You've eliminated education assistants,

caretakers, secretaries. We are told that these people are the eyes and ears in our schools. We're told that these people who have been cut in fact are needed to keep our children safe. Are you

going to put more children at risk, or are you going to do something about these cuts which take these essential people out of our schools?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): Surely the leader of the third party is not suggesting that the government or

anything this government has done led to the very unfortunate death of Holly Jones. Surely he is above that on the floor of this Legislature.

Contrary to what he would like people to believe, the government has not cut funding to education in this province. As a matter of fact, we have added

considerably to funding in this province. It is now $15.3 billion a year -- when we started, it was $12.9 billion a year -- and we have committed to adding to that another $1.9 billion in excess of

what Dr Rozanski recommended in his report. So in his supplementary, he might want to correct the record on that issue, and he might want to remove any suggestion that the government is somehow

responsible for the very unfortunate death and murder of Holly Jones. Surely he has the class to do that.

Mr Hampton: Here is the reality: principals have been cut, vice-principals have been cut, caretaking staff have been cut and educational

assistants have been cut, and now the Conservative-appointed supervisor, Paul Christie, wants to cut even more from those schools, the very school where the intruder was found. Lunchtime

supervisors are supposed to disappear, more vice-principals are supposed to be cut and more caretakers are supposed to be cut.

Premier, I have two school-aged children. Like those other parents, I'm worried about what's going on when someone who is obviously trying to make contact with

children can get into a school, and yet we know more cuts are scheduled. Are you going to put more children at risk, or are you going to recognize that the cuts you are proposing -- the cuts Paul

Christie wants to make in these very schools -- will put more children at risk?

Hon Mr Eves: There have been no cuts to education in the province of Ontario; there have been billions of dollars added to education in the

province of Ontario. With respect to the safety of schools, I think every member of this House would agree that schools should be as safe as possible. That's why our government introduced the Safe

Schools Act. We're looking at ways to improve safety in our public education system all the time.

I say again to the honourable member that he might want to clarify that he's surely not suggesting that anything the government has done led to the very

unfortunate death of Holly Jones.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Final supplementary?

Mr Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): I talked to the mother whose child was approached by an intruder at Essex-Hawthorne public school.

She's very distressed, and I know you understand that. I am distressed.

I am telling you that the cuts to education are not going by unnoticed by me, by this parent or by Dr Rozanski. Premier, you control the purse strings, not the

board. The board spends according to what you give them. So you have made the cuts that are making it very difficult in our schools to have people such as educational assistants, caretakers,

secretaries and vice-principals as the eyes and ears of school safety. You have to do more to reduce the threat and increase the safety of our children as much as you can. Responsible parents do

not leave their children unattended; neither should you.

Tell this mother what you are going to do, Premier, to improve the safety of her child and every schoolchild in Ontario.

Hon Mr Eves: This is surely an all-time new low for members of the third party in this Legislature. Last year, the Toronto District School

Board received $60 million more than it received the year before. The proposed spending for this year is $99 million more than last year. This year it is proposed that it will receive $2.1 billion,

a 5% increase over last year, which was an increase over the previous year, despite the fact that its enrolment declined by 4.2%.

To stand up in this House and say to the only government that's done something about safety in schools in the last 15 years in this province, and that has

increased public school funding, including in Toronto, by billions of dollars since we've been the government, and try to leave the impression that somehow that resulted in the unfortunate murder

and death of Holly Jones going home from a friend's house, is absolutely despicable. You might want to have the class to stand up and withdraw that ridiculous accusation on the floor of this

Legislature, and you might want to go out there and repeat it.

PROTECTION FOR

HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I have a question for the Premier.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order. Sorry. We'll start over. Come to order, please. The leader of the third party has the floor.

Mr Hampton: I believe that your cuts to education, particularly in Toronto, are putting children's safety at risk. But I want to ask you about

a situation with nurses. Nurses today took the incredibly unusual step of coming here to Queen's Park wearing masks that say "Muzzled" on them and asking your government for a public inquiry under

the Public Inquiries Act with whistle-blower protection so that nurses can tell the public the facts as they know them.

Premier, you have said you want to have a review. Nurses have said that is not good enough. Nurses want a public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act, and

they want whistle-blower protection so that those nurses who have been muzzled, who have been ignored and who have been silenced can come forward and tell the public the facts about SARS as they

know them. Will you provide a public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act with whistle-blower protection so those nurses can tell the public their facts? Yes or no?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I say to the leader of the third party that when he sees what sort of a

public process, investigative process, we come forward with, he will see that people of all health care professions will be free to come forward and tell their story and will receive the protection

they all deserve so that the people of Ontario can hear for themselves what has happened in their health care system with respect to SARS in the province.

Surely the honourable member is not suggesting that somebody is guilty of some criminal activity with respect to the SARS outbreak in Ontario. What we want to

do is to get the facts of how this SARS outbreak was treated and contained in the province, how information was shared under among different health care professions and institutions, and how we can

do a better job in the future.

Mr Hampton: It is the very front-line nurses who have no confidence in the process you've outlined. It is the very front-line nurses, for

example at Mount Sinai, who asked for protective equipment like these masks and were denied. It's the very front-line nurses who are saying that all of the procedures that need to be in place in

terms of patient transfers are not in place. They don't have confidence in the process you have outlined so far. These are the nurses, many of whom are sick, many of whom are risking their lives,

who are saying they do not have confidence in the process that you have outlined so far.

The question is, are you going to provide them with a public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act with whistle-blower protection or not? That's what they

want to know, and what you've outlined so far gives them no confidence. What's your answer?

Hon Mr Eves: If the leader of the third party was at the meeting last week, he will know I tried to convey to the House last week exactly

Mr Hampton: -- nurses on the front line. They were at the meeting.

Hon Mr Eves: He's talking about one group that was at the meeting. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario was there. The Ontario Nurses'

Association was there. The Ontario College of Nurses was there. The Ontario Medical Association was there. The College of Physicians and Surgeons was there. The Ontario Hospital Association was

there. I say to the honourable member that they all agree that there should be a public process, that people in all health care professions should be free to come forward and talk about their

experiences and the sharing, or lack thereof, with respect to SARS and how it was dealt with so that we can inform the public of Ontario as to exactly what went on with their health care

system.

The RNAO was the only member in attendance who wanted to use the language of a public inquiry similar to Walkerton. The others, quite frankly, basically felt

Ms Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): They weren't asked.

Hon Mr Eves: I say, with all due respect to the honourable member, you are incorrect. They were all asked to say whatever they wanted to say

on this issue --

The Speaker: I'm afraid the Premier's time is up.

