Ontario Hansard — 29 October 2018 (42nd Parliament, 1st Session)
2018-10-29
Ontario — Debates (Hansard)
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October 29, 2018
42nd Parliament, 1st Session
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Hansard Transcript 2018-Oct-29 (PDF)
L042 - Mon 29 Oct 2018 / Lun 29 oct 2018
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO
Monday 29 October 2018 Lundi 29 octobre 2018
Introduction of Visitors
Attack in Pittsburgh
Oral Questions
University and college funding
University and college funding
Protection for workers
Ontario economy
Employment standards
Red tape reduction
Hospital services
Employment standards
Forest industry
Horse racing industry
Immigration and refugee policy
Mental health services
Northern economy
Mental health services
Northern economy
Minimum wage
Visitors
Member’s birthday
Notice of dissatisfaction
Members’ Statements
Co-operative housing
Attack in Pittsburgh
Automobile insurance
Wearing of poppies
Introduction of Bills
Charter Rights Transparency Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur la transparence relative aux droits garantis par la Charte
Petitions
Curriculum
Employment standards
Accident benefits
Northern health services
Climate change
Accident benefits
Injured workers
Employment standards
Employment standards
Northern health services
Opposition Day
University and college funding
Orders of the Day
Access to Natural Gas Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur l’accès au gaz naturel
Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 pour un Ontario ouvert aux affaires
The House met at 1030.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us pray.
Prayers.
Introduction of Visitors
Ms. Suze Morrison: I’d like to warmly welcome to the Legislature today members from the co-op housing federation, including Scott Parry, the government relations co-ordinator for CHF; Denise McGahan, the program manager for southwestern Ontario; Denese Gascho from Grace MacInnis Co-op; Mitch Reiss, who is a board member with CHF; as well as any other of your members that you’ve brought with you today. I’m really looking forward to meeting with you. I know you’re meeting with several of our members today. Welcome to the Legislature.
Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to welcome Céline Carrière, the executive director of the co-operative housing association. They’re having a reception tonight here at Queen’s Park.
Hon. Steve Clark: Well, we’ll keep the streak going. I too would like to welcome all of the members of the co-op housing federation of Canada here today. Specifically, I want to highlight Harvey Cooper, Simone Swail, Allison Chase, Mary Ann Hannant and Denese Gascho. Again, as has been said earlier, I encourage all members to participate in their reception tonight. Welcome to Queen’s Park.
Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s my pleasure to introduce Tina Stevens from the Native Inter-Tribal Housing Co-op and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada’s director representing aboriginal communities, as well as Zuleyma Vasquez, the Westminster Housing Co-op president. Welcome to Queen’s Park.
Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Today marks the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. There will be a flag-raising ceremony right after the Q&A session this morning in front of QP. All members are requested to join.
I would like to welcome Erdeniz Sen, the Turkish consul general in Toronto, and members of the Turkish community to Queen’s Park this morning. Welcome.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Welcome.
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Today I would like to welcome Willy Noiles to the Legislature. Willie is a board member of the Golden Horseshoe Co-operative Housing Federation. Welcome.
Mr. Mike Schreiner: I too would like to welcome the members from the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, specifically Naomi Cho, who is the executive director of the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation and one of my constituents in Guelph. Welcome to Queen’s Park.
Mr. Stephen Crawford: I have the honour of introducing a gentleman who may be known to many members of the Legislature. He’s a current cast member of ABC’s Shark Tank and a former member of CBC’s Dragons’ Den, a commentator on CNBC and BNN and a former business partner of mine: a good friend, Mr. Kevin O’Leary.
Mr. Faisal Hassan: A little later today, we are joined by students in my riding from Weston Memorial Junior Public School. I want to welcome them to Queen’s Park.
M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I am really happy to welcome to Queen’s Park Wade Poziomka, who is the chair of the Ontario Bar Association, human rights section, with Jennifer Zdriluk and Daniela Da Silva. They were here for a press conference this morning on my private member’s bill.
Ms. Christine Hogarth: Today I would like to introduce Sophie Taylor, the executive director of the Peel/Halton Co-operative Housing Federation; David McFarlane, the vice-president of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ontario region; Diana Campbell, president of Mimico Co-op, and from Etobicoke–Lakeshore; Davin Thornborrow, a member of Homestarts Inc.; and a few co-op housing federation members: Nancy Jacobs, Chris Murray and Sarah Burnett Murray. Welcome to the Legislature.
Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I would like to welcome the association of naturopathic doctors, who are at Queen’s Park today, including Dr. Mélanie Jacobson from Parkdale–High Park.
Mr. Billy Pang: I would like to welcome 64 grade 10 students from St. Augustine Catholic High School, who are touring the Legislature this morning. They are all up there.
Mr. Percy Hatfield: The doctors of naturopathic medicine are up there, and I see my friend Brock McGregor. He’s a councillor in Chatham-Kent. Welcome back to Queen’s Park.
Mrs. Daisy Wai: Speaker, I would like to introduce the family of today’s page captain, Armita Bhatti from my riding of Richmond Hill. Armita is joined today by her father, Gurbrindar Bhatti; her mother, Mahasti Bhatti; and her sister, Anaheeta Bhatti. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.
Mr. Gilles Bisson: All the way from Timmins, we have two constituency assistants from my Timmins office: Leah Cartan and Courtney Laforest. I could have called her “Fay,” but I’ll keep it at Leah.
I also would like to welcome somebody whom I know Minister Mulroney and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade met with in regard to—not economic development and trade; infrastructure. Excuse me. McNaughton; we’ll get it straight. Ludger Cloutier is here today representing Centre culturel La Ronde.
Mr. Stan Cho: Happy Monday to everybody in the House today. This morning, I would like to welcome two constituents and two special friends, Adrian Miedema and Magid Girgis. Welcome to the Legislature.
Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Good morning, everyone. This morning I would like to welcome a colleague of mine, Dr. Bhal, who is one of our hard-working front-line physicians and my colleague from Etobicoke General Hospital, in their emergency room. Welcome.
Hon. Todd Smith: I’d like to welcome Monica Alyea, who is visiting us from Prince Edward county today. She is the chair of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. Sitting next to her is Scott Allinson, from the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario. We welcome them both to question period this morning.
Mr. Chris Glover: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature my legislative assistant, Pranav Bakaraju, who is starting his job today.
Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I’d like to welcome the grades 4 and 5 classes from Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Elementary School. There are 108 of them. They are in the building; I’m not sure they’re in the gallery. Welcome to Queen’s Park.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today the consul general of Greece to Toronto, Mr. Victor Maligoudis. I enjoyed our meeting earlier this morning. Please join me in welcoming him to the Ontario Legislature.
Point of order: the member for Ottawa South.
Mr. John Fraser: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to ask a question on behalf of my colleague the member from Thunder Bay–Superior North.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa South is seeking unanimous consent of the House to be allowed to ask a question. Agreed? Agreed.
Attack in Pittsburgh
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Thornhill on a point of order.
Mrs. Gila Martow: I believe you’ll find that we have unanimous consent to have a moment of silence prior to question period to honour the victims of this weekend’s anti-Semitic attack in Pittsburgh.
I just want to add, Mr. Speaker, if I may, that there is a tribute tonight. Everybody in the House and in communities across Ontario is invited for a vigil at Mel Lastman Square, up in North York. There will be a lot of organizations participating in this.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Thornhill is seeking unanimous consent of the House to have a moment of silence in recognition of the victims of the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh. Agreed? Agreed.
The House observed a moment’s silence.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. It is now time for oral questions.
Oral Questions
University and college funding
Mr. Chris Glover: My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. During this year’s election campaign, the Conservatives promised that, if elected, they would honour commitments to fund post-secondary expansion in Brampton, Markham and Milton. Will the minister depart from her talking points today and justify the government’s decision to break this promise?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government has had to make tough decisions about projects across Ontario. However, I want to share a quote from a letter sent to me by Danny Chang, the president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, which represents 150,000 students. He says, “At OUSA, we believe in responsible investment that will effectively improve the lives of students and the future of our society. That is why our students wanted to communicate alignment with your decision on October 23.
We believe that the Ontario university sector should ensure that any new or growing university institutions and campuses are financially sustainable.”
Speaker, Ontario students know the importance of fiscal sustainability. It is time for the NDP to recognize that as well.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.
Start the clock. Supplementary.
Mr. Chris Glover: Three months ago, the Conservatives knew that these campuses were sustainable. I quote a member of the Conservative Party during the election campaign. He said, “We will do everything we can to make this project a reality ... whether it takes $90 million or there’s more we need to do.”
When the Conservatives needed votes in these communities, they promised everything to everyone. Now they’re in a position to deliver and it’s another promise broken. Why is the government taking these 905 communities for granted?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government, again, has had to make tough decisions about projects across Ontario.
I want to share the perspective of Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. He says, “In a situation in which the system is characterized by a lack of students, creating entirely new campuses takes students away from existing campuses at a time when they are scrambling to find students they need to fill the spaces they already have available.”
He goes on to say that we cannot “expect a provincial government that is trying to wrestle with its deficit to pay for” new campuses “at a time when there is no pressing need to establish them....
“The Ford government has made the right decision.”
Speaker, the people of Ontario expect us to make the tough—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Final supplementary.
Mr. Chris Glover: The government has not provided any numbers to justify their decision. These campuses were to create educational opportunities and economic growth in some of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Hundreds of people invested countless hours and millions of dollars. And then, without providing a cost-benefit analysis or without providing an opportunity cost analysis, the government has made this decision.
Later today, all members of this House will have a chance to reconfirm their support for these projects, including members of the Conservative Party who promised to keep these campuses going when they were on the campaign trail. We’re calling on all members from both sides to stand up for students and parents in these communities.
Will the minister stand and vote against these cuts?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the member opposite for that question. We are standing up for students. We have been clear that only this government is committed to enhancing financial accountability and transparency. The previous Liberal government—propped up by the NDP, who supported them on 97% of their votes—made empty promises in an election year for programs and projects that they knew they could not afford, leading to a $15-billion deficit while hiding costs from the public. The Liberals shattered the trust of Ontarians. Our focus is on restoring trust and accountability in Ontario’s finances.
University and college funding
Mr. Chris Glover: The member opposite talks about empty promises, when her member said, “We will do everything we can to make this project a reality ... whether it takes $90 million or more” that’s needed to be done.
The other question that Ontario students and parents have—because they’ve seen the broken promise to the parents in Brampton, Milton and Markham, they worry about more cuts coming. Last week, the minister was evasive when asked whether she would be maintaining grants that cover the cost of tuition for thousands of students. Can the minister provide an answer now? Will she be maintaining—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Which minister are you referring the question to?
