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September 9, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-Sep-09 (PDF)

L054 - Mon 9 Sep 2013 / Lun 9 sep 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 9 September 2013 Lundi 9 septembre 2013

RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

FOR OTTAWA SOUTH, SCARBOROUGH–GUILDWOOD, ETOBICOKE–LAKESHORE, WINDSOR–TECUMSEH AND LONDON WEST

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

PUBLIC TRANSIT

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

JOB CREATION

PUBLIC TRANSIT

POWER PLANTS

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

HEALTH CARE /

SOINS DE SANTÉ

POWER PLANTS

PUBLIC TRANSIT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

POWER PLANTS

NORTHERN ONTARIO

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

USE OF QUESTION PERIOD

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

WIND TURBINES

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

STREETSVILLE CEILIDH

HATE CRIMES

TWIN PINE VILLAGE CO-OP INC.

RECOVERY DAY

FREEMAN STATION

RIDING OF SCARBOROUGH–GUILDWOOD

HIGHWAY 15

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

TABLING OF SESSIONAL PAPERS

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

OFFICER ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LE DIRECTEUR

DE LA RESPONSABILITÉ FINANCIÈRE

RADON AWARENESS

AND PREVENTION ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LA SENSIBILISATION

AU RADON ET LA PROTECTION

CONTRE L’INFILTRATION DE CE GAZ

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

PETITIONS

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

PUBLIC TRANSIT

CARELESS DRIVING

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

ONTARIO RANGER PROGRAM

TAXATION

LONG-TERM CARE

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

WIND TURBINES

ROYAL ASSENT /

SANCTION ROYALE

ORDERS OF THE DAY

STRONGER PROTECTION

FOR ONTARIO CONSUMERS ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 RENFORÇANT

LA PROTECTION

DU CONSOMMATEUR ONTARIEN

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Good morning, everyone. Welcome back.

Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, vacancies have occurred in the membership of the House for the reason of the resignation of Dalton McGuinty as the member for the electoral district of Ottawa South, effective June 12, 2013; by reason of the resignation of Laurel Broten as the member from the electoral district of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, effective June 28, 2013; and by reason of the resignation of Margarett Best as the member from the electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, effective June 28, 2013. Accordingly, I have issued my warrants to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of the writs for by-elections.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

FOR OTTAWA SOUTH, SCARBOROUGH–GUILDWOOD, ETOBICOKE–LAKESHORE, WINDSOR–TECUMSEH AND LONDON WEST

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the Chief Electoral Officer and laid upon the table certificates of the by-elections in the electoral districts of Ottawa South, Windsor–Tecumseh, Etobicoke–Lakeshore, Scarborough–Guildwood and London West.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): Certificates of by-elections were received as follows:

“Mrs. Deborah Deller

“Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

“Room 104

“Legislative Building

“Queen’s Park

“Toronto, Ontario

“Dear Mrs. Deller:

“A writ of election dated the 3rd day of July, 2013, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Lynne Peterman, returning officer for the electoral district of Ottawa South, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Ottawa South in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Dalton McGuinty who, since his election as representative of the said electoral district of Ottawa South, has resigned his seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Ottawa South on the 1st day of August, 2013, John Fraser has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 9th day of August, 2013, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 19, 2013.”

The second certificate:

“Dear Mrs. Deller:

“A writ of election dated the 3rd day of July, 2013, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Darryl D’Sousa, returning officer for the electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Margarett Best who, since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, has resigned her seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Scarborough–Guildwood on the 1st day of August, 2013, Mitzie Hunter has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 9th day of August, 2013, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 19, 2013.”

Third certificate:

“Dear Mrs. Deller:

“A writ of election dated the 3rd day of July, 2013, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Wendy Gibbs, returning officer for the electoral district of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Etobicoke–Lakeshore in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Laurel Broten who, since her election as representative of the said electoral district of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, has resigned her seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Etobicoke–Lakeshore on the 1st day of August, 2013, Doug Holyday has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 9th day of August, 2013, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 19, 2013.”

Fourth certificate:

“Dear Mrs. Deller:

“A writ of election dated the 3rd day of July, 2013, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to James C. Evans, returning officer for the electoral district of Windsor–Tecumseh, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of Windsor–Tecumseh in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Dwight Duncan who, since his election as representative of the said electoral district of Windsor–Tecumseh, has resigned his seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in Windsor–Tecumseh on the 1st day of August, 2013, Percy Hatfield has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 9th day of August, 2013, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 19, 2013.”

Fifth certificate:

“Dear Mrs. Deller:

“A writ of election dated the 3rd day of July, 2013, was issued by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the province of Ontario, and was addressed to Karen Mazereeuw, returning officer for the electoral district of London West, for the election of a member to represent the said electoral district of London West in the Legislative Assembly of this province in the room of Chris Bentley who, since his election as representative of the said electoral district of London West, has resigned his seat.

This is to certify that, a poll having been granted and held in London West on the 1st day of August, 2013, Peggy Sattler has been returned as duly elected as appears by the return of the said writ of election, dated the 9th day of August, 2013, which is now lodged of record in my office.

“Greg Essensa

“Chief Electoral Officer

“Toronto, August 19, 2013.”

Mr. Fraser was escorted into the House by Ms. Wynne and Mr. Milloy.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House John Fraser, member-elect for the electoral district of Ottawa South, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take his seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let the honourable member take his seat.

Applause.

Ms. Hunter was escorted into the House by Ms. Wynne and Mr. Milloy.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Mitzie Hunter, member-elect for the electoral district of Scarborough–Guildwood, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take her seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let the honourable member take her seat.

Applause.

Mr. Holyday was escorted into the House by Mr. Hudak and Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Doug Holyday, member-elect for the electoral district of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take his seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let the honourable member take his seat.

Applause.

Mr. Hatfield was escorted into the House by Ms. Horwath and Mr. Bisson.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and the House Percy Hatfield, member-elect for the electoral district of Windsor–Tecumseh, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims his right to take his seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let the honourable member take his seat.

Applause.

Ms. Sattler was escorted into the House by Ms. Horwath and Mr. Bisson.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I have the honour to present to you and to the House Peggy Sattler, member-elect for the electoral district of London West. She has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims her right to take her seat.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let the honourable member take her seat.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their warm welcome.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Tim Hudak: I’m pleased to introduce to the assembly—no stranger to the assembly—the former leader of our great party, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, and member for Dufferin–Caledon, John Tory, joining us here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Because I can’t see him, I’m going to assume that he’s smiling and that he’s in good nature because he’s got the pen from the media. I won’t say anything else.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’d like to introduce some residents of Don Valley West to the Legislature: Barbara Adams, Anne Marie Branch, Linda Dean, Dave Dean, Leanna Foster, Dmitri Logounov, Vanessa Rose, Joan Tadman and Janet MacDougall. They’re all here to witness the day back to question period.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: It is a pleasure to welcome some friends to the chamber here today from the United Steelworkers. They are: Terri Nugent from Parry Sound; Lisa Cook and Joe Holman from Windsor. I welcome them to the session today.

Mr. Peter Shurman: I’d like to introduce, in the west members’ gallery, the best constituency assistant you could possibly have: Mitchell Blass.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: At the risk of pre-empting you, Speaker, I see that the former Speaker, Dr. Alvin Curling, is here, my constituent. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Government Services is correct, and I will talk to her.

The member for Scarborough–Guildwood.

Ms. Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter: I would like to welcome my family to Queen’s Park. Welcome.

I’d also like to welcome the former Speaker of the 38th Parliament, my dear friend, Mr. Alvin Curling.

I would also like to welcome my constituency staff who are here, as well as our volunteers from Scarborough–Guildwood.

Finally, I would like to welcome the chair of CivicAction, John Tory—another former member of this assembly, as well as the chairman of CivicAction. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Somebody else stepping on my toes, here.

The member from Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to recognize my wife, Linda Fraser; Fadi El Masry, from my constituency office; and my friends Phil Parsons and Tracey Sobers, who’s known to many.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from—

Mr. Todd Smith: It’s been a long time: Prince Edward–Hastings.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Prince Edward–Hastings.

Mr. Todd Smith: It hasn’t been that long a summer, has it, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): How could I forget?

Mr. Todd Smith: I’d like to welcome my good friend Simon Chapelle, who’s here. His son, Ian, is one of the new pages for the next five weeks here at Queen’s Park.

Ms. Dipika Damerla: I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome my father, who’s here in the visitors’ gallery. Welcome, Dad.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Third time’s the charm. In the Speaker’s gallery, former member and Speaker of the assembly, for Scarborough North, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th; for Scarborough–Rouge River, 37th and 38th; and the Speaker from 2003 to 2005, and joined by members of his staff: Dr. Alvin Curling.

ORAL QUESTIONS

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

Mr. Tim Hudak: Again, congratulations to the five new members who joined the assembly today, and their families that have joined with us as well. I was just talking to Christine and Lisa; I know Norm and Steve went through it. It’s very exciting to actually walk in here to the assembly and take your place. Congratulations to all those members and their families here today.

Speaker, a quick question to the Premier: Premier, almost a million people today are jobless. Instead of using the summer to bring forward any agenda around jobs, we saw the Liberals continue with the attempt to bury information around the gas plant scandal, including allegations of intimidation of the Speaker to keep documents outside of public view.

I’ve come to a conclusion, Premier—I hope you have as well—that the only way to get answers for taxpayers is a full judicial inquiry into the gas plant scandal. Would you agree and support one today?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m going to answer your question, but I want to just say, first of all, thank you to the five new members for introducing a moment of harmony into the Legislature, and welcome them to this august place. I look forward to working with all of you, absolutely.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind the Leader of the Opposition that, in fact, the August net job numbers were up 43,600 in Ontario, and across the country the jobs were up 59,000, so in fact, the bulk of the net new jobs in the country were here in Ontario. I’m very proud of that, and we are doing everything in our power to keep that trend in place.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: I can’t believe, Speaker, that the Premier calls that a turnaround. I call that a miserable failure when a million people today have no job to go to. They want to make ends meet for their families. That’s why we brought a plan forward to actually get our economy moving again, to create jobs and to hold this government to account for its waste of taxpayers’ money. There’s not a single jobs item on the agenda here today.

