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March 7, 2019

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2019-Mar-07 (PDF)

L076 - Thu 7 Mar 2019 / Jeu 7 mar 2019

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 7 March 2019 Jeudi 7 mars 2019

Orders of the Day

The People’s Health Care Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur les soins de santé pour la population

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Autism treatment

Government accountability

Government accountability

Violence against women

Autism treatment

Public transit

Autism treatment

Autism treatment

Waste diversion

Autism treatment

Economic development

Autism treatment

Mining industry

Autism treatment

Autism treatment

Immigration and refugee policy

Notice of dissatisfaction

Visitor

Legislative pages

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Autism treatment

Animal protection

Autism treatment

Police

Government’s record

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

International Women’s Day

Mining industry

Caffeine

Volunteers

Martin Makaveev

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

International Women’s Day / Journée internationale de la femme

Petitions

Autism treatment

Fish and wildlife management

Autism treatment

Animal protection

Employment standards

Environmental protection

Affordable housing

Animal protection

Fish and wildlife management

Midwifery

Autism treatment

Injured workers

Request to the Integrity Commissioner

Private Members’ Public Business

Protecting Our Pets Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur la protection de nos animaux de compagnie

Waste diversion

Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur la conservation de la moraine de Paris Galt

Protecting Our Pets Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur la protection de nos animaux de compagnie

Waste diversion

Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur la conservation de la moraine de Paris Galt

Visitors

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us pray.

Prayers/Prières.

Orders of the Day

The People’s Health Care Act, 2019 / Loi de 2019 sur les soins de santé pour la population

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 6, 2019, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 74,

An Act concerning the provision of health care, continuing Ontario Health and making consequential and related amendments and repeals / Projet de loi 74, Loi concernant la prestation de soins de santé, la prorogation de Santé Ontario, l’ajout de modifications corrélatives et connexes et des abrogations.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand when this bill was last debated the member for Ottawa South had the floor, and I recognize, again, the member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: It’s a pleasure to do my final nine minutes on this bill.

French-language services are guaranteed under the law here in Ontario. I think, when you look at this bill, creating a committee of consultation is going back 20 years. The gains that the Franco-Ontarian community have made in the planning of the services that they are entitled to have depended on governments working with them locally. The Franco-Ontarian community is not one big homogenous blob across Ontario. They live in different places. They have different needs. They have different capacities, and there was much work still to be done to improve that local planning. To remove that is of serious concern to the community, and of serious concern to me.

Equally, with our Indigenous partners, again creating a committee of consultation—it’s not the right way to go. What they really need is a seat at the table and a commitment to have a seat at that table.

I don’t agree with the creation of the super-board; I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. But in the event that it gets created, there needs to be a seat at that table. There must be a seat at that table. That’s our obligation.

I want to go back to earlier in the debate and I want to remind all the members that we’ve been saying the same things. I’ve heard the minister’s speech and many of the remarks from members opposite, and we’ve all been saying the same thing for at least 30 years. Maybe all the words aren’t the same, but we’ve been saying the same things.

So the challenge is not our intent; it’s the execution. The mass centralization and huge change, first of all, are not going to do anything to fix hallway medicine today. This bill is not going to change anything next year or the year after that or the year after that. The challenge right now is that there’s an immediate problem with that. We need to do something. That’s why we opened up a hospital here in Toronto—basically, a 150-bed hospital last year—and why we did 1,100 surge beds. This government has continued it and it’s the right thing to do, but we need to do more right now, and this is taking away from that effort to get that done.

This bill will not improve access to palliative care for people to be able to die at home this year, next year or the year after that.

So I think when we debate this bill, we have to realize that we have immediate problems that exist right now, that we have to address right now. The way that we’re going to know that this government is serious about doing it is by their budget. We’ll see it in the budget. I know we had a report from the FAO, who essentially said, “Just to keep pace, you’ve got to spend another $12 billion over the next four years”—just to keep pace.

All partisanship aside, we’ve all had experiences at home and in our lives with health care, with family members and with ourselves. We know how much we depend on it. We know that we expect it to be there when we need it, and that’s our obligation. No matter who we are, no matter what side we sit on, no matter what our background is, that’s our obligation. That’s, I think, a trust that the Ontario people give to us.

