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June 3, 2019

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2019-Jun-03 (PDF)

L114 - Mon 3 Jun 2019 / Lun 3 jun 2019

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 3 June 2019 Lundi 3 juin 2019

Introduction of Visitors

Birth of member’s grandchild

Anniversary of attack on the Golden Temple

Wearing of pins

Oral Questions

Land use planning

Health care funding

Addiction services

Beverage alcohol sales

Education funding

Children’s services

Fire near Pikangikum First Nation

Smoking cessation

Infrastructure funding

Government advertising

Forest industry

Legal aid

Protection of privacy

Conservation authorities

Notice of dissatisfaction

Visitors

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Violence against Indigenous women and girls

Gilbert Francis Whittamore

Menstrual products

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #136—Milton

Climate change

Filipino Heritage Month / Mois du patrimoine philippin

Lansdowne Children’s Centre

Correctional services

Seniors’ Month

Basketball

Introduction of Bills

Municipal Representation and Restructuring Protection Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 visant à protéger les municipalités contre des modifications en matière de représentation et de restructuration municipales

Fairness for Road Users Act (Contraventions Causing Death or Serious Bodily Harm), 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur l’équité envers les usagers de la route (contraventions ayant causé un décès ou des blessures corporelles graves)

Motions

House sittings

Petitions

Autism treatment

Injured workers

Homeopathy

Education funding

Beverage alcohol sales

Indigenous affairs

Education funding

Education funding

Education funding

Library services

Health care funding

Toronto Transit Commission

LCBO

Curriculum

Orders of the Day

Time allocation

Time allocation

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us begin this morning with a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

Let us pray.

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): This being the first sitting Monday of the month, I wish to acknowledge this territory as a traditional gathering place for many Indigenous nations, most recently the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

This morning we have with us in the Speaker’s gallery the Fairbank Public School junior choir, from the riding of Toronto–St. Paul’s, to help us to sing O Canada.

Singing of O Canada.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I ask the members to introduce their guests, I would like to introduce some special guests in our visitors’ gallery. We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a US delegation representing the Midwestern Legislative Conference, which is an interparliamentary association to which the assembly is a key partner. Senator Jim Stamas of Michigan, who is the vice-chair of the Midwest-Canada committee, is accompanied by Mike McCabe and Ilene Grossman of the MLC executive office. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests to the Legislative Assembly.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Also in the Speaker’s gallery this morning is a former member from the 31st through the 39th Parliaments, Norm Sterling. He is joined by his wife, Joan Sterling, and the family of his grandson, page Jackson Stearns: Jarrod Stearns, Rhonda Neulander and Jordan Stearns. Welcome to Queen’s Park. We’re delighted to have you here.

Ms. Jill Dunlop: I would like to introduce the parents of the page from Simcoe North, Ariana Rizzo: Elizabeth Van Houtte and her father, Dennis Rizzo. Thank you for being here today and for visiting Ariana.

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park today students and educators from the Thunder Bay Christian School. I hope they have a great day.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: I want to welcome Andrea Maldonado and Jose Inguiñiz from my riding, who are here for a tour of Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jill Andrew: First off, I’d like to say thank you to Fairbank school for singing O Canada—the best singers in Toronto.

Joining us in the members’ gallery today, we are proud to have the family of legislative page Declan Fowler from our riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s. We’ve got the father, Greg Fowler. It’s very nice to see you. We’ve got the brother, Henry Fowler, and of course, we’ve got big shout-outs to mom, Pamela Millar. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Mike Harris: It’s an honour and a pleasure today to be able to welcome the family of our page captain today, Sadee Zister. They’re all the way from New Hamburg. I believe there are 10 of them in the gallery today, so a warm welcome from the Legislature.

Mr. Ian Arthur: Speaker, I know you already did this introduction. But Jackson, the page captain today, is from Kingston and the Islands, so I would also like to welcome Rhonda, Jarrod, Jordan, Joan and Norm to the Legislature. Thank you so much for coming.

Mr. Stan Cho: I just want to welcome my friend Mike Cudi, who is best known in Willowdale for painting a giant mural last year reminding people to vote. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. Chris Glover: It’s my pleasure to welcome to the House today a retired Toronto Star education reporter, Louise Brown; her husband, Jerry Johnson; and their friends Tom Scanlan and Sharon Scanlan.

Mr. Parm Gill: I want to recognize and congratulate my constituency assistant, Evan, who got married over the weekend to Paula. He’s already back at work this morning. I want to congratulate both Evan and Paula, and I want to wish both of them all of the very best.

M me Marit Stiles: Je suis heureuse de présenter Germain Collinge, un résident de Davenport, ainsi que ses parents Cécile Collinge et Jean Rouleau, en visite du Québec aujourd’hui. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

Mr. Roman Baber: I’d like to introduce Angela Brandt and the Brandt family, constituents from the riding of York Centre. Welcome.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I’d like to welcome home Jack, Ella and Davis—it’s a warm, virtual welcome—if you’re watching with Grandma.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to welcome the students and teachers of High Park Alternative, who are here at Queen’s Park for a tour.

I’d also like to give a warm welcome to Rebecca Holland, a constituent and a volunteer in my office.

Hon. Bill Walker: It’s my pleasure to introduce Anji Cottrill, mother of page captain Maisie Cottrill, from Tara in the great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and enjoy your day.

Mr. Paul Calandra: I would like to introduce a constituent of mine, Sir Knight Nicholas Quadrini, who received his fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus just yesterday, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I’m pleased to introduce to the Legislature Oakville constituent Al Durk. Welcome to the Legislature, Al.

Hon. Jeff Yurek: I would like to introduce Martin Haalstra, here from the riding. Welcome. Enjoy question period.

Ms. Jane McKenna: I want to give a warm welcome to Nancy and Adrian Markowiak—I hope I said that right—from Burlington today. I look forward to meeting with you after.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I’d like to introduce three friends who are visiting from Sudbury: Rainer Berens, Noreen McChesney and Hannah Berens. Hannah is enjoying politics. This is her first day at Queen’s Park, so I wish her well on her tour today.

Mrs. Robin Martin: I just wanted to recognize and acknowledge my friend Janet McDougall, who is in the public gallery.

Birth of member’s grandchild

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): A number of members have informed me that they wish to raise a point of order. I’ll start with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Hon. John Yakabuski: Thanks very much, Speaker. It’s my pleasure to inform the House that on Friday evening before I drove home, I got a text from my wife to let me know that we were welcoming our 10th grandchild, a granddaughter: Anya Wiebke Mundt Chipping, at 7:26 p.m., seven pounds, 10 ounces and 20 inches long. God bless.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Congratulations.

Anniversary of attack on the Golden Temple

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand that the member for Brampton East has a point of order.

Mr. Gurratan Singh: I believe we have unanimous consent for a moment of silence, Mr. Speaker. Some 35 years ago, in June 1984, as Sikhs gathered to commemorate the sacrifice of our fifth guru, the Indian government launched a military invasion into the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar and into more than 40 other gurdwaras across Punjab, killing thousands of innocent worshippers. This attack has left a permanent impact on the Sikh community across the world and here in Ontario. I ask for the unanimous consent of this House for a moment of silence to remember the thousands of innocent lives who were lost in those devastating and terrible attacks. Lest we forget.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Brampton East is seeking unanimous consent of the House for a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the tragedy 35 years ago in Punjab. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

Wearing of pins

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, I understand that you have a point of order you would like to raise.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. In 2010, the Legislature for the province of Ontario passed Bill 103 declaring June Italian Heritage Month. In commemoration of that, I’m asking for unanimous consent today for everyone to wear a pin marking the beginning of Italian Heritage Month. I’m also letting everyone know that we’ll be raising the flag at noon today outside the Legislature. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to wear a pin in recognition of Italian Heritage Month. Agreed? Agreed.

Oral Questions

Land use planning

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): It is now time for oral questions, and I recognize the leader of the official opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, before I start, though, I just want to say a big thank you to first responders in the Ottawa area, who made sure that people were safe. As the storms were happening on Sunday, they made sure that folks were safe and took care of people’s concerns. It’s been a tough go in the Ottawa area, and the challenges on the weekend were yet another difficulty that first responders had to deal with—and people of Ottawa–Vanier as well. I think our hearts go out to everyone, and thanks to everyone as well.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Earlier this morning, I laid out details of legislation that would ensure municipalities don’t have changes to their governance imposed on them without consultation or their consent. Sadly, that hasn’t been the reality in Ontario over the last year, as the Premier made clear when he cancelled elections in Peel and Toronto, even if it meant bypassing the Constitution and using the “notwithstanding” clause.

My question is, what guarantees do Ontarians have that the Premier won’t be doing this again?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Hon. Steve Clark: Our government values our municipal partners, and we have had, and will continue to have, a very robust consultation with our stakeholders, including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. I’m looking forward to our monthly meeting at the AMO MOU table next week, and I look forward to continuing to meet with our partners. The regional governments have a meeting this Friday. I look forward to engaging with them. I just finished meeting with LUMCO a couple weeks ago, as most people in the House realize.

Again, Speaker, our government is committed to consulting with our municipalities. We’ve proven, through the AMO MOU table, that we’re able to have a very robust discussion. We’ll continue to do so, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, this year, the Premier attempted to impose retroactive cuts to municipal services, ranging from school breakfast programs to paramedics, which is actually why the minister had to meet with LUMCO—so that he could backtrack on those odious decisions.

This week, he’s ignoring municipal concerns about Bill 108, his scheme to let developers override municipal planning and environmental regulations. Letters rejecting Bill 108 continue to pour in from municipalities across the province. I can’t imagine LUMCO wouldn’t have something to say about it.

Will the government listen to Ontario’s municipalities this time and cancel the regressive changes proposed in Bill 108?

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, I made it clear to the members of LUMCO that we would hope that all 444 municipalities would look to find efficiencies to help that level of government work more effectively and deliver services as best they can to their constituents.

But I want to correct the record in terms of our consultation. We consulted widely on Bill 108 and our More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan. We received over 2,000 submissions, and 85% of those submissions came from the general public. In terms of our regional government review, we received, I believe, in excess of 5,000 submissions from the public through our online portal.

We continue to consult with municipalities, and we’ve indicated, Speaker, that in terms of Bill 108 on the community benefits authority, we will continue to consult with municipalities. We will continue to sit across the table from them and get their advice on how to proceed in that section.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The government is once again running roughshod over Ontario’s municipalities with Bill 108. They’ve had just one day of hearings and refuse to expand those hearings while municipalities continue to send in concerns by letter to this very day, Speaker. From Durham to Brampton to South Frontenac to Aurora, municipalities are passing resolutions asking the government not to move forward with legislation that will revert back to the old OMB model.

