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November 22, 2016

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2016-Nov-22 (PDF)

L032 - Tue 22 Nov 2016 / Mar 22 nov 2016

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 22 November 2016 Mardi 22 novembre 2016

Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016 / Loi de 2016 visant à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario pour tous (mesures budgétaires)

Introduction of Visitors

Financial statements, Auditor General

Oral Questions

By-election in Sudbury

By-election in Sudbury

By-election in Sudbury

By-election in Sudbury

First responders

Electronic health information

Education funding

By-election in Sudbury

Labour dispute

Education funding

By-election in Sudbury

Automotive industry

Affordable housing

Report, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

Members’ Statements

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative

Labour dispute

Holodomor

Wasaga Beach fire department

Mental health services

Hatzoloh Toronto

Dementia

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

Community Centre 55

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Introduction of Bills

Lung Health Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la santé pulmonaire

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

National Holodomor Awareness Week / Semaine nationale de sensibilisation à l’Holodomor

Petitions

Hydro rates

Privatization of public assets

Hazel McCallion

Hospital funding

Child care

Consumer protection

Dementia

Speed limits

Home inspection industry

Health care funding

Long-term care

Home inspection industry

Seniors’ health services

Opposition Day

Hydro rates

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Mr. Steve Clark: Point of order, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order, the member from Leeds–Grenville.

Mr. Steve Clark: I don’t think the government is awake. I don’t believe a quorum is present.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Quorum, please.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): A quorum is not present, Speaker.

The Speaker ordered the bells rung.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): A quorum is now present.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Orders of the day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016 / Loi de 2016 visant à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario pour tous (mesures budgétaires)

Mrs. McGarry, on behalf of Mr. Sousa, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 70,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 70, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister.

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the parliamentary assistant for finance, the member for Etobicoke Centre.

Let me just start by saying that we’re committed to balancing the budget by 2017-18, and we’ve done a lot of work on this side of the House in the last few years to ensure that we’re getting to that particular area. We have committed to balancing the budget by 2017-18, and we’ve done a lot of government work to ensure that we will meet that target, including making sure that we’re ahead of those targets year by year.

We are also incorporating new commitments into our plan to make everyday life easier for the people of Ontario. At the same time, we are managing spending. In fact, this year’s public accounts show that we beat our annual deficit target again, as I was saying, for the seventh year in a row. That’s worth repeating. That has been day by day, month by month, the thing that we have made sure that we’re going to be doing. For the seventh year in a row we are beating those targets.

We have also held growth in program spending over the past four years without making cuts to services or raising taxes.

Continued economic growth is helping to keep the province on track to balance. For the first half of 2016, Ontario posted stronger GDP growth than Canada, the US and almost all other G7 countries. As a matter of fact—and this is something that we’re very proud of on this side of the House—Moody’s has upgraded our credit rating, showing confidence in our government’s plan to grow the economy and create jobs. As we all know, a growing economy and new jobs are the best way to support Ontario families and to generate revenues that will keep us on the path to balance and long-term prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, business investment in Ontario increased by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2016 and 0.9% in the first quarter. At the same time, Ontario’s labour market continues to grow. Ontario has recovered all of the jobs lost during the recession and over 640,000 jobs have been created since the recession. This is something all of us Ontarians are very, very proud of. The majority of these jobs are full-time and private sector jobs, as well.

The current unemployment rate is 6.4%. It has been under the national unemployment rate of 7%, month over month, for the last 18 months. Our unemployment rate has been lower than the national average for 18 months in a row and it’s the lowest unemployment rate in eight years.

I’m also sharing my time with the Minister of Finance. I really appreciate the few minutes I’ve had to be able to spend to discuss Bill 70.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Continuing along, you’re sharing it with?

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: The member from Etobicoke Centre and the Minister of Finance.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): The Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I appreciate the comments that have already been made recognizing the importance of what it is that we’re talking about today, which is inspiring and growing our economy, creating jobs, providing support for health and education, all of which are principal values that we all share.

Of course, we’re talking about the second reading of Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016. This fall bill reflects the decisions we’re making as part of our commitment, as I’ve said, to help the people of Ontario with their everyday lives. Our commitment reflects our respect for their hard work and our approach ensures that they have the opportunities to realize their full potential while contributing to Ontario’s economy and society today. It reflects our desire to promote better conditions for future generations of Ontario workers, their families and all individuals for tomorrow.

I revealed our actions in detail to this very House earlier this week when we introduced the 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. Mr. Speaker, our actions as a government are helping to build that better future. People from all over our great province are building Ontario. They are doing so today, but they’re not doing so alone. They expect their government to do its part as well.

Our role in this Legislature is to foster more opportunity for everyone. When we support one person, it makes their life a little bit easier; and when we support making the lives of 14 million people easier, it makes Ontario’s economy a much better place and our society a better place to live and raise a family. It is this notion of our collective well-being that underpins this bill.

The legislative amendments that we’re bringing forward are aimed at fulfilling our commitment to improve the well-being of all Ontarians. We want to ensure that Ontarians have the opportunity to realize their full potential while contributing to our economy and our society. We want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to succeed.

As a result, this plan is about making moms and dads get to work and back home safely more quickly. It’s about helping businesses, who are those job producers, grow their economy and, of course, create jobs. It’s about offering our kids a promising future with great schools, colleges and universities. It’s about opportunities to access apprenticeships and industry training programs. This bill will help us achieve that goal.

It’s also about housing affordability, Mr. Speaker. Ontarians are telling us that finding affordable housing is one of the top things on their mind. They’re concerned that they cannot afford to buy their first home, for example, in today’s real estate market. Given the appreciation of home prices, young families, especially those who are having a challenging time to enter the housing market, are looking for relief or some form of support.

Purchasing a first home is one of the most exciting decisions in any person’s life. But many today are worried about how they’ll be able to afford that first condo or house. Mr. Speaker, we’re proposing today, as of January 1, 2017, to double that maximum land transfer tax refund for first-time homebuyers, up to $4,000. With an increased maximum, no land transfer tax would in essence be payable on the qualifying purchasers of a first home at $368,000. They would not pay a land transfer tax, and that is of some benefit. In fact, with a doubling of the refund, more than half of first-time homebuyers in Ontario would not pay the LTT on the purchase of their first home.

I would also like to remind members of this House that during the fall economic statement, our government announced that it was taking action to protect renters as well. We’re freezing the property tax burden on apartment buildings while reviewing how the high property tax burden on these buildings affects rental market affordability. Right now, the average municipal property tax burden on apartment buildings is more than double that of other residential properties such as condominiums.

We’re also proposing to modernize the land transfer tax system for the first time in a generation. The LTT rates have not changed since 1989. As a result, the government is proposing to modernize these rates to reflect the current real estate market.

The LTT is payable, as you know, on the purchase of any land in Ontario, and it’s usually based on the value of consideration, which is typically the purchase price. Overall, the proposed rate increases would impact less than 1% of purchasers of homes here in Ontario. Revenue generated from proposed increased LTT rates would be used to fund the enhancements of the first-time home-buyer refund.

We know that the housing market is an important source of economic growth and employment in Ontario. Improving housing affordability will benefit people across the province while contributing to the creation of jobs and economic growth.

To help ensure we understand the market forces at play and to inform future policies, we’re also proposing to collect additional data about the real estate market. This would include the type of property, the intended use, and the citizenship and residency status of the purchasers. As part of this proposal, the province will work with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to protect all collected personal information.

Strengthening Ontario’s property tax and assessment system is key. A fair and effective property tax assessment system is critical, in fact, to support local services and adequately fund Ontario’s school system. That’s why we’re working with municipalities, the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. and taxpayers to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of Ontario’s property tax and assessment system. Specifically, the government is working to give municipalities increased flexibility to manage business property taxes, including business vacancy programs. Today’s bill shows how we’re moving forward with measures to create a fair and modern provincial land tax system.

Today’s bill is also about measures to address concerns about retirement security. Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of young people across the province are at the beginning of their careers. Many are on contract or working for small businesses and don’t have the benefit of a workplace pension plan. For many, it’s hard to start saving for the future. That’s why we’re strengthening retirement security.

Two thirds of Ontario workers not participating in a workplace pension and many families worried about how they’ll maintain their standard of living in retirement required the province to take some action. Our work on the planned Ontario Retirement Pension Plan was the catalyst, in fact, on reaching a national consensus to enhance CPP this past summer. This consensus will help strengthen retirement security for future generations of Ontarians and Canadians.

CPP enhancement is just one component of the province’s strategy to support Ontarians in retirement. This bill moves forward many other components of that strategy as well. For example, there are proposed amendments that would enhance the benefit security, providing the superintendent of financial services with greater enforcement powers to ensure compliance with the Pension Benefits Act.

The bill also supports the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario, known as IMCO. This body is a non-share capital corporation that will provide investment management services to broader public sector organizations that choose to become its members. IMCO would deliver enhanced risk-adjusted—

Mr. Mike Colle: A point of order.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): We have a point of order.

Mr. Mike Colle: I know the members opposite in opposition are very interested in the fall economic statement, but I can’t hear anything the minister is saying. If they could take the conversation outside, it would be appreciated and show some respect for the member who is up there speaking to the—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I appreciate the concern. I have already asked them to come to order, and I will keep a close eye on that. Thank you very much.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I appreciate the intervention of my colleague. Of course, all of us in this House are concerned about these very matters. I was just talking about IMCO, which is the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario, which is critical to the success of trying to assemble a number of our agencies so that they can manage our pensions and asset values more effectively and at lower cost for the benefit of all of you and others who are dependent upon some of these services.

IMCO would, as I said, deliver enhanced risk-adjusted returns to its members by providing greater investment economies of scale and facilitating enhanced access to investment opportunities and, of course, world-class expertise.

The province established IMCO on July 1, 2016, by proclaiming the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario Act, 2015, into force. Also, on July 1, we designated IMCO’s initial members, the Ontario Pension Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. With combined investment assets close to $50 billion, these two institutions provide the scale to ensure IMCO’s success. The bill I discuss today helps support the supervisory role of IMCO’s board of directors, and with the appropriate oversight of its board, IMCO is preparing for operations beginning in spring of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, changing times are impacting how Ontarians work, live and do business. Our commitment to building a fair society is also about inspiring growth that is more inclusive, lifting people out of poverty and ensuring all of them and all of us reach our full potential. It’s why we’re developing a basic income pilot. It’s why we’re also addressing the gender wage gap. It’s why we’re helping refugees settle in Ontario. It’s why we’re supporting reconciliation with indigenous peoples.

