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May 16, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-May-16 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 16 May 2006 Mardi 16 mai 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

FIRST BALLANTRAE SCOUTS

BUCHANAN PARK SCHOOL

OPERA CLUB

CHILD PROTECTION

JUDITH LEON

BRUCE POWER SUPPORT CENTRE

BORDER SECURITY

PETERBOROUGH PETES

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

RIDING OF PARKDALE−HIGH PARK

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT

(WASTE MANAGEMENT), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

LA PROTECTION DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT (GESTION DES DÉCHETS)

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

HOUSE SITTINGS

VISITORS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

YOUTH SERVICES

POLICE WEEK

2006 CENSUS /

RECENSEMENT DE 2006

SCHOOL SAFETY /

LA SÉCURITÉ DANS LES ÉCOLES

POLICE WEEK

SCHOOL SAFETY

POLICE WEEK

ORAL QUESTIONS

TOURISM

CHILD PROTECTION

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

BORDER SECURITY

WASTE DIVERSION

FOOD SAFETY

CHILD PROTECTION

MINIMUM WAGE

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

PETITIONS

AUTISM TREATMENT

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

LANDFILL

COMMUNITY MEDIATION

LONG-TERM CARE

HOME CARE

ORGAN DONATION

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

LONG-TERM CARE

HOME CARE

LONG-TERM CARE

HOME CARE

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

OPPOSITION DAY

TOURISM

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

FIRST BALLANTRAE SCOUTS

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): I rise to pay tribute to the First Ballantrae Scouts, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary today. The

benefits to our communities from scouting organizations are immeasurable. Scouting fosters the values of honesty, integrity and volunteerism, and provides our young people with the opportunity to

develop unique skills and values which will last them a lifetime. Scouting is based on three principles: duty to God, duty to others and duty to self.

On this occasion, I want to give special recognition to the leaders and volunteers of the Ballantrae scouting groups, past and present, who make the experience

of scouting possible for the youth of the Whitchurch-Stouffville community. I ask all members of the Legislature to join me in recognizing the First Ballantrae Scouts, Cubs and Beavers, and the men

and women who volunteer their time to make a positive difference in the lives of our young people.

Joining us today in the gallery representing the First Ballantrae Scouts are leaders David Martineau, Ian Rock, Doug McDougall, Suzanne McDougall, Mike Cataliano

and Tim Neuman; also Scouts Hunter Strupp, Sam Hayter, Jack Tanaby Holder, Chris McMahon, Brayden Cocomello and Eddie Ameland; Cubs Brandon Martineau, Spencer Hartwick and Tyler Harwick; Beavers

Calum Rock and Sam Cataliano; and last but not least, Brownie Haley Cataliano. They are joined by councillor Phil Bannon from the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Please welcome them, and on behalf of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, happy 50th anniversary.

BUCHANAN PARK SCHOOL

OPERA CLUB

Ms. Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): I recently attended the most amazing event in my riding. I had the privilege of attending the opera of Romeo

and Juliet put on by Hamilton students of Buchanan Park School. This production was hugely impressive, with all the students from grade 1 through grade 6 involved. Every scene demonstrated

gorgeous, colourful costumes, musical talent, artistic sets, amazing staging, with pride in these young actors and actresses. Their eyes were just sparkling. As I sat in awe of all these

wonderfully dedicated students from all walks of life, my mind wandered to all the work and time that must have been put in by parents, teachers, sponsors, volunteers and the students

themselves.

Did you know that Buchanan Park Public School is the only school in Ontario that has an opera club? Since 1995, this opera club has assembled together all

students and they run the show. From the technical crew, the dancers, the chorus to the lead parts, every student gets involved with the production. Huge credit goes to Dawn Martens, artistic

director; maestro David Fawcett; and Mrs. O'Grady, principal, for this initiative. Thank you to John Fanning, the celebrated tenor, for his guest appearance as a green dinosaur, and a special thank

you to Julia Page as Juliet and William Mastromattei as Romeo.

An added bonus was that they earned $22,282 in support of McMaster University's children's cancer and leukemia research fund for the children's hospital at

Hamilton Health Sciences. Bravo to all.

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I rise in the House in response to a report on the CBC national news last night regarding medications given to a

child identified only as J. J. was under the care of the Durham Children's Aid Society. I must comment that we respect the sensitivity of this issue. I am confident the Minister of Children and

Youth Services will be following up on the many issues raised over the prescription of psychotropic medications to children in the care of the children's aid society.

Recently, I met with James Dubray, executive director of Durham Children's Aid, and Dennis Norton, president of the board. We discussed various oversight issues

at the time, which was Bill 83 and Bill 210, including the suggestion that the Ontario Ombudsman have the power to review CAS complaints and services issues.

Last night's CBC report said the provincial government has the authority to establish an independent board to investigate and review cases like J.'s. It is my

understanding that under the Child and Family Services Act the Professional Advisory Board can recommend that medications be adjusted, reduced or even stopped. However, the decision to establish

the board rests with the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

I urge the minister to take a look and take action to establish a board that can provide advice on prescribing procedures, review practices and procedures of

services provided, and respond to requests from the public for further investigation. I intend to work with you respectfully, but we must do everything to protect children in our care.

JUDITH LEON

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): I rise today to pay tribute to Judith Leon. She has announced her retirement. People from the Beaches-East

York community will know her as an absolute pillar.

She is best known for her work in Neighbourhood Link/Senior Link. Since 1975, with the founding of that organization -- and she was there -- it has grown from a

very small organization to help seniors into what is today a multi-service agency that provides housing, employment, immigration, youth and senior services. Today, from that very small beginning,

there are 500 volunteers and 160 staff. The motto of the agency is to promote independence, dignity and community.

Ms. Leon and the agency were most recently involved in the funding and start of a new hard-to-house seniors building at 2802 Danforth Avenue. After more than 30

years, Ms. Leon will be retiring to the country of her birth, Great Britain. Many friends, workers and the thousands of people she has helped are invited to join her on Wednesday, May 24, from 4 to

7 at the Balmy Beach Club at the foot of Willow Avenue in the Beach. We are going to be there to pay tribute to this wonderful woman and to the magnificent work she has done for all of our

community for more than 30 years. I hope to see everyone there.

BRUCE POWER SUPPORT CENTRE

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend Bruce Power's fifth-year anniversary and grand opening of

their new office facility, the Bruce Power Support Centre. This marks a long-term commitment to the site and to the community, and allows for the majority of support staff to be together in one

location.

Bruce Power provides thousands of jobs in the community and surrounding areas and is a huge economic driver. This new building alone will hold approximately

1,100 people. Bruce Power is well respected throughout the community for their continued involvement and active support of different initiatives. The Lieutenant Governor was also present to help

celebrate this great event. Bruce Power was a major contributor to the Lieutenant Governor's book drive for native children.

I would like to say congratulations to Bruce Power on everything they have achieved thus far. I wish them all the best for the future and continued success in

the riding of Huron-Bruce.

BORDER SECURITY

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): This afternoon we will be debating an opposition day motion on tourism. During the course of that debate,

our party will address the US-led passport issue, which is of serious concern to all of us. In response, I hope we can expect something better from the McGuinty Liberals than their line of late,

which is to assign blame to Stephen Harper for this problem. How can this government claim that they want to work with other governments across Canada and on an international stage when they bash

and blame their own national government for the problem they claim they want to solve?

Let's accept their premise for just a moment. If it is all the federal government's fault that the passport issue is looming on the horizon, then where was the

federal Liberal government on September 23, 2004, when the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act was introduced in the US Senate? Where were the Paul Martin Liberals when this bill was

being debated and when it was passed by the Senate on October 6, 2004? Where were the federal Liberals when it was being debated in the House of Representatives and passed that same month? Where

were they when the Senate and the House were discussing the bill in conference? Where were they on December 17, 2004, when the bill, having been passed by Congress, was signed by the President?

Why didn't Prime Minister Martin forcefully defend Canada's tourism interests when he met with the US President on November 30 and December 1, 2004, before the

American security bill was law? And why didn't he push for a Canadian exemption when he met with the President on two subsequent occasions?

In the course of this afternoon's debate, let us hear the Minister of Tourism address these issues and answer these questions, and if he won't, he should stop

pointing fingers to deflect attention away from his own government's lack of support for tourism.

PETERBOROUGH PETES

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I am very pleased to be able to speak to the House today to congratulate this year's Ontario Hockey League

champions, the Peterborough Petes. Under the direction of president Dr. Bob Neville, general manager Jeff Twohey and coach Dick Todd, the Peterborough Petes capped an already tremendous season by

winning the prestigious J. Ross Robertson Cup.

Peterborough is steeped in rich hockey tradition, and the 2006 Petes have just added to this glorious history. Our hometown heroes have recently celebrated their

50th anniversary, and will soon add a ninth Ontario Hockey League championship banner to the Memorial Centre rafters.

The Petes won the championship in record fashion, going a perfect 10 and 0 at the Memorial Centre and posting the best record in franchise history at 16 and 3.

As well, they were a perfect 8 and 0 in overtime.

Since their inaugural season in 1956, the Petes have developed a long list of representatives in the National Hockey League: Bob Gainey, Steve Larmer, Cory

Stillman, Mike Ricci, Larry Murphy and Doug Jarvis, and coaches Scotty Bowman and the late Roger Neilson. Our current coach, Dick Todd, coached the Petes from 1980 to 1993, and then was an

assistant coach with the National Hockey League's New York Rangers from 1993 to 1998. He has since returned to Peterborough.

The Petes will now represent Ontario and head to the Memorial Cup in Moncton, New Brunswick, where they will play the Vancouver Giants, the Moncton Wildcats, and

the Québec Remparts this Friday night.

Congratulations to the 2006 Peterborough Petes and good luck in Moncton. As we say in Peterborough, "Go, Petes, go."

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): This past weekend, my colleague Deb Matthews and I had the privilege to shadow a critical care nurse

practitioner in the cardiac surgery recovery unit at University Hospital in London.

Nurse practitioners in critical care work in the hospital's intensive care unit with adult patients who are suffering from a life-threatening trauma or illness.