Mr. Chris Glover: The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. I want to remind the member opposite about the state of Ontario’s finances and the importance of returning Ontario to sound financial footing.
We know, thanks to the independent commission of inquiry, that our government needs to take action. The inquiry found that the Liberals made empty promises to Ontarians for programs and projects they knew they could not afford, creating a $15-billion deficit. To make matters worse, we know, from the Select Committee on Financial Transparency, that senior public servants warned the government that their plan “could put pressure on the province’s credit rating and overall borrowing capacity.”
Speaker, Ontarians know they can’t trust the Liberals to manage the province’s finances and they cannot count on the NDP to make the tough decisions to get Ontario back on sound financial footing. We—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary?
Mr. Chris Glover: Students and their parents are worried, and for good reason. They have already seen this government break their promise to the students in Brampton, Milton and Markham, and instead of providing answers, the minister is repeating the same talking points.
She owes the students of Ontario an answer. What is she planning to cut next?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Speaker, the people of Ontario know that we need to bring Ontario back to sound financial footing. We were elected to restore accountability and trust in Ontario’s finances, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
Our government received a clear mandate from the people to fix Ontario’s dire financial situation. That is in clear juxtaposition to the NDP. The NDP showed during the campaign that Ontarians cannot trust them to manage Ontario’s economy. In fact, they had a $7-billion hole in their platform’s budget.
Meanwhile, the previous Liberal government and a few members who are sitting in this Legislature sat at the cabinet table, created a $15-billion deficit and made empty promises to the people of Ontario.
Ontarians know that our government for the people is the only—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Final supplementary.
Mr. Chris Glover: Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities wasn’t aware that the Liberals were not telling the truth about the deficit, then she was the only member in the House—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’d ask the member to withdraw.
Mr. Chris Glover: Withdrawn.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Put your question.
Mr. Chris Glover: The government promised to build these new campuses during the election campaign, knowing full well that our deficit was what it is now, $15 billion. The government broke that promise without warning, and instead of giving parents and students in Ontario honest answers, she repeats the same talking points over and over. Now, the minister is refusing to say what else she plans to cut.
The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities has a responsibility to the students and parents of Ontario, and it goes beyond simply reading talking points from the Premier’s office. Will the minister be maintaining the grants for students in Ontario?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: We promised the people of Ontario to restore accountability and trust in Ontario’s finances. Part of that process means making tough decisions about projects across Ontario.
Our government is being forced to clean up the irresponsible and reckless financial decisions of the previous Liberal government. We now know, thanks to the independent commission of inquiry, the depths of the waste and mismanagement of the previous Liberal government. To describe the previous government’s actions, the Auditor General used words like “conceal,” “bogus,” “deceptive” and “unreliable.” In an election year, they made empty promises to Ontarians for programs and projects they knew they could not afford, leading to a $15-billion deficit while hiding the cost from the public.
Protection for workers
Mr. Wayne Gates: My question is to the Minister of Labour.
Last week, we learned that the Ministry of Labour’s proactive workplace inspections were scrapped back in August. Will the minister please tell us:
(1) What is the cost to businesses to have proactive inspections of employment standards of temp agencies, for example?
(2) What consultation or data was used to arrive at the decision to scrap these inspections?
(3) What cost was this measured against?
Hon. Laurie Scott: Thanks to the member opposite for the many questions in the question.
This memo in question was a bureaucratic memo from August—the decision made by the ministry when employment standards claims backlogs do occur. The decision was actually made to ensure that those affected by employment standards claims are provided the service that they need and deserve. If monies are owed to workers in the province through employment standards violations, we need to ensure that they’re being provided the service they need and deserve. I think that answers some of the questions of the member opposite.
In just over 100 days in the province of Ontario, the Ford government is making a better business climate. We’re open for business in the province of Ontario so we have better-paying jobs for the people and the workers—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order. The opposition benches will come to order so that an opposition member can ask his question.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Timmins, come to order. Government side, come to order.
Start the clock. Supplementary?
Mr. Wayne Gates: Back to the minister: Let’s be clear, Minister. Inspections save lives—period.
Last Thursday, there was another workplace death of a temporary worker at Fiera Foods. This is the fourth—the fourth—death of a worker at Fiera Foods businesses. A workplace death is a terrible cost. Four deaths, and someone should be in jail.
Patrick Harris, a long-time Conservative strategist who is running to become a member of the Ontario PC executive, registered as a lobbyist representing Fiera Foods around the same time the memo ending proactive workplace safety inspections was written. What does the minister plan to say the next time she’s lobbied by Mr. Harris?
Hon. Laurie Scott: Mr. Speaker, we are all saddened to hear about this incident . Our thoughts, and I’m sure all of our colleagues’ in the Legislature, are with the family and colleagues of the person who passed away.
But I think the member opposite is a little confused. Their employment standards before are unrelated to health and safety inspections. He’s politicizing a very serious tragedy that occurred last week. The official opposition is doing that. I will not be part of it. I’m very proud of the legislation that we brought in last week. I won’t allow the opposition to attempt to politicize this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the family. The Ministry of Labour is doing their inspections. Health and safety inspections continue to go on—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.
Next question.
Ontario economy
Mr. Stephen Lecce: To the minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade: After hosting a series of round tables and meetings with small and medium-sized businesses and their workers, it is clear that Ontario has lost its competitive advantage. Unaffordable electricity rates, labour rates, tax rates, job-killing red tape and a lack of access to skilled labour are having the aggregate effect of driving investment outbound and killing jobs for the next generation of workers.
Since 2015, Canadian investment in the United States has increased by 66%, while US investment in Canada has plummeted by 52%. We are determined to reverse this trend, to confidently and boldly put our province on a pathway to prosperity.
Can the minister outline how he plans to create in Ontario an advantage for these young workers exiting school and aspiring to work with the dignity of a good-paying job?
Hon. Jim Wilson: Thank you to my colleague for the question. The Making Ontario Open for Business Act is a piece of legislation that is a huge step towards restoring Ontario’s competitiveness and returning our province to its rightful place as the economic engine of Canada. We’ve slipped badly over the years, as the honourable member has mentioned. This legislation will get government out of the way of our job creators and let them do what they do best—and that’s create jobs and hire our young people.
Let’s listen to one of those job creators. From Power-Tek Electrical Services: “Restrictive ratios are the number one barrier to hiring young apprentices at my company, and we are so glad the government has taken this important step. This will lead to increased employment and opportunities for youth right across the province.”
From the Ontario Hospital Association: “The announcement signals an understanding from government of the enormous pressures facing hospitals and will help ensure that hospital resources are directed to front line patient care.” They support this legislation.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.
Start the clock. Supplementary.
Mr. Stephen Lecce: Back to the minister: In the binary choice before this Parliament, on this side of the House we choose to put prosperity ahead of blind ideology. Conservatives will stand up for our workers, for higher incomes and for the jobs that their families depend on every single day, without exception.
We believe that if you are prepared to do the work then you deserve a shot at the job, because we know that if we do not take decisive action to protect jobs and to create an advantage for our job creators, investment will flow south. As economist Jack Mintz said—and I wish the members of the New Democrats took note of this quote: “If politicians sit on their hands, the private sector won’t: Canadians will see investment, jobs and profits flowing to the States.”
Minister, can you confirm today to simply not make this happen?
Hon. Jim Wilson: Thank you to my colleague. Absolutely right: If you want to work in this province, you deserve a shot at the job, and that’s thanks to this legislation.
In referring to the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, from the president of the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association: “The new legislation will allow elevator mechanics to continue having high service standards and allow the industry to grow and hire more Ontarians in the highest-paid trade in the province.”
From the Ontario Forest Industries Association: “The changes announced show that this government is committed to building a more prosperous and competitive province. This government clearly understands the significant risks that were outlined in the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis economic impact analysis and concerns raised by the OCC. Today’s announcement represents a positive, evidence-based policy decision.”
I would think the NDP would like that—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.
Start the clock again. Member for Waterloo.
Employment standards
Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Minister of Labour. This government’s choice to scrap the two paid days of personal emergency leave is going to hurt people across this province. Take, for example, my constituent Carolyn, who used one of the two paid days to attend her mother-in-law’s funeral just this past August. Without the paid day off, Carolyn would have had to make some, as she has described, “tough choices.” In her case, a day’s pay equals a week’s worth of groceries.
What does the minister have to say to Carolyn in my riding?
Hon. Laurie Scott: Look, for the first time in Ontario, every worker will have job-protected sick, family responsibility and bereavement leave. It was not clear in the previous legislation. And businesses that we’ve spoken to over and over again are good employers. They want to keep their employees.
When we talk about making Ontario open for business, we truly mean it. We are going to create better-paying jobs. We’re going to let businesses expand—attract businesses, so there are better-paying jobs out there for everyone in the province of Ontario. That’s what we committed to, that’s what we were elected on and that’s what we’re going to do.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.
Start the clock again. Supplementary?
Ms. Catherine Fife: Those days are unpaid, and that means those employees have no choices. In January, Carolyn lost a good job she had been at for 25 years. She quickly obtained a temporary job so that she could provide for her family, but it didn’t come with the same pay, benefits or stability as her old job. But when she needed the time off, she was able to rely on a paid leave day to help her keep food on the table. That’s what we’re talking about here. In Carolyn’s view, if the government really wants to help hard-working Ontario taxpayers, then they will reverse this decision.
Will the minister commit today to keeping the two paid leave days for people like Carolyn and millions of other Ontarians?
Hon. Laurie Scott: Mr. Speaker, we have seen job losses; in August, 80,000 job losses. When the previous government’s bill first came in in January, there were 50-some-thousand job losses. People are losing their jobs—especially part-time workers, especially youth workers—with those burdensome rules and regulations. We are going to be creating better-paying jobs in the province of Ontario because we want to partner with business, not like the previous government that was supported by you that took businesses as enemies. That’s how businesses felt in the province of Ontario.
Mr. Speaker, we are providing eight job-protected days for every worker every year in the province of Ontario. They’re going to have better paying jobs in the province of Ontario because of what we’re doing.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. I will remind all the members that heckling is always out of order. I’m going to ask the members again and remind them to make your comments through the Chair.
Next question. Start the clock.
Red tape reduction
Mr. David Piccini: My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Police, mayors and many constituents across my community voiced serious concern over a redundant regulation in Bill 113 that would have driven third-party criminal record check providers out of this province, driven jobs out of my community, and disproportionately hit small-town police forces excessively hard. We know, Mr. Speaker, that our government is committed to reducing red tape, tackling the over 380,000 regulatory burdens that cripple this economy, and opening Ontario for business.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister explain how this regulatory change to the Police Record Checks Reform Act will help protect and create jobs while safeguarding the privacy of Ontarians?
Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I want to thank the member from Northumberland–Peterborough South for that question. Mr. Speaker, our government has been sending a message that Ontario is open for business, and it’s finally bringing quality jobs back to Ontario. As of November 1, a new amendment under the Police Record Checks Reform Act will come into effect. This new amendment will safeguard the privacy of the people of Ontario while also protecting jobs throughout many smaller municipalities within the province.
Mr. Speaker, the previous Liberal government passed their job-killing police record checks legislation that forced businesses to choose between continuing their operations in Ontario or relocating their businesses to other jurisdictions with less restrictive red tape. That’s simply unacceptable. Our government for the people will continue working hard to ensure that good jobs continue to be created here in the province of Ontario.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?
Mr. David Piccini: I thank the minister for that answer and, Minister, thank you for joining me this past weekend to make this important announcement in my community. I’m proud to be part of a government that is tackling the regulatory burdens, that is taking the time to get this right: a minister of the Treasury Board doing a line-by-line review, examining these job-killing regulations.
Mr. Speaker, the police chief in Cobourg indeed said that this province is open for business. To the minister: This is going to create an additional 17 jobs. This police business services unit is now open at midnight, starting January 1. We’re creating jobs.
For the benefit of this House, because I know it’s rich for the opposition—
Mr. Taras Natyshak: You know. You know so much.
Mr. David Piccini: Your criticisms—this is going to create revenue, Mr. Speaker—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Opposition, come to order.
Mr. David Piccini: —while not dipping into the tax base. For the benefit of the members opposite, can you explain to members of this House why this amendment to the records check reform act needed to be made—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Response?
Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I thank the member for that important question.
This weekend, I was proud to stand alongside the members from Northumberland–Peterborough South and Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to announce a new amendment to the Police Record Checks Reform Act. Our government was elected on a mandate to put the people of this province first and to cut red tape, grow our economy and create new jobs for our people. This amendment will create consistency with respect to how police record checks are conducted, which will ultimately result in shorter processing times and faster screening decisions.
We are sending a clear message that Ontario is open for business. We will continue to remove job-killing red tape to make it easier for businesses to hire and for workers—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Next question?
Hospital services
Mr. Jeff Burch: Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the Minister of Health: During the last election campaign, the Conservatives insisted that history wouldn’t repeat itself. But the people of Niagara remember the 28 hospitals closed under previous Conservative governments, and it looks like closures are set to start again with the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, who learned that they are losing their obstetrics and surgical programs.
The Minister of Health provided no information Friday about the status of the plan to rebuild this hospital. Will she provide an update now?
Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question because I know this has been an item of great turmoil in the region, for the people of Grimsby and for the people who are strong proponents of the hospital.
I can tell you that, first of all, patient safety is always our primary concern—it has to be. I can also assure you that hospital services will continue to be provided at West Lincoln hospital. We are working right now with the LHIN, with Hamilton Health Sciences and with the administration at West Lincoln to make sure that services can continue to be provided with the least disruption possible to patients. Services will continue in this location.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.
Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you: The minister seems unwilling or unable to answer some basic questions, but the situation is dire. Last week, the hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Gary Benson, resigned in response to plans to move obstetrics and surgery out of the hospital. Benson wrote that he was “totally blindsided” by the decision; no one consulted him. The interim site lead at the hospital says that, unless they receive confirmation of funding to rebuild the hospital, “none of the rest of the pieces make sense.”
The government member from Niagara West says that he’s fighting for the hospital. Who is he fighting with? Does the minister have a plan? Will the minister consult with the hospital and the people of Niagara before making a decision to close this hospital?
Hon. Christine Elliott: I can certainly assure you that the member from Niagara West has been doing a terrific job at both informing me with respect to what’s going on as well as advocating for his community. He’s made it very clear to me that the people in Grimsby and surrounding area are not happy with some of the decisions that have been made. We are working through it right now to find the best solution that balances patient safety with the needs of the people in the community to receive health care services.
As I indicated before, we are speaking directly with Hamilton Health Sciences, with the West Lincoln hospital and with the LHIN, through my ministry, to find a satisfactory resolution to this situation. As I said before, hospital services are going to continue to remain open at West Lincoln.
Employment standards
Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Deputy Premier. In response to Bill 47 and the scrapping of workers’ protections, the Minister of Labour has said that these changes are “good for workers.” I need to get this straight: The government is freezing minimum wage at $14 an hour, eliminating two paid sick days, cancelling equal pay for equal work, requiring doctor’s notes—something that you know is a burden on the health care system—limiting bereavement leave to two unpaid days and allowing employers to cancel people’s shifts with virtually no notice.
Through you, Speaker: Can the Deputy Premier explain in any way how this is good for the lowest-paid workers here in Ontario?
Hon. Christine Elliott: To the Minister of Economic Development.
Hon. Jim Wilson: To the honourable member, who was part of a team over there that brought in probably the greatest job-killing legislation we’ve seen during the 15 years that the Liberals were in office, you should be ashamed of what you did to business, our job creators, in this province: 52,000 people lost their jobs in January, the first month that Bill 148 was in—and many of those were students; in fact, the majority were students—and over 80,000 in August.
And for the first time in my 28 years, most of them were part-time, and that had to do with equal-pay provisions, which meant you had to pay a part-timer, a new person, the same as you pay someone who has worked for you for 28 years. It didn’t make any sense. It killed jobs. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost—320,000 jobs in manufacturing on your watch, sir. You should be ashamed of that.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. First of all, I have to say to the government side that there were times I was having trouble, believe it or not, hearing the Minister of Economic Development because of the heckling that was coming from this side—backbench members heckling their minister in his response.
Secondly, I would remind all members to address their comments through the Chair. This doesn’t have to be a personal debate; it needs to be a debate of ideas and policy.
Start the clock. Supplementary.
Mr. John Fraser: In the grocery business, we used to call that cherry-picking: You pick one month or the other month. You know that this economy has created over 170,000 jobs in the last year.
Premier Ford and the government can strip away workers’ protections from the lowest-paid workers in this province. But at the same time, he can find $350,000 a year for a former PC Party president, another $350,000 a year for a campaign adviser in Washington, and he can appoint the family lawyer at $667,000 a year. So it’s—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Again, I ask the government side to please come to order so I can hear the member, who has every right to ask his question.
Start the clock. I apologize to the member for interrupting.
Mr. John Fraser: Thank you, Speaker. So it’s like the gravy train has arrived here at Queen’s Park, and the Premier is shouting out, “All aboard! Next stop, Ottawa.”
I ask the minister: How is any of this in any way fair, both the stripping away of workers’ rights and this gravy train that’s here in front of us? I don’t know who else is on board. Minister, answer the question.
Hon. Jim Wilson: Speaker, through you, not only did we lose, between 2003 and 2009, over 320,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs—and it’s not like those jobs went to China and that. They went to Ohio, to Michigan and to Quebec, they went to other provinces—that’s what the stats show—and you did nothing. The Liberal government just ignored manufacturing. There were no plans to try and bring jobs back to make our economy competitive again.
They actually brought in a piece of legislation, Bill 148, that protected and nourished a minimum wage economy. What government in their right mind would aim for a policy like that? That’s a failed policy, and it’s giving up on our young people and our apprentices. It’s no way to treat the good working people of this province, who want good-paying jobs brought back to Ontario.
Forest industry
Mr. Daryl Kramp: My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. I know that in my riding and in the north in general, Ontario’s forestry sector has been decimated and left out in the cold for a long time under the previous government. We saw massive job losses in our north. Over-regulation and neglect simply forced all of our forest companies to just stop investing in Ontario.
Mr. Speaker, the people voted for a change in Ontario, and our government is committed to delivering that change. We need to open up Ontario for business and find ways to work more efficiently with the forestry sector, to help deregulate that. Today, could the minister provide an update to this House on our government’s action to reverse the problems caused by the previous government and the actions that he is taking to open up this vital sector for business?
Hon. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to thank the member from Hastings–Lennox and Addington. He is absolutely right in his question. Under the previous Liberal government, we saw half the jobs in the forestry sector disappear: 51,000 jobs gone. What was their solution? More regulations to burden the industry.
Mr. Speaker, I’m proud that our government for the people has taken action to open Ontario up for business. Just last month, I announced round tables that will be taking place throughout northern and eastern Ontario to find solutions in the forestry sector so we can unleash the great potential for the north. For years, these companies that employ thousands of Ontarians were ignored in favour of special interest groups and policies that were more focused on sounding good and less focused on actually helping anyone.
I look forward to these meetings with these companies over the next three to six months and hearing their ideas on how we can open Ontario up for business.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?
Mr. Daryl Kramp: I would like to thank the minister for that response. It is certainly reassuring to hear that our government is tackling the inefficient situation left behind by the previous Liberal government, because it’s been a long time coming for Ontario and northern Ontarians. For too long, these citizens who worked so hard for our north have been neglected, and they’ve been burdened with more and more regulations, literally due to the Liberal red-tape bonanza that seemed to be non-ending.
Now we finally have a government for the people that is committed to listening to the forestry sector and finding smart and innovative new ways to unleash the economic strengths of Ontario’s north. Can the minister provide any concrete examples of how the forestry industry is responding to our initiative, to our government’s commitment to reduce regulations and to finally open up Ontario for business?
Hon. Jeff Yurek: I’m happy to report that the forestry sector is already responding to our government’s actions and commitments to reduce regulation and open Ontario up for business. Just last week, I attended an announcement with Resolute where they announced an investment of $53.5 million in their Thunder Bay mill.
I’d like to share with the House some quotes from Yves Laflamme, the president and chief executive officer of Resolute:
“Let me be clear, today’s investment builds on the momentum of Premier Ford’s policies that have declared Ontario open for business.”
Premier Ford, you “have made it clear that you will make it easier to grow and invest in businesses in Ontario—and to build an economy that allows more workers to find jobs. We are pleased that Ontario is ‘open for business.’ This gives us an improved level of confidence for the future.”
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to announce to this House that Ontario is open for business.
Horse racing industry
Mr. Percy Hatfield: My question is for the Minister of Finance. Good morning, Minister.
The government has been making secret deals with racetrack operators. The movers and shakers are being looked after, but the little guys, the people who breed, train and race at the smaller tracks, are forgotten. Take Leamington, for example: Tracks in London and Hamilton can offer a purse of $6,000 a race, but Leamington only gets $3,500. Speaker, when will the minister insist that the little guys in horse racing get a fair deal from the racing industry?
Hon. Victor Fedeli: Thank you, and good morning to the member from Windsor–Tecumseh, as well.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming continues to provide funding to the track in Leamington to support live racing under their current agreements. Our government has kept its commitment to bolster the horse racing industry and repair the damage done by the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP.