But the Premier, of course, isn’t listening. He won’t extend deadlines for comments. He won’t offer any more time for committee hearings. He continues to stonewall Ontario municipalities at every turn and refuses to engage in a meaningful consultation.

Why is the government once again shutting out Ontario’s municipalities and not considering what they have to say?

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, Speaker, in terms of the community benefits charge, that’s exactly what we’ve indicated. We’ve indicated that we are going to be consulting municipalities on the formula that ultimately is presented. Again, we’ve consulted municipalities. We’ve consulted the general public.

But, Speaker, we have to realize why we tabled Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act. For too long, government has stood in the way of creating affordable housing options for people in this province. We’re in a housing crisis in this province, and we had to do something. We can no longer have government standing in the way. We have to work with all of our partners, whether they be non-profits, whether they be the home builders in this province, or our municipalities.

Make no mistake, Speaker: We’re going to continue to consult, but we need more housing and more choice now. We can’t wait another minute.

Health care funding

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier, but I have to say that there’s a crisis in housing affordability, and this government is not solving it with their ramming through of Bill 108.

Tomorrow we’ll have a long-awaited opportunity to hear—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Government side, come to order.

Start the clock.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Tomorrow we’ll have a long-awaited opportunity to hear from the Minister of Health as the Standing Committee on Estimates gets a chance to review the Ford government’s scheme for health care spending cuts, but perhaps the Premier can get the ball rolling for us today. The Financial Accountability Office tells us that Ontario’s health budget will be decreased by $2.7 billion over the next two years. Can the Premier tell Ontarians how many more patients will be stacked up in hallways as a result of these cuts to our health care system?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: As the leader of the official opposition knows, we made a promise to the people of Ontario last year during the last election campaign that we were going to end hallway health care, we were going to increase the number of long-term-care beds and we were going to make sure that we created patient-centred health care, and that’s what we’re doing. We have actually added $1.3 billion to the health care budget for this year. That’s going to be expended in a variety of ways, but we want to make sure that we’re going to end hallway health care; that’s one of our key promises.

Right now we have over 1,000 patients a day receiving health care in hospital hallways, storage rooms and other places that are not acceptable—not for patients and not for providers. We’re going to end that. We are increasing spending because we know that is an important policy and an important concept that the people of Ontario expect us to continue. Health care and education are those two key policies, and that’s what we’re going to deliver on.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, I might want to remind the government that their last election campaign claimed that they were going to make cuts but they weren’t going to touch health care or education. So much for that.

In fact, the independent Financial Accountability Office was crystal clear in their report. Again, the Financial Accountability Office is independent. It’s not government spin. It’s a person and a group of people who work for the public without any bias. What they said is that the Ford government is proposing to cut health spending to a level that Ontario has only seen once in 40 years: during the Mike Harris government of the 1990s. During that time, Ontario families saw 6,000 nurses fired and 28 hospitals closed.

Has the cut-first, plan-later government prepared any analysis whatsoever of how this round of cuts will impact front-line health services and staff?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Government side, come to order.

Start the clock. Minister to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Well, I certainly want to be clear to the people of Ontario what’s actually happening here: We are increasing health care spending by $1.3 billion as a result of this budget.

The Financial Accountability Officer: I have no quarrel with the report that he has prepared. I would suggest, though, that some of the suggestions that he has made with respect to cuts are actually accounting differences.

What has happened is that some of the funds that were accounted for that appeared to come out of the cancer screening budget have actually been transferred to Cancer Care Ontario. So there are differences in the accounting, but the actual overall amount has increased: $1.3 billion more going into health care this year.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, it seems to me, when a government wants to refute an independent officer of the Legislature, they rely on accounting differences, just like the previous government did. Now this government is playing the same game. The reality is, there is $2.7 billion over two years being cut from our health care budget. That’s what this government is doing.

The Financial Accountability Office is clear: Our health care system is facing reckless cuts—cuts to children’s mental health, cuts to cancer screening, cuts to hospital budgets. You can’t claim to be ending the hallway health care crisis when you’re following the lead of the Mike Harris Conservatives who created it and the Liberals who made it worse.

When will this Premier come clean about what he’s cutting?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Again, let me be clear to the leader of the official opposition: We are increasing health care spending by $1.3 billion—$1.3 billion, an increase. The suggestion with respect to cancer screening, I’ve already explained; that has been transferred to Cancer Care Ontario.

With respect to children’s mental health and addictions, again, that is money that was promised: $58 million was promised by the previous Liberal government. That was a fantasy budget, as we all know. There was no money there. There is money in this budget. We have spent $18 million of that. The rest of the $40 million was never actually used because it didn’t exist. We are spending money that actually exists, in increasing the health care budget by $1.3 billion this year.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. The member for Waterloo must come to order. The member for King–Vaughan must come to order. All the members must come to order.

Start the clock. Next question.

Addiction services

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier. But I’ve got to say, nobody believes this government anymore. Talk about a fantasy budget: They had to roll back half their budget just a week ago.

Last Friday, Stats Canada revealed that for the first time in 40 years, the life expectancy of Canadians is declining, and the blame for that rests with the opioid crisis. Can the Premier explain why, given the depth of this crisis, the government closed overdose prevention sites and is blocking efforts to establish them in communities where they’re desperately, desperately needed?

Hon. Doug Ford: The Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: This government does take the opioid crisis very seriously. That is why, when we did our review of the overdose treatment sites last summer and into the fall, we took a look at what was actually happening in the centres. That’s why we repurposed them to become consumption and treatment sites. Because of course it’s important to save lives, to make sure that people that are overdosing receive the care that they need. That’s important. But the other part of it is to help them get the treatment that they need. They were not getting the treatment that they needed in the previous centres.

That’s why we’re repurposing them. We have opened 15 sites. There are six more yet to be opened. We are reviewing the applicants under very, very strict circumstances to make sure that they are going to be able to provide that assistance.

But they can’t do everything within the consumption and treatment services sites. That’s why, as part of the $3.8 billion that we have promised that we will spend over the next 10 years on both mental health and addictions services—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The supplementary question?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, while the government talks about responding to this crisis, their actions on addictions and mental health speak louder than words: closing overdose prevention sites; a $330-million cut to mental health funding; a $69-million cut to children’s mental health.

Over 1,000 Ontarians died of an overdose last year alone. Why is the government moving backwards as this crisis continues to grow and get worse?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I think it’s important to look at the facts of the situation. We have pledged, and we are spending, $1.3 billion more on health services this year in the province of Ontario, including $174 million more on mental health and addiction services. That is for this year, and that is annualized funding that’s going to continue year after year after year.

We are taking the opioids crisis very seriously. That is why we have set up 15 consumption and treatment services sites: to help people with overdoses, but also to help them, when they are ready, to go into therapy, to get the services that they need.

That is not all of the work we have to do. There is more that’s going to come from that $174 million: more detox beds, and more community and social services, getting people the help they need in the community so that they don’t need to be in crisis, in those situations—to make sure they can get the help that they need, to get the services they need.

We are going to make sure that we do that. We are reviewing more sites. I think it’s important to note that we have opened—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The next question.

Beverage alcohol sales

Ms. Jane McKenna: My question is for the Premier. It has been almost a year now since the people of Ontario voted for change. Our government hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since. It will be a year this Friday. We can now say more than ever to the people of Ontario: promises made, promises kept.

We scrapped the cap-and-trade carbon tax. We’re cutting red tape and creating good jobs. We’re putting money back in people’s pockets through tax relief for families with children and for lower-income workers in the province.

Following the introduction of the Bringing Choice and Fairness to the People Act last week, could the Premier inform the House of what else our government is doing to fulfill the promises we made to the good people of Ontario?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the member from Burlington for the question and for all the great work she does in Burlington. I was there this weekend; it was so good.

Through you, Mr. Speaker: We made a promise to the people of Ontario, and we plan on keeping our promises, as we have kept all our promises all the way since last year. It has almost come up to be a year.

We’re going to put beer and wine in the corner stores and the big box stores and more grocery stores. I was thinking of our visitor from the United States. He’s probably sitting up there thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You don’t have beer in a grocery store? You don’t have wine?” I want to say to our friend from the United States: We’re the only jurisdiction in the entire world that had a sweetheart deal from the previous Liberal government, the Liberal lobbyists that made millions of dollars off the backs of the taxpayers, that increased the cost of beer at the Beer Store.

We’re going to make sure that people have the convenience, when they hold a barbecue, to be able to go into the store and actually buy a case of beer—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The supplementary question.

Ms. Jane McKenna: Thank you to the Premier for his response. It is exciting to hear how our government is committed to expanding the sale of beer and wine. We all know that consumers, small businesses and local breweries all stand to benefit.

The Retail Council of Canada says that expanding the market could create up to 9,000 new jobs and add $3.5 billion to Ontario’s GDP. It will introduce a much-needed competition that will help lead to lower costs for consumers. It will provide convenience to responsible adults, and support growth in our small businesses, from Burlington all the way to Belleville and beyond.

Clearly, the status quo is unacceptable. Could the Premier explain why bringing fairness to the people is so important to us?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the member for the question once again. You’ve heard our all-star Minister of Finance say this, and I’ll say it again: This isn’t about just beer and wine. It’s not just about choice and convenience. This is about fairness. It’s about fairness to the people. It’s about fairness to the retail folks that are out there working all day, all night.

Most people don’t realize that the Beer Store isn’t owned by the government. It’s owned by three global giants—three global giants that don’t worry about the people in Ontario. They’re worried about putting money in their pockets. That’s what they’re worried about. We’re worried about the convenience—and isn’t it amazing, Mr. Speaker? Just imagine—and we aren’t going to do this, but just imagine if all the NDP ridings opted out. Their constituents would be going crazy if they ever opted out. But we aren’t going to do that because we’re going to make sure we give your constituents a—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Education funding

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier. Last week, Adrienne Roberts received a notice that her employment as a teacher at Grand Erie District School Board will be terminated on August 31, another sad outcome of this government’s cuts to education. After Adrienne posted her layoff notice on Twitter, the Premier’s office tweeted back, “Condolences.” Then they blamed the school board for playing politics.

The Premier’s cuts to education and, frankly, their scheme to jam up to 40 kids in secondary classes means Adrienne will be just one of thousands of teachers without a job by the end of this government’s term. Let’s be clear: She has no choice. There is no fairness and there are no choices for these teachers.

