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July 23, 2014

41st Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2014-Jul-23 (PDF)

L013 - Wed 23 Jul 2014 / Mer 23 jui 2014

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 23 July 2014 Mercredi 23 juillet 2014

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Ontario budget

Public sector compensation

Fiscal review

Fiscal review

Air ambulance service

Protection for workers

Services for the developmentally disabled

Taxation

Special education

Blood donation

Services for the developmentally disabled

Public transit

Infrastructure program funding

Health care

Visitors

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

York Region Holstein Club

Child protection

Canadian Sikh Association

Ontera

Winter highway maintenance

Newmarket Jazz Festival

Provincial election

Heritage conservation

Agincourt Junior Public School

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Introduction of Bills

Magna Carta Day Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 sur le Jour de la Grande Charte

Prohibiting Driving with Unlawful Handguns Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 sur l’interdiction de la conduite avec des armes de poing illégales dans le véhicule

Auditor General Amendment Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 modifiant la

Loi sur le vérificateur général

Petitions

Youth mental health

Gasoline prices

Legal aid

Credit unions

Alzheimer’s disease

Credit unions

Office of the Ombudsman

Home care

Credit unions

Wind turbines

Alzheimer’s disease

Orders of the Day

Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (Budget Measures), 2014 / Loi de 2014 ouvrant des perspectives et assurant notre avenir (mesures budgétaires)

Adjournment Debate

Jury selection

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Christine Elliott: I’d like to introduce and welcome three representatives from the Canadian Sikh Association who are here with us today for a reception: Manohar Singh Bal, Sukhdev Singh Gill and Abnash Kaur Kang. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s a great pleasure to introduce Neville Britto and Sanjjey Jegathesan, and also Gazal Amin. These are the interns from my office. Please join me in welcoming these young people.

Mr. Yvan Baker: I have the honour of introducing a couple of young men today. Domenic Bitondo, whom many of you know, is an intern at LCSB—he’s from my riding of Etobicoke Centre, an organizer of youth in the riding—and his brother Mathew Bitondo. Welcome.

Mrs. Kathryn McGarry: Good morning. It’s my honour to introduce my EA from the Cambridge riding, Cassandra McKenna, who’s my executive assistant.

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I have the honour of welcoming here to Queen’s Park my husband, Germinio Pio Politi, and his mother, Ada Politi, who is visiting here from Italy. Benvenuti.

Ms. Harinder Malhi: I would like to welcome members of the Canadian Sikh Association to Queen’s Park today. We have with us Mr. Pritpal Singh Chatha, Mr. Gurmail Singh Nirman, Mrs. Amrit Kaur Gill and Jenny Gill, who will be joining us later.

The CSA will be hosting a reception in room 230 today from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for all MPPs. Everyone is encouraged to drop by and meet the members of this group.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I’d like to introduce my new LA—I’m delighted to have her here—Raly Chakarova. She was also my campaign manager for the nomination contest. Welcome, Raly.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m pleased to introduce Evan Walman; I’ve known his father for many, many years. He’s an intern with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure. Welcome, Evan.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I’d like to introduce two interns from my office at the Ministry of Labour, Khawla Nakua and Alex McKeen.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I’d like to welcome Allison Williams from the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance; Alastair Woods, Anna Goldfinch and Kaley Kennedy from CFS-Ontario; Najiba Sardar and Sandy Hudson from U of T student council; Josh Mandryk from Students Against Unpaid Internship Scams; and labour lawyer Andrew Langille, who will be joining us shortly, and who have come to Queen’s Park today for my press conference this morning.

Oral Questions

Ontario budget

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. Today your budget bill comes up for third reading, but Premier there is a giant loophole, one that you had a chance to close yesterday at committee but chose not to: the Trillium Trust Act, which will put proceeds from government assets sales, first, into general revenues, not directly into the trust. There’s no guarantee that any money will ever make it to the trust and not be used just to offset your deficit. Once you sell an asset, only you, without this Legislature ever knowing, gets to decide whether that money is “qualified” to go into the trust, and if so, how much will actually ever make it into the trust.

We brought amendments that would increase the transparency and reporting of asset sales. Premier, why did your government vote against the amendments for openness and transparency?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Minister of Finance is going to want to talk about the technicalities of the Trillium Trust, but let me just say this: We are committed, and have been committed from the time that we introduced the plan—and in fact before—to building transportation infrastructure, including transit. We have committed to creating trust funds so that the people of Ontario will know how much money is going into transit and transportation infrastructure building, and how that money is being spent. We’ve committed $29 billion: $15 billion for the greater Toronto and Hamilton area and $14 billion for outside of the greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

I am pleased that the member opposite is showing an interest in building transit. I hope that means that maybe he’ll support the budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Sadly, Premier, your handling of the gas plant money gave us one billion reasons not to take your word for it.

Let’s run through this again: First, you sell an asset, but only you decide, with criteria unknown to anybody else, whether that asset is qualified to go into the trust. Then, according to the act, you “may” require, not “must” require, a portion of the proceeds, not all of the proceeds, to go into the trust. There is nothing to stop you from simply diverting that money into reducing your deficit, and we’ll never know about it. That’s why we asked for an amendment that has the Auditor General identify how the money from the sale of assets is distributed. Premier, why did you instruct your committee to vote against our transparency?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: It’s pretty rich to hear a member from the opposition talk about transparency, especially when they sold the 407 for pennies, without any revelation.

In our budget, we have a

chapter dedicated to transparency and accountability, and we’ll continue to do exactly what’s necessary to advise the public of what it is that we’re doing. We’ve already stated that any sale of assets—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Too much noise on all sides.

Please finish.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, come to order.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we will continue to provide that openness and transparency in the work that we do. We have made it clear that whatever is being reviewed and assessed will be made public. We’ve already dedicated—and we’ve said that we will dedicate—all those to the Trillium Trust to be used specifically for transportation and infrastructure. We’ll continue to do what’s in the best interests of the public and the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Premier, yesterday your members voted against the open and transparent sale of those very assets. Look, let’s be clear: We’re not against the sale of assets, but we’re against using one-time money to pay for your operating expenses.

Yesterday, the Liberals told the committee that bringing in the Auditor General was “redundant.” This is the same Auditor General’s office that discovered and revealed to this Legislature the Liberals’ abuse of another file: the debt retirement charge. We learned that back in 2004, $4 billion more was added to the debt without being disclosed until 2012, a full eight years later—and we’re still paying for that today. That money went straight into general revenue to artificially lower your deficit. Is that what you’re going to do with the Trillium Trust fund? Is that why you voted against transparency?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, the debt retirement charge was a product of that party. They left us a legacy of billions and billions of dollars because of an electricity scheme that went awry, that the public has had to pay for—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. I’ve said it a second time now, and that is, the noise is coming from all sides while the answer’s being given and the question’s being put. I will now move to warnings direct, and then after that it’s naming.

Please finish.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, as a result of those mistakes, the very issues the member’s speaking about, we have made corrections and we’re continuing to do. We have put in place in this budget accountability measures. We’re making it more transparent. Each of these situations has different circumstances by each transaction. There are different types of assets that are involved in this type of accounting treatment—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Timmins–James Bay is warned.

Hon. Charles Sousa: So we will disclose and indicate exactly what we’re doing. The member opposite and his party did not do that, Mr. Speaker. We are the ones who imposed those transparency measures. We’re the ones who are being held accountable. The C. D. Howe Institute and others have indicated the integrity—

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

New question.

Public sector compensation

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Speaker, my question is to the Premier. With troublesome economic indicators on the horizon, such as the negative outlook by credit rating agencies and upcoming labour negotiations under the cloud of a $12-billion deficit, could the Premier tell us which is her priority: Avoiding labour strikes at all costs or meeting her deficit reduction targets?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The reality of governing is that there are complexities that mean that it’s not either/or, Mr. Speaker. You don’t choose between making sure we have an excellent education system or that we have good working partnerships with the people who are in our schools: the teachers, the support staff, the administrators with the school boards. We don’t choose between that and making sure we meet our fiscal targets; we have to do both. Our plan lays out our path to do exactly that, to do both of those things and to do them in a balanced way.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I lack the Premier’s confidence in her balancing skills. It’s clear, with the Metrolinx 8.5% wage hike precedent, that further negotiations with teachers and doctors this fall will be hampered, probably compromised, similar to a Frito-Lay commercial: “If I give one to you, I have to give one to everyone else.” It’s clear that they can’t meet their spending targets while increasing—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is warned.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: —compensation. They like to talk about net zeros over there, but I ask the Premier: What does net zero compensation actually mean to her? Is it higher pay with fewer workers? Is it higher pay with fewer benefits? Is it higher pay with less services, or will the Premier just admit that it really is just a higher pay that Ontarians are going to have to pay for because it will need a higher deficit, with no real, clear spending priorities or reductions priorities in place.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, there are some fundamental differences that underlie the question that the leader of the—the leader?—the member of the opposition—

Interjections.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Sorry about that.

Interjections.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Who knows?—that the member opposite is asking, Mr. Speaker. One of those fundamental differences between us and them is this: We believe in the collective bargaining process. We believe that it should be respected, and we believe that it is the best way for the agreements to be put in place. So that collective bargaining process will be honoured by us.

Having said that, we have been very clear that there is no new money for those settlements. There’s no new money for benefits, salaries or wages. So those collective bargaining processes will take place within the funding that is in place, as they did in the Metrolinx situation.

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: What the Premier fails to mention is that there are always consequences to these higher pay increases. If the government, through Metrolinx, can give an 8.5% wage hike to workers while talking about “net zeros,” it means either raising fees on riders or cutting from somewhere else in their budget, possibly from other services, or, finally, that the deficit will increase. Similarly, with teacher contract negotiations due this fall, a 2% increase for elementary teachers will either come with a cut elsewhere in education, bigger class sizes and/or fewer teachers or, again, the deficit will increase.

Given the Liberal priority is waving the white flag on wage freezes, will the Premier admit she is not interested at all in meeting her deficit reduction targets and Ontarians are going to be paying higher taxes as a result of it?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Well, that’s just not true. I am very interested in meeting our deficit targets, Mr. Speaker, and we will do that.

The priority of the party opposite is to enter into conflict with organized labour. That is a starting point for them. That’s a fundamental belief, that that is a good way to govern. We saw it when they were in office previous to 2003. We saw it during their campaign. They believe that having disruptive, conflicted relationships with the people who deliver health care and education and the services that people need in this province—they believe that that is the way to go.