It’s not just about planning for the future; it’s about the right now. You have to sometimes take actions right now. That’s why governments did surge beds.

I want to remind the members that this year’s budget is going to show what the road map really is. I encourage the government to fulfill its commitment for the 15,000 beds. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be about $3 billion a year, every year, for those beds—$3 billion a year, every year, for 15,000 long-term-care beds. This stuff is not easy.

I want to finish by saying that when you take a big, complex system where tens of thousands of people treat millions of people in thousands of places, and you try to turn it really quickly, what happens is, things fall between the cracks, things like the immediate things I’m talking about right now: hallway medicine, access to palliative care, access to a primary care practitioner. Some 94% of Ontarians have a practitioner, but they can’t get them when and for what they need them for. So I caution the government, as it moves to this centralization, about what that’s going to mean, what that’s going to mean 10 or 15 years from now. I talked about the right now.

We know that inside the bill there are powers that are given to the minister and the board that say that you can amalgamate, close, essentially take over a community organization—30 days, no appeal, no notice. I said to the member opposite yesterday, “Who owns the Brockville hospital? Who owns the hospital in Sudbury? Who owns the hospice in Simcoe?” The communities. They don’t have a seat at the table.

I know that your intent is right and good. I’m not questioning that. I believe that. What we need to know is, and what we need to understand is, we’re not here forever. We hold these seats for a short time, and somebody is going to come after us. The power that we give to those people and that we give to people who are unelected is a very serious thing, because we’re not going to be there.

So when you look at this bill, and you think about the powers that are being put in there, think about the limits that should be put on those powers, the rights communities have to appeal, and I wish I had—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Thank you. Questions and comments.

M me Natalia Kusendova: Je remercie mon collègue le député d’Ottawa-Centre.

L’état de délabrement dans lequel notre système de santé se trouve est une crise en gestation au cours des 15 dernières années de mauvaise gouvernance par le gouvernement libéral. Chaque jour, aujourd’hui, on a 1 000 patients qui attendent les soins dans les couloirs. Madame la Présidente, croyez-vous qu’en 2003, le temps d’attente moyen pour obtenir un lit de soins de longue durée était de 36 jours? Aujourd’hui, l’attente moyenne pour obtenir un lit pour les soins de longue durée a augmenté jusqu’à 146 jours. Ça, c’est ce que le gouvernement libéral a fait à nos soins de longue durée en Ontario. Ils n’ont pas investi dans un seul lit pendant 15 ans.

L’Ontario est fier de ses soins de santé. Cela représente notre plus grosse dépense en dollars de taxes. En fait, l’Ontario devrait dépenser 61,3 milliards de dollars pour l’an 2018 jusqu’à 2019. Pourtant, bien que le secteur de la santé soit la dépense la plus importante du budget de l’Ontario, nos hôpitaux et nos services de santé ne reflètent pas les investissements que les contribuables ont réalisés. Il est temps de cesser d’investir dans la bureaucratie des soins de santé que le gouvernement précédent a créée et de commencer à investir dans les patients et dans les professionnels de première ligne. Comme infirmière qui travaille dans des hôpitaux, je suis fière de faire

partie de ce gouvernement qui va mettre le patient au centre des soins de santé, et pas les bureaucrates.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions and comments.

M me France Gélinas: Nous sommes ici aujourd’hui parce que le gouvernement a déposé un projet de loi pour complètement changer notre système de santé. La raison pour faire ça c’est que nos hôpitaux sont pleins à craquer : 50 % des hôpitaux en Ontario ont plus de patients qu’ils n’ont de lits.

À Horizon Santé-Nord à Sudbury, on parle de 40 à 80 personnes suffisamment malades pour être admises à l’hôpital qui n’auront pas de lit d’hôpital. On parle de gens comme Léo Séguin, qui a passé 10 jours dans une salle de bain. On parle de Danny, qui lui est mort à l’urgence, qui pouvait à peine avoir suffisamment d’espace pour que quelqu’un puisse lui tenir la main dans ses dernières heures.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Merci. Further questions and comments?