MINISTER'S EXPENSES

Mr Michael Bryant (St Paul's): My question is for the Premier. It's also to do with standards. Premier, do you think it's OK for one of your

ministers to have a $5,000-$10,000 expense picked up, not by his ministry, but rather by a taxpayer-owned corporation? Do you think that's OK?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): If the honourable member is referring to the expense of the Minister of the

Environment, he will know that the Minister of the Environment has done the appropriate thing and referred the entire issue to the Integrity Commissioner, who will give a totally independent and

proper ruling on the issue.

Mr Bryant: Well, the Premier will know that the government sets the standards and the rules upon which the Integrity Commissioner adjudicates,

and you will know that your bill that purported to cover off ministerial travel expenses, Bill 216, was supposed to fix all the loopholes. That's what the minister responsible said. He said, "The

rules governing expenses have long been vague and inconsistently applied," and therefore the ministerial expenses involving travel were to be covered under Bill 216.

I say to you, Mr Premier, there's a huge honking loophole in this bill that you introduced. The Integrity Commissioner will be speaking to one bill, the

Members' Integrity Act, and it's very convenient that the member wants him to look at that, but what I'm asking you to speak to is the bill that you introduced: the law that governs ministerial

expenses. We cannot have public expenses diverted from public attention by having them picked up by taxpayer-owned corporations that are not subject to public disclosure.

Will you or will you not fill the loophole that permits the Minister of Energy to be a chauffeur of a limo paid for by Ontario Power Generation?

Hon Mr Eves: We introduced legislation that is far more restrictive and definite than any previous government in the history of the province

of Ontario, which is more than I can say for your party when they were in government, I might add. You might want to stand up in this House and explain what happened when you were in government for

five years, and you might want to go through it.

The reality is that there is an independent Integrity Commissioner. Surely the member's not questioning the integrity of the Integrity Commissioner, Mr Justice

Coulter Osborne. Surely you can rely upon the opinion and the honesty and the independence of Mr Justice Osborne to give us a fair, independent and objective non-political review of the minister's

expenses. We're prepared to do that. Why aren't you?

PROVINCIAL PARKS

Mr Bert Johnson (Perth-Middlesex): My question today is for the Honourable Jerry Ouellette, the hard-working, effective, efficient Minister of

Natural Resources who represents the riding of Oshawa. Minister, I, like you --

Interjections.

Mr Johnson: Maybe the member for Toronto Centre-Rosedale would like to listen --

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): Order. Take his seat. The member for Perth-Middlesex has the floor. Sorry to the member.

Mr Johnson: Minister, I, like you, and thousands of other Ontarians get very excited at this time of year. The weather is getting warmer and

we feel the urge to get outside and enjoy the wilderness.

I, myself, satisfy this urge with an annual fishing trip. Many people like to camp, hike, canoe or simply head out to one of many provincial parks for a

picnic.

However people use them, we have a world-class provincial park system right here in our own backyard. Minister, could you please inform us today on the status

of our parks, and what kind of season 2003 is shaping up to be.

Hon Jerry J. Ouellette (Minister of Natural Resources): I thank the member for the question. All our parks, in every region of the province,

are up and running and fully ready to go. We have 292 parks fully operational in the province of Ontario. Quite frankly, during this time of concern with what's taking place with tourism in the

province, it's good to report that we have people from all around the world visiting our parks. This is the second year in a row that we are breaking records for reservations because people want to

come to Ontario and participate in our great parks system.

Mr Johnson: It's a little bit off topic, Mr Speaker, but I just wanted to introduce Lutzen Riedstra and his son, Lutzen, in the members' east

gallery. They are visiting from the Stratford archives, and we welcome them to the Legislature today. They like parks and things like that as well.

Minister, I must say that with the concerns about tourism, the impact of SARS on this huge industry, and other solemn concerns like mad cow disease, it is

really great news to hear about our parks system and the way it is being utilized. That being said, how should people from my great riding of Perth-Middlesex or elsewhere go about getting their own

campsite and what can they expect when they arrive there for their holiday?

Hon Mr Ouellette: There's a wide choice of activities that take place in all our parks, from swimming to hiking to canoeing. Whether it's

Darlington, Ivanhoe, Silent Lake, or Algonquin and its 110th anniversary, there are all sorts of different activities for all sorts of people across the province.

The question was about getting on-line. OntarioParks.com is one of the ways that you can make your reservation in Ontario parks. Whether it's bringing your own

trailers or tents, we've got electricity in them to provide a wide range of activities for all those individuals, both in Ontario and those visiting our great province.

EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

Mr Dalton McGuinty (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Premier. Last week I was at the Toronto City Summit Alliance conference

and I had the very good fortune to sit on a panel dealing with the matter of education, a panel that was moderated by former Premier Bill Davis.

You will know that Bill Davis spent most of his adult life championing and building a strong, sound system of public education in Ontario. He was very critical

of your private school tax credit. He said, "I take exception to those who would view public education being, shall we say, fragmented by vouchers or charter schools."

Premier, you were a member in the Bill Davis government. Surely you must recall his passion for public education and the vision with which he inspired all of

us when it came to that important ministry. Can you tell us, why is it that you have betrayed Bill Davis's vision for public education in the province of Ontario?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): There is no length to which the leader of the official opposition won't stoop

today to try and leave misimpressions with the public. Bill Davis spoke about vouchers and charter schools. There is nothing that this government is doing that takes away from public education in

Ontario.

We are spending billions more than David Peterson ever dreamt of spending on public education in Ontario. We have increased funding to public education

dramatically, and we will continue to do it as we go forward in the future.

Mr McGuinty: I can tell you, Premier, I was there: he was talking about your tax credit. He was about 15 feet away from me. He was talking

about your tax credit and he was very, very critical. This is a man who spent nine years as Minister of Education and 14 years as Premier. This man stands against your tax credit. This is the same

tax credit that you yourself called ludicrous. You've abandoned the principles that he had set for Tories in the province and you abandoned your own principles when you decided that a tax credit

that you yourself called ludicrous was somehow worthy of your support.

I ask you again, Premier: why is it that you have abandoned traditional Conservative Party principles when it comes to championing public education for all our

children?

Hon Mr Eves: That is not what Premier Davis was talking about, and the leader of the official opposition knows it. He was talking about

vouchers and charter schools. That is not what former Premier Bill Davis says when he's talking to us about what his comments were and weren't.

I know you would like to exaggerate and use it to your political advantage, but that is not --

Mr McGuinty: He's against the tax credit. Phone him up and ask him.

Hon Mr Eves: We did, and that is not what he was talking about, and the leader of the official opposition knows it.

I will agree with him on this point: Bill Davis was one of the best education ministers Ontario has ever had, certainly far superior to anybody who was

Minister of Education in the Liberal regime of David Peterson. He was right up there with the current Minister of Education, Elizabeth Witmer.

ASSISTANCE TO TOURISM INDUSTRY

Mr Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): My question today is for the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Brian Coburn. My beautiful riding of

Parry Sound-Muskoka has been hit hard by the threat of SARS. The health unit and health care professionals have been doing an exemplary job in managing the situation, and for that they should be

commended. However, as you know, our tourism industry has taken quite a hit. Can you tell me what support my riding can expect from our government?