Here’s what’s troublesome: Instead of working on jobs and the economy, you continue to try to bury information around the gas plant scandal, including allegations of an attempt to intimidate the Speaker of the assembly, an attempt by Liberal staffers to put the Speaker “on notice” to keep documents out of scrutiny for the public. Surely people have been fired. Surely you’ve taken this cause up. What can you tell us, Premier, about this attempt to intimidate the Speaker to bury gas plant files?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, let me talk about what we’ve been doing this summer in terms of travelling the province and making investments. We’ve put in place $17.6 million to support business in regions across the province. That has leveraged over $133 million in investments, and it has helped to create nearly 2,800 jobs.

We launched our youth jobs strategy, Mr. Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition well knows. We’re going to be investing $295 million to make sure that young people have the opportunity to have placements and to have co-op programs and to start jobs. Part of that fund is an entrepreneurship fund; we’ve launched that.

We’re increasing the employer health tax exemption, and the Leader of the Opposition should know that that is going to help small business and allow them to hire more people. That’s job creation strategy.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please.

I do want to offer the Leader of the Opposition a small caution, and that is that there is an issue before this House under a privilege request for my investigation, so I would ask him to stay away from that particular topic while I deal with that issue, before it’s live in the House right now. So I would defer to him.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Speaker, the fact that there’s a point-of-privilege motion of this seriousness shows that something has gone dramatically off the rails when it comes to the Liberal government.

Premier, respectfully, you said you’d be different. You’ve now been Premier for almost nine months—

Interjection.

Mr. Tim Hudak: —eight months—and you’ve failed that. In fact, the cover-up continues to happen. This is not a time for hand holding; it’s not a time for kicking it down the road. It is time for action. It is time for a judicial inquiry, it is time for the truth and it is time to expose those who try to intimidate a Speaker of the assembly.

Premier, don’t you agree? What action will you take, and will you call a full judicial inquiry?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I thought the Leader of the Opposition was talking about a job strategy. That was the answer I was giving, because I think that is what people in the province are focused on. They want to know that those 43,600 net new jobs in Ontario are a result of work that we’ve been doing for the last eight months. I’m quite clear that government works to put the conditions in place so that the private sector can create those jobs. That’s the work that we’ve been doing.

On the issue of the relocation of the gas plants, which is the fixation across the aisle, what I have said and what we have done since I came into office as Premier is that we have opened up the process. We have made it clear that as questions are asked, they will be answered. We’ve provided thousands of pages of documents. We will continue to provide the answers to the questions that are asked.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Premier: You’ll recall that on March 6 of last year, the Ontario PC caucus brought forward a motion to build subways in the city of Toronto, and specifically in that motion, subways to Scarborough. We simply believe that world-class cities build underground—they build subways—and it’s time to treat Scarborough residents as world-class citizens in Toronto.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order. Leader?

Mr. Tim Hudak: So last year you voted against the subway for Scarborough. You were against subways for Scarborough; you were pro-LRT. During the election campaign you flip-flopped and, quite frankly, your Minister of Transportation has been a runaway train when it comes to making announcements that make no sense whatsoever.

Premier, why did you say one thing during the by-election, one thing last year and something completely different after the by-election? Why should we trust a word that you or your transportation minister have to say?

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. There is an old teacher trick that was used many years ago and probably still is today—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Oh, that could be arranged.

Laughter.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): —where the person starts off real tough at the beginning and then eases off, instead of waiting to get tough at the end. I just thought I would offer you that experience that I’ve had. That goes for everybody.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. What is clear is that it’s this government that is committed to building transit. Since the day we came into office we’ve been investing in transit, and we will continue to do that. The new-found interest for transit investment on the opposite side of the House is heartening, and I look forward to working with the opposition on moving forward to build transit.

I am the first to admit that the subway—transit in Scarborough—has been an issue of contention. I was Minister of Transportation when there was a serious debate about what modality was going to be built in Scarborough, and that has gone back and forth. The fact is that we need to work with the people of Scarborough; we need to work with the city council. And where we have landed is a subway in Scarborough.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? The member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Mr. Douglas C. Holyday: Mr. Speaker, before I begin I would like to thank all the members for their very warm reception this morning. I look forward to meeting you all personally.

My question is for the Premier. Madam Premier, prior to the by-election, you promised the people of Scarborough that you would put out $1.8 billion for public transit in Scarborough. Unfortunately, after that you’ve now made another promise that you’re going to put only $1.4 billion forward, and we’re going to have fewer stops. I would like to know why you don’t think enough of the people of Scarborough, and for that matter the people of Ontario, to put the full amount in and give these people the subway they deserve.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I welcome the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore to the Legislature.

Just to clarify, Mr. Speaker, we committed $1.4 billion to the construction of this project, and we also committed $320 million for improvements to the Kennedy station, so we are following through on our commitment. I think what is critical to understand is that since 2003, since we came into office, we have been investing in transit really across the province, because the GTHA is obviously an important focal point, but we moved the gas tax out. There is gas tax that’s being invested in transit across this province.

We have been consistent in our support for transit and consistent in our call for a revenue stream that will allow us to build transit going forward. I hope that with a new-found passion for transit, the opposition party will work with us as we work to implement that plan and find that revenue stream so we can continue to build transit across the GTHA.

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

Mr. Douglas C. Holyday: Premier, the people of Toronto deserve a better answer than that. I think your party knew full well that you would break your promise to the people of Scarborough. You say transit is a priority, but your only priority is keeping your faltering government alive. Faced with the risk of losing a Liberal riding, you dreamt up a plan you had no intention of paying for. Premier, will you admit that this was no more than a scheme to try to save a seat in Scarborough?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that I know the history of this conversation pretty well because I was Minister of Transportation starting in 2010. We have been committed to building transit in Scarborough since that time and before. We remain committed to building transit. It has been a contentious file, there is no doubt about that, but the fact is that we have worked with the people of Scarborough, we have worked with the city council, and there has been a lot of back and forth.

The member opposite is newly from city council and he knows how contentious that debate has been, and it must be difficult for him to actually ask that question with a straight face. So I’m very pleased that we will continue to honour our commitment to build transit in Scarborough, and that is—

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

Interjections.

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

New question.

GOVERNMENT’S RECORD

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I also want to begin by congratulating the five new members who took their seats this morning and share with all of their friends and relatives, who are either here or watching, the excitement that they have and the pride that they have in those people. Congratulations to everyone.

My first question is to the Premier. Over the summer all of us had an opportunity to hear from Ontarians, both on the campaign trail and off. They told us pretty clearly that they’re worried about keeping good jobs, ensuring that health care is there for them when they need it and keeping up with the bills in tough times. More importantly, they are tired of hearing promises of change and seeing the same old status quo. Has the Premier gotten the message that people need to see results?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I absolutely concur with the leader of the third party that what we need to be doing is making investments in people, making investments in infrastructure and supporting business so that they can create jobs, which is why I am very pleased that in August the jobs numbers were up 43,600 in Ontario.

It’s why I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to commit $17.6 million to support business and regional economies; that we have launched the youth jobs strategy that I know the leader of the third party is very keen on, and that we’re dealing with the employer health tax exemption, which will allow employers to hire more people. Those are real changes, Mr. Speaker. Those are the kinds of things that are getting results already.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, I would put to the Premier that part-time service sector jobs are nothing to crow about these days in Ontario. The measures that we put on the agenda in the spring will ensure that seniors are not left waiting for home care, that young people get the good jobs that they need, and that all of us have real accountability on government spending.

But we have a lot of work to do if this is going to be anything other than more promises from a Liberal government desperate to hold on to power. For example, Ontario’s wealthiest corporations will be getting a brand new HST loophole on meals and entertainment pretty soon. Now, last spring, the government said that they wanted this loophole closed. Have they done anything about it, Speaker?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think the leader of the third party knows that this is not a loophole, and we’ve talked about this many times in the Legislature. The Minister of Finance has written to the federal finance minister to work to rationalize this. I think the leader of the third party knows that what we are doing here on this side of the House, in fact, with the help of her party in getting the budget passed, is making those investments supporting business so that those businesses can create the jobs that are needed in the province, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, with all due respect, what I do know is that people are tired of the same old status quo that they’ve seen for the past 10 years coming from the Liberal government. They told us very clearly that they want to see results that make their lives better this session, and we’re going to be working hard to deliver those results.

For example, drivers paying the highest auto insurance rates in the country are wondering how long they’re going to have to wait for their rates to actually come down. They see the government working overtime to protect insurance industry profits, but moving as slowly as possible when it comes to lowering their auto insurance rates. Can the Premier explain why it is that the government’s dragging their feet on lowering the rates while it continues to protect industry profit margins?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The leader of the third party asked a number of questions and touched on a number of issues in her questioning, and I know that there are ministers who will want to speak specifically to some of those issues. But I just want to make this point, and that is that I am determined to continue to work to make the minority Parliament function so that we can get results, so that we can make the changes that need to be changed and so that we can bring the legislation in that needs to be passed, Mr. Speaker.

I look forward to working with the leader of the third party on issues like auto insurance, on which we’re not dragging our feet; in fact, we’re implementing the changes that will allow those average decreases to happen. We look forward to working with the third party on making sure that those investments in home care happen, Mr. Speaker. We look forward to working with the third party and with the opposition on the changes to, for example, the employer health tax exemption, so that businesses will have more room to hire people. That’s the work of the Legislature. I look forward to working with the opposition members on that.

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. I really look forward to change, and people keep hearing promises of change. But over the summer, they saw more and more of the same old same old from the Liberal government.

Way back in January, New Democrats proposed a public inquiry to look into the gas plant scandal. But the Premier insisted that a legislative committee would do a better job. This morning, she actually insisted again that all the answers were going to be gotten by that committee. She insisted it would have a full scope to ensure that all questions were answered back in January as well, Speaker. Can the Premier explain why, then, the committee Chair, the Liberal MPP from Etobicoke North, is blocking questions at committee?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think the leader of the third party knows that that is not what is happening and that the Chairs of committees take their advice from the Clerks, Mr. Speaker, and they act in accordance with that advice.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, Ontarians judge leaders by what they do, not just what they say. They see New Democrats have been delivering results that will make government more accountable, and they see Liberals trying to stop Ontarians from getting answers about the gas plants.

On August 13, the Premier said she was “surprised” that MPPs weren’t being allowed to ask about senior Liberal staff. Will the Premier direct her government House leader to agree to expand the mandate of the justice committee so that Ontarians can get answers about attempts by senior Liberals to influence the Speaker?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know the House leader is going to want to comment on this question in the next supplementary, but let me just say I’m very pleased that we were able to get the budget passed in this Legislature. I’m very pleased that the NDP were able to support the Liberal budget—that the NDP were able to support the initiatives of this government to invest in home care, to invest in a youth jobs strategy and to invest in transit. I’m very pleased that the third party was able to see that the people of this province sent a minority government to Queen’s Park, and that they are working with us—have been working with us—to make that work.