Is the Premier finally ready to admit that his cuts to classrooms will mean teachers lose their jobs?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Education.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Every day, I am pleased to stand up in this House and talk about how we are moving forward and making sure that our government continues to display actions and guarantee to people across Ontario that the learning environment in the classroom is our number one priority.

Let’s take a look at some other information that we’re hearing: 100% of Toronto Catholic District School Board high school teachers will have a job in September. In Lambton-Kent, we heard specifically that 82 teachers with the Lambton Kent District School Board who were rumoured to be out of work by the next school year will be brought back in 2019. We’ve also learned that other school boards that are choosing to fearmonger actually need to take a step back. We’ve asked school boards across this province to work with us. But, unfortunately, we have just learned that the Toronto District School Board, instead of investing money in the classroom, is investing money in their own administrative—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

I remind the members, when the Speaker stands up, you have to sit down.

Supplementary question?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Premier—and I should just start by saying that the minister actually needs to be corrected on that item, because in fact she’s doing a great disservice to the Toronto District School Board. She knows perfectly well that did not happen and it is not happening.

First, the Premier blamed parents for skewing the results of this million-dollar education survey—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I have to ask the member to withdraw that unparliamentary comment.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Okay. Withdrawn.

First, the Premier blamed parents for skewing the results of his million-dollar education survey. Then he blamed students who oppose his plans, calling them “pawns.” Then he blamed teachers and education workers, calling them “union thugs.” Now this government is desperate to pin the blame on school boards, anything to avoid taking actual responsibility for the deliberate chaos they are causing in our schools.

Why won’t the Premier just be straight with Ontarians and admit that this plan means fewer resources, fewer class options and fewer jobs for teachers?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Do you know what I can not believe, Mr. Speaker? It’s that we saw first-hand, right here in this House, that the member opposite is choosing to support a school board that is not putting money into the classroom and supporting teachers on the front line. The fact of the matter is that she is absolutely spinning her wheels, because facts matter, and only when the Toronto District School Board got caught last Thursday because media started inquiring did they choose to cancel the contract. Facts matter, and you better stick with the facts because you’re not getting anywhere else.

At least four previous audits and external reviews have identified procurement issues with the Toronto District School Board over the years. Speaker, I absolutely appreciate—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Next question.

Children’s services

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Ma communauté d’Ottawa a encore été touchée, alors je voulais juste remercier les services ambulanciers qui ont dû encore être appelés en fin de semaine.

Ma question est pour la procureure générale. In Canada, courts have recognized that jurisdictional disputes between the federal government and the provincial government should not be borne by children. Jordan’s Principle, upheld by the courts, tells us that all First Nations children should have equal access to government services, and the first government who comes into contact with a child should respond to their needs. Children should not be denied while governments bicker about who should pay.

This government has cancelled the Transition Child Benefit for children of refugees, and the Attorney General has said that she believes that it’s the federal government that has the obligation to care for these children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child says that any government must look after children on its territory, irrespective of the status of their parents. Is she holding children hostage in her ongoing battle with the federal government?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I thank the member opposite for the question. Our government is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society, and we have continued to do that within my ministry. I’m not sure where the member opposite’s question was going—it was a bit circuitous—but I can tell you that with respect to funding for legal aid services, we are continuing to call on the federal government to meet its responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, the previous government spent billions and billions of dollars on interest expense that it could have spent on helping our most vulnerable in our society: our children, our newcomers to Canada. We are committed to getting it right. We are committed to ensuring that the supports that we do provide to the most vulnerable in our society are sustainable. We are taking the time to speak with them. We are taking the time to look closely at the books, to make sure that we are providing the necessary supports, so that when they need them 10 years from now, the government is still able to provide them, instead of paying down even more money in interest expenses.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: The children in transition program was a small program. The government’s own numbers said that 16,000 children a month were being helped by them, and they needed that to have access to food and clothing. The Premier said last Friday “free the beer” as a good slogan, but I think “feed the children” is also a very good slogan.

The need for this program is compounded by the cuts to legal aid for refugees, because it will take longer for families to actually have access to their status. Does the minister not see that the cumulative effect of no representation and no assistance for these children will jeopardize their start in Ontario and their ability to later become productive members of our society? Does she not see that this will be a black mark on our reputation, to wage a war with the federal government on the backs of children? Will she commit today to tell her colleagues to reinstate the children in transition program?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: The Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Jeff Yurek: Thanks again for that question. Our government for the people is moving forward with social assistance reforms that are going to restore dignity, encourage employment and empower the province’s most vulnerable to get back to a path towards self-reliance.

We are not going to be implementing the changes to the Transition Child Benefit to First Nations in Ontario Works. We will not be implementing it that way. However, Mr. Speaker, we need to make changes. The Transition Child Benefit provided roughly an average of 16,000 recipients with a total expenditure of $67 million. Refugee claimants account for almost 50% of the total Transition Child Benefit expenditure but only made up 35% of the recipients.

We need to ensure that we’re able to provide a program to the children of this province in order for them to be supported wholly, and that’s what we’re doing. We are going to continue with the Ontario Child Benefit program to ensure there’s equal access to get the government support they need. Filing your taxes allows you to access the Child Benefit program, and we’ll be increasing the investment by 30—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The next question.

Fire near Pikangikum First Nation

Mr. Dave Smith: My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Late last week, our government was made aware of a dire situation in northern Ontario. A wildfire began to spread near Pikangikum First Nation. On May 29, at 1:30 a.m., the community declared a state of emergency because the flames and smoke were coming dangerously close to the community. Our government was ready to mobilize the necessary supports for Pikangikum during this crisis. Quick action is incredibly important when a community is threatened by wildfire. Can the minister please tell the members of this House about how our government came to the aid of the people of Pikangikum First Nation?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I think the first thing we should say is thank you to the leadership in Pikangikum. Chief Amanda Sainnawap and, frankly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, our pilots and workers on the ground with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario at the runway there kept it going.

We’re pleased to report that 1,600 people have been evacuated through the Department of National Defence’s Hercules planes and some of our own, as well as a couple of commercial operators who chipped in. Those people are now out in host cities—in Timmins, Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls, Thunder Bay, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Winnipeg—and coordinated efforts on the ground with other officials from other ministries here in Ontario are making sure that those people are getting the care and follow-up that they deserve.

We’re very pleased with the response. It was a bit frantic Thursday after the initial pass from the Hercules, but things have gone smoothly since then.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Dave Smith: I’d like to thank the Minister of Indigenous Affairs for that response. I’d also like to thank the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry for deploying the fire crews to keep this fire at bay. I’d like to thank the Minister of Indigenous Affairs for taking such a strong leadership role to coordinate municipalities that were able to house those who were being evacuated from Pikangikum.

During these challenging emergency situations, it’s imperative that our government communicates effectively with partners and support providers who play important roles in emergency responses. In this case, it became clear that an evacuation was going to be necessary. Can the minister please tell the members of this House more about our role in helping vulnerable members of the community reach safety?

Hon. Greg Rickford: It’s true that an open line of communication was established very quickly. I’ve had a couple of conversations with leadership on the ground and Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler to make sure that community members that were evacuated found a safe place in various cities across northern Ontario, northwestern Ontario and into Manitoba and that they were well taken care of.

We appreciate the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and some of my staff in particular in Indigenous Affairs Ontario. On Thursday afternoon, we assumed a coordinating role to ensure that all ministries across our government were involved in making sure that suppression activities through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry were going on, and that the community continued to have a smooth and steady evacuation. There was an hour of maintenance required every time one of those Hercules landed on the strip, Mr. Speaker.

This was just an incredible exercise in a short period of time. We remain committed to the threat that while the fire is suppressed, smoke could turn back on the community. We’ll be ready to evacuate any other people that the chief sees fit.

Smoking cessation

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre. Last week, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced more unnecessary cuts to front-line health care resources by abruptly cutting funding for a program to help youth quit smoking. Leave the Pack Behind, as it is called, is a very successful, evidence-based smoking cessation program for youth. It is a $1-million-a-year investment that pays huge dividends.

Mr. Speaker, tobacco kills 50% of its users. One in two smokers dies from their addiction. This health promotion program supports our health care system. It supports young Ontarians by helping them quit smoking and develop healthier habits. Why is the Premier cutting such an important program?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question. It is very important to help youth and other people who wish to quit smoking to do so, but I think it is important to note that no one pulled funding on this. What actually happened was that the previous government had given them a one-year program that they decided not to continue with, and we continued with that. So there’s no pulling of funding; there’s no cutting involved here. This is just something that wasn’t renewed. It wasn’t renewed under the previous government and it’s continued with us.

But it is important to make sure that there are programs that are there to help young people who want to quit smoking. We still have a number of programs out there: the STOP Program at CAMH, the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and the Smokers’ Helpline, which any Ontarian can access regardless of age or location, among many others that could I go into in the supplemental.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, the $1 million to the Leave the Pack program has been in place for 19 years. It is very effective, and the funding is not flowing this year. It has flowed for the last 19 years. The Canadian Lung Association released a report a few days ago that says that the government is not doing enough to reduce tobacco use. It talks about the troubling rate of young people starting to vape. For the first time in decades, the smoking rates are going up, not down.

So what does this government do? Well, it passes legislation that allows tobacco companies to directly market vaping products to the public on school campuses or across the street from high schools. Marketing is very effective. In my riding, 50% of high school students—none of them over the age of 18—are vaping. Why is the Premier making it easier for tobacco companies to sell their vaping and smoking products to young people in Ontario?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Once again, it’s important to note that the original program the member referred to started to be wound down in 2017, and that has continued. But, again, it’s important to realize and recognize that there are many other programs that are out there to help young people and anyone who wishes to stop smoking.

In addition to the ones that I’ve already mentioned to you, there are the public health units’ STOP on the Road, the Smokers’ Helpline I referred to, Lakehead University’s Moving On to Being Free, Cancer Care Ontario’s Aboriginal Tobacco Program, Aboriginal health access centres’ Healthy Eating Active Living, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living program, as well as the work that’s being done at CAMH.

So there are a number of programs out there. They are available for people across Ontario who wish to stop smoking, so we encourage anybody who is interested to be in contact with one of those programs for that assistance.

Infrastructure funding

Mr. Mike Harris: My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. Our government is committed to putting the people at the centre of every decision we make, and we are protecting what matters most. In my riding, and across Ontario, health and safety matters. The minister has spent hours on the road announcing great projects across rural Ontario, and he has seen first-hand the critical road and bridge infrastructure that our communities needed most. While Ontario launches the most ambitious infrastructure program in history, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is saying the province is not at the table, and I am baffled by this criticism.