Hon Brian Coburn (Minister of Tourism and Recreation): I thank the member from Parry Sound-Muskoka. Certainly his dedication and commitment to

his residents puts him at the forefront in terms of accessing some of the ministry's programs.

We recognize that some of the health care challenges we have are not only in Toronto but throughout other parts of Ontario. That's why, on April 29, Premier

Eves announced $128 million as part of a recovery program for tourism in the province. Part of that recovery plan is the destination marketing partnership fund. That of course supports the

destination marketing efforts we have in different areas of Ontario. The goal of the fund is to stimulate increased visitation by new visitors and re-energize and revitalize our communities to

increase community confidence and spending.

This fund is certainly targeted to your riding as well, and the Georgian Bay marketing association would be able to apply for that funding. This helps to do

things such as advertising, marketing, public relations activities and direct mail.

Another important initiative is --

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

Mr Miller: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Our government certainly has stepped up to the plate to assist the tourism industry as a

result of our recent challenges. I know the tax holiday, which has been put in place from, I believe, May 1 to September 30, will certainly help to stimulate business activity in the area.

Knowing that the Georgian Bay marketing association and Muskoka tourism can be assisted, what kind of help can individual operators expect in promoting their

area and their events?

Hon Mr Coburn: We believe that greater recovery from SARS can be achieved through co-operation between tourism and marketing associations,

individual businesses, community groups and municipal tourism organizations. That's why our funding programs are targeted at building these partnerships and strengthening them to achieve a greater

impact in our communities from marketing efforts.

The member may also like to know that we have the event marketing and development fund as well, and that encourages partnerships to increase attendance by new

visitors and helps generate more economic activity. This fund also targets events or festivals and provides support in marketing efforts with the goal of improving long-term sustainability.

Event and festival organizations or strategic alliances between individuals and businesses, community organizations and others will have access to funds from

these marketing efforts.

HYDRO DEREGULATION

Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Statistics Canada says that industries in Ontario now pay 75% more for

deregulated hydro. Too many industries can't afford that. They're closing plants, they're laying off workers and they're cancelling expansions.

For example, in Thunder Bay, Buchanan Forest Products has laid off 400 workers. In Windsor, DaimlerChrysler has shelved plans for a 2,500-worker assembly plant

and parts operation. In Orangeville, your own backyard, Manac closed its van plant and is sending 235 workers to Quebec, a province that has affordable, reliable public power.

Hydro deregulation is killing so many jobs that you could start a new club. You could call it Ernie and Dalton's Lost Jobs Ontario. How many jobs does Hydro

privatization and deregulation have to kill before you admit that it's a bad strategy?

Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): It's interesting how the leader of the third party takes business decisions

that are made for a whole host of reasons by individual businesses and automatically equates that all of them happen because of one single issue that he wants to champion on the floor of the

Legislature and outside.

The honourable member knows perfectly well -- he points to DaimlerChrysler, for example -- that the decision DaimlerChrysler made with respect to a new plant

does not have anything to do with respect to hydro prices. He also knows that most large corporations have their own separate deal with OPG, which produces power. He knows over the weekend that

Daimler talked about redoing their fiscal forecast. They're going to be losing money in the North American Chrysler market. He also knows that DaimlerChrysler said that they will spend up to $1.4

billion in Brampton or Bramalea to expand their operations. I'm sure he just forgot all those facts when he was asking his question.

Mr Hampton: You might want to try that answer with the Globe and Mail columnist Eric Reguly, who used to be a friend of yours, who says your

hydro privatization and deregulation scheme is killing jobs. You might want to try your answer with the workers at Falconbridge in Timmins, or Tembec's Cochrane mill, or Weyerhaeuser's mills in

Chapleau and Sturgeon Falls, or Buchanan's mills in Dubreuilville, where they say specifically that hydro prices are shutting them down, or Domtar's mill in White River.

A lot of workers know that their factory, their plant, their mill, can't afford to pay 75% more on the hydro bill. That's the issue. You can try to blame it on

all kinds of other factors, but in mill after mill, factory after factory, plant after plant, workers and employers know that your hydro privatization and deregulation scheme is killing jobs. When

are you going to admit it's a failure and recognize that public power, publicly owned, not-for-profit hydroelectricity, is the way to go? When are you going to admit that?

Hon Mr Eves: I know it is difficult for the leader of the third party to sit there on that side of the House and acknowledge that for the past

eight years there isn't one jurisdiction in the entire Western world that has outperformed the growth in the province of Ontario. Not one. I know it pains him to sit there and know that 1,150,000

more people are working in Ontario today than were working in 1995. It also pains him to know that when his government was in power, 10,000 jobs were lost in Ontario. With all due respect to the

leader of the third party and his political party, their thinking, their programs and their ideals, the reality is that by allowing the people of this province to keep more of their own money,

there are 1,150,000 more of them working today than there were in 1995. We have a standard of living in this province and in this country second to none anywhere in the Western world.

WAYNE LEWIS'S RELEASE

Mr Dominic Agostino (Hamilton East): My question is for the Minister of Public Safety and Security. Wayne Lewis was released from Maplehurst

detention centre on Monday, June 2. On Thursday, June 6, he murdered 22-year-old Ellisse Phillips, former common-law wife to Lewis and a constituent of mine. Wayne Lewis then turned the gun on

himself and committed suicide.

This man had a violent history of previous gun offences. He had been arrested regarding an incident with a gun and an ex-girlfriend. In July of 2000, he shot a

man in Hamilton and left him paralyzed. One and a half years later, he was sentenced to four years and 10 months in jail. However, due to the conditions of the jail and the strike, the judge ruled

that the time spent before sentencing would count as three to one in time. He served one year in a provincial institution.

Wayne Lewis should still have been in jail when he murdered Ellisse Phillips. Two things are clear: the provincial system failed and this violent offender

should not have been released and there were very few restrictions on Wayne Lewis's parole when he was released. In view of the circumstances, Minister, will you agree to a full, independent,

outside investigation into the circumstances regarding Wayne Lewis's release from a provincial jail?

Hon Robert W. Runciman (Minister of Public Safety and Security): There's no question this is a tragic case and we want to extend our

condolences to the family and friends of the victims in this situation.

As the member opposite knows, this is currently under investigation, not just by the police but the special investigations unit as well. Hopefully, you would

understand that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the circumstances surrounding this, as it is still under investigation. Following completion of that investigation, if there's a need

for a further review by the ministry or the government, we will certainly be prepared to consider that.

Mr Agostino: The SIU is carrying out an investigation because of the fact that police were called to the scene and, just as they got there,

the crime occurred. There is no trial upcoming; the man committed suicide. What we need is an outside, independent investigation into the circumstances regarding Ellisse. It has to be independent.