They work collaboratively with others in the health care system to assess and plan the care of patients. They have many responsibilities, including ordering drugs, ordering and interpreting tests,

performing complex procedures and providing support to patients' families. Many nurse practitioners are also involved in research and education. Nurse practitioners streamline the patient care

process and enhance quality of care, lower total hospital costs and increase satisfaction of staff, physicians, patients and their families.

I would like to thank University Hospital in London and especially the incredible nurse practitioner we shadowed, who provided us with a greater understanding of

the important work that nurse practitioners do in Ontario.

The McGuinty government understands just how critical nurse practitioners are to the health care system in Ontario. I am proud to be part of a government that

has recently announced the Grow Your Own Nurse Practitioner initiative, which will attract additional nurses to nurse practitioner education and practice, and has also announced an expansion of the

number of nurse practitioner education seats beginning this September.

RIDING OF PARKDALE−HIGH PARK

Mr. Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park): It is a great pleasure to rise in my place today as the representative of the people of

Parkdale−High Park to say thanks to the organizations and people who make up Parkdale-High Park. It is an area with strong community organizations such as St. Joseph's Hospital, which

recently received approval from the McGuinty government for a $70-million expansion, reflecting as well, though, community support that has come forward for it and other community-based

organizations. It is providing tremendous health care in the south end of the riding in terms of the southwest part of Toronto in total.

I also want to pay testament to individuals in the riding, to people who in different parts of the riding have had a tremendous struggle and have taught me

everything there is to know about perseverance under difficult circumstances. Last year, 9,000 people were helped by my constituency office: 1,000 in terms of cases, 1,500 who dropped in and people

who reached us by phone, and thousands more who came to committee council meetings, which I held every month or every six weeks within our riding. This is a part of Ontario that knows how to be

determined and knows how to get things done.

Our relationship with Parkdale-High Park began in opposition. They chose the McGuinty Liberals because they relate to getting results, they relate to having

concern for diversity and for the widest interests of Ontario. That relationship began in part as York South 10 years ago, and the rest of it seven years ago as Parkdale−High Park. That

relationship with the McGuinty Liberals will continue for many years to come.

VISITORS

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to welcome Philippe Stanier's family. Philippe Stanier is one of our

outstanding pages, and in the west gallery are his father, Michael, his mother, Andgelina, his brother, Gabriel, his sister, Olivia, and his very proud grandmother, Helen Borovic. Welcome.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd also like to welcome some folks here today from the beautiful town of

Penetanguishene: David Dupuis, Peter Homeniuk, Yvon Gagne and Paul Daoust, and they are accompanied today by Alex Roman. Welcome everyone.

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to welcome my cousin, who came to watch the democratic process in

this place. His name is Tarek Ashmar.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT

(WASTE MANAGEMENT), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

LA PROTECTION DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT (GESTION DES DÉCHETS)

Mr. Chudleigh moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 114,

An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act to protect the Halton waste disposal site / Projet de loi 114, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la

protection de l'environnement afin de protéger le lieu d'élimination des déchets de Halton.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): With that overwhelming support, I'm tempted to move first and second, but I'll go with my

preamble first.

The regional municipality of Halton fought a bitter and expensive battle to create its own waste disposal site over 15 years ago, with costs borne by the

residents. All other Ontario municipalities refused to enter into reciprocal agreements with the regional municipality of Halton when it required landfill capacity to bridge the time between

closing its former waste disposal site and opening its current site.

Other Ontario municipalities have not taken the responsibility for their own landfill requirements. That abrogation of responsibility could cost the taxpayers of

the region of Halton. It is not equitable to impose costs of that kind on any municipality without its consent. Essentially, that is what my bill does: It protects Halton taxpayers.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward

a motion without notice regarding private members' public business.

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

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that not withstanding standing order 96(d), the following change be made to the ballot list of private members' public

business: Mr. Dunlop and Ms. Scott exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr. Dunlop assumes ballot item 62 and Ms. Scott assumes ballot item 40; and that pursuant to standing order

96(g), notice be waived for ballot item 40.

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

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put forward

a motion without notice regarding the membership of certain committees.

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

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that the following substitution be made to the membership of a committee: On the standing committee on general

government, Mr. Tabuns replace Ms. Horwath.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing

order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion 141. Is it the pleasure of the House the motion

carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1354 to 1359.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gravelle, Michael

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kennedy, Gerard

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

Mitchell, Carol

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Wilkinson, John

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Bisson, Gilles

Chudleigh, Ted

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Hardeman, Ernie

Jackson, Cameron

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

Murdoch, Bill

O'Toole, John

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Tabuns, Peter

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 51; the nays are 23.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

VISITORS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to introduce in our east gallery today a grade 10 class from

Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough, Ontario -- they're great Petes fans -- under the direction of Mr. Gary Fenn, their teacher. Please welcome them to Queen's Park.

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: It is my honour and pleasure to introduce the

parents of our page Vanessa Sidwell, who are here with us today from the super riding of Eglinton-Lawrence. They are Paul and Suzanne Sidwell. Welcome.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

YOUTH SERVICES

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): Our government has confidence in our youth -- all of our youth. That's

why we are committed to providing support and improving opportunities for young people, including those at risk of engaging in violent behaviour or already in conflict with the law. We recognize

that to give our youth every opportunity to succeed, we need to ensure they have the resources and opportunities they need to help them cope, and indeed excel, even in the face of adversity and

significant challenges. This is what we have been hearing from educators, organizations that work with youth and young people themselves.

Unfortunately, in the Ministry of Children and Youth Services we too often see the negative outcomes that youth experience when the support they need to

overcome the significant challenges that they face every day is simply not available to them. We also realize that these negative outcomes can affect not only the youth, not only their families,

but also their peers and the communities where they live.

Earlier today, I was pleased to join the African Canadian Legal Clinic in launching a new program for youth in conflict with the law. Developed through a

partnership between the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the African Canadian youth justice program is an innovative program that will help young

people who have come into conflict with the law choose better paths and experience better outcomes. The Ontario government is investing more than $600,000 in this project's first year.

Under the new program, which will operate out of four youth court locations -- in downtown Toronto, Scarborough, North York and Brampton -- youth will be

provided with appropriate community-based, culturally sensitive services and referrals. This is one of the many ways our government is giving our youth the opportunity to choose better paths.

A month or so ago, I announced that our government is providing $9.5 million, up from $7.5 million last year, to establish and support 27 youth intervention

centres across the province, and $12.5 million to support other community programs for young people in conflict with the law. Our government is also investing $28.5 million in the first three years

of a new youth opportunities strategy, to expand employment and training programs and support the hiring of new outreach workers in at-risk communities across the province.

When we support and guide our youth so they can rise above the challenges many face every day, we help them to believe in themselves and, in turn, we create a

brighter future for all of us.

POLICE WEEK

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I rise today to help pay tribute to the men and women who keep

Ontarians safe. This homage is tinted with profound sadness as we have learned of the death, while on duty, of Senior Constable Don Doucet of the Sault Ste. Marie police. The 12-year veteran member

of the police service died as a result of a serious collision between his patrol vehicle and another car. To his family, friends and colleagues, we convey our profound condolences. This tragic

event underlies the heartfelt gratitude all Ontarians express towards police officers.

Sunday marked the beginning of Police Week in Ontario. This year's theme is Safer Communities: Police and Communities Working Together. I was pleased to join

members of the Toronto Police Service and its community partners yesterday to launch this significant week. Police officers play an important role in our communities by protecting us, so it is only

fitting that we take a minute to recognize them.

The recent tragic deaths of senior constables John Atkinson of the Windsor police and Don Doucet of Sault Ste. Marie remind us once again of the valour of

those who choose this profession. They paid the ultimate price because they believed it was their duty to protect their neighbours and their communities.

Police Week helps us acknowledge the great debt owed to senior constables Atkinson and Doucet and to the thousands of other police officers who put their lives

on the line every time they report for duty. We also remember Ontario Police Constable Andrew Potts, whose name was added to the Ontario Police Memorial on May 7. The Premier and I were honoured to

join the Lieutenant Governor and hundreds of police officers from across the country to pay tribute to these fallen heroes. The officers whose names are inscribed on the memorial have made the

ultimate sacrifice. To them, their families and to the thousands of police officers who patrol our streets every day, we extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation. They do keep our families

safe.

The McGuinty government is on the side of the police, and on the side of Ontario families concerned about crime and safety. We've made the reporting of gunshot

wounds mandatory and are putting 1,000 new police officers on Ontario streets. Our government is also doing its part to promote partnerships between police and communities by giving police the

tools and resources they need to do their jobs and to make our communities safer. That's why we're investing $51 million in new initiatives to get criminals with guns off the street, including

increasing the number of police and prosecutors assigned to the Toronto guns and gangs operation centre.

We're building a stronger, safer community by creating opportunity for every Ontarian. It's about making sure that everyone has a fair chance for success. That

can happen only if Ontarians are and feel safe. That's why we're investing in our greatest asset, the people of Ontario, and it's why we're investing in the safety of the communities where

Ontarians work, learn, grow and raise their families.

Our government also recognizes that part of ensuring a prosperous future for this province is making sure that the sons and daughters of the parents in our

communities have a bright future. That's why our government launched the youth challenge fund, which will provide $30 million for community-led programs targeted to young people in the GTA. We also

announced the $28-million youth opportunities strategy to help offer positive alternatives to a life of crime to young Ontarians. And just a few weeks ago, Premier McGuinty announced a new

$3-million program to offer kids positive alternatives to guns and gangs.

It's important to talk about these initiatives because Police Week showcases the joint efforts of police and communities. These partnerships are the key to

ensuring the success of these crime prevention programs that help make our province safer.

The McGuinty government is focusing the fight against crime in six key areas: guns and gangs; organized crime, specifically marijuana grow ops; dangerous

offenders; youth crime; domestic violence; and Internet luring and child pornography.

