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May 2, 2016

41st Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2016-May-02 (PDF)

L166 - Mon 2 May 2016 / Lun 2 mai 2016

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 2 May 2016 Lundi 2 mai 2016

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of ribbons

Oral Questions

Hydro rates

Autism treatment

Fundraising

Health care funding

Social Assistance Management System

Police oversight

Ontario’s credit rating

Hydro rates

Gasoline prices

Sexual violence and harassment

School closures

Public transit

Dental care

Diabetes

Employment standards

Visitor

Member’s birthday

Notice of dissatisfaction

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

William Shakespeare

Minimum wage

Community beautification

Autism treatment

Transportation infrastructure

Craft breweries

School closures

Doctors

Consumer protection

Introduction of Bills

Door-to-Door Sales Prohibition Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 interdisant la vente de porte-à-porte

Motions

Private members’ public business

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Education Week

First Responders Day

Education Week

First Responders Day

Education Week

First Responders Day

Petitions

Hydro rates

Gasoline prices

Landfill

Employment standards

Unaddressed mail

School closures

Hospital funding

Health care funding

Privatization of public assets

Ontario Drug Benefit Program

Health care funding

Orders of the Day

Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Act (Strengthening Retirement Security for Ontarians), 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur le Régime de retraite de la province de l’Ontario (sécuriser la retraite en Ontario)

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): This week, the House will be paying tribute to the deceased former members Joan Fawcett and Keith Brown. I ask that all members have their memories in mind during prayers today.

Good morning. Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m honoured to welcome a friend of mine to Queen’s Park today: Karen Dickenson. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Karen.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my absolute pleasure to introduce aboriginal learner role models from the Council of Ontario Universities’ Future Further organization. They are here today to promote the Let’s Take Our Future Further initiative launched by Ontario’s universities to promote awareness of achievements by aboriginal learners. We welcome all of Queen’s Park to join them this afternoon at their reception which runs from 12 to 1 p.m. this afternoon in room 230.

Once again, a warm welcome to Queen’s Park from all of us.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Page Grace Fletcher: Her father, Mark Fletcher, from Simcoe North is in the public gallery today.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Good morning. It’s my great pleasure to welcome and introduce, as part of Children’s Mental Health Week, May 1 to 7, members of the youth action committee, a provincial advisory committee to the Children’s Mental Health Ontario organization and The New Mentality. Seated in the gallery are Beth Nowosad, co-chair; Nicole D’Souza, also co-chair; Matt Leaton; Travis Franklin; Chizara Anucha; Cherish Bluecoat; Shannon Hope; Mary-Anne Leahy; Caralyn Quan; and Jenny Gomez. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m very pleased to introduce today Tim Wylie of Wylie Insurance. He hails from the tri-villages of Gorrie, Wroxeter and Fordwich.

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: We are happy to welcome in the House today members of the Ontario Co-operative Association. I would like to introduce Ms. Erin Morgan, executive director of the Ontario Co-operative Association; M. Luc Morin, directeur général au Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario; M me Lucie Moncion, présidente et chef de la direction de l’Alliance des caisses populaires de l’Ontario; Frank Lowery, VP, general counsel and secretary of the Co-operators Group; Simone Swail, incoming chair of the joint co-operative committee; et Philippe Boissonneault, président du conseil d’administration de l’Alliance des caisses populaires de l’Ontario.

I would also like to invite all members to join us tonight in room 228 for their reception.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I’d like to introduce Rick Orr, who’s with the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario in my riding of Perth–Wellington.

Mr. Mike Colle: I’d like to introduce local insurance broker Greg Robertson. His father went to school with me at St. Mike’s. Also here are Debbie Thompson, from St. Michael’s, the past president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario; Bryan Yetman, another past president; and Jason Famme, all here to entertain us later tonight in the legislative dining room from 5 to 7. All are welcome. Please come.

Mr. Bill Walker: I don’t believe they are in the House yet, but there’s a busload of students, parents and alumni from OSCVI high school in Owen Sound coming to join us in the Legislature today.

Mr. Joe Dickson: I’d like to welcome page captain Isabela Rittinger; her parents, Ana and Mark Rittinger; sister Carla Rittinger; and grandparents Cecilia and Laurence Conceicao. I have looked in both ends and have not been able to find them, so if they’re here, please give us a wave. Thank you very much.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: I’d like to introduce to the Legislative Assembly this morning Eric Renault, Pamela Renault and Rita Player from the great riding of not Chatham–Kent–Essex, but Windsor West.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce members of the Canadian Mental Health Association who are here with us in the gallery today. We’re joined by Camille Quenneville, the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario division; Gail Czukar, the CEO of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario; Erin Boudreau, manager of policy and community engagement, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario; and Deb Sherman, the executive director of the Ontario Peer Development Initiative.

Mr. Norm Miller: I’d like to welcome Stephen Darling from Burk’s Falls, with Stan Darling Insurance, who is down with the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario here at Queen’s Park.

Mr. Chris Ballard: I’m delighted to introduce Reg Bateman, president and CEO of Smith Williams and Bateman Insurance Brokers of Newmarket, who is in the House with us today.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Please join me in welcoming the news that the Windsor Spitfires will be hosting the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup—just announced today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’d like to welcome them.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I’d like to also introduce and welcome the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario as they are here for their 2016 awareness day. President Doug Heaman, CEO Jim Murphy and chair Michael Brattman are here with us watching question period today. Welcome.

Mr. Yvan Baker: I just wanted to welcome a number of guests who are with us today, who were here in the media gallery earlier this morning for the introduction of my private member’s bill on door-to-door sales. We have my constituency staff, Anne Wood and Charlotte Rouse. We have my old intern, Olivia Labonté, and we have a number of members of my seniors’ advisory group. We have Laura Longhurst, Richard Yorke, Ted Mulvihill, Richard Kihn, Karen Dickenson, Harvey Pellegrini, Wendy Taylor, and my mother, Myroslava Oleksiuk. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Michael Harris: I want to welcome Doug Heaman from my riding, who is with the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario and president of Advocate Insurance Group in Kitchener-Waterloo. Welcome.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I too want to welcome reps from the insurance industry, from the great region of Durham. I see Debbie Thompson; I hear Bryan Yetman is here, and others. Welcome.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: We’re joined by our page captain Brendan Weeks this morning. Here in the gallery with him is his proud mother, Susan Tiam-Fook Weeks, as well as his father, Kevin Weeks. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

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

Wearing of ribbons

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Seeing no further introductions, I believe there is a unanimous consent: the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to wear green ribbons today to recognize Children’s Mental Health Week in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Children and Youth Services is seeking unanimous consent to wear the green ribbons. Do we agree? Agreed.

It is now time for question period.

Oral Questions

Hydro rates

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Minister of Finance. On April 19, the Minister of Finance stood in the Legislature and said that hydro rates are going down, but yesterday, everyone’s hydro rates went up. So my question to the Minister of Finance is: Is he willing to stand in the Legislature again and say that his hydro rates are going down?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, what I referenced—and the member opposite knows all too well—was that investments were made by our government to the tune of over $30 billion to ensure that we have greater integrity and ensure that we have stability in our grid. Furthermore, we eliminated dirty coal from emissions in our province. Ninety per cent of our emissions are now free of carbon dioxide, and the member opposite knows that all too well.

Those come at a cost, to ensure that our future is protected and that we become more competitive going forward. He knows that our long-term plan had estimated much higher fees, and that has not occurred.

He also knows that going forward we are going to ensure we’ll continue to provide integrity in our grid and provide further stimulus in our economy. That has been happening, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, again to the Minister of Finance: The Minister of Finance made a contention that his hydro rates were going down. That is not happening anywhere else in the province. So the question is: What special deal does the Minister of Finance have that just his hydro rates are going down? Because of the latest increase, everyone in Ontario’s rate is going to go up $70.

I realize it is part of their talking points to talk about coal, despite the fact that the phase-out started under the Progressive Conservatives. Instead of talking points, because every political party agreed on the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Order, please. Order. Start the clock.

Finish, please.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, instead of answering a different question, a very simple, straightforward question to the Minister of Finance: You said that your hydro rates were going down. Are you willing to make that claim again today? Can you expect Ontarians to believe that, because I certainly don’t.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Get it out now, because I’m going to tighten up.

Minister?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The legacy of the Progressive Conservative Party in the past was blackouts in this province and continued brownouts that always occurred, Mr. Speaker. Furthermore, they left a legacy of tremendous debt because of mismanagement of the electricity system that we are only now paying off completely.

Mr. Speaker, furthermore, we have now invested—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please, Minister.

Hon. Charles Sousa: We have invested in more than 15,000 kilometres of transmission and local distribution across our province, a distance of one and one half times from coast to coast in Canada, Mr. Speaker. Anyone who is promising you now that they’re going to reduce rates is not telling you the truth.

In the end, Mr. Speaker—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): A one-sentence wrap-up.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Anyone who promises lower rates is promising a return to dirty coal in this province, Mr. Speaker. That’s what they are talking about. We are not going to do that on this side of the House.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, once again to the Minister of Finance: The drive-by smear on coal didn’t work in Whitby–Oshawa because there was no truth to it.

Now, back to the question and back to the real concern, and that’s the hydro rates that everyone in Ontario sees as going up except for the Minister of Finance.

Let me give you an example. Last week I was in Thunder Bay, meeting with mayors and councillors from northwestern Ontario communities. I would note that in 2015, the federation of northern municipalities passed a resolution calling for lower hydro rates, as they’ve been disastrous on the north. Resolute forestry, where I toured, told me they have to shut down parts of their plant every day during peak rate periods to keep their costs down. I guess they don’t get the Charles Sousa special.

Mr. Speaker, when will this government stop turning their backs on northern Ontario? When will this government actually have energy policies that don’t cripple northern Ontario?

Interjections.

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

I remind all members that we use each other’s titles and/or ridings in this House.

Minister.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, the statement that the Leader of the Opposition was referring to is a statement that—in our 2013 long-term energy plan we had certain projected prices, and what the Minister of Finance said is that we’re coming well below those projected prices. We’re reducing from what we were projecting.

I do want to thank the member for supporting our nuclear refurbishment program. The nuclear refurbishment program, over the next 30 years, will put into the grid electricity prices at 7.7 cents per kilowatt hour, on average, and it will be clean energy.