Mr. Michael Parsa: Listening to my honourable colleague across—he raised some very valid points. Yes, he named some of the hospitals that are in various communities, and he’s absolutely correct that our constituents are people—when they send us here, they rely on us to be able to bring their voices here and make sure that their messages are heard loud and clear.

The only thing with that is that the member knows that—he was a senior member in the previous government, and they had 15 years to do some of the things that he mentioned, and the people looked at them the same way, and none of them was delivered. We had wait times increase. Right now in our hallways in our hospitals, we’ve got over 1,000 people waiting every day to get care in our hospitals. That grows every day, which is why, in the last election, we took our message to the people of Ontario and we campaigned that we would end hallway medicine, and the people chose us.

The people chose change because they were tired of the old government—the fact that they weren’t listening to them. We have made commitments to end hallway health care medicine. The people have trusted us to do this, and we’re going to deliver on that.

Right now the health care system is so broken that it needs immediate change. The minister consulted and is going to deliver on the promises that we made. We’re going to be streamlining so that family doctors, hospitals, and home and community care providers work as a team to deliver the right care for the patients. We made a very big commitment to the people that we would end hallway medicine, and we will deliver on that very soon through this government.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I’d like to thank the member from Ottawa South for his comments. He had pointed out that access to practitioners is one of the key problems that is facing our health care system. Over here on our side, we absolutely agree. For the last 15 years, we’ve watched this Liberal government leave our health care system hanging by a thread.

We also have to take a look at the issue of public health care. Public health care is one of those things that is, first and foremost, near and dear to our Canadian and Ontarian hearts. Nobody should render a profit from someone else’s illness. That’s completely and utterly morally and ethically wrong. We cannot allow legislation that opens the door to that.

In speaking with a number of different OPSEU hospital workers—they mentioned how hospitals have cut in so many different ways, and now they’re starting to cut front-line staff. That is the place they’re looking for savings. What that’s going to result in is that there’s going to be less staff than ever before, and there will be fewer people to deal with this hallway medicine crisis. Not only that; their rate of attrition will be quite high in that there will be more staff burnout and more overtime, and any new staff will lack the wisdom and experience of former health care staff who simply could not stand the job anymore.

If we allow private clinics to administer tests—I’ve heard from a number of constituents who have gone to these clinics and had to have their tests repeated numerous times. The stress on your health, the stress on your mental health, but also on your job—it impacts so many different things. Tests can be done at a hospital, and they should still be done with experts in place who are able to read them. It’s not that the physicians at clinics are not willing, it’s just simply they maybe lack the expertise that others have.

We need to make sure that health care in this province is publicly funded, publicly protected. Every dollar that is taken by private companies is one that does not go to Ontarians, and that is wrong.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I return to the member from Ottawa South for his two-minute reply.

Mr. John Fraser: I would like to thank the members from Mississauga Centre, Nickel Belt, Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill and London North Centre.

I understand this is a partisan place. I was purposely trying to not be partisan in my comments because I’m interested in going forward, because I can stand in this Legislature and I can point to either party and say, “Here are the gains that we made in health care under these parties.” I can also say, “Here are the shortcomings of all three parties.” My point is, I’m interested in going forward, and this bill presents some big challenges going forward.

I want you to succeed with health care. I’m not interested in partisan points. It doesn’t do anybody any good. It doesn’t do me any good. I don’t want them.

What I want you to realize is that, number one, the kind of power that you are giving a very small group of people—unelected—and future ministers—unchecked—is not something that your communities will want, especially since they won’t have a seat at the table. That’s not just our Indigenous partners and our Franco-Ontarian community; that’s Whitby. Who owns the hospice in Whitby? Who gets to decide? That’s the issue. As I said earlier, I’m going to repeat: We’re only here for a short time. Somebody else will be here. There will be a new minister.

There will be a new board, and that board will affect the community you live in, that you love, that you support, and that you want to see continue to grow. So you’ve got to put a balance and check on that power, and it needs to be in that bill. I think we all know that.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I am privileged for this opportunity to rise today and speak on Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, in this chamber.