Our government's Safer Communities -- 1,000 Officers Partnership program is allowing police services to devote more resources to the fight against crime. We

are providing more than $37 million every year in perpetuity as an investment in crime prevention and law enforcement through this program. In fact, we're accelerating the implementation of the

Safer Communities -- 1,000 Officers Partnership program by providing an additional $14 million in funding in 2006-07. So if police services want to hire their allocation this year, they will be

able to do so.

I'm glad to say that over 790 officers have already been hired, of which 390 are already on duty across the province and 400 are currently training at the

Ontario Police College. I was pleased to join the Premier earlier this month at the graduation ceremony of the newest class of police officers of the Toronto Police Service. Fifty-three of the new

141 police officers were hired under our government's Safer Communities -- 1,000 Officers Partnership program. They now join 46 recently graduated officers, who were also part of the program and

are now patrolling Toronto's streets.

These 1,000 new officers will play a key role in helping make Ontario safer. Half of them will be assigned to community policing duties, including school

visits, crime prevention and traffic enforcement. The other 500 will be assigned duties in the fight against crime in the six priority areas I mentioned earlier, including approximately 209 to

fight youth crime and guns and gangs. This program means more police officers patrolling our streets and it means more officers dedicated to the fight against guns and gangs that's so important

here in Toronto.

Together with our commitment to fund the previous government's program, we are now investing an unprecedented $67.1 million for 2,000 new officers every year,

in perpetuity. It's only by working together, though, that the fight against crime will be successful. Police can't do it alone. We all have a role to play. Police Week is an excellent opportunity

for Ontarians to see for themselves the way police work to protect them.

I join thousands of Ontarians who will express their gratitude to police officers at events and activities throughout the province during Police Week. Our

sincerest thanks for a job well done.

2006 CENSUS /

RECENSEMENT DE 2006

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): I rise today to speak to you

households across the country will be participating in an important initiative that will make sure we have an accurate understanding of how our country is formed.

Le recensement est effectué au Canada tous les cinq ans. Il dresse un portrait détaillé du Canada -- des particuliers, des familles, des

ménages et des communautés qui forment notre magnifique pays.

Once compiled, the census provides a valuable set of socio-economic data about our country. These data are used daily to support and inform decision-making by

governments, businesses, community groups and researchers.

There are many social or demographic groupings for which the Canada census is the only source of detailed data. These include data sets about family structure,

ethnic groups and so on. Ensuring a thorough collection and getting accurate data is one of the best ways we can ensure a solid understanding of the social and demographic forces which shape our

country, our province and our communities. The census is a national initiative, and its collection reflects every province, every municipality, every community and every household. We're all in

there.

Here in Ontario, the census can affect our future. Many federal transfers are allocated on a per capita basis and the federal government uses the data to

determine the per capita size of each jurisdiction. Five years ago in the 2001 census, more than half a million Ontarians were not counted. The result of this oversight is less money for the things

Ontarians care about most: health care, education, support for new Canadians, training and infrastructure.

Il est important que nous, les dirigeants, encouragions fermement les citoyens de l'Ontario à remplir les formulaires de recensement et à nous aider

à assurer une représentation exacte de la province.

Households started receiving their census packages on May 2. Completing them is easy. Most households just need to answer six questions. One in five

households, a random sample of the population, will receive the longer form of the questionnaire. Seventy per cent of deliveries will occur by mail and the remaining 30% will be delivered by census

enumerators and, for the first time, citizens have the choice to do their census forms online.

This is for everyone. Every household and farm, every ethnicity and language, every possible family structure is all part of the story that makes our province

and our country so great. I encourage all members of this House to urge their constituents to complete their census surveys and help make sure that Ontario is fully represented.

SCHOOL SAFETY /

LA SÉCURITÉ DANS LES ÉCOLES

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I'm pleased to rise in the House today to talk about

the progress that we're making to improve school safety and help kids deal with issues such as bullying. We want to make sure that every student feels safe and is safe, both in school and on school

grounds. I'm happy to take a moment to thank our caucus member Liz Sandals for chairing our safe schools task force, which led to such a tremendous number of recommendations. She has done a super

job with her team.

Nous voulons faire en sorte que chaque élève se sente en sécurité et soit en sécurité tant à l'école que dans les

installations scolaires.

This year we've taken more steps to make students feel safer, including taking the lead on addressing bullying in our schools, because bullying has no place in

our schools. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, roughly one in three students in grades 7 to 12 report having been bullied in school, and just under a third report having

bullied someone else. The numbers are disturbing. Safe schools are a prerequisite for student achievement. That's also why we're committed to making sure that every publicly funded school has a

bullying prevention program and resources for better school safety.

To tackle bullying head-on, the government has established an ongoing $3-million, three-year partnership with Kids Help Phone. In fact, we're the first

province to embark on a partnership with Kids Help Phone. This will double the 24-hour line capacity to provide anonymous counselling to students in Ontario who are dealing with bullying. These

extra counsellors are expected to help some 30,000 students each year

We've launched a registry of bully prevention programs so schools can find programs that work in their settings. We've also invested $7.8 million this year to

help schools purchase, create or expand their bullying prevention program.

But that's not all we've done to make our schools safer. Our government appointed a safe schools action team to implement new measures to protect students.

These measures include funding for province-wide school safety audits, funding for new security devices, bullying prevention programs in our schools, bullying prevention training for principals,

and a review of the Safe Schools Act. But again, we haven't stopped there.

Nous améliorons la santé et la sécurité des écoles en : allouant des fonds aux écoles publiques de l'Ontario pour effectuer

des réparations dont le besoin est criant; allouant des fonds pour embaucher des enseignantes et enseignants spécialisés dans des matières comme la santé et

l'éducation physique; demandant aux conseils scolaires de supprimer les aliments sans valeur nutritive des machines distributrices des écoles élémentaires; et en instaurant 20

minutes d'activité physique quotidienne obligatoire pour les élèves de l'élémentaire.

Earlier today I was at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. I met Milton from TVO. He's a superstar to our kids in Ontario. I love getting out to see how

these programs actually work, and Milton is quite a character. He sat down with a grade 5 class today and talked to the kids about bullying. He talked to the kids, and then, in unison, every

student in this class knew the number for Kids Help Phone. For everyone's benefit, that number is 1-800-668-6868. Those of us who know Kids Help Phone, they do a tremendous job. Help us pass along

that number to our kids and to our parents.

At Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, they know, like we do, that ending bullying and creating a more peaceful school environment is about changing

attitudes, one student at a time. That's why all of the students participate in programs in that school that teach them values and how those values relate to everyday experiences. Students in

grades 5, 6 and 7 have been taught co-operative games, so they go out at recess time and play appropriate games with the younger kids that teach each other about respect. Grade 5 students also

participate in Roots of Empathy, where they bring an infant into the classroom. Over the course of the year, they follow the progress and development of a baby and learn about nurturing and how to

care and be kind to other human beings. It's a great program.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School is a good example of how our government sees schools improving student safety. Kudos to the principal at this school.

Principal Vitale has done a tremendous job organizing all of these programs in those classrooms. In fact, all of our initiatives make me confident that our government's safe schools strategy will

help make Ontario's public education schools a safe place for our students to learn.

POLICE WEEK

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I'm very pleased today to be able to respond to the minister on this Police Week. I'd like to begin by

paying our condolences once again and our tributes to Senior Constable John Atkinson's family and Senior Constable Donald Doucet's family. Probably the most important thing by far that has happened

this week in Police Week is the fact that we are paying tribute to these two magnificent officers, and also to the family of Andrew Potts, who was killed last summer in a terrible accident up in

Muskoka and whose name just recently was added to the wall of honour here on May 7. As the wall of honour says, they are, "Heroes in life, not death." I know a number of people in this House

probably have this button that I've got on today. A number of people are wearing them until after the funeral on Thursday of Donald Doucet.

I also want to say that this being Police Week, there are a number of events throughout our province. I want to say I've been involved myself in about three or

four events recently. Last Thursday, we kicked off the 20th annual Torch Run for the Special Olympics at the OPP general headquarters in Orillia. We had around 400 young people involved in this

fundraising event. We started on Friday. We went to Orillia Square Mall in Orillia. That also being emergency management week, we had fire services, paramedics, nurses etc. from all across our

community paying special tribute to emergency management and Police Week at the same time. Tonight I'll be attending the Crime Stoppers dinner here in Toronto where Chief Blair will be the guest of

honour and the guest speaker.

I heard the minister mention the fact that the government is finally putting in place the 1,000-police-officers commitment. Well, that's because, as you know,

they were embarrassed into it. They made the announcement seven or eight times and, finally, after our leader came out with the Time for Action report on youth violence last December, after that

point, they adopted recommendation number 1, and that is to have 1,000 net new police officers on the streets by the end of 2006. We expect that to happen and we'll be monitoring that very

closely.

In closing, I just want to say to all police officers how proud we are in our caucus of the work you do in our communities, across our country and across our

province. They do fine work and each and every day they put their life on the line in the line of duty. I want to say to all police officers, I want to assure you that John Tory and the PC caucus

are on the side of police officers and their families in Ontario.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): In response to the Minister of Education's announcement today -- interesting. Today is May 16. I have an exact

release dated November 16 from the previous Minister of Education, with exactly the same information. This government does in fact master the art of spin.

What I would ask the minister is whether she will do what the previous minister did not do, and that is respond to a request from Lions-Quest, which is a

program that was developed by the Lions Club organization a number of years ago. It is specifically designed to deal with bullying in schools. It has classroom-specific and appropriate materials

that have been developed. It is highly successful. It is being used in school boards across the province.

The Lions organization simply wants to have an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Education. The former minister denied repeated requests to meet. Will

this minister agree to meet and look at the Lions-Quest program, which is so highly successful? I know it's being used very effectively in York region, for example. Rather than continue trying to

reinvent the wheel, will this minister look at this program and give it her support, the appropriate financial support and policy support that this very effective program deserves?

I would also encourage the minister to listen to principals from across the province who have been telling us in standing committee that schools are becoming

less safe by the day because of this government's policy relating to supervision and the lack of funding for supervision in our schools.

The minister is now new at her job. Will she take the practical steps rather than just continuing to make re-announcements of old announcements as was the

habit of the former Minister of Education?

