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March 20, 2014

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2014-Mar-20 (PDF)

L115 - Thu 20 Mar 2014 / Jeu 20 mar 2014

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 20 March 2014 Jeudi 20 mars 2014

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO IMMIGRATION ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR L’IMMIGRATION

EN ONTARIO

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

TAXATION

JOB CREATION

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

IMMIGRANTS’ SKILLS

HEALTH CARE

PROPERTY TAXATION

JOB CREATION

WIND TURBINES

HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

SPORTS FUNDING

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES

RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

BUSINESS COMMUNITY

PARLIAMENT OAK PUBLIC SCHOOL

ONTARIO BUDGET

MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

KYLE AND PAULA WATSON FAMILY

NOWRUZ

SENIORS’ HEALTH SERVICES

LA FRANCOPHONIE

JIM FLAHERTY

WEARING OF RIBBONS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

MPP SALARY FREEZE ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR LE GEL

DES TRAITEMENTS DES DÉPUTÉS

VOLUNTARY BLOOD

DONATIONS ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR LE DON

DE SANG VOLONTAIRE

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

MEMBERS’ COMPENSATION

BLOOD DONATION

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

MEMBERS’ COMPENSATION

BLOOD DONATION

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

BLOOD DONATION

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

PETITIONS

BLOOD DONATION

MINIMUM WAGE

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

GREENBELT

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

RANKED BALLOTING

SMALL BUSINESS

DOG OWNERSHIP

MINIMUM WAGE

PROPERTY TAXATION

LONG-TERM CARE

CHARITABLE GAMING

PRIVATE MEMBERS’

PUBLIC BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT POLICIES

LEARNING THROUGH WORKPLACE

EXPERIENCE ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR

L’APPRENTISSAGE PAR L’EXPÉRIENCE EN MILIEU DE TRAVAIL

FINANCIAL ADVISORS ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR

LES CONSEILLERS FINANCIERS

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT POLICIES

LEARNING THROUGH WORKPLACE

EXPERIENCE ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR

L’APPRENTISSAGE PAR L’EXPÉRIENCE EN MILIEU DE TRAVAIL

FINANCIAL ADVISORS ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR

LES CONSEILLERS FINANCIERS

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO IMMIGRATION ACT, 2014 /

LOI DE 2014 SUR L’IMMIGRATION

EN ONTARIO

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 4, 2014, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 161,

An Act with respect to immigration to Ontario and a related amendment to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 / Projet de loi 161, Loi portant sur l’immigration en Ontario et apportant une modification connexe à la Loi de 1991 sur les professions de la santé réglementées.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further debate?

M me France Gélinas: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order, the member from Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: Je veux juste souhaiter à tout le monde une belle Journée internationale de la Francophonie.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Merci beaucoup.

To the member from Simcoe–Grey.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Merci, monsieur le Président. It’s a pleasure to stand here today and to address Bill 161, the Ontario Immigration Act, as it’s known. I, like my colleagues, am willing to support this bill because I believe that there is merit in what’s trying to be accomplished. I do not believe, though, that we can in good conscience push through this new legislation while at the same time ignoring the source of the problem here in Ontario. If we want to increase immigration to Ontario, then we must improve the opportunities that are available here to new immigrants.

The truth is that over the past 10 years, this McGuinty-Wynne Liberal government has done an excellent job at driving investment, talent and good jobs out of our province.

Before this Liberal government took office, Ontario was the number one destination for newcomers to come to Canada. This can be seen when you look at Toronto and the GTA, where over half of all residents were born outside of our borders. When these individuals moved to Ontario, it was the land of opportunity. The unskilled workers flocked here from all corners of the globe to find good jobs, start families and live the kinds of lives they’ve always dreamed of. Today, potential immigrants look at Ontario, and they see a poor economic climate created by the McGuinty-Wynne government.

They see the high debt, with the deficit growing larger by the hour, the high taxes, the exorbitant cost of electricity, and they say, “No, thanks.” Instead, they move to Saskatchewan, or Alberta or Manitoba, where the economic climate is friendlier and they can see themselves obtaining a good job and creating the kind of life they want for themselves and their families.

We hear stories every day about our born-and-raised Ontarians, people that grew up here, were educated here, and are now finally at the age where they can work. These talented young individuals are heading for the border, because they can’t find any opportunities to pursue what they love to do here at home.

I’ve listened to the stories of young teachers from my riding being forced to find jobs abroad, in Asia, Europe or Australia, so they can finally teach and find fulfilment doing the work they love. I’ve heard the stories of some of our province’s brightest young engineering students being wooed by the overwhelming opportunities available to them working for American technology companies in Silicon Valley or in New York City. If we can’t even hold on to the skilled workers we have at home, individuals who have built lives and relationships in the communities where they were raised, then how can we possibly expect the economic environment to be inviting or attractive to newcomers?

It’s not only our economic climate that acts as a deterrent to immigrants. If they take one brief look at our education system here in Ontario, they will see the McGuinty-Wynne system that has produced steadily declining math scores over the past 10 years, a system that has allowed the tension over the demands of union bosses to take priority over the development and progress of our students.

This Liberal government is pumping $8 billion more a year into education while we have 300,000 fewer students enrolled, and yet we are constantly seeing worsening results. Even our post-secondary schools are struggling, as seen by the recent announcement of campus closures at the University of Guelph. Clearly, something is wrong here, and any immigrant raising a family, or looking to raise a family, would be able to deduce that, and it would certainly cause them to think twice before deciding to relocate here.

Every day, here in Ontario, we’re spending $1.8 million an hour more than we take in as revenue. The debt incurred here by the McGuinty-Wynne government is monumental, and the most troubling part of all is the utter lack of results yielded from a more than $264-billion debt.

Our education system has produced declining test scores. Our health care system is underperforming and, quite frankly, unprepared to handle the influx of medicinal needs required by the aging baby boomer population. Our infrastructure and highway systems in Toronto and the GTA are completely antiquated, face constant gridlock and are producing a $6-billion loss to productivity annually.

Wynne’s Liberal government is happy to rack up billions of dollars in debt through the creation of useless bureaucracy while allowing our public assets to fall into disrepair. This government’s reckless use of taxpayers’ money is simply unacceptable. Until the day that the Liberals finally decide to rein in their spending and shift focus to reduce the deficit and balance the budget, we’re never going to be able to effectively advertise ourselves as a desirable location for newcomers to Canada.

After this week’s realization that this government is not telling the public the whole truth when it comes to the state of our province’s provincial finances, knowing full well that they are nowhere near on track to balancing the budget by 2018, it’s clear that they’re sending the province down the wrong path and have no intention of a course correction. A lack of confidence in our economy—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): I would ask you to withdraw, because you can’t use that language.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker.

The lack of confidence in our economy is evidenced through the federal government’s low allocation of spots dedicated to Ontario in the provincial nominee program. Only 2,500 positions are allocated to Ontario—half of what Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba get.

The Liberals’ refusal to focus on jobs and the economy is causing us to lose access to a large number of skilled workers who could fill existing jobs in our province, jobs that cannot be filled from within. Statistics Canada predicts that by as early as 2020, which is really just around the corner, we could be facing a situation where we see more deaths than births within our communities.

Ontario’s aging baby boomer population, coupled with a rapidly declining birth rate, makes it a fact that future population growth must be driven by immigration. Despite this fact, the Liberal government has sat on the sidelines doing nothing while watching our national share of immigrants slip rapidly. In fact, last year, Ontario managed to reach its second-lowest level of immigration in recorded history.

The McGuinty-Wynne government has mismanaged immigration policy for over a decade, when they could have been making strides and working with the federal government to ensure Ontario’s economic needs would be met. The only reason Premier Wynne’s government has decided to focus on immigration now with Bill 161 is because the federal government has forced their hand with the introduction of the 2015 expression-of-interest policy. The federal government is strongly encouraging provinces to develop a system that will allow them to participate in this program come 2015.

Unlike the Liberals, my colleagues and I in the PC caucus understand that immigrants act as the much-needed fuel for our provincial economy and, as such, we’ve ensured that a successful immigration policy plays a critical role in our jobs plan. We want to work aggressively with the federal government to take full advantage of their programs for immigrants with strong skills. The federal government’s low allotment of slots for Ontario through the provincial nominee program is not the only challenge we face, but also this government’s inability to properly allocate these jobs to fit within our province’s needs.

This means that after a few years these new members of our communities head for our province’s borders in search of work that’s more meaningful to them, work that is not accessible to them here in Ontario.

The McGuinty-Wynne government has a proven track record of extremely poor retention when it comes to keeping our new residents in Ontario. My colleagues and I in the PC caucus realize that we must pay attention to not only what will attract new immigrants to Ontario, but also to what will help to keep them here.

My colleague Todd Smith from—I forget Todd’s riding—

Mr. Ted Arnott: Prince Edward–Hastings.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Prince Edward–Hastings—in case you got up, Mr. Speaker—has spoken of stories told to him by doctors who came to Ontario and felt instantly as if they had become a zero. We’ve all heard these stories, individuals reaching our province full of hope and potential, only to have their expectations crushed by our lack of foreign credential recognition for training gained abroad.

It is well known that here in Ontario we are in need of more skilled labour: doctors, nurses, engineers and architects. Yet, this Liberal government has imposed artificial barriers, which will prevent these skilled professionals from using their skills.

New immigrants are smart people and they put a lot of research into a place before they decide to move. When they look at Ontario, they see a region that is facing the highest unemployment rate in Canada. How can we expect these educated individuals to willingly choose to move to a region where over one million people are waking up every day without a job? This is why I and my colleagues are hesitant when we see this bill. It effectively ignores the largest problem plaguing Ontario today. Without first developing and instituting a jobs plan, this bill will never have its desired effect.

My caucus knows this and the federal government knows this, as seen through their low allotment of spots for Ontario within the provincial nominee program. The only ones who have yet to grasp this concept is Premier Wynne’s Liberal government. It is as if the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals don’t even realize how desperate a situation they’ve gotten this province into.

We must first create an environment where businesses want to invest in our province and create new jobs. A successful business sector is essential in attracting newcomers who want to build their lives here and will never be able to attract new businesses and investors unless Premier Wynne opens her eyes and realizes that drastic measures are needed to get Ontario’s financial situation under control.

The PC caucus has constantly pushed the importance of a jobs plan for Ontario. In December, thanks to our programming motion, we saw the swift passage of several social-type bills that the government and, in fact, all parties were willing to agree to. My intent in moving the motion was to shift the focus of the Legislature on to the economy, creating space for a jobs plan to emerge. It’s now nearing the end of March, and we have yet to see an economic plan from this government.