An old belief says, “Health is wealth.” This holds true across ages and timelines. In other words, the health of the people is the wealth of a nation. The management and delivery of efficient and effective public health care are one of the most crucial responsibilities of any government towards its people. The absence of such a system crumbles the foundation of a just social system and effective governance, thereby posing a formidable threat to social justice.

The policy of a state is deeply embedded into the values that society, and hence their elected government, shares. Therefore, the concern of the state for public health care is more than merely a policy. It reveals and reflects the value that society and a formally elected government believe in, share, and uphold together.

Madam Speaker, in 2008, the year I came to Canada, I had the opportunity to wet my feet in Canadian politics, as federal elections were due. As a volunteer of the Progressive Conservative Party, I knocked on doors and people shared about the issues, dreams and interventions they seek from the government in different areas. Four main issues people were concerned with were community safety, expensive hydro rates, unaffordable taxation and, last but not the least, inefficient public health care. In 2018, exactly 10 years later, as I was knocking on doors for my own candidacy, those were overwhelmingly still the issues that came up.

If I dare say, it happened because my Liberal friends across the aisle in the past government had a mere desire to maintain power, rather than to serve. Madam Speaker, the past Liberal government was not only devoid of vision and passion, but it was also devoid of integrity, philosophical principles and philosophical consistency. Their policy-making completely undermined the importance of fiscal balance. Their denial of the fiscal imbalance, their refusal to deal with the need to reform had increasingly made it difficult to maintain balanced budgets and deliver quality health care to Ontarians.

Despite continued denial on the part of the previous government, a fiscal imbalance does exist, and we promised that we, as a responsible government, would strive to achieve the fiscal balance without compromising on the quality of education, health care and other important programs for Ontarians.

Madam Speaker, for 15 years, while the Liberal government mismanaged Ontario’s finances, it miserably failed to develop a comprehensive health care strategy. That’s why we’re working with partners in health care to develop a long-term transformational health care plan guided by innovation, integration and the better use of technology. Our government is committed to building a health care system for the future.

As a responsible government, we want to create a sustainable health care system that works for the people of Ontario. With the introduction of Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, we are seeking to empower through the creation of Ontario Health and their teams, to put the patient at the centre of the provider network. With the new bill, we envisage a community-based health care delivery model that connects care, and includes primary care and hospitals, home care and long-term care, mental health and addictions support, and other health care services that help in improving the quality of life of people in Ontario.

After so many years of all talk and no action, I am proud to be part of a government that is truly for the people and that does what we say we are going to do. I am proud that our government is working hard at making the lives of our people easier and better for families in Brampton and across Ontario. This is the commitment that we made at those doors during the election: that Progressive Conservatives are here, and we are for the people; and also that relief is on the way. People trusted us and asked us to deliver.

Madam Speaker, we have a health care system that is disconnected, and we already know that we are leaving Ontarians behind if we continue to remain in the mode of denial. We cannot afford to wait forever. We need a systemic solution to a systemic problem. Our primary objective is, and always has been, to strengthen our publicly funded health care system.

Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate here that with this new bill we are absolutely not debating about universal access to publicly funded health care, as already mentioned by the honourable minister. The real debate is about the structure and effectiveness of our system that should work for the people. The real debate is about improving the efficiencies of our system that should effectively respond to the needs of our communities in Ontario. We are working together to integrate care, and when this happens, the needs of the whole person will be considered.

When health care providers work together, patients would have someone to contact to help them navigate the system, to answer questions and to understand their individual situation in a better-coordinated way. And health care providers would be accountable for the patients in their local communities and would provide care tailored to those needs.

People in Ontario expect their government and the system to work for them and not the other way around. This is exactly why, eight months ago, they asked for a real change. They asked the Progressive Conservative government for the people to invest in them, in their communities, and build a better future for our children and future generations. They asked us to invest in health care. They asked us to help their family make ends meet and to put more money in their pockets and help give them a little more breathing room at the end of the month.

With the introduction of Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, we’re building a public health care system centred around the patient and redirecting money to front-line services, where it belongs, in order to improve the patient experience and provide better and connected care.

The governance model of our government for the people is based on facts, logic and reality, which invariably helps to develop effective policies;

whereas policies of our Liberal friends, based on feelings, fantasy and theory, did not lead us anywhere in the last so many years. We’re taking action to make life much better and more affordable for families in Ontario.