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): In response to the Minister of Education, and in part to the Minister of Children and Youth Services:

I thought today she was going to announce a rehauling, a total review or that the review has been done of the Safe Schools Act, but we have nothing. What we have is a re-announcement of an

anti-bullying program, the kids' helpline. We had from the Liberals a previous promise that they were going to take action -- and I emphasize -- they were going to take real action in December 2004

on the Safe Schools Act, and they did nothing.

The government promised. through Monsieur Kennedy, who was here a while ago, a complete review of the Safe Schools Act -- oh, there you are, Gerard. Very nice

to see you, Gerard. They promised a complete review of the Safe Schools Act in September 2005 -- and nothing.

What we know is that the human rights commissioner has reviewed the act, has talked to a whole lot of parents of kids who have been affected by the Safe

Schools Act, and former human rights commissioner Monsieur Norton said that a whole lot of kids who come from families who are black are disproportionately affected by the Safe Schools Act. Kids

who have disabilities are disproportionately affected by the Safe Schools Act. They are expelled disproportionately and/or suspended unfairly and disproportionately. We wanted a complete review

from Minister Kennedy. We were hoping for a complete overhaul of this Safe Schools Act by the current minister, and we got nothing.

Here's what one expert on children at risk at an Ontario university told the Human Rights Commission:

"Once kids are out of the mainline and expelled, then they are on a different path, for sure. First, they don't have much to do during the day. They may make

contact with older kids or other kids who are having difficulties. That can escalate their anti-social behaviour.... There is some literature that points out if you put anti-social kids together it

escalates their anti-social behaviour. When they are pushed to the outside and come in contact with other anti-social kids, that escalates their behaviour. It can have an impact on the community in

which they live."

We were hoping that the minister would have programs for bullies and not just their victims. We were hoping the minister would have something for children who

are at risk. What we need are mandatory alternatives for all suspended and expelled students, and we need alternative programs in the school. We don't have that, and that's what we need. We need to

restore the community advisers, youth outreach workers, attendance counsellors and social worker positions that were cut under the government and were promised to be restored by the Liberal

government.

We don't want kids to simply access the $600,000 the Minister for Children and Youth Services is making available to deal with the law once they're in trouble.

We want programs in the school system such as tech courses, home economics courses and industrial arts so that kids have real programs to hang on to, not the ability to go out and say, "Here's

money from the $600,000 so you can now deal with the law." That's not what we need. We need programs in the school that help the kids, and we need the Minister of Education to deal, once and for

all, with the Safe Schools Act that's throwing out thousands and thousands of black kids in particular and kids with disabilities. Deal with that and then we can talk.

POLICE WEEK

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): New Democrats join with others in paying tribute to police officers across Ontario, women and men who serve

their communities with professionalism and at great risk to themselves, as we've regrettably had to witness over the course of the last week and a half. But I say to the minister, his words begin

to ring hollow when we learned yesterday on the justice policy committee that the policing standards manual recommended board policy for occupational health and safety for police officers in those

police services boards has not been adopted yet by a majority of police services boards in Ontario.

Even more dramatic and shocking was that the ministry's designated equipment list, equipment designed to protect police officers when they have to deal with

biohazardous materials, among other things, at a cost of no more, we're told by Bruce Miller from the PAO, than $10 per kit, to be available to those police officers in the trunks of their

cruisers, providing some of the most basic safety equipment so that a police officer could have a bit of a chance of going home as healthy as he was when he began work, is not yet the reality for

police officers in a uniform way across Ontario.

We should start paying attention to these police officers' needs, rather than just giving them hollow words of --

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

It is now time for oral questions.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TOURISM

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. According to your own Ministry of Tourism, there were 2.1 million

fewer US border crossings in 2005 than in 2004. That's about a 10% drop. US border crossings to Ontario reached their lowest level since 1972. These visitors, as the Premier will know, account for

more than 26% of tourism spending in Ontario and 90% of total international visitation, according to the Tourism Federation of Ontario.

We're on the side of tourism operators and the hospitality industry of Ontario. Given that these numbers are from your own tourism industry, and you'll have

seen them, I'm sure, I wonder if you think the appropriate response to this kind of development, where we're seeing these kinds of border crossings and visitations diminish, is what your government

has done, which is to cut millions and millions of dollars out of the tourism budget. Do you think that's an appropriate response to that kind of number?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'll be pleased to take the first question. I know the Minister of

Tourism is eager to speak to this as well.

I say, with the greatest of respect to the leader of the official opposition, that there's no doubt about it: American visits to Canada have dropped, and

surely you're not going to claim that somehow our policies in Ontario are responsible for the diminished number of travellers in Manitoba and BC as well. But I can say that we are doing much to

continue to work with our partners in the tourism sector here in Ontario. The last budget specifically contained $49 million worth of new investments in cultural centres here in Toronto. We've

invested in other events, ranging from bringing Conan O'Brien to Toronto to investing in the Toronto International Arts Festival.

I can say as well that there is some really good news on the horizon. When it comes to attracting international tourists, those from beyond the US, that

increased by 7.2% last year, and so far this year it's up by 11.3%. So there is good news and more and more people are coming --

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

Mr. Tory: The fact is, though, that while it is good news to have people coming from other countries, as I mentioned, from the tourism

federation figures, 90% of international visitation comes from the United States. So it's fine to say we're expanding our markets elsewhere, but the fact of the matter is that the Americans are not

coming, and when they're not coming is precisely the time you don't cut back. It is the time you invest, and the fact is that your government has cut back. The fact is as well that you can blame

the external circumstances if you want, but other provinces, particularly Quebec and British Columbia, have lost a lesser number of US visitors than we have, so it shows that the decisions of your

government to cut back are having a bigger effect, because of your policies on US visitation, than is the case elsewhere.

Wouldn't it have made a little more sense to pay more attention to the tourism file, to support the Ministry of Tourism, rather than cutting millions and

millions of dollars from their budget, as you've done? Why have you done that?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Tourism.

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): It's always interesting watching my

friend the Leader of the Opposition, because I always have to figure out when I come in if this is going to be a spend more day or a you're spending too much day. Today, apparently, he wants to

spend more money, yet he has chastised this government on numerous occasions. He had his finance critic the other day saying that we were spending -- I would never use this term myself -- like

drunken sailors. He had former Minister Flaherty who used to chastise the government over expenditures.

What we have in essence is a very good expenditure on marketing in the United States and other places. We've initiated some new marketing programs, which I

just announced this particular week. We have cultural ads out there that people are just raving about, bringing in more and more people. We anticipate that we're going to see a significant

increase.

What we need is your help when dealing with another issue that I know you'll want to address in your last question.

Mr. Tory: The fact of the matter is that the spending cutbacks are right here in the budget. It's $100 million year over year in terms of

cutbacks. I can tell you right now, if you want to know if there should have been more spending on tourism, you could have taken some of the $160 million you're spending on more bureaucrats in the

LHINs, on big salaries and office decoration, or the tens of millions of dollars you're managing to find for your friends to hand out ad contracts to the people who got you elected on the famous "I

will not raise your taxes" ads. There are some places where you could have found money and given it to tourism operators instead.

The bottom line is that Americans are not coming here in as great a number as they did before and that you have responded to that by cutting back on support

for tourism in the province of Ontario. This is costing these tourism operators an estimated $1 billion a year. It's costing your own government $112 million in lost revenues because of those

visits. Why don't you stand up and fight for the tourism industry, as is your job, and get back that money your government is cutting so this industry and the jobs that go with it can remain safe

and secure?

Hon. Mr. Bradley: To the Leader of the Opposition, first of all, he knows darn well that the ministry was divided with recreation. He knows

there was a $30-million, one-time grant to Ottawa for the Ottawa Congress Centre, that the program that's involved in capital along with recreation has wound down this year. He knows that. The

marketing is the same.

Do you know who I want to stand up for the province of Ontario? I want you to join us in standing up on the issue of the passport. You're busy apologizing for

the inaction of your federal friends. Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with all members of this Legislature to fight an issue that will have a profound effect on tourism and is already

having a profound effect, you're an apologist for your federal colleagues. May I give you some advice, as one who has sat in opposition with a federal government of the same label? You should stand

up for Ontario and not for your political friends in Ottawa, sir.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. New question?

Mr. Tory: My question again is to the Premier. I'm sure the tourism operators across the province will take great encouragement from that

answer and from the demonstration of the Liberal members. Because the fact is, you've cut tens and tens of millions of dollars out of the budget --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Leader of the Opposition, the question is to whom?

Mr. Tory: Further evidence of who is on whose side here, and certainly that you're not on the side --

The Speaker: The question is to whom? To which minister?

Mr. Tory: I said at the outset, before I sat down, that it was to the Premier. I said it was to the Premier earlier, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: We'll start over. To the Premier.

Mr. Tory: Premier, further evidence that you're not on the side of the tourism industry comes from the press release issued by the Ontario

Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association yesterday condemning you and your government for trying to sneak a new retail sales tax on beer and drinks into your City of Toronto Act, adding a fourth

taxation.

Let me quote them. This is their press release. They say, "The industry simply cannot sustain another tax." They go on to say, "Our sales lag significantly

behind the rest of Canada. Our profit margins are razor thin and among the lowest in the country. Another tax will decimate our industry, with many operators simply closing their doors and walking

away."

With the devastating tourism numbers I referred to in the earlier question, we now have these people saying that another measure taken by your government, in

addition to cutting back millions on tourism investment, is going to devastate their industry. Why do you make it even harder for these people to continue to create jobs and stay in business? Why

are you doing that?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I appreciate the passion that the leader of the official opposition is willing to muster with respect to the potential

increase in alcohol taxes by the city of Toronto, but I wonder where that passion was when, in their recent budget, the federal government raised alcohol taxes across the country. Where was it at

that particular point in time? Why did he not seize the opportunity at that point in time to declare to his colleagues on Parliament Hill the considerable damage that that new tax would impose upon

our tourism industry in Ontario?