Police are not allowed to investigate themselves. This is a serious matter. I don't think the ministry has the ability or should be able to investigate itself in this as well. The entire system has

failed this young woman.

Hamilton detective Mike Thomas, who arrested Wayne Lewis, said, "Guns were a part of his life.... Lewis was a cold-blooded man. I always thought he'd kill or

be killed." Probation and parole should have known that Lewis had a lengthy history of violent behaviour. There were few conditions attached to parole. We also learned that while in jail, he had a

long history of violent behaviour against inmates and guards. There seems to be overwhelming evidence that this man was extremely dangerous. Did the Ontario parole know of this? What steps were

taken upon his release?

Those are the types of questions to be asked, and again I urge you -- this is independent of any police investigation. There will be no criminal charges here.

The man killed himself. I urge you to call an independent investigation into the matter today, specifically into the release and the surrounding circumstances of this man's parole, and what actions

were taken to protect the public from this violent offender.

Hon Mr Runciman: I have to get this clarified. My understanding was that the individual was on probation, not parole. I have asked for a

review of the file with respect to the situation and the circumstances surrounding it but, beyond that, I don't think it would be appropriate to comment today.

PETERBOROUGH LIBRARY

Mr R. Gary Stewart (Peterborough): My question is for the Minister of Culture. On Saturday, May 31, you and I had the pleasure of attending

the official launch of the Peterborough Public Library's new initiative, the new TEKdesk, which provides technological support to library staff across the province 24 hours a day, seven days a

week.

As MPP for the riding of Peterborough, I'm very pleased and indeed impressed by the innovative thinking demonstrated by the Peterborough library and wish to

acknowledge the hard work and efforts of the staff: Ken Doherty, library manager; Becky Rogers, head librarian, Bruce Roxburgh, project manager; Kevin Edwards, community opportunities innovative

network; as well as all the TEKdesk support staff and library staff who helped make this happen. It is their vision that enables other libraries all over Ontario to have access to technical help at

all hours of the day.

I am sure you know, Minister, that this type of assistance is invaluable, especially to those smaller remote, rural and First Nations libraries. Minister, can

you tell this House a little bit more about this wonderful initiative?

Hon David H. Tsubouchi (Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, Minister of Culture): First, I'd like acknowledge the member for

Peterborough's leadership on library issues, and in particular on behalf of his own library.

He is quite right; the Peterborough Public Library showed an extreme amount of leadership. They took a survey in 2001 to see what the needs of libraries were

across the province. As you can appreciate, the needs of libraries in the smaller remote and northern areas are quite different than the larger libraries here in Toronto, for example, or even in

York region. What they discovered is that in many of the small libraries they often have only one staff member and the rest are volunteers. So with respect to high-tech support, they haven't got

access to it. What the Peterborough library did -- and it went well beyond the bounds of Peterborough -- was to have some sort of networking support province-wide, which is a great benefit to these

smaller libraries.

I think this is something that is to be commended and I know it is going to be acted upon by many of the small libraries in our small communities across the

province.

Mr Stewart: Thank you for your comments. I know that in addition to the TEKdesk, the Peterborough Public Library also took advantage of this

initiative internally to digitize its own collection of images from the Balsillie Collection of the Roy Studio Images, which is housed in that library. The collection was acquired by the city of

Peterborough in 2000, through the generous donation of Jim Balsillie. This collection comprises over 400,000 historical glass plate and film negatives. The original studio was established in 1896

in Peterborough, and for over three generations Roy photographers chronicled the history, people, industry and past times of the city and county. Minister, I wonder if you could tell the House just

how important libraries like mine and collections that they house are to the people of Ontario.

Hon Mr Tsubouchi: In particular, this year, which is the 100th anniversary of the Archives of Ontario, I'd like to say that libraries are a

tremendous repository of information and historical artifacts and history from across the province. Just a couple of weeks ago, I happened to go by the heritage centre in Markham and I picked up a

book about the history of Scarborough written by the Reverend Bonis. The member for Scarborough East, who is a long-time Scarborough resident, and the member for Scarborough Centre, who is as well

-- the member for Scarborough Southwest is probably newer to Scarborough, he is younger than us, but the member for Scarborough-Agincourt will remember this. Reverend Bonis, who was a historian for

Scarborough -- my family moved to Agincourt 50 years ago -- told us a lot, through the libraries, about David and Mary Thomson, the pioneer families and the Taber Hill First Nations burial ground.

This is how libraries contribute to your community, preserving the history of our province and our communities and informing young people -- although none of us are young people any more -- across

the province.

VISITORS

Hon Elizabeth Witmer (Deputy Premier, Minister of Education): On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I'd like to recognize the Ontario Parent

Council in the gallery here today.

HOME CARE

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): My question is to the Associate Minister of Long-Term Care. I know you've received an invitation to come to

Sudbury and explain to some of my constituents what they are supposed to do in order to survive once the homemaking services provided to them by our local CCAC are cut off on June 23. In the event

that you refuse to come to Sudbury, can you please tell Pat Jones, who is in her late 50s and suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is on oxygen and whose lungs are so severely

damaged that she can't do this type of work, or Don McLeod, who is 37, has only one arm and one leg and is currently being treated by his doctor for fluid on his remaining arm, how they are

supposed to access these necessary services, since both of them, very publicly at a press conference, have said they cannot afford to purchase them? They're waiting for your answer.

Hon Dan Newman (Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Helping to provide quality home care services to Ontarians is indeed a

priority for this government. With respect to the member's question, the ministry has been in contact with the Manitoulin-Sudbury Community Care Access Centre and has been assured that the most

important services that keep clients in their homes and allow them to maintain their independence are not affected by the changes to homemaking services. These unaffected services include personal

support, such as bathing, help with eating, dressing and assistance with medications, as well as caregiver respite, which includes support for family members living with and caring for clients with

a high level of dependency. As well, not all homemaking tasks are changing. Existing clients who can't go without help with meal preparation or laundry services will still receive the assistance

they need from the Manitoulin-Sudbury Community Care Access Centre.

Mr Bartolucci: With all due respect, that's a cold, callous, cruel and crass answer. Three thousand people are affected in our area with your

cut to homemaking services. Tell Marion Doyon who has an ileostomy, is 82 years old, lives on a fixed income, can't afford to pay for these services and can't remain in her home without these

services; or Pauline Ross, who has suffered two aneurysms, two strokes, two heart attacks, has one side of her body paralyzed and can't afford these services. These and 3,000 other people are going

to have those services cut off. Tell them today what your advice is for them to be living independently.

Hon Mr Newman: Again, not all homemaking tasks are changing. Existing clients who can't go without help with meal preparation and laundry

services will still continue to receive the assistance they need.