Now, this week, we come to find out that the Liberals and NDP have put their own political interests first yet again by pushing off the budget date. It shows yet again that they care more about keeping their jobs than creating new ones for the million people in Ontario who are out of work. Municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals can’t plan their budgets until the province has put forward its own. This weakens public services and ultimately puts everyone at risk. This is why it has been a long-standing practice of this government, up until last year, to table a provincial budget before the end of the fiscal year.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Point of order, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’d kindly ask the member opposite to stick to Bill 161.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): If the member would refer to the bill.

Mr. Jim Wilson: If you had a bloody jobs plan, maybe Bill 161 would be a more effective piece of legislation.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): I’d ask you to withdraw.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker. I must have touched a nerve over there.

So the Ontario PC caucus is willing to put the people of Ontario first. We’re willing to put our own jobs on the line and face the electorate in order to get a jobs plan on the table for Ontario’s unemployed youth, women and men. And you’ll see that on Monday when we debate our opposition day motion, which calls on the government to bring forward a jobs plan or adopt our leader’s, Tim Hudak’s, million-jobs plan or bring forward your budget and show us that it is truly a jobs plan by March 31, as you know you should. Now we hear they’re going to push it back to May.

I guess they want to put off that debate as long as possible. The debate is about jobs, and I don’t care what piece of legislation you bring forward here; it’s about jobs, jobs, jobs.

So again, if the Liberals don’t have a plan of their own, they shouldn’t be in government and they should face the electorate and they should put a confidence vote to this House. Yesterday, we tabled a motion that would, as I mentioned, force the government to table their budget by March 31. I suspect the NDP will once again prop up—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): A point of order, the member—

Hon. Michael Coteau: For the last minute, all I’ve heard is, “The budget, the budget, the budget.” I think he needs to focus on Bill 161. We’re talking about the Ontario Immigration Act. I’d ask the Speaker to gently remind the member opposite to stick to that topic.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Thank you; I’ve been listening very carefully. The member for Simcoe–Grey.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad you’re on my side.

My whole theme, I say to the Minister of Immigration—I’m sorry, I have a bad cold this morning, so maybe it’s not coming across clearly enough. You can have all the immigration law you want, but newcomers don’t want to come here because you’ve created such a crappy environment. Okay, do you understand it? The budget has an awful lot to do with that.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Would the member speak to the Chair, please?

Mr. Jim Wilson: There are five main elements to our million-jobs plan, which would help attract immigration to the province and create jobs. First, the bill will produce more jobs and increase take-home pay through lower taxes and less debt. It’s common sense: Well-run businesses invest in well-run provinces. Immigrants will want to come to well-run provinces and help us with our skills shortage. Our plan is to balance the budget quickly, using tools like an across-the-board government wage freeze that would save $2 billion per year and reduce taxes on employers so they can start to hire again.

Second, our plan will ensure affordable energy that will create jobs, not eliminate them, ending the chaos in Ontario’s energy sector and returning to reliable and affordable energy rates that businesses can depend on. We aim to provide cost-efficient and reliable energy. Our plan will end expensive subsidies for wind and solar power projects that drive up costs and punish both manufacturers and Ontario families with high electricity bills. I mean, who wants to come to a province when we now have the highest electricity rates in almost all of North America and certainly in all of Canada?

I remind you, those rates—in 2003, it was 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour. That was the average daily electricity rate in the province for consumers. Today it’s as high as 12.4 cents per kilowatt hour. It’s shocking, and it’s something that’s at the heart of this issue, and that’s jobs for new Canadians and new Ontarians.

Third, the Million Jobs Act will train more skilled workers to meet the huge demand in trades and help young people find good jobs. Colleges Ontario estimates there are 46% fewer tradespeople per capita in Ontario compared to the rest of the Canada. That’s a problem. So we will change the apprentice-to-journeyman ratio to 1 to 1 and abolish the job-killing College of Trades and the trades tax, which is nothing but a tax on workers and a costly bureaucracy that gets in the way of new job opportunities.

Fourth, we will increase trade with our neighbours. It will put more made-in-Ontario products on more shelves. As some of you may know, internal trade barriers cost the Canadian economy $50 billion a year. We want to make sure the things Ontario workers make can reach as many customers as possible and, again, create jobs for those people that would want to come to Ontario and live a good life. Our plan also requires that the government of Ontario begin negotiations to join the economic partnership of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Finally, fifth, we want to end the bureaucratic runaround that inhibits jobs creation. We will lift the heavy hand of government and reduce the 300,000 regulations in Ontario that bog businesses in paperwork. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, complying with Ontario’s regulatory requirements costs businesses approximately $11 billion a year. And it wipes out opportunities for people who want to come to Ontario, and for those who were born and raised in Ontario, to have a good life and a good job.

We aim to reduce the regulatory burden in Ontario by a minimum of one third for three years. Now, doesn’t that sound like a more conducive environment that people would want to come to, a place where a newcomer to our country would have a chance at a good job and a good life?

For a decade, this government has been driving up debt with billion-dollar scandals and multi-billion-dollar deficits year after year, working to drive out all investment and job opportunity within this great province. We saw it with Heinz in Leamington; with GM in Windsor, Oshawa and St. Catharines; with ExxonMobil Chemical Films in Belleville; with Saputo Dairy in Brampton; and with Alcoa in Collingwood. The list goes on and on. These companies have left—they’ve closed their doors—and we’ve lost the opportunity for employment in those locations.

Ontario’s unemployment rate has been stubbornly high, above the national average, for far too long; I think it’s 84 months now that we’ve been above the national average. We used to be the economic engine that drove this country; now we’re the caboose. That high unemployment rate serves as a constant reminder that this Liberal government is doing something seriously wrong. We need to create an environment where investors want to create jobs, not one that makes them want to close up shop, as thousands of individuals who were put out of work by factory closings across Ontario know all too well.

The foundation of this great country was built off the hard work of immigrants from all corners of the world. It’s the fuel for our economy, and the future of our province certainly rests on our ability to continue to attract these individuals in years to come. The history of our country and this province, no matter how long ago you came here—I know my family came here over 250 years ago. We were actually pre-potato-famine Irish immigrants. A whole pile of cousins more came over when they couldn’t eat anything in Ireland, too, but we’ve been here a long time and I still consider us to be immigrants. We still consider ourselves—our family does—and we often talk about it.

We’ve been privileged: Many of my siblings, brothers and sisters, have married into families that have come from all over the globe. I have relatives from five nationalities different from my own. I have relatives through marriage, in-laws. What a beautiful place Ontario has been, and what a great place it could be in the future if only the government would concentrate more on creating jobs and opportunities for families so that newcomers would want to come here.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Questions and comments?

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s once again an honour to be able to rise in this House and speak in response to the member from Simcoe–Grey, but more importantly, to speak about the bill, which is all about immigration.

As the son of immigrants, as many of us are—I’m happily married to someone who emigrated from Holland almost 30 years ago—immigrants have made a huge difference in this province, and they can continue to make a huge difference in this province. They come here, and they want to come here because, as our forefathers did, they want to improve their lives. And because they want to improve their lives, they also improve our province, because they work hard.

They want to build a heritage, they want to build a future for their children and they want to help build Ontario. I think that one of the most important discussions we can have in this House is how to help them integrate and how to make it easier for them to come to Ontario. Yes, Ontario is experiencing some big problems; I think that’s one of the things we have to discuss here. But specifically in my region, the people who have come to my region recently are calling for us to take some measures—do something—to allow more people to come to the north. The north offers huge opportunities for people not only from Ontario but from other places.

I get calls very regularly from people who have come to northern Ontario lately with suggestions about how to make it easier for their friends and family to come, because they have things to contribute to this province. I think this discussion and this bill are at least a start on how we can start that process to bring more people to Ontario and let them contribute, as have immigrants in waves past.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I take great pride to speak to Bill 161 and respond to the member from Simcoe–Grey. He said a lot of things, and he made many points. Out of all of those points, I probably agree with one point he made, and that was that we all have an immigrant past here in the province of Ontario, outside of our aboriginal population.

There’s a different voice that I hear when I’m out of this building, in comparison to what I hear on that side of the House. The Conservative Party of Ontario continuously puts Ontario down. I think the member from Simcoe–Grey said Ontario was once beautiful. He says that Ontario is no longer the number one destination for newcomers.

The fact is that Ontario is a beautiful province, and it’s the most beautiful province in this country, number one. Number two, the province remains the number one choice of destination for newcomers in the country of Canada. If you take all of the provinces west of Ontario and you combine the immigration for all of those provinces—Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia—Ontario attracts more people than all of those provinces combined.

Interjection.

Hon. Michael Coteau: We are the greatest province in Canada, and I’m glad that one of the members opposite still believes that Ontario is the greatest place to be in Canada.

Let’s stand up for Ontario once in a while. Let’s not take a negative tone when we speak about Ontario. Immigrants continue to come to this province because it is a wonderful place and there are great opportunities.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, come to order.

Hon. Michael Coteau: In fact, Mr. Speaker, we heard reference that Ontario is no longer the economic engine of this country. I believe it is—what is it?—40% of the GDP of this country, and in fact the GTA is 22% of the entire economic engine of the country.

Stop putting Ontario down. Stand up for Ontario. We want a Progressive Conservative Party that believes in this province, and if you don’t believe in it, well, go west.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Order.

The member for Durham.

Mr. John O’Toole: I came here this morning in quite a good mood. I came specifically to hear the member from Simcoe–Grey, and I think he summarized the bill. He started by saying, “We support the bill.” Then he went on to explain the risk to the future of Ontario because of no jobs plan. They aren’t presenting a budget.

He said in one passionate statement—and I’m sure he’s settled down now, but it did upset the minister—“Jobs, jobs, jobs.” Really, what new Canadians would want is a job and an opportunity, as we all would for our children as well as everyone in the province.

There has been quite a change with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration this morning, if I could. I say this with the deepest regard and respect. The minister, this morning, in his very fancy limousine, pulled up beside me on University Avenue—this morning—and kindly stopped and said, “Mr. O’Toole, get in the car.” I thought it was the police. Anyway, I thank him for that publicly. That was a very kind gesture.

I don’t know what has changed since then. Then he went on this tirade this morning. I would encourage you to keep that positive attitude you had when you stopped in a kind gesture this morning and picked me up on University Avenue. I do mean that quite sincerely, because he is kind-hearted, and I think that shows up in the bill here.

But in fairness, the member from Simcoe–Grey was passionately making the point that Ontario is the largest province. It used to be the leader in Canada; now we’re not.

Interjections.

Mr. John O’Toole: No. We have the largest economy because we have the largest population: 13 million people.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The Minister of Transportation, come to order, please.

Mr. John O’Toole: I would say this to you: You have provinces like Alberta, provinces like Saskatchewan, that are one tenth of the size of Ontario and are more prosperous economies that are driving Canada.