Agreements in principle have been reached at other racetracks. Speaker, I want you to know that we understand how important live racing is in Ontario. It helps so many sectors, from farmers, breeders, groomers, trainers and all of the support workers. This is a very important sector, and we continue to provide this support funding.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?
Mr. Percy Hatfield: Every sport needs a farm system, a training ground. You play at the junior level, or the minor system, before bursting into the NHL.
A healthy horse racing industry needs the smaller tracks to be successful. Patrons support the 13 racing dates in Leamington. Why won’t the minister tell those pulling the racing strings to negotiate a fair deal for Leamington so the local racing industry can survive?
Hon. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, I think it’s important that we review how we got to where we are today. If you recall 2012, a bombshell hit the racing sector when the Liberals decimated the entire system, and it could only happen because the NDP stood up and voted with them to destroy the horse racing sector. That’s just a fact that can’t be changed from back in 2012.
Only the PC members who were in opposition at the time stood up for Ontario, stood up for the farmers, stood up for the breeders, stood up for the groomers. We stood up for the trainers. We stood up for the support workers. It was only the PC members who stood up for the horse racing sector.
Again, we continue to provide funding to the track in Leamington to support live racing.
Immigration and refugee policy
Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: My question is to the honourable Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. According to new numbers provided by the RCMP, there were more than 1,600 interceptions of illegal border crossers in September. Ontarians from across the province consider this a border crisis, while the federal government considers this a non-issue. Mr. Speaker, can the minister please bring some rational thought to this issue?
Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I appreciate the question from the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville. He has been on top of this issue and has been a very strong advocate for a stronger, more confident immigration system in the province of Ontario. Unfortunately, given the lack of control at the border and the lack of respect that the Liberal government federally is providing to the public, we have seen that this has escalated in costs for the province of Ontario. I highlighted this summer that it’s a cost of $200 million and growing on the public purse here in the province of Ontario.
All Premiers in all political parties agree with our stand that the federal government should be fully compensating the province of Ontario and other provinces for the breakdown in our border security. I’ll continue to press the federal government; I’ll have more to say on that in the supplementary. But I think it’s really important that there is increasing frustration with the federal government on this issue, and we’re going to continue to hold their feet to the fire.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.
Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Thank you, Minister, and happy birthday.
While I understand that this is a federal responsibility, we will stand up for Ontario taxpayers. As it is getting cold outside, Ontario’s most vulnerable will be looking for shelter as the winter approaches. I checked the city of Toronto’s Daily Shelter and Overnight Service Usage online tracker this morning. Occupancy rates are either nearing or are at capacity. These capacity rates already include 2,000 more beds than were available when this border crisis began in November 2017. This isn’t an issue that is unique to the city of Toronto. Minister, how will Ontario’s municipalities cope under this added strain?
Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I appreciate the member’s well wishes for my birthday. What I’d really like is for the federal government to provide me with a $200-million gift to pay for the illegal-border-crossing issue and the sustainability issue that we have in the province of Ontario.
I’m going to outline those costs one more time: $90 million in social assistance costs and growing; $20 million in education costs and growing; and shelter costs in the city of Ottawa and the city of Toronto well over $84 million. It’s time that the federal government stands up, pays its bills and makes Ontario whole, as every single Premier in every single political party stated when they stood side by side with our Premier Ford.
I just want to point out that it’s not just us who are concerned about this matter. Liberal MP John McKay said of his own government, “People have come to the conclusion that these people are not refugees and they should be returned, sooner rather than later. The only fair thing for everybody is to process them quickly and I think that’s where the government’s weakness is.”
We’re going to continue—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order.
Start the clock. Next question.
Mental health services
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
St. Catharines is in the midst of a mental health crisis. Whether it be those struggling with mental illness or with addiction, people across St. Catharines are not being given the care they need.
Just a few weeks ago, hundreds of citizens participated in a vigil to remember those who have lost their lives to mental illness and to call for comprehensive action to improve mental health care in St. Catharines.
Will the minister tell me what she is doing to improve access to mental health care in St. Catharines?
Hon. Christine Elliott: As the member will know, it was one of our primary campaign promises that we would introduce a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions program for Ontario. Some $3.8 billion is going to be put into this over 10 years. It’s a lot of money, more than other governments have put into this, and we are going to concentrate on it in a holistic way. We’re not going to look at one, two or three sections of it; we’re going to look at it across the spectrum, from when a person is a child to their senior years.
This is something that’s involving almost every ministry on this side. We are going to be speaking to people who are in the ministries, we’re going to be speaking to people in communities, and we’re going to be speaking to people with lived experience so we make sure that we finally get this right. We’ve talked about this for so many years in this House, from the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions—it was almost 10 years ago that that report came out. We need to start acting on it, and that’s what we’re going to do.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: People who need mental health care are being turned away or discharged from hospitals in St. Catharines at this very moment. Families in St. Catharines often have to wait over a year for their loved ones to access mental health care, and demand is only going up.
For the first time in their history, the Canadian Mental Health Association
chapter of Niagara has had to take a loan to fund a new expansion to help the people in need in St. Catharines. The previous government left our mental health service organizations scrambling for adequate funding, and this government looks no different.
Will the minister tell the people of St. Catharines that the government of Ontario will help fund this desperately needed project in our city?
Hon. Christine Elliott: I think one thing that the member and I can agree on is that the previous government did not do anything to improve our mental health services here in Ontario and that action needs to be taken.
We have made an announcement in the last several weeks on consumption and rehabilitation services sites, and the St. Catharines site is going to be opening as they apply to become accredited under the new plan. We know that mental health and addiction issues are interconnected, so you can’t deal with one without dealing with the other.
Is there more to be done? Absolutely, yes. We know that we need to expand our treatment services across the province. We need to expand detox beds and mental health and addictions services. We need to make sure that people get the wraparound services and access to primary care that they need. Housing is a huge issue.
We are approaching all of those issues for the people not just in St. Catharines—they’re important—but the people across Ontario. We are looking at it for the people and we are going to come up with a solution that is going to benefit the people of Ontario.
Northern economy
Ms. Natalia Kusendova: My question is for the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. Mr. Speaker, it comes as no surprise that it’s been a very long time since Ontario was the economic engine of Canada. In fact, it’s been 15 long years, which is certainly no coincidence.
The mismanagement and fiscal recklessness of the previous government led to valuable investment dollars leaving our province in search of more friendly jurisdictions. These investment dollars would have brought good jobs to Ontario and helped our economy thrive. Instead, Liberals shut Ontario’s doors to businesses, entrepreneurs and investment.
I am proud to be a member of this government, which is working tirelessly to reverse that trend. Can the minister please tell the members of this House about developments this last week that demonstrate that our province is now truly open for business?
Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member from Mississauga Centre for her interest in what is going on in northern Ontario.
I was joined by the Premier to go up into beautiful Algoma Country. We joined folks from Pic River First Nation, Pic Mobert First Nation, White River and Hornepayne and folks from Wawa. We were all celebrating the opening of the Harte Gold mine expansion in the Sugar Zone—and how sweet it is, Mr. Speaker. More than 200 direct jobs and 1.5 million ounces of gold are anticipated for the next 10 or 11 years. This represents another key opportunity for that region that has been hit hard over the past decade and a half of darkness.
We worked with Harte Gold to make sure that that mine was able to open up on time. To see the smile on the faces of those workers and those people who have built those roads, cut those trees and are now making gold bricks, well, I ain’t got the words.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.
Restart the clock. Supplementary?
Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Thank you to the minister for that sweet answer and for his leadership in bringing good jobs back to northern Ontario.
Our government is ensuring that businesses and investors all over the world know that Ontario is finally open for business and open for investment. We are cutting unnecessary red tape that was putting a burden on companies looking to invest in our province.
High costs and red tape have created an economic climate that makes it difficult to start mining and logging operations. These critical sectors are economic drivers, especially in northern communities. In fact, two thirds of Ontario’s mining jobs are located in northern Ontario. Additionally, mining is a large employer for our Indigenous communities, with over 11% of Ontario’s mining force being Indigenous.
Can the minister advise us how these recent announcements will unlock the economic potential of this important sector and get our people working?
Hon. Greg Rickford: It’s true; it was a great day in the Sugar Zone, but there were a few sour notes we heard. Despite the previous Liberal government, this Harte Gold team set up that mine in three years, but it took seven years to wade through the regulatory burdens—seven long years—and 97% of the time those regulatory burdens were supported by who? The official opposition. Now this no-digging party has got to take it from us and the people in northern Ontario: We’re going to stand up for the 26,000 people directly employed in the mining sector, 56,000 indirectly, and the highest employer of Indigenous people. If they don’t want to build mines over there, we will.
Mental health services
Mr. Wayne Gates: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Niagara is being shaken to its core by a shocking number of people who need mental health support. They can’t get the support, so instead they’re taking their own lives. I’ve been to the funerals. I’ve spoken to the families, time and time again. It’s clear to all of us in Niagara that the need for expanded mental health services is critical. People are struggling to get the services they need, and they need more support from this Conservative government.
Will the Conservative government reverse its decision to cut mental health funding and instead ensure resources are there in the communities when they are needed?
Hon. Christine Elliott: I know the member is talking about a very serious subject. We are losing too many people to suicide in communities all across our province. This has to stop. That is why we made our commitment during the campaign, and we are continuing with that commitment, to spend $3.8 billion over the next 10 years to increase our mental health and addiction services. This is an increase in services, contrary to what the member indicated.
This is important across the board. We know we need to have more addiction services. We talked about that several weeks ago. The two situations are commingled. Very often someone with a mental health problem also has an addiction problem. We have to deal with both issues to make sure that people can be truly rehabilitated.
We are working on that. I am working with my colleagues on this side of the House. If any of the members of the official opposition or the other parties have any thoughts on what we should do, I would be more than happy to—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary.
Mr. Wayne Gates: Back to the minister: $330 million. That is how much the government has cut from mental health services across the province.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Government side, come to order.
Mr. Wayne Gates: They have cut funding while wait-lists for young people to access mental health—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Sorry to interrupt again. I ask the government to come to order. The member has the right to put his question. I have to hear it.
I apologize to the member for St. Catharines.
Mr. Wayne Gates: They have cut funding while wait-lists for young people to access mental health services are as high as 18 months. That’s 18 months of waiting for our young people struggling to get the services they need, not to mention the stress and the heartache for those caring for them and our front-line workers.
We can all do better. It’s our responsibility to do better for these people. Again, Minister, will you reverse the cuts to mental health funding by restoring the $330 million in funding and take measures to ensure that front-line services are there when people need them?