Interjections.

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

I do want to offer the leader of the third party the same advice that I offered the leader of the official opposition, and that is this: There is a live issue before this House right now in dealing with the prima facie case regarding the issue that you brought up, so I’m asking that you refrain from asking questions about that particular issue. I’m just offering that as a caution, please.

Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, this is about her leadership, not the leash that she has her House leader on.

On August 13, the Premier said, “I was surprised” that the questions were out of order. “I fully expected those questions”—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Order.

Interjections.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Is that leash leather?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew, come to order. I’m not impressed.

Please put your question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: On August 13, the Premier said, “I was surprised” that the questions were out of order. “I fully expected those questions could be asked.” The Premier herself has promised that all questions would be answered. Now, she can keep her word and do the right thing now, or she can continue to protect well-connected Liberal insiders. Will the Premier do the right thing and get Ontarians answers, or will she let the same old status quo stand?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, thank you. It is day 1—just noting.

I just want to note, Mr. Speaker, that the quote that the leader of the third party has read out a couple of times—that I was surprised—demonstrates that I don’t control what goes on in committee. So when something happens and I’m asked a question, I respond honestly to the question.

We all want the information out. We want to continue to be open. I wrote to the Auditor General; I asked that the Auditor General look at both situations. There are 135,000 documents that have been provided to the committee.

The leader of the third party knows this. I really believe she knows that it is my intention—it has been our intention all along—to make sure that, as questions are asked, they get answered, and we will continue in that manner.

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is also for the Premier. Premier, over the summer, my colleagues and NDP colleagues were prevented at the justice committee from asking very important and pertinent questions about your Liberal operatives—senior Liberal staffers—attempting to strong-arm the Speaker after his decision in finding a prima facie case of contempt against your government in the gas plant scandal.

So I want to know why you weren’t forthcoming with that information, that the meeting had taken place and had put the Speaker in such a terrible position—so no transparency; you said you were going to be transparent, but you’re not.

Secondly, why did we have to find out by scouring through thousands and thousands of secret emails that the meeting did take place between the Speaker and senior staffers?

Thirdly, what have you done to take action to make sure that your senior staff people, that Liberal campaign people, will be prevented in the future—and this will never happen again—from inserting politics and trying to influence rulings of an impartial Speaker?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Be seated, please. Again, I’m very much wanting quiet so I can hear the statement. I’m very concerned about the direction when there’s a live issue that will be dealt with. I am sensitive to the questioning, so I’m trying to be as balanced as possible, and that’s why I’m asking all members who are asking those kinds of questions to try to divert themselves from making mention of the Chair while the Chair is supposed to be making a ruling. If you can find a way to do that and everyone would be listening while I’m speaking, it would be helpful.

I’m leaving it with you to try to make that happen, and if not, then I will rule it out of order.

Premier, you can answer.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, it’s unfortunate that members of the opposition, including the member who just asked the question, are really playing some procedural games here. The fact of the matter is, the Chair of the committee made a ruling, and there are a number of options that we could deal with, going forward. One was a point of privilege, of which the honourable member in question has given notice to this House and that this House is seized with. The second is for the House leaders to sit down and talk about a reasonable way to move forward.

The House leaders have met on this matter and, without divulging our confidential conversations, I can say that we looked at both. I, as House leader, would never want to be in a position of trying to horse-trade away the right of a member to raise a point of privilege. We talked about some potential ways forward, but the honourable member has chosen to raise that point of privilege. That is his right, Mr. Speaker, but then he cannot use question period to try to berate the government. He’s got to make a choice procedurally, and these types of games are quite frankly beneath him.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? I’m allowing it.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I’m still stunned with that answer, Mr. Speaker.

Back to the Premier: Ontarians are disgusted with what happened. You know, it took Watergate a long time to be a big issue. This, in parliamentary circles, is a huge issue. You do not do what your people attempted to do. It’s not whether the Speaker was influenced or not; it’s the attempt to strong-arm the Speaker while a ruling was going on.

Email exchanges between these Liberal staffers and advisers have raised a lot of eyebrows with members of this House and with the public. You want to be open; you want to be transparent. The people of Ontario want you to be open and transparent, and they want the answers. You won’t, because the House leader hasn’t brought forward a motion we could all agree on to expand the mandate of the justice committee so that we could ask these process questions leading up to the Speaker’s ruling.

At the end of the day I ask you, what are you going to do to correct things; and secondly, has anyone been fired over this?

Hon. John Milloy: Again, Mr. Speaker, it really is beneath this member. He knows that with a point of privilege before this House we could not explore any other way forward. I was not in a position to ever want to horse-trade away the right of a member to raise a point of privilege. I did, without breaking the confidentiality of House leaders, offer a potential way to move forward, and we know by the actions of the member that that was rejected.

The fact of the matter, Mr. Speaker, is that the Chair of the committee made a ruling based on his best advice. I understand that later in the session a technical briefing was offered by the Chair and the Clerk and other experts. And do you know what I found surprising, Mr. Speaker? The opposition tried to have it in camera, in secret, so that the press and the public could not realize that this was a ruling that was based upon the legal advice that was received by the Chair of the committee at the time.

Mr. Speaker, we will hear the point of privilege, and you, sir, will deal with it.

JOB CREATION

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. On Friday, people in London West received some discouraging news, with the release of the latest jobs numbers. Compared to a year ago, there are 5,800 fewer people in the London labour market. That’s people who have given up all hope of finding work and have just stopped looking.

Premier, taking away people’s hope that they will ever be able to earn a living is no solution to high unemployment rates. When is the government going to take real action to create jobs in London West?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Of course we are working hard to create jobs right across this province. In fact, I was in the London area just last week, making some announcements with the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund—important announcements in places like Palmerston, Guelph and Elmira. I’m working closely with the leadership of London.

It’s important to recognize that, although there are provincial disparities in terms of job numbers, we saw in August, as the Premier mentioned, overall 43,000 new jobs created. Let’s drill down a little bit in that and what that means because some are asking about the quality of those jobs. We actually saw that there were 7,600 new manufacturing jobs created in August alone. There were an additional 13,300 jobs created among our youth. We have an important youth jobs strategy that’s contributing to that.

I’ll speak more about the measures we’re taking in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Mr. Speaker, the reality is that London has lost 4,600 jobs compared to a year ago, and people in London West are worried about being able to pay the bills. The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund was established to help businesses create jobs, yet the only thing Londoners got from the fund recently was a by-election reannouncement of 14 jobs that had already been announced earlier.

Again, my question is to the Premier. When can the people of London West expect to see the fund bring some desperately needed new jobs into the London economy?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Of course I look forward to applications coming from London and the London area, as we’ve already seen. Armo Tool is another example in a riding immediately adjacent, but there are a number of people from London who work at that firm. We’ve provided them with support, a grant through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.

In fact, even though this fund has only existed since October—and I know it’s a fund that the PC opposition voted against. But since October alone, this government has invested more than $25 million in southwestern Ontario through this fund. That’s more than 6,000 jobs that have been created and retained through this program. It has leveraged more than $200 million from the private sector.

I’ve had a great time all summer travelling through southwestern Ontario, including London, seeing the projects, the programs that we’re contributing to. Manufacturing is alive and well, and we’re working with these companies as they expand and extend their global reach.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Ms. Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter: Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to rise in this House on behalf of the people of Scarborough–Guildwood.

My question is to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. My constituents rely on public transit every day to get to work and from school. Improving transit is a top priority for my constituents. People in my riding across Scarborough are looking for more frequent and faster options when using public transit to get around, and they want to know who will deliver.

My colleagues the members from Scarborough Southwest, Scarborough–Agincourt, Pickering—Scarborough East, Scarborough–Rouge River and Scarborough Centre have been tireless champions for a subway in Scarborough. Premier Wynne and this government have stepped up to the plate with a plan to build a subway to Scarborough and the money to back it up. However, there seems to be the risk of more delay because other levels of government don’t seem to be ready to support a Scarborough subway extension.

Speaker, we need Scarborough moving. Will the minister tell this House when a subway project will get under way in Scarborough?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Mr. Speaker, I would first like to join my colleagues in the House to welcome five very fine Ontarians to this Legislature. This is a huge privilege, and congratulations to you and your families—and also to the other candidates who weren’t successful. Congratulations to all of you.

We are building a subway, Mr. Speaker. That’s the first thing I’d like to say. I think this government is tired of the talk. If we’ve had anything about Scarborough and subways, we’ve had debates and we haven’t had enough action, and Premier Wynne has asked that I make sure this project gets built on budget and on time. The total budget for this is actually more like $1.8 billion because we have $320 million in the common components in the project. We will be building, without any ask for funds from the federal or provincial government, a $1.4-billion subway to the Scarborough Town Centre, on budget, on time.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter: Thank you, Speaker, and through you, thank you to the minister for that update. I’m proud that this government continues to make public transit a priority. Ontario Liberals are transit builders. The projects being funded under the Big Move in Scarborough will be well received by the people of Scarborough–Guildwood. The investments that this government is making will help make public transit a better choice for commuters, reduce congestion on our roads and contribute to a better quality of life for Ontario families.

When my constituents talk with me about improving transit, they want to know how it’s going to be done as much as they want to know what’s going to be done. However, many are unfamiliar with the Big Move and Metrolinx itself, the agency responsible for implementing transit in the GTHA.

Will the minister tell this House what Metrolinx is doing to deliver on the promise of better transit for the people of Scarborough and throughout the GTHA?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I want to thank the member again for her advocacy for her constituents. We are building $16.4 billion in the largest regional build-out of transit in the history of the GTHA: fifteen major projects and a major new system. And 90% of that is being funded singularly by the provincial government, which is where lies the challenge.

Mr. Speaker, 4% of the funding comes from the federal government—a measly 4%. In the six months that I’ve been the minister, I have written letters; I have had one conversation with Minister Lebel early on. I’ve invited him on a cycling trip. We have had nothing. Minister Raitt took over a couple of months ago. I have tried to get a meeting with her to talk about this for several weeks—for a couple of months. We actually had three different appointments in the last few weeks; she cancelled all of them. We have no support from the federal government. We have no meetings. They clearly don’t care about this at all, never mind fund it.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question this morning is for the Premier. Welcome back, Premier. The Liberal gas plant scandal hearings went on all summer long. The surprising thing here is, we are almost a year after the first email documents started dribbling out and we still don’t know how much the Oakville gas plant cancellation was. We have one fact confirmed by the documents and by sworn testimony, and Premier, that is that you, as cabinet chair, signed the order that started this whole charade with TransCanada. Now, you either knew how much this was going to cost Ontario or you blindly signed it with no regard whatsoever to what this will do to the taxpayers or the hydro bills.