Would the minister please tell us about what our government is doing for rural Ontario?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you to the member for that excellent and very important question. I echo the member’s concern for crucial health and safety projects across rural and northern Ontario. Trudeau’s comments are simply baffling, Mr. Speaker. To say we are stalling on our infrastructure commitments is dead wrong. As the Auditor General, Senate and Parliamentary Budget Officer have all said, the federal record on the infrastructure file is poor. In fact, billions of dollars went missing under Justin Trudeau’s watch.

Mr. Speaker, we have our priorities straight in Ontario. While the federal Liberals are focused on the election season, I’m focused on the construction season. Thus far, we’ve nominated 49 rural and northern road and bridge projects to Ottawa, and do you know what, Mr. Speaker? Not a single one has been approved by Justin Trudeau. In Kitchener–Conestoga, this includes the Glasgow Street South bridge in the township of Woolwich.

Our government was at work on Sunday to put the people first; I’m calling on Justin Trudeau to reflect this commitment and approve these projects—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Supplementary? The member for Whitby.

Mr. Lorne Coe: Thank you, Speaker, and thank you, minister, for that excellent answer.

When it comes to vital infrastructure investments, it’s important that we get it right. As a caucus, we’re encouraged by the constant flow of great announcements from the Minister of Infrastructure. For my riding, the most important has been crucial transit infrastructure that allows my constituents to travel safely.

Speaker, our government was elected on a mandate to open Ontario for business and to get this province moving. Despite having nominated five GTA transit projects that my constituents desperately need, the federal government chooses to pick a fight instead of picking up a shovel.

Would the Minister of Infrastructure tell us more about how we’re putting this province back on track and helping municipalities get moving?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you very much to the member for that great question.

Mr. Speaker, for months we’ve heard the federal government ask us to send them projects for approval. They even said that Ontario’s priorities were their priorities. On May 15, we nominated our 54th project to the federal government; the ball is clearly now in their court.

These are important projects. We have now nominated five GTA transit projects, which will require a combined $28.5 billion, of which we are committing $11.2 billion. This is funding for five new transit infrastructure projects in the GTA, including the Ontario Line, the Yonge North extension, the Bloor-Yonge enhancement project, the three-stop Scarborough subway extension and the SmartTrack station program.

The Liberals are desperately trying to change the channel from their scandal-plagued government in Ottawa. Mr. Speaker, my message to Justin Trudeau is clear: Put your money where your mouth is. We want Justin Trudeau to join us in getting Ontario moving.

Government advertising

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Premier. Speaker, families watching the Raptors this week on TV had a lot to cheer for, but when the commercial breaks came they also had a lot to jeer, seeing that their money was wasted on the government’s latest partisan ad campaign.

Speaker, can the Premier tell us how much the taxpayers of Ontario are paying for the prime-time advertising spot?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Deputy Premier?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Greg Rickford: If there’s one thing that we know, the taxpayers are paying somewhere north of $3.5 million for the federal government to send postcards to everybody that they’d be getting a $307 net benefit from this job-killing, regressive carbon tax. Now isn’t that something, Mr. Speaker?

We heard from Air Canada that they have not even begun to see how much of an impact this tax is going to have on the price per ticket.

We were at a meeting last week down in Chatham—a great MPP down there, standing up for folks—and in our industrial conservation initiative consultations on the price of electricity, all the talk was about this job-killing carbon tax—why it’s contributing, for example, to the highest cost per kilogram of chicken for chicken farmers.

We won’t stand for that, Mr. Speaker. The people of Ontario deserve to know how much this tax is costing them.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The opposition has to come to order.

Supplementary question?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: The Premier and the minister seem to forget the money that pays for these ads is not their money. It belongs to the people of the province.

The same Premier who says that there’s no money to keep teachers in the classroom, to help children with autism or to end hallway medicine finds plenty of cash when it’s time to get his partisan campaign ads on the air. How can the Premier tell children with autism to wait for treatment or tell seniors who are in a hallway that that’s good enough for them while he’s authorizing multi-million-dollar ad buys for his own partisan purposes?

Hon. Greg Rickford: Last week, we had an opportunity to identify just exactly how much this tax was going to be costing health care in Essex, Mr. Speaker. Let’s take a look at Windsor West’s Ground Effects. They make automotive products here, and the estimated add-on by suppliers in 2019 as a result of this job-killing carbon tax is $1.5 million in 2019, aggregate to $3.9 million in 2022. Add on the $3.5 million that the federal government has spent to send their postcards around, I suspect the people in Essex are getting a little bit anxious about how much this tax is really going to cost them.

That’s why, Mr. Speaker, this question is sticking around. We’re going to make sure that at those pumps, there’s a sticker to remind the people of Essex and across the province of Ontario how much this job-killing, regressive carbon tax is costing them, their families, our businesses and our employers.

Forest industry

Mr. Ross Romano: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Our government is committed to making Ontario open for business and open for jobs. Across northern Ontario, thousands of Ontarians and their families depend on the forestry sector to put food on the table. The forestry sector harvests a truly renewable resource. Workers in this sector are excellent stewards of our natural resources, planting an average of 68 million trees every year through reforestation efforts.

Last week, the minister was in Timmins and Hearst meeting directly with industry and other stakeholders. Can the minister please update the House on what he is hearing from stakeholders, as we rebuild the forestry sector in Ontario?

Hon. John Yakabuski: I thank the great member from Sault Ste. Marie for the question. We had a great trip to Hearst and Timmins last week. It’s encouraging to see the great work being done as the sector continues to innovate.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to tour Columbia Forest Products’ plywood mill in Hearst where our government’s investment of $3.2 million over the next five years will help create and retain nearly 350 well-paying jobs in that community. Later in the day, I took

part in our final forestry round table with stakeholders from the broader forestry sector. This was the final one as we develop a new provincial forestry strategy, and I look forward to speaking more about the feedback we received from stakeholders in the supplementary. We are behind forestry in the Ford government.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. Ross Romano: Thank you to the minister for that excellent answer. I know that he has been working very hard on the development of a new provincial forestry strategy, having held round tables all across the province. After 15 years of the previous Liberal government favouring special interest groups and neglecting the hard-working Ontarians who make their living in the forestry sector, it is encouraging to see that the sector is confident in our government’s plan to make Ontario open for business and open for jobs.

Now that the forestry round tables have been completed, can the minister please update the House on what he has heard from the sector through the process of developing a new provincial forestry strategy?

Hon. John Yakabuski: I thank the member for the supplementary as well. We have heard from the forestry sector about how the previous government viewed their sector as a sunset industry that was on its way out. We believe that the best days for forestry are ahead.

We’ve heard of the crucial need for forestry access roads. I was pleased to announce earlier this year that we are continuing funding of $54 million a year for that program.

The biggest challenge facing this industry is access to wood, access to wood and access to wood—the three biggest problems. Our new forestry strategy that we develop is going to address that so that the forestry of tomorrow will be a forest industry that people’s children will be able to get good jobs in. We are not ignoring it. It is a great industry, and its best days are ahead of it if the government is doing the right things.

Legal aid

Ms. Sara Singh: My question is to the Deputy Premier. The cuts to Legal Aid Ontario will prevent the most vulnerable Ontarians from accessing justice here in our province. These cuts hit communities that struggle the most—individuals our province should actually be helping.

For example, the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, which serves clients across the province, including in my city of Brampton, worked on behalf of a client named Safia, a tenant who has had significant mental health and physical health disabilities. Her landlord was actually trying to evict her from her unit. Without legal support, Safia would have been evicted, leading to homelessness. But because of support through the legal aid clinic, Safia was able to stay in her unit, and the Landlord and Tenant Board ruled in her favour. They’ve actually modified her unit since then to accommodate her disability.

Speaker, why is the Premier making it impossible for Ontarians like Safia to receive the legal aid they need?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Over the last five years, Mr. Speaker, we saw the prior government spending more and more money without seeing the results that the people who need the services and the Ontario taxpayer should expect. We have to make sure that legal aid is focused on providing legal representation, to get legal advice to those people who need it, when they need it and where they need it.

Legal aid this year will have a budget of over $400 million, and even more if the federal government pays its fair share for the services that it’s responsible for.

Legal aid has also stated very clearly that front-line services will continue to remain strong, so people like Safia will be able to go to the South Asian Legal Clinic and get the services she needs.

Mr. Speaker, lawyers may not welcome this era of accountability at legal aid—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary question.

Ms. Sara Singh: The Premier has repeatedly promised that no job losses will happen to front-line services, but that simply is not true, despite even what the Attorney General is saying here in this House today. This province’s legal aid lawyers, legal workers and support staff now find their jobs actually on the chopping block, Mr. Speaker. Low-income Ontarians receive legal aid because of the work that these individuals do for the most vulnerable people here in our province.

Community legal aid clinics already operate on slim budgets, and they are running their operations as effectively and efficiently as they possibly can. Even minor budget cuts will mean job losses and reduction of front-line services, again, to the most vulnerable people here in our province.

Will the Premier reverse these cruel and devastating cuts to legal aid before it’s too late?

Interjection.

Ms. Sara Singh: He’s telling us no, so we’ll make sure we get that on the record. No, the Premier will not reverse the cuts.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear. Those people in Ontario who need and cannot afford legal representation will be able to continue to go to legal aid and get those front-line services. Our government is committed to ensuring that those legal services are there for those who need them, when and where.

The Ministry of the Attorney General is working very closely with legal aid itself, with clinics and with stakeholders across the justice sector to make sure that legal aid is providing legal representation in the most efficient way possible.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on legal aid. Ontario taxpayers now know that it’s being done in an efficient way while we are still ensuring that those who need legal representation will be able to get it.

Legal aid is doing great work to ensure that the clinic and the representation that people are seeking is available—and they will continue to do so. The NDP should stop telling people that they will not be able to get those services, because they will continue to be able to go to legal aid and get the legal representation they need.

Protection of privacy

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: My question is to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Last week, the minister announced at the open government summit in Ottawa the results of our government’s public consultation on our data strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard from many Ontarians about the importance of protecting their personal data, as we live in a world that is increasingly driven by the use of data. More than ever before, data is used not only by businesses, but also by governments, to ensure the public is receiving the services they need in a timely fashion.

Recognizing this, it is of paramount importance that our government develop a provincial data strategy that protects Ontarians’ privacy. I know that our government has been listening to Ontarians on this issue. Mr. Speaker, could the minister please outline the key findings of our government’s public consultation?

Hon. Bill Walker: Through you, Speaker, I want to thank my honourable colleague for his question and the great representation on behalf of the people of Mississauga East–Cooksville.