Mr. Tory: Of course, to engage in the compare-and-contrast, as the Premier likes to do, that was a budget that cut taxes 29 times for every

Canadian -- something you've never done and something that compares to your record, having brought in the biggest tax increase in the history --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. It's going to be a long afternoon. I can wait. The Leader of the Opposition.

increases in the history of Ontario -- and now this, just to add to it.

We have this industry, which employs 400,000 people in Ontario, saying that your beer and drink tax will negatively affect more than 4,100 businesses. We're on

the side of the hospitality industry in saying that they can't take any more of these kinds of taxes, such as you're proposing to add. Why don't you just stand in your place and say no to this tax

and that you're going to remove the power to create this tax on beer and drinks which will hurt the hospitality industry? You have the chance to say, "I'm not going to bring it in; I'm going to

take it out of the bill and help the hospitality industry." Will you do it?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To support the observation made earlier by the Minister of Tourism, it really is hard to figure out where the leader of the

official opposition stands from one question to the next. At first he said that we should be spending more money on tourism. Then he tells us that we should be cutting taxes. Now he's telling us

that the discretion we've given to the city of Toronto, as a demonstration of respect, something he happened to campaign on -- now he says he no longer believes that.

Something else I would ask the leader of the official opposition to take note of is that, in the budget we just recently introduced in this House, the province

has removed the gallonage fees on beer, wines and spirits. That alone will save the hospitality sector an estimated $25 million. It will be interesting to see where the leader of the official

opposition votes on this.

Mr. Tory: This is the typical sleight of hand that this government engages in every single day. It's the sleight of hand that appears to

"giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other."

The fact remains, though --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Stop the clock.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Negative-option billing: That was a sleight of hand.

The Speaker: Minister of Health. Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker: It might be you. Order. The Attorney General, order. Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: We have businesses that are struggling because of a reduction in visitors from the United States. That's a fact, and it's due to a

variety of circumstances, including in particular the policies of this government to cut back substantially on investment in the tourism industry.

To make matters worse, what we have then is the proposal by this government to allow the introduction of a fourth line of taxation on drinks and beer. It is

going to hurt these institutions. It's them saying it, not me and not us.

It is high time, if you want to be on the side of the tourism industry and the hospitality industry, that you simply got up and said, "We've made a mistake.

We're going to invest more in that industry this year. We're not going to cut back on the Ministry of Tourism and we are going to amend the City of Toronto Act to say that they can't create another

tax on alcohol and beer and hurt this industry."

Are you prepared to stand up and say you're going to do either or both of those things? You should be doing them both if you care about the real health of

Toronto, the real economic health of Toronto and the real health of the tourism industry in this city and in this province. Why won't you stand up and say you'll do those things?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: It's really hard to understand how the leader of the official opposition, who at one time sought the leadership of Toronto

city council -- he sought the post of mayor. Presumably he felt that the people who work there, who are elected officials, duly elected, have some common sense when it comes to dealing with these

kinds of issues and will fully consider the implication of any potential taxes. But apparently now he no longer has any respect for them and the work that they might do.

Let me say this, because we see things differently. Here's what Rod Seiling of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association said about my Minister of Tourism and the

work he's doing: "The professionalism and the ongoing passion and commitment that Jim Bradley brings to his position as minister ... has resulted in positive changes for the industry and created a

real feeling that the government has as its point person someone who wants to work with and for it as it continues on its road to economic renewal."

CHILD PROTECTION

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Last night, CBC television aired a riveting story about an

eight-year-old boy and his 15-month ordeal as a ward of the children's aid society in Durham.

The children's aid society in Durham had placed this eight-year-old boy in a group home, where he was wrongly diagnosed and then overmedicated with a toxic

combination of drugs.

In trying to gain custody of him, his grandparents faced challenge after challenge and hurdle after hurdle. Finally they got custody and they got him out of

the group home. They got him off the long list of medications and into a much better, healthier environment.

My question to you is this: Why is the McGuinty government so opposed to the Ombudsman of Ontario having an independent review capacity of children's aid

societies in Ontario?

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

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): First, I must say that I have also received a report on last night's

coverage of this situation. And

whereas this is not something that we can discuss, due to the privacy issues involved for this young fellow, which everyone should respect, let me simply say to

start with that this is tragic, absolutely tragic. I sincerely hope that there is no one in this Legislature who would try to make political gain of a tragedy. I will look forward to supplementary

questions; I'm sure there will be one or two other questions on this.

Mr. Hampton: I'm not asking the Premier or the minister to discuss this case. My question was, why under the McGuinty government doesn't the

Ombudsman of Ontario have independent investigative capacity over children's aid societies? There are hundreds of other cases like the case of that eight-year-old boy in Durham, where children's

aid societies haven't done a good enough job. The Ombudsmen in other provinces across this country have asked for and have gotten the capacity to look at what children's aid societies are doing, to

investigate them and provide independent oversight. My question to you is this: New Democrats have proposed a private member's bill, Bill 88, to give the Ombudsman this investigative oversight

authority over children's aid societies. Why is the McGuinty government so opposed to the Ombudsman having that authority?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: I'm very pleased to be able to share with this Legislature that it is this government that introduced Bill 210 for the

better protection of kids in the child well-being and protection system. It is this government that has created kinship regulations. It is this government that has created greater emphasis and

requirements as far as background checks are concerned. It is this government that is strengthening the Child and Family Services Review Board -- and giving the Ombudsman jurisdiction over that

board. That board is an independent, arm's-length body which will not be subject to interference by my ministry or any other ministry of this government. And appeals can be taken even beyond that

body, to the Ombudsman's office.

Mr. Hampton: Well, Minister, if it's the McGuinty government's response that your Bill 210 is the answer, maybe you can tell us why Bill 210

hasn't been proclaimed in force by the McGuinty government even though it was passed on third reading over a month and a half ago. If your answer is the review committees, maybe you can tell people

like the grandparents of that eight-year-old boy why the so-called review committee isn't even up and running. The reality under the McGuinty government in Ontario is this: With that eight-year-old

boy, if parents want to have the children's aid society decisions reviewed, whom do they have to go to? They go to the same children's aid society. It's like the fox looking after the fox.

I ask the question again: When other provinces have accepted the fact that children's aid societies cannot and should not be a power unto themselves, when

other provinces have accepted that the Ombudsmen should have the authority to review children's aid societies, why --

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

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: I've already addressed the matter of the Ombudsman in my previous response. But what the leader of the third party has

clearly not grasped is that the Child and Family Services Review Board is in effect. The board that he is referring to, I think, is the provincial advisory board which was mandated during his term

in government but was never established. I am actually going to take on the responsibility of looking into why that board was never established by his government or subsequent governments. It is

quite possible that that board could be helpful, because that board is intended to have as its duties advice to the minister on prescribing procedures, making and amending, suspending and revoking

psychotic drug type prescriptions, just exactly the kind --

The Speaker: Thank you.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Premier: It's interesting that the McGuinty government's response is to blame somebody who

might have been Minister of Community and Social Services 15 years ago.

Premier, people are worried about the McGuinty government's private-finance hospital scheme, a scheme that undercuts medicare by diverting health care funding

away from patients and into corporate profits. Your Brampton private-finance hospital scheme will divert $175 million away from patient care and into corporate profits. But this weekend the people

of Sarnia delivered a clear message to you. They voted 96% in favour of a publicly funded hospital. They want health care funding, and they want the McGuinty government to put health care funding

into public hospitals, not into corporate profits.

My question, Premier: Are you going to listen to the people of Sarnia who are clearly opposed to the McGuinty government private-finance hospital scheme?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Of course we appreciate any advice and observations that might be offered

by Ontarians generally, whether they're from the community of Sarnia or the leader of the NDP, but I think it's important to understand that we are building public hospitals. Notwithstanding any

contentions to the contrary, we're building public hospitals. I think it's really important that the leader of the NDP convey that to all concerned.

I get the sense that there is more of a political movement attached to those who are opposed to this hospital construction plan than there is genuine concern

about the future of medicare. I say that as the Premier of a government that was proud to bring into being here in the province of Ontario the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act.

Mr. Hampton: The only thing public about your hospital scheme is the media spin.

Just three years ago, Premier, you called private-finance hospitals an example of the "creeping privatization of health care." You vowed to "stand against the

Americanization of our hospitals." Well, this weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, 96.9% of voters did stand against two-tier, American-style health care and they told you to keep your promise, to build

public hospitals, not private-finance hospitals that will divert health care funding away from patient care and into corporate profits.

Premier, you talk a lot about democracy. Are you going to listen to the people in Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie or was your talk just another McGuinty broken

promise?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: We're proud to be building public hospitals in a number of Ontario communities that will be publicly owned, publicly

controlled and publicly accountable. I was there for the announcement of the new hospital we're going to build in Sault Ste. Marie. I can tell you that people there were absolutely ecstatic at the

prospect of getting a new hospital. I can tell you that our MPP David Orazietti has been working on this relentlessly. We're proud to be able to lend support and build that new hospital.

I can say that the same kind of pride is being expressed by communities in Sarnia, Brampton, my hometown of Ottawa, North Bay and Barrie. What we have in place

now is a government that is prepared to do what is necessary to get those public hospitals built in a timely way. If the member opposite has an objection to that, if he's saying we should slow down

the construction of hospitals in the province of Ontario, then he should just be clean with that and tell us that right now.

Mr. Hampton: You know, Premier, this is exactly the hospital scheme that, when it was advanced by the former Conservative government, you said

was going to --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. Leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: You see, Premier, people used to listen to some of those speeches that you gave. They understand that the private finance

hospital scheme that the Conservatives floated is virtually identical to the private finance hospital scheme that you're floating. They understand, as the Ontario Health Coalition understands, that

the private financing of the hospital in Brampton is going to cost $175 million more. That's $175 million that isn't going to go to patient care, won't go to more nurses, won't go to more doctors,

won't go to more medical procedures. It goes into the corporate profits of your Bay Street friends.