I say to the honourable member across the way that our government is taking unprecedented steps to provide quality home care across this province, and that

includes home care with community care access centres. The Manitoulin-Sudbury CCAC has seen its funding actually increase by 22% since 1995. Last year alone, the Manitoulin-Sudbury CCAC saw an

increase of almost $190,000 in new additional funding to help the people of that part of the province.

I will say that the ministry will continue to monitor the delivery of home care services by the community care access centre, and we will continue to work with

them so clients can get the assistance they need.

In Ontario, we provide the broadest basket of home care services in Canada, the best home care in all of Canada, and we do it all without an income test or a

means test.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS INFORMATION

Mr AL McDonald (Nipissing): My question is for the Minister of Labour. I understand your ministry is working hard to ensure that workers whose

Hon Brad Clark (Minister of Labour): I want to thank the honourable member for the question.

Interjection.

Hon Mr Clark: Thanks to the member from Hamilton East also. I know he's keenly interested in this.

French and 10 majority languages -- Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil and Vietnamese. The ministry has translated and updated a general brochure on

employer-employee rights and responsibilities under the ESA in all of these languages.

rights is an important part of being safe on the job. Can you tell us what other initiatives your ministry is undertaking to ensure all of Ontario's workers understand their rights and

responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act?

Hon Mr Clark: The ministry has published a guide to the Employment Standards Act and a variety of fact sheets on such topics as hours of work,

overtime and minimum wage. These documents are available through the ministry Web site as well as ministry offices, government information centres and Publications Ontario. Special fact sheets have

been prepared for agricultural workers and domestic workers which are translated into the 10 minority languages.

The ministry Web site and WorkSmartOntario include education material for young people about their rights and responsibilities under the Employment Standards

Act. WorkSmartOntario is the first government Web site in Canada to offer young people comprehensive information about workplace health and safety, and employment standards such as hours of work,

overtime and holiday pay. Extensive information for young employees on these rights and responsibilities is available at the government information centres, ministry offices and Publications

Ontario, including the fact sheet entitled What Young Workers Should Know. Perhaps you might want to check it out.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Mr Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Minister of Public Safety, your pistol-packing, gunslinger buddy Norm Gardner has found himself in hot water

once again. He finds himself having been gifted with a $1,500 revolver after setting up a deal for Para-Ordnance, the firearms manufacturer. He forgot to pay for it until he got caught and then cut

a cheque, we're told, for but $700 for a $1,500 gun. You see, Mr Gardner actually shoots these things, and he shoots people with them.

Minister, do you think it's appropriate for your hand-picked appointee to the Toronto Police Services Board to be receiving gifts like this for arrangements he

makes for Para-Ordnance and their participation in conventions, and have you called him to suggest that he might step down while the matter is being investigated?

Hon Robert W. Runciman (Minister of Public Safety and Security): Having sat in those seats for a few years, I understand the member's interest

in raising this issue. But I think he would also appreciate that the Toronto Police Services Board has called on the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services to consider investigating the

allegations surrounding Mr Gardner's conduct. As he knows, the board falls under the ambit of the ministry for which I'm responsible, so it would be quite inappropriate for me to prejudice a

decision that may be taken or will be taken by the civilian commission with respect to any personal opinion or view I might have.

VISITORS

Mr Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North): I'm sure all of my colleagues will want to join me in welcoming students from St Martin

school in Terrace Bay, led by principal Joy Magee. They are in the west gallery. Thank you for joining us today. It's good to see you.

Mr Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I would like to introduce Susan Schrempf, who is sitting right up here in our gallery. She is the

mother of Bridget Schrempf, who is one of our pages. She also runs the Chi-Cheemaun.

MEMBERS' ANNIVERSARIES

Hon Norman W. Sterling (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs): I'd like to congratulate the member for St Catharines on

his 27th anniversary as an MPP in the Legislature today, and in light of that I'd like to seek unanimous consent to allow him to read as many petitions as he would like today.

The Speaker (Hon Gary Carr): You are kidding. No?

Is there unanimous consent? I'm afraid I did hear some noes.

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): I would like to congratulate the member for Lanark-Carleton, who on this very same day is celebrating --

I think it's our 26th, Norm, not our 27th.

Interjection: He was thinking one year from --

Mr Bradley: Oh, we're into the next year soon. OK. I'd like to have all members congratulate the member for Lanark-Carleton on being elected

on June 9, 1977, in very difficult times to be elected, and serving so diligently for so many years.

PETITIONS

HOME CARE

Mr Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury): This petition was gathered by an individual requiring homemaking services, from the Finlandia Hoivakoti, and it

says:

"Whereas, we are outraged by the community care access centre's decision to cut homemaking services to seniors;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned," 180 of them, "petition the Ontario Legislature to ensure these cuts do not take place."

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas some motorists are recklessly endangering the lives of children by not obeying the highway traffic law requiring them to stop for school buses with

their warning lights activated;

"Whereas the current law has no teeth to protect the children who ride the school buses of Ontario and who are at risk and their safety is in jeopardy;

"Whereas the current school bus law is difficult to enforce since not only is a licence plate number required, but positive identification of the driver and

vehicle as well, which makes it extremely difficult to obtain a conviction;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That the measures contained in private member's Bill 112,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to protect children while on school buses, presented by Pat

Hoy, MPP, Chatham-Kent Essex, be immediately enacted....

"The Bill 112 imposed liability on the owner of a vehicle that fails to stop for a school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing....

"And we ask for the support of all members of the Legislature."

This is signed by a number of residents from Kingsville, Cottam, Leamington and surrounding areas.

HIGHWAY 407

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

"Whereas motorists using Highway 407 are being gouged with charges that are far beyond what is reasonable and justified;

"Whereas billing errors are forcing motorists to spend hours on the telephone trying to have such errors corrected;

"Whereas some motorists in frustration and exasperation are paying charges they did not incur for the use of Highway 407;

"Whereas the government of Ontario acts as an enforcer for the Highway 407 Corp and is, in our view, complicit in the collection of questionable charges;

"Whereas the Eves-Harris government sold Highway 407 to a buyer who has increased charges well beyond what the government promised;

"We, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly to condemn the Conservative government of Ontario for selling Highway 407 to private interests and for

permitting the Highway 407 Corp to raise charges for the use of the highway and other administrative charges that cannot be justified."

I affix my signature; I'm in complete agreement.

HYDRO RATES

Mr John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands): I have a petition here which is addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it deals

with skyrocketing electricity bills.