Hon. Christine Elliott: Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, through you to the members of this House and to anyone watching these proceedings, that the numbers quoted by the member asking the question are absolutely incorrect. We are adding to our mental health and addictions funding here in Ontario; $3.8 billion is a lot of money, and we’re going to do it in a holistic way across all the areas that need help, from housing, to services for mental health and addictions, to primary care, to addiction services. All of those services are going to be enhanced for the people of Ontario. That’s what we got elected to do and that is what we are going to do.
Northern economy
Mr. Ross Romano: My question is for the Minister of Finance. I know the honourable minister is a member of a northern city, like myself, and as such has a deep understanding of the challenges that face our northern communities. I’m sure over the last number of months, all of the northern members of this House have heard from their constituents about how important it is that we protect our jobs in the north.
I’m proud to say that help is on the way and, in fact, help is here. Protecting good-paying jobs all across Ontario has been one of the key priorities of our government in order to demonstrate that we are open for business. This includes in communities like my own riding of Sault Ste. Marie, which is home to one of the most important industries in all of Ontario.
I was very pleased to join the Premier last week for an important announcement at Algoma Steel. Can the Minister of Finance please tell the members of this House how this announcement will help protect steelworkers in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie?
Hon. Victor Fedeli: Thank you to the member from Sault Ste. Marie for his great work.
When we say Ontario is open for business, we mean all of Ontario. Last Tuesday, the Premier made a significant announcement while visiting the Algoma Steel mill. Our government’s proposed initiative ensures the Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund is in place to support the pensions of Algoma Steel’s 2,100 current and 6,300 former or retired employees. Our government is committed to protecting jobs and ensuring Algoma remains competitive in a tough market.
This proposed initiative protects workers and pensioners at Algoma, supports our steel industry and contributes to economic growth and development all throughout the north. Our government for the people is committed to making Ontario open for business.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary. The member for Simcoe North.
Ms. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the minister for his answer. I am proud to be part of a government that keeps the promises it makes. This includes protecting good jobs and encouraging employers to set up shop in Ontario.
After 15 long years, we want the world to know Ontario is open for business. We take great pride in making sure these pensions are protected, but our government is not stopping there. Our steel industry is experiencing a difficult time right now. New tariffs are making it harder for the Canadian steel industry, but our government stands with our northern businesses and partners in these tough times.
My question is for the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. How is our government working to support Algoma Steel with so much uncertainty in the steel market?
Hon. Victor Fedeli: Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
Hon. Greg Rickford: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member from Simcoe North for her question. There are no better words than those of the CEO of Algoma Steel, Kalyan Ghosh. He said of our government’s commitment that we’re providing a big benefit to retirees who have a secure retirement going forward, protecting jobs, giving those workers the assurances they need today and the ones who’ve already done their time in that steel mill a secure future for tomorrow.
All these questions about horse racing this morning got me thinking about a northern Ontario trifecta: Algoma Steel on Tuesday, Sugar Zone on Wednesday and Resolute on Thursday. We call that a northern Ontario trifecta, and we’re proud to stand up for the jobs that make the difference for families in northern Ontario: forestry, mining, tapping into our resources and ensuring that our workers have a secure job today and a great future when they retire tomorrow.
Minimum wage
Mr. Faisal Hassan: My question is to the Minister of Labour. Freezing the minimum wage hurts the lowest-paid workers in our society. These are the people this government should be looking out for. Instead, a growing number of Ontarians are working full-time or juggling multiple jobs but still struggling to feed their families.
One of my constituents, Paul M. Taylor, who is the executive director of FoodShare Toronto, works every day to address the problem of food insecurity. He recently wrote an open letter to the Premier with a simple challenge, and I put this challenge to the minister today: If the minister believes that $14 per hour is an adequate minimum wage, will she live on $14 per hour for the remainder of her term?
Hon. Laurie Scott: We campaigned on maintaining the minimum wage at $14 an hour. We said that businesses deserve to have time to catch up to the 21% increase in minimum wage that occurred just this year.
We recognize that lower-income families do deserve a break. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring that minimum wage earners pay no provincial income tax. We’re also decreasing their hydro bills, decreasing their gas bills. The people of Ontario spoke. They said they want Ontario to be a more affordable place to live, and that is exactly what we’re doing on this side of the House. Ontario is open for business—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. That concludes the time for question period.
Visitors
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order: the member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.
Mr. Bill Walker: In addition to Scott Allinson, VP of public affairs with the Human Resources Professionals Association, I’d also like to welcome Louise Taylor Green, chief executive officer; Karen Stone, chair of the board; and Claude Balthazard, VP of regulatory affairs and registrar, and to remind everyone in the House that there is a Human Resources Professionals Association luncheon in room 228 from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
Member’s birthday
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader on a point of order.
Hon. Todd Smith: It was mentioned earlier, but this is the day every year that the member from Nepean, our minister of children, youth and other things, celebrates her 29th birthday. She does this every year at this time, so happy birthday to Lisa MacLeod.
Notice of dissatisfaction
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Niagara Falls has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Minister of Labour concerning proactive workplace inspections. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.
There being no deferred votes, this House is in recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.
The House recessed from 1149 to 1300.
Members’ Statements
Co-operative housing
Ms. Suze Morrison: Today, it is my pleasure to welcome members and staff from the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada to the Legislature.
Co-op housing is certainly near and dear to my heart and to the hearts of many of the constituents in Toronto Centre. In my riding, the urban core of Toronto’s downtown east, we are proudly home to the largest per capita distribution of co-op housing in all of Canada.
As many families in Toronto and across Ontario are faced with the increasing precarity of housing, and with a lack of affordable housing options, co-ops present a real alternative for low- and middle-income families.
It is no wonder that the wait-lists for most co-ops are years and sometimes decades long. In my riding, most of the wait-lists for co-ops are closed to new applicants because the wait-lists are too long to accommodate the growing need.
Co-ops offer a real choice for families looking for affordable housing. With a non-profit model and a mix of market-rate and rent-geared-to-income units, they create truly vibrant and connected neighbourhoods.
Our province is in the midst of a housing crisis, the likes of which we have never seen before. Ontarians deserve better and not just band-aid solutions when it comes to housing.
I am proud to stand today to celebrate the great work of co-ops in my riding, across Ontario and across Canada.
Attack in Pittsburgh
Mr. Taras Natyshak: I rise today with a heavy heart to offer my sincere condolences to the victims of the shooting of innocent worshippers in Pittsburgh on Saturday. We send our love to the families, friends and loved ones who now bear the heavy burden of sorrow in the aftermath of this unimaginable violence and hatred.
I also want to commend those first responders who ran into harm’s way to face this evil head-on and, without question, saved lives, ensuring that the shooter would face justice. Police officers from across Ontario undoubtedly stand in solidarity with their fellow officers in Pittsburgh.
Whether it’s a mosque in Montreal or a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the rise in the level of hate, fear and ignorance has resulted in the loss of innocent lives, and a deep division in our social fabric. As elected officials in this House, we have an obligation to call out the spreading of hate. We must lead by example in bringing people of goodwill across all faiths together in peace, love and mutual respect for one another.
We need only to look at our own communities, where local leaders are coming together to forge interfaith partnerships, for examples of people reaching across the religious divide and connecting with others in the spirit of fellowship to tackle social issues.
In Windsor-Essex, one such initiative is the Inter-Faith Group of Windsor and Essex County, led by Dr. Norman King. This inspirational group seeks to foster a deeper understanding and respect for our various faith traditions and world views, and for the fundamental values of humanity they proclaim, such as human dignity and human rights.
Speaker, it is necessary that when we see hatred being spread, we name it. But that’s not enough. We must also lead, acknowledge and foster within our circles a deep and abiding respect for all of humanity.
Automobile insurance
Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I rise again in this chamber to share the frustrations of drivers in my home community of Humber River–Black Creek who are sick of paying sky-high auto insurance premiums just because of where they live.
For the fourth consecutive quarter, auto insurance companies have raised rates. Most recently, this government has approved a rate increase as high as 11.6%.
Auto insurance premiums in my community are as high as double the rates of other neighbourhoods within the GTA. Drivers in my community with clean records pay astounding rates. In fact, I’ve met local residents unable to drive because they can’t afford car insurance.
On Tuesday, November 13, I’m hosting an important auto insurance town hall meeting to give residents in my community and across the GTA an important opportunity to share their frustrations and help the official opposition push this government to do the right thing and end auto insurance postal code discrimination. The town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Basil-the-Great College School, located at 20 Starview Lane in the Weston and Sheppard area.
I’ve been fighting this postal code discrimination for many years, and this will be the third auto insurance town hall meeting I have hosted for my community. Residents will also have the opportunity to hear details on a current NDP private member’s bill that seeks to finally end postal code discrimination here in the GTA and add their name to an important petition demanding a better system. I look forward to seeing you there.
Wearing of poppies
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in the poppy campaign kickoff of one of our four local Legions in St. Catharines. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138, the Thorold pipe band and local cadets paraded through our local mall, the Pen Centre. I was honoured to parade with Ernie Adams, one of our local heroes from St. Catharines from the Second World War, who is from the community of Merritton.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the conflict in World War I. It is important for everyone across this province to show their support for our veterans by proudly wearing a poppy. Poppy boxes will be distributed in our local Legions, variety stores and supermarkets. Our gracious support to poppy campaigns and local Legions should not be for one day or one month in November; it should be every day of the year that we help and provide assistance to our veterans, whether it be for housing, medical care or just basic care.
Wear a poppy and wear it proud. Lest we forget.
Introduction of Bills
Charter Rights Transparency Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur la transparence relative aux droits garantis par la Charte
Mme Des Rosiers moved first reading of the following bill:
Bill 49,
An Act to amend the Ministry of the Attorney General Act / Projet de loi 49, Loi modifiant la
Loi sur le ministère du Procureur général.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?
Carried.
First reading agreed to.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the member for Ottawa–Vanier care to explain her bill?
M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Yes. This bill amends the Ministry of the Attorney General Act to require the Attorney General to examine whether government bills and regulations may violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to report to the House the opinion of her ministry. The Attorney General has to table a statement that sets out the effects of a government bill on the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Petitions
Curriculum
Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I am reading the petition “Protecting Children: Forward, Not Backward, on Sex Ed.”
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas the health and physical education curriculum empowers young people to make informed decisions about relationships and their bodies;
“Whereas gender-based violence, gender inequality, unintended pregnancies, ‘sexting,’ and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose serious risks to the safety and well-being of young people;
“Whereas one in three women and one in six men experience sexual violence in Canada, and a lack of age-appropriate education about sexual health and healthy relationships leaves children and youth vulnerable to exploitation; and
“Whereas one in five parents reported their own child being a victim of cyberbullying; and
“Whereas Doug Ford and the Conservative government is dragging Ontario backward, requiring students to learn an outdated sex ed curriculum that excludes information about consent, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexting, cyberbullying and safe and healthy relationships;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ministry of Education to continue the use of the 2015 health and physical education curriculum in schools and move Ontario forward, not backward.”