He doesn’t mention that the recent wind prices came in at 8.5 cents, on average, per kilowatt hour—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Okay. I’m going to ramp it up since you are. We’re going to move to warnings.

Finish, please.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, the recent wind prices came in less than the average price of electricity in the grid, at 8.5 cents.

Northern Ontario industrial prices are the third-lowest in North America, better than all the Canadian provinces, better than all the US states. Do you want to see them? Look online and you’ll see all—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Time is up.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): When I stand, you sit.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): In case you didn’t hear when it was really quiet, I said we’re moving to warnings. The shouting is going to stop.

New question.

Autism treatment

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. May 1 was a sad day for Ontario. IBI treatment for autistic children five and over is no longer available because of this government’s callousness.

Let me share a story of a letter I got from seven-year-old Warren and his family from Bailieboro. He was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. His parents immediately registered Warren for IBI therapy. About one month ago, Warren’s parents were notified that Warren was seventh on the waiting list for IBI treatment. They were elated. Unfortunately, because of this government’s decision, the rug has been pulled out from underneath this family and Warren. It’s not right.

Mr. Speaker, after so many years on the waiting list, why is this government proceeding with these devastating cuts that will take away IBI treatment from Warren and his family? We know how much the minister was upset. Why did the Minister of Finance allow this cut in his budget?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question.

It’s very important to acknowledge that we are not removing kids from service. In fact, we are taking those kids who are waiting for IBI, who are over five, who are not in the right developmental window, and putting them into immediate service—330 million new dollars, 16,000 new spaces. I acknowledge that it’s a shift. I acknowledge that it’s a transition.

I and many of my colleagues and, I believe, members of the opposition have been meeting with families. I’ve made sure that everyone in the Legislature has all the facts, that they understand the step-by-step process by which this transformation will take place and that the new autism program will provide longer, more intense services and will be tailored to the individual needs of the child.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance because this is his cut.

When the government cuts a service, they say, “It’s a shift. It’s a transformation”—

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: So $330 million is a cut?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Energy is warned.

Leader?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, it appears we have struck a nerve. We’re decoding their language. A “shift” is their word for a cut. A “transformation” is their word for a cut. They like to say that, sure, they’re taking away IBI treatment, but they have enhanced ABA—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Well, I’ll do it: The deputy Minister of Finance is warned.

Carry on.

Mr. Patrick Brown: They say they have enhanced ABA, but we now learn from the regional service providers that there is no such thing as enhanced ABA. There is no enhanced treatment for Warren. He has been kicked off the wait-list and given a cheque that will only cover a few months of treatment. Warren and his family deserve better from this government.

My question is directly to the Minister of Finance. Autism doesn’t end at five; do you agree with that fundamental concept, yes or no?

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry is warned.

Minister?

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Of course we agree that autism doesn’t end at five.

I’m very concerned about the opposition positioning this investment of $333 million as a cut. We have 16,000 new spaces that will be provided. Children who are currently receiving IBI will continue to receive that. Guess who will be determining what their transition is? Experts, at their next six-month checkup.

Speaker, I think it’s important to acknowledge that there are stakeholders who support this change:

Leslie Suite, the chair of the Regional Autism Providers of Ontario, says, “We are very excited about what this historic investment means for children and youth with autism and their families. More families will receive the right services at the right time.”

Suzanne Jacobson, founder of Quickstart: Early Intervention for Autism, said, “Parents spoke and they were heard. The right service at the right time: individualized, expanded and timely services will be life changing. We applaud the Ontario government’s ... investment of $333 million....”

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Once again, for the Minister of Finance: The government’s backbenches seem to share the government’s callous disregard for what this means for families with autism. On Twitter last week, the member from Beaches–East York called the parents of autistic children bullies. These are parents that are frustrated with the province because they can’t get the treatment they need.

Mr. Speaker, first the Liberal government took people like Warren’s parents to court. Now, they’re kicking kids like Warren off the wait-list. When will the government stop their war on autistic children and parents who love them? It’s not the right thing. Correct course.

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Speaker, I’d like to know when the Leader of the Opposition will stop using the wrong terminology about kicking kids off lists. That implies they’re not getting support; they are getting immediate support. Those children he’s talking about will go to immediate service.

Interjection: Fearmongering.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: It is fearmongering, and I’m very concerned because this does affect families. I appreciate that, Speaker, but it doesn’t help, quite frankly, when the opposition isn’t communicating—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, Minister, please.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: It would also be helpful if the opposition talked about what this will do for the children on wait-lists he speaks about. We will reduce wait-lists for autistic children by half in two years—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon is warned.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: —2020.

I just wish the opposition would get the facts. His critic has had the briefing. It’s important they convey the facts during this time of transition.

Fundraising

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Acting Premier. The Premier created a scandal with her system of secret fundraising quotas. Can the Acting Premier tell Ontarians—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. My comments still stand for this next round of questions; it’s for the entire time of question period. If you want to get warned, the next step is that you’re named.

Finish, please.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Can the Acting Premier tell Ontarians which minister had the quota to raise $430,000 from GreenField Speciality Alcohols and which ministers are responsible for $160 million in Liberal government support back to GreenField?

Hon. Charles Sousa: There are two questions there. One is the degree of investments we’re making to grow our agricultural industry and support rural Ontario, which is critical. We recognize that ethanol and our growth in ethanol will help the industry as well as move us into the low-carbon economy. The selection process in that is very non-partisan. Ministry officials are the ones who evaluate the companies. It goes through a competitive four-step due diligence process.

The member opposite also talks about fundraising activities. I think the leader of the third party, who is strongly defending her secret union-backed shell corporation, is clear as to why the NDP has not decided to act on the reforms that we’re putting forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Increasingly, Ontarians are concerned that this government and this Premier have manipulated and abused the rules around political fundraising in this province beyond anything that we have seen in the past. Now this Premier says, “Just trust me when I rewrite the rules on my own and use my majority to pass them.” Speaker, it is simply not credible.

When will this Premier and this Liberal government realize that the rules on how parties and elections are financed must be seen as credible by the people, and agree to put aside her partisan process?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, credibility is exactly what’s in question here from the member of the third party. They are obviously stuck in process, because they want to delay further the reforms that are necessary to meet the very demands of the public, and we recognize that.

Our questions to the leader of the opposition are, do you believe that we need to reform third-party advertising? Do you believe that we need to ban corporate and union donations? Do you believe that we need to reduce the maximum amount of those donations? Do you believe that we need to have the constraints necessary on loans, loan guarantees and phantom landowners? Do you believe that reform on by-elections is also important? Do you believe that we need an overall reduction in the spending limits by central parties in election periods and between those elections?

Do you believe that we need new leadership, and nomination campaign spending limits on those donation opportunities during those campaigns?

I believe the consensus around this room, and certainly outside of this Legislature, is that we do. That’s what we’re putting forward, and we expect—

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

Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The government has spent the last week, or more, attempting to smear anyone who wants an open, transparent panel to make new election rules. In fact—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock.

Finish.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: They believe that Democracy Watch, newspaper editorial boards, the Green Party of Ontario, the official opposition and the NDP are somehow all trying to delay. Yet when given multiple opportunities to move forward on a fast-moving, independent process that will report back to this Legislature by the end of September, the Premier and her government have repeatedly simply said no.

The real question is, why is the Liberal Party of Ontario insisting on a partisan process that they control?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The real question is, why aren’t we moving on the piece of legislation before this democratic House? That is the place to do our business—and it does require public comment. It does have debate. It is a democratic process.

The real question is, why is the leader of the third party defending a secret, union-backed shell corporation? Why are they continuing to throw up roadblocks in the process?

What we need is action, Mr. Speaker. We’re prepared to act now.

Health care funding

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My second question is also for the Acting Premier. Since January, Ontario has lost 800 full- and part-time nurses. That’s nearly 200 per month.

When will the Liberal government stop firing nurses?

Hon. Charles Sousa: I know the Minister of Health will want to respond to this.

But it’s important to recognize that we are investing more. Let me be clear: The opposition continues to make disingenuous claims about our health care system. In reality—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Withdraw.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker.

The opposition fails to tell what are, in fact, the facts. The reality is that we’ve increased hospital funding by 53% since 2003, from $11 billion to $17.3 billion, and we’re increasing funding for every single hospital in Ontario this year. This is part of our budget proposal of a $1-billion increase to health care funding. We will continue to invest in hospitals, and we must recognize that we’re moving towards a system where more services are delivered at home and in the community.

The NDP voted against these very measures. They voted against an additional $270 million for home and community care, they voted against $75 million for community-based hospice and palliative care, and they voted against $85 million for community health centres.

We’re investing more, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Yes, in fact, Speaker, we did vote against a terrible austerity budget, and we’re proud of it.

Here are the facts: People in Orillia have learned that 16 beds at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital will be closed, and the hospital is losing 35 full-time-equivalent staff. They’re losing seven full-time RNs, four part-time RNs, and a nurse practitioner.

The CEO says this: “On the heels of a four-year funding freeze and only a modest increase to base funding for 2016-17, it’s increasingly difficult.”

When will the Liberal government stop cutting hospitals, Speaker?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Health.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question from the leader of the third party, because it allows me to set the record straight when it comes to Soldiers’ Memorial. We are investing an additional $1.3 million in that hospital this year.

But let’s hear what else the CEO of that hospital said. It was based on—there’s a rehabilitation alliance, the Rehabilitative Care Alliance, which is a province-wide body, and they are making changes which are in accordance with, and in fact recommended by, that alliance.

“The major budget initiative is a bed restructuring plan that will see the establishment of a newly designed program to enhance care for patients”—this is quoting the CEO—“requiring post-acute rehabilitation services and medical care. To develop this new model of care,” the hospital has withdrawn from the regional complex continuing care program and is “relocating other beds within the hospital to the new unit to be established on the fourth floor.”

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: We’re going to have to rehabilitate the entire hospital system after this Liberal government gets finished with it.

In Windsor hospitals, health care workers right now know that their cuts are coming. The situation has gotten so bad that nurses are getting second jobs and some are leaving in advance, because they’re so worried about the layoff notices that are coming. They are so stressed about the impending layoff notices that they are actually leaving their jobs before the pink slip hits them. That’s bad for nurses, but it’s also bad for patients.