"Whereas electricity bills have skyrocketed under the Harris-Eves government's flawed electricity plan; and

"Whereas some consumers have signed higher fixed-rate contracts with retailers, without adequate consumer protection; and

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government has failed to address electricity supply shortages in Ontario, forcing the purchase of American power at premium prices,

driving up prices still further; and

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government appointed a board of directors for Hydro One that has been paying themselves extravagant salaries, compensation packages

and severances for senior executives; and

"Whereas Hydro One bought 90 municipal utilities, serving about 240,000 people across Ontario, at premium prices and with borrowed funds. These purchases with

borrowed funds have increased Ontario's debt burden; and

"Whereas the Harris-Eves government has added additional fees and taxes to local electricity distribution companies. These charges have also been passed along

to consumers;

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, demand that the Harris-Eves government take immediate action to ensure that Ontarians have fair and

reasonable prices for the necessary commodity of electricity in Ontario and that the Harris-Eves government and its leader, Ernie Eves, call a general election on the instability of the energy

market so that Ontarians will have a voice on this issue."

I totally agree with the petition and have signed it accordingly.

HIGHWAY SAFETY

Mr Michael A. Brown (Algoma-Manitoulin): I have a petition signed by around 100 students from Central Algoma Secondary School.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Highway 17, known as the Trans-Canada Highway, between Ripple Rock on the west and Mink Point Road on the east in the township of Johnson, is unsafe,

particularly in light of the fact that school buses enter and exit on to this stretch of the road to serve a secondary school of 650 students and an elementary school of 150 students; and

"Whereas there have been several accidents, the latest of which resulted in the fatality of a 16-year-old male;

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

"That the Ministry of Transportation do immediately make changes to the signage, speed limit, width of lane and/or install caution lights in order to make this

section of this highway safer for our students as well as for all travellers on this

section of the highway."

I agree with this petition and affix my signature.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas some motorists are recklessly endangering the lives of children by not obeying the highway traffic law requiring them to stop for school buses with

their warning lights activated;

"Whereas the current law has no teeth to protect the children who ride the school buses of Ontario, and who are at risk and their safety is in jeopardy;

"Whereas the current school bus law is difficult to enforce, since not only is the licence plate number required but positive identification of the driver and

vehicle as well, which makes it extremely difficult to obtain a conviction;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That the measures contained in private member's Bill 112,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to protect children while on school buses, presented by Pat

Hoy, MPP, Chatham-Kent-Essex, be immediately enacted...."

The bill imposes "liability on the owner of a vehicle that fails to stop for a school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing; and....

"We ask for the support of all members of the Legislature."

I continue to receive these petitions from across Ontario. This one is signed by residents of Acton.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands): I have a petition that was forwarded to me by Kara-Lee Potter, who is the secretary of the

Spruce Lodge resident advocacy council in Stratford, Ontario. It states:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Eves government has increased the fees paid for by seniors and the most vulnerable living in long-term-care facilities by 15% or $7.02 per diem

effective August 1, 2002; and

"Whereas this fee increase will cost seniors and our most vulnerable more than $200 a month; and

"Whereas this increase is 11.1% above the rent increase guidelines for tenants in the province of Ontario; and

"Whereas the increase in the government's own contribution to raise the level of long-term-care services this year is less than $2 per resident per day;

and

"Whereas, according to the government's own funded study, Ontario ranks last amongst comparable jurisdictions in the amount of time provided to a resident for

nursing and personal care; and

"Whereas the long-term-care funding partnership has been based on government accepting the responsibility to fund the care and services that residents need;

and

"Whereas government needs to increase long-term-care operating funding by $750 million over the next three years to raise the level of service for Ontario's

long-term-care residents to those in Saskatchewan in 1999; and

"Whereas this province has been built by seniors, who should be able to live out their lives with dignity, respect and in comfort in this province;

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

"Demand that Premier Eves reduce his 15% fee increase on seniors and the most vulnerable living in long-term-care facilities and increase provincial government

support for nursing and personal care to adequate levels."

I agree with it, and I've signed the petition accordingly.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the auto industry accounts for approximately 50% of Ontario exports to the United States, supports another three or more jobs elsewhere in the economy

and contributes billions of dollars in tax revenues to governments; and

"Whereas the auto industry is the economic lifeblood of communities, such as St Catharines, Oshawa, St Thomas, Alliston, Windsor, Oakville, Cambridge,

Kitchener and Waterloo; and

"Whereas the auto industry has experienced job losses and seen challenges due to competition from industries in Mexico, the recent recession in the United

States and delivery problems at Ontario's borders; and

"Whereas the prosperity of the province of Ontario is dependent in large part on an auto industry that is competitive and dynamic; and

"Whereas select committees of the Legislature tend to be task-oriented and non-partisan in their deliberations;"

We, the undersigned, ask "that the Ernie Eves government convene a select committee on the Ontario auto industry that consults with labour, business and the

public in a timely fashion to address the challenges and opportunities that the engine of Ontario's economy will be facing in the future."

I affix my signature; I'm in complete agreement.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Ms Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas guaranteeing the safety and security of our children is universally recognized as absolutely essential by all people in the province of Ontario;

and

"Whereas the ability of Ontario's schools to provide adequate levels of safety and security for Ontario's children has been called into question by recent

incidents in which children have been attacked by individuals who have gained illegal entry to schools; and

"Whereas parents and school officials want to make physical changes to make our schools safer; and

"Whereas parents and school officials are concerned about the loss of educational assistants, custodians, lunchroom supervisors, librarians, physical education

teachers, computer lab instructors, music instructors, vice-principals and other supports staff, who are the eyes and ears of our schools; and

"Whereas the lack of money for staffing and capital repairs is a direct result of the disastrous education funding formula adopted by the Conservative

government;

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

"

(1) That the government of Ontario immediately institute a school safety fund that will provide schools with adequate funding to make necessary renovations

that are required for school safety.

"

(2) That the new education minister immediately amend the Conservative education funding formula to allow for adequate education funding that will provide

funds for adequate staffing, building repairs and quality education."

This petition was put together after a child was sexually assaulted in a school in my riding. I will affix my signature to this petition.

HYDRO RATES

Mr Michael A. Brown (Algoma-Manitoulin): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"The Harris-Eves government has mismanaged the electricity policy of the province of Ontario.

"Mike Brown, MPP, has been fighting for rural rate assistance.

"The Ernie Eves government forces Great Lakes Power customers to pay into a fund for rural rate assistance, and rural rate assistance would reduce the

distribution bills for customers by hundreds of dollars each year.

"Therefore I support the efforts of Mike Brown, MPP, to have rural rate assistance extended to the GLP service area immediately."

This petition is signed by hundreds of people from places like Goulais River, St Joseph Island, Desbarats and Bruce Mines.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Mr Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): I continue to receive these petitions. This particular set was signed by residents of Windsor:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas some motorists are recklessly endangering the lives of children by not obeying the highway traffic law requiring them to stop for school buses with

their warning lights activated; and

"Whereas the current law has no teeth to protect the children who ride the school buses of Ontario, and who are at risk and their safety is in jeopardy;

and

"Whereas the current school bus law is difficult to enforce since not only is the licence plate number required, but positive identification of the driver and

vehicle as well, which makes it extremely difficult to obtain a conviction;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That the measures contained in private member's Bill 112,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to protect children while on school buses, presented by Pat

Hoy, MPP, Chatham-Kent Essex, be immediately enacted.