Our government recognizes that the tremendous economic potential of emerging data technologies needs to be balanced with thoughtful and robust protections for the privacy and personal data of all Ontarians. We believe that Ontarians deserve to know and consent to how their data is collected and used, and by whom.

Through public consultations on our government data strategy, we heard that 79% of respondents believe that data about people and businesses in Ontario need stronger protection. We heard that a majority of respondents indicated they would like the government to responsibly share more of its own data with businesses to help them create new jobs, products and services for Ontarians, and we heard a majority of respondents also believe sharing data among ministries will help streamline and improve interaction between citizens and government.

These results make it clear that while citizens understand the benefits of sharing data, our provincial data strategy must ensure personal privacy is paramount, and we are committed to doing just that to the best of our ability.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: I would like to thank the minister for his response. I’m very pleased to hear that our government is taking a proactive approach to protecting Ontarians.

The federal government has recently released their Digital Charter. It is disappointing that the federal government has taken their entire four-year mandate to take action on this important issue, one that took our government only 10 months to address.

One example that shows Canadians need clear rights and protection is smart cities. Smart cities are not new. In fact, they are being developed across Ontario, but these smart cities are moving forward without a policy framework. Last fall, the Auditor General reminded our government that a policy framework is needed to guide future development of smart cities in Ontario.

Could the minister outline our government’s smart city framework and how we will balance the needs of business and government while protecting Ontarians’ data?

Hon. Bill Walker: My colleague from Mississauga East–Cooksville raises a very important point: Smart cities are not new. In fact, they’re being developed across Ontario, including right here in Toronto. That is why we are developing a framework that will require smart cities and the companies that create them to:

—guarantee that Ontarians’ privacy and personal data are protected, managed responsibly and kept secure;

—put people first by ensuring that Ontarians are the primary beneficiaries and valued partners in the opportunities created by the project;

—create responsible and good governance systems that are democratic, accountable and transparent;

—enact leading best technical practices that ensure chosen technologies use open software and open standards, and are secure, interoperable, locally procured, flexible, durable and scalable; and

—educate the public on the risks associated with the project and provide meaningful opportunities for local residents to participate and engage in the creation of the smart city.

Mr. Speaker, this will ensure our province is open for business, while protecting Ontarians.

Conservation authorities

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: My question is for the Premier. Last week, the government put cuts to municipalities on the back burner, but as we speak, retroactive cuts to conservation authorities are still going ahead. The ravages of climate crisis are evident all around us, and conservation authorities are trying to respond to record flooding in our watersheds with less resources than they had before. These cuts put communities at risk.

When will this government reverse cuts to the Natural Hazard Management Grant project, protect communities, and increase funding for all the vital work that conservation authorities do?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I want to thank the member for her question. I guess that when they were lounging around the pool on the weekend, my Minister of Natural Resources was actually out working his back off with conservation authority officers. My minister decided to give me a call on—I believe it was Saturday, Minister? —and put me on the phone with two conservation officers—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Doug Ford: Can you hold my time for a minute?

Mr. Speaker, he called me up. I answered the phone, like I try to, no matter who calls. I pick it up, and it was the minister on the phone. He passed the phone to the two conservation officers. I spoke to each one individually. They are as happy as punch with this government. They thanked me profusely over and over again for doing the great work. We’re going to be getting more conservation officers. I’ll tell you, they absolutely love this government.

I love those conservation officers. They do a great job. They’re out there working hard—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary?

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: This is to the Premier as well: Conservation officers are not the same as conservation authorities. Conservation authorities have had their funding cut. I don’t know if you know the difference.

Another program that has been cut is the Summer Employment Opportunities youth employment program. Its funding has been cut by the Ministry of Natural Resources. This program helps conservation authorities employ and mentor youth, and young people gain relevant experience for their careers. Why did this government cut the youth employment program?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Natural Resources.

Hon. John Yakabuski: I thank the Premier for taking that call from my conservation officers the other day.

I say to the member: Thank you for the question, but we have spoken about this before. We have asked conservation authorities to focus on their core mandate, not the mission creep that they have brought upon themselves over the last number of decades. We have said, “Focus on why you were brought into this province in the first place.”

The province’s funding averages about 8% to conservation authorities of their total funding. In some cases it’s less than 2.5%.

But let’s talk about what has been going on in some of them. As the Auditor General pointed out, there was one conservation authority where their administrative spending went up by 48% while watershed services was down by 18%. That’s why we’re saying to conservation authorities, “Get back to what the purpose of why you were initiated in the first place. Concentrate on your core mandate and look for some savings”—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. That concludes the time for question period this morning.

Notice of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Davenport has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Education concerning the loss of teacher jobs. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has informed me that he has a point of order.

Hon. Steve Clark: Thanks, Speaker. I want to introduce to you and through you to members of the Legislative Assembly representatives from my Girls Government from the riding, along with representatives from Girls Inc. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Miss Monique Taylor: I wasn’t able to do some introductions earlier, so I beg your indulgence. Some autism parents and advocates are with us once again today: Angela Brandt, Amy Moledzki and her son Jacob, and Stacy Kennedy.

I would also like to give a warm welcome to some friends who have joined us from Simcoe North today. I know that one of my colleagues has introduced them already, but like I said, they’re friends: Elizabeth Van Houtte, Dennis Rizzo and Zoe Rizzo are the family of our page Ariana Rizzo, and they are joined by their friend Riley Marwick. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Don Valley North, on a point of order.

Mr. Vincent Ke: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My guests just came to the House. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no deferred votes, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1150 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Sara Singh: I would like to introduce—they will be joining us later in the gallery—a former professor of mine, Miriam Anderson, who teaches the women and politics course at Ryerson University. I was coincidentally also a teaching assistant in that course. She is going to be joined by 50 students from that class as well. They’ll be here to take in the proceedings but also chat with me and learn a little bit about my journey.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I am pleased today, as I table a private member’s bill, to welcome Brian Burnett, also known as Gazoo, from the Bikers Rights Organization. He’s their regional vice-chair. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Members’ Statements

Violence against Indigenous women and girls

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. This morning, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented their final report. I would like to thank and honour the thousands of people who came forward to share their truth-telling stories with the commission. I’m sure it was not easy for them to speak about their sisters, mothers and friends who were murdered or who disappeared and never came home. I thank you all for the advocacy.

What was heard over and over again, Mr. Speaker, is that Indigenous women and girls have been subject to colonial violence for generations. The policies of colonization and genocide that were imposed on our people are treated as normal. The inquiry clearly defines these policies as genocide. Over and over again, families and survivors shared their stories of genocide against Indigenous women and girls. Families turned to a system for help in achieving justice for their relatives, and there was no help.

I ask everyone to hear the calls for justice and honour them. I call on my colleagues and all Ontarians to speak out against racism and misogyny and to hold yourselves to account. Learn about the true history of Canada and Ontario. It’s not enough to accept the report from the inquiry and say that you will listen. Our people expect action and real systemic change. Meegwetch.

Gilbert Francis Whittamore

Mr. Paul Calandra: The life of Gilbert Francis Whittamore stands as an inspiration for all Canadians. His passing on May 19 serves as a reminder of how much difference a single life can make. An immigrant from England who served bravely in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Gilbert Francis trained as a pilot and flew for the Coastal Command during the Second World War.

Upon his return home to Canada, he graduated from the University of Guelph, where he studied agriculture. He went on to found Whittamore’s berry farm, the business that bears his name and operates even today. Over the decades, Whittamore’s has famously provided high-quality food products for sale, jobs for people in our community and a wonderful destination for families looking for fun together outdoors.

Gilbert Whittamore was a beloved individual and an iconic symbol of a generation of Canadians whose commitment, dedication and work ethic helped build a great province and a great nation. He was not just a soldier and a farmer, but an entrepreneur and an innovator. I hope young people across Ontario will continue to look to him and his accomplishments for motivation as they build their own lives and families.

He and his wife, Evelyn, raised four children. They remain an important part of our community in Markham–Stouffville.

I offer my condolences to Mr. Whittamore’s children, Mike, Frank, David and Katherine. It has been my privilege to know and work with Mike and Frank over the past decade. Gilbert and Evelyn had many wonderful grandchildren, including Zak, who was a great volunteer on my last campaign.

My thoughts go out to the Whittamore family for the services that they have contributed and will continue to contribute to our community.

Menstrual products

Ms. Marit Stiles: Menstruation is a normal biological function experienced by half of the population. Yet for too many students here in Ontario, a lack of access to menstrual products can lead to embarrassment, shame and missed days at school. Surveys have shown that 34% of people who menstruate have had difficulty affording menstrual products, and social attitudes and gender discrimination too often force young people to hide their menstrual products or lie about having their period.

For these reasons, the government of British Columbia has moved to ensure that all students can access free menstrual products in schools. Closer to home, the Waterloo Region District School Board has announced it will do the same, recognizing the real problem of period poverty.

I’m proud to have tabled a motion this week to tackle these issues, one that calls on the government of Ontario to provide free menstrual products in school washrooms. Today, I invite all members of the House to help put an end to the stigma and shame surrounding menstruation and to support student health and well-being here in Ontario.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #136—Milton

Mr. Parm Gill: Last weekend, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 136 in Milton celebrated their 90th anniversary. I’m a proud member of that branch and proud to have been able to take

part in the parade and ceremonies.

Branch 136 was chartered on May 21, 1929, and moved to their current location on Charles Street, downtown Milton, in 1939.

The celebrations took place on Friday through Sunday, starting with their traditional fish fry and karaoke competition, with a parade to the cenotaph on Sunday.

During the celebrations, I had an opportunity to meet with members who proudly served Canada, and I thanked them for their service.

Today, Branch 136 has close to 600 active members, all of whom uphold the Legion’s mandate, which is to protect the rights and interests of all veterans. Over the 90 years, this branch has contributed millions of dollars to community causes and can always be counted on to help organize or host community events. I’m proud that our government has committed to helping Legions across our great province so that they can continue to support our service personnel and their families.

I’d like to thank the branch president, Don Hipwell, and the volunteers and members who put together such a great celebration.

Climate change

Mr. Peter Tabuns: It’s becoming clearer that the unfolding climate crisis will affect us in ways and at times that we don’t expect. Just last week, the newly elected Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, had to cancel a speech celebrating his attack on climate action. The reason? The smoke from the climate-stoked forest fires north of Edmonton was too thick. Such irony, my friends; such irony.

Here in Ontario, for too long when we’ve talked about adapting to climate change, we focus on infrastructure: roads, buildings and bridges. All of that is fine, but it’s inadequate. Increasingly, the crisis with our climate is going to manifest itself in terms of health impacts: more lung disease, more heart disease, more invasive diseases like Zika and Lyme disease, and more psychological problems—anxiety, depression and addiction—because of the uncertainty of life and because people will be displaced. People will have to leave their homes because their homes are flooded or under threat of fire. We are going to have to change our health care system, not just our infrastructure.