When will this Liberal government start putting patients first and stop cutting hospitals and firing nurses?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Every single indicator that we have with reference to our nurses, despite the fact that the NDP, of course, fired thousands of nurses when they were in power in the 1990s—registered nurses, since 2003, a 12.8% increase; nurse practitioners, a 312% increase in the number practising in the province; registered practical nurses, a 45% increase. Every single measure that we have—and these are independent figures and statistics from the college—demonstrates this government’s commitment to continue to hire nurses to provide that important, exceptional front-line care that they do each and every single day.

Social Assistance Management System

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. The minister was asked if she knew about the problem with SAMS before it was launched. The minister said, “Nobody told me.”

Will the minister now admit that just wasn’t true, and will she apologize to the people of Ontario?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I think I’ve acknowledged many times in this House that SAMS did not roll out the way it should have. No one’s denying this.

But let’s be clear about what we’re talking about. A memo was released. It was written by the project manager for SAMS and it was addressed to the administrators out in the field. I would like to read that memo in its entirety.

What he said on November 1 was, “I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that there have been significant challenges both with the development of the solution and with site readiness. However, this was not unexpected in such a large and complex modernization initiative, and in every instance we have worked together to overcome these challenges.”

This was precisely the type of information that was relied upon to roll out SAMS in November 2014.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Unfortunately, I didn’t hear an apology. When the minister said, “Nobody told me,” that wasn’t true, plain and simple. On November 1, the minister received a memo from the SAMS team leader which said that the system faced significant challenges—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m—get the message? Withdraw, please.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Withdraw.

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

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: The system was faced with significant challenges. That means she had time to stop the release of SAMS before the damage was done. Instead, she assured everyone that she was confident SAMS would have a seamless rollout the following week.

In previous governments, a scandal like this would have triggered resignations. Has anyone in this government accepted the consequences for such a monumental screw-up? Anyone at all? Because this minister hasn’t.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I’d like to reiterate that the memo in question was sent not to me but to administrators in the field, and what I’d like to point out—

Interjection.

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

Finish, please.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I’m wondering if the member opposite is suggesting that he would have pushed the stop button on much-needed innovation based on knowing there were challenges that had been overcome?

Having said that, we know that challenges did exist with the rollout. I have accepted the responsibility for that. I started staff working groups, front-line working groups. We hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to assist us in a third-party evaluation of what needed to be done. We have now fixed 100% of the priority issues identified by the front lines and 95% of the defects identified in the Auditor General’s report.

Police oversight

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is to the Attorney General. When it comes to police accountability, transparency and oversight, this government has been all over the place on this file. It’s really done a disservice to not only the people of Ontario, but to the family of Mr. Andrew Loku. Transparency is vital to maintaining public trust in the administration of justice and our justice system.

First, the Attorney General took 30 days to read a report that only she could read. Then, while the Premier made some promising remarks about perhaps releasing this report, the Attorney General said no to questions asked by media to releasing this report, four times. Now, finally, when the government releases the report, they release it late on a Friday. They release only 10 out of 34 pages, and one of those pages is blank. The pages that are released are heavily redacted. In fact, the public is left with more questions rather than answers.

Why does the government continue to disrespect Ontarians and discourage transparency turn after turn?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I want to thank the member from the third party for his very important question.

As I said, our government is very committed to effective and fair civilian oversight of the police. We are aware that there are concerns about transparency and accountability in current police oversight, so the time has come to look critically at how this system is working. That’s why last week we appointed the Honourable Michael Tulloch, who is from the appeal court of Ontario, to lead an independent review of three agencies that oversee police conduct in Ontario.

He has been asked to provide the government with recommendations on ways to enhance the transparency and accountability of the province’s three police oversight bodies. Today, I want to thank him for accepting to take on this very challenging review.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Mr. Speaker, while New Democrats welcome this commission and welcome the appointment of Justice Tulloch, that doesn’t answer the question of transparency.

The government likes to talk about transparency time and time again, but when it comes to it, the government does not act on that. The government has failed to act on delivering true transparency. The community has raised a number of concerns around the circumstances of Mr. Loku’s death, and the government has an opportunity to provide the transparency. They like to talk about it, but again, they haven’t delivered on it.

The public has questions; Mr. Andrew Loku’s family has questions; this government can provide the answers. Will the government commit today to releasing a fulsome report—understanding the concerns around privacy—that actually answers the questions that the community has?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: This SIU process has been in existence since 1990. I’ll remind the member opposite that when they were in power, they did not release any of the SIU reports.

We have asked Justice Tulloch to prioritize making recommendations as to how information in SIU reports could be made public in the future. He will also prioritize looking at whether past SIU reports should be made public, and the form this information would take. The government expects to receive these prioritized recommendations in the coming months. Justice Tulloch will conduct broad public consultations, including conversations with the police community, Black Lives Matter and a variety of municipal and community leaders.

I’m confident that, through this review process, we will create a more transparent approach to police oversight that has the confidence of both the police and the public they serve.

Ontario’s credit rating

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Each year, the four credit rating agencies assess the province’s fiscal and economic plan following the release of the budget. Their assessment provides an independent analysis and assessment, which they communicate through their rating and outlook for the province. The results are in for the first of the four credit rating agencies as Moody’s made their assessment public last week. Can the minister please inform this House on the status of Moody’s rating and what this means for our government’s record of fiscal prudence?

Hon. Charles Sousa: I’d like to thank the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore for the question. He was quite right: Following a thorough review of our government’s economic and fiscal plan, Moody’s recently announced an improvement in the province’s rating. Moody’s outlook reflects its confidence in our government’s plan to grow Ontario’s economy and create jobs for Ontarians. The member is also correct in saying that Moody’s is the first of the rating agencies to release its rating.

Our government values the input of third-party analysis as an important checkpoint in ensuring that our fiscal plan is credible, reliable and transparent.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I’m pleased to hear of the improvement to our government’s outlook by Moody’s, and I know that this is the result of a credible fiscal plan and the hard work that the Minister of Finance has done.

As the press release by Moody’s stated, “The stable outlook on the province of Ontario’s ratings reflects our opinion that the province has presented a budget plan with little risk that the debt burden will exceed recent levels.” They also forecast Ontario’s debt to “fall ... across the medium term and, as importantly, for interest expense to remain manageable as well.”

It sounds to me like our government is doing a great job at coming to balance in a way that is fair and responsible.

Can the Minister of Finance please inform this House about the status of our fiscal plan and provide some insight into why Moody’s made this change?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Thank you again to the member for allowing me the opportunity to speak about our fiscal plan and the improvement of our outlook, which was, by the way, well received by many investors around the world, as it was recently affirmed in the 2016 budget that our government remains on track to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18 and remain balanced by 2018-19. By continuing to beat our fiscal targets, Ontario’s accumulated deficit is $30 billion lower than it otherwise would have been. Across the board, private sector economists are forecasting Ontario’s economy to be among the top two growth leaders in Canada.

We will continue to reduce the deficit through a fair and balanced approach. We continue to implement our plan to balance the budget, grow the economy and create jobs. Ontarians will continue to see measurable results, as already seen around the world from those who value the work that we’ve done here in Ontario.

Hydro rates

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is to the Minister of Energy. The minister will know that hydro rates went up again yesterday; on May 1, hydro rates went up. The latest line—an unbelievable line—from the government is that the increases are due to the fact that people didn’t use enough electricity. So in this Liberal energy system, people are penalized when it’s a cold winter, they are penalized when it’s a warm winter and they are punished even more when they conserve electricity.

Will the minister finally admit that the people’s skyrocketing energy rates are not a result of weather but of the colossal mismanagement of Ontario’s electricity system under his guidance, and will he commit to a real plan to stop abusing Ontarians with skyrocketing hydro rates?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Speaker, the member is correct that there was a 2.5% increase. And as I said last week and the week before, the member ignores the fact that if you look at comparisons to other provinces—BC Hydro rates increased by 4% on April 1, 2016; SaskPower approved an increase of 5% throughout 2015; Manitoba Hydro applied for a rate increase of 3.95% as of April 1, 2016; and Newfoundland Power applied for a rate increase of 3.6% for residential customers as of July 1, 2016.

As I said earlier today, northern Ontario has the third-lowest industrial rates in North America.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: The minister has to stop with the numbers game. Quebec’s hydro rates could go up 300%, and they’d still be lower than ours. Stop with the numbers game. You are inflicting real pain on Ontario families.

I had a gentleman in my constituency office on Friday who said that this hydro fiasco that you’ve created is tearing families apart. I spoke to a woman yesterday in my constituency office who works at a food bank in Eganville. She said that there was a 30% increase at the food bank. They ran out. When you talk to people and ask them why they’re at the food bank, it’s because they have to make a choice: “If we pay our hydro bill, we can’t afford food.” That’s what you’ve done here in the province of Ontario.

Will you show some compassion and stop going down the disastrous road that you’ve built for Ontario families?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, the member knows that we’ve created a number of significant programs to help consumers, including removal of the debt retirement charge at the beginning of the year. We’ve created the Ontario Electricity Support Program for low- and modest-income families, which would save them an additional $360 per year off their bills, or $430 when combined with the removal of the debt retirement charge.

I do want to thank the Conservative Party again for supporting our nuclear refurbishment program, which sees an average price of 7.7 cents per kilowatt hour over the next 30 years—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Some people here have Ws.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Conservative Party for supporting our initiative in nuclear refurbishment, which shows 7.7 cents per kilowatt hour, on average, over the next 30 years, and that is clean energy.

We’re taking a lot of other steps to reduce the cost of electricity, including the new price of wind—

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

Gasoline prices

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Minister, you will note—because I’m sure your staff watches this—that about a week ago, there was a 26-cent-a-litre difference in the price of gas from southern to northern Ontario, and within northern Ontario, there was a 10-cent-a-litre difference between Kirkland Lake and Timmins.

The question is very simple: When is this minister and this government going to get on side and do what we’ve been asking and what municipalities across the north have been asking; that is, either get these gas companies to stop gouging the public or, if not, regulate the price of gas?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to begin by thanking the member opposite for the question. I’m happy to take that one back and have a conversation with the member offline.

Of course, you would know that cutting across all of the activity that this government does—thanks not only to the Premier but, of course, to members like the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, the Minister of Government and Consumer Services, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and, also, the member from Sudbury—this is a government that, for 13 years, has worked very hard in a determined fashion to make sure that northern Ontarians have a bright and prosperous future, and that the quality of life for northern Ontarians continues to improve, including, of course, in budget 2016; for example, a number of initiatives from the Ministry of Transportation on the infrastructure front to support highway expansion, roads, bridges and so much more for all of northern Ontario.