So, Premier, when you put that pen in your hand to start this whole thing off, were you thinking, “I don’t know” or “I don’t care”?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, we talk about transparency. This is the Premier of the province who has asked the Auditor General to look into the Oakville situation, and I see from media reports that she is suggesting that will be out in the coming days. She said early fall. It was this Premier who went forward and asked for a broadening of the committee. She even offered a select committee, which the opposition rejected. It was this Premier who went in front of the committee and answered hundreds of questions that have been put to her both in the House and in committee.

But you know, I want to talk a little bit about transparency and that particular member. It’s interesting; he was mayor of North Bay for a number of years—actually, I think eight, nine or 10 years. The Liberal research bureau asked for emails under freedom of information from his time as mayor. I look forward to sharing the response in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Again, to the Premier: It is pitiful that—I can guarantee you that in those emails there were no gas plant scandal documents, and I can also tell you I have no idea what the city did with my seven years of emails that I saved when I was in office.

Your Liberal operatives, Premier, would not tell us the truth during the scandal hearings this summer. Anyone watching saw the pathetic display your party put on with half-truths and misdirection, such as we’ve just seen from the House leader. Nobody would tell us how much you, Premier, spent to cancel the Oakville plant, but we know you already know that number. You already have the Auditor General’s findings, and you know you’ve been caught red-handed again.

You spoke of the people’s fixation with gas plants. Well, let me tell you, Premier, they are fixated. They’re fed up. They’re fed up with your nonsense, your deleted emails and your delay tactics. Tell us today, how much of the taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money did you spend to cancel the Oakville gas plant. Tell us right now.

Hon. John Milloy: You know what, Mr. Speaker? We don’t know whether there were any emails about gas plants in the honourable member’s emails because this is what we heard from the deputy clerk for the town of North Bay. I quote—

Interjections.

Hon. John Milloy: You’ll want to hear this: “I have now confirmed with the director of information systems and the executive assistant for the mayor”—wait for it, wait for it—“that all available emails and attachments for the mayor and his office staff from December 1, 2003, to November 30, 2010, are no longer available. Emails are only kept for a 30-day period.”

You know, Mr. Speaker, the dramatics—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order. I would ask the members to come to order. Minister of Energy, come to order. Minister of the Environment, come to order. Thank you.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, the point is that the dramatics and the histrionics—let’s let the committee do its work. The fact of the matter is that they have heard from dozens and dozens of witnesses. They have looked for over 100,000—

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

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to everyone for that warm welcome this morning.

Speaker, my question is to the Premier. In late 2012, the minister responsible for infrastructure learned that the girders manufactured for the Herb Gray Parkway in Windsor did not meet code. Nevertheless, some of those girders were installed as late as January, and it was only this July that the ministry ordered a stop to the installation of girders on this vital $1.4-billion project.

Why did this government wait until July to stop construction when it knew months earlier about the structurally unsound girders?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Mr. Speaker, this government is pretty proud of a $1.4-billion investment that we’re making in the Windsor-Essex Parkway. This is timely because the bridge crossing—this unprecedented level of infrastructure is of huge concern to this government, and we know it is the foundation for future economic development in the Windsor-Essex area.

Mr. Speaker, as soon as I discovered that there was an issue, we acted immediately. I have now ordered an inquiry. The expert review panel is reviewing this entire matter. We acted promptly. That is an open and transparent process. They will be rising and reporting within the next 30 days, Mr. Speaker. I think all of the questions being raised will be answered.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: The government has retained a group of what it calls leading experts in structural engineering to review these unsound girders. The study was to be completed in late summer. Now we learn that the deadline for submissions has been extended to the end of September, meaning that even an interim report won’t be available until sometime this winter.

When will this Legislature—when will the people of Windsor, Tecumseh and LaSalle—finally get some answers on this critical project?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: Mr. Speaker, I became aware of this, as you know, in May. I immediately acted, gathered information and went to my deputy. We immediately, in June, ordered any construction to cease. We will not open any part of the parkway until this review is complete, and we’ve committed to that. We’re managing this in a prudent and thoughtful way.

The expert panel are the engineers who will make these determinations around compliance and around structural integrity—this is not something for politicians. When the transcripts will all be public, the committee will be reporting completely publicly and all these questions will be seen in the full report. I think it will demonstrate that certainly I, as the minister, and this government responded quickly and promptly as we came across information that caused concern.

HEALTH CARE /

SOINS DE SANTÉ

Mr. John Fraser: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to echo the comments of the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore and thank everyone for their warm welcome in the Leg today. I understand it’s not that way every day.

At least that’s what I’ve been told. I’d also like to say it’s an honour to rise today on behalf of the residents of Ottawa South.

My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. As our population ages, the quality and sustainability of health care is a growing concern for my constituents. Whether it’s a trip to the emergency room or a visit to the family doctor, they want to know that health care services will be there for them when they need them.

I have made clear my commitment to ensure that the people of Ottawa South get the high quality of care they deserve. Could the minister speak about what we’re doing to keep Ottawa healthy?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I am very sincere in my congratulations to the new member from Ottawa South and to the other new members who have been elected to this wonderful Legislature. Congratulations to you all.

The previous government wanted to shut down Montfort Hospital. Our government has invested $173 million in expanding and redeveloping Montfort, and just this past summer, it was certified as an academic teaching hospital. Things are getting better in Ottawa.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M. John Fraser: La ministre de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée mentionne l’Hôpital Montfort. J’ai déjà rencontré plusieurs de mes commettants francophones d’Ottawa-Sud et je sais à quel point cet hôpital est une véritable institution à Ottawa. Montfort offre des services de santé excellents et est un grand symbole pour la communauté francophone de ma circonscription, d’Ottawa et de l’est de l’Ontario. Monsieur le Président, est-ce que la ministre de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée pourrait m’en dire plus sur ce que le gouvernement fait pour les francophones d’Ottawa, en plus de ce qui a été fait pour l’Hôpital Montfort?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the minister responsible for francophone affairs.

L’hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Moi aussi, je voudrais féliciter mon collègue John Fraser pour son élection. C’est un homme extraordinaire, un grand ami de la francophonie. C’est un homme qui a beaucoup aidé à l’avancement de l’Hôpital Montfort. Alors, je veux le remercier.

Oui, ce gouvernement ici a été extraordinaire envers les Franco-Ontariens. L’hôpital qui devait fermer ses portes, il y a quelques années sous le gouvernement précédent, je dis toujours, s’est relevé de ses cendres et on a doublé le nombre de lits à l’hôpital. Tout récemment j’avais l’honneur et le bonheur d’annoncer la désignation de l’Hôpital Montfort comme un hôpital enseignant. Vous savez que l’Hôpital Montfort, c’est mon alma mater; j’ai fait mes cours d’infirmière là. J’étais très touchée et je remercie la ministre de m’avoir donné cette opportunité-là de faire l’annonce. Merci.

POWER PLANTS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: If I may, just before I speak, I want to congratulate all of the new members of this assembly: obviously, Mr. Fraser from the same city as me, and Doug Holyday to our new bench, and also to the others. It’s great to have you here.

My question is to the Premier. Premier, you and I have asked and answered, or I’ve tried to get answers from you, on a number of occasions, almost 40 direct questions from me on what the true costs of those cancelled gas plants are, and I haven’t been able to get that response from you. But I do know you do have that information because the auditor’s report has been given to you in advance. The residents of Nepean–Carleton would truly appreciate it once and for all if you would provide us in this assembly with the full details and the true costing of what those cancelled gas plants are. You’ve had all summer to do it. Will you do it today?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know my colleagues will want to comment in the supplementary.

I do not have the auditor’s report, Mr. Speaker. I do not know what the auditor’s report is going to say. When the auditor’s report is available, it will become public.

Mr. John Yakabuski: We were promised it before we came back.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: We were promised it before we came back, Speaker.

I want to go back to the Premier. I have no interest in hearing the spin lines from the government House leader. The abuse of tax dollars to what could be to the tune of $1 billion that has been misspent is a serious matter. That is why our leader is calling for a judicial inquiry so justice will be served and the severity of this matter will be studied in the full view and the full attention of the public.

Premier, we need a full inquiry now, but we also need the full set of numbers. We know that you have them. We know that you’ve had them for quite some time. Will you make that known to us today? I appeal to you on behalf of all Ontarians and in particular the residents of Nepean–Carleton.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I will say to the member opposite that just repeating an untrue statement does not make it true. I do not have the numbers. I do not have the Auditor General’s report. When I have the Auditor General’s report, it will be shared with you. I do not have those numbers.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the Auditor General to look at the two situations. I went to committee and answered questions, and I opened up the scope of the committee so that those questions could be asked. I repeat, Mr. Speaker: I do not have the Auditor General’s report. I have not seen it. I do not have those numbers, and when they are available, the member opposite will be able to see them.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please.

I’ve been challenged a few times today to try to bring us to focusing on how we should be asking and responding to questions and also what we should be doing in between that time.

I’m challenged by the way you responded by saying it’s untrue, so let’s try to be as succinct as possible with this. I’m making an observation about what I’m hearing. I haven’t made a challenge to anyone other than to challenge us to race to the top instead of the bottom. Let’s try to keep this on a high level, please. I’m satisfied with that, and I’m just making a comment.

New question.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Rosario Marchese: The question is for the Premier. The Premier once talked about the need to work with the city of Toronto on transit as part of the conversation, as she is fond of saying, so why has she sent the Minister of Transportation to cause chaos and division by announcing a cut-down Scarborough subway plan with no buy-in from city council, no buy-in from the TTC or apparently even Metrolinx, the government’s own transit planners?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I want to be very clear about this, Mr. Speaker. There has been, if you look at the maps, one way only and one route only between the Kennedy station and Scarborough Town Centre. It is the route we are proceeding with. It is the route that was there today; it was the route that was there three years ago. It is the route. It has never changed. This government has never proposed an alternate route to do that. What we are changing is the technology. The technology is changing from an LRT to a subway.