Taking action to help people in their everyday lives is important to all of us, Mr. Speaker. We’re all concerned about rising costs of living and doing business, so we’re taking action to mitigate these costs. Starting in January 2017, we will rebate an amount equal to the 8% provincial portion of the HST on electricity bills. This move will help five million families, small businesses and farms.

Mr. Speaker, those are just some of the aspects of our plan to grow the economy, create jobs and help people in their everyday lives. Our plan, which underpins this bill, is working. It’s been working over the past two years, as our economy has grown 5.3%. Last year, our economic growth was double the national average. In fact, for the first half of this year, Ontario’s growth was faster than that of Canada, the US and almost all other G7 countries. More than 641,000 net new jobs, as I already explained, have been created here since the depths of the 2008 global recession.

The majority of these jobs are indeed full-time, they’re in the private sector and they’re in above-average-wage industries.

We want to do more. Ontario’s unemployment rate today is at an eight-year low. These are positive signs, certainly, of our economic growth, but we all know global challenges continue to exist, and we must always be prepared. But our goal has always been clear. We have never wavered from our fiscal plan to balance the budget. In 2015-16, the public accounts of Ontario confirmed that we exceeded the deficit projection by $3.5 billion, putting us ahead of plan yet again. It was the seventh year in a row that we have beaten that deficit target.

I’m pleased to say that, consistent with the 2016 budget, Ontario’s deficit for 2016-17 is projected to be $4.3 billion. As I revealed in the 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, we are on target and we are on plan.

The goal is close now. It’s not easy, and it hasn’t been, but we will continue to make strategic investments to grow our economy, and we’ll make the right choices to bring Ontario to balance next year.

This bill also includes amendments that support the work we’re doing, specifically with the Financial Administration Act. The amendment, if passed, would simplify the process for obtaining borrowing authority for refinancing the province’s existing debt.

Mr. Speaker, the province’s total long-term borrowing is forecast to be $23.8 billion for 2016-17. It’s a reduction of $2.6 billion from the forecast in the 2016 budget. This is the smallest amount to be borrowed since 2008-09. Thanks to a combination of historically low interest rates and cost-effective debt management, Ontario has been able to keep interest on debt costs below budget projections. As part of its cost-effective debt management, the province has also extended the term of its borrowing to lock in low interest rates for longer periods, reducing refinancing risks.

Ontario is also committed to helping develop the Canadian green bond market, and we plan to issue our third green bond before the end of 2016-17.

The province continues to move forward with municipalities and indigenous people. This partnership of shared priorities enables us to build on solid partnerships and, again, improvements to our economy. This bill includes amendments that will reflect our work enhancements in those relationships and with those municipalities. I would like to add that a new era of collaboration between the federal government and the provinces and territories is yielding some positive results, as well. Ontario and the federal government are co-operating to deliver real benefits to people in their everyday lives.

These benefits include stronger pension benefits and renewed infrastructure. Together with its partners, the province has also made progress in areas such as reducing barriers to interprovincial trade and fighting climate change.

Mr. Speaker, I began the second reading of Bill 70, the Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016, by talking about our common desire, our common goal to ensure a bright future for all Ontarians. That common goal is at the root of all that this government does.

It’s a common goal that is shared across Ontario, and I believe we all agree, here and outside this room, that what’s at stake and what’s important to all of us is that people have the jobs and security they need going forward that are enabling our children to have the best opportunities to get a good start in life and that our moms and dads and our most senior are having the health care they require so that they, too, can have security.

Our dream of futures for our children and grandchildren is important. I believe many would say it is. It’s a common theme, I believe, and ultimately we all want that same benefit for our families. Many across this province are working hard for their loved ones, and we in this Legislature are doing our utmost to ensure that that be the case for our neighbours and families as well. Many will go about their business across the province to better our lives and to improve the lives of those they love, as I mentioned, and the measures in this bill would help bring those to a reality. If it passes, it would go a long way to support them to support each other.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the extent of work and effort that all of us in this Legislature do for the benefit of others, and I would just like commend the efforts that many are taking to do just that. If I look at the fiscal plan—and that’s what this is about: This economic update and this bill are about enhancing and bringing forward the work that we did in the 2016 budget. As we move forward, let’s be clear about some of the achievements that have been had and certainly the challenges that are still before us.

But if you look—and I’m just going to talk about some of the fiscal numbers, specifically—our net-debt-to-GDP ratio, which is a measure of our ability to afford the things that matter to us in the long run, is hovering around 40%. You can compare that with Quebec, which is around 52%, and if you look at what is happening in other parts of the world, it’s 80% to 100%.

So Ontario has had some movement and we have had some flexibility to enable that, but keep in mind that the accumulated deficit, which is the measure of the deficits that have been had since the start of time in this Legislature, is the same today as it was 25 years ago. We’re roughly at around 27%. That’s a strong measure that we’re operating effectively and that you are not borrowing for your operating costs. We don’t mind borrowing for capital so that we can invest long-term. That’s the kind of legacy we want to leave for future generations. We have taken into consideration those two issues.

We have to ensure that we continue to be mindful of our program spending as well, without sacrificing the things that matter. That’s why we’re investing more in health care: an addition $1 billion. That’s why we’ve increased operating supports for health care this year by $140 million, which is part of this bill, on top of the $365 million that was put forward in the budget in the spring. These are matters that are important to the people of Ontario. It is why we’re offering free tuition to 150,000 more students who are going to start in September.

That’s important for them to get a start in life, recognizing that the sticker shock of tuition oftentimes precludes those most vulnerable and unable to access post-secondary. This is enabling them to be at their best, because, ultimately, what enables us to succeed in this province is having, appropriately, talented, skilled individuals to be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. We’ll continue to make those initiatives and those efforts.

I recognize the importance of education, health care and creating jobs for our economy. An individual who is working hard on our behalf to forward those very issues is a young man himself who has taken on the role of doing work in this Legislature for the benefit of the people of Ontario.

I would like to pass along now an opportunity for Yvan Baker, the MPP from Etobicoke and the parliamentary assistant to the Ministry of Finance, to also enlighten us.

Over to you, sir.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I recognize the member from Etobicoke Centre.

Mr. Yvan Baker: Thank you, Minister. It’s an honour to rise today and to speak to this really important and, I think, impactful piece of legislation.

Before I get into the legislation itself, I just wanted to say a few words to put this into context. First of all, I have to say that it’s an honour to be Minister Sousa’s parliamentary assistant. When I was campaigning, knocking on doors and meeting constituents, I heard a lot from people about the importance of making sure that we manage the province’s finances effectively; that we make those investments that are important to people, the ones that I know the minister has just spoken about; but also that we balance the budget and we manage taxpayer dollars wisely.

This was something that I heard regularly at the doors on the campaign, and I know a lot of us heard that. Coming from a business and finance background, it’s a true honour to work with Minister Sousa on a daily basis on those issues and many others.

The other thing that I wanted to share was that I was raised in a family where I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up. My grandfather—who, like so many immigrants, struggled to establish himself in this country, but did—talked a lot about what made Canada so great was the fact that the generations that came prior to me, to us, worked so hard to build this country, to make it the great country that it is and make our province the great province that it is. He said, “It’s your responsibility”—this was when I was still young—“to work to make the province even better.

That’s what previous generations did, and the onus is on you to do the same.” I share that with you, Mr. Speaker, because I believe that this bill takes an important step in doing just that.

As Minister Sousa articulated so well, the fall bill reflects the decisions we are making as part of our commitment to help people in their everyday lives across Ontario. It reaffirms our commitment to grow the economy and support job creation. It is laying the groundwork to accelerate the development of an innovation economy. Our plan to help people in their everyday lives and to grow the economy and create jobs is working. The province is expected to remain among the leading economies in Canada over the next two years.

Just recently, a report by the Bank of Montreal reiterated that Ontario is expected to grow faster than the national average. In other words, the economy is performing well. The report stated:

“Ontario’s economy is one of Canada’s growth leaders, expected to outperform the national average for a third straight year in 2016.

“Ontario’s real gross domestic product is expected to grow 2.6% this year and 2.3% in 2017.”

This is proof that our plan is working—a plan founded on building Ontario up and centred on our work of fostering a dynamic and innovative business climate.

Today, Ontario’s labour market continues to grow, with more than 641,000 net new jobs created since the last global recession. Today, the unemployment rate is at an eight-year low, proof that the plan is having a positive impact on Ontario’s economy.

At the same time, our plan is also taking care of Ontarians in their everyday lives. It includes improving protections for consumers, investors and pension plan beneficiaries. I would like to highlight some of the key components of that plan that are reflected in the bill that is under discussion today.

First of all, Ontario is moving forward with a new statute to establish the proposed Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, FSRA for short. The FSRA would regulate the sectors defined in the Financial Services Commission of Ontario Act, 1997. The financial services sector is a significant part of the economy and touches the everyday lives of Ontarians.

I’m talking about areas that have real impact on people—real impact on the people who are at home watching right now—on insurance, on mortgages, loans and trusts, credit unions and not to forget pension plan sponsors and plan administrators that are part of the regulated sector. People entrust their futures to these institutions. We entrust our futures to these institutions.

Today in Ontario, more than 85,000 businesses and individuals working in the financial services sector are regulated or registered with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, or FSCO. Among these 85,000 businesses or individuals, there are:

—321 insurance companies;

—sponsors and administrators of 7,054 pension plans;

—101 credit unions and caisses populaires;

—53 loan and trust corporations;

—1,188 mortgage brokerages;

—2,681 mortgage brokers;

—10,893 mortgage agents;

—166 mortgage administrators—Speaker, I’m not going to test you on this later, I promise;

—1,779 co-operative corporations;

—52,925 insurance agents;

—5,693 corporate insurance agencies;

—1,505 insurance adjustors; and

—4,479 accident benefits health service providers.

When you break it down, you see how many Ontarians can be touched by these 85,000 businesses and individuals. This touches real people and affects their day-to-day lives and financial welfare.

Furthermore, FSCO also reviews and approves auto insurance rates, which provide the basis for the premiums paid by Ontario consumers on more than seven million personal vehicles. FSCO also monitors and ensures compliance with legislated minimum standards for more than 7,000 employment pension plans, with 3.9 million members.

For example, in 2014 more than 250,000 life insurance policies were purchased in Ontario, usually through a FSCO-licensed insurance agent. Ontario’s mortgage brokerages reported that they arranged $148 billion of mortgage business in 2014. Ontario consumers rely every day on services offered by financial services intermediaries licensed by FSCO.