For 13 years, thanks to this Ontario Liberal government, we have moved the yardsticks forward for northern Ontario. Because of our leadership, unlike the NDP, we’ll continue to get the job done.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: As my colleague was just saying, we’ve gone from question period to comedy hour.

This government is the same government who got rid of the Ontario Northland, the only train that we have in northern Ontario. This is a government who has driven the price of electricity through the roof to the point that residents and industry can’t afford it. And now I’m asking him a question about the price of gas.

How could it be that gas companies are able to charge a 26-cents-per-litre difference for gasoline across this province? If you can sell a case of beer in Kenora for the same price you sell it for in downtown Toronto, how is it that you’re going to have a 26-cents-a-litre difference on the price of gas?

I ask you again: Are you prepared to step in, get these guys under control and, if not, regulate them?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I think the member knows that the regulation of the price of gasoline is a federal responsibility under the Competition Act, Mr. Speaker. He’s talking about a differential in price. Does he want the same price? Does he want price control? If he wants price control, tell him he wants price control, okay? We know what happens when you have price control.

The provinces who have tried to regulate have seen the prices stay the same as the other provinces, or they went up, because of the cost of administrating the price control they’re trying to implement.

Sexual violence and harassment

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. We all know that sexual violence has a devastating impact on the lives of survivors and their families. As a member of the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment, I heard many touching personal accounts of this kind of violence. It was clear to me that we as a province need to do more to eliminate sexual violence and harassment right across Ontario.

But because crimes of sexual violence and harassment are the most unreported in our province, it is imperative that we improve the experience of survivors who come forward to report these crimes, through better tools and training for our police and law enforcement officials.

Minister, I was pleased to join you in Ottawa in February when you announced the funding of six research projects at post-secondary institutions across the province, dedicated to improving how police respond. Through you to the minister, Mr. Speaker, would the minister please explain how he is addressing this very real and pressing gap?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I want to thank the member from Ottawa–Orléans for her work, along with the other members on the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment.

Sexual violence and harassment is something that is far too prevalent in our communities and something that cannot be tolerated. That is why I was very happy to join the member from Ottawa–Orléans in February to announce that we are investing $375,000 to support six research projects at post-secondary institutions across the province, to provide our police and law enforcement officials with the tools and training they need in order to best support survivors of these terrible crimes.

This research is about identifying best practices based on evidence. It is about supporting an even more compassionate and sensitive approach from law enforcement. It is about learning and implementing best practices, to encourage more survivors to report sexual violence and to continue to improve how police respond to and investigate cases of sexual violence.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the minister for that answer.

I am glad to hear that you’re taking concrete steps to better support survivors of sexual violence and harassment, and improve training for the police who respond to these crimes.

While this research will be important in addressing these issues, we must also recognize that indigenous women are disproportionately more likely to experience violence; in fact, they are three times as likely compared to other women in Canada. Our First Nations partners have told us that there has always been a gap in the justice system, so as we move forward to eliminate sexual violence from our communities, we cannot lose sight of the indigenous women who need our help the most.

That means that we must work to develop a more compassionate, sensitive and culturally appropriate response for law enforcement when dealing with sexual violence against indigenous women, while encouraging more survivors to report.

Mr. Speaker, through you, would the minister please explain what our government is doing to identify the gaps in best practices to help indigenous women across Ontario?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: It is unfortunate that indigenous women are disproportionately likely to experience violence. As the member stated, in fact, they are three times as likely to be impacted by it compared to other women in Canada.

This must change. That is why last month, along with the minister responsible for women’s issues and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, I announced that we’re providing over $250,000 to support research that will specifically draw on the lived experiences of indigenous survivors of sexual violence. These research projects will build on Walking Together: Ontario’s Long-Term Strategy to End Violence Against Indigenous Women and our It’s Never Okay action plan. They will examine how police respond to and investigate these crimes. It is my hope that this research will show us how to improve supports and empower indigenous survivors.

Speaker, this is how our government is working to identify the gaps and best practices, so we can develop tools to improve police responses and investigations to help indigenous women across the province.

School closures

Mr. Bill Walker: My question is for the Minister of Education. This government promised to improve the quality of education in the classroom, but it isn’t happening. It’s clear that ever since the Liberals fast-tracked the reviews of school closings to 10 weeks from seven months, communities are literally being torn apart.

In my riding, five schools are closing. OSCVI alumni, parents and students have appealed to the minister to step in and review the decision—a call that’s supported by over 2,100 petitioners. Mr. Speaker, these constituents want to know: Will the minister support a one-year moratorium on the decision and allow the community, the students and all stakeholder groups to consult on the proposal to close OSCVI?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’m quite happy to comment on Bluewater District School Board, which is what the issue is about. Actually, we had a really interesting event on Friday in Meaford, where the Bluewater board had in fact used the new expedited ARC process. As a result of that expedited ARC process, they will be closing two of their existing elementary schools. They will be closing an older high school as well.

We actually announced that they will be receiving $24 million in the small community of Meaford in order to build a new 1,000-student JK-to-12 school to consolidate all three of those schools. The community, including the mayor, was absolutely delighted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bill Walker: It’s unfortunate that the minister didn’t have the decency to invite the representative of that riding to that announcement.

Despite promising to address the funding formula in the past two elections, it appears the minister is indifferent to the predicament they’re creating and the impact of school closures on people and their communities. This attitude runs parallel to their waste and mismanagement pattern, the same one that has led the government to cut back on funding essential public services, such as education and health care.

Minister, you control the purse strings. You set the rules of the funding formula. You said you would change it. A busload of constituents will be arriving any minute and they want assurances from you that you’ll do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask again through you: Will the minister agree to a review of this decision to ensure that students’ best interests are served at the end of the day by this government? It’s not about the Meaford school; it’s about the OSCVI school.

Hon. Liz Sandals: As I commented to the reporters from Owen Sound on Friday, we need to sort out the process here. Actually, under the Education Act, it falls within the jurisdiction of school boards—not the Minister of Education—to make decisions about accommodation reviews. In fact, the boards are charged with that responsibility.

I would like to point out that I am the Minister of Education, not the minister of schools. My primary focus is to make sure that students receive good programming. What we know in secondary schools is that when there’s a critical mass of students, the board has the opportunity to provide a broader breadth of programs for the students. They can provide better-quality programming. That actually is my job: to make sure students receive—

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

New question.

Public transit

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Throughout their history, TTC fares in Toronto have been based on the simple principle that every Torontonian deserves equal access to their transit system, regardless of their income and regardless of where they live. But now Metrolinx is quietly working on a fare integration plan that could force people living in Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York to pay a higher fare for a subway ride than people living downtown.

Will the Liberal government guarantee that Metrolinx will not force people living in Scarborough to pay more to ride the subway?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to thank the leader of the NDP for the question. Of course, as everyone should know by now, the folks at Metrolinx, who are doing an exceptional job, are working hard to liaise with all of our municipal transit systems around the greater Toronto and Hamilton area to make sure that, collectively, we can deliver on fare integration for this region.

I think anyone who moves around the greater Toronto and Hamilton area would recognize—and certainly I hear it loud and clear from my own constituents in York region—in order to support the unprecedented transit investments that this government is making, that we need a fare integration system across this entire region that works seamlessly, that makes transit more accessible, more affordable, more reliable and more dependable for the people of the entire region. That’s the work that Metrolinx is embarking upon, in conjunction with all of our municipal transit systems. They will keep working hard to make sure that we can get it right.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, in fact, what Metrolinx has been quietly doing is designing a fare integration plan that could force the TTC to become a zone-based system that divides Torontonians based on where they live. So years from now, people in Scarborough might get a new subway but then find out that they can only afford to ride the bus.

Will the Liberal government guarantee that there will be no fare zones within Toronto, and that Metrolinx will not force the TTC to charge higher fares for subway riders?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Only the leader of Ontario’s NDP would think somehow that after months of open conversations, after months in which every single board meeting has a public portion, that this is somehow hidden. It’s a conversation that’s been ongoing. It’s part of my mandate letter, which, of course, she should know. For the first time in Ontario’s history, our mandate letters were posted publicly at the time that we received them.

I think what’s also, perhaps, the reason that the leader of the NDP is mistaken about how supposedly hidden this effort is is that because—while we are investing in transit through budget after budget after budget, that leader and the NDP caucus continue to vote against them. They are obviously more focused on petty partisan politics in Scarborough instead of being focused on making sure that they support the transit investments needed to deliver the seamless integrated transit network the people of this region and the people of Scarborough deserve.

Dental care

Ms. Soo Wong: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent yet preventable chronic diseases, particularly among children. It is the leading cause of day surgeries for those ages one to five. Research shows that untreated oral health problems can affect children’s ability to eat, sleep and focus. In my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt, it is not unusual to see children whose growth and development are impacted by poor oral health.

There is an unacceptable disparity in health outcomes between lower- and higher-income individuals in this province. It is true of dental health as well.

Speaker, through you to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Can he please inform the House what the government is doing to ensure that children in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt and across Ontario receive the proper dental care they deserve?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I have to say that it was great being with the member from Scarborough–Agincourt, and many of her MPP colleagues from Durham and Scarborough, last week when we announced a $20-million investment in diagnostic imaging at the Scarborough Hospital, and a $5-million planning grant, as well, for both Durham and Scarborough regions.

As the Minister of Health and as a parent, I want to see all children grow up to be healthy and live healthy lives. The family income level should not be a barrier to that. That’s why I was pleased last week to announce that our government is supporting families in raising healthy kids by making it easier for more eligible children and youth from low-income families to access free dental health services in Ontario.

The new Healthy Smiles Ontario program provides access to free preventive, routine and emergency dental services for all eligible children and youth. I’m very proud of our government’s Healthy Smiles program. It’s an important step in Ontario’s overall Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Soo Wong: Thank you to the minister for his response and also for his leadership role in supporting Scarborough.

Healthy Smiles is an excellent oral health program run by the public health units across Ontario. We know this type of preventive treatment, whether it’s checkups, cleaning, fillings or X-rays, saves our health care system dollars in the long run.