It’s time for this government to act on the climate crisis and it’s time for this government to take account of the changes needed in the health care system to make sure that people are properly protected and looked after.

Filipino Heritage Month / Mois du patrimoine philippin

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Today, it’s a pleasure to rise to recognize June as Filipino Heritage Month, as recognized by the House of Commons on June 30, 2018.

Environ 340 000 Canadiens d’origine philippine habitent en Ontario. Ce mois est important parce que le 12 juin marque la journée de l’indépendance des Philippines.

I want to take a moment to thank Alicia Natividad, the president of my riding association in Ottawa–Vanier, for being a staunch advocate for the recognition of Filipino Heritage Month by the province and the Law Society of Ontario. I would like to add my voice to the calls for the province and the Law Society of Ontario to recognize this month as Filipino Heritage Month.

Ottawa’s Filipino population has grown 20%, and Tagalog is the fastest-growing language in Canada. We should be proud of all the contributions of our friends from the Filipino community. I had the pleasure to go and see them at the church, witness the great dances, dance a little bit myself, and was really happy to see and celebrate how much we owe them to be part of our great community.

Lansdowne Children’s Centre

Mr. Will Bouma: It’s my pleasure to rise in the House today and talk for a little bit about Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford. It’s truly a remarkable place that does remarkable things.

On Saturday, May 11, Brantford–Brant hosted the 15th annual charity motorcycle ride for Lansdowne Children’s Centre. Lansdowne provides services for 2,600 children with special needs in our community. The money raised through the ride helps to fund recreational and other support groups for these children.

It was certainly a sight to behold and hear: Over 300 bikers gathered at the civic centre and then, guided by a police escort, two by two they headed out. This year, a new one-hour route of approximately 75 kilometres was introduced, which passed by the Lansdowne centre, with supporters holding banners and cheering on the riders. It wove through Brantford, down into Caledonia and Hagersville, and then made its way back to Brantford, raising over $62,000 for this worthwhile cause.

A special thank you to everyone who rode, pledged, volunteered and sponsored. This yearly event pulls together the community in a wonderful way, involving businesses, volunteers and riders from both the riding and outside the riding with the common goal of helping children.

Correctional services

Miss Monique Taylor: Today I would like to bring attention once again to the ongoing crisis at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, which is located in my city. It’s been nearly 11 months since the coroner’s inquest into the overdose deaths of eight prisoners at the centre. Since this inquest, eight more have died and several more have been taken to the hospital for overdose treatment. Their families have had enough, and they’re demanding that this government implement the coroner’s 62 recommendations.

The families are increasingly frustrated with this government’s inaction—inaction that could cost more lives. All they want is to make sure that what happened to their loved ones does not happen to anyone else.

Let’s be frank, Speaker: We have a crisis in our communities. People do not have access to rehabilitation and other services that would help them overcome addiction. In the first six months of 2019, paramedics have responded to over 350 overdose calls. All of last year, they responded to 450 calls. Between May 20 and May 26, there were 38 suspected overdoses in Hamilton emergency rooms. This is a crisis.

There is no death penalty in Canada, but those who enter our correctional system seem to have easy access to opioids and no support system. Inmates or not, they still have a right to live with safety and dignity.

Seniors’ Month

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: In the month of June, we celebrate our seniors. Seniors are our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours. In Ontario, we are tremendously grateful for all the contributions our seniors have made and continue to make to our province and our country. They have worked so hard their entire lives to build our province up across all sectors, and even in their retirement, they continue to contribute generously of their time and provide great value to our society.

In my time as MPP, I have seen seniors working hard everywhere, volunteering at local hospitals, in not-for-profits, at cultural festivals and community centres, even in political campaigns. Some of my most avid campaigners were seniors, including Shirley and Dave Bray and Pani Lucyna Oswiecimska. My team would not have been the same without them.

This year’s Seniors’ Month theme is “Now’s the time to Start Something New,” which highlights how aging does not prevent any of us from leading fulfilling lives and how it is never too late to start a new project. During this month, we recognize our seniors for bringing great wisdom, knowledge and experience to everything that they do. Today, our province is home to 4.6 million seniors, and every day 400 more people become seniors in Ontario.

On behalf of the government of Ontario, I’d like to wish all seniors a happy Seniors’ Month.

Basketball

Mr. Stan Cho: It’s hard to believe it’s June—despite what the weather feels like outside. June is certainly a very busy month, and that’s the case in Willowdale, where our community is not just watching basketball; they’re gripped with Raptors fever, as is the case across the rest of this great country of ours.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the local YMCA where I grew up and my dad still takes his executive showers every morning—well, he calls it a workout, actually. I had the pleasure of playing basketball with some of the youth volunteers aged 18 to 24 who run really great programs at our local YMCA, helping some of the more vulnerable youth participate in sport. Through basketball, they’ve certainly kept a lot of the kids there busy and active, and that, of course, benefits them in the many parts of their daily lives.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 361 days, and I’ve certainly learned a lot in this Legislature, but I learned something that day playing basketball, and that is that I am not 20 years old anymore. I’ve got to tell you, these kids were dunking all over me, and it was really hard to watch. I’ve got to give a shout-out to them. We’re going to be having them in the Legislature when we resume. I want to say hi to them because I said I would, and I want to tell them to keep up the great work. It’s something truly special that they’re doing over there, and I’d like to thank them.

Of course, I’d like to also add: Go, Raptors, go. We got this. We’re going to game 7.

Introduction of Bills

Municipal Representation and Restructuring Protection Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 visant à protéger les municipalités contre des modifications en matière de représentation et de restructuration municipales

Ms. Horwath moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 121,

An Act to afford municipalities certain protections with respect to legislative changes affecting their Governance and Structure / Projet de loi 121, Loi offrant certaines protections aux municipalités en ce qui concerne les modifications législatives touchant leur gouvernance et structure.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I will ask the Leader of the Opposition to provide a brief explanation of her bill.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: This bill is more necessary than ever in the province of Ontario because it sets out a declaration by the province endorsing the principle that its relationship with municipalities should be based on mutual respect, consultation and co-operation.

The bill provides that the province shall not introduce legislation containing a provision that would result in changes to municipal representation or in municipal restructuring unless there has been public notice and public consultations in the affected municipalities, and the affected municipalities have passed bylaws approving the change.

The bill also ensures that regulations containing changes to municipal representation shall not be made under any act unless the same conditions of public notice and consultations and municipal approval are met.

Fairness for Road Users Act (Contraventions Causing Death or Serious Bodily Harm), 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur l’équité envers les usagers de la route (contraventions ayant causé un décès ou des blessures corporelles graves)

Ms. French moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 122,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to create an offence of contravention causing death or serious bodily harm / Projet de loi 122, Loi modifiant le Code de la route pour ériger en infraction le fait d’avoir causé un décès ou des blessures corporelles graves pendant la commission d’une contravention.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Will the member for Oshawa please give the House a brief explanation of her bill?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Thank you, Speaker. This bill amends the Highway Traffic Act. If a person causes or contributes to causing an accident which causes death or serious bodily harm and, at the time, the person was contravening the Highway Traffic Act or its regulations, then the person is guilty of an offence. The court may sentence the person to a fine of up to $50,000 or to imprisonment for up to two years or both. The court may also suspend the person’s driver’s licence or permit.

We all know bad things can happen on the roads when people violate the Highway Traffic Act. However, in the event that someone dies or is significantly injured, there is not a significant penalty that results. This bill increases penalties if someone on the road breaks a driving law and hurts or kills someone.

Motions

House sittings

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I move that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Jones has moved that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019, for the purpose of considering government business. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On division.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Carried on division.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): It is now time for petitions.

Petitions

Autism treatment

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Sara Kitlar-Pothier from the Northern Ontario Autism Alliance, who organized a petition blitz in Coniston. So all of those petitions are from people from Coniston in my riding, and they read as follows:

“Support for Autistic Children in Ontario....

“Whereas every autistic child in Ontario deserves access to evidence-based therapy so that they can meet their potential;

“Whereas the capped funding system is based on age and not the clinical needs of the child;

“Whereas the program does not ensure access to services for rural and francophone children;

“Whereas the new Ontario Autism Program does not provide additional funding for travel costs;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to ensure access to an equitable, needs-based autism services for all children who need them.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Richelle to bring it to the Clerk.

Injured workers

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: On June 1, we marked Injured Workers’ Day, so in honour of that I’d like to table a petition titled “Workers’ Comp is a Right.

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas about 200,000 to 300,000 people in Ontario are injured on the job every year;

“Whereas over a century ago workers in Ontario who were injured on the job gave up the right to sue their employers in exchange for a system that would provide them with just compensation;

“Whereas decades of cost-cutting have pushed injured workers into poverty and onto publicly funded social assistance programs that have gradually curtailed the rights of injured workers;

“Whereas injured workers have the right to quality and timely medical care, compensation for lost wages and protection from discrimination;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to change the Workplace Safety and Insurance to accomplish the following for injured workers in Ontario:

“Eliminate the practice of ‘deeming’ or ‘determining,’ which bases compensation on phantom jobs that injured workers do not actually have;

“Ensure that the WSIB prioritizes and respects the medical opinions of the health care providers who treat the injured worker directly;

“Prevent compensation from being reduced or denied based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ that never affected the worker’s ability to function prior to the work injury.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature to it and give it to page Jackson to send to the Clerks.

Homeopathy

Mr. Toby Barrett: My petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the government is creating a new super Ontario health system;

“Whereas the College of Physicians and Surgeons state, in increasing numbers, patients are looking to complementary medicine for answers to complex medical problems, strategies for improved wellness, or relief from acute medical symptoms. Patients may seek advice or treatment from Ontario physicians, or from other health care providers. Patients have the right to make health care decisions that accord with their own values, wishes and preferences. This includes decisions to pursue complementary/alternative medicine either as an adjunct to conventional medicine, or instead of conventional medicine;

“Whereas the results demonstrate that homeopathy can effectively integrate or, in some cases, substitute allopathic medicine;

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

“Petition in support of homeopaths, regulated health professionals mandated to be included in each and every team being created for the new Ontario health system.”

I sign this petition.