There’s a lot to be said about immigration, but jobs is an important part of it.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The member for Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: I will add my voice to Bill 161,

An Act with respect to immigration to Ontario and a related amendment to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. I want to give the example of Dr. Carolina Bohrer. Carolina is a 32-year-old critical care pediatrician. She’s a newcomer to my riding. Dr. Bohrer lives in Azilda, in Nickel Belt. She is from Brazil. She trained in Brazil but did her residency in Alberta, in Canada. She wrote and passed all of her exams. She has now paid close to $10,000 to make sure that she had passed all of the Canadian exams, and she passed all of them with flying colours.

She has been approached by people at SickKids in order to get a fellowship, because her skills are so needed in Ontario, but right now, she can’t even get an academic licence. The chief of pediatrics at Health Sciences North, the hospital in Sudbury, Dr. Murray, can’t wait to add her to the team of pediatricians who offer services to the children of the northeast, but he can’t.

She started this process of being recognized as a pediatrician here in Ontario a year and a half ago. Actually, in May, it will be two years ago that she started this process. She has done her elective in Canada. She has passed every exam that you put in front of her, with flying colours. People in Canada know her, want her. The kids in Sudbury need her skills. But the process is so slow that she is still not allowed to practise.

I support the part of the bill that says we will require that a college of a health profession make registration decisions within a reasonable time period. Two years is too long.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The member for Simcoe–Grey, you have two minutes.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I thank those members who responded to my comments.

The point I was trying to make, and I think I did make quite clearly on many occasions, because it got under the skin of the party opposite, the Liberals, is that you can have all the new immigration law you want, but if Ontario isn’t the leader once again at creating jobs and making sure they’re good jobs, not only for people who were born and raised here and have roots in our communities but for those who want to come and grow roots in our communities—I would think that the provincial nominee program itself, and the allocation of only 25,000 slots this year, and the fact that last year, Ontario had the second-lowest immigration in recorded history, is an indication, or should be an indication, I say to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, that something’s terribly wrong, that something’s going wrong.

I didn’t make those facts up, and I don’t think any politician in Ottawa or here made them up. I think they’re just facts that come from Stats Canada, and I don’t think Stats Canada has been overly politicized by any party over the last few decades, so I trust them. I trust your own statistics here in the province of Ontario, accumulated by the bureaucrats.

But I appreciate your comments. And, yes, we all want to brag about Ontario, and we certainly do that when we talk to people. But inside this place, we need to get our facts straight, and we need to work every day to create the opportunities for new Canadians and those who are here and raised here.

The fact of the matter is, I do want to say to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, because we all agree that he’s a good guy, that if you’re going to continue to kidnap the member from Durham just to try and get him on your side of the House—naughty, naughty, naughty, and don’t do it again.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Further debate?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: It is a pleasure to rise this morning in this House, as MPP for London West, to offer some comments on Bill 161, the Ontario Immigration Act.

This legislation is a high priority for me personally, as a former policy researcher who led several research studies on post-secondary bridging programs for internationally educated health professions.

It’s also a priority for the people I represent in London West, many of whom face barriers when they arrive in London as immigrants or refugees.

Finally, it is a huge priority for my community because of recent data from the 2011 National Household Survey showing that London is less diverse than the rest of Ontario, with an immigrant population of only 19% compared to a provincial average of almost 29%. We need and want to do more to welcome immigrants. But as a municipality, we are limited in the tools available to us without provincial leadership.

The proportion of immigrants to Canada who come to Ontario is declining, from 60% in 2001 to 40% in 2011, which is Ontario’s lowest share in at least 30 years. In my community of London, Ontario, this trend is even more pronounced. So this bill is a welcome and long-overdue initiative. It’s a step in the right direction, offering the promise of significant progress on some important issues, which is why New Democrats are pleased to support it.

Unfortunately, however, it does not do much more than offer the promise of change. Because it relies on the approval of the federal government, the bill would not necessarily be successful in achieving some of its most important goals, such as increasing the number of new immigrants to Ontario; for example, to increase our provincial nominee program to 5,000 in 2014. Most of all, the bill does not address some of the real and fundamental challenges facing newcomers to our province.

It does not address the long-standing problems of ensuring that highly trained immigrants are able to work in their professional fields and that they are able to get employment that matches their experience and earn incomes that are in line with those of other Ontarians. It does not deal with settlement issues, broadly defined, which include housing, education, health care and a myriad of other issues. It does not address issues that affect non-economic-class immigrants, including their entry into the labour force.

While the bill recognizes municipalities and employers as important partners, it is silent on the role of the community-based non-profit immigrant and refugee-serving sector, which, as we know, makes a huge contribution to the settlement of immigrants in our communities.

So what are the main provisions of the bill? First, it provides authority for Ontario to establish and govern immigrant selection programs for both temporary and permanent immigrants. It also allows the government to set immigration targets designed to help the province meet economic and labour market needs for the number of immigrants allowed into the province by Ontario’s selection programs. We know, from demographic analysis, that we need to more than double the proportion of immigrants we are bringing in just to offset the decline in our labour market as a result of population aging.

Over the same period, the profile of the immigrants who are arriving is also changing. We’ve seen a decline in the proportion of economic-class immigrants, from 64% in 2001 to 52% in 2011, which is lower than any other province and much lower than the provincial average of 71% of immigrants. Bill 161 is specifically intended to increase the class of economic immigrants; that is, those highly educated newcomers who were often professionals in their countries of origin. But there is a catch, and it’s a big one.

Because any new programs would have to be approved by the federal government and there is no guarantee that this will happen, there is no assurance that the federal government will agree with this legislation.

Second, the bill enables the minister to conduct research, organize educational and training programs and appoint committees on immigration-related issues. This is a vital aspect of the bill because we need to understand what programs are working, how they are working and how we can improve.

Third, the bill allows the minister to establish registries for both employers and recruiters who are interested in participating in Ontario selection programs under the act.

Fourth, the bill sets out a number of provisions related to process, including processes to monitor and detect possible contraventions of the act in order to prevent immigration fraud and protect program integrity, and permitting the minister to collect, use and disclose personal information in order to carry out these functions.

The bill aligns requirements under the Regulated Health Professions Act with those in the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act in terms of timelines in decision-making and access to records, which was a direction from the Office of the Fairness Commissioner.

It creates a compliance and enforcement regime, including inspection, investigation powers, offences, and penalties for both individuals and organizations. It permits applicants to request an internal review regarding a decision made, and it allows for regulation-making authority in areas such as program administration, program eligibility, compliance, internal review and the payment of fines.

Finally, the bill allows the minister to enter into agreements with the federal government, other provinces and municipalities.

I now want to move to talk a bit about the implications of this bill for my community of London, Ontario, as well as share with this House some of the findings from the research I was involved in.

I mentioned earlier that London has a lower proportion of immigrants than many other large Ontario cities, but it is often a first destination for newcomers from Latin America because of our large and established Spanish-speaking community. We are also a key secondary settlement location, and we are the number one destination for refugee claimants in Ontario.

One of the issues we are facing in attracting newcomers to our community is the struggling economy in southwestern Ontario, and persistently high unemployment that causes many immigrants to leave because they cannot find work.

The 2011 census showed that about 12,000 immigrants reported moving to the London area between 2006 and 2011, but almost exactly the same number moved out, so the net change between 2006 and 2011 was only 235 immigrants.

It’s hard to attract skilled newcomers when all you can offer are opportunities to clean houses or drive taxis or deliver pizza; when their only option is to work survival jobs that put them further behind as they lose their skills and are unable to afford either the time or the money to go to school for bridge training. It becomes a vicious circle. In many ways, it is unconscionable, what we do to newcomers when we allow them in but deny them opportunities to work.

In my previous life as a policy researcher, before I was elected, I conducted surveys, focus groups and interviews with internationally educated health professionals who had arrived in this province with finely-honed professional skills developed through education and training in their countries of origin, and often with many years of professional experience as practitioners.

Too many times, they discovered after arrival that they would have to go through a complicated and costly series of steps in order to work in their profession. For example, the credential process for an internationally educated physiotherapist can take up to a year or more, at a cost of $4,000 for credential review, prior learning assessment, and the written component of the Physiotherapy Competency Exam.

We know that internationally educated health professionals play an increasingly important role in addressing health human resource pressures, and are also vital in providing culturally competent care to Canada’s diverse population.

But there are significant challenges that IEHPs—internationally educated health professions—face in transitioning to Canadian practice, including the validation of education credentials, achieving language fluency, obtaining clinical experience, passing certification exams, and learning the culture of the Canadian health care system.

Despite a number of recent projects undertaken by federal and provincial governments, the failure rate of internationally educated health professionals on national exams in many professions is significantly higher than the Canadian average, and obtaining clinical experience that will be recognized by regulatory bodies and employers remains a barrier.

The research project I was involved in made some important recommendations, including the need for sustained funding for flexible, affordable and accessible bridging and employment integration programs and, in particular, more and better pre-immigration information about the process to become licensed to practise and to register in their professions.

During the by-election last summer, I spent considerable time talking to internationally educated professionals in my riding. Many were living in low-income housing, either unemployed or working in precarious survival jobs to support their families while waiting for their credentials to be recognized. Some were trying to gather the financial resources necessary and arrange child care so that they could enrol in a bridging program to address gaps that were preventing them from entering professional practice.

Just a few months ago, in December, I attended an immigration round table for professionals that was organized by the London Multicultural Club. Unfortunately, the minister was invited but was unable to attend that event. If he had, he would have heard first-hand some of the challenges and barriers faced by internationally educated newcomers in my community. I want to share with this House some of those stories that were told to us at that round table, and other stories that I’ve heard from my constituents in London West.

First, I want to read from a letter I received from an internationally trained physician in my riding which captures directly the frustration and the anxiety experienced by skilled newcomers:

“I am an internationally trained physician from Iraq and I have been living in London, Ontario, as a landed immigrant since 2009. Since my arrival I have completed my Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada exams and earned my LMCC certificate with excellent scores.... I have also [been] volunteering and doing observerships in multiple places to build up my CV, but unfortunately, after all the hard work, I was never offered a job in the field of health care, let alone medicine. Now, after all this time and hard work, I feel that I am back to square one with no job....

Why is an enthusiastic, passionate … and someone who has completed all the requirements of the Licentiate being shunned from the system? When I arrived to Canada I was 26 and now I am 31, and I don’t feel that I can live on with uncertainty for eternity.”

Another doctor, a foreign-trained ob-gyn, came to my office and questioned why CIC would credit perspective immigrants with points scoring them higher for immigration when they can’t find work in their respective fields. This doctor also obtained her Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. She passed the national exam as well as the membership exam with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

But while looking to work in her field, she was continually told that she needed to complete a Canadian residency, which she said she would do, but she cannot get into a medical school because of the limited spaces for huge numbers of applicants. She is understandably upset and emotional because she wants to practise her specialty and had expectations that she would be able to do that when she came to Canada. She feels she was misinformed and that our system makes it very difficult to get accurate information.