Studies show that early detection and identification of oral diseases are critical in children’s overall health, social well-being and learning.

As a former public health nurse and school board trustee, I know the free Healthy Smiles dental health care program will help children in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt and across Ontario improve their oral health, keep them out of the emergency room, ensure proper nutrition, promote self-esteem and reduce absenteeism from school.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Can he please tell the House how families can access the Healthy Smiles program?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: As part of this new and improved program—where we merged six different programs with different sets of rules and six different applications into one program with one application and one set of rules—70,000 more kids will have access to these important services.

I’m pleased to report back today that already more than 323,000 young people are enrolled in the Healthy Smiles program. To bring that number even higher, we launched an awareness campaign last week across the province to encourage more people to visit ontario.ca/ healthysmiles to find out if their kids are eligible, and to sign them up for these important publicly funded dental services. Families can also speak to their local public health unit.

Of course, our public health units are essential partners, and I want to thank them and our other partners, including our dentists, as we roll out this important program.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Before we go to new questions, just to remind the member from Windsor West, it really doesn’t matter where you sit.

The member from Elgin–Middlesex–London.

Diabetes

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. A recent Toronto Sun

article detailed this government’s failures for patients with diabetes. This particular patient had to have her left foot amputated and came close to having to amputate her other foot due to a lack of preventive foot care.

A 2012 report released by Canada’s Premiers revealed that an estimated 85% of leg amputations are the result of a non-healing foot ulcer. The report recommended the use of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s best practices guide to prevent the need for amputation, but four years later about 2,000 patients are forced to undergo physically and emotionally traumatic amputations each year.

Mr. Speaker, why has the minister failed to implement RNAO’s preventive measures, which could save millions of dollars and thousands of limbs of Ontario’s diabetic patients?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I have to commend RNAO and the Canadian Association of Wound Care, both of whom are participating in a Health Quality Ontario task force, a working group that I asked HQO to set up to look specifically at these issues. We’re hearing from the best experts right across this country on this important issue.

The level of amputation that we’re seeing is unacceptable. It’s important that we have a wound care approach that is based on best practices and best principles, and that that is applied province-wide.

We’ve gathered together the experts—of course, RNAO and the Canadian Association of Wound Care are part of that process—so we can actually hear from them, work with them in this working group to develop those standards of care and implement them across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Back to the Minister of Health: That task force should have been called four years ago, after the Premiers’ report came out, not four years later, with patients suffering for four continued years.

The Canadian Diabetes Association reported that the economic burden of diabetes was estimated to be $4.9 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase to $6.9 billion by 2020. An estimated 1.5 million people in Ontario have diabetes, and that’s expected to grow to 2.3 million people by 2025. These Ontarians are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with end-stage renal disease and 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for a lower-limb amputation than the general public.

Could the minister explain why prevention is not a priority in this government?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Of course it’s a priority, and that’s why we’re looking at wound care. We’re also looking at off-loading, which is an important aspect of this in terms of prevention and best practices for management.

I need to remind the member opposite that Ontario was the first province or territory in Canada to fully fund insulin pumps for children and adults with type 1 diabetes.

We’ve established six centres for complex diabetes care. They have provided care to over 9,000 new patients. We’ve increased the number of diabetes education teams, which I suspect the member opposite would agree is a preventive aspect of care. We now have 321 diabetes education teams across the province. We have diabetes mobile outreach services. And we’ve invested in self-management, as well, making sure that individuals like my sister, who has type 1 diabetes, have the education and support that they need to be able to live those high-quality lives.

Employment standards

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Minister of Labour. Last week, we learned that the Ontario government recovered nearly $140,000 in wages owed by 18 firms to interns, after a ministry blitz of a small number of GTA workplaces. The results of the blitz are deeply troubling. Of the 36 firms with interns that were subject to the Employment Standards Act, fully half were not meeting their obligations under the ESA.

It seems that the minister’s efforts to educate employers are not working. While the blitz stopped the exploitation of unpaid interns at 18 firms, what is the minister doing to prevent the thousands of other young people who are working without pay at hundreds more firms across this province?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member for this important question. Contrary to the assertions that are made by the member, I would say the work we are doing on unpaid internships in this province is working. Thanks to the work that we were able to do with the Ministry of Labour in the blitz, young people in this province will now be receiving $140,000 that they wouldn’t have otherwise received.

Let me make it perfectly clear: Unpaid internships are illegal in the province of Ontario. There is no such thing as a legal unpaid internship. If there are employers out there today—and the blitz shows us there are—that still do not understand or decide not to follow the rules, we are going to continue to level that playing field for other employers in this province that do abide by the rules. I’m proud we were able to recover the money for these young people, who deserve that money.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Kitchener–Conestoga on a point of order.

Mr. Michael Harris: Point of order. I would like to welcome Pathfinder Christian School to question period today. Thanks, guys, for coming.

Member’s birthday

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Barrie on a point of order.

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I’d like to wish a very happy birthday to the member from Brampton–Springdale, who celebrated her birthday on April 27.

Notice of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member from Timmins–James Bay has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Minister of Transportation concerning gas prices. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

There being no deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1143 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Bill Walker: I did this earlier, but now the group from Owen Sound, OSCVI, are here: students, alumni and some very dedicated people from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I would like to welcome Josie Swan-Merrison, the mother of page Preston.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’d like to introduce to the House Kelly Fairchild, a constituent who is here today for a petition I’m reading. We also have Pamela Taschuk, Derek Richmond, Megan Whitfield and Stacey Mills, who are members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and are concerned that they are being asked to deliver objectionable material.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: First of all, I didn’t realize that sitting down would cause so much delay in the proceedings—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Don’t make me warn you.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I would like to introduce and welcome Laura and Steve Donkers, who came from Oxford today to hear a statement I’ll be making later in members’ statements. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Members’ Statements

William Shakespeare

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: “Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die, / Passing through nature to eternity.”

Today I rise to mark the 400th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest playwrights, William Shakespeare. The Bard of Avon is best known for his collection of around 40 plays. To this day, they are some of the most commonly performed plays.

Shakespeare was born around April 23, 1564, and led a life as an actor and writer. I’m sure that everyone in this House has studied his plays, which is a testament to the power of his work. It’s believed that Shakespeare passed away around April 23, 1616, though no record of his death exists. We do know that his funeral was on April 25, 1616. Shakespeare was a man of wealth and fame during his lifetime, but has become revered since his death.

My riding of Perth–Wellington is home to one of the prominent arts festivals, the Stratford Festival. The Stratford Festival is internationally renowned for its productions, many of which are Shakespearean plays. Four hundred years after his death, audiences flock to Stratford to watch Shakespeare’s work come to life.

The festival is a centre of economic activity in Stratford. A 2010 Conference Board of Canada study found that the festival generates economic activity of $139 million, tax revenue of $75 million and 2,957 full-time jobs.

I invite everyone to visit Stratford this summer and celebrate Shakespeare’s legacy with a performance of Macbeth, As You Like It, or Breath of Kings.

Minimum wage

Ms. Jennifer K. French: We Are Oshawa is a group of community activists and advocates who engage community members on important issues. Recently, they organized a $15 and Fairness rally and created a clever obstacle course in my constituency office parking lot called the Amazing Race to the Bottom. I’ll tell you: I’m always up for a challenge, but the Amazing Race to the Bottom is not one that people win.

It started with the Childcare Juggle, and it turns that I’m not any good at juggling. I had to run the Race to Pay the Rent, but kept running into Sick Day Setbacks. When it came to the Unpaid Bills Balancing Act and the Unpaid Internship Wobble, I barely managed to get by and just made it over the Student Debt High Jump. It got really tricky when I had to lift and carry the weight of the Necessities of Life and had to figure out what is most important: food, rent or paying my bills.

While I ran the race, Mr. Moneybags shouted unhelpful encouragement at me like, “Try harder!” “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” and “Change your attitude; change your life!”

I finished the Amazing Race to the Bottom and crossed the poverty line, but nobody won. In real life, these obstacles aren’t fun; they are heartbreaking and insurmountable.

New Democrats support a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Hard-working Ontarians deserve to earn a fair living wage for their time and their work. They deserve benefits, sick leave and strong services in a fair society where they are not forced to race to the bottom but instead can set their sights on a bright future for themselves and for their children.

Community beautification

Mr. Han Dong: I rise today to recognize some outstanding community partners in my riding of Trinity–Spadina.

Over the last week, organizations across Trinity–Spadina have stepped up to the task when it comes to cleaning up communities and environmental protection. Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, residents of Trinity–Spadina began cleaning and beautifying our neighbourhoods and the community. Thanks to community leaders like Scadding Court, the entertainment district BIA, the CityPlace Residents’ Association, and the litter and glitter committee of the Annex Residents’ Association, just to name a few, Trinity–Spadina is ready for the summer.

I am very proud to have so many amazing organizations in my community. I would especially like to recognize and thank the volunteers who came out to these community clean-ups. It is their dedication and commitment to our and our children’s community and environment that is truly inspiring.

I, along with the rest of my riding, am extremely proud of the organizations and volunteers for their hard work. I know, honestly, it’s taking place across this province. I want to say to them: Thank you for helping to make Trinity–Spadina a beautiful place to live and raise a family.

Autism treatment

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Every child in Ontario deserves an opportunity to succeed. No parent should have to hear that the government has given up on their child, but that’s what parents like Laura Donkers have been told. Her son Lawson is six and has autism. After only four months of intensive behaviour therapy this spring, they received a letter saying that he was being transitioned out. As his mother said, “I waited six years for him to call me Mom. Do you know what it’s like to wonder if your child knows who you are and your name? I do. Now Kathleen wants to take that away from us. That’s not right.”

Mr. Speaker, it is not right. The government should not be giving up on children just because they are six years old, especially those who have spent years on the wait-list.

He was six when he started IBI, but already Lawson has learned to wash his hands, how to dress and is learning how to use the toilet. Imagine how much he could learn in the two years of therapy his parents were promised. Instead, the government has chosen to cut off services for kids like Lawson just because of their age.

The need for help doesn’t stop at six. These children deserve a chance for the future. I’m asking the government to give Lawson and all children like him a chance. Give them the IBI therapy that they need. As Laura Donkers said, “Please don’t let Kathleen Wynne leave behind a generation of children.”