Education funding

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m pleased to present the following petition on behalf of my constituent Ligia Oliviera. It reads as follows:

“Stop Ford’s Education Cuts.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Doug Ford’s new education scheme seeks to dramatically increase class sizes starting in grade 4;

“Whereas the changes will mean thousands fewer teachers and education workers and less help for every student;

“Whereas secondary students will now be forced to take at least four of their classes online, with as many as 35 students in each course;

“Whereas Ford’s changes will rip over $1 billion out of Ontario’s education system by the end of the government’s term; and

“Whereas kids in Ontario deserve more opportunities, not fewer;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“Demand that the government halt the cuts to classrooms and invest to strengthen public education in Ontario.”

I support this petition. I’m happy to affix my signature to it, and I’ll be handing it along to page Gia to table with the Clerks.

Beverage alcohol sales

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I have a petition entitled “Bring Beer and Wine to Corner Stores (End the Beer Store Monopoly).

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the government for the people was elected on a mandate to make life more affordable for Ontarians; and

“Whereas currently the Beer Store is owned by multinational brewers not the government of Ontario as some people would believe; and

“Whereas the previous Liberal government handed these global giants a sweetheart deal putting multinational profits ahead of the people of Ontario; and

“Whereas the people of Ontario are responsible consumers and adults can be trusted to make responsible personal decisions;

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

“Terminate the current contract with the Beer Store global entities and expand beer and wine sales to corner and convenience stores.”

I will sign this and give it to page Patrick.

Indigenous affairs

Ms. Catherine Fife: This petition is not about beer. It is called “Stop the Cuts to Indigenous Reconciliation.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario is situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples, many of whom have been on this land since time immemorial;

“Whereas reconciliation must be at the centre of all ... decision-making;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—continue reconciliation work in Ontario by implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

“—reinstate the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation;

“—work with First Nations leaders to sign co-operative, government-to-government accords;

“—support TRC education and community development,” such as summer writing sessions for truth and reconciliation; and

“—support Indigenous communities across the province,” such as “cleaning up Grassy Narrows.”

It’s my pleasure to bring this petition to the floor of the Legislature, to affix my signature and give it to page Maisie.

Education funding

Mr. Paul Miller: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Doug Ford’s new education scheme seeks to dramatically increase class sizes starting in grade 4;

“Whereas the changes will mean thousands fewer teachers and education workers and less help for every student;

“Whereas secondary students will now be forced to take at least four of their classes online, with as many as 35 students in each course;

“Whereas Ford’s changes will rip over $1 billion out of Ontario’s education system by the end of the government’s term; and

“Whereas kids in Ontario deserve more opportunities, not fewer;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“Demand that the government halt the cuts to classrooms and invest to strengthen public education in Ontario.”

I agree with this and will affix my signature, and I will give it to Patrick.

Education funding

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: It’s my pleasure to read out a petition that came from a wonderful young leader named Cicely Campbell, a student at Westview Centennial Secondary School. It reads as follows:

“Whereas the vast majority of parents, students, and educators support smaller class sizes and the current model of full-day kindergarten and want the best education possible for the students of Ontario; and

“Whereas larger class sizes negatively impact the quality of education; reduces access to teaching resources and significantly diminishes teacher-student interactions; and

“Whereas the impact of larger class sizes will be particularly detrimental to students who need additional support; and

“Whereas Ontario has an internationally recognized public education system that requires careful attention and the investment to ensure all of our students can succeed;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to commit to reducing class sizes, maintain the current model of full-day kindergarten, and make the necessary investments in public education to build the schools our students deserve.”

I certainly support this, will be signing it and giving it to page Monica.

Education funding

Mr. John Vanthof: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas students in Ontario pay some of the highest tuition fees in the country and carry the heaviest debt loads, even with the recently announced 10% reduction; and

“Whereas many students will now be forced to take on more loans rather than previously available non-repayable grants; and

“Whereas the Ontario government has failed to take action on the chronic underfunding of colleges and universities; and

“Whereas students must have an autonomous voice that is independent of administration and government to advocate on our behalf; and

“Whereas the proposed ‘Student Choice Initiative’ undermines students’ ability to take collective action;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—provide more grants, not loans;....

“—increase public funding for public education;

“—protect students’ independent voices; and

“—defend the right to organize.”

I fully agree with the students from Nipissing University and other parts of Ontario, and affix my signature and give it to page Amelia to give to the Clerk.

Library services

Mr. Michael Mantha: I want to thank the good people of Gogama, Timmins, Sudbury, Azilda, Chelmsford, Mattagami First Nation, Chapleau, Milton, Cochrane, Petawawa, Kimberley, Flesherton, Priceville, Markdale, Neustadt, Durham and Pembroke.

The petition is entitled “Support Ontario Public Libraries....

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

“

(1) To reverse the 50% funding cuts to the Southern Ontario Library Service and Ontario Library Service—North agencies and reinstate provincial funding for these services to at least the 2017-18 funding level; and

“

(2) To maintain the operating grant funding for all Ontario libraries.”

I wholeheartedly agree with this petition and present it to page Sadee to bring down to the Clerks’ table.

Health care funding

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Krista Trafford from my riding for collecting those petitions. It reads as follows:

“Whereas during arbitration with the Ontario Medical Association, the Ontario government proposed to limit public funding for injection treatments provided in community clinics, for patients with chronic pain, to four injections per visit to a maximum of four visits per patient, per year;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to prevent the passage of this proposal by the Ministry of Health that will severely restrict the availability of this necessary medical treatment and may result in the closure of community clinics that treat patients with chronic pain.”

I will sign this petition and give it to my good page Patrick to bring to the Clerk.

Toronto Transit Commission

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to thank my constituents who signed this petition outside High Park station during a transit canvass one morning. It reads as follows:

“Keeping Transit Public: Stop the Subway Sell-Off.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the TTC has owned, operated and maintained Toronto’s public transit system since 1921; and

“Whereas the people of Toronto have paid for the TTC at the fare box and through their property taxes; and

“Whereas breaking up the subway will mean higher fares, reduced service and less say for transit riders; and

“Whereas the TTC is accountable to the people of Toronto because elected Toronto city councillors sit on its board;

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

“Reject legislation that allows for the breakup and sell-off of any aspect of the TTC to the province of Ontario, and reject the privatization or contracting out of any part of the TTC;

“Match the city of Toronto’s financial contribution to the TTC so transit riders can have improved service and affordable fares.”

As a transit rider myself, I couldn’t agree with this more. I affix my signature to it.

LCBO

Ms. Sandy Shaw: To the Legislative Assembly, I have a petition entitled “Support the LCBO.

“Whereas the LCBO in 2017-18 transferred dividends of $2.12 billion to the Ontario government, which were invested in the public services” that we care about, “like health care, highways and colleges...; and

“Whereas the LCBO is a socially responsible retailer that ensured the safety of our communities in 2017-18 by challenging” almost 14 million “transactions over concerns of intoxication, underage purchase or second-party purchase; and

“Whereas the LCBO raised $11 million in charitable donations in 2017-18 for MADD Canada, children’s hospitals, the United Way and local charities;

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

“To direct government to keep alcohol sales in public hands in order to protect our young people and communities and to ensure the profits are invested in our public services.”

We previously submitted this petition with 5,800 signatures. More are coming in. I fully support this. I will affix my name, and I will be giving it to Monica to take to the table.

Curriculum

M me France Gélinas: This comes from David Young from Garson, in my riding.

“Whereas the 2015 health and physical education curriculum was based on extensive province-wide consultation with parents, caregivers, educators, health and education experts;

“Whereas cancellation of the sexual health component of the 2015 health and physical education curriculum would place students at risk by withdrawing instructions on naming body parts and learning about responsible decision-making and consent, gender expression and gender identity, sexuality, sexual health, growth and development, LGBTQ issues and healthy views of body image;

“Whereas repealing the 2015 curriculum would not stop classroom issues arising for which students need factual, evidence-based and age-appropriate answers to support their understanding of healthy behaviour and healthy decision-making;

“Whereas the majority of parents support the 2015 health and physical education curriculum;

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the Minister of Education not repeal the sexual health component of the 2015 health and physical education curriculum.”

This comes from the Rainbow board in Sudbury and has 264 signatures.

Orders of the Day

Time allocation

Hon. John Yakabuski: I move that, pursuant to standing order 47 and notwithstanding any other standing order or special order of the House relating to Bill 115,

An Act to amend the Liquor Control Act with respect to the termination of a specified agreement, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill without further debate or amendment and at such time the bill shall be ordered—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I have to call the minister’s attention to this: He missed a clause that he was supposed to read.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

I recognize again the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Hon. John Yakabuski: Thank you, Speaker. It’s a good thing I have my glasses.

I move that, pursuant to standing order 47 and notwithstanding any other standing order or special order of the House relating to Bill 115,

An Act to amend the Liquor Control Act with respect to the termination of a specified agreement, when the bill is next called as a government order, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill without further debate or amendment and at such time the bill shall be ordered for third reading, which order may be called that same day; and

That, when the order for third reading of the bill is called, one hour shall be allotted to the third reading stage of the bill, with 20 minutes apportioned to the government, 20 minutes to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, 10 minutes to the Liberal Party independent members and 10 minutes apportioned to the Green Party independent member. At the end of this time, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and shall put every question necessary to dispose of this stage of the bill without further debate or amendment; and

That notwithstanding standing order 81(c), the bill may be called for third reading more than once in the same sessional day; and

That in the event of any division relating to any proceedings on the bill, the division bell shall be limited to 20 minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Yakabuski has moved government notice of motion number 65.

Further debate?

Ms. Jane McKenna: It gives me great pleasure to rise in this House today and speak in support of Bill 115, the Bringing Choice and Fairness to the People Act. Our government has tabled this legislation to improve alcohol choice and convenience for consumers and to create more opportunities for businesses, to stand up for the little guy and to keep more beer profits in Ontario, Madam Speaker.

As we have said repeatedly, during the election campaign as well as in government, the time has come to respect adult consumers. Our government remains committed to our promise to expand beer and wine to corner stores, big-box stores and more grocery stores. To do that, we need to get beer sales in Ontario out of the control of the Beer Store.

Bill 115, if passed and proclaimed, will terminate the previous government’s unfair agreement with the Beer Store. The end of this agreement will allow this government to expand alcohol sales across the province to corner stores and, more importantly, to more grocery stores, where people go to fill their refrigerators and pantries.

We are also committed to protecting the taxpayer and growing the economy. The unfair agreement with the Beer Store puts the interests of three large global breweries ahead of Ontario consumers, taxpayers and small businesses. It’s a bad deal for people in Ontario who want more choice and convenience, and it’s deeply unfair to businesses who want to compete in this sector.