Meanwhile, the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, known as DICO for short, protects the deposits of the approximately 1.6 million Ontario credit union members. Credit unions and caisses populaires are member-owned, deposit-taking institutions that provide loans and other financial services to their members. Caisses populaires focus their services on French-speaking communities.

I have to say, Speaker, that in Etobicoke, and in Etobicoke Centre, I have a large number of constituents who rely on the services of credit unions every single day. In fact, my family—my grandfather and my parents—have been members of credit unions for decades.

Ontario’s credit unions have provided $42 billion in loans outstanding to Ontario households and businesses as of June 2016. Furthermore, approximately 7,000 Ontarians are employed by these institutions.

In short, Ontarians rely on agencies such as FSCO, DICO and the related Financial Services Tribunal to ensure that they are adequately protected in their everyday lives. The government recognizes the important regulatory role these agencies have served. With many different touch points between consumers, financial services and pension administrators, the role of these agencies is fundamental in protecting the public.

Financial services are one of the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, and that is why the province is moving forward to establish the initial parameters for the proposed Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. Our intention is for the FSRA, for short, to be a strong, modern and efficient financial services and pension regulator that will benefit Ontarians by protecting the interests of consumers and pension plan beneficiaries while fostering a strong business environment.

I want to restate that, Speaker, because I think it’s really important what the goal is of the FSRA: It’s to protect the interest of consumers and pension plan beneficiaries while also fostering a strong business environment, an important balance to strike. Overseeing these areas is a public trust that our government takes seriously and we want to ensure that robust consumer and pension plan beneficiary protections are in place. We will make sure that we have a modern financial services and pension regulator.

The next topic, Speaker, that I want to speak to, and that’s contained in the statute, can be seen as a midway point in the rigorous process to create the proposed financial services regulator of Ontario. This is a process that began in early 2015. That year, we appointed an expert advisory panel to review the mandates of the existing agencies.

The panel consisted of George Cooke, the former president and CEO of the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and chair of the board of directors of the OMERS Administration Corp.; James Daw, former Toronto Star personal finance columnist, who has written extensively about all facets of Ontario’s financial system; and Larry Ritchie from Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, partner and former vice-chair of the Ontario Securities Commission—so a group of individuals with tremendous experience and knowledge of the sector.

The panel conducted consultations and drafted and released both an interim report and then its final report this past June. The government had tasked the group to answer four specific questions, and the questions focused on the relevance, responsibilities, powers and governance of the three agencies. They concluded that significant change was required, in part because the financial services and pension sectors are changing at a rapid pace.

To keep pace, they argued that Ontario needed a regulatory authority that is flexible and innovative and that possesses the expertise appropriate to match the consistently evolving financial environment. In short, the agency’s effectiveness was limited by a list of items outside their control, such as mandate, authorities and resources. They called not for amendments, revisions or improvements to the existing regulatory framework and apparatus; they called for replacing the current regulatory structure and approach with one that would be more flexible and also more accountable.

In their report, they stated clearly that they do not believe the necessary transformation could be accomplished within the current system that’s in place. They recommended the creation of a new regulator. They said that this new regulator required a new mandate and the authority to work closely with the sectors that they regulate, as well as with sister agencies in other provinces, if they were to encourage a vibrant and safe marketplace.

To ensure consumers, investors and pension plan beneficiaries are well protected today and tomorrow and that the industry is competitive and responsible to consumers’ needs today and tomorrow, Ontario needed change. It needed significant change to the mandate, governance, organizational structure, regulatory tools and overall regulatory means.

In its report, the panel made 44 recommendations, all relating to these fundamental functions. Overall, the report’s message was that Ontario’s current regulatory framework was not sufficiently flexible, adaptable or responsive. The expert panel clearly highlighted FSCO’s structural limitations, which create challenges in regulating financial services in the pension sector in an area of rapid industry innovation caused by competition and consumer change. The report was clear and unwavering: Change is needed.

Speaker, consumer changes and industry innovation are proceeding very rapidly, as we have seen in the sharing economy. For example, two or three years ago, few had heard of Uber and Airbnb, and today they’re household names. Innovation within the financial services sector is inevitable, necessary, and actually desirable. Innovation will drive competition. This dynamic, together with ever-changing demands from consumers and investors, will require an innovative, flexible, adaptable and responsive regulatory environment. In other words, if the financial services sector is going to innovate and adapt, we need to make sure that the regulator can keep pace.

Our government is committed to modernizing and strengthening financial services and pension regulation, as well as providing consumer protections, which is why we will establish the new recommended Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. But it needs to be said that how the panel’s recommendations will be implemented requires further analysis. As stressed by the expert panel, we know that the transition from the current structure to the panel’s recommended approach needs to be carefully and strategically planned, implemented and overseen with due regard for its impact on registered pension plans and on plan beneficiaries.

If passed, the legislation before us today would enable the government to appoint a board of directors that would govern the FSRA. The government will work with the bargaining agents to ensure that FSCO employees are treated in accordance with the applicable collective agreements during the transition to the FSRA. Our government will ensure that FSCO continues to provide regulatory oversight until the FSRA is fully operational.

The panel also recommended that the FSRA be funded on a cost-recovery basis through appropriate levies and fees paid by the regulated sectors. If the implementation goes according to plan, the FSRA would be set up as a corporation that is operationally independent from the government and that is funded on a cost-recovery basis through appropriate levies and fees paid by the regulated sectors.

This model is similar to others that are out there, regulators such as the Ontario Securities Commission, as an example. The establishment of the FSRA would represent an important first step towards the panel’s vision for modernizing and strengthening the regulation for the financial services under its oversight and pensions in Ontario.

In short, we are looking at a major overhaul to the regulatory landscape, with a modernized governance and accountability framework. In the coming months, the government intends to take other important steps in support of this multi-phased transition process, such as the development of a detailed implementation plan.

Mr. Speaker, the province’s efforts relating to FSRA are not the only work it is doing to modernize how financial services are regulated in Ontario. We are also working to promote clarity and consumer confidence in the sector. I’d like to spend a couple of moments speaking about that as well. Our steps include reviewing the regulation of financial planning and financial advisory services.

It is an understatement to say that the financial decisions confronting individuals have become increasingly complicated and increasingly complex. So, as a result, many people need access to informed professional financial advice to ensure that their investment decisions serve their financial goals. Currently in Ontario, no general oversight framework exists to regulate the activities of individuals who offer financial advice and planning services. The absence of a general regulatory framework for financial planning has raised concerns.

It has raised concerns about proficiency, quality standards and potential conflicts of interest in the industry. This potential regulatory gap could leave consumers vulnerable when looking for assistance to meet their financial goals.

Last year, the Ontario government took an important step in appointing an independent expert committee to review the regulatory framework relating to financial planning and financial advisory services. This committee was mandated to provide advice and recommendations to the government regarding whether financial planning and the giving of financial advice should be regulated in Ontario and, if so, the appropriate scope of such regulation. The goal is for consumers to get trustworthy planning and advisory services so they can be confident in the advice they receive when they face complex financial decisions with confidence.

When I think about the decisions that people make about their financial future, and I think about how many Ontarians rely on this type of financial advice and how those decisions are pivotal to their future prosperity, to the future prosperity of their families, how it’s fundamental to ensuring that people can achieve their potential, retire securely, support their families—it’s really, really important that we get this right. It’s really important that people can rely on that advice and have confidence in that advice.

The expert committee I was talking about said it would ensure that its recommendations avoid imposing unnecessary or duplicative regulation. As part of the consultation process, the expert committee travelled across the province to solicit stakeholder input on exactly how to do this. Their final report is expected to be released in early 2017.

Another area of note in the fall economic statement is syndicated mortgages. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario, FSCO for short, which regulates mortgage brokers involved in Ontario’s syndicated mortgage market, reports that syndicated mortgage lending in Ontario almost doubled, from $3 billion annually to close to $6 billion annually, between 2012 and 2015 alone. As the size of the market has increased, the types of investors participating have changed, with syndicated mortgage investments increasingly marketed to smaller-scale and to retail investors.

In this evolving context, changes were suggested to the way that syndicated mortgages are regulated. In particular, the expert advisory panel that reviewed FSCO’s mandate recommended that syndicated mortgage-offering documents should be subject to the same level of regulation that the securities regulator applies to other offering documents used to raise capital in Ontario.

In August 2015, last year, they proposed that the Capital Markets Regulatory Authority, when formed, would be responsible for the regulation of those offering syndicated mortgage investments. The government is taking steps to ensure that strong investor protection is provided under the regulatory framework for such products. As an initial step, the Ministry of Finance recently established a working group composed of representatives from the ministry and experts from the Ontario Securities Commission and FSCO.

It is expected that over the coming months, the working group will develop recommendations for the government’s consideration. The fall economic statement indicated that the government will announce further actions by the spring of 2017.

I’ve talked about a number of items here. I’ve talked about the regulatory authority; I’ve talked about syndicated mortgages. I also want to talk about credit unions and caisses populaires. The bill before us today also supports the government’s related work having to do with modernizing the regulation of the province’s credit unions and caisses populaires. In the 2016 budget, the government announced it intended to implement the recommendations contained in the report on the review of the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 1994. The review was led by my predecessor as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance, and now minister, Laura Albanese.

Speaker, as you know, Ms. Albanese is now Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In her role as parliamentary assistant, she was asked by Minister Sousa, back in the fall of 2014, to undertake the review of the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act. The act has been amended over the years, with the previous significant amendments being made in 2009. A review of the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act is something that must be done every five years just to keep it current. This is an imperative undertaking for the Ministry of Finance.

As part of her review, Minister Albanese did a number of things. She looked at the impact that the act and its regulations have on the day-to-day operations of credit unions and caisses populaires in their dealings with their members. She solicited public input through an open consultation process. Working together with Ministry of Finance officials and Osgoode Hall Law School professor Poonam Puri, her expert adviser, she held eight in-person consultations across Ontario. Additionally, they met one on one with individuals and held two round table sessions with key sector participants.

As well, stakeholders in the public submitted more than 35 written responses to a consultation paper issued to stimulate that conversation. All together, they heard from more than 2,020 individuals across Ontario. These people included credit union members, small-business owners, local chambers of commerce and sector representatives. Input from everyone was considered carefully and was reflected in Minister Albanese’s 15 recommendations.