I support this petition and give it to page Marcel to deliver to the table.
Employment standards
Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I table this petition on behalf of my constituents in Parkdale–High Park. The petition is titled, “Don’t Take Away Our $15 Minimum Wage and Fairer Labour Laws.”
“Whereas the vast majority of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage and better laws to protect workers; and
“Whereas last year, in response to overwhelming popular demand by the people of Ontario, the provincial government brought in legislation and regulations that:
“Deliver 10 personal emergency leave days for all workers, the first two of which are paid;
“Make it illegal to pay part-time, temporary, casual or contract workers less than their full-time or directly hired co-workers, including equal public holiday pay and vacation pay;
“Raised the adult general minimum wage to $14 per hour and further raises it to a $15 minimum wage on January 1, 2019, with annual adjustments by Ontario’s consumer price index;
“Make it easier to join unions, especially for workers in the temporary help, home care, community services and building services sectors;
“Protect workers’ employment status, pay and benefits when contracts are flipped or businesses are sold in the building services sector;
“Make client companies responsible for workplace health and safety for temporary agency employees;
“Provide strong enforcement through the hiring of an additional 175 employment standards officers; and
“Will ensure workers have modest improvements in the scheduling of their hours, including:
“—three hours’ pay when workers are expected to be on call all day, but are not called into work;
“—three hours’ pay for any employee whose shift is cancelled with less than two days’ notice; and
“—the right to refuse shifts without penalty if the shift is scheduled with fewer than four days’ notice;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to honour these commitments, including the $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules set to take effect on January 1, 2019. We further call on the assembly to take all necessary steps to enforce these laws and extend them to ensure no worker is left without protection.”
I fully support this petition and will be affixing my signature to it as well.
Accident benefits
Mr. John Fraser: I have a petition here, “Petitioning the Removal of the Minor Injury Guideline, Sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule and Incorporate Rebuttal Examination Reports Back into the System.”
“Whereas Ontario Regulation 347/13 has made four changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule (SABS), also known as Ontario Regulation 34/10 effective Feb. 1, 2014. These regulations have considerably reduced the dollar amounts allocated for patients receiving assessments and treatment following a motor vehicle accident;
“Whereas the $3,500 minor injury guideline cap is an insufficient amount of funds provided, since assessments on all patients are required to ensure their safe ability in performing tasks associated with attendant care, housekeeping and caregiving. Furthermore, repetitive muscular strain as a result of performing household tasks daily can lead to chronic long-term impairment. Accidental slips/falls due to dizziness/vertigo can result in further injuries involving fractures;
“Whereas this petition is to validate that the $3,500 minor injury guideline monetary fund is an insufficient amount to enable auto accident patients with soft tissue injury ... to reach optimal recovery to their pre-accident status. Removing sections 18(1) and 18(2) from the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule will enable the right efforts for accident victims with soft tissue injury to receive the adequate assessment and treatment required. In addition it will minimize the patient’s risks for further injury (chronic impairment, slips/falls, fractures) that are associated with performing attendant care, housekeeping/home maintenance, caregiving and functional tasks in their respective homes;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
“To remove the minor injury guideline, sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule and incorporate rebuttal examination reports back into the system.”
I’m affixing my signature and giving it to page Rongbin.
Northern health services
M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Suzanne Botts, who is from Azilda in my riding, for collecting the names on this petition. It reads as follows:
“Save the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.
“Whereas Premier Doug Ford promised that there would not be cuts to nurses’ positions; and
“Whereas in Sudbury we have already lost 70 nurses, and Health Sciences North is closing ... the Breast Screening and Assessment Service; and
“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will result in longer wait times, which is very stressful for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and
“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will only take us backwards;”
They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:
“Provide adequate funding to Health Sciences North to ensure northerners have equitable access to life-saving programs such as the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.”
I support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Amani to bring it to the Clerk.
Climate change
M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: This is a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly for a meaningful climate action plan.
“Whereas our planet is undergoing significant warming with adverse consequences for health, for agriculture, for infrastructure and for our children’s future;
“Whereas the costs of inaction are severe, such as extreme weather events causing flooding and drought;
“Whereas Canada has signed the Paris accord which commits us to acting to keep temperature rise under ... 2 degrees Celsius;
“We, the undersigned, call upon the government of Ontario to design a climate action plan with science-based targets that meet our Paris commitment, an action plan to meet those targets, an annual reporting on progress on meeting the targets. We call on the government to commit to providing funding through carbon pricing mechanisms for actions that must be taken to meet these targets.”
I agree with this petition. It’s from my daughter, who just finished her sustainability master’s. I’m giving it to page Taya.
Accident benefits
Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s my pleasure to introduce this petition today. It reads as follows:
“Petitioning the Removal of the Minor Injury Guideline, Sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule and Incorporate Rebuttal Examination Reports Back into the System.
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas Ontario Regulation 347/13 has made four changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule (SABS), also known as Ontario Regulation 34/10 effective Feb. 1, 2014. These regulations have considerably reduced the dollar amounts allocated for patients receiving assessments and treatment following a motor vehicle accident;
“Whereas the $3,500 minor injury guideline cap is an insufficient amount of funds provided, since assessments on all patients are required to ensure their safe ability in performing tasks associated with attendant care, housekeeping and caregiving. Furthermore, repetitive muscular strain as a result of performing household tasks daily can lead to chronic long-term impairment. Accidental slips/falls due to dizziness/vertigo can result in further injuries involving fractures;
“Whereas this petition is to validate that the $3,500 minor injury guideline monetary fund is an insufficient amount to enable auto accident patients with soft tissue injury (WAD I/WAD II) to reach optimal recovery to their pre-accident status. Removing sections 18(1) and 18(2) from the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule will enable the right efforts for accident victims with soft tissue injury to receive the adequate assessment and treatment required. In addition, it will minimize the patient’s risks for further injury (chronic impairment, slips/falls, fractures) that are associated with performing attendant care, housekeeping/home maintenance, caregiving and functional tasks in their respective homes;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
“To remove the minor injury guideline, sections 18(1) and 18(2) of the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits
Schedule and incorporate rebuttal examination reports back into the system.”
I am pleased to support this petition and will be affixing my signature and giving it to page Marcel.
Injured workers
Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Workers’ Comp Is a Right.
“Whereas about 200,000 to 300,000 people in Ontario are injured on the job every year;
“Whereas over a century ago, workers in Ontario who were injured on the job gave up the right to sue their employers, in exchange for a system that would provide them with just compensation;
“Whereas decades of cost-cutting have pushed injured workers into poverty and onto publicly funded social assistance programs, and have gradually curtailed the rights of injured workers;
“Whereas injured workers have the right to quality and timely medical care, compensation for lost wages, and protection from discrimination;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to change the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to accomplish the following for injured workers in Ontario:
“Eliminate the practice of ‘deeming’ or ‘determining,’ which bases compensation on phantom jobs that injured workers do not actually have;
“Ensure that the WSIB prioritizes and respects the medical opinions of the health care providers who treat the injured worker directly;
“Prevent compensation from being reduced or denied based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ that never affected the worker’s ability to function prior to the work injury.”
I’m signing this petition and giving it to page Sophia to present to the Clerk.
Employment standards
Ms. Suze Morrison: I have a petition here today that is entitled, “Don’t Take Away Our $15 Minimum Wage and Fairer Labour Laws.” It reads:
“Whereas the vast majority of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage and better laws to protect workers; and
“Whereas last year, in response to overwhelming popular demand by the people of Ontario, the provincial government brought in legislation and regulations that:
“Deliver 10 personal emergency leave days for all workers, the first two of which are paid;
“Make it illegal to pay part-time, temporary, casual or contract workers less than their full-time or directly hired” counterparts;
“Raised the adult general minimum wage to $14 per hour and further” to $15 an hour;
“Make it easier to join unions...;
“Make client companies responsible for workplace health and safety for temporary agency employees;
“Provide strong enforcement through the hiring of an additional 175 employment standards officers; and
“Will ensure workers have modest improvements in the scheduling of their hours...;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to honour these commitments, including the $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules set to take effect on January 1, 2019. We further call on the assembly to take all necessary steps to enforce these laws and extend them to ensure no worker is left without protection.”
I fully endorse this petition and I will be affixing my signature to it. I’d like to note that I have more than 1,300 signatures on this petition here with me today.
Employment standards
Mr. Tom Rakocevic: This petition is entitled, “Don’t Take Away Our $15 Minimum Wage and Fairer Labour Laws.”
“Whereas the vast majority of Ontarians support a $15 minimum wage and better laws to protect workers; and
“Whereas last year, in response to overwhelming popular demand by the people of Ontario, the provincial government brought in legislation and regulations that:
“Deliver 10 personal emergency leave days for all workers, the first two of which are paid;
“Make it illegal to pay part-time, temporary, casual or contract workers less than their full-time or directly hired co-workers, including equal public holiday pay and vacation pay;
“Raised the adult general minimum wage to $14 per hour and further raises it to a $15 minimum wage on January 1, 2019, with annual adjustments by Ontario’s consumer price index;
“Make it easier to join unions, especially for workers in the temporary help, home care, community services and building services sectors;
“Make client companies responsible for workplace health and safety for temporary agency employees;
“Provide strong enforcement through the hiring of an additional 175 employment standards officers;
“Will ensure workers have modest improvements in the scheduling of their hours...;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to honour these commitments, including the $15 minimum wage and fairer scheduling rules set to take effect on January 1, 2019. We further call on the assembly to take all necessary steps to enforce these laws and extend them to ensure no worker is left without protection.”
I support this petition, will affix my signature to it, and give it to page Taya.
Northern health services
Mr. Jamie West: This petition is from Ms. Carmel Convery from the riding of Sudbury.
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas Premier Doug Ford promised that there would not be cuts to nurses’ positions; and
“Whereas in Sudbury we have already lost 70 nurses, and Health Sciences North is closing part of the Breast Screening and Assessment Service; and
“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will result in longer wait times, which is very stressful for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and
“Whereas cuts to the Sudbury Breast Screening and Assessment Service will only take us backwards;
“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
“Provide adequate funding to Health Sciences North to ensure northerners have equitable access to life-saving programs such as the Breast Screening and Assessment Service.”
I’ll affix my signature and I’ll give it to page Marcel.