We don’t believe that, Mr. Speaker. We believe that transforming systems, the work that has been done in health care to provide for better and different delivery of service—that is the focus of our government. Those kind of transformations, as well as continuing to have good working relationships with the people who deliver those essential services in Ontario.

Fiscal review

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. For weeks, the Premier has refused to answer questions about her asset sales and her cuts to public services. So far, the Premier has also refused to allow an independent review of her fiscal plan, the very same independent review that she supported in 2004 and since, Speaker. She’s choosing to ignore the fact that only in election years can the auditor review the government’s estimates, assumptions and projections, and report to the public on whether the fiscal plan is reasonable or whether it is not. Will the Premier tell us why she believes every election budget needs independent oversight except her own?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I’ve answered every one of the questions that the leader of the third party has put to me, and I will say again that we were on track to have that review of our budget. The NDP in particular decided that they did not support the budget and plunged us into an election, Mr. Speaker. That was the choice of the third party and the opposition. So we went into an election.

We brought the plan that we had introduced at the beginning of May in our budget. We have reintroduced that budget. The Auditor General, as we speak, is looking at the finances of this province, and her report will be tabled in the fall.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. I will make mention of this only once, as a sidebar to my other comment about warning somebody: The debate that goes on at the back between questions will stop. If it doesn’t, you’ll be warned. And you can point your finger all you want; you’ll be included.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): And I advise the member from Hamilton East–Stoney Creek to pay attention this way and not to the person invoking you.

Next, please.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, the Premier is remarkably adamant that she will stand in the way of fiscal transparency and actually prevent an independent review of the fiscal plan by the Auditor General. Now that she’s in charge, she sees no need for a public report by the auditor on this year’s election budget.

If the Premier won’t allow a public review, Speaker, will she at least tell the House whether the Auditor General has been privately consulted about any of the details in her fiscal plan?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, the leader of the third party is remarkably adamant, and was remarkably adamant, that she was going to stand in the way of a budget that would put money into eliminating wait-lists for developmental services, would put more money into the hands of personal support workers, would put more money into the hands of municipalities for housing.

What I’m adamant about is that we do all of those things, that we actually make those investments that are necessary, including in transit and transportation, which the leader of the third party has also been adamant that she will stand in the way of.

Our plan has been laid out for the people of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We were on

schedule to have a pre-election audit. The opposition and the third party decided that we would have an election. The Auditor General is writing her report, and our plan is open and clear for everyone in the province to see.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, families have a right to know whether their government is making prudent and reasonable assumptions about the province’s future state of affairs. That is pretty basic stuff. That’s pretty basic when it comes to transparency and accountability. They have a right to know, Speaker, because the services that they rely on are at stake, services like public transit.

Will the Premier confirm that the Ministry of Finance is working with the Auditor General to address concerns surrounding the treatment of gas tax revenues for transit?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, all of our ministries work with the Auditor General as she makes inquiries and asks questions. The Ministry of Finance is absolutely no exception.

The fiscal plan that we put forward is the fiscal plan that the NDP ran on. It was the foundation of their platform. What I believe is happening right now is that the leader of the third party is looking for any reason she can find, she’s grasping at any straw to justify why she will not support a budget that will put more money into the hands of the people who are most vulnerable in this province.

She is looking for a reason not to vote for the budget that will put money into the hands of personal support workers who are among our lowest-paid workers and our most valued in terms of transformation of the health care system. She’s looking for an excuse not to support a budget that will put $810 million into developmental services—

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

Fiscal review

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. The need for an independent review by the auditor is becoming more and more clear every time the Premier tries to brush off our concerns. If there are any discussions going on between this government and the auditor about the numbers and how those numbers shape up, it is the responsibility of the Premier to be open and frank with the public.

I remember this Premier used to talk about that all the time, Speaker. It seems that she forgot that that was one of her fundamental beliefs in the past.

Will the Premier inform this House whether the Auditor General has contacted or been contacted by the Ministry of Finance concerning the accounting methods being used for transit funding, and if so, when will the public be told about the auditor’s concerns?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Just to the question on the gas tax, the two cents on the gas tax that is dedicated to transit across the province—it’s about $320 million a year. That is dedicated funding that goes to municipalities according to ridership and population. That formula has been in place for a number of years and it remains in place. Actually, I don’t understand the concern on the part of the leader of the third party about this, because we are committed to keeping that gas tax funding in place.

If she is so concerned about our fiscal plan, she maybe should go back and reread page 2 of her own platform. What that said was, “We will balance Ontario’s books by 2017-18 with significantly more fiscal space than the Liberal plan.” Then, it goes on to say, “Our plan will provide an additional fiscal cushion of over $700 million annually.” Mr. Speaker, they based their plan on our plan and then they went further. They said—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, every time the Premier refuses to answer a straightforward question, she raises even more doubts about the prudence of the assumptions behind her austerity budget. That is the bottom line, because if the actual budget truly reflects the story that the government tells, then the Premier should be welcoming the auditor’s oversight with open arms. It begs the question, what reason could possibly be there to explain why the Premier is so determined to avoid public review of the numbers behind her fiscal plan?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I do welcome the Auditor General’s questions. I welcome her scrutiny at any point, in any one of our ministries. I believe that the Auditor General’s work is extremely important to the functioning of government and the improvement of government and its delivery of services. So I welcome the scrutiny of the Auditor General.

The fact is that Standard and Poor’s just this week has said that “Ontario’s financial management is strong, in our view. The level of transparency and disclosure in its financial statements is high: notes and schedules provide detailed information about core government, agencies and boards, and business enterprises. The independent Auditor General audits the province’s financial statements.” That’s an ongoing process, Mr. Speaker.

The Auditor General’s report will be tabled in the fall. As I say, I welcome that scrutiny.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Yesterday the Premier said that she actually doesn’t think that Dalton McGuinty’s transparency and accountability measures are too good for her own government. That’s a relief. But it also means that the Premier needs to stop dragging her heels on an independent review. The former Premier ensured his fiscal plans received independent oversight in election years, even in 2011, when the auditor raised serious doubts about the government’s assumptions. Will the Premier simply follow her mentor’s lead and request an independent review of her fiscal plan by the Auditor General to be made public before the end of this year?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, the report of the Auditor General will be tabled in the fall.

The leader of the third party made a comment earlier about what I used to or didn’t used to talk about. Here’s what the NDP used to talk about. The NDP used to talk about issues like poverty, so increasing the child benefit would have been something that they would have supported in the past. They used to talk about the need for increases in social assistance benefits, so they would have supported a budget, conceivably, that included those increases, as our budget does.

They used to talk about the need for a systemic approach to dealing with developmental services, so they would have supported a budget that included $810 million for developmental services. They used to talk, just as recently as in the election campaign, about the need for expansion of student nutrition programs, so you would have thought they would have supported a budget that included $20 million for that expansion.

The leader of the third party is looking for any reason not to support our budget—

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

New question.

Air ambulance service

Ms. Christine Elliott: My question is to the Minister of Health. Minister, as you know, Ornge air ambulance has been charged with 17 offences under the Canada Labour Code. These charges are as a result of the May 31, 2013, crash that claimed the lives of four dedicated Ornge employees, which occurred under your government’s watch after appointing new leadership.

Minister, the documents show that the pilot of the flight was “without adequate training in the operation of that specific aircraft” and that Ornge failed to provide the pilots with “a means to enable them to maintain visual reference while operating at night,” even with repeated warnings dating back to September 2012. As a result, Ornge is now being charged with failure to ensure employee safety.

Minister, there are still clearly systemic problems at Ornge that your government has failed to correct. What are you going to do to make sure that Ornge employees and their patients are travelling safely on Ornge aircraft?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know the member opposite appreciates, because there is a process under way that involves the potential of or the real issue of court action, that it would be inappropriate for me to speak about those details. But I am happy, and in fact I’m very proud, to speak of the progress that’s been made by Ornge over the past number of years on a whole set of issues.

I want to give my commitment to the member opposite that we have been and we are and we will continue to work on virtually all of the recommendations that have been put forward by the various entities in terms of continuing to improve the performance of Ornge. We need to remember those hard-working individuals who perform such a vital function every single day.

Whether it’s on issues concerning governance of Ornge, we’ve put steps into place for increasing government oversight; we have a very strong board in place which has made exceptional progress over the last number of years that I’m happy to speak to in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Christine Elliott: I would say to the minister that this is a very serious issue. Four people have died, and now Ornge is facing some very serious charges, so clearly whatever changes you have made haven’t worked. We need to make sure that these people are going to be kept safe.

Despite opposition inquiries and a committee investigation into Ornge, the previous Minister of Health insisted to this House on numerous occasions that everything was fine. In fact, on April 19, 2013, less than two months before the crash, the minister stated that “Ornge is a much, much stronger organization now: new leadership, new protocols” and so on. However, these protocols clearly failed to protect Ornge employees and their patients.

Major changes need to be made at Ornge to make sure that no more lives are lost. In fact, even a few weeks ago, there was a potential incident involving a near miss near Ottawa. Minister, can you tell us specifically what you are prepared to do to ensure that Ornge employees and their patients are travelling safely?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, I was, as were all members of this Legislature, absolutely devastated to hear of that tragedy just over one year ago, when two pilots and two paramedics regrettably lost their lives in that tragic incident. To this day, our hearts and our thoughts go out to the families, the friends and the colleagues of those four individuals who unfortunately perished.

I again want to indicate to the member opposite, and I know this is an issue which is important to her as well, that we take the recommendations before us very, very seriously. We take these charges very seriously as well, as does Ornge and their leadership.

I have to also point out that before this tragic incident, as well as subsequent to that, we have been working very closely with Transport Canada on a number of measures not just to improve patient safety and the overall performance of Ornge, but particularly, as was demonstrated by this case, to ensure the safety of the workers at Ornge.

Protection for workers

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Minister of Labour. Yesterday, I introduced a private member’s bill, the Greater Protection for Interns and Vulnerable Workers Act, that was first introduced by my former colleague Jonah Schein.

I want to make it clear that this bill goes significantly beyond the rather weak measures included in your Bill 18. For example, one provision of my bill requires that employers notify the Minister of Labour when they bring in interns, and clearly spell out expectations, such as job description and hours of work.