"The bill imposes liability on the owner of a vehicle that fails to stop for a school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, and we ask for the

support of all members of the Legislature."

I too have signed this petition.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Ms Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): Another petition on our education system and the cuts:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Progressive Conservative government promised in 1995 not to cut classroom spending, but has already cut at least $1 billion from our schools and

is now closing many classrooms completely; and

"Whereas international language weekend classes are a needed part of learning for many students in our area; and

"Whereas the Education Act, specifically regulation 285(5), mandates provision of these programs where demand exists; and

"Whereas the Conservative funding formula is forcing the Toronto District School Board to cancel these Saturday classes for groups who want this

programming;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to instruct the Minister of Education to restore meaningful

and flexible funding to the Toronto school boards to ensure that they are able to continue to accommodate these Saturday international languages classes."

I will affix my signature to this petition because I fully support it.

VISITOR

The Acting Speaker (Mr David Christopherson): The time for petitions has expired. Before I call orders of the day, I want to draw to the

attention of members the presence, in the members' gallery, of Mr Ron Hansen, the former member for Lincoln, who was here during the 35th Parliament. Welcome, Ron.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

2003 ONTARIO BUDGET

Resuming the debate adjourned on May 26, 2003, on the motion that this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the government.

The Acting Speaker (Mr David Christopherson): We are beginning debate with the third party.

Interjection.

The Acting Speaker: I didn't get that ahead of time. If there's a problem, check it with the table and I'll make any changes if that's not

correct, but my understanding is that it is indeed going to the third party. Therefore, the member for Niagara Centre now has the floor.

Mr Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Let's recall which budget we're talking about. This is the bogus budget. This is the contemptuous budget.

This is the budget that was delivered up at the auto parts plant, far, far away from Queen's Park and the Legislative Assembly, at the auto parts plant of one of Mr Eves's wealthy buddies, one

Frank Stronach, who moaned and groaned about his oh-so-modest income. He was at a shareholders' annual general meeting and Mr Stronach moaned and groaned about his oh-so-modest income of -- what

was it, Ms Churley? -- some $56 million last year.

Ms Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): Something like that.

Mr Kormos: That's his personal income. I'm not talking about corporate income; his personal income. This same bogus budget, this contemptible,

contemptuous budget, put another $3.5 million in Mr Stronach's pocket like that; more tax cuts for Ernie Eves's wealthy friends. But what is most significant is the people who were ignored, the

people who were denied any relief in this budget.

Just this weekend, like everybody else, I was doing all sorts of fascinating and wonderful things in my riding down in Niagara Centre. On Saturday, I was at

the annual review of the air cadet squadron in Thorold over at Monsignor Clancy school. The Thorold air cadet squadron had six decades of history at Thorold high school, with the public board. You

will recall me asking the then Minister of Education in this Legislature why it was that she threw them out of that historic home of theirs at Thorold high school. That's what happened. Because the

public board had been defunded by this government, Thorold high school shut its doors to the Thorold air cadet squadron -- incredible. This government had little to say that provided any relief for

those young women and men -- bright, capable young people -- impressive as all get out, I've got to tell you.

Out of the 30 or so members of that squadron, 20-plus are going on summer training courses. One young warrant officer is going to London on an exchange -- not

taxpayer-funded -- and, quite frankly, he'll be living in far more modest circumstances while in London and travelling about England than did our Minister of the Environment when he was there on

his junket as Minister of Energy, as we talked about last Thursday. Two other young cadets are taking flight training, one taking air traffic control training, and dozens are going up to Trenton --

you're familiar with Trenton -- taking any number of leadership courses and basic training. These are bright, disciplined, skilled, ambitious young women and men.

It was with regret on Saturday that I learned that now the Catholic board is forced to begin charging this air cadet squadron rent for use of the facilities at

Monsignor Clancy. Where I come from, folks who pay taxes -- and they do -- expect those public buildings like our schools to be safe for their kids when their kids are in them. You heard that being

addressed today, that this government, yes, has created a serious state of risk, especially in our elementary schools, because of the destaffing of those schools: vice-principals, gone; custodians,

gone; secretaries, gone; teachers' aides, gone; specialized teaching staff like music teachers, gone. We've had some horrifying instances just recently here in the city of Toronto of kids being

accosted by strangers who have managed to penetrate those schools and get into the hallways because of the destaffing. So our schools have been left in not just a sad and regrettable but dangerous

state as well.

Then to top it off, as I said, I learned on Saturday that this air cadet squadron, these young people doing so well, doing such a great job, like so many other

young people -- as members of the cadet movement or the scouting or Girl Guide movement -- are going to be called upon to pay rent from what are incredibly modest resources that they work with.

Yes, when the young warrant officer from that squadron is in London, England, I have no hesitation in telling you that nobody's going to be picking up a $10,000 tab for his so-called ground

transportation, like Mr Stockwell, then-Minister of Energy, was the beneficiary of.

Ten grand for a week of ground transportation: what the heck was he travelling around in? Holy zonkers, I've been to Europe and I know the euro is a pretty

high comparative rate to the Canadian dollar, but $10,000 for a week buys you some pretty luxurious wheels. I couldn't even begin to think whether it's a Bentley or a Rolls or a Lamborghini, or one

of those exotic, undoubtedly not North American-made cars that the then Minister of Energy, Mr Stockwell, was being escorted around in. Is he sitting back there, you know, with the plush leather

and the window divider between him and the chauffeur up front? Did Mr Stockwell refer to him as Jeeves with that sort of WASPy arrogance that only Mr Stockwell manages to be able to conjure up?

I can just see him there, puffing on the big cigar at taxpayers' expense, and the Waterford crystal glasses rattling ever so slightly as the Rolls limo goes

over the occasional speed strip, but not enough to spill a drop of the expensive cognac or Scotch or Armagnac that the Minister of Energy was being wined on during this taxpayer-sponsored tour of

Rome, Paris, London -- and was it Glasgow that was added to that itinerary, Mr Gill? Mr Gill, did you accompany the Minister of Energy when he was on that taxpayer-funded junket through Europe?

Mr O'Toole, you haven't come back with an affected French accent that would reveal the fact that somehow you were his consort during this taxpayer-funded,

plush tour of the capitals of Europe. I'm not sure, but I don't think Mr Spina went. I doubt if Mr Wettlaufer was Mr Stockwell's companion for the two weeks.

Somebody had to go, because they blew 27,000 bucks on airfare alone -- 27 grand. Just how big is this entourage? You've got Middle Eastern sheiks and royalty

who travel about the world with smaller entourages than Mr Stockwell must have had on that junket through Europe. That's 27 grand of taxpayers' money on airfare alone.