The report prepared by Ken Hughes, Ontario Special Advisor for the Beverage Alcohol Review, helped inform our deliberations. It details the inconvenience and unfairness of the current system for everyday people. The report identified the agreement with the Beer Store and its private owners as the primary obstacle to achieving a more fair and convenient alcohol retail system in Ontario. I quote from the report:

“Many of the current challenges with alcohol retail in Ontario stem from the 2015 Master Framework Agreement signed by the previous government, the Beer Store and the three large global brewers who own it.... Because of it, many small businesses are shut out of alcohol retail, and the economic benefits that could come from an expanded market.”

Ontario’s government for the people is determined to improve choice and convenience. It is our hope that the multinational brewers who own the Beer Store will put the interests of the customers and Ontarians first and join with us as we build a modern system that opens up more places to buy beer. We would welcome their participation in creating a new model that also allows small businesses to grow and create jobs.

The facts speak for themselves, and most of us in this chamber are very familiar with them. First, the Beer Store is owned and controlled primarily by three large multinational corporations. Molson owns 51%, Labatt owns 45% and Sleeman owns 4%. Craft beer sales account for less than 2% of sales at the Beer Store—I couldn’t believe it when I pulled that stat up—but they make up over 10% of sales at the LCBO and over 15% at the grocery store. Madam Speaker, can you believe that? The Master Framework Agreement gives the Beer Store the exclusive rights to sell 12- and 24-packs in most of their local markets, forcing consumers to buy from the Beer Store if they want to purchase in bulk.

Ontario has fewer stores that can sell alcohol than any other province when compared against population size. There are over 8,000 retail stores in Quebec selling alcohol but fewer than 3,000 in Ontario. I’ve got to tell you that when I was pulling up these stats, I was just blown away. A recent report by the Retail Council of Canada suggests that simply by increasing the number of alcohol retailers to the national average, Ontario would see 9,100 jobs created. Let me repeat that: 9,100 jobs created. It also noted that, before taxes, the price of a case of 24 in Ontario is still 8.3% higher than in Quebec.

If this legislation passes, it means that we will be able to pick up a case of beer for a barbecue while we’re buying our burgers, buns and salad at the grocery store. Isn’t that unbelievable? This is about only having to make one trip to one store, saving your time and your money—and we all know how valuable our time is.

I would like to quote from Ken Hughes’s report because it’s very enlightening, especially for some members whose memory is perhaps not quite as long as mine:

“Ontario has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make meaningful change that will allow small businesses to flourish and create jobs while providing choice and convenience for the purchase of beverage alcohol. Over the past 92 years, successive governments have incrementally let rules, loopholes, institutions, and special interests develop a near-monopoly beer distribution system that primarily benefits a few larger brewers. Now is the chance to create a system built for the consumer, for the citizen, for the people.

“First, in the short term, we must create as many opportunities as possible using the flexibility we already have to allow businesses to provide choice and convenience by expanding the number of LCBO agency stores and allowing beverage alcohol to be sold in more grocery stores.

“Second, the citizens of Ontario have long suffered under an anti-competitive, anti-consumer beer distribution system controlled by some of the largest beer companies in the world. Nowhere else in the world is a consortium of the largest global brewers given effective control over 70% of the beer retail market, including the exclusive right to sell 12- and 24-packs. The system has been so advantageous to the big brewers that their Canadian subsidiaries, Molson and Labatt, have become integral and highly profitable parts of these global companies.

However, that near-monopoly has come at a cost to consumers in Ontario. It has severely restricted choice and convenience for consumers, and in fact, Ontario currently has the fewest number of outlets per capita selling beverage alcohol of any province in Canada. The current situation is not fair to consumers, or to smaller craft beer entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators....

“We have a great opportunity to celebrate, enhance”—

Ms. Catherine Fife: Point of order.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Stop the clock, please. I recognize the member for Waterloo on a point of order.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I note that we are debating the time allocation, and according to standing order 23(b)(i), the member must be speaking to the time allocation, the limitation of debate, not the actual bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Thank you for that point of order.

I’m going to remind the member from Burlington that you’re to be speaking to a time allocation motion, so try and tie your comments back to that, please.

Back to the member for Burlington.

Ms. Jane McKenna: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m just explaining why we have time allocation.

“These businesses help build Ontario’s identity and create jobs in many smaller communities. Together, these businesses are becoming a new powerhouse in many communities, right across the province.

The Beer Store “near-monopoly is made worse by the fact that in most TBS locations the shopping experience is virtually the same as it was nearly a century ago—the product is kept behind a wall and customers select from logos.” Despite a $100-million investment “since 2015, the overall customer experience remains virtually unchanged. Despite the shopping experience, consumers must go to TBS locations to return their empties and get their deposit back. Their exclusive rights to collect empties is inconvenient for consumers.

“Nowhere else in the world does a government give the biggest beer companies special privileges at the expense of consumers and the rest of the industry. The existing” Master Framework Agreement “negotiated by the previous government is a terrible deal for Ontario consumers and small businesses.” If we eliminate it by passing Bill 115, we can “save Ontarians hundreds of millions of dollars every year by creating more opportunities for one-stop shopping.

The Ministry of Finance estimates the value of time saved by being able to buy alcohol while shopping for other items could be up to $250 million per year.” I couldn’t believe that—$250 million per year. “Opening additional retail outlets would also make it easier for craft beverage manufacturers to connect with consumers,” grow their businesses “and create jobs....”

“The continued inconvenience and unfairness of Ontario’s beverage alcohol system is by design. For 92 years, Ontario’s system has been based on three fundamental beliefs: first, that the best way to reduce and prevent social harm and health risks related to alcohol consumption is to make purchasing and consuming alcohol awkward or inconvenient; second, a belief that adults can’t be trusted to make their own decisions around responsible alcohol consumption; and third, that private sector retailers, with the exception of a small group of insiders, do not have the capacity to balance market competition and social responsibility.”

I’m paraphrasing here now, because it’s important to be clear that it’s no longer okay to regulate and hassle people “for their own good” as it was in the mid-20th century. We “believe that the role of government isn’t to inconvenience the public and force everyday Ontarians to drive long distances to buy legal products that should be available closer to home.” We “believe that competition leads to healthier markets, and that the private sector has just as deep an interest in social responsibility as everyone else.” We also “understand that in 2019 there are better ways for governments to reduce the harm of alcohol consumption than giving a retail monopoly to a select few.”

This has been a sweet deal for too long, but in the spring of 2019, Madam Speaker, the beer monopoly era in Ontario is drawing to a close.

Today, the Beer Store “dominates Ontario’s retail landscape for beer. With 450 stores, TBS accounts for 70% of volume beer sales across the province”—70%. It also “limits the total number of new beverage alcohol outlets to 450.”

We, the people, are tired of the Beer Store’s approach to customer service and marketing. “Ontario’s 2015 review of beer retailing described the” Beer Store “customer experience as ‘basic.’ The Washington Post recently described TBS as having ‘all the charm of a cold-storage warehouse.’” That sounds about right. The reality is, we’ve become used to warehouse beer shopping.

The craft breweries, who are really disadvantaged by the Beer Store model, offer an interesting and vast variety of local alternatives. They are marketing their product in pubs and restaurants by educating servers about the quality and styles of beer. The result is, as craft beer becomes more interesting, the consumer is becoming more sophisticated.

By moving to a more open retail, the net impact would increase the provincial GDP by $3.5 billion annually. The Retail Council of Canada “further estimates that increasing retail outlets could potentially create up to 9,100 new jobs,” and this government has just—what is it?—175,000 that we’ve just—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Stop the clock, please. There’s a lot of side conversations going on on both sides of the House. I’m having a difficult time listening to the member who has the floor. I’m not sure how she’s even able to concentrate with the amount of noise going on. I’m also going to ask that all members stop with the crosstalk across the floor at each other. Thank you.

Back to the member for Burlington.

Ms. Jane McKenna: Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. I’ll just repeat the last line as I’m wrapping up here.

The Retail Council of Canada “further estimates that increasing retail outlets could potentially create up to 9,100 new jobs,” which I’m sure everyone in here is extremely excited about, “or 2.3 jobs per licensed store.”

The Beer Store no longer serves the interests of Ontario and, as such, we need to break the monopoly that is being enforced by the Master Framework Agreement.

Thank you so much for the opportunity in here today, and I look forward to continuing the debate.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Further debate?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Well, Madam Speaker, what do you say? This is just one of these debates. There are all kinds of pressing issues in this province that we need to deal with. For example, there are children out there who have lost their IBI therapy, right? There are things that we can turn our attention to and that we’re able to deal with so that we can make life better for individuals.

We’ve got reserves all across northern Ontario, and we have reserves in southern Ontario as well where you can’t drink the water out of the tap. We’re going to get fixated on making sure that we can make beer more available, and we have to use time allocation to get there? I just think this really speaks to the misguided thought of this government when it comes to what’s a priority.

If you wanted to move beer out of Brewers Retail and you wanted to put it into corner stores—which are not corner stores, which I’ll get to in a minute—that’s one thing. But there is a Master Framework Agreement that still has about seven years left to go on it and that is signed in such a way that says that if the Legislature tries to undo this agreement by way of law, by a legislative act or by way of regulation, they’re going to get sued.

And once you get sued, it’s not only through the master agreement, Madam Speaker; it’s also in regard to the various trade agreements that Canada is party to when it comes to Europe, when it comes to the United States and when it comes to the Pacific Rim.

All of these beer companies—the government is right: They’re multinational companies and they have redress under those trade agreements to be able to go after their losses. So we’re going to get sued by the multinational companies, and we’re going to have to pay somewhere—I don’t know. They’re saying it could be as much as $100 million, and we’re going to have to deal with redress through the various trade agreements, all so Mr. Ford can say, “Hey, everybody, look over here. We have beer. Don’t look at autism. Don’t look at what’s going on in hospitals. Certainly don’t look at what’s going on with water on reserves. Beer. Beer over here. Everybody look.” That’s what these—

Interjection.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I know. I’ve seen your posts. I’d be ashamed, my God. You’re beermongers. I don’t see anything wrong with beer. I like to drink a beer like anybody else.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): I’m just going to remind the member for Timmins that his comments go through the Chair and not directly across the floor.

Interjection.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Madam Chair, I was to speak about a beer; of course, I was going to speak about you. But my point is, I like a beer like anybody else, Madam Speaker, but there are far more pressing matters that this Legislature and this government have to pay attention to.

This is nothing but diversion. The government is trying to find something that they see as populist that is going to allow people to look at something else while they’re doing things like reducing funding to mental health, reducing funding to supports for children—not only IBI and ABA, but when it comes to various programs that fall under the Ministry of Health, such as smoking cessation. When it comes to t