Interjections.

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

Hon. Glen R. Murray: There are a number of members of my caucus—Messrs. Balkissoon, Berardinetti and Duguid and others—who have fought for 20 years to get a subway. Mitzie Hunter ran on it, Mr. Speaker. We are paying 100% of the cost of that.

Not only do we have collaboration with the city; Minister Duguid and Councillor Thompson are co-chairing a committee to develop and elaborate this project and others going forward, which I think is an unprecedented level of co-operation between our two governments.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rosario Marchese: Speaker, the minister’s latest plan has been widely panned as half-baked, politically driven and perhaps even physically impossible. Why is the minister playing railroad tycoon and taking potshots at supposed partners instead of working collaboratively with the city of Toronto to improve transit to Scarborough residents?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I could take a great deal of lessons on potshots from some of my friends at city hall and in Ottawa, like Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Ford—I certainly have had a lot from them. The only two points we’ve made were not potshots. The two points we made of our colleagues in the other governments—and I don’t speak of the whole city but some politicians there who are champions but not funders.

Four per cent as a contribution to our economic and social capital of this country’s transit needs is laughable. Mr. Speaker, I’ve been the mayor of another city. I would never have accepted less than a third. The mayor of Kitchener doesn’t accept less than a third; the mayor of Ottawa doesn’t accept less than a third. I hope his federal counterparts will start raising this issue. The city has yet to put five cents into a subway. So, Mr. Speaker, we again find ourselves as the only people funding our promises and delivering our promises.

My question is, what route? Does the NDP want to change the route? Do they not like the route that’s been there for four years? What is their position? How are they going to fund this? What did Mr. Giambrone promise the people of Scarborough–Guildwood?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Grant Crack: My question is to the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment. Our 2013 budget is about creating jobs and helping people in their everyday lives. Speaker, any economist will tell you that an effective regional support program will play a significant role in supporting businesses and communities, helping them grow and create good, meaningful jobs. With Ontario back on track after the global recession, it’s still important to provide economic supports to rural regions across this province to ensure economic growth and prosperity.

Speaker, through you to the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, could the minister please update this House about the action our government is taking to provide regional economic development supports for businesses across Ontario and in Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, for example?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Thank you to the member from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell for such an important question.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is correct when he says that Ontario is back on track, so much so that we have recovered over 180% of the jobs that were lost during the recession, more than 475,000 jobs; 90% of those jobs full-time, 80% of those jobs in the private sector. A lot of that has to do with commitments made through our Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and the important Eastern Ontario Development Fund, which we have committed almost $90 million in support for so far. These investments have not only created and retained more than 20,000 jobs; they’ve leveraged private sector investment of nearly $1 billion.

Our government’s commitment to promoting such regional economic development remains a priority. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, just last week I was in Elmira, in Palmerston, in Guelph, announcing $3 million of investments creating a considerable number of jobs and retaining them as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Grant Crack: Thank you, Minister, for your response. It’s great to hear that our government is working to support businesses across the province and leveraging investments for growth, such as in my own riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell: Beau’s beers is expanding, and Holder Tractors is expanding as well.

While providing supports is important, rural Ontario communities face unique challenges when it comes to employment. For example, what may work here in Toronto does not necessarily work for the rest of rural Ontario or for other rural ridings across this great province.

I recognize the importance of helping people find good jobs in their home communities. This will help keep Ontario diverse, while contributing to the lives of those who may not live in major urban areas.

Speaker, through you, again, to the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, could the minister please update this House on what our government is doing to help everyday Ontarians in all regions of Ontario find good-quality jobs?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: This is, in fact, a great opportunity to let the Legislature know about our government’s recent expansion of the boundaries for our regional economic development funds and how this will further help to create jobs in local communities across the province. The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund will now include the county of Simcoe, Mr. Speaker, and the Eastern Ontario Development Fund will now include the district of Muskoka.

I have to say, I want to congratulate the local municipal and regional leaders of those two areas for working so diligently and closely with my ministry to make that possible. By expanding these geographic boundaries, we’re helping businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities in both Simcoe and Muskoka apply for funding for projects that will spur innovation, attract investment and create good local jobs.

Growing up, of course, as I did, in rural Ontario, I understand just how important regional economic development programs are, and economic development generally, for rural Ontario. I’m sure my colleague feels the same for his constituents.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is for the Premier. Premier, it’s been two years since your government’s self-serving decision to cancel the Mississauga gas plant in the dying days of the 2011 election. For two years, your party has done its best to obstruct, delay and avoid coming clean with the taxpayers about how much this is going to cost them.

Despite being under oath, one Liberal operative after another, when called in front of the committee, has put on their best Sergeant Schultz impression. When you appeared before the same committee, you also refused to answer a question put to you 32 times.

The committee’s summer hearings left us with a whole lot more questions, not answers. You’re on the record as saying that you want the answers to come out and that you have heard the public’s anger loud and clear. Will you finally let us get to the bottom of this scandal, end this charade and call a judicial inquiry?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: We certainly appreciate the question.

I recall, in the month of April at the justice committee, the CEO of the Ontario Power Authority was a witness, and at that particular meeting, he presented his best cut at the cost of Oakville. We also had a number put forward by the opposition critic as his best cut for the cost. There was also an independent consultant who put his number forward for the best cut at the cost of that particular project. Three weeks earlier, the CEO of the OPA had given a different cost for that project.

If there was no other evidence, Mr. Speaker, that we need the Auditor General to report and to have the patience to wait for her and that office, that’s where it should be. That’s where the answer will come. It won’t come from one committee meeting where four people are giving four different answers. They’re wasting time at the committee. We want to get on with the business of this Legislature. Let the Auditor General do her job.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: A lot of bluster, a lot of excuses, no answers.

Premier, the obstructionist tactics by Liberal Party operatives are well established. They have memory lapses. They claim that sworn testimony by other witnesses in front of the committee is false. They dispute unequivocal evidence contained in the released documents.

You claim you want to have the questions answered, but your actions betray your true intentions. It is clear that your Liberal government has no interest in the truth. Your attempts to pay lip service to transparency have been exposed, and nobody believes you anymore.

The only way to restore public confidence and get to the bottom of this scandal is to call a judicial inquiry. Why won’t you do this? What are you hiding?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, there is a statement here, and the question is, who said this: “The cost of a public inquiry is excessive; we don’t believe that that’s necessary”? Well, that’s from MPP Leone, MPP for Cambridge. What’s changed between then and now?

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat that the justice committee has gone up and down on this issue a hundred times. They’ve got different answers. The Premier had the leadership capacity to say, “Let the Auditor General look into it. Let the Auditor General come back and report.” We did it for Mississauga; we accepted the report. We’re doing it for Oakville; we’ll accept the report.

NORTHERN ONTARIO

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Last week, the Premier skipped around the north on a whistle stop tour, but her government isn’t going anywhere on issues that actually matter to northerners. She hasn’t delivered on the twice-promised, twice-cancelled conversion of the Thunder Bay Generating Station. In fact, northerners have watched as the Liberal government blew over half a billion dollars cancelling gas plants in southern Ontario and as they blew $20 million cancelling the Thunder Bay gas plant conversion twice.

Now, northerners are asking themselves what’s going on here. They need results, and they don’t need photo ops and endless conversations. My question is a pretty basic one, Speaker: When can the people of the northwest expect some clear answers about their energy future?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Well, I have to say that my experience of being in the northwest was that people were pretty darned happy about the Experimental Lakes Area—that the provincial government has stepped up when the federal government abdicated its responsibility. I have to say, $100 million a year for roads and bridges, that kind of infrastructure investment, was a direct request that came from municipal leaders, many of them in the northwest.

So, Mr. Speaker, what I have to say is that I did spend time in the north; I did travel the province this summer. The result of that travel—my travel in the past and this summer—is that the needs and concerns of regions in the province make their way to our policy discussions. That results in better outcomes for the people of the province. So I was happy to be there, and I will be happy to go again.

MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On August 14, the member from Simcoe–Grey provided me with written notice of his intention to raise a point of privilege upon resumption of the House. I am now prepared to give my ruling without hearing further from the member from Simcoe–Grey, as standing order 21(

d) permits me to do.

The member’s point of privilege relates to the existence of certain emails that were recently produced to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy in connection with that committee’s review of the gas plants issue generally and my September 13, 2012, ruling specifically. These emails chronicle a discussion among a number of then-current and former staff of Premier McGuinty’s office and are offered by the member from Simcoe–Grey as evidence that an attempt was made to influence or intimidate me with respect to my ruling arising from the point of privilege put forward on August 27, 2012, by the member for Cambridge.

As I have said in a public statement on July 30, I cannot speak to the mindset or the motivation of the authors of these emails. However, I think it is critical to note that my ruling that a prima facie case of privilege had been established by the member for Cambridge was made on September 13, 2012—fully eight days before the emails in question here.

I can tell the House that I made the September 13 ruling without any interference from any person, based on the evidence and arguments put forward to me by various members of this assembly, based on the August 27, 2012, report of the estimates committee, and in consultation with only my procedural advisers at the table. At no time did any person seek to pressure me with respect to that ruling, and, it having been made, it was not changeable in any event; this simply was not possible.

As I also noted in my July 30 public statement, I meet and have discussions regularly on a wide variety of issues related to my duties and responsibilities as Speaker. I am sure that all members can appreciate the extreme reluctance I would have in divulging the topic or content of any of those discussions, for many of them take place with you and your colleagues. To do so would justifiably open me up to a criticism that I cannot be trusted to keep confidences, regardless of whether they are of great or minor importance.

However, given the serious nature of the matter at hand, and in what I judge to be in the best interests of this institution, I am prepared to say that at no time, in any discussion I might have had after delivering my September 13 ruling, was I the recipient of any inappropriate overture or suggestion. I have not been pressured, intimidated, cajoled, warned or threatened in any way, nor was any influence exerted upon me to do or say any particular thing or to pursue any particular course of action. Nothing of this nature has taken place.

It is because I can so clearly give this House this assurance that I must find that a prima facie case of privilege does not exist. I thank the member from Simcoe–Grey for providing me with a comprehensive notice in this matter.

USE OF QUESTION PERIOD

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke on a point of order.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Speaker, earlier today in the answer given to the member from Nipissing, the government House leader delved into areas that I believe are inappropriate for this House to even be considering. I look at standing orders 23(h), (

i) and (

m) as my justification for raising this point of order.