After her work was completed, Minister Albanese observed that what really became clear to her over the course of the review was the pivotal role that credit unions play in their communities. She heard repeatedly about the positive contributions that credit unions and caisses populaires have made in northern, rural and urban communities, and their importance to their communities remains unmistakable and unshakable. Credit unions are vital to the communities that they serve.

I just want to offer an example. In northern communities where banks have closed branches, credit unions and caisses populaires have often stepped up and are the only remaining financial institutions in the community. In urban centres, ethnic credit unions assist members in their native languages. I can speak to that specifically. In my community, we have many, many members who are served, for example, by the Ukrainian Credit Union, by the Buduchnist Credit Union. These are the credit unions that I refer to that my grandparents and mother were members of.

They not only provide an essential service to their members and to those communities, but they also give back to their local communities. They take their resources, they take their profits and they contribute back into the communities in a way that’s quite exceptional. To that extent, they also provide a vital service to their communities. Of course, they create sustained and good-quality local jobs, the backbone of any community.

However, in Minister Albanese’s report, she noted that credit union revenues were under strain. They’re under strain due to Canada’s low interest rates and rules that could pose challenges to them. As a result, many credit unions are looking to pursue new and innovative lines of business in order to generate non-interest income. Credit unions and caisses populaires are vibrant and dynamic businesses. They compete for clients and strive to satisfy the needs of their members. They are looking to grow and compete more effectively in the modern financial services sector.

The amendments contained in this bill go a long way towards ensuring that credit unions and caisses populaires can continue to provide those vital and competitive services.

Minister Albanese’s 15 recommendations serve three overarching objectives: (1) protecting consumers; (2) encouraging best practices; and (3) enabling credit unions and caisses populaires to meet their members’ evolving needs.

Let me talk first of all about protecting consumers. While credit union and caisses populaires members are well served, the province can do more to ensure their best interests as consumers continue to be soundly protected. The report recommended a number of things:

—increasing the basic deposit insurance coverage limit, to $250,000 from $100,000, to better protect consumers in the event a credit union becomes insolvent;

—seeking voluntary commitments from credit unions to provide data on member complaints to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario;

—increasing credit union and caisses populaires transparency and accountability through published public accountability statements and notices of branch closures; and

—exploring with the sector new product offerings as alternatives to high-cost payday loans to help consumers find more sustainable financial solutions.

The minister underlined that in recent years there have been significant developments internationally in financial services regulation. It is important that Ontario remains aligned with international best practices. It is now evident that new best practices have emerged, in particular with respect to governance and capital adequacy. It is important to ensure that Ontario is aligned with those standards. In that vein, she recommended a number of things, including that they update their capital adequacy requirements to match federal and international financial standards.

Thirdly, in the area of enabling credit unions to meet evolving member needs, Minister Albanese underlined that the financial services sector is a competitive and evolving marketplace. By updating the Credit Unions Act, Ontario would help credit unions better meet their needs today and in the future while helping them compete more effectively. Therefore, she recommended a number of things:

—identifying and amending regulations under other provincial statutes that limit the types of business that credit unions can conduct with a variety of sectors, including municipalities, universities, school boards and hospitals, in order to put them on a more equal footing with banks;

—removing restrictive rules for small credit unions to give them the same flexibility in lending, investment and managing liquidity as large credit unions;

—allowing credit unions to wholly own a broader array of subsidiary businesses than is currently permitted, including insurance brokerages; and

—permitting loan syndications with credit unions in other provinces to help Ontario credit unions better fund local needs and manage risk through greater diversification of their loan portfolios.

These are all changes that the minister recommended in this third category that really allows credit unions to compete, to survive and prosper, to serve their members and their communities more effectively. With these recommendations, Minister Albanese was confident that new legislation would bring forward the right ideas that will improve the legislative framework for credit unions and caisses populaires.

As a first step, the government is proposing amendments to the act that would provide authority to set different deposit insurance limits for different insurable deposits, therefore enabling regulations to be proposed to set the deposit insurance coverage limit for non-registered deposits at $250,000. That’s the first thing. The second thing is to remove differentiated rules for small credit unions, and the third is to permit credit unions to enter into loan syndication agreements with credit unions in other provinces.

The government will also propose amendments to regulations under the act and other relevant statutes that would further implement the above measures and would do a number of things: permit credit unions to establish or acquire a corporation that is an insurance agent or a registered insurance broker; and address provisions and regulations under various statutes to include credit unions as permissible financial institutions.

Implementing these changes, Speaker, would help improve the legislative framework for credit unions so that they can meet the evolving needs of their members, contribute to the Ontario economy and ensure that deposits continue to be well-protected.

Ontario’s continued economic growth has occurred in the face of intensified international competition and uncertainty around global growth forecasts. From reducing regulatory burdens to helping businesses keep pace with technological change and expand their operations, the province is improving the conditions for economic growth, now and into the future. Ontario needs to be a destination of choice for businesses looking to set down roots and grow their firms.

Looking ahead to the new opportunities resulting from the transition to a low-carbon economy, the government is implementing its plan to combat climate change and support individuals and businesses. Attracting and supporting investment in financial technology sectors will also provide significant new economic opportunities. It is our responsibility to put in place the regulations and supports needed to make those opportunities a reality in Ontario.

The province is also committed to further strengthening consumer protection and ensuring a fair, safe and informed marketplace for all Ontario families, because we recognize that changing economic and social realities are affecting how Ontarians work, live and conduct business.

To enhance consumer protection in Ontario’s financial services marketplace, the government is doing a number of things: first of all, exploring options with credit unions to offer small-dollar loans as another option to high-cost payday loans; working with the sector to identify and address any potential legislative or other barriers to offering such products; and exploring with credit unions ways to reduce cheque-cashing costs for recipients of government payments.

The government has also completed the delivery of key reforms to improve the auto insurance system, including launching a new auto insurance dispute resolution system that will help the people of Ontario get faster access to the benefits that they need, reducing the maximum interest rate for monthly premium payment plans and prohibiting rate increases for minor at-fault accidents.

Ontario will continue to seek opportunities to improve the auto insurance system to benefit and to protect consumers. We will do so with the help of David Marshall, the former president and chief executive officer of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, who was appointed by the province as an adviser on auto insurance and on pensions. He is currently reviewing the system to identify ways to improve health outcomes and lower insurer claims costs. Ultimately, this will make auto insurance rates more affordable for Ontarians. I know that this will make a difference for the people in my community of Etobicoke Centre and for people in communities across Ontario.

In conclusion, the proposed Bill 70, the Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act, 2016, would implement, in part, measures contained in the 2016 Ontario budget by amending various statutes and enacting four new statutes. It’s an important bill. It is a document that reflects our common desire to make Ontario the best place for people to work, the best place to raise a family and pursue what makes them happy in life, wherever they live in this great province.

When I started, I started by talking about the fact that when I was young, I was told by my family, by my grandparents, how important it is that, as citizen of this province, as a citizen of this country, I have a responsibility to continue the work of prior generations in making this province, making this country, a better place to live. As an MPP, that responsibility is my everyday focus.

I’m proud to support this bill, because this bill takes important steps to strengthen our economy, to create jobs, to protect consumers, to ensure that the services that Ontarians need are provided and, ultimately, that we make this province and this country even better than it has been in the past and for generations to come. Thank you, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions and comments?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I’m glad to speak to Bill 70. We had a little bit of a challenge getting some time to review the bill before we could comment. We did get that from the government. We had to table a reasoning on it. It’s good to have some time so that we were able to prep for this. I know in our lead we’re going to be looking forward to giving the government comments and criticism and hopefully some feedback on what they’re proposing.

There are areas in Bill 70 that touch all of us, and health care is one of them. I was in committee yesterday with Bill 41, putting patients first, and that particular bill is very concerning. There were stakeholders there who were worried about the powers the LHINs were going to have over their agencies. The CEOs from CCAC are going to be appointed through the LHINs and they’re going to be able to go into community agency health groups and basically run the show. There are concerns about that because the community agencies, the health groups there—they know their areas.

They’ve been appointed to the board, they’ve been elected to the board, and the concern was that those people with the LHINs, through the CCAC, that were CEOs, weren’t appointed. They’re not accountable; they’re unelected. And so that is something that was flagged.

When we talk about health care, it’s probably one of the biggest budget items in Ontario that we have to make sure we get right, and there’s many times that I have spoken in this House about things that need to change and concerns around mental health. That’s still one of the things I’m very passionate about.

I look forward to looking at Bill 70 in more depth with regard to the health care piece and having comments on that in the future.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I’m delighted to rise and speak to this bill. I want to thank the Minister of Finance as well as the parliamentary assistant, the MPP for Etobicoke Centre, for their comments.

I noticed that the PCs relinquished their opportunity to rebut, so I’m going to take that as a sign that they agreed with everything that our side had to propose. So I really thank you for that. Thank you for that unqualified support from the Progressive Conservatives.

I also noticed that the NDP member decided to use her time to actually talk about the patients first bill and not the budget, so I will defer my comments on that issue, should I get the opportunity to debate the patients-first bill, which talks about delegating authority to the LHIN.

But I support this budget wholeheartedly for a very simple reason, and that is because—

Interjection.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: Sorry, the Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016. I do believe that the best policy, the best economic policy, the best policy for us, is good jobs, and that’s what this bill is about. This is about bringing good jobs to Ontario.

Our track record so far has been stellar. Business investment in Ontario has increased by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2016 and 0.9% in the first quarter. I think there will be no quarrel in this House when I say that Ontario is leading Canada when it comes to job creation.

We’re doing something right, Mr. Speaker. That is what is at the heart of our government and this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’m proud to get up and speak for a few moments to Bill 70.

There’s a

section in the bill that’s really what I want to speak to that deals with the election of the regional chairs in some of our regions in the province of Ontario. A couple of questions would come in: the fact that in all of the others that have it, it was decided by the local regions if they wanted to elect a regional chair or if they wanted to appoint a regional chair. I think there are only three of the regions that presently have an appointed chair.

The question, of course, would come: Why is the minister putting it in the finance bill to change that when, in fact, the same day, the Minister of Municipal Affairs introduced a municipal bill that deals with the composition of those regional councils? But this is not part of that bill. That’s a question I would have liked to ask the minister.

I’ve also spent the last two days at committee on another bill where I’ve been working on trying to get the government to allow the minister to come and talk to the committee, because in the debates in the House, we all realize—to the Minister of Finance—that the minister makes his statement, but there’s no opportunity to have a back-and-forth to get an explanation of what’s happening. I’m told at committee that the government feels that in the House is enough debate on the bill. But the question I just asked—and maybe we can get it in the reply to the comment.