Transportation infrastructure

M me France Gélinas: I rise today to draw attention to a serious issue in the municipality of French River in the south end of my riding. Three years ago, the ministry area maintenance contractor was replacing a culvert on Highway 64. They inadvertently put up signage to detour traffic onto Golf Course Road rather than Highway 607, as they had intended. This mistake happened during half-load season. According to the engineers, this mistake by the MTO contractor caused $344,000 in damage to Golf Course Road.

For the last three years, representatives from the French River area have reached out repeatedly to the Ministry of Transportation on this issue, to no avail. When they are not ignored, they are offered a measly sum of $25,000. That’s seven cents on the dollar. The ministry itself has stated, “A review of the detour configuration did identify irregularities in our half-load signage on Highway 607.”

After three years, Golf Course Road is still not fixed and is getting worse. The good people of French River, all 2,500 of them, are stuck with this large bill for a mistake made by the Ministry of Transportation.

When will the ministry take its responsibility and pay for the damage done to Golf Course Road? Construction season is upon us. Time is of the essence.

Craft breweries

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: The craft beverage industry in Northumberland–Quinte West is thriving. The beverage producers of Northumberland county believe strongly in community and in the fellowship of the industry. They are unique, Speaker, in their co-operative nature.

On Wednesday of last week some of the brewers, cideries, hop growers and maltsters of the region came together in a collaborative effort to create a truly local beer while celebrating a spirit of unity. Participants held a kickoff event at the William Street Beer Co. in Cobourg to start production of a truly local beer, made by local professionals, using entirely local ingredients. In fact, this beer will be fully comprised of ingredients grown within 75 kilometres of the brewery. This includes local barley, hops, apples and honey.

Contributors include Church-Key Brewery of Campbellford, Empire Cider of Codrington, William Street Beer Co. of Cobourg, Bickle Farm-Valley Hops of Port Hope, Barn Owl Malt of Stirling, and Pleasant Valley Hops of Hillier. Speaker, this unique brew should be ready in about four weeks.

I’m extremely proud of these folks and the initiative they have taken to promote the use of local ingredients. It is a wonderful idea, and I encourage growth, sustainability and reinvestment in the local economy. Perhaps one day it may be chosen as the official craft beer of the Legislature, Speaker. But until then I encourage all members to stop in to any local participating breweries in Northumberland.

School closures

Mr. Bill Walker: I rise today to bring attention to school closures in my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. The Bluewater District School Board has recently completed an accommodation review, during which parents and community partners were asked to comment on upgrading two Owen Sound high schools to a grade 7-12. I’d like to also add that this review was done under the government’s new fast-track rule, where the process was shortened to 10 weeks from the previous seven months. The outcome is concerning to many people in the community.

Two weeks after the comment period ended, the board surprised the parents and student of OSCVI by announcing that it would close their 16-year-old school and move all high school students into the 57-year-old West Hill high school, putting that school at overcapacity. The board plans to renovate the OSCVI to create an elementary super school with more than 1,000 students.

The city of Owen Sound and the county of Grey, together with the OSCVI alumni, students and their parents, have made a plea to the Minister of Education to step in and review the process, provide a one-year moratorium on the decision, and allow the community and students and stakeholders to consult on the proposal to close OSCVI. To this end they’ve gathered 2,100 signatures on a petition which I hope to present today. For reference, that’s about 10% of the population of the city of Owen Sound.

This is a very contentious and divisive issue that is literally tearing our communities apart. The people are feeling devastated by what’s transpired. I trust that this government is paying attention to the impact of forcing boards to fast-track school closures due to reduced funding as a result of their waste and mismanagement of the province’s finances. I also trust they will take this opportunity to review funding formulas that do not work in rural Ontario. Our students deserve better.

Doctors

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I have the privilege to recognize an extraordinary group of men and women serving the province of Ontario, and that is, of course, Ontario’s medical doctors. May 1 is declared to be Doctors’ Day in Ontario. I recognize my colleague the MPP for Richmond Hill, the Honourable Reza Moridi, for bringing this forward. It was his private member’s bill in 2011 that proclaimed this.

Speaker, since 2003 the number of physicians in Ontario has increased by over 5,600, or 26.3%. During the same time the population grew by 10.6%. This means that because of our investments the ratio of physicians for every 10,000 Ontarians increased from 17.5 to 20. Our government is committed to making sure the people of Ontario have the right care at the right time in the right place. We have moved forward on a number of initiatives that ensure a stable physician supply, improve retention and enhance the distribution of physicians across Ontario.

As a physician parliamentarian myself, as well as parliamentary assistant to the Premier, I’m of course proud to be part of the world-class health care system that we have established right here in Ontario. I would particularly, with your permission, Speaker, like to recognize an inspiring physician who I know is watching right now: Dr. Qaadri the elder. Dr. Mussarrat Qaadri has been practising as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in the province of Ontario for the last 45 years. Thank you, mom. She has also, by the way, chaired a meeting at the Ontario Medical Association of the

section of clinical hypnosis medical interest group.

Consumer protection

Mr. Yvan Baker: Today I rise to speak to an important issue in my riding of Etobicoke Centre, as well as across Ontario. Every month I hold a seniors advisory group meeting. At these meetings I hear about the many issues that impact seniors. One of the issues that I hear about the most is the issue of door-to-door sales. Through speaking with my constituents I learned that Ontarians, particularly vulnerable individuals such as seniors, continue to receive unwanted sales offers at their doors.

These marketers often use misleading and aggressive high-pressure sales tactics to entice people into contracts that take advantage of consumers. Under the guise of saving consumers money, many dishonest salespeople dupe consumers into contracts that are more expensive than the industry standards, have harsh cancellation fees, and provide inferior products and services that don’t work or that don’t perform as advertised.

While this an issue that cuts across all ages, it’s alarming to me to see how often door-to-door sellers target those who may be more vulnerable. That is why today I will be introducing a private member’s bill. The bill being tabled today is the culmination of months of consultation and research within my riding and with province-wide stakeholders.

If passed, the bill will ban the sale, lease or rent of air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces and water treatment devices. It would also allow the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services to add more products to the list, if necessary.

I have heard from too many seniors and concerned constituents who have been taken advantage of by coercive and misleading salespeople, right on their own doorsteps, right in their own home. It is beyond reprehensible that some organizations have a business that makes money taking advantage of vulnerable people. We must take action to protect Ontarians and end this predatory practice.

Introduction of Bills

Door-to-Door Sales Prohibition Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 interdisant la vente de porte-à-porte

Mr. Baker moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 193,

An Act to prohibit door-to-door sales of certain products / Projet de loi 193, Loi interdisant la vente de porte-à-porte de certains produits.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Did I hear—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Yes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Oh, I wasn’t sure. Thank you. Carried.

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Yvan Baker: This bill, if passed, Speaker, would protect consumers from misleading, aggressive and coercive tactics from door-to-door salespeople. If passed, the bill will ban the sale, lease or rent of air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces and water treatment devices. It would also allow the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services to add more products to the list, if necessary. Significant fines would be instituted on those individuals and companies contravening the act.

Motions

Private members’ public business

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members’ public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(b), the following changes be made to the ballot list: Mr. Hudak and Mr. Walker exchange places in order of precedence such that Mr. Hudak assumes ballot item number 42 and Mr. Walker assumes ballot item number 36.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Naqvi moves that, notwithstanding standing order 98(b), the following changes be made to the ballot list: that Mr. Hudak and Mr. Walker exchange places in order—

Interjection: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense. Agreed? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Education Week

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’m pleased to stand in the House today to celebrate Education Week in Ontario.

Ontario has one of the best education systems in the world, and I’m proud to say this is because of the dedication, passion and commitment of Ontario’s education community. I want to thank everyone who is working to support Ontario’s students, including the educators, staff administrators, trustees and, of course, the parents.

Education Week is our chance to shine a light on all of these deserving people who work tirelessly each and every day in our school communities. To these outstanding individuals, I extend my sincerest gratitude for all that you do.

This is also an opportunity, Speaker, for us to build on our renewed vision for education by highlighting one of our top priorities. This year, our theme for Education Week is “Achieving Excellence: Promoting Well-Being.” Well-being is a positive sense of self, spirit and belonging that we feel when our cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs are being met. Over the past decade, we have seen growing evidence demonstrating why well-being is an important element of overall student success.

Ontario is committed to helping our children and students build the knowledge and skills associated with positive well-being so they can become confident, capable and caring citizens. We know that positive well-being has been achieved when all of the children and students in our care have enhanced mental and physical health, a positive sense of self and belonging, and the skills to make positive choices.

Promoting well-being is also about fostering learning environments that encourage healthy students, and engaged and dedicated educators, parents and staff. We know that educators and staff who are motivated and proud to come to work every day are a critical component of enhanced student achievement and well-being. We want all of our students, educators and staff to feel that their well-being is being supported and that they are being given the best chance to reach their full potential.

We’re not stopping here. Ontario has a lot to be proud of in terms of student achievement. We know that well-being and achievement are linked and that the overall well-being of our children and students contributes to their ability to learn in all disciplines—including math. We know that we have more work to do in the area of math. That is why, beginning in the 2016-17 school year, Ontario is implementing a renewed math strategy. This comprehensive strategy is designed to better support our students, our teachers, our schools and our boards in advancing achievement in math.

This strategy will provide new forms of support to all schools, with increased support to some schools and intensive support to schools with the greatest needs in math.

We will also be giving parents more resources to support their children’s learning at home. This is something I will often hear about from parents: “How do I help my kids at home with their math?” We will be encouraging and supporting better access to online resources and math supports, such as Homework Help and SOS Devoirs.

The strategy also draws on what we know about culturally responsive teaching and learning so that we can support all of Ontario’s diverse children and students, including French-language students and First Nation, Métis and Inuit students. Speaker, it is our shared responsibility to support student success and well-being. We strive to do this while always being mindful of our renewed vision for education, which includes these goals along with ensuring equity and enhancing public confidence.

All students, from their earliest years into adulthood, have the right to a brighter future, and they all deserve the opportunity to succeed and pursue their lifelong dreams. We will never stop working towards these goals.

Speaker, as we celebrate Education Week and our theme of promoting well-being, I want to extend my best wishes to all of my fellow members and to each and every person in the province who works to make Ontario’s publicly funded education system one of the best in the world.

First Responders Day

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: It is my great honour to speak about First Responders Day.