There is no reason for the continued exploitation of unpaid interns in this province, so I ask the minister, will this government be supporting my bill?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: It’s a pleasure to rise on this important issue, and I thank the member for her question.

Let me be very, very clear right from the start. It doesn’t matter what your job title is, it doesn’t matter what your position is: If you perform work for somebody in the province of Ontario, you’re covered by the Employment Standards Act and you deserve to be paid. There’s a very narrow exemption for those people who are enrolled in educational institutions, co-op students or the self-employed or trainees. But certainly, if you’re performing work for somebody in this province, you deserve to be paid.

We have proactive enforcement on this issue. We have been out to a number of employers. We have talked to the post-secondary institutions. We’re making sure the people in the province of Ontario understand that we are very, very serious about this issue, that we’re going to continue the inspections and that we are going to ensure, as I said from the start, that if you work in Ontario, you get paid in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: In response to the exemptions, I wanted to point out that another measure in my bill would bring in co-op students, interns and other trainees who are currently exempted under the Employment Standards Act so that they would be entitled to some basic workplace protections. Too many workers are exempted from the Employment Standards Act, and this provision takes a small step to close those loopholes.

My bill is supported by students and labour law experts. So I ask again, will this government support my bill and end the exploitation of unpaid interns in Ontario?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, the bill will make its way through the House like every other private member’s bill, but let me tell you, in the last term of government, before that party caused the election, Bill 146 was before this House, which would have extended coverage to co-op students. We’ve reintroduced that now as Bill 18, so it’s back on the books again.

I want to tell you, though, that on average the Ministry of Labour receives just over 18,000 employment claims each year. We’ve got 150 employment standards officers who are carrying out proactive inspections, and they investigate claims on all types of violations, including internships.

I want to also tell the people out there who are watching on TV and the people who are in the chamber that if they have a concern with internships, there is a hotline: 1-800-531-5551. Call that number and we’ll investigate.

Services for the developmentally disabled

Ms. Daiene Vernile: This question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Minister, the Select Committee on Developmental Services tabled its final report to the House yesterday. This committee’s job is to tell us about the developmental services system and the coordination of supports for people in our province with developmental disabilities.

I have met with many of these families in my riding of Kitchener Centre and I can tell you that we were very pleased to learn that this committee was re-struck and that the House has now received its very important recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, there are many people who are very interested in hearing from the minister on her views of the committee and its work. Could she please share that with us?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: To the member for Kitchener Centre, thank you for that question. First of all, I would like to acknowledge the excellent work by the members from all sides of this House on the Select Committee on Developmental Services. I think it’s very clear that when we put partisan ideology aside and we work together in the public interest, we can come up with some very, very strong recommendations. That is exactly what this committee has done.

Also, of course, I’d like to thank all the people who made submissions, both in person and written submissions. They were very thoughtful, and clearly there is a sense of urgency in the community that we need to address the concerns.

Many of the issues that were raised in the report were issues of which my ministry was very well aware. In fact, my predecessor, the Honourable Ted McMeekin, did put a lot of pieces in place to address these issues, including, of course, the $810 million over the next—

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

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Thank you, Minister. It’s very encouraging to hear that you and your officials welcome this report and that the recommendations are being considered.

In the budget which was tabled last week, you mention this unprecedented infusion of $810 million for developmental services, and that by 2016-17 these new funds are going to climb to over $2 billion for developmental services.

Money alone is not enough to deal with the urgent needs and challenges that the developmentally disabled and their families have to deal with every day. Along with the funding, could the minister please inform this House of the actions that she is taking to continue the work of strengthening developmental services in Ontario?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Thank you, again, to the member for the question. Of course, as she has explained, certainly the $810 million over three years is not the whole story. Investments are important, but our government understands that addressing the significant issues facing families is not just about more funding.

That’s why I’m very pleased to announce that we will be convening a housing task force in the very near future to recommend innovative housing solutions for a broader set of residential options for people with developmental disabilities. We are also talking with staff at Developmental Services Ontario about some of the practices that they have introduced that are particularly positive.

I think it’s worth recognizing that we do have some 18,000 adults receiving residential supports at this point in time here in Ontario and there are more than 15,000 who receive direct funding through the Passport Program. So while we have serious issues, we also need to find our best practices in this regard.

Taxation

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Minister, Ontario used to be “Yours to Discover,” but that won’t be the case for much longer with your government’s decision to increase the province’s aviation fuel tax by 148%.

The National Airlines Council of Canada projects that this tax increase will drive away 400,000 more air travellers and greatly impact hotels, restaurants, travel agents and tour operators, among others who support this industry. Minister, do you have any idea how many jobs that will cost those working in the tourism industry?

Hon. Michael Coteau: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I think the member opposite also recognizes that in order to promote tourism, economic growth and the vitality of our province, we must make those investments in infrastructure, investments in things that will make us competitive. They want to make certain that we have an air-rail link from Union Station to the airport. They want to make certain that we eliminate gridlock, which is costing $6 billion annually. They want to make certain that when we attract tourists they have the availability and the ability to see the province in all its glory.

In so doing, we are raising aviation tax by one penny per litre. That is modest in comparison to the lion’s share of taxes and services and fees that are being charged by the federal government. I would recommend the member opposite talk to Lisa Raitt and the federal government to reduce their taxes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Minister, I guess the shuffle to Buffalo will just increase.

In 2012, British Columbia, as part of its jobs plan, and despite facing budget constraints, actually decided to eliminate its fuel tax on international flights to attract new services and create new jobs. And it has worked. They have 22 airlines adding new flights out of Vancouver while injecting millions into the BC economy. Each new daily international flight creates between 150 and 200 new jobs, and another 400 jobs are created in hotels, restaurants and other businesses. The proof is in the numbers.

Your government’s proposed tax increase will threaten at least 3,000 jobs. Will you commit today to stop this needless tax hike until you study the full implication that the job losses will have on the tourism industry? Do that today, Minister.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have a comparison between Ontario and the Ontario airports—the major one being, of course, Pearson international airport—compared to the other international airports around the world, and Ontario continues to be more competitive than they are. We will continue to do so.

This hasn’t changed since 1992, but when you look at the tax that we’re talking about—2.7 cents—versus what is being paid in London, at 69 cents, or Paris, at 54 cents, or New York, at—

Interjections.

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

The member from Nepean–Carleton is warned.

Finish, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Compared against Chicago and even other provinces, like Manitoba. Ontario will still be more competitive than they are.

But, again, the member opposite talks about balancing the budget, making certain that we take the necessary steps to increase our revenue where possible to invest in those things that matter. That is the balanced approach that we are taking.

The member opposite should also—again, talk to your federal cousins, who are saying to increase our revenues and take advantage of those things that we can to improve our bottom line. That’s exactly what we are doing. Again, talk to your cousins and get them to—

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member is taking a tightrope walk.

New question.

Special education

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question to the Minister of Education: Under the Education Act, the minister is required to “ensure that all exceptional children in Ontario have available to them ... appropriate special education programs and special education services.” But parents of kids who require special education still find themselves fighting every day to get supports their children need. Too often, despite the best efforts of staff, our education system fails to provide appropriate assistance that these children require. Will the minister tell parents why this government is failing to ensure all schools can meet the special education needs of Ontario students?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Of course we are committed to making sure that special-needs students all over the province are receiving special education services. In fact, as the member has noted, boards are actually required to provide special education services for those who are identified.

It might be interesting to note, Speaker, that actually boards go beyond in their provision of special education services, actually go beyond those who have been formally identified and provide special education services for many students who haven’t been formally identified, simply because the teacher and the principal have identified a need. In fact, our records show that about a third of the students in the province who are receiving special education supports are doing so without formal identification because the principal recognizes the need.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, the ministry has a legal obligation to ensure that special education programs and services are available to students when and where they need them. Parents shouldn’t have to fight just to get the services that they’re legally entitled to. And, in spite of what the minister says, far too many parents continue to be told that their local school boards just don’t have the resources to provide the special education supports their children need. Will the minister tell the House exactly how many schools are currently not able to meet their legal obligations to provide these special services?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’m actually very pleased to report to the Legislature that if you look at our special education funding, it has actually increased by $2.7 billion—it’s up to $2.7 billion this year. That is an increase of $1 billion over what it was in 2002. Since our government came into office, we’ve had an increase of 67% in the amount of funding that we provide to school boards for special education.

Obviously, it is up to the local school boards to allocate that money to provide for needs but, as I have noted here, in a time when enrolment is declining, we have increased the funding for special education by 67%, by over $1 billion.

Blood donation

Mrs. Kathryn McGarry: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Anybody here who remembers the tainted blood crisis of the 1980s understands the profound importance of maintaining the integrity of Canada’s blood system. As a nurse and as a parent, I can really relate to this. I recall the fear of getting a letter advising that our son’s already fragile health was at risk because he may have received tainted blood while hospitalized in the 1980s. Fortunately, extensive testing revealed that he did not suffer consequences of that life-saving blood transfusion.

The principle of voluntary donation is one of the pillars of that system, but is being threatened in Ontario by the possibility of plasma collection sites that would pay people for their plasma. Citizens in my riding of Cambridge are also concerned about this. Could the minister, through you, Speaker, inform this House of what steps he’s undertaking to protect the integrity of Ontario’s blood system?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I want to thank the member from Cambridge for this timely and important question. I was pleased yesterday to stand up in this House and introduce the Safeguarding Health Care Integrity Act for its first reading. This proposed legislation actually combines two bills that our government brought forward this past spring, one of which directly addresses the member’s concerns. These concerns have been echoed for some time by health care professionals and organizations, patient advocates and ordinary Ontarians who are opposed to private, for-profit plasma collection. I agree, and our government agrees. That’s why I was proud to introduce this proposed legislation.

I urge all members of this House to stand together against the payment for blood or plasma donations in Ontario. This will build on steps that our government has already taken to protect the integrity of our public blood donation system.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Kathryn McGarry: Thank you, Minister. As a nurse who has been asked about the safety of our blood supply by former patients, I’m pleased and relieved that the minister has reintroduced this bill, and I hope that all members will support its passage.

The gift of blood is the gift of life. I know we are all grateful to the thousands of Ontarians who voluntarily give blood and plasma every single year. Their donations help others to survive accidents and surgeries, as well as life-threatening conditions. I’ve seen many patients in hospitals, as well as our own son, recover due to the generosities of these selfless citizens.