You need the minister to come to committee to talk with us so you can ask questions and have a discussion as to what it actually means. So I would ask the minister, when this bill is finished, if it would go to committee so in fact we could have this discussion of what is in the bill.

On that one, I just want to say that it includes the word “Oxford,” and that’s what caught my attention, or I would likely never have seen it. But, in fact, it exempts Oxford from exactly the same thing because the Oxford regional chair, or warden, is appointed by council. I understand why it was taken out, and that’s not a question. I was there when that happened. But I do appreciate his presentation. I would hope that we get to committee and talk about some of these things that are in the bill that are not explained quite as well in the presentation—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Thank you very much. Time is up.

Further questions and comments?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: It’s always a pleasure to rise and add the voice of my constituents from Windsor West. Today I have two minutes on Bill 70, the Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act. I can tell you that the people of Windsor and Essex county don’t believe that this government is actually building Ontario up for everyone. All you have to do is look at their hydro bills and the skyrocketing cost of hydro. What they’re actually doing is driving people down into poverty. They’re not building them up.

There’s a line here in the little booklet that we were given that talks about “more than 641,000 net new jobs have been created since the depths of the 2008 global recession.” My question is: How many are of those jobs are good-paying, full-time jobs? How many of them pay a living wage?

Interjection: Permanent.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Permanent jobs that pay a living wage: How many of those? Because what we’re seeing is a move to unstable—or, as we call it in this House, precarious—work, those that are making a minimum wage that can’t survive, can’t put food on the table, can’t provide the extras like extracurricular activities, sports and such for their children. We have people deciding whether they’re going to buy their medications or pay their hydro bill. As we go into the winter season, we have those that have electric heat that cannot afford to turn that heat on because of the cost of hydro.

So we have a minister on the side who is grinning and heckling me, and that’s fine. Clearly she’s out of touch with what’s going on with the people across the province. She thinks it’s funny that there are people that are living in poverty and can’t afford to have heat in the winter and can’t afford to pay for their children. But I would really like the government to talk about what those 641,000 jobs really are and if they’re paying a living wage.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions and comments—sorry, forgive me. Sorry, Minister. Back to the Minister of Finance for final comments.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the comments by all members of the House and reflection on Bill 70 as we move forward with this fall economic bill. There are a lot of things in this bill. I am going to respond to both questions of the members opposite. But let me again reaffirm: This is about us coming to balance to ensure that we maintain a very disciplined and determined approach to our program spending, and to ensure that we continue to stimulate economic growth so that we do come to balance. And we are.

We’re taking the necessary steps to ensure that no one is left behind; to invest heavily in the things that matter the most to people—building new hospitals, ensuring more children go to universities and colleges—and to ensure we have a strong premise by which we can grow the economy and enable those jobs to be created.

I’ll reflect on that one question: 94% of the 641,000 net new jobs, after we capture the 280,000 jobs that we lost in the recession plus the additional jobs that were created in new value-added industries, in new manufacturing, in agri-food processing and a wide sector of the economy that’s enabling us to weather those commodity shocks that are now evident in Alberta and in the east coast—Ontario has led the way with the lowest unemployment in eight years. The majority of those jobs, 94% of those jobs—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Stop the clock, please.

We’re in final comments from the minister. I would ask that we quietly listen to his final comments. I direct this not just to the opposition side but to all of members in the Legislature to allow him an opportunity to finish.

Back to you, Minister.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Thank you, Speaker. Obviously, the heckling only reflects their desire not to listen to what’s actually the facts as opposed to the spin. So here it is: 94% of those jobs that are being created are permanent, are in high-value industries and higher-than-average income. That’s important for our prosperity.

We also want that growth to be more inclusive. We want everybody to appreciate and enjoy some of those opportunities that are existing in our marketplace in the province of Ontario. It’s why we’re continuing to take the necessary steps. It’s why we introduced the basic income pilot, so that no one is left behind in those initiatives. The member opposite made no reference to the fact that we’re looking at ways to help those who are in poverty and ensure that we continue to grow the economy for all concerned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further debate?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. While I do have an hour to speak, there are about five minutes left on the clock, so I’m going to spend this time maybe talking a little bit more about what this government left off.

They had 10 extra minutes to speak and they didn’t, and I can tell you why. It’s because we’re on to them. We’re on to them, Speaker. They have told so many things in that last almost-hour they had to speak that, quite frankly, what they say is 180 degrees opposite from the facts.

I can tell you, just as a for instance, in the minister’s own comments here, where he was talking about these net new jobs and he was talking about the 94%—I go back to the minister’s own department, which released an internal Ministry of Finance document that we received. This is a direct quote to talk about these net new jobs that the minister claims are some record-breaking numbers: “There are fewer jobs today relative to the population than before the recession.” It continues to say, “In other words”—he’s explaining it to the minister now—“employment growth has not kept up with the growth of the working-age population.”

They’re throwing out a number to the people, except they’re forgetting the fact that our population has grown as well, and so—

Interjection.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, I’m sorry you might not be able to hear me over the minister heckling just after he commented about someone else heckling. Maybe I’ll repeat this, then. Maybe he didn’t hear me.

His own Ministry of Finance document stated, “There are fewer jobs today relative to the population.” We’ve had a spike in our population. We’ve had job growth that did not keep up with that. The letter to the minister from his staff goes on say, “In other words, employment growth has not kept up with the growth of the ... population.” They tell you one thing, but we know from their own internal documents that the complete opposite of that is correct.

When you have this kind of statement from the minister, the parliamentary assistant and the other ministers here who are defending that, when you have a statement like that, that we now know from their own internal documents is completely opposite from reality—when you can’t trust a statement like that, how can you possibly trust anything, anything at all that this government says, when they can’t give you the real story about something as critical as our growth in jobs? They tell you one thing when their own ministry is telling you something completely opposite to that.

We know that there is a trust deficit with this government. Through the Financial Accountability Officer, we also know there’s a financial deficit. Both are very serious deficits to have. Now, I know that we can continue to talk about their trust deficit, because five OPP investigations, charges flying all over the place—we know there’s a deficit of trust in this government. But we should hope to be able to at least trust what they say, and we’ve now learned, yet again today after this blatant example of telling the public one thing when their own documents tell us something completely different—how can we ever trust a word this government says?

I’ll continue my 55 minutes when the bill is called later this week.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): It is now 10:15. This House stands recessed until 10:30.

The House recessed from 1015 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today, on behalf of the member from Chatham–Kent–Essex and myself, Barb Phillips and Michael Gibbons, real estate agents who are here with OREA. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I’m very pleased to welcome Frenchman’s Bay Public School students here today. I want to give a special shout-out to Jordanna, who lives around the corner from me. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Robert Bailey: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today, from the Ontario real estate board in my area of Sarnia–Lambton, Donna Mathewson and Hugh Brignell, two long-time members of the real estate board.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to welcome members of the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners here today: chair of the board Tina Quiring and her husband, Neal; past chair and chair of the fundraising committee Vern Toews and his wife, Elizabeth; and vice-chair Peter Fiss and his wife, Helen.

The Southwestern Ontario Gleaners are an interdenominational not-for-profit organization that provides free dehydrated food for organizations that are warranted. I encourage people to come and visit them this afternoon.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Our page captain today is Adrian Rassaf, and joining us in the members’ gallery are his parents, Sabine and Mehdi Rassaf, from the great riding of Oak Ridges–Markham.

Mr. Toby Barrett: Speaker, two things: I don’t know whether the representatives are here, but we all wish to congratulate the new president of the OFA, Keith Currie.

Secondly, as you know, the Ontario Real Estate Association is here. We wish to welcome Matt Thornton, Amie Ferris, and her husband, the president of OREA, Ray Ferris.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming two incredible and inspiring people who have travelled from KW to be here at Queen’s Park today: Shawn Johnston, who is the winner of a 2016 J. S. Woodsworth Award and the coordinator at the Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre; and Lila Bruyere, who is Shawn’s mother and also a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University’s social work program. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park Jon Tondeur from the great riding of Northumberland–Quinte West. On behalf of the Northumberland and Quinte real estate associations, I’d like to welcome Diane Chapman, Janette Laffin and Natasha Huizinga. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to the members’ west gallery. We have, from the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners, Joel Epp, who is the production manager; Alison Klassen, the administrator, and her husband, Henry; Vern and Elizabeth Toews; Peter and Helen Fiss; and Neal and Tina Quiring.

Also, Speaker, while I’m standing, I’d like to introduce Tim Schindel from British Columbia, and Ted Seres, who is a good friend of mine from Cambridge, also in the members’ gallery.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I’d like to welcome the members from CUPE 4914 who are here with their president, Sonia Yung, and a lot of her members, along with Fred Hahn, the Ontario president, and secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick.

Hon. Bill Mauro: The College Student Alliance is here today. I was pleased to have breakfast with them this morning, and I’ve got three members representing my college in my riding of Thunder Bay–Atikokan who are here today: Jodi Connor, the president of the student union of Confederation College; Madison Schell, the vice-president-external of the student union of Confederation College; and Sam Abraham, director of social events, student union of Confederation College.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I’d like to also welcome to Queen’s Park CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn, secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick, CUPE Local 4914 president Sonia Yung, and many of her members from Peel children’s aid who are in the public gallery to watch question period today.

Mr. Paul Miller: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature today four members of CUPE Local 4914 at the Peel region children’s aid society who have been on strike for over two months. Welcome to Helen Moore, Tom Davinett, Lisa McDavid and Carrie Lynn Poole-Cotnam. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I’d like to welcome two sets of guests today. I’d like to begin, also, to lend my voice and welcome CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn, secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick, CUPE Local 4914 president Sonia Yung and many members of CUPE Local 4914 at Peel children’s aid who are in the public gallery.

It is also my pleasure to welcome to the members’ gallery our friends from the Ontario Real Estate Association. I would like to thank Mississauga realtors Ray Dubash, Asha Singh and Tehreem Kamal for attending question period today.

Mr. Randy Hillier: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park three members from OREA who I met with this morning: Paul Martin, Adam Rayner and Stephanie Ballantyne.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I’d like to welcome today one of the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners. She’s from Kingsville and has her law office in Windsor. She’s Tamara Stomp. She made the soup today, Speaker, so come to the luncheon reception with the gleaners.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Today is a very special day. We have the College Student Alliance here with us. I want to say thank you to those students and welcome them here.