I'm not sure, but I don't think this was the charter that you and I are inclined to fly on from time to time, you know, where our knees are up to our chin and

where our neighbours are overflowing -- just as we're overflowing our seats, they're overflowing into ours -- and we get that package of lacklustre and rather stale peanuts mid-flight. I just don't

think that Mr Stockwell, the Minister of Energy, as he was then, now Minister of the Environment, was travelling carriage class when you're talking about 27 grand. He certainly wasn't staying at

bed and breakfasts. He wasn't staying at the local student hostel by any stretch: 500 bucks a pop for hotel rooms; 500 bucks a night for hotel rooms.

I've watched movies; I've read novels. I would have no idea what one looks like myself, but 500 bucks a pop buys you a pretty classy hotel room. I think it

buys you a suite. I think it buys you a butler and a maid and in-room, in-suite dining. I think you've got expensive Persian carpets on the floors and the finest of antique furniture as a bedside

table at 500 bucks a night. But I suppose for a minister of the crown who's travelling about at taxpayers' expense, once you leave the finely crafted leathers of the Rolls, you just couldn't bring

yourself to book into a mere one- or two-star accommodation. You've got to go big or go home; you go five-star.

Mind you, it was something of a swan song; it was something of a farewell tour. It seems to me that he was a lame-duck Minister of Energy, because it wasn't

too long after this extravagant, plush, posh tour of Europe on the taxpayers' tab that he was no longer Minister of Energy. That's why today we tabled some legislation and got first reading on it;

it's a junkets bit of legislation.

I think it's time for the junket junkies to go cold turkey and get some rehab. The junkets legislation will solve the little bit of an impasse we have here,

because the minister seems to have had a little bit of a memory lapse where he's not quite sure how much of it OPG paid for and how much of it the taxpayers paid for directly, as compared to

indirectly through OPG, because it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

He didn't seem, as far as I know from reading the press reports from one Martin Mittelstaedt, who was slandered and libelled by Mr Stockwell as a prevaricator,

a liar -- that's what a prevaricator is. Mr Stockwell said that the author of that news report in the Globe and Mail, one Martin Mittelstaedt, prevaricated and fabricated. Well, please. Everybody's

wrong but Mr Stockwell? Everybody's not telling the truth? This is the world's biggest conspiracy since the grassy knoll conjecture when President Kennedy got himself shot. Surely Mr Stockwell is

the victim of the biggest conspiracy ever concocted, according to his version of these events.

The junket registry would also simply require those who take off on grand tours like Mr Stockwell enjoyed to file a complete list of all expenses, a list of

who it was that accompanied and, oh yes, an itinerary, the remarkable thing about the Stockwell junket: Mr Stockwell at the Trevi Fountain throwing the coins in, sitting at the bottom of those

Spanish Steps, walking along the River Thames, passing Big Ben and Westminster and the lovely sights of London and, my goodness, Paris -- the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank, those quaint but

oh-so-expensive bistros with their $80 lunches and their $200 and $300 bottles of wine, the elevator ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower so that one can see the sights unimpeded by storefronts and

building façades, perhaps a little risqué side trip to the Moulin Rouge to see -- what are they called; the Folies Bergères?

Ms Churley, help me.

Ms Churley: I wouldn't know. I've never been there.

Mr Kormos: This is big-ticket stuff. This can exhaust a gold card. This is platinum card turf. And the sad thing is, Mr Stockwell didn't even

say thank you to the taxpayers out there, folks like the people down where I come from, for sending him off on this farewell tour, nor is he prepared to tell us exactly what he learned during those

two weeks touring the capitals of Europe that made him more effective as a Minister of Energy and perhaps now as Minister of the Environment, in view of the fact that this was very much a farewell

tour.

There's nothing in the budget, nothing at all, speaking to those lowest-paid workers in our province, those women and men -- mostly women; understand this --

working at minimum wage. The number is increasing. The largest single chunk of them are single moms working at minimum wage, stuck at $6.85 an hour for the last eight years plus.

During the NDP government from 1990 to 1995, minimum wages were raised four times. The minimum wage has not been increased by a penny since 1995, when the

Tories seized power here in the province of Ontario. Minimum wage workers are stuck at $6.85 an hour. In fact, their income has eroded by 20% because of the impact of inflation and the cost of

living over the course of the last eight years. Not a penny for the lowest-paid workers -- not a penny. I think that's a shame. That is a crime.

Not a word of comfort to pensioners, who have seen their pensions eroded by stock market scams, stock market schemes, by the likes of John Roth and others.

Remember John Roth of Nortel? He went home with millions. He undoubtedly is going to get a significant property tax break, probably to the tune of $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000. John Roth

went home with millions after ripping off little shareholders whose brokers were still selling them Nortel at 50 bucks on the way down. I think it's enjoyed something of a recovery. What's it now,

$3 or $3.50? John Roth walked away with millions. He killed thousands of jobs, gutted a company that had been a stable and significant part of our telecommunications industry here in this country

-- well, it was -- and left oh-so-many pensioners, and seniors in general, wondering where the next month's rent cheque or grocery bill payment was going to come from.

The budget said nothing to persons with disabilities. Just like those on social assistance, they've been stuck at their sub-poverty levels of income since

1995: not a penny in increase.

Ms Churley: It decreased in 1995. Remember?

Mr Kormos: Social assistance recipients were slashed by 21.6%, just shy of 22%. And think about this: over the course of the last eight years

they've suffered another 20% erosion in the buying power of those meagre and, again I say to you, criminal allowances. They were cut 22% helter-skelter in the first instance by this government, and

they've been cut another 20% over the course of the last eight years by virtue of this government's failure to respond to their dire need.

I fear there are precious few government members who have actually seen how an ODSP recipient or a person on social assistance is forced to survive here in the

city of Toronto, where rents are outrageous because this government has abandoned any concept of rent control and let the landlords run free rein. Even in small-town Ontario, where I come from,

where our northern colleagues come from, social assistance and ODSP levels are literally unlivable. They are. You find kids living in poverty, poverty forced upon them, foisted upon them by this

government.

New Democrats are proposing practical solutions. They are. We think our junket registry is a practical solution to the problem that Mr Stockwell has created by

his European fling. We believe in practical solutions.

We believe the minimum wage has to be increased immediately to eight bucks an hour, with an annual review so minimum-wage workers never again fall behind like

you, Mr Gill, and your colleagues have forced them to over the course of the last eight years.

That's why we believe there's a need for meaningful pension reform in this province so that every worker is a party to and a participant in a fixed benefit

pension plan, a pension that becomes vested immediately, a pension that is portable and indexed. When I was a kid, in the 1950s, folks worried about not living long enough. Now all of us in our

constituency offices are meeting folks who are worried about living too long.

Mr Eves has a solution, he says. He goes to a nursing home and as mu