With Bill 74, we are envisaging building a system where family doctors, hospitals and home and community care providers work in unison as a team. Within these teams, providers can communicate directly with each other, creating a seamless care experience for the patient and their families. We envision a public health care system where patients and families will have access to faster, better and more connected services. Because we deserve better.

Speaker, we believe a thriving and promising economy with a strong bottom line remains incomplete without ensuring some robust provision of public health care, including mental health care. I’m glad to say that our government is making an historic investment of $1.9 billion in mental health and addictions services, matching the federal government’s commitment.

When we invest directly in the health and well-being of Ontarians and their families, we have an immediate impact on the overall outcomes we desire in the short-, mid- and long-term. To end hallway health care, our government is creating 6,000 new long-term-care beds, the first wave of over 15,000 beds to be built over the next five years, and $90 million in new money for hospitals to deal with capacity issues during this flu season. In just eight months, we are seeing some extraordinary, tangible results.

Our government committed to the people of Ontario during the election campaign that we would end hallway health care, and we are fully committed to delivering on that promise. It is time we acknowledge the problems before we address them. The fact is that Ontario’s health care system is on life support. We are aware that patients are forgotten on waiting lists and that more than 1,000 patients are receiving care in hallways every day. The average wait time to access a bed in a long-term-care home is 146 days. Can we ignore this and afford to be in denial mode forever?

We need to stop sweeping our problems under the carpet. Nothing will get resolved if we continue doing what we did in the past 15 years. Please remember that the acceptance of the existence of a problem is always a prerequisite to its solution. To make this work, we will do what is right. As we continue with our plan, we will do what is hard, just to make sure it makes the lives of all Ontarians easier. We know that we’re investing in ourselves and in our future in Ontario.

Patients and families are getting lost in the health care system, are falling through the cracks and are waiting too long for care. This has a negative impact on the health and well-being of patients and their loved ones, both physically and mentally. The health care system is facing capacity pressures today in Brampton and in Ontario. It does not have the right mix of services, beds or digital tools to be ready for a growing and rapidly aging population with more complex care needs.

A public health care system centred around the patient, while redirecting money to front-line services—to improve patient experience and provide better and connected care—is the need of the hour. We need a system where patients are supported when transitioning from one health care service to another—a system that truly puts the patient at the centre of care, where and when it’s needed.

Madam Speaker, Ontarians asked us to keep our focus on them so they have the resources they need to live well and to succeed. I’m proud to say that we’ve always kept our focus on people and on ensuring the resources, as we want them to live well and succeed. As we bring forward desperately needed and overdue improvements to health care in this province, Ontarians will continue to access reliable public health care through OHIP. Our plan will improve the health system so that people have access to faster, better-coordinated public health care, where and when it is needed.

Although modernizing the health system will take time, we will continue to listen to the people who plan and work on the front lines, including nurses, doctors and other care providers, as we implement our public health care strategy.

Madam Speaker, the people of Ontario have been and always will be our government’s priority and focus. We will create a public health care system that works for everyone. And while doing so, we want to ensure that our government respects your hard-earned tax dollars, and is committed to bringing accountability and transparency to the taxpayers of Ontario. That is why we want to get the best care for each public dollar we spend. So, we remain committed to delivering on our plan for the people by investing in the priorities that matter to the people of Ontario. The message is clear: Our government is for the people.

Ontario’s new plan would improve access to services and patient experience by organizing health care providers to work as one coordinated team, focused on patients and specific local needs. Patients would experience easy transitions from one health care provider to another, with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan.

For ensuring this, The People’s Health Care Act, if passed, is also removing a key barrier to better patient care by proposing to reorganize multiple health care agencies into one organization. This has the potential to leverage the world-class expertise provided in areas such as cancer, stroke or cardiac care, and apply it to sectors like mental health and chronic diseases. This would reduce the duplication, redundant administration and layers of bureaucracy in existing agencies.

Through a connected team, patients and their caregivers would have help navigating the system 24/7 and when they need it. In such a case, when a patient needs to move from place to place, such as from hospital to home care, a patient navigator will be there to help coordinate these transitions. This will mean that colleagues across the sector are able to share patient information so we can provide the best, most accurate care for our patients.