Ontarians who need blood and plasma products can take comfort in the strength and safety of our blood supply today, but they also need to know that life-giving blood and plasma products will be available when they need them.

Could the minister tell this House whether this legislation, if passed, might negatively impact the availability of blood and plasma products in Ontario?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Thanks again to the member from Cambridge. Our government takes the supply of blood, plasma and plasma-based products very, very seriously. This proposed legislation would not reduce that supply for Ontarians in any way. There’s simply no need for a parallel private, for-profit blood system in Canada. The demand for plasma used in transfusions has actually been decreasing in Canada, and we are completely self-sufficient in this area.

For-profit clinics would likely sell the plasma they collect for a profit on the international market to manufacture plasma products for pharmaceutical use. There’s no guarantee that this plasma would even come back to Ontario.

For more than 15 years, our blood system has been ably managed by Canadian Blood Services, a public, not-for-profit organization. I remain confident in their ability to manage a national blood system that meets all of Ontarians’ needs.

Services for the developmentally disabled

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Members from all sides of this House understand the difficulties many families have in accessing support and services for their family members living with a developmental disability.

One family in Dufferin–Caledon recently had a terrible experience with the local developmental services office, or the DSO. This family has been looking after their child with a physical and developmental disability for over 30 years, but because the parents’ own health is declining, they called the DSO to update them and ask for assistance. The reaction from the DSO was anything but helpful. They displayed an appalling lack of empathy to my constituent, going so far as to say they were lucky to receive any funding at all. Do you believe this is how DSO staff should be responding to families who have reached out to them for help?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Thank you to the member for the question. In general, obviously, in response to the story that we have just been told, I would be most distressed. My heart goes out to that family, to have received that kind of response to a genuine request for help.

I think we need to remember, however, that DSOs are very new in terms of their establishment by our government. They were established in 2011 for the very purpose of providing one window so that applications by families could be made in a consistent way, so that we could ensure that a single application was made and that there was consistency across the province in that way.

We are aware that there have been some growing pains. We want to renew an emphasis on customer service as we go forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Thank you, Minister, for your candour. I know you understand the challenges facing the sector and I believe you want to see improvements. But fundamental changes need to be made at the DSOs to improve their service. The Select Committee on Developmental Services made seven recommendations specifically related to improving the work of the DSOs. Not every recommendation involves spending more money, but all of them require leadership from you.

These recommendations can start making a difference immediately. Minister, will you end the wait, adopt the select committee’s recommendations and improve customer service at DSO offices across Ontario?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Quite clearly, we put a plan in place, outlined in the budget, to invest some $810 million over three years. This is going to have a dramatic impact on those needing developmental services. It will provide direct funding for some 21,000 people and support more than 4,200 people as they navigate key life transitions, such as going to post-secondary school or getting a job. It will provide support for approximately 1,400 people with urgent residential needs. It will promote community living partnerships through expanded host family and supported independent living programs.

This is our plan. This was introduced not only on May 1, but reintroduced. There’s a chance at redemption for the opposition parties: to stand with us and vote for the budget.

Public transit

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. In late April, the government announced plans for a high-speed rail line that would run from Toronto to London. In Windsor, many of us wondered why we had been left out of the new plans since we had been included in earlier plans.

Well, a couple of weeks later the election was called, and the Liberal candidate in Windsor West, who was also a cabinet minister, suddenly promised that the province would expand high-speed rail to Windsor after all. Now, with the election over, the government seems to have forgotten its promise to the people of Windsor. Once again, the government talks only of a line from Toronto to London, not to Windsor. Mr. Speaker, I would like a yes or no answer. When the government says it will open a high-speed rail line within 10 years, does this line include Windsor?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to thank the member from Windsor for this question. I don’t recall if this is the first opportunity I’ve had to respond to a question from this new member, but I do appreciate hearing about this issue that I know is very, very important to not only her community but also communities like London, Kitchener and Toronto, of course.

It’s important to recognize that in order for us to accomplish achieving this kind of ambitious plan that we have for transit and transportation, we can only accomplish that if we have support for the budget that is before the House this week. The $29 billion that are included for transportation and transit infrastructure are crucial to making sure that not only do we deal with high-speed rail for communities like Kitchener and London, and potentially for Windsor as well, but it’s also important to make sure that we keep the province moving forward.

Part of that $29 billion is roughly $14 billion for communities that fall outside the GTHA. The ministry is in the process of working to complete the business case and launch the EA. I look forward to talking to this member and others about how we can move forward with our plan to benefit her community and all other communities across southwestern Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Windsor voters were promised high-speed rail by this government, not another study. It was right there in big letters on their candidates’ billboards. But clearly the government has no intention of including Windsor in its 10-year high-speed rail plan. In fact, it’s hard to believe the government is serious about high-speed rail at all. It is mentioned nowhere in the government’s budget, and the government refuses to release the study that supposedly shows that it can open this line in less than 10 years from now at an unbelievable net cost of just $500 million. Will the government finally admit that high-speed rail is nothing more than an empty election promise?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member from Windsor for that supplementary question. I don’t want to be presumptuous, Speaker, and from my particular vantage point talk about what the people of Windsor may or may not have voted for, but my guess is that the people of Windsor, like people in London and Kitchener and Toronto and my riding of Vaughan—I’m pretty sure those people voted for the very thoughtful and ambitious plan that we have as a government, that is laid out in our platform and our budget, the $29 billion for transit and transportation infrastructure.

It’s also really important to recognize that the high-speed rail project—and this is a project that the Ministry of Transportation is working hard to finalize the business case for and then launch the EA and get on with that work. That project, over the next 10 years, will create tens of thousands of jobs and has the potential, especially if we have the co-operation and the hard work and the opportunity to work with members on all sides of the House, to help re-energize the entire southwestern Ontario economy. I call on that member to support our budget so we can get on with these very important projects.

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question s’adresse à la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, l’honorable Madeleine Meilleur.

La ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones peut-elle partager la réponse du gouvernement à ce rapport?

L’hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Je voudrais remercier le député d’Etobicoke-Nord pour sa question. Notre gouvernement est fier d’avoir introduit le projet de loi pour l’indépendance du commissaire en septembre dernier, et je veux remercier les deux partis de l’opposition qui l’ont soutenu, spécifiquement la députée de Nepean–Carleton et la députée de Nickel Belt.

Ce dernier rapport du commissaire contient quatre recommandations. Cette année encore, le commissaire soulève des enjeux importants pour les Franco-Ontariens, tels que l’immigration et l’accès à la justice. Nous allons examiner en détail chacune de ces recommandations, évaluer leur faisabilité et aller de l’avant pour améliorer la prestation des services pour notre communauté francophone.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Merci. Supplementary?

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Merci à la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones pour sa réponse et aussi pour son dévouement à la communauté francophone et francophile, comme moi-même, depuis plus de 10 ans déjà.

Alors, notre plan stratégique a d’ailleurs reçu une mentionne honorable dans le rapport du commissaire Boileau.

Infrastructure program funding

Mr. Norm Miller: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. The village of Burk’s Falls in my riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka is facing a serious challenge. Since your government ended the Connecting Link Program in 2013, they’ve had to take on the cost of repairs to the Armstrong Bridge that serves as a main artery through the village. The work needs to be done soon and it’s estimated to cost well over a million dollars.

Area and seasonal residents rely on the route to access provincial Highway 520 that connects to the village of Magnetawan, Cecebe Lake, Ahmic Lake and provincial Highway 124. The Armstrong Bridge is a connecting link in every sense of the term. Minister, what is being done by your government to support small municipalities like Burk’s Falls which now face massive infrastructure costs with the ending of the connecting links program?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to thank the member from Parry Sound–Muskoka for that question. This is the first opportunity that I’ve had to hear specifically about this, let’s call it, unique thing that’s taking place in his riding in that particular community. I’m happy to offer the opportunity for the member opposite to have a longer conversation with me about the particular issues that are affecting this community.

I think it is also interesting to note that, as we’ve heard repeatedly from the party opposite since coming back to this Legislature post election, they feel very compelled that the most important thing for this government to do is to cut, to slash and to do everything we can to tear Ontario down; and yet from to time, including today, we hear members like this member opposite stand up and ask a question on behalf of their community that calls on us to actually make investments. I think it’s interesting to see there’s a bit of a discordant note on that side of the Legislature about what the most important thing is.

I am happy to talk to the member offline about what’s taking place in this community, but this is why, fundamentally, it’s so important for us to support the investments we want to make to build all of Ontario up.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Norm Miller: Again to the Minister of Transportation: The municipality has done their due diligence. Over the past year, they’ve met with regional MTO officials and have been seeking alternate avenues for funding. Burk’s Falls’s annual tax levy is under $1 million, and they’re already undertaking major upgrades in the municipal water system. They have to rebuild another bridge, the Yonge Street Bridge, and they have to rebuild their water tower in 2016.

Councillors are worried that the unexpected cost of looking after the Armstrong Bridge will bankrupt the village. My question, Minister: Will you work with Burk’s Falls council to help them with the challenge of maintaining the Armstrong Bridge?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member opposite for the supplementary. As I said in my opening answer, I’d be happy to work with that member and people in his community to do what we can. But most importantly, it’s important to recognize that the budget we’ve introduced in this Legislature, the budget that we campaigned on which formed the basis of our election platform, makes permanent an infrastructure fund that will help alleviate the burden that many municipalities are facing.

I know that colleagues on this side of the House like the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs—and I probably messed up a little bit of that name—and also the minister responsible for infrastructure will work very hard to make sure that we can make investments in communities across the province.

Of course, I’d be happy to talk to this member about what’s taking place in his community. But again, I want to say, Speaker, this is why it’s important for us to have a plan moving forward that invests in communities across this province, and they should support our budget for that reason.

Health care

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Minister of Health. I have a constituent, Mr. Richard Gauthier, who lives in Timmins, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the only drug that he is able to take in order to give him quality of life and keep him outside of the hospital is Xolair. The problem is that, at the time that he was prescribed this drug, it could only be applied and given in a clinic, and it happens to be that it’s in the city of Toronto. He has been refused his travel grants. My question to you is, are you prepared to review this case in order to approve the travel grants for the treatment he was not able to get in the city of Timmins?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. I’d be happy to sit down with you, and also to review the case with my ministry officials to see what is the best approach to take in this particular case. I won’t speak any more in terms of the details, but I certainly commit to working with you to see if we can find a resolution to it.