At this point, she is telling others considering immigrating not to come because they will not be able to work in their chosen profession.

We need to do a better job of informing people before they come to Canada of what exactly will be required of them in order for them to practise their profession. We have people landing here thinking that they will walk into a job because they have scored high in points. There’s a big disconnect between what immigrants are told pre-arrival and the reality they experience when they arrive. It can be very expensive and confusing for immigrants, and stressful and destabilizing for the whole settlement process.

Another issue—a painful issue for MPPs to deal with—are cases of neonatal mothers without status in Canada and no access to health care. In my office, I talked with a Canadian man whose partner had come to Canada with a working holiday visa that gave her health care benefits. It was limited to a one-year term that was neither extendable nor renewable. She became pregnant but her health benefits ran out when her visa expired, which made her a person without status in Canada. One month after the birth of her baby, the child died. Although the baby was covered by OHIP as a Canadian citizen, the mother was not, and the cost of the birth and the funeral was $30,000.

The second case was a woman whose visa had expired in mid-September but she was expecting in October. After a difficult birth, she needed hospitalization for four days, and ended up with a bill of $15,000.

We are not taking good care of young Ontarians when we don’t take good care of their mothers. We are not helping their families get off to a good start in life when we saddle their parents with tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

I have to say that it is indeed heartening to finally see some action being taken on immigration issues by this Liberal government after more than a decade in office, including, I might add, three majority governments when they would have been in a position to move forward and show leadership on the issues identified in Bill 161.

These issues did not just appear this year or last year. These are issues that we have been hearing about for many, many years in our communities.

By refusing to take action, by not addressing these issues until the waning days of a minority government—think of the consequences to Ontario, not just the economic costs of having highly qualified professionals unable to utilize their skills and contribute to our economy, and not just the loss of talent in our workforce in the face of widespread skill shortages, but the human costs, the anguish and loss of dignity and purpose experienced by people who are no longer able to practise their career and are made to feel like an underclass when they arrive in Ontario, and the social loss to our communities without the rich diversity of ideas, culture and experience that newcomers bring.

The Liberal government has no excuse for not acting sooner. After more than 10 years in power, it is shameful that this is the first piece of legislation that is concerned with immigration.

In his leadoff speech, my colleague the member for Beaches–East York shared with us a troubling tale of the years of missed opportunities for this province to follow the lead of Quebec and create our own immigration system. These doors are now closed, and this is no longer a possibility. Ontario no longer has room to fashion our own immigration policies that meet our needs as a province. We must take direction from the federal government.

In closing, I say again that we are pleased to see this legislation come forward. We are prepared to support this legislation. But we also want to see some action taken on so many other issues related to the arrival of newcomers in our community.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Questions and comments?

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to rise in support of Bill 161. I want to begin my remarks about some of the data that I want to make sure—the opposition, especially the opposition party, commented earlier, from the member from Simcoe–Grey.

In 2010, 93% of those immigrants who landed in Ontario in the past five years, meaning from 2006 to 2010, remained in Ontario. That’s 93%, Mr. Speaker. Another 89% of those landing between 2001 and 2005 were also still in Ontario. These are the highest immigration retention rates among all the provinces. The next-highest retention rate was in Alberta, with 92% retention rates from 2006 to 2010. The lowest retention rate was in PEI, with only a 37% retention rate. I want to make sure that the opposition hears these facts.

I’m very pleased to hear the comments made by my colleague from London West about the plight of the refugees. I totally hear that. As a former public health nurse, I saw them every day when I visited their homes, and when I was a trustee for the Toronto District School Board. Their needs are unique—and especially that Ontario is a welcoming and diverse and respectful province.

The other piece is, the proposed Bill 161 is the beginning, not the end. It is also the first step for Ontario so that we can chart our own course when it comes to attracting skilled immigrants.

I hear the concerns from my colleague from Nickel Belt and, as I said earlier, the member from London West. The challenge for new Canadians is not just the weather; we just experienced that. Certainly, new Canadians need to feel warm, respected and valued. Sometimes we hear the opposition talk down about our great province, and that’s not what Ontarians are all about. We’re a great province. We should be proud of everything we do.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Questions and comments?

M. Jerry J. Ouellette: L’histoire de ma famille remonte aussi loin que le deuxième bateau venu de France en 1604.

Quite frankly, that is that the family first came across in 1604. If you look at my mother’s side, my mother’s mother was Ukrainian and my mother’s father was Polish. On my father’s side, not only was there French but a First Nation. As well, his grandparents on his mother’s side were Irish and Scottish.

But I have concerns. I see that we’re talking about Bill 161. When you look and see that the Ontario Federation of Labour president backs Putin against the Ukrainians, and he calls the Ukrainians fighting against the Russians “thugs, fascists and anti-Semites,” how is that going to attract the quality individuals that we need in the province of Ontario when we’re talking about immigration?

Mr. John O’Toole: That’s the head of the federation of labour?

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: Yes, that is correct. That is the Ontario Federation of Labour president, when he states that the Ukrainians fighting against the Russians are thugs, fascists and anti-Semites. Not only that, but this same individual stands up and goes against Israel. How can we attract quality individuals into the province of Ontario when we have the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour standing up and making statements like this? It only takes away from Canadians. It only takes away from the great province that we have.

My grandmother, my bab,a came in 1927 and landed in Nova Scotia with a single bag; nothing else. She came to make a difference, landing, eventually, here in Oshawa, as did so many other Ukrainians and other individuals from all around the world. We have a great province here, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure that these individuals who come here to make a difference, to stand up for Canada as a whole, realize that when individuals like the Ontario Federation of Labour president stand up and say the Ukrainians are nothing but thugs, fascists and anti-Semites, it’s not what we all represent. We’re all-inclusive and we want to make sure Ontario remains that way.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Questions and comments?

M. Michael Mantha: Aujourd’hui est le temps de célébrer la francophonie de l’Ontario. Ça me fait plaisir de donner mes petits mots en regard du projet de loi 161, la Loi portant sur l’immigration en Ontario et apportant une modification connexe à la Loi de 1991 sur les professions de la santé réglementées. Ma collègue de London-Ouest a apporté un bon aperçu du projet de loi.

Mais aujourd’hui, en célébrant la francophonie, je veux vraiment donner de bons commentaires au ministre de l’Immigration en regard du contenu qui va être rajouté. C’est 5 % envers le projet, et puis l’idée d’apporter plus de francophones à la province—je pense que les gens de la communauté francophone et la francophonie apportent un gros plus à la diversité qu’on a dans notre province. C’est vraiment une bonne étape qu’on va prendre pour inviter plus de gens pour ce faire et donner un aperçu de l’Ontario qu’on accueille tous à notre province.

Puis, avec des nouveaux, une diversité—ça va vraiment améliorer les services qu’on a ici dans la province, et puis les beaux sourires qu’on a tout le temps des gens francophones.

I also wanted to comment a little bit about this. Last week, when I was on my constituency week, particularly in the community of White River—I’m purposely making this indication so you can hear that—there is a huge demand for work there. Good things are happening up in White River. There’s employment—there is a new mill that has opened up—but there is a huge shortage in manpower up there. There are local businesses that are struggling to find man- and womanpower to work in complementary, supporting roles in their economy.

I look forward to seeing the discussions that we’re going to have with this bill and I look forward to sharing more comments that I’m going to have on this.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Questions and comments?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’d like to thank the member for London West for her comments.

This bill is a step in the right direction for the province of Ontario. It’s about charting our own course here. In fact, I had the opportunity to meet with many of my counterparts, different ministers responsible for immigration across the country, including the federal minister, and I got some good responses with regard to this piece of legislation. In fact, other ministers were asking how they could copy such a piece of legislation to help chart their courses in their provinces, because we know there’s a new system coming into place. It’s called the expression-of-interest model.

It’s going to directly link employment with immigration, and we believe it will account for about 50% of all immigration here in Canada.

We, as a Legislature, have to put in place a system that will allow us to work with business and to work with newcomers to ensure that we, as a province, continue to grow and prosper. It is an economic imperative that we get this file right, and I think now is the time that we have to invest in this legislation.

If you compare our record on this side of the House to the former Conservative government and former NDP government, you’ll see that this is a government that’s very different than the two previous governments. We’ve made some drastic improvements in settlement services. I don’t even think that when the Conservatives were in power, immigration was on their radar. In fact, I don’t think I’ve had a question on immigration from the Conservatives since I’ve been the minister. I think one came from one member about the provincial nominee program. But it’s not even on their radar.

If Bill 161 wasn’t brought forward, I don’t think the Conservatives would even be talking about immigration. They wouldn’t even be talking about immigration.

I’m happy that finally a government has come forward to move some great legislation so Ontario can continue to chart its course and be the number one destination for all immigrants and newcomers here in Canada.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The member from London West, you have two minutes for a response.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Thank you, Speaker.

I’d like to thank the member from Scarborough–Agincourt, the member from Oshawa, the member from Algoma–Manitoulin and the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship for their comments.

I wanted to respond to some of the remarks that were made, particularly around the issue of the retention of immigrants. Speaking as the member for London West and given the realities of the experience in my community, I know that we are not retaining immigrants. Many who arrive are leaving, and retention is a big issue for us. We want to do more to enable people who arrive to transition into the workplace and to use the skills that they bring, which are often exceptional skills that they have been trained for in their countries of origin.

In response to the member from Oshawa, I think the most important thing that we can do to attract immigrants is to ensure that we have smooth credential recognition processes and accessible bridging processes to enable them to become licensed and enter the professions for which they were trained.

I agree with the member from Algoma–Manitoulin about the importance of setting a target for francophone immigrants, because we want to be welcoming to the diversity of people across the world and, of course, we want to engage francophone newcomers and all the skills that they bring to our economy and, as the member pointed out, for our labour force.

Finally, to the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, I would say yes, I agree; this is a step in the right direction. It’s important, and I’m glad to hear about the conversations you’ve been having with the federal government and your counterparts in other provinces.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Further debate? The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

L’hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Et des affaires francophones. Alors, je voudrais souhaiter à tous les Ontariens aujourd’hui, tous les francophones et francophiles de l’Ontario, une bonne journée de la Francophonie.

Sur ce, monsieur le Président, ça me fait plaisir de parler aujourd’hui sur notre projet de

loi sur l’immigration. Premièrement, je voudrais féliciter le ministre de l’Immigration pour cette belle initiative. Dans ce projet de loi, il y a—pour la première fois, on veut encourager l’immigration francophone ici en Ontario. On est le premier gouvernement qui se donne une cible pour encourager l’immigration francophone en Ontario. Alors, je voudrais féliciter le ministre qui a pensé à cette belle initiative fort bien acceptée par la communauté francophone.