Also, the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners are an amazing group: Dennis and Vicki Dick, Philip and Sonja Farbota, and Tamara Stomp. Welcome to all the gleaners.

Mr. Michael Harris: I see members of our local real estate association from Kitchener–Waterloo here: Bill Duce, Tania Benninger, Mark Wolle and Charlotte Zawada. Thanks, guys, for coming to question period. Hopefully you enjoy it.

Mr. Yvan Baker: I just want to echo the greeting from Minister Matthews. I’m pleased to rise this morning and welcome to Queen’s Park the College Student Alliance, led by their president, Gurpal Singh Bhatia; director of advocacy, Ciara Byrne; the general manager, Jennifer Howarth; and board directors Tiffany Desbiens, Davinder Singh and Rhaili Champaigne; as well as all of their members here today. They’re here at the Legislature to meet with all of us, and I’d like to wish them a warm welcome and a wonderful day here at Queen’s Park.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I would like to introduce the College Student Alliance and send a warm welcome to two Londoners who have come today under the College Student Alliance: Kevin Kaisar and Carlie Forsythe. Welcome to the Legislature today.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’d like to welcome to the gallery Michelle Beaudry; her father, Michael Beaudry; and of course Matthew Beaudry, who is the star of the Bruce Power ads talking about asthma and the reduction of coal and GHGs. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I want to welcome Jason Craig this morning from the Cornwall firefighters. We had a good talk, and he’s here on behalf of the Ontario firefighters’ association.

Hon. Laura Albanese: I would like to introduce, on behalf of my neighbouring MPP for Eglinton–Lawrence, Mike Colle, who is not here right now, the guests of page captain William Cross: his parents, Annamaria and David Cross. They are in the public gallery this morning. We want to welcome them to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I’d like to welcome, from the North Bay Real Estate Board, Rhonda Fiddament, Susan Nosko and Irene Smit.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I’d like to welcome members of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighter’s Association. Here from Halton are Dan VanderLelie, Paul Cunningham, Ralph Baigent, Chuck Lewis and Grant Lawson. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I’d like to welcome a former legislative intern here at Queen’s Park, Matthew Thornton, from the Ontario Real Estate Association. Welcome, Matthew.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I would like to welcome, from OREA, Sylvie DesHaies, Christianne Newton from Kingston and the Islands, Colleen Emmerson and Adam Rayner.

Also, from the Ontario firefighters: Ann Bryan. We thank you for your continued work in our community.

M me France Gélinas: I too would like to welcome a firefighter from Sudbury: Mr. Mark Muldoon. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Chris Ballard: I’d like to welcome Paul Horton, a member of the Central York Professional Firefighters Association, here from Newmarket–Aurora.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Two members from the Windsor real estate association: Kim Gazo and Krista Del Gatto: Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would like to welcome all the CUPE members in Local 4914, children’s aid workers on strike, who are here today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Before we get started, an observation: The process that was agreed upon by the House leaders was five minutes of time for introductions. I have been flexible, seeing that there were many people in the House, that we would provide an opportunity for all the introductions to take place. I will only continue doing that if we do not have comments made other than to introduce your guests. If I start hearing people making comments—editorials—I will simply stop the clock at five minutes and we’ll move on.

If you have a point of order to make after that, I will recognize it only as a point of order. If you try to do some more introductions, I’ll stop it from happening. It’s up to you how you want to use this. I will be flexible if it’s used in a way that is respectful for the people coming to visit. Thank you.

Financial statements, Auditor General

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to

section 28 of the Auditor General Act, I have laid upon the table the audited financial statements of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario for the year ended March 31, 2016.

Oral Questions

By-election in Sudbury

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Deputy Premier. For over a year, a dark cloud of disgrace has hovered above the Premier’s office as she staunchly defended Pat Sorbara during the Sudbury by-election bribery scandal. It got worse when the Premier defended the Minister of Energy when he was named in the charges laid by the OPP.

Then, shockingly, yesterday in a Sudbury courthouse, a federal crown prosecutor alleged the Minister of Energy “sought certain benefits, offers, jobs or employment as part of his condition to run as an MPP.” The prosecutor stated that Thibeault was not charged because it is only illegal to offer a bribe, not seek or accept one. This is startling news. It raises serious ethical questions, and the public, rightfully, is questioning whether they can trust the minister.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the public is concerned about the Minister of Energy. My question is, will the Premier, will the government do the right thing and force him to resign?

Interjections.

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

Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’ll just remind the Leader of the Opposition, once again, that we have been very open with the public, with this Legislature, about the allegations related to the Sudbury by-election. Now that charges have been laid, Speaker, we believe—they should believe—that the right place to deal with these charges is in the court. That’s where we will leave it. The Legislature is no place to deal with this issue.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, it’s almost laughable when the Deputy Premier says “oops” and we only heard about stuff when the members get charged. We only hear about it when we’re hearing about ethical examples of breaches, of crossing the line. So, Mr. Speaker, my question is—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. It’s not a good start. I’ll put it on the record that we’ll move to warnings if I have to. I’ll do so quickly, if needed. Please finish your question.

Mr. Patrick Brown: I’m going to read a quote from the Premier’s speech at the Liberal AGM. She said, “People look at me and many of them think, ‘She’s not who we thought she was. She’s become a typical politician. She’ll do anything to win.’” The Premier added, “Frankly, ... I think I sometimes have given them reason to think that.” This is one of those examples where you’ve given people reasons to doubt that this is simply the bad side of politics.

So my question is, if you want to be different, if this government isn’t simply another politician, another bad example that causes the public to lose their confidence, why won’t they do the right thing and ask the Minister of Energy to resign? There’s this ethical cloud that everyone in the province can see except this Liberal government.

Interjections.

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

Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Well, if we want to talk about ethical clouds, maybe you could respond to this ethical cloud: The Leader of the Opposition’s chief of staff was recently caught holding secret negotiations with former Scarborough–Rouge River candidate Queenie Yu. The PCs’ top aide sent an email to Queenie Yu, flip-flopping again on the sex ed curriculum, the very same day as the deadline for withdrawing a candidate from the race. There are many ethical questions surrounding that.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. While I would like the opposition to come to order, it’s not helpful that the government side of the benches are making as much noise—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It continues while I’m speaking.

Finish your answer, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: When asked if the party was trying to convince Yu to withdraw from the race, the PC leader declined to comment. Now I think it’s time he comments.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Once again, we have a serious question for the Deputy Premier, and all we get is grasping at straws and diversion techniques. We have a serious case right here. The OPP have laid charges. I don’t want political games. I don’t want diversions. I want this government to actually answer a question for once in their lives.

I’m going to go back. The minister of the crown is alleged to have sought a bribe from the Premier’s deputy chief of staff. Though the matter of Ms. Sorbara is before the court, the matter is of public confidence and is rightfully debated in the Legislature.

The minister has been named in the charges laid by the OPP. He has tarnished his office and shaken the public’s confidence in his ability. Stepping down is not an admission of guilt by the Minister of Energy; it is simply the honourable thing to do.

My question once again to the Deputy Premier—and please answer the question—will you ask the Minister of Energy to resign? If not, are you saying that nothing wrong was done by Pat Sorbara or Glenn Thibeault? Yes or no?

Interjections.

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

Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I have another question. I know that it’s supposed to be question period to me, but I do want say—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. A few of you are pushing me to warnings.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: A remarkable coincidence happened on one day in—

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Answer the question that was asked.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon, come to order. If it happens again, we’ll go to warnings.

Carry on.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: On that day, the PC member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock resigned her seat and, on the very same day, accepted a paid position in 2009—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Sarnia–Lambton will come to order.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Hypocrites, hypocrites.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Speaker, I object to that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, come to order.

Interjections.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Take it outside. I’ll join you.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, second time.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Municipal Affairs, come to order. We’ve now chosen to go to warnings. I will issue warnings.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Sudbury Star said, “Scott Trades Seat for Head Office Job.”

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Start the clock.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Peterborough Examiner said, “In exchange for giving up her seat ... Scott is taking on the ‘enormous’”—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Oxford is warned, the member from Simcoe–Grey is warned, and we’ll continue.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: “In exchange for giving up her seat ... Scott is taking on the ‘enormous responsibility’”—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We’re going to get this. The member from Prince Edward–Hastings is warned.

Carry on.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Toronto Star said, “Progressive Conservative Laurie Scott will resign her central Ontario seat and take on the job of getting the opposition ready for the next election, Tory said in Lindsay.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. New question. The member from Leeds Grenville—

Interjections.

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

The member from Leeds–Grenville.

By-election in Sudbury

Mr. Steve Clark: I know I can’t ask my question to the Minister of Energy so I’m going to ask it to the Attorney General, but I encourage the Attorney General and government House leader to use standing order 37(e). It allows him to refer the question to another minister, and I encourage him to pass it to the Minister of Energy.

A federal crown prosecutor has accused the Minister of Energy of seeking an alleged bribe. Guilty or innocent, charged or not charged, an accusation of this magnitude shatters any moral or ethical authority this minister has to govern. It also calls into question whether the public can trust this minister.

He cannot and he must not remain as a minister until the case concludes. Speaker, again, I’m going to ask the Attorney General, I implore him to use 37(

e) and refer it to the Minister of Energy. Since a crown federal prosecutor has accused the Minister of Energy of seeking an alleged bribe, will the Minister of Energy resign until the case against Patricia Sorbara has been concluded?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I remind the member opposite again—and I think he knows this very well—that this matter is before the courts. It’s not appropriate for this matter to be discussed here in the Legislature.

Speaker, I want to be very clear. Contrary to what the Leader of the Opposition said, no member of this House has been charged in this matter. Let’s be absolutely clear on this. The Minister of Energy continues to do his job honourably as the Minister of Energy. He continues to serve the people of Sudbury honourably. There are no charges against him nor are there any charges against any member of this House.

There are two charges laid against individuals who do not serve in this House. That matter is before the courts. It’s only appropriate that it be dealt with in the court.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Steve Clark: Again, back to the Attorney General: For once, I actually agree with this government. I do believe that guilt or innocence is a matter for the courts. The opposition would not ask that this case be tried here in the Legislative Assembly.

But this isn’t about the outcome of the bribery charges. These questions aren’t about the matter before the courts. They are about the trust in this minister of the crown. This is about the moral and ethical implications of a minister who’s being named in a bribery charge by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Mr. Speaker, how can the public trust this Minister of Energy to do his job when his ethics have been questioned by a federal prosecutor? How can he do that? Why doesn’t he do the honourable thing and resign?