It is important to emphasize that cases such as these emphasize the importance of us having a drug program which is fair and equitable to all Ontarians, and that we continue to invest as we do. I think over $4 billion annually is invested in our drug programs.

There are particular incidents that come up from time to time. I’m happy, as the minister responsible, to look into this case personally and just ensure that, in fact, it is meeting the criteria and being handled in a fair and equitable way.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Saved by a second.

Listen, I appreciate that the minister is willing to look into it, but I just want to be clear: Xolair is covered by the Trillium Drug Program. He in fact had to go after them in order to get it approved.

The issue is that it can only be given in these particular clinics that are not actually approved clinics by the province of Ontario. There is no such clinic available in Timmins; it’s only in Toronto.

I appreciate that you’re prepared to look at it, and I look forward to a resolution to this so that he can actually have his travel grants paid, because otherwise we would have to pay to keep this gentleman in a hospital at a much higher cost than the actual treatment would cost.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the additional details. We’ll follow up directly.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Scarborough–Rouge River on a point of order.

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: Mr. Speaker, I hope you would allow my indulgence. I would like to recognize two of my guests who are in the west gallery. They are long-time residents of my riding of Scarborough–Rouge River, and very close friends. Mr. Joseph Sheon and his wife, Ying Sheon, are here to observe the proceedings of the Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton on a point of order.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence. I ask all members of the House to join me in welcoming dear friends of mine from the riding: Surjit Singh, as well as Jaswinder Singh Badesha, who forms one brother of three brothers who are very influential businesspeople in the community and great supporters of mine—Harjit Singh Badesha and Harpal Singh Badesha—as well as members of the Canadian Sikh Association. Thank you so much for welcoming them all today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on a point of order.

Hon. Reza Moridi: Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming my fourth intern, Tanvir Janmohamed, sitting in the member’s gallery over there.

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

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: On a point of order, I’d ask all members to help me welcome my legislative assistant, Ms. Tanya Kuzman, and Mr. Nik Bulatovich, who is an exemplary young activist in Etobicoke–Lakeshore and a great volunteer.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m sure all of you will appreciate that absolutely none of those was a point of order, but we do welcome our guests all the time.

There being no deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1139 to 1500.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Chris Ballard: I’m delighted to introduce some special guests from my riding of Newmarket–Aurora and leaders in the creative community. We have Renee Hay, chairman of Arts Music Festivals York Region; from the Newmarket Jazz Festival, Deb Thompson, a board member, Sher St. Kitts, general manager, and George St. Kitts, the festival artistic director; and Erika Kerwin, Newmarket Arts Council board member. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I suspect that’s going to be the new uniform of the Legislature.

Further introduction of guests?

It’s time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

York Region Holstein Club

Mrs. Julia Munro: Last week, I had the honour of attending the Twilight Dinner hosted by York Region Holstein Club, a club that has played an important role advocating for the dairy industry for the last 101 years and that acts as an ambassador. Over 300 people attended the Twilight Dinner to support the 30 dairy farms in York region, a testament to the vitality and economic significance of the industry in York region.

I would like to acknowledge the people who played a role in the success of the dinner. Bart Johnson and his son Greg hosted the dinner on their farm, Belridge Holsteins, a farm that has been in their family for three generations. I would also like to acknowledge the president of York Region Holstein Club, Dan O’Hara, for his hard work with the club. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the winner of the cattle judging contest, Brooke Thompson, who most accurately critiqued the cattle and scored closest to the professional judges’ scores.

I would like to thank the York Region Holstein Club for their hard work in advocating for dairy farmers in Ontario, and I look forward to attending next year’s and future Twilight Dinners.

Child protection

Mr. Paul Miller: Once again, I’ve tabled my “protecting child performers” private member’s bill. It’s now Bill 17 and is substantially the same as Bill 71, to which all parties agreed—that is, until the former House leaders decided to play silly, harmful political games with my efforts to expedite protection for child performers.

Child performers work legally in Ontario but have no legal protection. The government leaves their workplace protection to contract negotiations. Child safety at any level and in any form should never be the subject of negotiations. Our employment standards laws need to be updated immediately to enhance protection for this very vulnerable group of workers.

My bill comes before the House for second reading debate quite soon after the Legislature returns from the summer recess. I encourage all MPPs to act with their hearts, their minds and their basic humanity and concern for these vulnerable, very young workers. Let’s stand together and expedite passage of Bill 17 to finally provide legal protection to all child performers.

Canadian Sikh Association

Ms. Harinder Malhi: It is commonly said that Sikh values are the same as Canadian values. The Sikh community has a long history here in Canada, including building a vibrant and recognizable community right here in Ontario.

Sikh Canadians share the same aspirations of success, the same hopes for happiness and the same ambition to build a better province that serves as a model of tolerance and multiculturalism.

One organization that embodies and actively promotes this within the Sikh community is the Canadian Sikh Association. Since 2009, the CSA has advocated for the rights of Sikhs right here in Ontario and in Canada while promoting civic engagement and championing issues of human rights and social justice. This organization has been a strong advocate for equality and multiculturalism, the promotion of gender equality, religious freedom and cross-cultural friendship.

As a newly elected member at Queen’s Park, I am proud to work with them in ensuring equality for all people.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the CSA for their efforts that have paved the way for equality for all people, and for placing the ideals of religious freedom at the forefront of political dialogue here in Ontario.

Today, members of the Canadian Sikh Association are visiting Queen’s Park. I encourage all MPPs to visit their reception this afternoon at 5 p.m. in room 230.

Ontera

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Residents across northeastern Ontario and in my riding of Nipissing are speaking in one voice in opposition to the government’s planned sale of Ontera, which will result in 67 workers losing their jobs, many in my home riding of Nipissing.

There is growing concern that this sale may, in fact, contravene federal competition rules. North Bay city council passed a motion last Monday directing the mayor’s office to file a complaint with the federal Competition Bureau, as well as the CRTC, requesting an investigation. Their motion stated that the sale “will create a monopoly of telecommunications services in portions of northeastern Ontario,” and “a lack of competition will have a long-term impact” on the level and cost of telecom services as well as on the development of northeastern Ontario. Nipissing–Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin has now also filed a formal complaint with the federal Competition Bureau.

The Auditor General has told you, and I have said repeatedly in this Legislature, that this sale won’t save Ontario taxpayers any money, which was the impetus to put them for sale. In fact, according to the auditor, it will cost you and the taxpayers between $50 million and $70 million. So you’re cutting jobs and driving up the deficit at the same time.

We’re asking you, please do the right thing and halt this sale.

Winter highway maintenance

Ms. Sarah Campbell: Yesterday I listened with great interest to the exchange made by two Liberal MPPs in question period about winter highway maintenance and what is being done by this government to improve winter highway safety.

This is a very important issue to people in my riding of Kenora–Rainy River, where last winter the conditions were so bad that we had a number of motor vehicle collisions, including a 14-transport pileup; treacherous roads; what seemed to be a record number of highway closures; and some highways that were virtually impassable until the snow melted. On many occasions, the region came to a standstill.

Living in the North, we aren’t strangers to winter weather. We expect snow to fall and to have to exercise caution when driving during the winter months. That is reasonable. But what isn’t reasonable are the conditions we were confronted with last winter. People in Kenora–Rainy River told me they have never seen a winter like that before and they’re already worried about this upcoming winter. They’re looking to this government to make changes now, in advance of next winter, so they can rest easy knowing they can safely travel our roads.

They don’t want to hear the compliments and accolades exchanged in question period yesterday or a regurgitation of the ineffective assurances they heard last winter.

I’m calling on this government to uphold the will of this Legislature and immediately strike an all-party committee to evaluate the root causes of the poor maintenance we received and to develop a comprehensive solution so that we never have to endure another treacherous winter like the one we just did.

Newmarket Jazz Festival

Mr. Chris Ballard: The August long weekend will soon be upon us and with it the desire of many families and music lovers to find something unique to do. With that in mind, I invite everyone to this year’s Newmarket Jazz+ Festival to enjoy great music, fantastic family events and the ambience, shopping and dining experience of Newmarket’s quaint, heritage downtown.

The Newmarket Jazz Festival runs August 1 to 4. Featured musicians include Newmarket’s Justin Hines, Aurora’s Stacey Kaniuk, Jackie and Kim Richardson, George Olliver, the Sultans of String, Juice, Rob Tardik, and George and Alex St. Kitts, to name just a few.

Enjoy the long weekend at our Riverwalk Commons, with music of all styles, visual artists, thespians, circus entertainers, the creative kids’ zone, film screenings, music workshops and much more.

Speaker, this is just a small taste of what will be happening August 1 to 4 in Newmarket. All of this for $5; children under 12 are free.

Interjection: Five bucks?

Mr. Chris Ballard: Five bucks, exactly.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I’m delighted to highlight a volunteer-led organization in my riding of Newmarket that gives back so magnificently to the community.

I’m proud to live in a province where so many volunteers in all areas give freely of their time and talent to make our towns and cities great places to live.

On the long weekend, the Newmarket Jazz Festival awaits with something for everyone.

Provincial election

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I rise today to share some serious concerns residents in Dufferin–Caledon have regarding their ability to vote in last month’s provincial election. As many of you know, Elections Ontario set up a website called Where Do I Vote?, which was designed to direct voters to their respective polling locations on June 12. The problem is that, in the case of voters in Dufferin–Caledon, the website was sending people to the wrong polling locations, and even in some cases to the wrong riding.

Indeed, a reporter at one of our local papers used the site to find the voting location nearest to the newspaper’s office in Caledon and was directed to vote in Simcoe–Grey. In addition, my campaign received numerous complaints from voters who were frustrated because they had been directed by Elections Ontario’s website to the wrong areas and were unsure where they were supposed to vote.

This was obviously a serious problem. It appears that the problem was due to the fact that Canada Post changed a number of postal codes in rural Dufferin–Caledon. However, this change started to take place almost two years ago, and even earlier in Caledon.

Voters expect and deserve to have upfront and clear information from Elections Ontario. Mistakes like this are totally unacceptable when it comes to something as sacred as a citizen’s right to vote.

I will be writing the Chief Electoral Officer on the matter, and I’m eager to hear the explanation behind the error, as well as what is being done to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. I know many Dufferin–Caledon voters are looking for answers, and I am hopeful that we will receive them.