Ce projet de loi est important. Il est important pour nous tous parce que les Ontariens, on vient tous d’ailleurs. On est une terre d’accueil. On a accueilli des gens d’à peu près tous les pays au monde. Puis, les gens se sentent bien ici.

On sait qu’il y a certaines provinces qui, oui, se disent qu’elles veulent bien accueillir des immigrants mais qui mettent toutes sortes d’embûches, toutes sortes de politiques en place qui font que les immigrants qui viennent ici ne se sentent pas toujours bien accueillis.

Mais en Ontario, on doit se féliciter tous et toutes parce qu’on a toujours été une communauté ouverte. On aime accueillir des immigrants de tous les pays, et ça fait que l’Ontario—moi, je pense à tout ce que les autres communautés immigrantes, lorsqu’elles sont arrivées ici, ont apporté à l’Ontario, ce qui fait qu’on est une province où la plupart des immigrants veulent venir, qu’ils viennent ici à travers d’autres provinces. Finalement, même les francophones veulent venir ici en Ontario parce qu’ils savent qu’ils vont être bien accueillis.

Alors, oui, il y a des lacunes encore. On entendait tantôt parler des professionnels qui viennent d’ailleurs et qui doivent attendre pour pouvoir exercer leur profession. Mais ceci dit, on a fait beaucoup d’avancées là-dessus. On a maintenant un commissaire qui revoit les plaintes de ces gens-là qui sont des professionnels—et des associations professionnelles, des corps professionnels ne sont peut-être pas pleinement ouverts à l’accueil des immigrants. Alors, le ministre, bien sûr, a voulu mettre en place des mesures—le ministre présent et les ministres passés—mais sous notre gouvernement, on a fait beaucoup d’avancées sur ce côté-là.

Pour une de mes collègues qui disait la semaine dernière que je ne connais pas le côté agricole parce que je représente Ottawa–Vanier, je voudrais la corriger, parce que je viens d’un petit village d’à peu près 350 de population. C’est un village agricole dans les Laurentides. Alors, je connais très bien le côté agricole.

Oui, ce projet de loi-là va mettre en place des balises et des outils qui vont assurer de plus en plus que les francophones peuvent venir ici en Ontario et être bien accueillis et connaître aussi les services qui leur sont offerts.

On doit s’assurer que les gens connaissent ces services, et aussi, s’ils ont des problèmes, qu’ils puissent avoir recours à des services qui peuvent les aider, soit à continuer de poursuivre leurs études, soit à pouvoir exercer leur profession ici en Ontario. Ils peuvent avoir recours à des services de mise à niveau. Certaines universités et certains collèges vont aussi leur permettre, surtout, de faire évaluer leurs acquis, et, s’ils n’ont pas tous les acquis dont on a besoin pour pratiquer ici, ils peuvent poursuivre leurs études pour, justement, avoir tous les critères et qualifications dont ils ont besoin pour pouvoir exercer leur profession ici en Ontario.

Je mets l’accent sur l’accueil des immigrants parce que, mieux les immigrants sont accueillis, meilleures seront leurs chances de succès—en fait, leurs chances de succès pour qu’ils soient bien intégrés et aussi leurs chances de succès économique. Lorsque tous ces critères-là sont alignés, on est tous gagnants ici en Ontario.

Alors, je voudrais m’assurer que les gens ici en Chambre appuient ce projet de loi-là, et, en terminant, je voudrais, une dernière fois, féliciter le ministre de l’Immigration pour cette belle initiative. On sait que notre ministre de l’Immigration est un immigrant ici en Ontario, et nous sommes très chanceux d’avoir une personne ayant ses qualités et ses talents à la tête. Il comprend bien les défis d’une personne qui arrive ici au pays et, surtout, en Ontario. En Ontario, on veut être—on est—une province où les immigrants sont bien accueillis, et on veut continuer sur cette voie-là.

Monsieur le Président, je vous remercie de votre attention.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Seeing the time on the clock, this House stands recessed until 10:30.

The House recessed from 1012 to 1030.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Monte Kwinter: Today Samantha Unger is the page captain; she’s from York Centre, and I’m delighted to welcome her parents, Jill Unger, and Mitch Unger, and her brother, Spencer. Welcome.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’m pleased to rise today to recognize Rob Black from the Rural Ontario Institute, and a number of beef farmers who are here today to participate in the Rural Ontario Institute’s Build program. In the gallery are Doug Helm, Rob Thompson, Rachel Bulmer, Karen Mansfield, David Noorloos, Mike Edwards, Dave Cavanagh, Bill Herron, Michael Hargrave, Betty-Jo Almond and Sandi Brock. I would like to welcome them all to Queen’s Park. I look forward to meeting with them this afternoon.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I’m delighted today to have David MacAlpine and Frank Tall in the gallery: a retired mathematician and a retired statistician.

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to rise to welcome my friend Mike Yen, a resident of Trinity–Spadina—welcome, Mike—as well as two classes of grade 10 students from Dr. Norman Bethune. They are here with their teachers, Derrick Wong and Caralin Fleet. Welcome to Queen’s Park—I think they are just coming in.

Mr. John O’Toole: I’d like to introduce Mary Novak, who’s a regional councillor for Durham—as well as her friend, a political activist, Gail Elizabeth Dowsett. They purchased lunch with me for supporting the Bethesda women’s shelter in Clarington. Thanks for coming today.

M me France Gélinas: Je veux juste souhaiter une belle Journée internationale de la Francophonie à tous mes collègues à l’Assemblée, et à vous aussi, monsieur le Président. Bonne journée de la Francophonie.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Merci beaucoup.

The member from Huron–Bruce.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m pleased to join our critic for agriculture to introduce two people from my riding. I’d like to introduce wonderful ambassadors of Ontario’s beef industry: Doug Helm, who hails from outside of Lucknow, in Huron county, and Rob Thompson, who is proud to call Ripley and Bruce county home.

Mr. Bill Walker: Similar to my colleague from Huron–Bruce, I would like to introduce Bill Herron and Michael Hargrave from the Beef Farmers of Ontario, from the beef capital of Canada, Bruce and Grey counties.

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s my great pleasure to welcome one of the great beef farmers from Lambton county, Dave Noorloos, here with us today.

ORAL QUESTIONS

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. Well, Premier, you got caught red-handed again. You were told about the precarious state of Ontario’s finances on one day, and went out the next and told the bond-rating agencies the complete opposite. In fact, you and your finance minister told the entire Legislature the complete opposite of what you knew to be the facts, and now you’re trying to block the release of public documents that you know show the real you.

This is not the old Liberals doing this; this is you, Premier. You preach openness and transparency, but as soon as we published public documents you tried every trick in the book to block us. Premier, exactly what is it that you don’t want Ontarians to see?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Be seated, please. I’m already beginning to hear things that I don’t like, and I’ll stop it.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the government House leader is going to want to speak to the specifics of the documentation that the member opposite is referring to. But I just want to make a general statement, and that is that, since I have been in this office, I have done everything in my power to provide information and answers to questions, whether it’s questions on the relocation of gas plants—we opened up the process around the gas plants. We provided tens of thousands of documents to the committee. I’ve appeared before the committee twice.

In terms of our fiscal situation, the information that is provided in the fall economic statement speaks to the exact situation that we are in in Ontario. We were very open about the realities of our situation, including the revenue shortfall of $5 billion. I hope that the member opposite has had a chance to read the fall economic statement.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Premier, your government got caught again, so out come the Liberal buzzwords. The budget was re-calibrated. No one in accounting even knows what that means. Nonetheless, we’re talking about a fixed point in time last spring. You and your cabinet were told the cold, hard facts, and you turned around and told the bond agencies the complete opposite. Now they say the budget will be aspirational. They aspire to have better numbers. I’m sorry, Premier, but the financial world doesn’t want your aspirations; they want the real numbers.

You’re doing everything in your power, Premier—everything in your power—to block the facts from getting out. Why do you continue to say one thing and do the opposite?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let’s talk about some numbers, because the member opposite has stated he’s interested in some numbers. So let’s talk about some reality here, what we’re dealing with. We exceeded our fiscal targets four years in a row. We’re the leanest government in Canada. If you look at the cost of programs, we’re the leanest government in Canada. We have created more than 446,000 net new jobs since the recessionary low. Employment rose in Ontario by 95,700 jobs in 2013. We’ve created 9,000 youth job placements through the youth employment fund since September.

Those are the facts. That is what is happening. The advice that we have gotten from officials is advice that we have acted on when we released the fall economic statement. Those numbers and that advice were reflected in the fall economic statement.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Premier, let’s look at the secret documents you tried to have quashed today. Let’s see what you didn’t want the public to see. You have a fiscal gap. First it was $3.5 billion. Two days later, you were told, “Your plans fall short of managing within allocations.” So you bumped up the gap to $3.6 billion, with no plan on how to pay for it. Then you went to a caucus retreat to take decisive action on reducing this massive hole. Sadly, you spent a further $900 million that day, bringing the hole in your budget to $4.5 billion. That’s just the extra.

That does not take into account the $10.1-billion deficit and the $7.2-billion deficit you’re already forecasting. Premier, I can see why you want these documents to be kept from the public. What else are you hiding from us?

Interjections.

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

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government house leader.

Hon. John Milloy: I’m a little bit disappointed in the honourable member across the way. I think he would realize above anyone, as someone who has served on a number of committees that have had access to certain government information, that there’s a balance in this Legislature. We’ve discussed this before in the House. Where committees have the right to information, that information is provided to them, but there are also moments when there are commercial confidences, when there are private matters, when there are third party issues, when there are documents that are of such a sensitive nature that the public versions are redacted.

I quote from 2002. The Minister of Energy of the day, Mr. Wilson, in regard to confidential information on a lease agreement between the Ontario Power Generation and British Energy, acknowledged at that time that disclosure of financial and commercial information from Ontario Power “may prejudice significantly”—

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

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Mr. Victor Fedeli: To the Premier: If anyone should be standing up and bringing a point of privilege, it should be us against every minister who attended the cabinet retreat where it was disclosed you have a $4.5-billion budget gap and then stood in this House and told the rest of us, “We’re on track to balance the budget.”

Premier, you knew that what you were telling this Legislature, the financial community and the public was the exact opposite from the real financial picture. When we presented these public documents, your first reaction was to attack me personally and accuse me of releasing confidential documents, even though you know those documents were supplied by the Clerk and are public documents.

Premier, last September, you stood and said, “I don’t believe ... undermining people’s credibility or attempting to do that is necessary.” When did you change your tactics, or was that always your MO?