The question at hand put to the Premier at the time and answered by the government House leader is to deal with the issue of the gas plant cancellation—matters that were dealt with by this Legislature, by this government, by the Liberal Party. For this House leader to go down the road of trying to make a mockery of what we do in this House by talking about FOIs to the city of North Bay to look for emails that go back years from someone who’s no longer a member of that city council, let alone the mayor, and to bring and raise those issues into this House takes us down an area that we are not responsible for.

It is not the job of the Legislature of Ontario to be looking for emails from the city of North Bay. Secondly, it is absolutely certain that any emails from the city of North Bay would have nothing to do with the cancellation of gas plants in Mississauga or Oakville.

That is an insult to the members of this Legislature. It is an insult to the public, the people of the province of Ontario, to play those kinds of games, and I would hope that any question of that nature in the future that is responded to in that silly, ridiculous way by the government House leader is immediately ruled out of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank the member for his point of order. I honestly believe that it actually would be helpful to this House if all members would refrain from making any personal comments to anyone about anything they’ve done in the past, present or future.

I would also suggest very strongly that all members give serious consideration to speaking to the Speaker when responding to and asking questions. That would help us remove ourselves from the noted comments from the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke. I thank him for his comments and I charge all of us with taking that path as much and as often as possible.

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

The House recessed from 1208 to 1300.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

WIND TURBINES

Mr. Ted Arnott: Today, the first day of the fall sitting of the Legislature, we begin again to discuss, debate and deliberate the public issues facing the province. We might even have the occasional conversation, to use the Premier’s favourite word for a dialogue that usually leads nowhere. A genuine conversation must be two-way. Both sides must listen and show respect for each other, and normally the conversation should have a conclusion if it’s going to be anything but a waste of everyone’s time.

On August 14, along with the members of the opposed Belwood wind farm group and residents of West Garafraxa in the township of Centre Wellington, I attended a meeting in Elora hosted by wpd Canada, a wind energy company which is planning to build a wind farm near Belwood. This particular conversation was initiated by the McGuinty Liberal government’s Green Energy Act. Today, it is perpetuated by the Wynne Liberal government. The anger in the room was palpable.

The representatives of wpd took the brunt of it because, of course, no one from the Liberal government would have dared to show up at a meeting such as this. But shown up these Liberal scoundrels should be, for it is their policy to take away local decision-making authority, move ahead prematurely while health studies have yet to be completed, and arbitrarily decide that a setback of 500 metres is sufficient, all the while driving up hydro bills and driving out industry, which is the root of the problem.

This is the legacy of their Green Energy Act. No wonder the Liberal support in rural Ontario has all but disappeared. But the voice of rural Ontario will continue to be heard here at Queen’s Park from this side of the House, and the conversation will only conclude when the Liberals are removed from office.

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Today, I rise to discuss the issue of temporary job agencies. All too often, Mr. Speaker, many members of the community around Ontario and particularly in Brampton and Mississauga are finding precarious employment. That’s employment that’s not permanent. This type of employment often sees people face conditions that are much worse than other people’s. There’s a strong connection between precarious employment and poverty, and the root cause is that people who don’t have a guaranteed source of income, who don’t have an employment that they can rely on, often fall through the cracks.

This government has for too long been inactive on this file. There is a serious problem brewing, there’s a serious problem that exists, and we need the government to take action to address this issue of precarious employment. We need to see some regulations in place so that people are transitioned from precarious employment from these temporary jobs into permanent, full-time jobs.

I have numerous examples of folks who are working through these agencies. There was a time when they would be transitioned into a full-time job, but people are now working, for year after year, through temporary agencies. They get no benefits; they have no severance pay. They do not have the same rights as those who have full-time, permanent employment.

Again I urge this government to take steps and to take real actions to address this issue, which is one of the root causes of poverty that addresses the working poor in our community. We need to give them some solace and some security that we are standing for them to ensure they get permanent, full-time jobs.

STREETSVILLE CEILIDH

Mr. Bob Delaney: On Saturday, September 21, the vibrant village of Streetsville invites everyone to the third annual Streetsville Ceilidh. The phrase “ceilidh” is of Irish and Scottish descent. Ceilidh is a Gaelic phrase meaning “party” or “gathering” at which song and dance is accompanied by storytelling.

In North America, some 50 million of us have descended from Gaelic ancestry, mostly from Ireland and Scotland. While Mississauga celebrates the heritage of our neighbours from all over the world, the annual Streetsville Ceilidh is an opportunity for the whole community to become Gaelic for a night and to join between 400 and 500 of us to celebrate, eat and be merry.

The Streetsville Ceilidh will be held at Vic Johnston Arena on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Doors open at 6 p.m; the celebration runs until 1 p.m. Tickets are merely $50 per person, with the option to reserve tables of six, eight, or 10. Each ticket includes dinner and a chance at a door prize raffle, plus live entertainment throughout the evening. The best part: All the evening’s net proceeds come back to the western Mississauga community to help kids through local service groups: the Legion, the Rotary Club, the Lions and the Streetsville Hockey League.

HATE CRIMES

Mr. Peter Shurman: I am very saddened to rise today to speak to an important, distressing and rapidly increasing problem which we in Ontario have been encountering. Over the past weeks, residents in Thornhill, Richmond Hill and even myself here at Queen’s Park have been the victims of hatred, discrimination and anti-Semitism.

On Wednesday August 14, the Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club, which is known to have a high Jewish membership, was targeted with two nasty swastikas cut into the grass of the golf greens. Only a week later, four homes in Thornhill had their vehicles vandalized, with the Nazi symbol spray-painted on their hoods.

Because of my own religious persuasion, I was the victim of personal discrimination and hateful words expressed in writing against me earlier this summer, but I cannot be more specific today.

Several years ago I stood in this chamber with many of you condemning the term “Israel Apartheid Week” as being inflammatory and speaking hatred on our university campuses. I stand before you today to report that it seems our efforts to stop hatred against any group have fallen short. I will continue to be a relentless advocate for tough sanctions when dealing with issues of hatred and racism. Canada is the ultimate mosaic, the envy of other nations for our work in creating tolerance and full integration. Actions like these demean the legacy of thousands of Canadians who have laid the foundation for acceptance and tolerance.

With every hateful act, the words “never again” become more meaningful. We must stand our ground in Ontario and in Canada to fight against all forms of hatred perpetrated against any and all groups.

As the MPP for Thornhill and as a target of anti-Semitism myself, I strongly urge the York region police to be unrelenting and vigilant in seeking out the perpetrators of these heinous acts and to treat these incidents for exactly what they are: hate crimes. I call upon all my fellow parliamentarians to join me in the fight against hatred, intolerance and bigotry.

TWIN PINE VILLAGE CO-OP INC.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: It’s my privilege to be able to share with the members of the Legislature the accomplishments of the Twin Pine Village Co-op in my riding of London–Fanshawe.

Constructed in the early 1970s, the Twin Pine Village Co-op has the distinction of being one of London’s first co-op buildings, and this co-op community continues to thrive today. The initiative at Twin Pine Village introduced a new approach to housing. Over time, this project evolved into an exemplary model of community co-operation and proved to Londoners that it is possible to deliver affordable housing in a supportive and inclusive community setting.

Once built, it was up to the residents to continue to promote the philosophy of co-op housing city-wide. Residents of a co-operative have a sense of true ownership, responsibility and investment in their homes. They work together to benefit all residents.

I’m delighted to announce that the Twin Pines co-op in London–Fanshawe was able to pay off their mortgage in full this past summer. I would like to congratulate the co-op residents, volunteers and board members on this achievement. They have proven that co-operative housing is effective and beneficial to residents, the community and all Londoners.

RECOVERY DAY

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to say, once again, thanks to all the members for their warm welcome this morning. I’d like to say thank you to the residents of Ottawa South. I look forward to continuing to work hard for them both here and in Ottawa South.

On Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the first Recovery Day ever held in Ottawa. I was joined by my colleague from Nepean–Carleton, who’s not here right now. The Recovery Day is a celebration that highlights the bravery, courage and dedication of people in long-term recovery, their families and the people that work with them. It also tries to remind people that there’s a stigma that’s often attached to long-term recovery.

I would like to offer my congratulations to Daniel Rathwell, the organizer of the event, and all the people who volunteered with him. It was a very successful event. I would like to encourage all members of this Legislature, when Recovery Day comes around next year at this time, that if there’s one in their area, they participate.

FREEMAN STATION

Mrs. Jane McKenna: We frequently take our built heritage for granted, and we often realize the cost of our mistakes too late—often, but not always. Today, the city of Burlington celebrates a

chapter of its history and heritage when the historic Freeman Station begins its journey back to restored glory. Starting today, the station, built in 1906 by the Grand Trunk Railway, will be gently moved from its temporary sanctuary beside the Fairview fire station to a permanent home nearby. I’m sure the people of Burlington will be taking the time to witness this historic moment.

It’s a moment made possible by community volunteers who rallied around this cause and rescued the station from decades of neglect and who called themselves the Friends of Freeman Station. Since 2011, they have worked to stabilize, repurpose and relocate this piece of Burlington’s history. Along the way, they have partnered with local companies to help return Freeman Station to its former condition. Companies like Ashland, Murison Restoration, King Paving, and Laurie McCulloch Building Moving have all been a huge help. But in the end, the success of this project can be chalked up to the vision, dedication and focus of the people of Burlington. Congratulations to all.

RIDING OF SCARBOROUGH–GUILDWOOD

Ms. Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter: I’d also like to thank the members this morning for that very warm welcome. I’m pleased to join you.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Scarborough–Guildwood for placing their faith in me and electing me to serve as their representative. I am so proud to represent Scarborough, a place where I’ve lived, learned and worked. I’m so proud to be here to serve my community and the people of Ontario.

I came to Canada when I was four years old with my family, including my grandmother, Eva Almira Hunter. I visited her on her birthday, August 14. She was so proud that her granddaughter had been elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. She passed away peacefully on August 16. I want to thank the team at the Scarborough Hospital, including Dr. Ko, for the care that she received.

I am humbled to join the 106 other MPPs in this assembly. While our experiences and opinions are widely different, I look forward to serving with you and getting to know each of you. We are working together in common cause to make a better life for the people in communities we represent.

In my own community of Scarborough–Guildwood, we take pride in our diversity and strong cultural spirit. Scarborough–Guildwood is proudly one of the most diverse ridings in one of the most diverse provinces in the country. I know that my constituents strongly believe that we are stronger together as one community.