When patients have access to this information, they will be prepared for their next appointment and have the peace of mind that comes from knowing their full health team has the latest information about their care. Through these teams, local health care providers are supported to work as a connected team, to provide the coordinated and continuous care their patients need.

In just eight months, we have built up confidence in our middle class and in our economy. That’s the fundamental difference between our plan and what happened in the previous Liberal government in Ontario. Now, our new plan on health care would provide the appropriate high-quality, connected care Ontarians expect and deserve.

If this Legislature passes this bill, it would create a single agency: Ontario Health. This would mean increased accountability to make measurable improvements in patient care. This is an opportunity to stop working in silos and, instead, expand things that work well in our health care system.

Our health care dollars should be spent where they have an impact: on patients. Patients should know about the care they need and how to access that care. This new plan is an important step forward, making fundamental changes that will help build a world-class public health care system in Ontario.

I will reiterate, Madam Speaker, that we will invest in Ontarians and give them the necessary resources to live well, create better jobs and grow the economy.

In just eight months, we have done a lot together, and there is much more to do. The future of Ontario is looking brighter than ever. While working together, we will ensure that our people in Ontario have every opportunity to live well, to succeed, and to build their future and a beautiful society we can all be proud of.

Therefore, through you, Madam Speaker, I would urge all honourable legislators to join me in supporting Bill 74 and let this legislation be passed, and help all Ontarians to build a health care system for the future.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Questions and comments?

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Is Bill 74 important to us? The People’s Health Care Act, 2019, is a critical piece of legislation that we’ve all been waiting for across Ontario. Issues with this province’s health care system have affected not only myself but everyone here.

The residents in St. Catharines know first-hand and have experienced what happens when the cuts were on the front line. The Service Employees International Union, which represents health care in St. Catharines and Niagara, has suffered cutbacks in the past. Housekeepers, which are the backbone of the hospitals, were cut back. What happened in our general hospital? C. difficile. Loved ones across the city lost their families—lost their fathers, their mothers, their brothers, their sisters. A mega hospital was the answer, a P3 in Niagara—a public-private partnership.

The previous Liberal government thought that that was going to be the be-all and end-all, so we have a mega P3. But what happened? The taxpayers of St. Catharines pay $62 a year extra on their taxes. Did it happen that we cleared hallway medicine? Absolutely not. Did it happen that our housekeepers got more jobs? No. So what I’m afraid of with this new bill is that is that we, Ontarians, are going to have to pay more on our tax bills. It might be hidden underneath, but our front-line workers are going to be the ones who suffer the cost. And what suffers when the front-line workers are cut? The people’s health.

I hope that this government understands what happened in Niagara: $60 more on their taxpayers and C. difficile.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions and comments?

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Thank you to the member for Brampton West for his remarks this morning.

I would like to touch on this debate. We all agree that our health care system is broken. Our health care system is broken. It’s not just broken; it’s on life support. Anybody at my age—we have aging parents, or some people in this Legislature have aging grandparents. We all know people who have gone through the health care system. One thing I know is that we can do better.

I’d like to just share a story about my Aunt Jean, who went through a terrible process through the health care system. As an aging senior—anyone who talks to a senior in the province of Ontario will tell you that we could do better—and we are going to do better as a government.

She was 94 when she passed. Just before almost her 94th birthday, she passed away, living at home. We used to call her. She was living in Thunder Bay. She would say, “Oh, Christine, I have so many appointments. I can’t organize this. Who am I calling next? Where do I go?” Trying to organize these things at 93-plus years of age—we could do better for them.

I think with our approach, an integrated approach, in helping these people with a one-stop place where they can make these calls and help them through the system is the right way to go.

Our party here envisions a health care system where patients are supported and also families are supported. What we want to do—and I know that the member opposite mentioned front-line workers. We are going to invest in our front-line workers. Our nurses are extremely important. We all know that the health care that the nurses give—we couldn’t be in hospitals without them. So a shout-out to all of those nurses out there for all of the work that they do.