Speaker, before I do that, I want to welcome some very good friends who are in the members’ gallery: Carmen Santoro and Ernie Thorne of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association; John Blair, Damien Walsh, Ken Webb and Steve Buckingham from the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association; Claudette Holloway, Shirley Kennedy and Searle Schonewille from the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario; Theresa Agnew from the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario; and Bruce Chapman and Stephen Reid from the Police Association of Ontario.

I want to welcome them all today in the House for this moment on First Responders Day.

Every day, Ontario’s first responders put their lives on the line to protect us, our friends, neighbours, communities and loved ones. They provide emergency and often life-saving services when we need them most and look after us in our time of need. We’re able to take comfort and rest easy in knowing that Ontario’s first responders are ready at a moment’s notice to protect our homes, businesses and communities.

To recognize the ongoing commitment to community safety, the Ontario Legislature proclaimed May 1 of each year as First Responders Day. It is my great privilege to rise in this House to recognize and express our eternal gratitude on behalf of our Premier, our government and the people of Ontario to our first responders. This includes police officers, firefighters, military personnel, paramedics, medical evacuation pilots, dispatchers, nurses, doctors and emergency managers. It also includes the many volunteers and professionals who dedicate their careers to the service of others.

Those we honour here today put themselves in danger so the rest of us can live safely. We hold them up as heroes because that is what they are.

We know that being a first responder is more than a job. It is even more than a career. It is truly a calling. It takes a special person to run into a dangerous situation when everyone is running the other way, to put themselves in harm’s way to save a total stranger, and to be the one others turn to in their desperate moments. Emergency service providers are important members of our communities. They are also our neighbours, relatives and, of course, friends.

Whether they are on the other end of the line when someone calls 911, or save a heart attack victim, or put their lives on the line in defence of our country, these men and women bring professionalism, calm and a helping hand in the greatest hour of need. Answering the call to keep the rest of us safe is not just something they do; it is a reflection of who they are.

We also know that what they’re exposed to, frankly, are circumstances and situations that none of us should ever see or experience and that can take a physical, mental and emotional toll. We have seen the devastating and far-reaching impacts of PTSD. I’m extremely proud that our government recently passed the Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act to ensure that they get the comprehensive supports they need to prevent, diagnose and support their recovery. This is absolutely the right thing to do because first responders are always there when we need them, and it is only right that we do the same for them.

As the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, I think it is also extremely important to recognize each and every police officer, firefighter, and correctional services staff who play a key role in keeping our communities safe. I’m pleased that correctional officers and other front-line staff in our institutions are included in this bill.

Our government also recognizes probation and parole officers, nurses and other professionals who work each and every day to help those in need and keep our communities safe. These groups face unique stresses in their service to Ontarians. I want to be clear that our government will continue this conversation with them. We will build on and enhance programs to ensure that they have the supports that they need and deserve.

We know that Ontario families and communities are safer thanks to the dedication of our first responders, who are there to help us when we need them most. I also want to recognize the sacrifice of their families, their partners, their mothers and fathers, and their children. Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us.

We must take the opportunity to pay our respects to those who have lost their lives. Working with firefighters, police and correctional officers, we have created an annual tribute to honour those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Yesterday I was honoured and humbled to join our Premier at the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation’s annual ceremony of remembrance at Queen’s Park right here in Toronto.

In addition, I also had the opportunity and the honour of attending the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs memorial service for fallen chief officers. The names of these fallen officers are inscribed on the wall of honour—in the case of police officers—right here at Queen’s Park and in a memory book in the case of fallen chief officers. Let’s all take a moment to reflect on their courage, dedication and sacrifice.

Heroes are defined by the way they live their lives in service to their communities and protecting those in harm’s way. To the families of those who have given their lives to protect others, we owe you an eternal debt and we keep the memory of your loved ones in our hearts and minds so that they may be never forgotten.

Ontarians are privileged to be protected by our first responders. We are grateful for their dedication, for their public service and for their commitment to duty and service. To our friends here in gallery today, I want to extend enhanced gratitude to all the family members of first responders through them. Please, let them know that we thank them, we respect them and we owe them a huge gratitude for the service they perform in our communities across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s time for responses.

Education Week

Mr. Patrick Brown: It is my pleasure to rise today on behalf of the Ontario PC caucus and recognize Education Week. Every year, the first full week of May is used to mark Education Week, providing an opportunity to honour the excellent work of principals, teachers, support staff, administrators and school boards who nurture the minds of our children and young adults who are at the centre of Ontario’s future success.

I assumed the role of the Ontario PC education critic because I learned from my mother at an early age the dedication and hard work that goes into the vocation of teaching. I often witnessed endless hours of marking and prepping for her classes. She encouraged her students to do their best and learn everything they could not just from books but important life skills as well.

Ontario’s educators love their students and they work extremely hard on their behalf. I’d like to thank our principals, teachers, support staff, administrators and school boards for the excellent work that happens in our schools each and every day and for their ongoing commitment to putting students first.

I fervently believe that the choices that we make in how we educate our children and young adults are at the centre of Ontario’s resurgence as the economic powerhouse of our nation. It is of the utmost importance that we support Ontario’s educators so that they have the resources to equip our children with fundamental numeracy and literacy skills to succeed in a competitive global economy. When we invest in young minds, it pays dividends to society.

On behalf of the Ontario PC caucus, I want to applaud all those who spur student achievement and acknowledge the important role that our educators play in building our society. I encourage all members of the Legislature and all Ontarians to thank someone in the education community for the knowledge they convey to Ontario’s children and for everything they bring to our schools.

As a son of a former principal, I wish to extend a sincere thank you to all the dedicated teachers, principals and support staff who work in the education sector. Thank you, and happy Education Week.

First Responders Day

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Every day, our first responders work tirelessly to protect all of us both in plain sight as well as behind the scenes. Through the hard work of my former colleague Frank Klees, the former member from Newmarket–Aurora and a true champion for first responders, May 1 was designated as First Responders Day in Ontario.

I’m proud to stand today as the PC caucus community safety and correctional services critic and build on that history of commitment to Ontario’s first responders.

Yesterday, our PC leader, Patrick Brown, and I were honoured to attend the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation’s annual ceremony of remembrance at Queen’s Park as we collectively paid tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. I was especially honoured as Chatham police officer William Lorenzo Pickard, who died in the line of duty in 1922, was recognized at that ceremony.

The ceremony also celebrates the ongoing commitment of first responders who are heroes in life. I was also very pleased to have spent some time with the president of the Police Association of Ontario, Mr. Bruce Chapman.

First responders include police officers, firefighters, military personnel, paramedics, medical evaluation pilots, dispatchers, nurses, doctors and emergency managers. It’s important to note that those people working in correctional services, including correctional officers, nurses, doctors, mental health workers, probation and parole officers and bailiffs, are also first responders. They are our friends and our neighbours—some in the public spotlight and some outside of it—but all bring dedication and professionalism to their important roles. They all deserve equal respect and, perhaps more importantly, our support.

However, not all first responders are treated equally by the province. When we call on first responders for help in times of crisis and chaos, they listen and they deliver. They do not leave anyone behind. Nurses, probation and parole officers, as well as bailiffs, were unfortunately left out of the government’s PTSD bill, and we hope that this is something that will be addressed. When it comes to first responders seeking support after coming to our rescue, we must not leave anyone behind. Our first responders are calling on us for help and we need to answer that call.

Thank you to Ontario’s first responders for serving our province so faithfully and being our heroes in life.

Education Week

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Today it is my pleasure to rise not only as the NDP education critic but on behalf of the entire New Democratic caucus to mark Education Week 2016.

This week, we celebrate student achievement and our dedicated and professional education workers in the public, Catholic and French-language school boards that provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

This government talks a lot about the importance of education. Year after year, they claim to be investing in education, but year after year, we see the government not spend dedicated education dollars. In this year’s budget, there was a commitment to cut $430 million from education. Over $1 billion dedicated to our education system was not spent by the Liberal government over the last three years.

The result is a continued and alarming decrease in supports for students with special education needs. This year alone, the Liberal government cut $8 million in special education funding to 25 school boards. Children with autism have been thrown off the list for IBI therapy, and there is no plan or additional funding to school boards to be able to not only support these students but help them reach their full potential.

Provincial schools for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as demonstration schools for students with severe learning disabilities are under the threat of closure. Support staff and teachers are being laid off. Even today, during support staff appreciation week, 20 educational assistants in Bruce-Grey—these are the professionals in our education system that assist our highest-needs students—may lose their jobs.

The repair backlog for our schools is out of control. Our infrastructure is crumbling. The government continues to starve school boards of the money they need to maintain these buildings, the very buildings that our students are expected to learn in.

Child care regulations were brought forward where they redefined a 12-month-old child as a toddler that would place them in a room with children twice their age. Luckily, they have backed off on this plan, but the minister has promised to bring forward regulations again.

We’ve seen attacks on education workers, both under Bill 115 and Bill 103—it’s important to note that the Conservatives supported both of those bills. They then threatened to dock the pay of the lowest-paid education workers if they did their jobs exactly as described in their contracts.

If we are going to support an education system, the minister and the government need to support the school boards and the people that work within the boards.

First Responders Day

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I’m pleased to rise today on First Responders Day and respond to the minister as the NDP critic for community safety and correctional services.

First, I would also like to acknowledge and welcome the first responders who are joining us here today in the Legislature. It’s great to see you, as always, and thank you.

I want to also take this opportunity to thank them for the work they do every day, but I want to recognize the fact that while Ontarians appreciate all they do to keep us safe, secure, healthy and protected, we will never fully understand what is involved. We see the good-news stories and we see the bad-news stories, but we will never see the gut-wrenching and impossible decisions they make all the time. We won’t feel the pain that they carry with them day in and day out. We don’t know the sense of responsibility and duty that they feel every day.

We are able to live our lives, come and go safely, make plans with our families out in our communities and take for granted that we will be safe or cared for if something happens, and we thank them for that.

I also want to focus on the stress and realities of the job. Safety is about more than just physical safety; it is whole-person wellness. Physical health and mental health must go hand in hand. I want to thank my colleague from Parkdale–High Park for her advocacy and tireless commitment to mental health, safety and our first responders. She’s been fighting for presumptive coverage for years and, finally, we have seen legislation come to pass.