HIGHWAY 15

Mr. Steve Clark: I rise on behalf of the residents of north Leeds to speak about Highway 15. Frankly, I’m not sure what’s worse: the deplorable condition of this major roadway or how utterly the Ministry of Transportation has bungled this improvement project since it was first identified in 1999. That’s right: The journey started in 1999—and 14 years later, the stretch from Seeley’s Bay to Crosby stands among the worst in Ontario.

I regularly hear from constituents fed up with paying for repairs to their vehicles. They also fear for the safety of their loved ones, their friends and their neighbours who travel the highway daily.

Among the delays was a year lost to study the project’s impact on snakes and turtles. Speaker, the only endangered species I’m concerned about is the humans driving Highway 15.

Rideau Lakes Mayor Ron Holman and I were shocked to learn that MTO has shelved a commitment to finally begin the work this fall.

Minister Murray, you know Mayor Holman has requested a meeting to discuss this urgent situation. We need your personal involvement, and I’m calling on you to meet with the mayor.

I’m also extending this offer: When you pick a date, I will meet you, with Mayor Holman, in Kingston, so the three of us can drive Highway 15 to the Rideau Lakes township office in Chantry. You can experience first-hand the dangerous conditions north Leeds residents have endured for far too long and why this latest detour is unacceptable.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 98(c), a change has been made in the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members’ public business such that Ms. Forster assumes ballot item number 61 and Mr. Schein assumes ballot item 69, and Ms. MacLeod assumes ballot item number 47 and Mr. Hudak assumes ballot item number 72.

TABLING OF SESSIONAL PAPERS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I also beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, the following reports from parliamentary officers were tabled:

—on June 18, 2013, a request from the member from Ottawa–Orléans, Mr. McNeely, to the Integrity Commissioner for an opinion pursuant to

section 30(1) of the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994, on whether the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, Ms. Scott, has contravened the act or Ontario parliamentary convention;

—on June 24, 2013, a report regarding alternative voting technologies from the Chief Electoral Officer;

—on July 15, 2013, a report concerning the Honourable Brad Duguid, the member from Scarborough Centre, from the Integrity Commissioner;

—on July 16, 2013, the 2012-13 annual report from the Ombudsman of Ontario, sessional paper number 81;

—on August 20, 2013, addendum to the special investigation report from the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: I beg leave to present a report on agencies, boards and commissions: the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, and move adoption of its recommendation.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Berardinetti presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendation.

Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: No, thank you. I’d like to move adjournment.

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

Debate adjourned.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, the clerk received the report on intended appointments dated August 14, 2013, of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. Pursuant to standing order 108(f)(9), the report is deemed to be adopted by the House.

Report deemed adopted.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

OFFICER ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LE DIRECTEUR

DE LA RESPONSABILITÉ FINANCIÈRE

Mr. Sousa moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 95,

An Act to establish a Financial Accountability Officer / Projet de loi 95, Loi créant le poste de directeur de la responsabilité financière.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, I’ll make my statement during ministerial statements.

RADON AWARENESS

AND PREVENTION ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LA SENSIBILISATION

AU RADON ET LA PROTECTION

CONTRE L’INFILTRATION DE CE GAZ

Mr. Qaadri moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 96,

An Act to raise awareness about radon, provide for the Ontario Radon Registry and reduce radon levels in dwellings and workplaces / Projet de loi 96, Loi visant à sensibiliser le public au radon, à prévoir la création du Registre des concentrations de radon en Ontario et à réduire la concentration de ce gaz dans les logements et les lieux de travail.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I would simply urge all members of this House to please vote in favour of this wholly essential bill. Thank you.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS

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

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Milloy seeks unanimous consent to put forth a motion without consent. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(g), notice for ballot items 34 and 35 be waived.

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

Motion agreed to.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I believe that we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding committee membership.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Do we have unanimous consent to put forward? Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. John Milloy: It’s a long one, Mr. Speaker. I move that, notwithstanding the order of the House dated February 20, 2013, the membership of the following committees is as follows:

The Standing Committee on Estimates: Mike Colle, Kim Craitor, Joe Dickson, Amrit Mangat, Michael Harris, Rob Leone, Rick Nicholls, Taras Natyshak, Michael Prue;

The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Steven Del Duca, Kevin Flynn, Mitzie Hunter, Soo Wong, Victor Fedeli, Monte McNaughton, Peter Shurman, Catherine Fife, Michael Prue;

The Standing Committee on General Government: Donna Cansfield, Grant Crack, Dipika Damerla, John Fraser, Laurie Scott, Todd Smith, Jeff Yurek, Sarah Campbell, Peggy Sattler;

The Standing Committee on Government Agencies: Laura Albanese, Lorenzo Berardinetti, Rick Bartolucci, Mitzie Hunter, Jim McDonell, Randy Pettapiece, Lisa Thompson, Percy Hatfield, Monique Taylor;

The Standing Committee on Justice Policy: Bob Delaney, Steven Del Duca, Phil McNeely, Shafiq Qaadri, Frank Klees, Jack MacLaren, Rob Milligan, Teresa Armstrong, Jonah Schein;

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Lorenzo Berardinetti, Helena Jaczek, Bill Mauro, Phil McNeely, Toby Barrett, Norm Miller, Jerry Ouellette, France Gélinas, Jagmeet Singh;

The Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills: Donna Cansfield, Dipika Damerla, John Fraser, Monte Kwinter, Randy Hillier, Rod Jackson, Bill Walker, Peter Tabuns, John Vanthof;

The Standing Committee on Social Policy: Bas Balkissoon, Mike Colle, Vic Dhillon, Helena Jaczek, Ted Chudleigh, Ernie Hardeman, Jane McKenna, Cheri DiNovo, Paul Miller; and

The Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly: Bas Balkissoon, Grant Crack, Vic Dhillon, Amrit Mangat, Steve Clark, Garfield Dunlop, Lisa MacLeod, Cindy Forster, Michael Mantha.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): All in favour? Agreed.

Motion agreed to.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Hon. Charles Sousa: I’m pleased to stand in the House to introduce the Financial Accountability Officer Act, 2013. This bill, if passed, would move forward with the commitments made by our government to enhance the accountability and transparency of the province’s finances. Our government is strongly committed to ensuring that we as legislators are accountable to the people of Ontario for clearly communicating the objectives, costs and benefits of proposals.

The Financial Accountability Officer Act, 2013, would further the accomplishments and build upon previous work made by this government—in introducing the financial transparency and accountability act—that we have made already on this front.

This bill would establish a Financial Accountability Officer to provide independent analysis to members of the Legislative Assembly about the state of the province’s finances, including the budget, and trends in the provincial and national economies. In addition, at the request of a committee or member of the assembly, additional types of research could be undertaken by the Financial Accountability Officer, including the financial cost or benefit to the province of any public bill.

The Financial Accountability Officer could also be requested to review and estimate the financial cost or benefit to the province of any proposal, such as private members’ bills, or that which relates to matters over which the Legislature has jurisdiction, such as new programs. On request, all ministries and other parts of government would be required to provide the Financial Accountability Officer with financial and economic information on a timely basis.

Our government remains committed to building a strong and prosperous economy while protecting the high-quality public services that the people of Ontario expect and deserve. But at the same time, we must eliminate the deficit, and in this regard we’ve made great strides. Ontario has beaten its deficit targets for the past four years. We’re the only government in Canada that has actually achieved this level of success. But we know we must always strive to do better.

Research suggests that officers in other jurisdictions that work in similar ways to what we are proposing lead to improved forecasting, help ensure accountability in meeting their fiscal goals, and improve transparency by better informing the public. These are all laudable ends, Mr. Speaker, and a Financial Accountability Officer would help us meet them.

Ontario is leading the way as the first provincial government in Canada to propose the establishment of such an office. If passed, the Financial Accountability Officer Act, 2013, would also enhance the information and resources available to all members of the assembly.

You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that in our throne speech Premier Wynne made it clear that this government is committed to getting real work done on behalf of all the people of Ontario, and it calls upon members of this Legislature to come together in support of that goal.

This bill is an example of our commitment to making minority Parliament work in the interests of all Ontarians and demonstrates the collaborative approach we are taking to work with the opposition. We have a shared responsibility to serve with integrity, and this added level of review by an independent officer would also help provide even greater confidence to all Ontarians. That is why I’m asking for the support of the assembly on this important bill.

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

Mr. John O’Toole: It is my privilege, on behalf of our leader, Tim Hudak, and the official opposition, to respond to the minister’s statement as the accountability critic.

First, let me stand and explain to the taxpayers what is really expected in demanding accountability. Accountability would mean that money is available to invest in health care, education, infrastructure and the things that matter most to Ontarians. Sadly, this government’s idea of fiscal accountability is too little, too late—about 10 years, in fact, and many billions of dollars. It comes too late to stop the loss of at least $585 million—perhaps $1 billion—in the cancellation of gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga in the cancellation of gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

Second, with or without the Financial Accountability Office, it is too late for this government to reverse the fiasco at Ornge air ambulance. Third, it’s too late to save back the billions of dollars squandered by the McGuinty-Wynne government at eHealth.

This summer, the Ontario Debt Clock, sponsored by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, stopped in my riding of Durham and in cities across Ontario to display the facts about Ontario’s growing debt. Ontarians were shocked to see that the debt is climbing at a rate of $32 million per day. The debt stands at more than $19,000 for every man, woman and child in this province.

Why are the members of the McGuinty-Wynne government the last people in Ontario to admit that they have a spending problem? The taxpayers do not need a second opinion. In fact, we do not need a new watchdog to tell us whether our government is accountable or not. Simply, the case has been made: They are not accountable.

If this government really cared about accountability, it would not have waffled so badly on the recommendations of the Drummond report. If this government cared about accountability, it would not have fought the fair disclosure of emails and information at the committee hearings into the gas plant cancellations. If this government cared about accountability, it would not have plunged Ontario into expensive energy policies that will result in this province having some of the highest electricity prices in North America.

Mr. Speaker, the new financial watchdog is not even the idea of the McGuinty-Wynne government. The Financial Accountability Office was a demand from the New Democrats to help seal the coalition between the Liberals and the NDP to pass the 2013 budget. The Financial Accountability Office will, in itself, cost taxpayers additional money. Estimates have pegged the annual budget at at least $2.5 million or more.

After almost 10 years of the Liberal government and the many, many scandals that go on even as we speak, I ask the people of Ontario: Do you have any trust in this government to be accountable?