Moving forward with this bill, I see progress. I see possibilities and opportunities. I’m looking forward to this legislation passing in the Legislature, for good health care for everybody.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Jamie West: We’re here today debating Bill 74, as we know it. I want to thank my colleagues from Etobicoke–Lakeshore, Ottawa South and, obviously, Brampton West.

For a while now, we’ve been pointing the finger back and forth about whose problem this was. We know that there was more than a decade of underfunding under the previous Liberal government. We know that during the previous Harris years—the previous Premier, sorry, Speaker—there were 6,000 nurses laid off and 20 hospitals closed. There’s lots of blame to go around. But what I heard knocking at doors is that people don’t care about blame; they want it fixed.

I should be here today, talking about my friend Kimberly Komarechka. I should be talking about all of the positive things she does: how she invited me to the Coldest Night of the Year walk three years ago, how she has been volunteering for the soup kitchen for years and years, and how she has been holding the Steelworkers Local 6500 together and helping them run for years. But today, I’ve got to talk about her brother, Danny. Danny was 51 years old, and he died of cancer in a hallway. He died without dignity. I want to read a quote that Carol Mulligan wrote on sudbury.com, the Northern Life newspaper.

It says: “Family shocked and angry—not at the hospital or the staff that frantically tried to find him a room, but at a health care system that forced their loved one, and countless others, to die without any dignity or privacy.”

Danny was 51 years old. He was dying from cancer. He was brought into the hospital at 8:20 a.m., and all day those hospital workers scrambled to find a space—a TV room, a shower room, anywhere for him to go. It wasn’t until 1 p.m. that they found a small exam room where the family could gather by his side and watch their son, their brother, their family member die. From Harold Komarechka, his father, these are his final thoughts about his son dying: “This is not dying with dignity.”

We need to fix this, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions and comments?

Mr. Mike Harris: I had the opportunity to participate in questions and comments back on Tuesday, I believe it was, regarding Bill 74 and the reformation that we’re going to have here in the province when it comes to health care. I’m ecstatic about what’s going to happen.

They seem to want to get up and talk about how this is a non-partisan issue, and then they want to slam the previous government or what have you for not investing properly. I think when we talk about taking non-partisan issues and moving them forward, let’s do it. Let’s take a non-partisan issue like health care and move it forward. We can pass the blame around all we want, but when it comes down to it, Madam Speaker, we need to get this done.

Our hospital system, as the member that sits beside me here alluded to, is on life support—pardon the pun.

But this is a fact, and we need to make sure that we’re taking the proper steps and moving this forward when it comes to modernization, when it comes to pinpointing patient care, one portal for a patient to be able to have multiple services, whether that be arranging for a hospital visit, arranging for follow-up visits, arranging for home care, arranging to have a PSW come into their home, follow-up visits with their specialist or their surgeon, and integrating other parts of the health care system into it, like pharmacies.

The member from Peterborough–Kawartha, I believe, a couple of days ago was talking about how his mother had a conflict in medications. These types of things shouldn’t happen.

So when we look at being able to share patient records in a digital format between multiple platforms, whether that be your primary caregiver, your specialist, your PSW in your home, I think it’s fantastic, and I’m fully in support of Bill 74.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I return to the member from Brampton West for his two-minute response.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I want to thank the members from St. Catharines, Etobicoke–Lakeshore, Sudbury and Kitchener–Conestoga for their comments and remarks.

As we are aware, Ontario’s health care system is on life support and facing capacity pressures, and it does not have the right mix of services, beds or digital tools to be ready for a growing and rapidly aging population with more complex care needs. This has a negative impact on the health and well-being of patients and their loved ones, both emotionally and physically. We need to come out of denial mode and accept that a systemic solution is needed to address a systemic problem.

Our government is committed to building a health care system for the future while working with partners in health care to develop a long-term transformational health care plan guided by innovation, integration and the better use of technology. We want to create a sustainable health care system that works for the people of Ontario. Therefore, through the creation of Ontario Health and their teams, we envision to finally put the patient at the centre of the provider network.

With Bill 74, if passed, we envisage a community-based health care delivery model that connects care, and includes primary care and hospitals, home care and long-term care, mental health and addictions supports, and other health care services in Ontario. We are committed to enhancing the effectiveness of our system that should work for the people, and we cannot afford to wait forever.