Interjections.

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

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me continue the quote. In 2002, the Minister of Energy of the day, Minister Wilson, in regard to confidential information on a lease agreement between the Ontario Power Generation and British Energy, acknowledged at that time that disclosure of financial and commercial information from Ontario Power—and I’ll use his words—“may prejudice significantly the competitive position of the corporation or result in undue loss of gain to parties other than the corporation.’”

Mr. Speaker, that’s just one example, when they were in power, of how efforts were made to make sure that there was a balance between the committee’s right to see documents and the fact of the matter that certain documents are of a sensitive nature.

Those documents were provided to the committee, but there was also an urging of the committee, which the committee accepted, to hold those documents in confidence without the express permission of the committee itself.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: To the Premier: I realize you’re talking about 20-year-old documents, but why don’t we look at a very recent one and see what you didn’t want disclosed to the people of Ontario?

The gravity of the situation in Ontario comes to light in a note from your financial officials. They tell you that because you haven’t implemented any changes in your spending habits, you now have to cut $6.9 billion. They say, “Changes since 2012 budget show a deterioration in the fiscal outlook beyond 2013-14.”

Premier, you want to keep this information from being made public, but you can’t. These are public documents that you want quashed. This tells me we’ve only scratched the surface. These are the ones that are already disclosed. There’s something else in those files you don’t want us to see.

So I ask my fellow MPPs: Lend us your staff to scour through these thousands of documents and discover what Kathleen Wynne does not want us to see.

Interjections.

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

I will remind the member, and all members, again that we use titles or ridings.

Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I’m trying to get this clear. The honourable member is standing up and quoting from documents that were provided by the Ministry of Finance to the committee, which are in the public domain, which are in the possession of all the members of the committee, and he’s standing here in the Legislature and asking why we do not give them the documents. Mr. Speaker, we gave—

Interjections.

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

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, the best estimate we have is that there have been over 2.6 million documents provided to various committees by this government. The fishing expeditions of the opposition have cost tens of thousands of dollars in staff time and have tied up the bureaucracy. But we recognize their right for those documents, and we have provided them.

Mr. Speaker, they—

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

Interjection.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Yes, we have the documents, and you’re trying to stop us from releasing them. I’ll tell you what’s in another one of them. You continue to use the buzzword “aspirational.” Let’s see what the secretary of cabinet told you in one of these documents. “The plan to continue reducing spending beyond 2015-16 is largely aspirational in nature rather than backed up by detailed plans and measures to get us there.” So now we know what “aspirational” means: “We’d love this to happen. We just have absolutely no idea how to get there.”

Premier, is this your idea of governing: You get caught, and you attempt to drag me through the mud to distract from the fact that you have no plan for the 600,000 men and women who woke up this morning without a job? This is the latest example of the Liberals putting their priorities ahead of the needs of the people of Ontario.

Hon. John Milloy: The member should know that the Oscar season was a few weeks ago. The fact of the matter is that we have provided thousands and thousands of pages of documents to that committee. Those documents have been made public. They are available for discussion and debate here in the Legislature. At the time—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): That’s enough. Yes, I did; I caught you. You can look away all you want.

Hon. John Milloy: At that time, the committee, on which the opposition has a majority, decided that certain parts of documents which are of a sensitive nature should remain confidential unless the committee itself decided otherwise. That was the committee’s decision. The documents that he has received, that he’s talking about today, are in the public domain. The other documents that will be part of a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker, as I’m sure you would agree, will be dealt with later in today’s session.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been putting forward positive plans to clean up the mess in our electricity system to help small business and job creators. Yesterday, the Premier wouldn’t even confirm what current government policy is when it comes to her planned tax cuts for the wealthy. Why can’t the Premier answer basic questions about her fiscal plan?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I thank the leader of the third party for the question. What I said yesterday was that we will be bringing our budget forward. There will be information, obviously, laid out about how we are going to move forward to make sure that we meet the needs of the people in the province. Part of that is taking costs out of the electricity system, and we have a long-term energy plan that speaks to just that. It speaks to having a reliable energy plan in the province, something which we have not heard come forward from the NDP.

In fact, all we’ve heard from the NDP on energy is that they don’t agree with any of the initiatives that we’ve taken. They don’t agree with nuclear; they don’t agree with green energy; they don’t agree with any of it. But what they would do, we have absolutely no idea. So we have a long-term energy plan. We will be bringing the budget forward. In the meantime, I look forward to any conversation that the leader would like to have.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Liberal plan seems to be changing day by day. The party that brought us the HST and sky-high hydro rates is suddenly concerned about the middle-class squeeze.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, come to order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier, who said she had no choice but to ask families to shoulder new taxes, tolls and fees, is suddenly scrambling to back away from her own ideas.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Training, Colleges and Universities, come to order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Would the Premier agree with the following statement: Liberals have very strong principles, and if you don’t like them, they can change?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Well, I don’t have the Marx Brothers response to that. I believe it was one of the Marx Brothers who—that’s a paraphrase.

We know, and have known all along, that the middle class is the backbone of the economy. We know that. That’s why we put the 30%-off-tuition grant in place. That’s why we’ve been working so hard to make sure that costs like electricity are managed and that there are plans in place to help people and programs in place to help people deal with those costs.

What I said last week about the decisions around how we will raise revenue for the transit fund—I simply took some options off the table. We will still bring forward a transit plan, Mr. Speaker. There will be a transparent fund that will provide for the building of transit into the future.

What’s the leader of the third party is not saying is that she does not support and has not put forward any ideas about how we would actually build transit into the future. We’re committed to doing that. We will bring forward our plan in the budget. I think it would be consistent with the history of the NDP if they actually supported the building of transit and transportation in this province.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, families feeling squeezed in tough times are looking for a government to focus on creating jobs, making life more affordable and to respect the money that they send to Queen’s Park. Instead, they see a Liberal government scrambling to distance themselves from their own policy while this same old status quo rolls on. Does the Premier really think that is good enough?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I really think that it’s a bit rich for the leader of the third party to talk to me about distancing myself from policies when unrecognizable across the floor is anything that would resemble the NDP that I have known in the past.

We are committed to making the investments that are necessary to move this province forward, Mr. Speaker, and one of those is investing in transit and in an integrated transportation system. We know, for example, that in the north, roads and bridges are what are necessary if we’re going to have solid transportation planning. That’s why we have a $100-million roads and bridges fund. I’d ask the leader of the third party: Does she support that if she doesn’t support transit building?

JOB CREATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Premier, although I find it ironic that this is the government that cancelled the ONTC. Nonetheless, New Democrats have been putting forward some achievable, affordable, concrete plans to make life better for people and to create jobs. For example, a job creation tax credit is a simple way we can reward the companies that are putting people to work, not the ones that are shipping jobs away. It’s working in other jurisdictions, and the Obama administration thinks it’s going to work too.

Why is the government more interested in defending the status quo than trying to create new jobs with something new?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Well, I am absolutely not in favour of the status quo. In fact, I’m very impatient about our future, which is why I want to move on making the investments that are necessary. I am looking, and we are working with groups of people around the province, and we are putting forward ideas that are going to make life better, including integrated transportation planning.

The leader of the third party neglected to mention that on the ONTC, we have put together a group. We are working to make sure that there is a plan other than clear divestiture, and I think the leader of the third party knows that.

We are going to work with ideas that are feasible, but I would ask the leader of the third party: What would be the cost of the credit that she’s putting forward? Is it for every job in the province? I think she hasn’t done her homework on that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, I’m going to try again with another one of our plans. Our broken electricity system is driving up bills, and it’s driving businesses out of Ontario. In fact, American cities are trying to entice Ontario businesses with cheaper electricity, and the worst

part is, it’s our electricity. The people of Ontario subsidize electricity exports to the US, and the US uses those discount prices to lure our jobs away.

We’ve put forward a concrete plan to stop exporting hydro at a discount rate. Why is the government more interested in defending the status quo than trying something new to create jobs?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I will speak to the specifics of the energy issue, but I just want to point out that, as the NDP leader has done for a number of weeks now, she is pulling individual issues out of the air. We are working to address the concerns of the people of the province of Ontario in context, in a coherent way. Having a long-term energy plan is that kind of coherence. You can’t just deal with issues on the one-off. Supporting business, making sure the people have jobs—those have to have coherent plans.

In fact, this NDP plan—which isn’t a plan; it’s just a single initiative—would actually drive electricity bills up. What the NDP wants to do is end electricity exports that save ratepayers $300 million a year. Well, we’re not going to do that. But if you want to bring forward a plan that’s part of a broader, coherent strategy, we’d be happy to look at that.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: People see Liberals scrambling to defend sky-high CEO salaries at bloated hydro agencies; selling discount electricity to the US and sticking families with the bill; opening loopholes for CEOs that can get the HST off their entertainment expenses; and scrambling to back away from some of their own plans.

What they don’t see is a plan to put their priorities first and create and protect good jobs. Why is this government more interested in defending the status quo that’s not working than in trying something new to create jobs?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: On all of those fronts, whether it’s job creation or whether it’s energy, we are putting in place, as I said, coherent plans that have a number of aspects to them.

If we talk about energy, in our long-term energy plan we talk about the generation of electricity over the next decades. We talk about taking costs out of the system so that, for example, we won’t move ahead to build new nuclear, because that’s $15 billion that it’s not necessary to spend.

On the job creation strategy, we need to make investments in training and skills. We need to make investments in infrastructure, including transit and transportation. We need to support businesses that are ready to expand or bring their business to Ontario.

We have to have that kind of coherent planning. They cannot be one-offs, as the NDP is proposing.

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is for the Premier. A few moments ago, your government House leader threatened to censor, or try to censor, our finance critic for revealing in public documents that you have a $4.5-billion hole in your so-called aspirational budget. That tactic, the one that you’re trying to employ, closely resembles the one that Dalton McGuinty did over the two cancelled gas plants.

It’s very difficult for Ontarians to trust you when you say one thing in the backrooms and another thing here in the assembly.

Premier, we want to know from you: What is it going to take for you to come clean on the state of Ontario’s economy—a third OPP investigation?

Interjections.

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: No wonder policing costs are going up in this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Regrettably, the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke is warned.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: It’s disappointing, but let’s just go with the facts of what has happened here. A committee of the Legislature, as is its right, asked for documents—in this case, from the Ministry of Finance—and they were provided.

As I pointed out earlier, the committee itself, of which the opposition is the majority, decided that certain documents that were of a confidential nature, that had been identified by the Ministry of Finance, should remain confidential until the committee decided.

That is the issue. My understanding is that you will be hearing a point of privilege on this a little bit later, Mr. Speaker.