Ms. Catherine Fife: It’s a pleasure to stand up in this House today following the NDP’s request of this government to be more financially accountable and to ensure that the people of this province have a true assessment of where we’re spending our money and how we’re spending our money.

As you will recall, we brought forward this idea of a financial accountability office during the negotiations over the 2013 budget. We were immensely proud of the idea then and we remain proud of it today. At the time, the Liberal government said that this idea was interesting. Well, we in the NDP and the people of this province think that accountability is more than interesting; we feel that it’s needed, and we need an office in place to make sure that it happens.

Second of all, to respond to the PCs, it is never too late to right a wrong and it is never too late to rebuild trust. The people of this province have a serious trust issue with this government. Our idea of bringing a financial accountability office to the Legislature is not only good for us to rebuild trust but it’s good for the people of this province, to ensure that we are spending their tax dollars appropriately and responsibly.

I know that as we move forward, though, we’re going to make sure—myself and the member from Beaches–East York on the finance committee and the entire NDP caucus—that this piece of legislation will be working as it was originally planned to work, and that is to ensure that every dollar, moving forward, is spent responsibly.

I’d like to remind people that the Financial Accountability Office would have the ability to do an independent cost analysis at the request of MPPs. Anyone in this House can ask the FAO for the real numbers, the truth about a financial plan. Imagine, moving forward, if we had the truth on the gas plants, if we had the truth on the Ornge scandal, if we had the truth on eHealth—we would not be in the state that we are right now in this province of Ontario.

The Financial Accountability Office will be a new, independent office of the Legislature. It will bring much-needed accountability and transparency to Ontario by giving independent analysis. It will have the ability to do an independent cost-analysis for MPPs. Why any MPP in this House would not support financial accountability—I have no idea why you would not follow through on one of the most important responsibilities that we have.

The Ontario NDP are proud that this province would be the first subnational government to have a Financial Accountability Officer. I am looking forward to the debate on this legislation in this House and in committee, and I am most looking forward to the day that our first Financial Accountability Office starts their work, because only then will we start to rebuild trust in the Legislature, in our democracy and governments for all parties going forward.

PETITIONS

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

Mr. Steve Clark: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and I want to thank Jim Bertram from the municipality of North Grenville for taking the summer to get I believe about 350 signatures. It’s a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas we the residents of South Gower and surrounding communities are aware of an application by Lafarge Canada Inc. for a licence to extract up to a 500,000 tonnes of aggregate annually from the 121.33-acre proposed McGill pit on Bennett Road in the municipality of North Grenville, and at end of operations will leave residents with a 95-acre ‘stagnant, exposed body of water’; and

“Whereas the proposed hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. It is expected the activity will result in one truck every six minutes, this being heavy trucks and trailers, hauling aggregate on roads not fortified for heavy truck traffic and in close proximity to homes; and

“Whereas the risks this operation poses to the quality and quantity of groundwater area residents are reliant on for their wells, in addition to its effect on the natural environment, including air quality, have not been studied sufficiently to satisfy the local community regarding the degree of risk/benefit; and

“Whereas the risks this operation poses on local wetlands, function and viability, because of such operations; and

“Whereas there is no provision under existing provincial legislation for residents to be compensated for any present or future decreases in property values or a reduction in their quality of life stemming from the operation; and

“Whereas many of the issues raised with concern to the proposed McGill pit are similar to those expressed during presentations to the Standing Committee on General Government during its review of the Aggregate Resources Act, which haves yet to be addressed;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ministry of Natural Resources to require that all concerns raised by residents are fully addressed before a licence to extract aggregate from the McGill pit is granted; and further, that the Standing Committee on General Government complete its review of the Aggregate Resources Act and present its recommendations to the Legislature without further delay; and that all aggregate applications be suspended until the recommendations are tabled and implemented.”

I’ll affix my signature and send it to the table with page Katherine.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I have a petition here being read on behalf of the member from Scarborough–Agincourt. It reads as follows:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Scarborough residents north of Ontario Highway 401 and east of Don Mills are without a rapid transit option; and

“Whereas a strong transit system is critical for increasing economic development and tackling income disparity; and

“Whereas this geographical area continues to grow and the demand for strong rapid transit continues to increase; and

“Whereas Sheppard Avenue is a major artery for automobile traffic for commuters travelling from suburbs to downtown Toronto, and travelling from suburb to suburb; and

“Whereas ground-level rapid transit would increase traffic, restrict lanes for automobiles, and add further risk for pedestrians and commuters at dangerous intersections along Sheppard Avenue; and

“Whereas demands for underground rapid transit along Sheppard Avenue have been part of public discourse for over 50 years; and

“Whereas the province of Ontario previously approved a plan from the city of Toronto to extend the Sheppard subway line from Downsview to Scarborough Centre; and

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To support the extension of the Sheppard subway line east to Scarborough Centre; and

“To call upon all levels of government to contribute multi-year funding for the construction and operation of an extension to the Sheppard subway line.”

I agree with this, will sign it and send it down to the desk with Erica.

CARELESS DRIVING

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It is a great pleasure that I’m going to read into the assembly a petition created by Rick Levesque, an activist in my community who would like to see distracted drivers have demerit points awarded for that type of driving.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas any persons convicted of using hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle should be included in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act category of careless driving. This to include fines of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000, as laid out in

section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, and six demerit points to be recorded to their driving record;

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

“Any persons convicted of using hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle should be included in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act category of careless driving. This to include fines of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000, as laid out in

section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, and six demerit points to be recorded to their driving record.”

I agree with this petition. I will affix my signature and I’ll present it to page Daniel. Thank you very much, Daniel.

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Ministry of Health is planning on cutting physiotherapy services to seniors in long-term-care homes—from an estimated $110 million to $58.5 million; and

“Whereas with this change seniors will not receive the care they are currently entitled to through their current OHIP physiotherapy providers, who the government plans to delist from OHIP on August 1st, 2013; and

“Whereas the government has announced that the funding level, the number of treatments a resident could receive, has not been specified and will be reduced from a maximum of 150 visits/year to some unknown level, which means the hours of care and number of staff providing seniors with physiotherapy will … be significantly reduced as of August 1st, 2013; and

“Whereas our current OHIP physiotherapy providers have been providing seniors with individualized treatments for over 48 years, and these services have … proven to help seniors improve in their activities of daily living, mobility, pain and falls risk;

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

“To review and reverse this drastic cut of … physiotherapy services to seniors, our most vulnerable population, and to continue with $110-million physiotherapy funding for seniors in long-term-care homes.”

I agree with this and will be passing it off to page William.

ONTARIO RANGER PROGRAM

Mr. Norm Miller: It’s my pleasure to present this petition to do with the Ontario Ranger Program. It’s “Save the Ontario Ranger Program.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“We, the undersigned residents of Ontario, draw attention to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to the following:

“The Ontario Ranger Program takes youth out of their comfort zones by taking youth from the south and placing them in northern camps and vice versa, allowing for personal growth;

“The Ontario Ranger Program also helps nearby rural communities as the Ontario Rangers help with various projects and build partnerships within the communities; the work is recognized and appreciated by these small communities;

“An extensive amount of work maintaining the interior routes and major provincial parks such as Quetico, Algonquin and Temagami is completed by Ontario Rangers on multi-day overnight canoe trips (and is otherwise unreachable);

“The lifelong skills and friendships built during the Ontario Ranger Program help youth develop into mature, confident, independent individuals, which is well worth the money spent on the program;

“Low-income and high-risk youth sent to rangers are isolated from their home situation and are exposed to the positive team-building environment within the Ontario Ranger Program;

“Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to demonstrate that the Ontario Ranger Program is a valuable program to the youth of Ontario, reverse the decision to close the Ontario Ranger Program and continue to help youth make a difference in Ontario.”

I support this petition.

TAXATION

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I have a petition here signed by 572 people, 222 of whom dropped off the petition into my office.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the provincial agency Metrolinx recently provided several options to pay for improvements to gridlock and transit in the Toronto and Hamilton areas, including a 1% hike in the HST and a five-cent-a-litre gasoline tax; and

“Whereas internal government documents show nearly 50 other new provincial taxes and fees are being considered, including a monthly phone bill surcharge, increased licence and validation fees for drivers, vehicle owners, fishers, hunters and park users; and

“Whereas taxpayers in northern Ontario are already overburdened with demands by the provincial government on their pocketbooks, and residents in northern Ontario experience higher costs for many items, including transportation;

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

“To not pay for the expansion of Toronto and Hamilton transit through taxes, fares, fees, surcharges or other mechanisms that burden the taxpayers of northern Ontario.”

I agree with this petition. I sign my name to it and give it to page Bridget.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Auditor General confirmed in his December 2012 report that the Champlain CCAC had the longest wait time in Ontario in which 90% of their clients were placed; and

“Whereas the region requires a comprehensive plan assessing the future long-term-care bed needs of the region, as well as the provision of community care for independent and semi-independent seniors; and

“Whereas the number of Ontarians over 75 years of age is projected to increase by 30% by 2021, the year the baby boomers start to turn 75 years old, putting even more demand on the number of available LTC beds;

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

“That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care immediately conduct a study to identify the current and future requirements for long-term-care beds and community care for independent and semi-independent seniors in our region of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, including the city of Cornwall;

“That such a study also identify future solutions for the current and future demand and the possible short- and long-term role the Cornwall General Hospital could play in fulfilling these requirements;

“That the Cornwall Community Hospital be funded to retain the Cornwall General Hospital until such a study is conducted and the role of this building is assessed in the solution to the LTC bed crisis.”

I will be passing this off to page William.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Ontario’s tradespeople are subject to stifling regulation and are compelled to pay membership fees to the unaccountable College of Trades;

“Whereas these fees are a tax grab that drives down the wages of skilled tradespeople;

“Whereas Ontario desperately needs a plan to solve our critical shortage of skilled tradespeople by encouraging our youth to enter the trades and attracting new tradespeople; and

“Whereas the latest policies from the Wynne government only aggravate the looming skilled trades shortage in Ontario;

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

“To immediately disband the College of Trades, cease imposing needless membership fees and enact policies to attract young Ontarians into skilled trade careers.”

PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ministry of Health is planning major changes to the provision of OHIP physiotherapy services as of August 1st; and

“Whereas this will drastically reduce the number of allowable treatments to 12 per year for people who are currently eligible for 100 treatments annually; and

“Whereas funding for physiotherapy services to seniors in long-term-care homes would be cut by almost 50%, from an estimated $110 million per year to