Bill 163 is a success story, but only part of the story. While we’re glad that police officers, firefighters, paramedics and correctional officers were covered under this legislation, we continue to fight for those who were not. First responders and front-line, high-stress service providers were left out quite decidedly. Nurses, bailiffs, probation and parole officers, and special constables were among those who were left out. We cannot leave behind those who are at the greatest risk for stress and trauma.

When it comes to nurses, it was wrong that they are not considered first responders, as they brought up in committee. This government recognizes nurses on First Responders Day but not when it comes to legislation.

We need to appreciate all our first responders and respect the work they do. They are heroes but, more than that, they are our friends, our families and our neighbours. They deserve to be supported and cared for too. They have their duty to protect, defend, care and support, but let’s not forget that, as legislators, we have a duty to protect, defend, care for and support them.

Petitions

Hydro rates

Mr. Ted Arnott: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it reads as follows:

“Whereas the price of electricity has skyrocketed under the Ontario Liberal government;

“Whereas ever-higher hydro bills are a huge concern for everyone in the province, especially seniors and others on fixed incomes, who can’t afford to pay more;

“Whereas Ontario’s businesses say high electricity costs are making them uncompetitive, and have contributed to the loss of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs;

“Whereas the recent Auditor General’s report found Ontarians overpaid for electricity by $37 billion over the past eight years and estimates that we will overpay by an additional $133 billion over the next 18 years if nothing changes;

“Whereas the cancellation of the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants costing $1.1 billion, feed-in tariff ... contracts with wind and solar companies, the sale of surplus energy to neighbouring jurisdictions at a loss, the debt retirement charge, the global adjustment and smart meters that haven’t met their conservation targets have all put upward pressure on hydro bills;

“Whereas the sale of 60% of Hydro One is opposed by a majority of Ontarians and will likely only lead to even higher hydro bills;

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

“To listen to Ontarians, reverse course on the Liberal government’s current hydro policies and take immediate steps to stabilize hydro bills.”

I support this petition and I’ve also affixed my signature to it.

Gasoline prices

M me France Gélinas: I have hundreds of names—thousands of names—on a petition, and I want to thank Mr. Walter Vale from Worthington in my riding. It goes as follows:

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

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

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

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

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

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

I fully support this petition and will affix my name to it and ask page Julia to deliver it to the Clerk.

Landfill

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

“Whereas many of the resources of this planet are finite and are necessary to sustain both life and quality of life for future generations;

“Whereas the disposal of resources in landfills creates environmental hazards which have significant human and financial costs;

“Whereas all levels of government are elected to guarantee their constituents’ physical, financial, emotional and mental well-being;

“Whereas the health risks to the community and watershed increase in direct relationship to the proximity of any landfill site;

“Whereas the placement of a landfill in a limestone quarry has been shown to be detrimental;

“Whereas the placement of a landfill in the headwaters of multiple highly vulnerable aquifers is detrimental;

“Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, humbly petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To implement a moratorium in Oxford county, Ontario, on any future landfill construction or approval until such time as a full and comprehensive review of alternatives has been completed which would examine best practices in other jurisdictions around the world;

“That this review of alternatives would give particular emphasis to (

a) practices which involve the total recycling or composting of all products currently destined for landfill sites in Ontario and (

b) the production of goods which can be practically and efficiently recycled or reused so as to not require disposal.”

I affix my signature as I support this petition.

Employment standards

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I have a petition entitled “End the Exploitation of Unpaid Interns.” It reads:

“Whereas there are an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 unpaid internships in Canada each year, depriving young people of economic opportunity and potentially displacing paid workers; and

“Whereas unpaid internships perpetuate poorer labour market outcomes for marginalized groups and those who cannot afford to participate; and

“Whereas the Ontario Ministry of Labour is not adequately enforcing existing laws on unpaid internships;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 22, the Greater Protection for Interns and Vulnerable Workers Act, which:

“(1) extends basic protections under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to those currently excluded;

“(2) requires that posters with information about interns’ rights in Ontario be conspicuously displayed in the workplace;

“(3) requires that employers provide interns with written notice about conditions of work, length of employment, hours of work, and job description, to be submitted to the ministry to enable the collection of data on internships; and

“(4) creates a system to allow anonymous and third party complaints about unpaid internships.”

I fully support this petition, affix my name to it and will give to it to page Julia to take to the table.

Unaddressed mail

Mr. Arthur Potts: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas hundreds of Toronto residents have complained to all three levels of government, Toronto Police Service, and Canada Post about receiving an unsolicited publication pretending to be a community newspaper, the contents of which can be argued to be racist, sexist, homophobic and advocating violence, both in written content and the use of graphic imagery;

“Whereas the publication referenced above is not a ‘community paper’ in that it clearly indicates a subscription price for the publication on its cover;

“Whereas the publication referenced above is delivered without privacy packaging that is usually employed in the delivery of graphic materials, and as such is easily accessible to children;

“Whereas the publication referenced above should qualify as ‘non-mailable matter’ based on sections 1 and 2 of Canada Post’s published Non-mailable Matter guide, and that Canada Post continues to deliver such material despite the publication’s numerous violations of Canada Post’s own regulations for ‘unaddressed mail service’;

“Whereas Canada Post offers this specific service at an additional cost, a business practice that can be changed by the crown corporation;

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

“To formally bring the issue of Canada Post’s ‘unaddressed mail service’ to the official attention of the Canadian government; to explain the necessity of updating the regulations of this service, using the publication referenced above; and to order that Canada Post adhere to and enforce its regulations, particularly those of non-mailable matter, in the interests of all Ontarians.”

I agree with this petition, sign my name and send it down to the Clerk with Grace.

School closures

Mr. Bill Walker: I have a petition with 2,152 signatures, and I’d like to read it into the record.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“The Owen Sound community connects students from a 30-kilometre radius into a well-established network of neighbourhood schools. For over 160 years, the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute (OSCVI) has provided opportunities for our young people to excel. Graduates include: Agnes Macphail, Norman Bethune, Retta Kilborn, Billy Bishop and thousands of others. When the original OSCVI building was demolished our community was told the new facility would outlast us all (or at least for another 150 years). It was designed with the needs of secondary students in mind and continues to be a centre of excellence for our student population, and a source of community pride;

“Whereas the recent public ARC discussion in the community was over a very different proposal (which was supported in the community);

“Whereas the plan announced by the Bluewater District School Board on March 1 was a complete change and the public was not adequately consulted;

“Whereas students, parents and the community had less than 50 days to adjust to the sudden closure of their school—as students are preparing for final exams; and

“Whereas the city of Owen Sound has requested a delay of one year to prepare for a major change, we request that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ask the Bluewater board of education to delay the implementation of any school closures and amalgamation by one year, to allow for students and the community to adjust, and to permit stakeholder groups to consult on the proposal to close OSCVI.”

I fully support this, and will affix my name and send it with page Emma.

Hospital funding

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I have thousands of signatures here from the people of London about nurses.

“Nurses Know—A Petition for Better Care.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas providing high-quality, universal public health care is critical for a fair and thriving Ontario; and

“Whereas years of underfunding have resulted in cuts to registered nurses ... and hurt patient care; and

“Whereas, in 2015 alone, Ontario has lost more than 1.5 million hours of RN care due to cuts; and

“Whereas procedures are being off-loaded into private clinics not subject to hospital legislation; and

“Whereas funded services are being cut from hospitals and are not being provided in the community; and

“Whereas cutting skilled care means patients suffer more complicated readmissions and death;

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

“Implement a moratorium on RN cuts;

“Commit to restoring hospital base operating funding to at least cover the costs of inflation and population growth;

“Create a fully-funded multi-year health human resources plan to bring Ontario’s ratio of registered nurses to population up to the national average; and

“Ensure hospitals have enough resources to continue providing safe, quality, integrated care for clinical procedures and stop plans for moving such procedures into private, unaccountable clinics.”

I sign this petition and give it to page Preston to deliver.

Health care funding

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I have over 2,000 signatures here to the petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an increasing strain on our publicly funded health care system; and

“Whereas since February 2015, the Ontario government has made an almost 7% unilateral cut to physician services expenditures which cover all the care doctors provide to patients; and

“Whereas the decisions Ontario makes today will impact patients’ access to quality care in the years to come and these cuts will threaten access to the quality, patient-focused care Ontarians need and expect;

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

“The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care return to the table with Ontario’s doctors and work together through mediation-arbitration to reach a fair deal that protects the quality, patient-focused care Ontario’s families deserve.”

I affix my signature to this petition and give it to the page.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Wayne Gates: “Hydro One Not for Sale! Say No to Privatization.

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the provincial government is creating a privatization scheme that will lead to higher hydro rates, lower reliability, and hundreds of millions less for our schools, roads, and hospitals; and

“Whereas the privatization scheme will be particularly harmful to northern and First Nations communities; and

“Whereas the provincial government is creating this privatization scheme under a veil of secrecy that means Ontarians don’t have a say on a change that will affect their lives dramatically; and

“Whereas it is not too late to cancel the scheme;

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

“That the province of Ontario immediately cancel its scheme to privatize Ontario’s Hydro One.”

I agree with the petition and I’ll sign my name.

Ontario Drug Benefit Program

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the government of Ontario is rewriting the Ontario drug benefit, a change that will force seniors to pay significantly more for prescription drugs starting on August 1, 2016;

“Whereas the proposed increase will force most seniors to pay nearly twice as much for their medication, raising the annual deductible to $170 from $100, increasing the co-payment or a fee paid per prescription;

“Whereas prescription drugs make up the largest portion—almost 30%—of out-of-pocket spending for seniors, and that the average senior household spends about $500 a year on regular prescription drugs and requires at least eight different types of drugs each year to stay healthy and maintain their independence; and

“Whereas seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford to pay more for prescription drugs—and should not be forced to skip medications that they can no longer afford and put their health at risk;

“Whereas there is potential for seniors who skip medications to end up in emergency departments or be hospitalized, the most costly form of health care utilization, thereby significantly increasing the cost of our health care system overall;

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

“Stop the government’s plan to hike the cost of seniors’ drugs and work to expand access and make prescription drug coverage more affordable for all Ontarians.”

I agree with the petition and send it down with page Emma.

Health care funding

M me France Gélinas: I have these petitions that come from all over the northeast. I’d like to thank Madame Thérèse Sirois from Garson, in my riding. It goes as follows:

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an inc