Heritage conservation

Mrs. Kathryn McGarry: Recently in my unique riding of Cambridge, the city held a public meeting to unveil its plans to adaptively reuse a historically significant building. Originally the Galt post office, the beautiful two-and-a-half-storey stone building was designed by Thomas Fuller and constructed in 1885.

As chief Dominion architect, Fuller helped in the design of every major federal building from 1881 to 1896. The post office was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and was named as a national historic site in 1982.

Empty for several years, its future was in jeopardy until the city bought it to repurpose it into a modern community library and resource centre, including a teen-managed space, a reading area, an outdoor terrace overlooking the Grand River, a restaurant, a family discovery centre, digital learning labs and a workshop. Architects proposed a conceptual design featuring glassed additions with panoramic views of the city and a glass addition that would cantilever over the Grand River.

The greenest building is the one that’s already standing. Almost 30% of our landfill sites are made up of demolished building materials. The city of Cambridge has shown leadership in protecting our valuable heritage assets in Ontario by its plans for adaptive reuse of a building that is very valued by the residents in my riding of Cambridge.

Agincourt Junior Public School

Ms. Soo Wong: I rise today in the House to recognize a great institution in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt. Located on Lockie Avenue, near Midland and Sheppard Avenues, Agincourt Junior Public School is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

When the school first opened in 1914, it consisted of four classrooms from grade 1 to grade 12 and was the first public school built in Scarborough. This was followed by Agincourt Collegiate Institute in 1915.

Today, Agincourt Junior Public School is an architectural landmark. With additions over the years, this school now has eight classrooms for junior kindergarten to grade 6 and a library resource centre. As a historical building, Agincourt Junior Public School has a unique authenticity, while still serving the needs of over 200 students and families in Scarborough–Agincourt.

On Saturday, September 20, at 10 a.m., students, alumni, teachers, parents and residents of Scarborough–Agincourt will be celebrating Agincourt Junior Public School’s 100th anniversary. I look forward to joining them in celebrating the past 100 years, and I am confident that Agincourt Junior Public School will continue to provide quality public education in the next 100 years.

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

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Ms. Soo Wong: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Anne Stokes): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 14,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various Acts / Projet de loi 14, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Introduction of Bills

Magna Carta Day Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 sur le Jour de la Grande Charte

Mrs. Munro moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 23,

An Act to proclaim Magna Carta Day / Projet de loi 23, Loi proclamant le Jour de la Grande Charte.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Some 800 years ago, King John affixed his seal to the Magna Carta, which placed limits on the monarch’s power to overrule the law and protected the rights of ordinary people.

The document introduced key principles that hold true in democratic societies today, including equal justice for everyone, freedom from unlawful detention, the right to a trial by jury and rights for women.

It is important for the Magna Carta to be honoured and remembered as a document that changed the course of history. The fundamental traditions of equality and freedom that characterize our democratic society, particularly that nobody—not even the crown—is above the law, originated in this important document.

Prohibiting Driving with Unlawful Handguns Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 sur l’interdiction de la conduite avec des armes de poing illégales dans le véhicule

Mr. Colle moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 24,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act and the Civil Remedies Act, 2001 to promote public safety by prohibiting driving in a motor vehicle with an unlawfully possessed handgun / Projet de loi 24, Loi modifiant le Code de la route et la Loi de 2001 sur les recours civils afin de promouvoir la sécurité publique et d’interdire la conduite sur la voie publique d’un véhicule automobile avec une arme de poing dont la possession est illégale.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Mike Colle: As it’s now constituted, it is almost impossible for the police to charge anyone who is found to have an unlawful handgun in their possession, because of the complexity and the weakness of the federal Criminal Code. Therefore, this would empower the police to impound the motor vehicle and suspend the driver’s licence of an individual who has an unlawful handgun in their possession, in their car. Therefore, that car would be taken off the road, as we have done with the Civil Remedies Act, which allowed for police officers to take stunt drivers off the road. They get their car impounded. They get their driver’s licence taken away.

I think anybody driving with a loaded unlawful handgun in this province should be off the road. That’s what this bill is about, Mr. Speaker.

Auditor General Amendment Act, 2014 / Loi de 2014 modifiant la

Loi sur le vérificateur général

Mr. Norm Miller moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 25,

An Act to amend the Auditor General Act / Projet de loi 25, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur le vérificateur général.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Parry Sound–Muskoka for a short statement?

Mr. Norm Miller: This bill amends the Auditor General Act to permit the Auditor General to conduct special audits of public contractors. A public contractor includes any body or entity that delivers programs or services on behalf of the crown and that receives payment or financial assistance from the crown or another entity, or is empowered by the crown to collect fees for its services.

And, Mr. Speaker, I believe this will allow the auditor to more fully do her job.

Petitions

Youth mental health

Ms. Laurie Scott: Youth mental health in our schools and communities:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas youth mental health in the province of Ontario is rising at an alarming rate. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset during childhood or adolescence. Research shows that early identification leads to improved outcomes;

“Whereas, pursuant to the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, studies suggest 15% to 21% of children and youth, approximately 467,000 to 654,000 children and youth in Ontario, have at least one mental health disorder. The consequences can affect children and youth now and into adulthood, their families/caregivers, schools, communities, employers and the province as a whole;

“Whereas the 2010 Ontario report by the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, entitled Navigating the Journey to Wellness: The Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Ontarians, made specific recommendations that would address the growing mental health and addiction crisis among youth in the province, but no further concrete steps have been taken;

“Whereas waiting lists for help are at a crisis level and our schools do not have the resources to deal with the growing incidents of bullying, addiction, anxiety, depression and suicide. Education and awareness is critical to remove the stigma;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to prioritize funding and resources for our schools and communities to help our youth with mental health and addiction illnesses and the resulting consequences.”

It’s signed by many people from my riding.

Gasoline prices

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition from Mrs. Theresa Nicholas from Naughton, in my riding. It reads as follows:

“Whereas northern Ontario motorists continue to be subject to wild fluctuations in the price of gasoline; and

“Whereas the province could eliminate opportunistic price gouging and deliver fair, stable and predictable fuel prices; and

“Whereas five provinces and many US states already have some sort of gas-price regulation; and

“Whereas jurisdictions with gas-price regulation have seen an end to wild price fluctuations, a shrinking of price discrepancies between urban and rural communities and lower annualized gas prices;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario” to:

“Mandate the Ontario Energy Board to monitor the price of gasoline across Ontario in order to reduce price volatility and unfair regional price differences while encouraging competition.”

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

Legal aid

Mr. Bob Delaney: I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly which reads as follows:

“Whereas Mississauga Community Legal Services provides free legal services to legal aid clients within a community of nearly 800,000 population; and

“Whereas legal services in communities like Toronto and Hamilton serve, per capita, fewer people living in poverty, are better staffed and better funded; and

“Whereas Mississauga and Brampton have made progress in having Ontario provide funding for human services on a fair and equitable, population-based model;

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

“That the Ministry of the Attorney General revise the current distribution of allocated funds in the” Ontario “budget, and adopt a population-based model, factoring in population growth rates to ensure Ontario funds are allocated in an efficient, fair and effective manner.”

I am pleased to sign and support this petition and to ask page Nardien, who is from the proud community of Mississauga–Streetsville, to carry it for me on this, probably her last week with us in the Legislative Assembly—and it’s been good to have her.

Credit unions

Mr. Victor Fedeli: “Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario support our 1.3 million members across Ontario through loans to small businesses to start up, grow and create jobs, help families to buy homes and assist their communities with charitable investments and volunteering; and

“Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario want a level playing field so they can provide the same service to our members as other financial institutions and promote economic growth without relying on taxpayers’ resources;

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

“Support the strength and growth of credit unions to support the strength and growth of Ontario’s economy and create jobs in three ways:

“—maintain current credit union provincial tax rates;

“—show confidence in Ontario credit unions by increasing credit union-funded deposit insurance limits to a minimum of $250,000;

“—allow credit unions to diversify by allowing Ontario credit unions to own 100% of subsidiaries.”

Speaker, I sign my name to this and hand it to page Ayesha.

Alzheimer’s disease

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition from the people across Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are progressive, degenerative diseases of the brain that cause thinking, memory and physical functioning to become seriously impaired;

“Whereas there is no known cause or cure for this devastating illness; and

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias also take their toll on hundreds of thousands of families and care partners; and

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias affect more than 200,000 Ontarians today, with an annual total economic burden rising to $15.7 billion by 2020; and

“Whereas the cost related to the health care system is in the billions and is only going to increase, at a time when our health care system is already facing enormous financial challenges; and

“Whereas there is work under way to address the need, but no coordinated or comprehensive approach to tackling the issues; and

“Whereas there is an urgent need to plan and raise awareness and understanding about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias for the sake of improving the quality of life of the people it touches;

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

“To approve the development of a comprehensive Ontario dementia plan that would include the development of strategies in primary health care, in health promotion and prevention of illness, in community development, in building community capacity and care partner engagement, in caregiver support and investments in research.”

Speaker, I affix my name to this petition and send it with Matthew to the Clerk.

Credit unions

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of the Credit Unions of Ontario and my good friends at the Motor City Community Credit Union. It reads as follows:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario support our 1.3 million members across Ontario through loans to small businesses to start up, grow and create jobs, help families to buy homes and assist their communities with charitable investments and volunteering; and

“Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario want a level playing field so they can provide the same service to our members as other financial institutions and promote economic growth without relying on taxpayers’ resources;

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

“—maintain current credit union provincial tax rates;

“—show confidence in Ontario credit unions by increasing credit union-funded deposit insurance limits to a minimum of $250,000;

“—allow credit unions to diversify by allowing Ontario credit unions to own 100% of subsidiaries.”

Speaker, I agree with this petition. I will sign my name to it and give it to page Lavanya to bring up to the Clerk.

Office of the Ombudsman

Mr. Victor Fedeli: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the province of Ontario is the only province in Canada that does not allow the provincial Ombudsman, who is an officer of the Legislature, to provide trusted, independent investigations of complaints against hospitals, long-term-care homes, school boards, children’s aid societies, police, retirement homes and universities; and

“Whereas the people wronged by these institutions are left feeling helpless and most have nowhere else to turn for help to address their issues;

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

“To grant the Ombudsman of Ontario the power to investigate hospitals, long-term-care homes, school boards, children’s aid societies, police, retirement homes and universities.”