Once again, thousands and thousands of documents were provided to that committee as requested. They were the subject of discussion and debate—

Interjections.

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

Hon. John Milloy: —and over two million documents have been provided to the committee. That, Mr. Speaker, is the situation, and the aspersions that she has put forward—

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: The facts are, my finance critic, Vic Fedeli, has the information. He found a $4.5-billion hole. He has the documents, and you’re trying to censor him. The public has these documents, and you’re trying to censor a member of the opposition for exposing this government’s $4.5-billion hole. It is nothing different than the cancelled gas plants that we’ve seen so they could save seats.

This Premier would cling to power in her office at any cost. All we are asking is: Will she come clean and tell the province exactly what the size of the hole in her budget is and what employment practices they are going to employ? We had a Premier in this nation who resigned last night over a $45,000 expense scandal. Now she has a $4.5-billion expense scandal. Will she pull the plug on her government?

Interjections.

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

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, again, the majority on that committee is the opposition, and that committee decided to keep certain documents confidential. There will be a moment later today when this matter can be looked at by privilege.

But it’s a little rich, coming from that side of the House, when they want to talk about committees and gas plants. As my colleagues back here have reminded me, when are we going to see the Conservative candidates come forward at the committee to talk about their promises during the last election to cancel the gas plants and talk about the funding analysis that they’ve done? If they want to talk about—

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Aboriginal Affairs will come to order.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, if there’s any party that needs to talk about hiding things before committee, it’s the PC Party across the way on what has happened in front of the justice committee.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Premier. Less than two weeks ago, you stood in your government caucus room in a press conference saying that you represented change and that you were going to bring transparency and accountability to this province.

Applause.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: You may not be applauding at the end of this question.

The next day, what do you do? You appoint Sandra Pupatello as the chair of hydro. Can you tell me how that is different from what has happened in the past and the cronyism that we saw from the McGuinty government before you?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: That question has been asked on several occasions; that question has been raised. My answer is the same. We had two chairs of two of our agencies who had been in office for 10 years, and we decided we were going to replace two chairs.

With respect to the chair that has been referred to by the member of the third party, she has served as a public servant for 17 years in this House. She has served as a minister of three or four different portfolios in government. She has tremendous credibility. She understands the system. She understands budgeting. She understands sensitivity to the public. We could not have chosen a more excellent candidate for that position.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Listen, this is a simple question about Liberals appointing their friends to a political office in order to get money.

If it was just Sandra Pupatello, we would say, “Oh, well, it’s a one-off.” But take a look at who you’ve appointed. You’ve appointed Michael Bryant to a very nice board with a very nice salary, you’ve appointed Maria Van Bommel to another board with a very nice salary, and you’ve appointed your transition team leader, M me Smith, to Washington—just to name a few.

So tell us: How is the Wynne government any different than any other Liberal administration when it comes to appointing their friends to high places on the taxpayers’ dime?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to throw a few names out for the members here. Let’s talk about Frances Lankin. Let’s talk about Elmer Buchanan. Let’s talk about Joe Pantalone. Let’s talk about Bernard Lord, former Premier of New Brunswick, who was also appointed at the same time as the chair of Hydro One.

We have been meticulous about being across the board in terms of political appointments, and we have nothing to be embarrassed about.

IMMIGRANTS’ SKILLS

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question est pour le ministre des Affaires civiques et de l’Immigration, the Honourable Michael Coteau.

Speaker, as you’ll appreciate, Ontario is still the number one destination in Canada for newcomers. This remains true despite representations otherwise from the party opposite. Newcomers to this province, by and large, have the post-secondary education, the on-the-job experience, the specialized skills and, most of all, the drive to succeed in their chosen careers, thus the creation of our immigration strategy in 2012 and why we have prioritized the licensure of internationally trained professionals. In this regard, the government has introduced the Ontario Immigration Act, an important piece of legislation.

My question, Speaker, is this: How will the Ontario Immigration Act, Bill 161, strengthen our efforts to ensure that highly skilled newcomers, such as physicians and engineers, can find positions in their fields?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’d like to thank the member for the question. I’d also like to acknowledge that today is the beginning of Nowruz, so to anyone who is celebrating that wonderful, ancient celebration, all the best.

It gives me great pleasure to talk about Ontario’s immigration act, Bill 161, and I’m encouraged by the positive feedback that I’ve heard in this Legislature in debate. This bill will do many great things for current and prospective newcomers to the province of Ontario. Like the member asking the question stated, helping newcomers find the right type of job that matches their skills is a priority of this government.

If Bill 161 is passed, it will amend the Regulated Health Professions Act to provide timely decision-making regarding registration application and access to records by applicants in health care professions. These measures are in line with the recommendations that came from the Fairness Commissioner back in 2013.

I’d also like to highlight that our government will continue to invest into bridge training programs. We made a commitment of $63 million over the next three years.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: Nowruz Mubarak to you also, Minister, and thanks for the response of the various measures that you’ve outlined, which I know will be appreciated widely not only across Ontario, but in my own riding of Etobicoke North.

Ontario’s provincial nominee program was designed to nominate workers who address skill gaps that employers have identified. Last year, 86% of businesses benefited from their nominees, including through increased revenues, new contracts and new customers. Recognizing this program’s success, the feds recently increased our nomination target from 1,300 nominees to 2,500.

This, of course, is good news, but the changing federal immigration climate is precarious. Over the next few years, there will be the implementation of the expression-of-interest model, which will radically change Ontario immigration.

Speaker, my question is this: How will Bill 161 better configure our provincial nominee program so that we can bring in highly skilled newcomers?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’d like to thank the member again for his excellent question.

The member is correct: Our provincial nominee program is making a difference for Ontario businesses that have highly specific skills to fill. The member is also correct in stating that the federal government intends to make massive changes to the immigration system here in the province of Ontario and throughout the country.

Ontario cannot afford to be left behind. We need to take steps to ensure that we chart our own course here in the province of Ontario. Bill 161, if passed, would position Ontario to be a full partner in immigration with the federal government, giving Ontario a framework in which to design, deliver and manage a larger selection of our programs with regard to immigration.

The legislation would allow Ontario to have similar powers to that of the federal government, helping protect our program against fraud and misuse. Ontario is committed to increasing economic immigration to meet the needs of our knowledge-based economy. This proposed legislation would ensure that Ontario has the structures and tools—

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

Hon. Michael Coteau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

HEALTH CARE

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is for the Premier. On March 3, in reference to funding for the cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco for 12-year-old Madi Vanstone, you told this Legislature, “We are going to push to expedite the process” and you will “keep her and her family in the loop.”

In fact, when you and your health minister met with Madi and her mom that morning, you promised that you would provide them with biweekly updates to advise them as to what was happening concerning negotiations with the company Vertex and the Pan-Canadian Pricing Alliance.

It has been over two and a half weeks now, Premier, and Madi and her mom have heard absolutely nothing from you or your government. In fact, they haven’t even gotten a response to the many emails that they’ve sent to you. Since you won’t respond to her on your own, like you promised, let me ask you publicly: What have you done to “expedite the process”?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The Minister of Health will answer to the specifics on the supplementary, but I want the member opposite to know that as recently as yesterday I asked my staff in my daily senior staff meeting whether the Vanstone family had been kept in the loop and wanted to make sure that that communication was happening. If it’s not happening, then it will. But I just want the member opposite to know that I asked that question, and I am going to make sure that they get the information they need.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jim Wilson: I can assure you that Beth Vanstone, Madi’s mother, tells us that that communication is not happening, Premier.

Premier, 15 countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United States—and even Greece, which has a 28% unemployment rate—have all found the necessary resources to cover the cost of Kalydeco, and they have agreements in place with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the company that makes the drug.

I ask you again: How long is your government willing to let Madi Vanstone and other children with cystic fibrosis suffer before you actually do something? How many more bake sales, dog walks and lemonade stands do the children of Beeton and Bradford have to do in order to keep their friend alive? Do we tell these children to continue, or can we finally say to them that your government values Madi’s life and will help to save it?

Interjections.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m pleased to tell the member opposite that a member of my staff actually has already spoken with Madi’s mom earlier today, so we are committed to having that ongoing communication.

I was interested to read an

article written by André Picard in the Globe and Mail recently. He talked with some thoughtfulness about the process of negotiating prices with drug companies. I have to say, we are continuing that work. I’ve spoken to the Minister of Health in Alberta. We are asking Vertex, the manufacturer, based in the United States, to actually engage in negotiation with us. They have rejected proposals that are fair proposals. We will continue to fight.

But if the member opposite is suggesting that we pay whatever price those pharmaceutical companies ask us to pay, I have to say I completely disagree with him. Indeed, he disagrees with himself, because when he was health minister, he was in the very position that I am in now.

PROPERTY TAXATION

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Minister, according to data provided by MPAC on 240 houses in an area in and around Parkdale–High Park, property assessments for modest homes, where typical middle-class families live, are being over-assessed. For example, a house on Campbell Avenue sold for $377,000—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Okay, member, that’s enough.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: —while MPAC had assessed it for $537,000. It was assessed at 42.9% over market value.

This is another example of how this government is hitting middle-class families with taxes and fees. We’ve seen evidence in Parkdale–High Park. I ask the minister: Is this the case throughout all of Ontario?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We are very cognizant of the requirement to support our middle class and ensure that people—especially those who are finding it tough to afford to do the things that matter for their families.

We also know that MPAC, which is an arm’s-length organization that also includes working with the municipalities by way of making those assessments with regard to the mill rate, is affecting communities all over the province.

As a result of the good work by my parliamentary assistant, Steven Del Duca, we have reviewed MPAC and continue to do what’s necessary to revise the processes, to ensure fairness across the system, and we’ll do just that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Well, the simple fact is, it’s not working. In just one small area of my riding, 20 modest homes were over-assessed, and at least 240 homes throughout the area generally. Why is the Liberal government hitting middle-class families with unfair over-assessments? It continues to go on now.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, it’s not a fair comment, and I reject the premise, because there is an appeal process. The householders can go forward and try to find ways to revise their assessment. That occurs all the time, and the member opposite knows that full well, so stop playing politics and help your constituents with the appeal.

JOB CREATION

Mr. Grant Crack: My question is to the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment. Speaker, our government’s economic plan has produced solid job numbers. In February alone, we gained 6,100 new jobs, building on the 6,000 gained the month before. Our jobs plan is working. Employment across the province is up by over 440,000 jobs from the recessionary low of 2009. Just last year, employment rose by 95,000 jobs.

Our government has made some tremendous strides throughout the province because of our successful regional economic development funds. These investments have actually impacted my riding positively.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of hosting Glengarry–Prescott–Russell day here at Queen’s Park. My constituents and my community leaders who were here know that there’s a lot of economic growth happening across the province.