Premier, you talk a lot about whose side you're on. Tell me, why aren't you on the side of the majority of people in Sarnia and the majority of people who

voted in Sault Ste. Marie? Why are you now on the side of corporate --

The Speaker: The question has been asked.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I'm very confident in saying that we are on the side of the majority of Ontarians in every community who are eager to see

new hospital construction take place in their community. I think this is a very important issue for Ontarians to wrap their minds around. I look forward to continuing to debate it with my friend

opposite, now and during the course of the campaign.

I think it's important to understand that what we have in place now is a government that is prepared to do what is necessary to ensure that we have in place,

as quickly as possible, public hospital corporations with volunteer governance bodies. We're talking about public hospitals here that are publicly accountable, publicly controlled and publicly

owned. That's what we're talking about.

The leader of the NDP, notwithstanding his contention to the contrary that this somehow has to do with the protection of medicare, is heading up a political

campaign, trying to head up a political movement. This has more to do with his political fortunes than with ensuring that the people of Ontario have access to a good quality public hospital in

their community.

BORDER SECURITY

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): My question is for the Minister of Tourism. We've heard a great deal of partisan bluster from this

minister this afternoon but very little in the way of constructive solutions. Last Friday, the minister, I'm told, attended a forum organized by the Binational Tourism Alliance in

Niagara-on-the-Lake to consult with the tourism industry on the challenge we face because of the pending US passport issue. Our caucus is hopeful that this issue will be resolved, that we will

achieve a Canadian exemption or, at the very least, a delay in the implementation of the western hemisphere travel initiative. Surely the minister offered this group last Friday some new ideas on

how he plans to solve this important issue. Will the minister inform the House what new steps he is undertaking to seek a resolution to this problem?

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I have to tell the member, because he

would want to know, that it is the government of Ontario that has been taking the lead on an issue which really should be taken right across the country. But we have taken that lead. The Premier

has met with the Great Lakes governors. I met personally with the governor of Ohio when he was here in Toronto. I have met with several officials from both sides -- from the private sector, from

the municipal sector. He will remember that the Premier and I were in Washington last year, last March, meeting with senior officials in the US administration, hosting at the embassy of Canada at

the time an opportunity for people to be aware of the issue. So on an ongoing basis, the Premier and I have been engaging senior political leaders on the American side, who I want to report to you

are on our side. This is not a Canada versus US issue. This is an issue of the people who reside along the border and understand the ramifications of the passport issue, who are fighting together

for a better solution. That's what we're advocating.

Mr. Arnott: Blaming the federal government, as this minister has done repeatedly in this House, will not wash. The minister knows as well as I

do that the Paul Martin Liberals were entirely ineffective in solving this problem, and they were in power when the American passport law was moving through Congress, when it could have been nipped

in the bud. Why has the minister focused his efforts on assigning blame to the federal government when he should be focusing all of his energies on working with the federal government to seek a

solution?

Hon. Mr. Bradley: That is exactly what this government has been doing. I want to tell the member that as recently as February 10 I wrote a

letter to Maxime Bernier asking that the council of tourism ministers be brought together for a national meeting on this issue and other issues. And the minister, to this point in time, has refused

to have that meeting. But I did approach somebody in the last government, the Martin administration, a man by the name of Mr. Emerson. I spoke on October 20 to Minister Emerson to suggest that we

needed to convey a united tourism message to our US neighbours. Apparently he wasn't prepared to do it as part of the previous administration, and then, when he was lured across the floor by Prime

Minister Harper with heaven knows what to get him from one side to the other two weeks after the election, he still isn't prepared to do anything about it. What we need is for you people to quit

apologizing for the Harper government and come on side, stand up for the province of Ontario and continue to --

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

WASTE DIVERSION

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): A question for the Premier: Yesterday, your environment minister announced that GTA municipalities have

to stop exporting their garbage to Michigan by 2010. Instead of announcing a plan to keep your government's promise for a 60% waste diversion program, her declaration only serves to drive

municipalities further into the arms of the incineration lobby. Mr. Premier, instead of forcing GTA communities into the arms of the incineration lobby, when are you going to implement the

requisite plan and funding required to divert 60% of the waste, as promised?

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

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I'm pleased to have an opportunity to inform the Legislature of what I talked about

yesterday. I have certainly said for a long period of time, and many of us on this side of the House believe, that it's not sustainable or acceptable to continue to send waste to Michigan. I'm

surprised that the member opposite does think that is a long-term sustainable solution. But I indicated my full support for the city of Toronto and other municipalities that are developing their

long-term strategies, looking at what tools they will use in this province to better manage their waste.

The city of Toronto has said for a very long period of time that each and every year it will send less waste to Michigan, and by 2010 it's committed no longer

to send waste to Michigan. I wholly support the city of Toronto in those efforts. It's my responsibility as Minister of the Environment to work with municipalities, including York, Durham, Owen

Sound and others, that send their waste to Michigan to make sure we give them the tools they need to manage waste here in the province.

Mr. Tabuns: Premier, when you ran in the last election you promised to ban the landfilling of organic waste, you promised to implement a used

tire recycling program -- I'll send the page over, if you would like -- and you promised to divert 60% of trash from landfills by 2008. Now GTA communities are being threatened with dirty garbage

incinerators because you failed to keep your promise. It's very clear from the Minister of the Environment that she does not intend to follow through on those promises. Mr. Premier, will you keep

your promise to divert 60% of waste from landfills, so that dirty, unwanted garbage incinerators are not built in our communities?

Hon. Ms. Broten: Again, I'm pleased to have a chance to talk about what really is happening in this province with respect to waste management.

Perhaps the member opposite doesn't recall that this was the first government to ensure funding to the blue box program. The tools that we provide municipalities to manage their waste include a new

decision that I have recently made with respect to household hazardous waste and electronics. We will now see those products diverted from landfill. Those are products that we all have in our

homes, that we all have in our basements, and now we're going to give Ontarians an opportunity to make sure that those products that shouldn't be in landfills get diverted. This will build on the

success of the blue box program, for which, for example, Toronto has received $13.8 million since we came into office, and it's projected to do very well -- $60 million in 2005 to municipalities to

run the blue box program, which is a symbol of recycling and diversion around the province and worldwide. It's something we support that I'm very proud of.

FOOD SAFETY

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. As you know, farmers' markets are integral

to our rural way of life. Food preparation and food services often occur at these venues and are an important part of the local economy. We all know that food safety is of the utmost importance,

but my constituents are confused as to what the guidelines will be. They're concerned that the new guidelines will not take into account the unique characteristics of farmers' markets, and

consequently may cause some of them to close. Minister, my constituents in Perth-Middlesex deserve to know, does the McGuinty government appreciate the importance of farmers' markets as an integral

part of Ontario's livelihood?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I'm pleased to take the question. In doing research today on this issue, I've

been pleased to note that while farmers' markets are well established in rural parts of Ontario, those of us who live and celebrate life in urban areas also celebrate the opportunity to access

farmers' markets. In fact, 40% of all the farmers' markets in Ontario occur in urban areas. In my own riding, at Toronto city hall and at the north market of St. Lawrence on Saturdays, we have the

benefit of these things.

I do think we've seen some unequal enforcement across public health units on this matter. Accordingly, the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Basrur, has

been working on a strategy with public health units to proactively educate and inform so that enforcement is much less of a requirement. We believe this is the appropriate way to move forward to

protect the important farmers' markets, which are vital to the culture in local communities, not to mention the economy, and in so doing to offer the appropriate protections related to food safety.

This is ongoing on a proactive basis and we're working in consultation with all affected parties.

Mr. Wilkinson: On behalf of my constituents, we do appreciate the McGuinty government's continued commitment to the health and safety of

Ontarians.

The holding of special events where food is prepared at churches, service clubs and fraternal organizations is also a key component of my constituents'

livelihood in rural Ontario. Without question, the need for safe food preparation is paramount. I have, though, received concerns from my constituents about the application of regulation 562. It

has proven unclear, Minister. I believe the regulations need clarification. What is your ministry doing to address these immediate concerns?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: First and foremost, I would commit to renewal of regulation 562 after an appropriate consultation period has occurred.

We've been working closely with the organization called Farmers' Markets Ontario, which is the representative voice of farmers' markets. We are committed to bringing in a new reg. That wouldn't

occur until the fall at the very earliest, and not until we've had the appropriate opportunity for consultation. The medical officer of health is guiding public health units through the production

of a booklet to proactively help to educate and inform, to show people that there are risks. Last summer, we encountered young kids in Ontario, north of Toronto, whose parents secured unpasteurized

milk. They ended up with very serious hospitalization at Southlake hospital in Newmarket.

Our obligation is to ensure safe environments, of course. We believe we can do that in a fashion, through proactive education, that does not affect these very

important institutions. This is important in rural and urban Ontario alike. Accordingly, we're going to work very hard to ensure that these institutions are --

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

CHILD PROTECTION

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Last night the CBC's The National told us the

sad story of a young boy who was being overmedicated by the Durham Children's Aid Society. We all know that overmedication can be a threat to health and a threat to life. Minister, what specific

actions have you taken to protect this child?

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): First of all, as I said before, this is a very tragic case and I will

not discuss the details of the situation. But let me say that our government is committed to ensuring that children who are in the protection of our child well-being and protection system will be

better off as a result of our involvement in their lives than they would have been were we not involved in their lives. I am actually doing an internal investigation as to what we can do to ensure

that no more such tragedies occur.

Mrs. Munro: During the debate on Bill 210, Ontario's Ombudsman told you he needed the power to intervene in cases before the children's aid

societies to protect children and families. Your government rejected his proposal. You refused to listen to the Ombudsman's advice to provide an independent appeal of CAS decisions. Why will you

not now listen to what the Ombudsman told you and give him the power to help protect children and families?

Hon. Mrs. Chambers: The Ombudsman does have a role, thanks to Bill 210 and our strengthening of the complaints process to protect children in

the care of children's aid societies here in Ontario. The Ombudsman will have the final say on appeals that would have previously gone to the Child and Family Services Review Board. His office --

or her office; whoever it may be -- will have jurisdiction over the child and family services board's decisions, and those will be respected without any intervention from any minister of

government.