Opposition Day
University and college funding
Ms. Andrea Horwath: I move the following motion:
Whereas existing commitments were in place for post-secondary expansion in Brampton, Markham and Milton; and
Whereas this investment would have brought hundreds of jobs to each city and encouraged broader economic growth in these communities; and
Whereas the municipalities of Brampton, Markham and Milton have already spent significant amounts of money, time and effort related to the already-approved projects;
Therefore the Legislative Assembly calls on the government to honour established commitments to fund post-secondary expansion in Brampton, Markham and Milton.
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Ms. Horwath has moved opposition day motion number 2.
Ms. Horwath.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: Before I begin my remarks about this important topic—I was unable to be at question period this morning because I was in Brampton, which I’ll be speaking about in a moment. I know there was a moment of silence for the 11 people who lost their lives in that horrifying situation in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life synagogue. As leader of the official opposition and as a representative of New Democrats in our House and around the province, I just want to lend my voice of sympathy and concern to all the people affected.
On the motion that is before us in the House, I’m very happy to rise to speak to this motion, because I did have the opportunity to return to the community of Brampton this morning to talk to folks in Brampton about this issue. I was joined by a number of colleagues from the opposition bench who are representatives of that great community, including Sara Singh, who is the member for Brampton Centre; the member for Brampton East, Gurratan Singh; and the member for Brampton North, Kevin Yarde. These folks, as well as a couple of newly elected city councillors in Brampton, joined us with a number of everyday folks who are very, very concerned about the announcement that this government made.
Along with people who are reeling as well in the communities of Markham and Milton, the announcement is one that is affecting some of the fastest-growing cities in our province, as well as some of the cities that count amongst them some of our youngest citizens. These growing and tight-knit communities are fuelled by young families and young students and are filled with energy. They are great places to build a life. They are just spectacular communities that need to have a government in place that understands that with that growing population and that growing energy, they need a partner that helps them to ensure that their communities are able to thrive.
The people of Brampton, Markham and Milton have spent years and years and years working hard to spur growth in their communities and to create vibrant, resilient places that provide opportunity for the next generation. But for too long, these communities have been forced to go it alone.
As Canada’s ninth-largest city, Brampton has had the unfortunate distinction of being the only one of Canada’s 10 largest cities without a university campus.
The people of Brampton, Milton and Markham know how important a university can be to the growth of a municipality, so they did the work. On many occasions I’ve visited these communities. Most recently, a couple of summers ago—maybe it was last summer, in fact—I was in Brampton, and really excited by the excitement I felt there.
The concern coming from everywhere that there weren’t enough job opportunities in Brampton, and that too many people from Brampton had to leave their city to get a job; the opportunity that this Brampton campus was bringing to that city; and the expectation that parents and young people had about the many, many spinoff effects that that campus would have were palpable. And then to be there today and see people so disappointed and so upset by this government’s callous decision—it was a pretty challenging morning, I have to say.
Each of these cities did the work that they needed to do to try to create a difference in their communities. Each of them partnered with post-secondary institutions to bring those campuses to their communities, and each of them got the government of Ontario to commit the funds.
York University, in partnership with Seneca College, was to set up and open a campus in Markham. In fact, that campus was literally weeks away from turning sod; in other words, they were literally shovel-ready. The province committed $127 million to that campus in June 2017.
Wilfrid Laurier University, in partnership with Conestoga College, was to establish a Milton campus. The province committed $90 million in April 2018.
Ryerson University, in partnership with Sheridan, was set to open a campus in Brampton. The province committed $90 million to that project in April 2018.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was April 2018, the fact of the matter is that these projects have been in the works for years. They weren’t suddenly announced without any background work having been done. People had had their nose to the grindstone; people were working hard behind the scenes. In fact, in Brampton, the previous mayor had tried to get something happening with a university and wasn’t successful. That was prior to 2014, Speaker. So to see that these folks got so disappointed by this government was really an awful thing to see.
It seemed like these campuses were something that everyone could get behind. The business communities got behind them; the universities and colleges got behind them; the entrepreneurs in communities got behind them; families got behind them; students got behind them. They were something that everybody could get behind, because we all know that university campuses are a chance for communities to broaden access to educational opportunities.
We all know that post-secondary is expensive. I talked to a young person this morning who has to commute in to Ryerson each and every day from Brampton. She spends three hours a day on transit, and that’s on a good day: an hour and a half in, and an hour and a half out of the city. When she had heard that this campus was coming, she was excited—not just for herself; she might be finished by then—but certainly for her younger sisters and brothers and cousins and other folks in the family who wouldn’t have to commute and get home literally after 11 o’clock at night in pitch darkness, because a course ends at 9 and, by the time she got home by transit, it was that late.
We also know that these campuses create economic growth. We know that having a chance to go to university in their own communities goes a long way for young people, and it makes it easier for their families to support them. It’s an important way for us to give young people more opportunity and fewer burdens.
That’s why, when presented with a chance to bring these campuses to Brampton, Milton and Markham, members of every political stripe got on board. The importance of these projects and the value that they would bring to these communities was obvious.
Back in April—just a few months ago—the member from Milton, who was then the PC candidate for Milton, said, “We will do everything we can to make this project a reality, whether it takes $90 million or there’s more we need to do.” I’d say that the government decided to do less, not more. They took away the $90 million. They pulled the carpet right out from under the people of Milton.
In June, the member from Brampton South noted, after a meeting with the mayor of the day, Linda Jeffrey, that the university was one of the key issues facing the city of Brampton and was something he looked forward to working on with all levels of government.
The member for Markham–Unionville has long been in favour of bringing a university campus to Markham. In July, he noted, in this very House, the crucial economic impact that York University’s Markham campus would have on the region: $500 million in economic benefits from the construction—$500 million for the construction—and $37 million in annual impact once the campus is fully operational—$37 million. So $500 million during construction, then $37 million on an annual basis; more than 400 on-campus jobs being created.
By 2024, 4,200 students would have access to teaching, learning and research, “allowing them to gain the skills and knowledge ... to be part of the 21st-century economy of Ontario.”
Now Doug Ford has ripped that opportunity out of the hands of those communities. Mr. Ford has told moms and dads in Brampton, Milton and Markham that if they want their kids to get a university education, they will have to move out and that the 905 is not a place where young people are able to learn or pursue their goals and dreams. Instead of doing the right thing and supporting the people who live in the 905, in these burgeoning communities, instead of ensuring opportunity and growth for these fantastic parts of the GTA, Doug Ford, the Premier of this province, has cancelled funding to these campuses.
Premier Ford’s agenda of more cuts and more neglect has put these important projects and the communities and families who are counting on them in jeopardy. Sadly, the PC members of the government who, just a few short months ago, were very, very clear about the importance of these universities and the benefits that these investments would bring to their communities—well, unfortunately, they didn’t stand up for the people in their communities. They didn’t stand up for the very people they had promised that they would do everything they could to make sure these universities got built.
The moment push came to shove, the moment they should have stood up in their spots and said, “No, I am supporting the people of my community because that’s what I promised them,” instead, they decided a promise made is a promise broken in Milton and in Markham and in Brampton. They did not stand up to Premier Ford. They did not stand up for what they know will be good for their communities and the families who live in them. Instead, they broke their many, many promises to make these campuses and the dreams of young people a reality.
They supported the Premier’s reckless, short-sighted cuts to these campuses in Brampton, Milton and Markham.
These members know better, or they should have known better, Speaker. I think they do know better. They know that callous cuts won’t bring opportunity to their communities. They know that more neglect of the 905 will only hurt this region as it tries to grow and prosper.
We all know on this side of the bench that the Liberals didn’t do any great favours to these communities, that they ignored these fast-growing communities and allowed them to fall behind when it came to post-secondary institutions, when it came to health care. We watched things get very, very, very bad under the Liberals. And then the Conservatives come to town and they make things go from bad to worse. That is no way to bring hope back to communities that had already been neglected by a government—the next government in town is going to neglect them even more.
People who work in these communities, who live in these communities know it too. That’s why Brampton Board of Trade president Todd Letts said last Wednesday:
“Cancelling the Ryerson-Brampton project seems to have come out of the blue”—the Tory blue that would be—“and does not inspire confidence in the government’s decision-making....
“Universities are economic drivers. This campus is the catalyst for many complementary economic investments in our city.
“Downtown businesses were counting on increased foot traffic and customers for their stores. Teenagers and their parents were looking forward to having more choice for learning.”
Again, that was the president of the Brampton Board of Trade, Todd Letts—wholesale condemnation of the Ford government in regard to this decision.
Similarly, Milton mayor Gord Krantz said this: “To say that I am disappointed with the provincial announcement is an understatement.... We have invested 10 years of hard work into making post-secondary education in Milton a reality.”
York chancellor Greg Sorbara noted on Thursday, “There have been millions of dollars invested in preparing for this campus. Everything from designing courses to recruiting staff to hiring architects to being ready to put the shovel in the ground....
“That means young people in Markham, almost all of them the children of immigrant families, would have a place to go to university ... at home and not have to go away to school. If this isn’t built then I don’t know how you replace that capacity elsewhere in the GTA.”
Madam Speaker, this is absolutely unacceptable, but it does not have to be this way. Communities should not have to go it alone. There is far too much at stake to let Premier Ford take families in the 905 from bad to worse, to let another generation of young people in these rapidly growing communities grow up without access to the opportunities that they need to build a better life close to home.
But it’s not all bad news, Speaker, because it’s not too late to fix this. I’ve listened to people in Brampton, Milton and Markham. I’ve listened to families, to businesses, business owners, university representatives and city leaders. I got the chance to speak to each one of the mayors impacted. I know that with this motion, we can do right by the young people and families who need the opportunities that will come with these university campuses. The people of Brampton, Milton and Markham have been clear. Their city councils have been clear. Experts in education, city planning and the economy have all been clear.
All we have to do is listen to them. We can make life better for people in Brampton, Milton and Markham. We can finally turn back the tide on generations of cuts and neglect that have made it harder for these growing 905 communities to grow and succeed. We can give people in these communities hope for the future—a future in a region with a healthy, growing economy, where more students have access to education and more people have good-paying jobs right in their community.
I’m urging all members to support this motion, and then I’m going to call on the government to take action. We can still get these universities built. From there, we can take that political will and spread it across the province by making real, concrete investments in the 905 and in communities across Ontario—investments that will make people’s lives better today. That’s what they’ve been waiting for. They have been waiting for a government that will actually pay attention to them and not treat them like second-class citizens, the way they were treated by the previous government.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Everybody in this House can vote for this motion and make sure that the Premier of this province, Premier Ford, tells the people of the 905 and his MPPs who represent those people that he’s figured it out, that he got it, that he understands that these folks deserve the investment, they deserve the opportunity, they deserve the universities, and they deserve to be treated equally with every other region of our province when it comes to making sure that there are post-secondary opportunities available.