Speaker, I’m just going to ask the minister if he could update the House on how we’re creating jobs and partnering with businesses to grow the economy.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Thank you to the member from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell for that great question. I enjoyed—as I know many of the members from both sides of the Legislature enjoyed—the Glengarry–Prescott–Russell day yesterday. Thank you to the member for helping to organize that with his community.

The member’s riding, like many ridings in eastern Ontario, has benefited significantly from our Eastern Ontario Development Fund. Just last week on Friday, I spent the whole day in the member’s riding, and it was a wonderful opportunity to meet with many members of the community, including the business community and business leaders.

We announced three investments from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund: one in Moulure Alexandria Moulding, creating and retaining 353 jobs there; at Montebello Packaging as well, our investment there is helping the company create and retain 86 jobs; and at Skotidakis Goat Farm, we’ve partnered with this food processor to create and retain 110 jobs--great companies in a great riding in a great province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Grant Crack: Thank you, Minister, for your commitment on job creation across the province of Ontario.

I’m excited by the news of these significant investments in my riding, and I know that our government is working to spur growth through strategic partnerships with businesses.

In addition to regional economic development, I know that this government has partnered and invested in other major companies as part of our plan for long-term economic growth. I’m aware of the major Cisco investment that created and retained 3,700 jobs, which is also the single largest tech investment in our province’s history. We also had a significant investment in Ford Canada in Oakville and secured 2,800 jobs. This is great news for all Ontarians to take pride in, and our government has created the conditions for businesses to thrive and invest.

Last week, a significant announcement and investment was made in jobs and in the people of my riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. Minister, can you please provide this House with an update on that specific announcement?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Once again, thank you to the member for his question. Mr. Speaker, the Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund is specifically targeted to attract strategic investments in innovative projects that will create high-value-added jobs and support cluster development.

We announced one—an important one—last week in the member’s riding, at Ivaco Rolling Mills in L’Orignal. This investment will help the company modernize their facility. It’s part of the steel sector, and it will increase their capacity to produce high-quality steel products. It’s also going to make the plant much more energy-efficient and a more sustainable operation, as well as reducing emissions. This is all good news for the community and the region. Our investment helped to create and sustain 450 jobs at that important location.

The irony about this is that the official opposition, the party opposite, has not only opposed the southwestern and eastern development funds that result in good-paying jobs, but they continue to talk down business and investment in this great province.

WIND TURBINES

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is to the Minister of Energy. Minister, on Friday, March 7, it was announced that the Stoneboat Community Wind Farm would be withdrawing its proposal to engage in a renewable energy project in my riding.

While this developer made the right decision in withdrawing this project, I have been unable to get an answer from your ministry or the Ontario Power Authority about whether the FIT contract has also been cancelled. It’s like playing a game of whack-a-mole. Where will this show up again? It’s a moving target.

Since your ministry will not respond to questions from my office or requests from the community, I’m asking you directly today: Has this FIT project been cancelled by the Ministry of Energy?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, the member will know that our position is that we will not cancel existing contracts. That’s very, very clear.

The party opposite has flip-flopped on this. I think maybe somebody on that side should work in a shoe store, because they’re experts on flip-flops.

The latest flip-flop is the Million Jobs Act, whereby they give the Minister of Energy the power to cancel existing contracts. That will expose us to litigation of $20 billion.

With respect to this particular contract, and the other contracts in the area, the people who are proponents will have to meet all the conditions, including environmental conditions, and if they can’t, they will fall by the wayside. We have one that has fallen by the wayside, and we have to wait for the others to see whether they will be successful in the environmental assessment process.

You know that I met with the Buddhist proponents, and we are very, very—

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

Ms. Laurie Scott: Well, Minister, you did meet with them, and you said you wouldn’t make any approvals till you contact them, and then you made an approval without letting them know in December, the last day of the Legislature.

You keep saying that it’s going to be illegal to cancel feed-in contracts with wind power developers, but I know that on March 4, Wind Concerns Ontario released a letter to you referencing the decision in Trillium versus Ontario 2013, which clearly states that governments are free to alter policies in the public interest.

The $40-million Cham Shan Temple Buddhist retreat near Bethany is in jeopardy because of the noise these wind turbines will produce. The Peterborough airport and its flight schools are worried about safety because of the siting of a turbine in a flight landing path.

The city of Peterborough, the county of Peterborough and the city of Kawartha Lakes have all said they don’t want these wind turbines in their communities. Manvers Wind Concerns Kawartha and thousands of communities said that. You keep extending these contracts. You do have the out. Minister, why won’t you listen to all these people in the public interest and cancel all those contracts—

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

Interjections.

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

Minister of the Environment.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Speaker, whenever there’s a review of these, it’s a very extensive review which is conducted. A number of ministries make comments to the Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry of the Environment has its officials conducting a review. There are onerous requirements to meet on the part of the proponent. There’s even consultation, in some cases, where there’s federal jurisdiction. We talk about NAV Canada as one of them. So there are all kinds of consultations that take place—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Rural Affairs, last time.

Hon. James J. Bradley: —these cases, when any individual or group is dissatisfied with the decision that is rendered, that decision can go to a review tribunal. Sometimes these even end up in court. But I want to assure the member that there’s always a very extensive review of all of these—

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

HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. During the recent by-election, the Premier announced in February that the Fort Erie Race Track would stay open. In the meantime, the racetrack submitted a detailed business plan to the government in February. The deadline to pay their lease is April 1, less than two weeks away, and the track has no details as to whether the festival idea has been approved. They’ve received no money and no response from this government.

Will the Premier keep her word and respond immediately to the Fort Erie business plan and ensure that the track has the funding they need to operate?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the leader of the third party will be very pleased to know that there’s a meeting happening next week to finalize an agreement to make sure that there’s a robust season for Fort Erie. I know that she will pass that along to any of the people who are concerned.

We’re committed to having that season at Fort Erie, and I’m glad the meeting is going to happen next week.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I’m talking about more than just a season. I’m talking about a future for the racetrack at Fort Erie.

For almost two years, this government flip-flopped on the Fort Erie Race Track. They don’t seem to understand that businesses need stability to operate. Asking the track for a business plan and then not responding when the deadline to shut the doors is looming is just not acceptable. There are 1,000 jobs at stake in Fort Erie.

Will the Premier ensure that the Fort Erie Race Track stays open by providing the funding and long-term commitment they need for more than just one season and for a future of another 100 years at that track?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Well, I’m talking about a five-year plan. I’m talking about $400 million that we are putting into the horse racing industry to make sure that we have those long-term plans, but the reality is that all of the tracks are going to have to work to make sure that there are business plans in place. These are businesses.

We took out an unaccountable, non-transparent program, and we are putting in place a transparent process. We’re investing in the horse racing industry to make sure that the tracks around the province, including Fort Erie, can be sustainable.

I’m glad the meeting is happening next week. One of the issues has been whether there would be a 2014 season. There will be a 2014 season. My hope is that we’ll be able to have that long-term plan, and I look forward to seeing the results of the discussion.

SPORTS FUNDING

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Minister, just last week, you made an important funding announcement with the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, CSIO, and a couple of our wonderful Olympic athletes at the University of Toronto. This is great news for my riding of Scarborough–Guildwood, as the CSIO will be housed at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.

As a legacy piece, the Pan Am aquatic centre and field house will be a beautiful facility that is going to be used by the community and by our athletes for decades to come, after the games are over.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Can he please explain how the funding will benefit Ontario’s athletes?

Hon. Michael Chan: I want to thank the member from Scarborough–Guildwood for the question.

The funding for CSIO is $8 million over three years and will purchase specialized equipment, enhance and expand the current Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative, open the new facility and offer programs and services, and also increase base funding to support those operating and programming costs.

Our government recognizes the importance of supporting our high-performance athletes and coaches. The 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games only heighten our shared interest in that support. This is why we are committed to working closely with CSIO.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Thank you, Minister, for that response. We can all agree that it’s extremely important to support our high-performance athletes and the coaches and organizations that train them. I know this first-hand because my brother has benefited from a successful career in professional sports.

During your announcement, you also mentioned funding for two other programs from your ministry. One of them you mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Quest for Gold, which undoubtedly has proven successful, given the recent results from our amazing Ontarians competing at the Olympics in Sochi; the other being the sport hosting fund, which will help deliver great sporting events to our province, like the upcoming 2014 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Mr. Speaker, again through you to the minister: Could he provide us with the details of this funding?

Hon. Michael Chan: Our government is proud to continue our commitment to our high-performance athletes and para-athletes. For 2013-14, my ministry is providing a whopping $10 million from the Quest for Gold program for a number of them who just returned from Sochi.

In addition to that, the announcement last week also includes $2 million for our sport hosting fund from Celebrate Ontario, which will help host events like the upcoming 2014 World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship.

Since the 2006 launch of Ontario’s international amateur sport hosting policy, our government has provided over $8 million to support 34 events. These investments encourage athletes and national sport organizations to consider Ontario as the province of choice to train and compete.

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: To the Minister of Finance: Ontario’s colleges find themselves waiting once again to hear when your government will address the serious backlog of deferred maintenance issues at the province’s existing buildings. This is a serious issue for every one of the colleges throughout the province, and it is also a long-standing problem.

In 2010, the Auditor General said the deferred maintenance backlog is in the range of half to three quarters of a billion dollars. Most significantly, the Auditor General said that about $70 million of these maintenance and repairs are in the critical category. Minister, this involves safety. Ontario’s colleges need to ensure that students are learning in a safe and effective environment.

Can you assure us, Minister, that your 2014 budget will finally address this critical issue?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Brad Duguid: I’ve got to tell you, I am astounded by that question coming from the party opposite—a party that cut and slashed our colleges and universities through their entire time in office. We, on the other hand, in stark contrast to their approach, have put in place billions of dollars, record amounts of investment in capital projects for colleges and universities across this province. In the next two years alone, there’s $800 million to be spent in capital investments in our colleges and universities. That’s record amounts of funding.

Deferred maintenance is an issue, and we’re working hard with the sector to address it, but coming from the party opposite, that question is almost laughable.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Back to the Minister of Finance.

Last time I checked, the Minister of Colleges and Universities doesn’t know what’s in the budget. Last time I checked, it’s up to the Minister of Finance to do the budget in this province.

Aside from what he said, it was the Auditor General that I’m quoting in his report from 2010. The minister of the day agreed with the auditor. They agreed with the auditor, yet nothing has been done. Four years, and nothing has been done.

Minister, it isn’t good enough to simply invest in new buildings. We must ensure that our existing colleges and their many campuses are effectively maintained, and our students deserve nothing less than to learn in a safe environment. You stand in your place today and give our colleges a commitment that your 2014 budget will finally and seriously address these much-needed repairs.

Interjections.

The S