But what I am also committed to pursuing is the professional advisory board, which that party, when they were in government, failed to establish. You see, the

professional advisory board, amongst its duties, can investigate and review the use of intrusive procedures and psychotropic drugs and make recommendations to the minister. That board was never

established.

MINIMUM WAGE

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Premier. Mr. Premier, yesterday an important report on poverty was released by a

blue-ribbon panel drawn from people from all across Ontario. It reported that 891,000 working adults live below the poverty line, if you set that line at a very modest $15,000. But the statistic

that I think is most shocking or should be most shocking to you was that all it would take to bring those people above the poverty line would be an increase in the minimum wage to $9 an hour, to

bring all full-time low-income workers above that poverty line. Mr. Premier, the question is simple: Will you immediately raise the minimum wage so that no full-time worker in Ontario earns less

than $15,000 a year and lives in poverty?

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

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): This is an excellent

question, and I thank the member of the third party for his question.

First of all, let me thank the members of the task force for their commitment to this issue and for all the work they have done in preparing this report. I

have met with the members of the task force, and we agree with the principles of this report. While there is always more to do, I'm pleased to say that we are actively working to help low-income

Ontarians improve their lives.

I wanted to remind the member that since we came into power, we have increased the minimum wage three times. Again, in 2007, it's going to be up to $8 an hour.

I would say that we have more work to do and we'll --

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

Mr. Prue: Madam Minister, the report clearly set out that at $7.75, some 891,000 people who work every day live in poverty, and all it would

take is to raise that to $9 an hour. Quite frankly, I think those people deserve a better answer than the one you just gave. But if you can't or won't raise the minimum wage, will you at least

help them in some small way by extending a basic health care program for such things as prescription drugs and eyeglasses to all low-income workers, as the report recommends? If you don't raise the

minimum wage to a living wage, will you at least help these nearly a million people, hard-working Ontarians, with their basic health needs?

Hon. Mrs. Meilleur: I want to remind the member of the opposite party that this government has done more than any government to help to

increase the quality of life of the low-income Ontarian.

I can go on explaining what we have done. We have increased the assistance in schools, for instance, colleges and universities. We have provided more than

100,000 grants for low-income Ontarians. We have opened over 150 family health teams, which go a long way to help low-income Ontarians. And I remind the member that we have increased the minimum

wage three times --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question?

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph-Wellington): My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. My city of Guelph has a population of

106,000 people. Linamar is the area's largest employer, employing over 7,000 workers. Needless to say, Linamar is integral to the economic vitality of the Guelph area.

As you are aware, Ontario manufacturers have been battling a high Canadian dollar but have remained resilient throughout. Our government has worked closely

with the manufacturing sector to assist them through this readjustment. Last Friday, our government partnered with Linamar to ensure that they remain a leading-edge auto parts manufacturer in North

America and that they continue to be a key employer in the Guelph area.

Minister, can you please provide the rest of this House with some additional details about this exciting announcement?

Hon. Joseph Cordiano (Minister of Economic Development and Trade): Let me thank the member for Guelph-Wellington for her support and her

advocacy on behalf of her community and Linamar. I'm happy to repeat the good news in this House, because it's worth repeating.

This was a $1.1-billion investment made by Linamar, which will create 3,000 new jobs -- that's 3,000 new jobs -- and the Ontario government was very pleased to

partner with Linamar, investing $44.5 million to establish a new technology centre to support research and development in new products and processes and to invest in skills training for workers.

Linamar is also moving forward with respect to developing environmentally friendly processes in their operations and their products.

Dennis DesRosiers, who is a leading analyst, had this to say about this deal: "For about $500 million of government assistance Ontario has levered about $7

billion in new capital expenditures -- "

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

Mrs. Sandals: That's amazing, Minister: $44.5 million and 3,000 jobs. Think about it. Add those 3,000 jobs, and Linamar will employ almost 10%

of the population of Guelph -- fantastic news for my city, and very well received locally.

It's also great news for Ontario's auto manufacturing sector. We know that Ontario is now the leading North American jurisdiction for automobile production,

with our strategic auto investments playing a key role in that accomplishment. Unfortunately, there are still some who believe that our investments are not needed, that they are not a good

investment of government dollars and are the wrong way to assist our auto sector. Minister, could you please comment on that very incorrect view?

Hon. Mr. Cordiano: Indeed it is a mistaken impression that people have. I want to take members back to the Toyota investment that was made,

over $1 billion. I have to remind members in this Legislature that we are competing with many other jurisdictions south of the border that are willing to do just about anything to get these auto

plants to locate in their jurisdictions. Word comes from a manufacturer like Toyota that in fact there were southern states that were willing to offer 10 times the amount that Ontario invested to

bring Toyota to Ontario -- $700 million was offered for that investment to locate in southern US states. When it comes to Linamar, this is what the CEO, Linda Hasenfratz, had to say about their

investment: "We were looking aggressively at the Michigan area as another alternative."

I say to members in this House, we are competing with other jurisdictions on a daily basis. There are many --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question?

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): My question is to the Minister of Education. Minister, I've listened to you speak about stability in the school

system and that every student deserves the same opportunity. Well, at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, the educational assistants in the Thames Valley District School Board went out on strike. These EAs look

after the most vulnerable people in the school system. The main issue seems to be that they need more time to look after those students.

It is the students who are losing. Because of this strike, the Special Olympics that were supposed to be held at the University of Western Ontario from May 23

to 25 have been cancelled. Minister, what are you going to do to make sure that the special-needs students can continue to enjoy events such as the Special Olympics and are not put at greater risk

than they presently are?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I appreciate this question. It gives us an opportunity

to talk about this region in particular. But like all places in Ontario, we have worked very hard to create peace and stability in all of our schools across Ontario. I think the member opposite is

very well aware of the track record we've developed in these last two and a half years. We expect that that will continue. We do have an anomaly right now in the Thamesville area, one that not one

of us in this House could be happy about. What we want is our kids in our schools, and what we are hoping is that both sides will be working towards that end.

Mr. Hardeman: Minister, I come to this question period every day and listen to the questions and answers. Generally, the first part of the

answer is, "It's someone else's fault," and the second

part is what the government is doing that has nothing to do with the question.

This question, Madam Minister, is very simple. I simply ask you again: What is your government going to do to create the stability you speak of? What are you

going to do for these students so they can continue to participate in something as dear to their hearts as the track and field Special Olympics? Minister, what are you going to do specifically for

these students so they can continue to have their Special Olympics?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I don't believe that anyone who lives in this particular member's riding would think for a moment that this government is

not here to support our students in our schools. We have done that by adding $2 billion in resources. There will never be one reason that has anything to do with resourcing as it affects our

kids in our classrooms.

This member opposite was part of a government that, during his tenure, lost 24 million days of education because of strikes, because of teachers walking or

boards locking. That has not been the case in this government. We are making certain that our students are in the classroom, are learning and are achieving beyond anything we have ever seen in our

history. That is our record as a Liberal government, and we're proud of that record.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Last week, the government of the province of Quebec approved $1.2

billion of funding for new subway cars for the city of Montreal métro. Part of the agreement is an understanding that the subway cars will be built by Bombardier at its factory in Quebec so

that it will generate economic benefits for Quebec and sustain jobs in Quebec.

Now, the McGuinty government is contributing $200 million of Ontario taxpayers' money for the city of Ottawa to purchase transit cars built in California.

Meanwhile, hundreds of workers who could build these transit cars at the factory in Thunder Bay in Ontario are laid off. Premier, why does the McGuinty government not see the economic benefits and

the job-sustaining benefits of building these rail transit cars in Thunder Bay in Ontario?

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

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): The member has asked this question two times before and I'm sure he has an interest in

that. Let me just give you some numbers on what we have done for Thunder Bay and what is going on.

First of all, we believe in a fair and transparent process. We also believe that municipalities can make good decisions. Maybe you don't, but we do. Let me

just tell you, the city of Ottawa has undertaken a very fair and transparent process. The contract has been awarded to a consortium of three companies, and these three companies are Siemens, PCL

and Dufferin Construction. All of these are Ontario-based companies, by the way. I don't know what he has against those companies.

At the same time, Toronto has taken a very different process. They asked for a bid directly from Bombardier -- only Bombardier -- and that bid is about $755

million. In addition to that, Bombardier has got $134 million worth of contracts from GO Transit. If you add these together, it's about $900 million.

Mr. Hampton: I'm sure that will make the hundreds of laid-off workers at the Bombardier factory in Thunder Bay feel really good.

Building the Ottawa transit rail cars in Thunder Bay would not only create and sustain jobs in Thunder Bay and benefit the economy of Thunder Bay, it would

benefit Ontario's economy, because the parts and component suppliers for the Thunder Bay factory are overwhelmingly in Ontario. Workers in Thunder Bay just don't understand. They see the Quebec

government supporting Quebec jobs, supporting the Quebec economy. They know that they could build these transit rail cars, but the McGuinty government says, "No. Use Ontario taxpayer money and

build them in California."

My question for the Premier is this: I think Quebec has a good idea. Will the McGuinty government follow the Quebec government's lead and insist that Ontario

taxpayer money support Ontario workers and build --

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

Hon. Mr. Takhar: I'm not sure if the member is hearing this or not, but let me tell you, I said that Bombardier will get $900 million worth of

contracts. Municipalities are in a better position to make their own decisions, and we strongly support an open and fair bidding process.

The one thing we're not going to do is build walls around Ontario. Bombardier is in a position to compete internationally and they got $7.9 billion worth of

orders because of their competitiveness. At the same time, even the Ottawa order has gone to three Ontario-based companies, which are Siemens, PCL and Dufferin Construction. Those people also

create jobs, by the way.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): My question is for the Minister of Finance. Constituents in my riding of Willowdale are concerned about the

high costs associated with operating a motor vehicle. In fact, upon being elected in 2003, the cost of owning a motor vehicle was one of the most pressing concerns experienced by my constituents.

Under the NDP government, auto insurance rates went up, and they continued to rise under the Conservative government.