I’ll sign my name and give this to page Josée.

Home care

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that comes from the people of Peterborough, and it reads as follows:

“Whereas many Ontarians need health care services at home and 6,100 people are currently on wait-lists for care;

“Whereas waiting for over 200 days for home care is unacceptable;

“Whereas eliminating the wait-lists won’t require any new funding if the government caps hospital CEO salaries, finds administrative efficiencies in the local health integration networks (LHINs) and community care access centres (CCACs), standardizes procurement policies and streamlines administration costs;

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

“That a five-day home care guarantee is established and existing wait-lists eliminated so that Ontarians receive the care they need within a reasonable time frame.”

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

Credit unions

Ms. Soo Wong: I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario support our 1.3 million members across Ontario through loans to small businesses to start up, grow and create jobs, help families to buy homes and assist their communities with charitable investments and volunteering; and

“Whereas Credit Unions of Ontario want a level playing field so they can provide the same service to our members as other financial institutions and promote economic growth without relying on taxpayers’ resources;

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

“Support the strength and growth of credit unions to support the strength and growth of Ontario’s economy and create jobs in three ways:

“—maintain current credit union provincial tax rates;

“—show confidence in Ontario credit unions by increasing credit union-funded deposit insurance limits to a minimum of $250,000;

“—allow credit unions to diversify by allowing Ontario credit unions to own 100% of subsidiaries.”

I support the petition, and I give my petition to page Nardien.

Wind turbines

Ms. Laurie Scott: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli have publicly stated that there will be no time extensions for large-scale FIT contracts in Ontario, and the Ontario Power Authority CEO, Colin Andersen, has stated the authority is expecting developers to meet contract commitments; and

“Whereas the Premier, minister and the power authority must recognize that damage to our rural area from being under continuing threat by industrial wind turbine developers for three years is serious and unacceptable; and

“Whereas the FIT contracts for the Sumac Ridge, Snowy Ridge, Settlers Landing and Stoneboat projects—all on or near the Oak Ridges Moraine and in the former Manvers township in the city of Kawartha Lakes—have already been extended for one year or longer;

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

“That the government of Ontario, the Minister of Energy the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, and the Ontario Power Authority not issue any further time extensions for FIT contracts and, in particular, for the Sumac Ridge, Snowy Ridge, Settlers Landing and Stoneboat projects—before or after expiry of such contracts.

We are advised, and we believe, that the ‘force majeure’ clause in the FIT contracts is completely inapplicable to these projects; accordingly, we respectfully further request the Legislature to instruct the Minister of Energy to adhere to his assurance that extensions will no longer be granted to wind project proponents who have no contractual right to such an extension and who fail to meet their contractual commitments.”

It’s signed by people from Kawartha Lakes and Cavan, and I’ll hand it to page Stephanie.

Alzheimer’s disease

Mr. Percy Hatfield: To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a petition signed by people right across this great province:

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are progressive, degenerative diseases of the brain that cause thinking, memory and physical functioning to become seriously impaired;

“Whereas there is no known cause or cure for this devastating illness; and

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias also take their toll on hundreds of thousands of families and care partners; and

“Whereas Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias affect more than 200,000 Ontarians today, with an annual total economic burden rising to $15.7 billion by 2020; and

“Whereas the cost related to the health care system is in the billions and is only going to increase, at a time when our health care system is already facing enormous financial challenges; and

“Whereas there is work under way to address the need, but no coordinated or comprehensive approach to tackling the issues; and

“Whereas there is an urgent need to plan and raise awareness and understanding about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias for the sake of improving the quality of life of the people it touches;

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

“To approve the development of a comprehensive Ontario dementia plan that would include the development of strategies in primary health care, in health promotion and prevention of illness, in community development, in building community capacity and care partner engagement, in caregiver support and investments in research.”

Mr. Speaker, I agree with this petition. I will sign my name to it and give it to Brendan to bring up to the Clerk.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The time for petitions is over.

Orders of the Day

Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (Budget Measures), 2014 / Loi de 2014 ouvrant des perspectives et assurant notre avenir (mesures budgétaires)

Mr. Naqvi, on behalf of Mr. Sousa, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 14,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various Acts / Projet de loi 14, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Mr. Naqvi.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I’m not going to talk for too long. I just want to say that I will be sharing my time with the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance, the member from York South–Weston.

I’m very happy and excited to see that we are starting third reading on the budget bill. As I and many members from the government side had the opportunity to say, this is a very important piece of legislation, implementing our government’s budget, in making sure that we are investing in our communities, investing in our people; ensuring that we’re investing in much-needed transit and transportation infrastructure across the province, in all our communities, so that people and goods can move from one place to another; and also focusing on retirement income security for those Ontarians who do not have workplace pensions, something that I’ve heard in my community of Ottawa Centre quite often.

I’m very happy to see that this bill is up for third reading debate. I really hope that all members of this House will be voting in support of this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from York South–Weston.

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I am very pleased to rise today for the third reading of Bill 14, the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act. The bill was thoroughly reviewed, clause by clause, by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs yesterday, and I want to thank my fellow committee members for the detailed attention to the proposed amendments. I would also like to thank the many organizations that took

part in the discussion and shared their valuable input.

Mr. Speaker, I will use this time to again highlight how this bill would support a brighter, stronger future for the people of this province. The Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act is our government’s plan to build on the strengths of Ontarians to help everyone achieve their best so that together we can help grow our economy. We would do this by investing in people, building modern infrastructure, and supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate.

Our plan would invest in transportation infrastructure so that goods and people can get where they need to go.

Our plan would help give people greater security in retirement, especially the middle class; because we know that we must do more to ensure that people have adequate savings in their retirement years.

Our plan would continue to focus on managing responsibly, because we know that making every dollar count will create a more efficient government. We remain firmly committed to balancing the budget by 2017-18.

Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to remind the House of some of the important initiatives included in this bill. A notable change from the previous budget bill includes amendments to the Gasoline Tax Act which would increase the tax rate on aviation fuel by one cent per litre each year for four years, beginning on September 1, 2014. The revenue generated by this change would be dedicated to public transit, transportation infrastructure and other priority infrastructure projects across the province.

This bill also includes amendments to the Legislative Assembly Act which would continue the MPP pay freeze from April 1, 2014, until the budget is balanced.

Mr. Speaker, this bill proposes legislative changes to foster a fair society. This includes amendments to create the administrative child support calculation service that would help parents determine child support through a new online service without going to court.

Our 10-year plan will help create a stronger Ontario. It will build opportunities by investing in Ontario’s strength, and that is its people. Our new vision for education would continue investments in early learning. Through additional funding of $33.6 million over the next three years, we would support the ongoing operation and modernization of the child care system.

Our plan would see the implementation of full-day kindergarten by September of this year, which means that full-day kindergarten would be available to approximately 265,000 children across the province, saving families up to $6,500 a year per child on child care costs, and most importantly, giving Ontario’s youngest learners the best start to their education.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve said this before: Ontario remains among the top jurisdictions in North America for talent, training and skills development. We plan on making sure that every eligible student can pursue their education regardless of their financial circumstance. That is why the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant would continue to support up to 260,000 students through their studies.

And we won’t stop there. We will invest in our youth who have shouldered the brunt of job losses in the last recession. We plan to continue to help young people gain work experience and find jobs by extending the youth jobs strategy. We will focus on the services that are important to the people of Ontario by keeping education and health care strong. Our plan would see more than $750 million in additional funding by 2016-17 in more home and community care services, making sure that our health care system puts patients first and responds to their needs.

Mr. Speaker, Ontario is a great place to live, to work and to do business, in part, because of our investments in hospitals, schools and transportation infrastructure, and we plan to continue building Ontario up to help stimulate the economy, create jobs, and increase prosperity and fairness for Ontarians.

Our planned infrastructure investments would support more than 110,000 jobs, on average, each year in construction and related industries. By making strategic investments in roads, bridges and public transit, we will help manage congestion and travel times for commuters. We will move Ontario forward through new funding for investment in transportation infrastructure. Our plan would make nearly $29 billion available for investment over the next 10 years for public transit, transportation infrastructure and other priority infrastructure across the province.

The greater Toronto and Hamilton area, Mr. Speaker, would receive $15 billion, and other regions of Ontario would receive nearly $14 billion. In the GTHA, proceeds from the fund would be invested in public transit priorities to address congestion, and outside the GTHA, the dedicated fund would be used for important infrastructure projects. This includes supporting local and regional transit, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Our plan would invest $2.5 billion over the course of this year for highway rehabilitation and expansion projects across the province. This will create jobs and help move goods to market faster. We also plan to support municipal roads and bridges through a new, permanent $100-million fund.

We are committed to investing up to $1 billion towards infrastructure development in the Ring of Fire, creating thousands of jobs in northern Ontario and providing more opportunities for aboriginal communities.

We will continue to build strong public services. Through an investment of $700 million over the next decade, we will support critical repairs in hospitals so that patients can receive high-quality health care.

We plan to continue to fund repairs in the post-secondary sector with additional funding of approximately $500 million over the next 10 years. Our plan would improve school conditions, support safe and healthy learning, and modernize classrooms.

Ontario is an international hub for business and has been ranked as Canada’s most competitive province, but we have to build Ontario even stronger. We know that productivity is a key driver of economic growth and prosperity, and we know that a key challenge for Ontario and for countries around the world will be raising productivity growth in the future. That is why our plan is focused on creating business investments, developing a culture of innovation and bringing high-quality jobs to Ontario.

We are going global. Ontario’s trade offices around the world are facilitating investments, and we will expand our growing global trade strategy to promote Ontario companies’ quality goods and services. This will help exporters find new markets that connect foreign buyers with potential Ontario exporters. It will help small and medium-sized businesses grow and create jobs.

The new 10-year, $2.5-billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund would help secure business investments to support growth and create good jobs at home.

A dedicated food-processing stream under the Jobs and Prosperity Fund would help Ontario’s farmers, through an investment of $40 million annually, to enhance productivity and competitiveness and expand market reach throughout Ontario and abroad.

We are committed to helping Ontario’s innovators and entrepreneurs bring their discoveries to market. Through the Ontario Research Fund, we plan on dedicating $250 million over the next three years to invest in leading-edge research infrastructure. These investments will help sustain Ontario’s long-term prosperity by supporting research that will create the technologies and well-paid jobs of the future.