This will help build a stronger, more prosperous Ontario with more opportunity, not only for today but for the next generation. It is visionary. It is what’s supposed to happen with government. You don’t just drag things backward to the last century. You don’t just tear things down. You’re supposed to build things up. You’re supposed to give people hope for the future. You’re supposed to have a vision that makes life easier and better for everyone—not, in a very ugly moment, turn around with a stroke of a pen overnight and dash the hopes and dreams of millions of people. That’s not what a forward-looking government would do.
It looks like if we don’t see this motion passed today, we see the Ford government, once again, admitting that it’s actually a backwards-looking government—too bad for the people of Ontario, Speaker.
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?
Ms. Sara Singh: It’s a pleasure to rise here today. I wish it was under different circumstances. I’m going to be speaking about this announcement to cancel funding to a very critical investment in our community.
I want to start off by expressing to this House how far-reaching the disappointment is in this reckless cut. This reckless cut is within our community of Brampton and across this province. It is really, really unfortunate today, being in the community and over the weekend hearing comments from everyone from young people to senior citizens expressing their frustration and disappointment in this government not creating the investments that our community needs to move us forward.
Young people obviously are upset and rightly disappointed in this government’s decision. But it’s not just Brampton’s youth that are impacted by this cut. Parents and grandparents were looking forward to more opportunities for their kids closer to home. Children were looking at more options in their hometowns for the future. My office is even getting calls from Brampton senior citizens saying how thrilled they were at the thought of a new campus in their neighbourhood and how these cuts have them worried about their grandchildren’s futures.
I think all members of this House who are lucky enough to have a college or a university campus in their riding know how invigorating post-secondary educational institutions are in our communities. To have this government rip them away overnight is beyond disappointing and frustrating. Young people have been sending me direct messages on Twitter and Instagram saying that they’re outraged, disappointed and disgusted in this government’s decision to cancel the funding to a much-needed post-secondary educational institution in our community. This is a cruel and callous cut and it lets an entire city down.
The president of the Brampton Board of Trade, a dear friend of mine, actually, is quoted, as our leader, Andrea Horwath, said earlier: this “decision seems myopic. With so much waste in other parts of government, it seems silly that the target is put on stifling innovation. Universities are economic drivers. This campus is the catalyst for many complementary economic investments in our city,” like a centre for innovation that was also going to be constructed in conjunction with the new Ryerson-Sheridan university campus.
To hear these cuts categorized by the minister as “collateral damage” is just simply wrong. The Conservatives point to the previous Liberal government’s mismanagement of funds as a justification for these cuts, but the fact is, these cuts were a choice. At some point, this Premier and his cabinet sat down and had a conversation about “what we are going to cut next,” and unfortunately, they identified these university campuses as their targets.
The Conservatives have made a choice to stifle education in the name of their bottom line, when in fact we should actually be doing the opposite and investing in these communities and these institutions to ensure that that return on investment is seen in communities for years to come, not cutting vital investments that are needed now to drive economic growth for the future.
My community of Brampton, along with Milton and Markham, is growing very rapidly. Our communities in the 905 are vibrant, and we were ready for these projects well before their announcement in April.
I can remember, having lived there my entire life, groups and groups of people coming together to work with our previous mayor to advocate for a university campus. For years, we had those discussions about where this campus should be. What would be the right location? Should it be a downtown campus? Should it be out in the westerly quadrant of our city? These were debates that were ongoing. This wasn’t something that was decided overnight. It took years and years and years of planning. In addition to that planning, there were plans around transit and infrastructure construction that was also supposed to happen. But it does not seem as though this government cares.
Our communities deserve better. I know that many of my colleagues on the government benches actually agree with me, because they were in support of these projects. They were in our communities, campaigning to make sure that we would get a university in Brampton. They campaigned and said that if we did, they would continue to work with the government of the day to ensure its expansion and continued growth within our communities. Unfortunately, those members are not here today to continue that advocacy and have not—
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): A reminder to all members that we do not point out who is or is not here. You may return to your remarks, please.
Ms. Sara Singh: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
From a financial perspective, the Brampton school would have been a massive investment in our community, as a partnership between Sheridan and Ryerson was going to drive investment in our community.
Investing in a campus in Canada’s second-fastest-growing city, with an average age of only 36 years and where approximately 38 new residents settle every single day—investing in a community that is growing that rapidly, and bringing people from around the world into that community, seems like a smart choice. But unfortunately, to this government, cutting those investments seemed like a smarter decision to make.
Breaking ground on a project that would inject 1,800 new construction jobs, 1,500 maintenance jobs and another 1,500 ongoing jobs into our local economy seems like a smart choice, not to mention that the Ryerson-Sheridan campus had plans to focus on educational programming that would rapidly expand highly demanded fields, including a national centre for cyber security. Surely we could all agree that cyber security and investments around that are a smart choice.
Interjection.
Ms. Sara Singh: But apparently, as our minister says, no, we don’t agree on that. So, I apologize for that.
In addition to all of that, the increased foot traffic through the city would act as a nice little boost for our local small businesses, restaurants, coffee shops and stores—
Interjection.
Ms. Sara Singh: In the downtown core of Brampton. It would have been great.
We all know that university and college kids basically run on takeout and caffeine, and we do contribute to the local economy wherever we’ve gone to school—not so different from many of us here in the House today.
You’ll forgive me, Speaker, for finding it a bit difficult to point to the waste or mismanagement involved in these projects, and for finding it frankly tragic that this government and the minister categorize sound investments in education as a waste of money.
But it really does not have to be this way. This government can decide to support our motion today. We can finally work together. They can decide to honour a commitment that is well earned and long overdue for my community of Brampton, for those in Markham and for those in Milton. This government can stand with us and say that investments in education are worth it. Our young people are worth it. Brampton is worth it.
I will finish by asking my colleagues—and I’ll maybe not say the last comment because I was going to ask specific colleagues to stand with us today—to help us ensure that we invest in the future of our city, and to help move our city of Brampton forward, but more importantly, this entire province forward. Thank you. I sincerely do look forward to working together, hopefully, on this.
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak today about the tough decisions our government has taken recently. To quote from the Premier at his swearing in: “We must always—always—keep people first. This commitment underpins everything our government does.” We have “an obligation to respect taxpayers and deliver services efficiently and effectively.” We intend to do that.
We made a promise to the people of Ontario to restore accountability and trust in Ontario’s finances, and part of that process means making tough decisions about projects across Ontario. Tough decisions—because the previous Liberal government left us $15 billion in deficit. Irresponsible spending has left Ontario in a dire economic situation. We are forced to make tough decisions—disappointing decisions for some, but thoughtful decisions. Our government has begun and will continue to do the heavy lifting needed to achieve our goal of sustainable economic prosperity.
Last week, our government delivered a package of fiscal restraint decisions that will put Ontario back on the right track. I announced that the government would not go forward with the funding of proposed plans for three new post-secondary education sites in Markham, Brampton and Milton. Cumulatively, these three projects would have cost the Ontario taxpayer $320 million in capital expenditures plus ongoing operating expenses. I am not here to debate the value or worthiness of these projects; it’s a question of fiscal responsibility.
If the institutions can come up with the required funding to build these campuses on their own, we would be happy to consider their business cases. However, I’m here to tell you that at this time, in Ontario, they are not financially viable and we are not able to fund them.
The Liberals knew there was no funding for these projects, yet they promised the money anyway. In this instance, we were forced to make a tough—and, yes, for some a disappointing—decision.
We need to act responsibly given the fiscal constraints facing this province. We made the decision, and we took immediate action to notify the affected parties to let them know that the ministry was no longer in a position to provide funds to continue project planning, purchase of land, or begin construction. We made the telephone calls to the institutions. We followed that with letters of confirmation. We have done our due diligence and we will continue to do so.
Everyone here knows post-secondary education is critical to the future of Ontario, to our economy, and to the prosperity for our people. But it needs to be done in a responsible manner.
Danny Chang, president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance agrees: “At OUSA we believe in responsible investment that will effectively improve the lives of students and the future of our society. That is why our students wanted to communicate alignment with your decision on October 23. We believe that the Ontario university sector should ensure that any new or growing university institutions and campuses are financially sustainable.”
As the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, I’m committed to our post-secondary and training systems and the responsible investment in these systems. My focus is on helping people get the training and education they need to get good-paying, quality jobs. Equally important is my focus on doing this in a way that is fiscally prudent and sustainable for both today’s students and students in the future. It can be done.
Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, agrees. “In a situation in which the system is characterized by a lack of students, creating entirely new campuses takes students away from existing campuses at a time when they are scrambling to find students they need to fill the spaces they already have available.” We cannot “expect a provincial government that is trying to wrestle with its deficit to pay for” new campuses “at a time when there is no pressing need to establish them.”
We need to look at post-secondary education and training in the broader context of what is best for Ontario’s economy. That means making sure it is efficient, cost-effective, financially sustainable and is providing the skilled workforce we need to restore Ontario to its rightful place as the economic engine of Canada.
We have a plan. We have begun work on a system that will support jobs and trades where there is also a demand for higher skills and where there is tremendous opportunity for jobs that offer good pay and a bright future. One in five jobs in Ontario is expected to be in the trades-related occupations until 2021, and likely beyond. Business owners and employers are telling us there are not enough people on the skilled trades path and that there is a mismatch of skills and employment opportunities. Solving the skills mismatch is not just a priority for me; it’s essential to our province’s prosperity.
Let me tell you a story about why I feel passionate about ensuring we have the right skilled trades mix, with a modernized apprenticeship system being a crucial part of that mix. I can personally attest to the value of the skilled trades, because it is part of the foundation of my own family. My father-in-law grew up in Poland during the Second World War. He arrived in Canada in 1950, and began to train as a plumber. He worked hard to develop the skills he needed to thrive in his profession and founded what eventually became one of the largest HVAC companies in Canada.
My father-in-law was an excellent example of how hard work, dedication and opportunity for all can allow anyone to prosper in Ontario.
We are so fortunate to have a strong tradition of skills training and apprenticeship in this province. Look around. You can see the influence of our apprentices and skilled tradespeople everywhere: in the building we are in today; in the vehicles that got us here; on the roads we travel on. Skilled trades play such an essential role in our economy, our society and our everyday life, and they will continue to do so as part of the backbone of our economy.
With almost one in five new jobs in Ontario expected to be in trades-related occupations, with an aging workforce, particularly in the skilled trades, we need to ensure we have the workforce on hand to meet this growing demand. But what business owners and employers are telling us is tha