Interjections.

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

Attorney General?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: The Deputy Premier, Speaker.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As we look in history, we’re seeing some more examples where the Leader of the Opposition maybe wishes he could revisit some decisions. I’m looking to July 22, 2015, when the Leader of the Opposition thanked Garfield Dunlop for 35 years of public service at the municipal and provincial levels, and said the former PC education critic would now be the “chief education adviser” to the party.

I wonder whether Mr. Dunlop did actually provide some education to the Leader of the Opposition on throwing stones in glass houses.

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

Interjections.

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

Mr. Steve Clark: I’m going to again try to go back to the Attorney General. There are numerous ministers who have stepped down when they’ve been named in an investigation: my predecessor Senator Runciman, the member for Simcoe–Grey, the former Liberal finance minister, Greg Sorbara. They all left office until the ethical questions that surrounded them had been cleared. Speaker, I can’t for the life of me understand why this Minister of Energy has not already tendered his resignation. I can’t understand it. It’s beyond me.

Again, we’re talking about doing the honourable thing. We’re asking what Ontarians expect that he would have already done. The people who had elected him in that by-election in Sudbury all think the same way. They can’t understand why you haven’t already tendered your resignation and stepped aside.

Speaker, I’m going to give him another chance. Attorney General, refer the matter under 37(

e) to the Minister of Energy: Will the Minister of Energy do the right thing? Will he resign?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think what we’re hearing is some attack on that side to this way, but they are very uncomfortable with hearing allegations that maybe they behaved in a questionable way. Whether it’s Queenie Yu, whether it’s Garfield Dunlop, whether it’s the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock or whether it’s the Leader of the Opposition himself, we have clearly documented examples where I suggest—

Mr. Steve Clark: Bob Runciman, Jim Wilson, Mike Colle, Greg Sorbara: They all did the honourable thing.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville is warned.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: It is beyond me to understand how they can be calling on us to do what they call the honourable thing when it is very, very clear that the transgressions from that party are far more serious.

By-election in Sudbury

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is to the deputy leader. The Criminal Code of Canada states very clearly that it is an offence if “a member of Parliament or of the Legislature of a province, directly or indirectly, corruptly accepts, obtains, agrees to accept or attempts to obtain, for themselves or another person, any money, valuable consideration, office, place or employment in respect of anything done or omitted or to be done or omitted by them in their official capacity.”

After standing before an Ontario judge, a federal prosecutor said, “Mr. Thibeault sought certain benefits, offers or job or employment as a part of his conditions to run as an MPP.”

Without getting into any details of this allegation, does this raise any concerns for the government?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As has been said many, many times, that is an issue that is before the court and that is where it belongs.

But I do think—if you will recall, in 2013, the NDP party decided to install Adam Giambrone as their candidate in Scarborough–Guildwood: “Giambrone, who was parachuted into the riding, and the party hierarchy ... allegedly” stacked “the nomination meeting,” according to the Toronto Star.

“With the apparent backing of NDP leader Andrea Horwath and the party brass, Giambrone decided that he would like the nomination even though riding association insiders confessed he was ‘not known’ to them.”

“The president of the NDP’s Scarborough–Guildwood riding association said Thursday he is determined to get answers for why the party appears to have orchestrated Adam Giambrone’s nomination....”

A 92-year-old volunteer, Joy Taylor, said that she would quit—

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

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: The current member for Sudbury was a federal MP until he was given the provincial Liberal nomination. A federal prosecutor says very clearly, “Mr. Thibeault sought certain benefits, offers or job or employment as part of his conditions to run as MPP.”

My question is, what benefits, if any, was the Minister of Energy offered?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think we’d all be interested in knowing: When the member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton was considering a run at the federal NDP leadership, which was widely known, widely reported, he ended up on the front bench. He ended up as deputy leader. I’m just curious whether that was just a coincidence, or was there some reason that he ended up on the front bench as deputy leader and has, so far at least, not appeared to be running for the federal leadership?

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

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: The government denies that the Minister of Energy has anything to do with or is in any way connected to the bribery scandal, but the OPP believes that the campaign director for the Liberal Party offered a bribe to the Minister of Energy. Now the federal prosecutor says that the minister sought “certain benefits, offers or job or employment” as a condition of running.

My question is simple. When did the government learn that the current member for Sudbury had asked for any benefits?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: There is a matter before the courts. That’s where it belongs. But I can tell you that the Minister of Energy is a fabulous member of this Legislature. He is doing extremely hard work on a very challenging file. He is indeed bringing down the cost of energy for people across this province by 8% come January 1, and the most rural customers will see a 20% decline.

This is a member who exemplifies public service. We are delighted that he is serving the people of Ontario. We’re very proud of that. We think he’s a terrific person. We need to let what happens in the court happen in the court.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m asking, when you be seated, to be seated when I ask you the first time.

New question.

By-election in Sudbury

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question again is to the Deputy Premier. The government insists that nothing illegal happened, that the Minister of Energy is not charged, that there is no Election Act defence yet—charge laid—but the people of Ontario deserve better. They deserve a higher bar than that. Politicians should meet a higher bar than not doing something illegal.

Does the Deputy Premier believe it’s appropriate for the Minister of Energy to continue to sit in cabinet when a federal prosecutor believes that he was offered a benefit as a condition for him to run and to win that seat?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Of course we believe he should be here. He’s doing a terrific job.

But I do want to go back to the 2013 Scarborough–Guildwood by-election. The nomination was such a shemozzle, the NDP nomination, that 92-year-old volunteer Joy Taylor said she was not only quitting the riding executive, but she quit the party, she was so disgusted. She went on to say, “They know they were deceitful but they are doing everything within their power (to deny it).”

Well, I think that’s just not acceptable in any party, Speaker. I think the holier-than-thou approach that the NDP is taking—they need to explain what happened in Scarborough–Guildwood, what happened when the member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton decided to give up his federal ambitions for the deputy leadership of the Ontario NDP.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: When former finance minister Greg Sorbara’s name simply appeared in an RCMP warrant—simply a name in a warrant—he decided to do the honourable thing and step aside until his name was cleared, until that was dealt with.

The Minister of Energy is at the centre of this scandal. He’s at the centre. He’s the subject matter of an alleged bribe. It’s absolutely appropriate for him to do the honourable thing. In fact, we have a federal prosecutor who states that he accepted or potentially accepted a benefit for him to run.

Will the government do the right thing in this circumstance, take a page from their own former member, Mr. Sorbara, and actually do the honourable thing and resign until the matter is dealt with?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Minister of Energy, as I said earlier, is doing an outstanding job. He’s doing an outstanding job as minister; he’s doing an outstanding job as the member for Sudbury. He is a very strong representative of that area. We are proud to call him a Liberal. We are proud to have him in our caucus. He’s doing important work on the energy file, a very, very complex file. He has mastered the file and he is moving forward to reduce the cost to Ontarians.

We have done an important job cleaning up the mess that we inherited in the electricity system, and we’re now turning our attention to making sure that electricity is affordable.

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

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: The Premier was elected on a promise of a fresh start. After the bad ethics of the Dalton McGuinty years, the Premier promised that things would be different, that Ontarians could expect to find a government that was open and transparent, with integrity and ethics. Instead, the people see a government that is only interested in its own self-interest, in protecting its own cabinet ministers and its own insiders.

Over the weekend, the Premier made it clear: The reason that she was so unpopular was that she wasn’t who the people thought they voted for. That’s true. Here’s an opportunity to do the right thing. Here’s an opportunity for the government to restore a little bit of faith, to take a step toward restoring faith and doing the right thing and showing some leadership.

In this circumstance, the right thing is for the Minister of Energy to resign from his cabinet position until the allegation is dealt with. Will this government show some leadership, restore faith in government and do the right thing?

Interjections.

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

Minister.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think that the member for Bramalea–Gore–Malton should actually show some leadership himself and tell us what happened. How is it that he put his federal leadership aspirations on hold, and how is it that he became deputy leader of the NDP? I think if he’s calling for transparency, he should look in the mirror and share with us the story of how that happened.

First responders

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Deputy Premier. I’ve spoken in the House before about a Simcoe county firefighter, Bill Wilkins. He served the province and the city of Barrie. Bill tragically lost his life responding to a call. I vividly remember attending the funeral of Bill Wilkins in 2002, how it shook our community and, frankly, left his family without help.

Mr. Speaker, my first day in the House as an MPP I asked this question about the need to have a heroes’ fund. I believe we as a province can do more. I believe we can help those families like the Wilkins family.

Will the Liberal government support a heroes’ fund to provide survivor benefits for families of first responders who have fallen in the service of our province? When I asked this a year ago, the government said that they would consider it, that it would be looked at in the options of things we can do to support our first responders. A year and a half later, I’m asking again: Will they support this? It’s the right thing to do for our first responders.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. David Orazietti: I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I want to recognize the hard work of our first responders and our firefighters who are here at Queen’s Park today for all of the service that they provide for Ontarians. They are certainly true heroes in our communities.

This issue is very important to us. We do provide some resources in this regard to support individuals and to recognize the work that they do. This week, in fact, here at Queen’s Park on Thursday, we’ll have the bravery awards, recognizing those first responders for outstanding service.

This is an important issue, and I recognize the Leader of the Opposition has requested that we move in this direction. It’s something that we’re considering. I think it’s an important initiative. I think we can continue to do more to recognize those brave men and women who defend and support our communities each and every day. I look forward to working with the member opposite to help move this type of initiative—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary? The member from Perth–Wellington.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Again to the Deputy Premier: On March 17, 2010, my community was devastated by the loss of two firefighters in a tragic building collapse. Firefighters Ken Rea and Ray Walter lost their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice when a building they ran into collapsed on them. The least Ontario can do is support the families of men and women who lose their lives while saving others.

When will this government commit to a heroes’ fund, expanding survivor benefits for the families of fallen first responders?

Hon. David Orazietti: Again, to the member opposite, this is an important issue. We recognize the very vital work of our first responders. I know that we’ve increased funding for a wellness unit through, for example, the OPP. There’s about $4.4 million dollars in that particular program. We also offer programs such as the Constable Joe Macdonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for spouses and children of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. Ontario is a leader in this country in providing supports and services for our police, firefighters and other first responders.

I’m committed to working with the individual opposite to develop, enhance and continue to build on the programs that we offer to support our first responders and their families.