We are also providing $25 million in funding over the next five years to support the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, which will position Ontario at the forefront of the emerging field of quantum computing.

We are proud to invest in the people of this province, in modern infrastructure, and to develop a competitive business climate. We want to make sure that our economy draws on everyone’s capabilities.

After raising the minimum wage to $11 as of June 1, 2014, we plan on tying it to inflation to provide fairness to low-income workers and predictability for businesses.

Mr. Speaker, we increased the annual Ontario Child Benefit per child to $1,310, and our plan is to index it to inflation to safeguard the purchasing power—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): It’s pretty loud, when your member is speaking, if there are four sidebars going on. I’d like to pay attention to what she’s saying; maybe you would too. Thank you.

Mrs. Laura Albanese: Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, our plan is to index the Ontario Child Benefit to inflation to safeguard the purchasing power for people. By investing in the Ontario Child Benefit, we will improve the quality of life of low-to-moderate income families and enhance the incomes of half a million families.

Mr. Speaker, we believe in a society where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential. That is why we are proposing a new investment of $485 million over the next three years to support adults with developmental disabilities. This would mean more funding to help individuals in their communities and expanded planning to help individuals transition to adulthood, find employment and achieve greater independence. We would support workers who serve Ontario’s most vulnerable by investing $200 million over three years for front-line workers in the developmental services sector, supporting salaries and wages as well as the overall transformation and modernization of the sector.

We are committed to managing responsibly. We know that across-the-board cuts hurt public services like health care and education. Through a careful review of spending, we will be able to transform public services to increase efficiencies and improve outcomes. The 2013-14 deficit is estimated to be $11.3 billion, an improvement of $0.4 billion compared to the 2013 budget forecast. We will continue to make important decisions to root out waste, to focus on priorities and make every dollar count.

We have a plan to move forward with maximizing and unlocking the full value of provincial assets, while maintaining provincial ownership of core government assets remains a priority. Some assets are no longer critical or necessary for delivering public services and our plan is to explore opportunities to maximize and unlock the value from real estate, as well as improve efficiencies and enhance performance and revenue of crown corporations, like the Ontario Power Generation, Hydro One and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. We will do this in a responsible manner. We owe it to Ontarians to extract more value for them as taxpayers.

Each and every year, the share of federal revenue raised in Ontario is higher than the share of federal spending in Ontario. This results in an $11-billion gap, according to most recently available figures. This money could be used in Ontario to fund more hospitals, more nurses, or public transit, but instead, it is redistributed to other regions of Canada to subsidize programs and services that Ontarians themselves may not enjoy. In fact, since 2006, the federal government has taken more than 110 unilateral actions that have hurt people and businesses across Ontario and undermined the province’s fiscal plan.

That’s why our 2014 budget calls on the federal government to be a fair and collaborative partner.

Our plan includes investments in retirement income security, and we plan to invest more than $130 billion in public infrastructure over the next 10 years. This is nearly five times more per capita than the federal government plans to invest over the same time period. As I mentioned before, we have also committed $1 billion for infrastructure in the Ring of Fire. That’s why we are calling on the federal government to work with us in these areas so that together we can build a more prosperous Ontario in a more prosperous Canada.

Our plan also includes a strategy to enhance retirement savings because we know that most people don’t have a workplace pension plan. In many cases, voluntary savings are inadequate, and people are living longer, fortunately. That’s why we are moving forward with our proposed mandatory pension plan. The Ontario Retirement Pension Plan would be the first of its kind in Canada and would build on the strengths of the CPP. It would target those most at risk of under-saving, particularly middle-income earners without a workplace pension plan, to help working Ontario families build a more secure retirement future.

It would provide a predictable stream of income in retirement by pooling longevity and investment risk and indexing benefits to inflation. It would require equal contributions to be shared between employers and employees, and it would aim to provide a replacement rate of 15% of an individual’s earnings, up to a maximum annual earnings threshold of $90,000. We would introduce the ORPP in 2017, to coincide with the expected reductions in employment insurance premiums.

Our 2014 budget is our plan for building opportunity and securing our future. It is our plan for a strong Ontario, with more jobs and more opportunity across the province. Our plan, as I’ve mentioned, includes investing in people, building modern infrastructure, and supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate.

We know that at times it will not be easy. We know that our plan is ambitious and forward-looking. But we are determined to work together with all Ontarians to make the right investments in our future and to remain on our path to balance the budget by 2017-18. I call on all members of this House to support our plan so we can work together to build a stronger future for all Ontarians.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’m pleased to comment on the member from York South–Weston’s comments, which are on Bill 14,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various Acts, for those just tuning in at home.

There’s a fair bit in the budget. There were some highlights made. I think the biggest thing overall that you want to bring people back to is the fact of our record debt and deficit and that the third-largest budget item is just servicing the interest payments on that. That’s over $11 billion, I think, close to $12 billion, a year. It’s the third-largest budget item: health care, education, and then paying the interest on the money that the Liberal government has borrowed on behalf of the people of Ontario.

That is the biggest threat to our front-line health care, education and social programs that we all agree need to be invested in. We hear from our communities all the time. CUPE was protesting yesterday in front of Frost Manor, a long-term-care home in Lindsay, about the cutbacks that they are going to have to caregivers to provide care to our elderly and frail population. That’s not a competent government. When you are that deep in debt and deficit, that threatens the province’s success. That doesn’t encourage businesses to come and set up, to expand and to create the jobs that we all desperately need in the province of Ontario.

I will have time to speak a little bit more later on the pension plan, because I do want to touch on that and what I heard in my riding during the election.

I spoke earlier today about the aviation tax. That’s a huge issue that the member from York South–Weston brought up in her comments. We heard from the committee this week, and I just want to quickly say that it is the worst thing that can happen for the aviation industry. Again, I’ll go further into that when I have more time.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments.

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s truly an honour to be able to once again stand in this House and speak on behalf of the residents of Timiskaming–Cochrane, and to respond particularly to the member from York South–Weston regarding this budget.

I’d like to focus on a couple of her comments regarding the potential sale of assets, that these assets would no longer be core or necessary. She also said that this will be done in a responsible manner. That’s where we have a problem, because it’s nice to say those words, but they don’t have much of a track record when it actually comes to disposing of assets—

Interjection: Or responsibility.

Mr. John Vanthof: Or responsibility. And it’s happening as we speak with the sale of Ontera, or should I say the giveaway, the fire sale, of Ontera? With the whole ONTC divestment, there was no plan there; there was no overall plan. They didn’t even look at the numbers before they announced it, and we’re still going down the same road.

A lot of people don’t understand. We say “Ontera” and they say, “What’s that?” But what’s happening with the sale of Ontera is that we’re losing jobs. Not only that; we’re losing competition in northern Ontario. We’re going to be down to one provider. They really don’t care. If service isn’t really up to standard, you can’t really switch to somebody else because there is nobody else to switch to. That’s something that isn’t being talked about.

When they talk about, “We’re going to take a responsible look at disposing of assets,” as we stand here and as we speak right now, it’s not happening.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to rise to support Bill 14, the government bill with respect to the 2014-15 budget.

Mr. Speaker, I’m really pleased that my colleague from York South–Weston, the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance, spoke about the infrastructure funding and the whole issue about investing in transportation.

As the member from Scarborough–Agincourt, I know of the importance of reducing the congestion here in the city of Toronto. Our government has committed over $100 billion since 2003, investing in hospitals, schools and transportation infrastructure. This proposed budget for 2014-15 will continue to invest in infrastructure that means so much to Ontarians.

In my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt, right now, as we speak, we’re improving the Highway 401 exchange with Victoria Park exit—and this second funding that we are investing in roads and bridges and other critical infrastructure across Ontario.

I dare say that no one here in the chamber would say that they don’t want this kind of infrastructure. Every day, when we’re sitting in the chamber, I hear every member of this House ask for some kind of infrastructure capital project. So to say that they’re not interested—they say they’re concerned about the deficit. All of us should be concerned about the deficit, but at the same time, Ontarians spoke on June 12. They expect our government as well as all members of this chamber to be working together to ensure that infrastructure projects are maintained and improved.

At the end of the day, they expect us to deliver what was spoken during the election, but more importantly, what we have committed to.

I’m very pleased to see my colleague the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance talk about this.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you very much, Speaker, for the opportunity to speak for two minutes on this. I want to pick up from where the member from Timiskaming–Cochrane left off.

Today, I read a member’s statement a little earlier that talked about the city of North Bay and the city council lobbying hard to save Ontera from being part of the fire sale. I also talked about our federal member of Parliament, Jay Aspin, who has written to the Competition Bureau to try to stop this on the technical merits.

Look, the whole concept of this originally was a budget item. It was to save $265 million. That’s how this whole Ontario Northland sale started. Very quickly, we all lined up to say, “No, you won’t have any savings. You won’t find a savings of $265 million.”

I don’t think the government fully understood the divestiture of Ontario Northland and what it meant in terms of severances. Actually, in the Auditor General’s report, she acknowledged that the government truly had absolutely no idea—they did not understand the severance criteria—and as a result, they would not save $265 million. It would, in fact, cost $820 million to sell all of Ontario Northland. That’s from the Auditor General’s report that we, the PCs and the NDP—have successfully fought to bring the Auditor General.

She brought that number out, and now that it’s known, Speaker, you would think that they would pull back entirely from the fire sale of Ontario Northland. Instead, they’re bent on selling this one division, even though according to the Auditor General’s numbers, if we leaf through her report, it’s going to cost the taxpayers between $50 million and $70 million to do.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from York South–Weston has two minutes.

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I want to thank my colleagues, the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, the member from Timiskaming–Cochrane, the member from Scarborough–Agincourt and the member from Nipissing, for their comments.

I think it is important to manage responsibly, and that’s exactly what we intend to do. We want to maintain, I said, provincial ownership of all core government assets. That remains a priority.

It is also important to explore opportunities that may or may not be there, but we owe it to Ontarians, the people who we have the honour to represent, to make sure that we are reviewing these investments that we are making as a province and managing every dollar responsibly. We have to learn from our mistakes; there’s always a way to do things better, and we intend to be very responsible going forward.

I think it’s very important that we also speak about the investments that this government plans to make in infrastructure. The member f