Minister, our government promised results for the people of Ontario when it came to auto insurance rates. What my constituents want to know is, what has this

government done about auto insurance rates and what results can they expect to see?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): I thank the member for his question and remind the House

that this government campaigned to reduce automobile insurance premiums by 10%. Not only have we delivered on that commitment, we've exceeded it. Auto insurance premiums have come down 13.32% since

we took office. That compares quite nicely to the 43% increase under the previous Conservative government and the 27% increase under the NDP government.

Auto insurance premiums have been reduced in each of the last nine quarters under the McGuinty government. Mike Colle and Greg Sorbara deserve enormous credit

for all the work they did on this file.

Mr. Zimmer: Minister, as you know, auto insurance rates are not the only concern motorists have. Motorists are worried that, as consumers,

they face other disadvantages when looking for auto insurance. Drivers in Willowdale want two things from auto insurance: a price they can afford, and the best possible policy protection.

Having heard the good news that auto rates are coming down, what is being done to protect the interests of consumers in the auto insurance market?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: There have been a number of other measures designed for consumer protection. We've created a new website to provide more

consumer-friendly information about insurance, including an online educational rate tutorial that helps consumers better understand how auto rates are set.

We've fostered a more competitive marketplace that gives drivers more choice. As a result, the number of drivers in the Facility Association, an industry pool

for high-risk drivers, has fallen from 209,000 when we first took office to only 30,000 now.

We've banned credit scoring and the use of other economic and lifestyle factors for the purposes of setting auto insurance rates or coverage. Insurers and

brokers are now disclosing commission rates, and after a request from the province, brokers are also disclosing contingency commission arrangements and the number of insurers they represent.

This government stood up for automobile insurance purchasers. This government has more than exceeded its goal. It has undone the 43% increase brought on by the

previous Conservative government and --

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

Petitions.

PETITIONS

AUTISM TREATMENT

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas children with autism who have reached the age of six years are no longer being discharged from their preschool autism program; and

"Whereas there are approximately 700 preschool children with autism across Ontario who are required to wait indefinitely for placement in the program, and

there are also countless school-age children on the same wait-list that are not receiving the support they require in the school system; and

"Whereas these children should be getting the best special education possible in the form of applied behavioural analysis (ABA) within the school system;

and

"Whereas this situation has an impact on the families, extended families and friends of all of these children; and

"Whereas, as stated on the website for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, `IBI can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism.

Its objective is to decrease the frequency of challenging behaviours, build social skills and promote language development';

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to fund the treatment of IBI for all preschool children awaiting services and fund a

school-based special education program in the form of ABA."

This has been signed by several of my constituents, and has my signature of support.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it reads:

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services

sector to address critical underfunding of staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

I have affixed my signature as well.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): This is a petition from my constituents in Lambton county.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas over one million Ontarians of all ages suffer from communication disorders relating to speech, language and/or hearing; and

"Whereas there is a growing need for awareness of the profound developmental, economic and social consequences that communication disorders have on people and

their families; and

"Whereas persons with communication problems require access to the professional services of audiologists and speech language pathologists who provide

treatments to improve and enhance quality of life; and

"Whereas effective treatment of communication disorders benefits all of society by allowing otherwise disadvantaged persons to achieve their academic and

vocational potentials; and

"Whereas investments in treatments for communication disorders pay economic dividends in reduced reliance on other social services;

"We, the undersigned, in conjunction with the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

to proclaim the month of May as Better Speech, Language and Hearing Month."

I'm glad to affix my signature to this petition as well.

LANDFILL

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): I'm glad to have my page, Elliott Leeflang, here to take it for me. This is to the Legislative

Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas there is currently a proposal to more than double the size of the Carp landfill in west Ottawa; and

"Whereas this site has been in operation for some 30 years and had been expected to close in 2010; and

"Whereas the surrounding community has grown rapidly for the past 10 years and is continuing to grow; and

"Whereas other options to an expanded landfill have yet to be considered; and

"Whereas the municipal councillors representing this area -- Eli El-Chantiry, Janet Stavinga and Peggy Feltmate -- and the MPP, Norm Sterling," and the MPP,

Lisa MacLeod, "all oppose this expansion;

"We, the undersigned, support our local representatives and petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ensure the Minister of the Environment does not

approve the expansion of the Carp landfill and instead to find other waste management alternatives."

I have signed that.

COMMUNITY MEDIATION

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas many types of civil disputes may be resolved through community mediation delivered by trained mediators, who are volunteers working with the parties

in the dispute; and

"Whereas Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services established the Peel Community Mediation Service in 1999 with support from the government of Ontario

through the Trillium Foundation, the Rotary Club of Mississauga West and the United Way of Peel, and has proven the viability and success of community mediation; and

"Whereas the city of Mississauga and the town of Caledon have endorsed the Peel Community Mediation Service, and law enforcement bodies refer many cases to the

Peel Community Mediation Service as an alternative to a court dispute; and

"Whereas court facilities and court time are both scarce and expensive, the cost of community mediation is very small and the extra expense incurred for lack

of community mediation in Peel region would be much greater than the small annual cost of funding community mediation;

"Be it therefore resolved that the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of the Attorney General, support and fund the ongoing service delivery of the

Peel Community Mediation Service through Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services."

I agree with the petitioners and affix my signature on the petition and ask Zachery to take it.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have here a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"We, the undersigned, who are members of family councils, residents' councils and/or supporters of long-term care in Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I got it from a long-term-care facility in the great village of Tavistock, and I will affix my signature as I agree with it.

HOME CARE

Ms. Deborah Matthews (London North Centre): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas access to home care for seniors and persons with disabilities allows them greater independence within their own homes and the ability to limit the

amount of time that they are forced to stay in hospitals and/or long-term-care facilities; and

"Whereas doctors, nurses and health care workers need to be recognized and supported for the outstanding work they do within their communities, which must

translate into increased funding and resources for their efforts; and

"Whereas implementing the Caplan review will contribute to a more stringent set of guidelines for ensuring that home care and community support services are

more effective and far-reaching;

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

"That the Liberal government's commitment to contribute $117.8 million to improve home care and implement the Caplan review be supported by all members of the

House."

I'm giving this to Monika, and I will attach my signature to it.

ORGAN DONATION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas 1,920 Ontarians are currently on a waiting list for an organ transplant; and

"Whereas the number of Ontarians waiting for an organ transplant has virtually doubled since 1994; and

"Whereas hundreds die every year waiting for an organ transplant; and

"Whereas greater public education and awareness will increase the number of people who sign their organ donor cards and increase the availability of organ

transplants for Ontarians; and

"Whereas the private member's bill proposed by Oak Ridges MPP Frank Klees will require every resident 16 years of age and older to complete an organ donation

question when applying for or renewing a driver's licence or provincial health card, thereby increasing public awareness of the importance of organ donation while respecting the right of every

person to make a personal decision regarding the important issue of organ donation;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 67, the Organ and Tissue Donation Mandatory Declaration Act, 2006."

I'm pleased, on behalf of the constituents who have signed, to sign this petition in support of it

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

Ms. Monique M. Smith (Nipissing): The pages and I on this side of the House are delighted to have the opportunity to file this petition with

the House.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas improving job retention rates has a positive effect on developing valuable work skills, confidence in one's abilities and creating a greater economic

foundation for the province; and

"Whereas JobsNow allows workers access to valuable resources such as job-matching services, pre-employment supports and up to 18 months of job retention and

follow-up services;

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

"That the JobsNow program continues to be supported by all members of the House; and that we work together to ensure that workers on social assistance find a

meaningful and long-term solution to meeting their employment goals."

I have affixed my signature to this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have another petition. It is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas long-term-care funding levels are too low to enable homes to provide the care and services our aging seniors and parents who are residents of

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

"Whereas, even with recent funding increases and a dedicated staff who do more than their best, there is still not enough time available to provide the care

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

"Whereas those unacceptable care and service levels are now at risk of declining;

"We, the undersigned, who are members of family councils, residents' councils and/or supporters of long-term care in Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I received this from a great many of my constituents in the great town of Ingersoll. I will sign this petition, as I agree with it.

HOME CARE

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): I have a petition, which reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas access to home care for seniors and persons with disabilities allows them greater independence within their own homes and the ability to limit the

amount of time that they are forced to stay in hospitals and/or long-term-care facilities; and

"Whereas doctors, nurses and health care workers need to be recognized and supported for the outstanding work they do within their communities, which must

translate into increased funding and resources for their efforts; and

"Whereas implementing the Caplan review will contribute to a more stringent set of guidelines for ensuring that home care and community support services are

more effective and far-reaching;

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Parliament of Ontario as follows:

"That the Liberal government's commitment to contribute $117.8 million to improve home care and implement the Caplan review be supported by all members of the

House."

Since I agree, I'm delighted to sign this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): I have a petition from the good folks at Hilltop Manor in Merrickville.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas long-term-care funding levels are too low to enable homes to provide the care and services our aging seniors and parents who are residents of

long-term-care homes need, with the respect and dignity that they deserve; and

"Whereas, even with recent funding increases and a dedicated staff who do more than their best, there is still not enough time available to provide the care

residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

"Whereas those unacceptable care and service levels are now at risk of declining;

"We, the undersigned, who are members of family councils, residents' councils and/or supporters of long-term care in Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly

of Ontario to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, which will allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per resident per day over

the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

I affix my signature in support.

HOME CARE

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas access to home care for seniors and persons with disabilities allows them greater independence within their own homes and the ability to limit the

amount of time that they are forced to stay in hospitals and/or long-term care facilities; and

"Whereas doctors, nurses and health care workers need to be recognized and supported for the outstanding work they do within their communities, which must

translate into increased funding and resources for their efforts; and

"Whereas implementing the Caplan review will contribute to a more stringent set of guidelines for ensuring that home care and community support services are

more effective and far-reaching;

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

"That the Liberal government's commitment to contribute $117.8 million to improve home care and for the implementation of the Caplan review be supported by all

members of the House."

I support this, and I will affix my signature to it.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly, and it reads:

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

"That the government of Ontario address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services sector to address critical underfunding of

staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to live meaningful lives within their

community."

I have also signed this.

OPPOSITION DAY

TOURISM

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): I move that the Legislative Assembly calls upon the government,