Electronic health information

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Acting Premier. This morning, the Premier’s privatization expert recommended that the government find “alternative financing structures” to fund our digital health system. The health minister keeps saying that his priority is to “leverage” health assets and maximize their value, but we’ve heard all of this before. The Premier promised not to sell Hydro One, and she did; she turned around and started selling off our public hydro to private investors. It’s no wonder Ontarians cannot trust this government.

Will the Acting Premier tell Ontarians what alternative financing structures the government has in mind for our private health records, and will she do it before the Premier makes another huge mistake that, once again, hurts the people of this province?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I was pleased to join Mr. Clark for his press conference to deliver recommendations based on the work that I asked him to do, based on terms of reference that made it explicit that there would be no sale of eHealth or digital health assets in this province, that there would be no sale of individuals’ personal health information. Those were his terms of reference. He has reiterated that in his report as well. He makes no recommendation pointing toward privatization or sale of any elements of eHealth, and that was the statement that I made at the press conference as well.

If the NDP insist on creating this mythological approach of theirs, that’s their business to do. I’ve made it categorically clear here in the Legislature, as the Premier has, countless times. I’m probably up to 20 times where I’ve insisted that that’s not on the table, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? The member from Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: Again to the Acting Premier: The people of Ontario are clear. Care should drive health care decisions, not profit. People, not private profits, should always come first in our health care system, but this government is putting private profit first. A year ago, the Premier’s privatization czar said Ontario hospitals should be linked more closely to the private sector, and now the same adviser is calling for alternative financing structures to fund digital health care.

Don’t get me wrong, Speaker. We all know that digital health care will bring us benefits. Ontarians own Health Infoway right now, but it looks like the private sector will own the ramp to those infoways. People don’t want the privatization of Hydro One to be repeated in our health care system. People want to keep the digital health assets in public hands where our health care system belongs.

When will this government stand up for patients and reject any attempt to increase profits in our health care system?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I couldn’t have been clearer or more categorical in this morning’s press conference when I indicated that there would be no sale of digital health assets, that there would be no sale of private health information. But maybe the third party has got caught up with what has been happening south of the border with the Trump election. They’ve created their own post-truth approach here in Ontario where they’re making it up as they go along. There is no intention.

They can continue to promulgate this myth, but the reality is—and I’ve stated it so many times, and this is consistent with the recommendation and the assertion of Mr. Clark this morning and in his report—there will be no sale.

Education funding

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: My question is for the Minister of Education. Ensuring students receive the best possible education across Ontario is incredibly important. Ensuring that the dollars that we invest in our education system help support students in the best possible way is a fundamental principle driving everything that we do in this government.

Minister, we all know how committed our government is to helping our children become lifelong learners. Ontario has a lot to be proud of in terms of student achievement, thanks in large part to our great educators and staff.

Everyone knows that the party opposite ran on a plan to make cuts in education, to fire teachers and education workers. This would have had a devastating impact on our world-recognized education system.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Can you tell us more about the benefits of our government increasing investments in education all throughout Ontario?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member from Kingston and the Islands for that question. I know what a strong advocate she is for her community and for young people in her community.

Each year, Ontario welcomes about 100 delegations from the world’s leading jurisdictions, who are visiting to study Ontario as a model for delivering better outcomes for our children and students. They look at our places of learning, as well as what we do for our youngest learners in child care and all the way up. We help adults gain their formal education as well.

Our educators, our teachers, students and their parents deserve credit. Through their hard work, Ontario’s high school graduation rate increased to 85.5%, the highest level in our province’s history. When the world notices what our children in our schools already know—that Ontario schools are the best places to learn—if we had listened to the PC plan for education—

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

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Thank you, Minister. I know that Ontario’s high school graduation rate has increased to the highest level in the province’s history, with more students than ever graduating with the skills and knowledge that they need to reach their very full potential.

We are extremely proud to see the results and influence of the investments of this government in our education system. It is important that we continue to support school boards in supporting the success of every single student in Ontario. Today, more students get more funding, and that’s why we’re seeing great returns on our investment in our children’s achievement rate.

The PC Party has a questionable track record when it comes to education. When they were in government, they closed schools and increased class sizes and, in the last election, they ran on firing 100,000 workers, including educators. Given the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Prince Edward–Hastings is warned. The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound is warned.

I checked my record. The member from Prince Edward–Hastings has already been warned. He is therefore named.

Mr. Smith was escorted from the chamber.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Anyone else?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. That wasn’t appropriate either. If I knew who it was, they would be warned.

Finish, please.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Given this history, can the minister please inform the House about our government’s long track record of increasing investments—

Interjection.

Mr. Randy Hillier: Of incompetence.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry is warned, and the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington is warned.

Carry on, Minister.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Education is a right, and a high-quality, well-rounded education is the rightful experience of Ontario’s children that they benefit from every single day. That’s why we’ve worked so hard to make Ontario’s education system one of the best in the world.

But the member’s question was specifically about rural school boards, so let’s look at Prince Edward–Hastings. Funding for the Prince Edward–Hastings school board was increased by approximately $310 million, an increase of 84% since 2003. Per pupil funding has increased by $5,100 since 2003, an increase of 61%. We’ve also built three new schools in this riding of Prince Edward–Hastings—Harmony Public School, Stirling Public School, Tweed public school—even though the member from that area ran on firing teachers in his own community.

On this side of the House, we will continue to build Ontario’s education system up, especially in rural Ontario.

By-election in Sudbury

Mr. John Yakabuski: I have a question for the Attorney General. There was no indication that he wouldn’t be here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Yes, I’m looking into that now—the Attorney General. Just wait.

Thank you. The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

Mr. John Yakabuski: To the Attorney General: Yesterday, crown prosecutor Vern Brewer stated, “Our allegation” is “that Mr. Thibeault sought certain benefits, offers or job or employment as part of his conditions to run as MPP.”

The prosecutor then stated that the reason that the Minister of Energy wasn’t charged was because “the

section makes it an offence to offer, not necessarily to receive” an alleged bribe.

My question to the Attorney General is simple: Are we really at a point where not appearing before a judge to face charges by a minister themselves is the bare standard that the minister must meet in order to remain in this Liberal cabinet?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: This matter is before the courts, as has been said many, many times. But I do think it might be interesting to review some cases that have come here. I think we do need some answers.

I want to talk about these kind of mysterious and secret negotiations held between the Leader of the Opposition’s chief of staff and candidate Queenie Lu in the recent Scarborough–Rouge River by-election. You see, what happened was, Queenie Lu had questions—

Interjections: Queenie Yu.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Queenie Yu, sorry—had questions around the leader’s position on the sex ed curriculum. I understand why she had questions; I think we all have questions because he’s had so many positions on it. But the PC’s top aide sent an email the very same day that was the deadline to withdraw from the race—

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: Back to the AG: It used to be that they punted questions to the AG; now they’re punting them away from him.

If the Premier was going to kill ministerial accountability, perhaps she could have at least shown up here for the funeral. Under this Liberal government, you can be investigated by the OPP and remain in the Premier’s office; you can be investigated by the OPP and still remain in cabinet; you can have a crown prosecutor say that the only reason the Minister of Energy wasn’t charged is because requesting an alleged bribe isn’t an offence, only offering one is.

Is there no ethical barrier this Liberal government won’t cross, or is this just what it looks like when you care more about the fortunes of the Liberal Party and staying in power than you care about the people and the interests of the people of Ontario?

Interjections.

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

Deputy Premier.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock is someone who is respected by every person in this Legislature. She’s somebody that we can work with. She has our respect. But something very, very interesting happened back in 2009, when the new leader needed a riding to run in. After some period of time, as I recall, the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock resigned her seat so that the new leader could run and accepted a paid position with the party the very same day.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. I have been listening very carefully that questions put are within the scope of the expectation that I have for

section 23(h). You’re getting close. Be very careful. Carry on.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I just have questions about this remarkable coincidence. If the Leader of the Opposition is claiming that that was just a coincidence, then I guess I have to accept him at his face value, but it is passing strange that the very same day the seat was resigned—

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

Labour dispute

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Before I begin the question, I also want to welcome members of CUPE Local 4914, who are here today.

My colleague from Hamilton Mountain raised this issue yesterday a number of times: The workers at the Peel regional children’s aid society, members of CUPE Local 4914, have been on the picket line now for three months, and it’s not about wages. They are striking for issues of safety, fairness and, above all, quality of care.

These workers do what they do because they care deeply about the children and families they work for. That’s why the workers are asking for a hard cap on the total number of active cases that they work on at one time. That’s what they feel is adequate or necessary to adequately protect children at risk.

Workload caps exist in other jurisdictions and other children’s aid societies, but they don’t exist in this particular one. Does the minister think workers and children in Peel deserve the same quality of care as other jurisdictions?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: As a former Minister of Children and Youth Services, I got to know kids in the care of the CAS. I learned through that experience that, of all the people and responsibilities, there is no greater responsibility than to the kids who have been taken under the care of the province. For whatever reason, they could not be cared for by their own parents. Our responsibility to those kids trumps everything else we do.

Having said that, labour negotiations are a matter between the employer and the union. It is inappropriate for me to comment on that negotiation. We are hopeful that the employer and the union will do all they can to achieve a successful resolution to this problem.

But as I said, these kids are our kids. We are responsible for kids in the care of the CAS. We have to do everything we can to make sure they get the care they need.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Kids and families in Peel want to see the strike end as soon as possible. They want to see this resolved. I understand that there are only four outstanding issues that can be sent to binding arbitration. Negotiations have stalled. Currently, the Peel CAS management won’t agree to go to arbitration.

The children and families in Peel who rely on the CAS can’t wait another month for this matter to be resolved. So, Mr. Speaker, my question is to the government: Will the government intervene and get the parties to arbitration?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member for this very, very important question. What we’re seeing in the Peel CAS is completely out of character for the usual experience of labour relations in the province of Ontario. Between 98% and 99% of agreements are reached without a resort to a lockout or strike. That obviously isn’t happening at the Peel CAS.

What we do at the Ministry of Labour is we try to bring the parties back to the table. In Ontario, we have some of the best mediators and some of the best arbitrators in the country. We’ve brought them to bear in this regard. What we’re trying to do with this highly skilled mediation team is working with CUPE and working with the employer. There’s nothing this government wants more and there’s nothing the Ministry of Labour wants more than to see an agreement reached at the table. I will tell you: On a daily basis, I keep track of this. It’s something we take very, very seriously.

Educat