So through you, Madam Speaker, I would again urge all the legislators present here this morning to join me in supporting Bill 74 and help all Ontarians to build a health care system for the future.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further debate?

Mr. Joel Harden: Good morning, colleagues. How is everybody doing?

Interjections.

Mr. Joel Harden: Glad to hear it.

It’s an honour to rise on Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act. I want to talk in the time that I have this morning as the critic for seniors about what’s not in the bill and about something that ought to be in the bill, because it’s something all parties in the provincial election talked about, and that’s dental care for seniors. It’s not in here, and for every day we delay that decision, I can tell you right now there are grandmothers and grandfathers out there who are suffering.

I wrote a letter to Minister Elliott through the order paper process, and I received a letter back—thank you, Minister—indicating a shared commitment to resolve this problem. I know the Conservative Party in the election ran on a promise to provide dental care to seniors. I’m going to take what was said earlier about actually doing non-partisan work in this space to heart, and in the time I have, I’m going to try to emphasize my commitment as an elected member but also as the critic for seniors to see if we can’t summon the will in this sitting of the Legislature to do something about this now, and to provide a little bit of political urgency as to why I think it’s important.

Last week, the member for Ottawa South and I—I think the government was invited too; I’m not sure—were asked by the University of Toronto Health Studies to sit at a conference and talk about the transformation of health care. It was edifying for me. I always like being around researchers and students. I was a university professor for many years. It’s always a learning possess.

We had the opportunity to talk about the transformation we need. What I heard at that panel, time and again, is that the focus on creating economies of scale by centralizing administration, as many people have said, is worthy. We need to get care to the patients, absolutely. But what are the specific, targeted financial commitments we can make to patient care which will have a domino effect through our system, which will actually reap enormous dividends in our system? I’m going to make the case this morning that dental care is actually one of the most significant investments we can make.

What we know right now from the research that I have at my disposal, and I know the government has as well, is that Ontario has the lowest spending on public dental coverage of any Canadian province: It’s 1.3% of dental expenditure in Ontario. That’s the status quo. We have the Healthy Smiles Ontario program for children of low-income families, at $121 million, and we have the Ontario Disability Support Program’s dental program, which costs the province $87 million. After that, there’s not a lot else.

I’ve inquired at home, with the city of Ottawa, and it has an emergency program for low-income people on Ontario Works, but folks there who are caseworkers in Ontario Works for the city tell me that it’s essentially a tooth-pulling program. That’s what it is. It’s not about preventive dental care.

The problem with that lack of capacity—and I’m going to take the member’s comment earlier. I’m not going to stand here and blame previous governments. I’m just going to say that the problem with the status quo is that every three minutes right now someone visits a doctor’s office in Ontario to seek help for a dental problem. I’m married to a physician and I can tell you, they’re brilliant people, but they’re not dentists.

What happens when you see a doctor about a dental care problem is, they prescribe pain relief. That doesn’t deal with abscesses in a senior’s mouth. That doesn’t deal with migraines that keep people up at night. It doesn’t prevent the onset of pneumonia or more serious heart conditions, which we know are linked to oral health. So what happens in this context, I will ask the House, when only 36% of Ontario seniors have dental insurance through their retiree benefits, and two thirds of the population of elders in this province have nothing? People suffer.

This is a lot of doom and gloom, so let me try to give you some levity from the door in Ottawa Centre—I have a story that I’ll share with you from the election campaign.

But the fact of the matter is, we also have work to do on dental care. I heard it time and again. I heard it from an older gentleman on the same floor as Viktorina who was previously an engineering professor in Russia. He’d come to Canada, as so many people do, repatriated with his family, who had come to Canada for economic opportunities. He talked about how he could not sleep, hadn’t slept in four nights, because of the abscesses in his tooth, and how it had gotten so bad that he’d ended up in the Ottawa General Hospital’s emergency room and waited for eight hours.

He just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Joel, I don’t understand how this can be cost-efficient for our system. I don’t understand. I don’t have the money, as a senior, to avail myself of private dental coverage. I don’t have coverage. My kids can’t afford to get me dental coverage. Here I sit and I suffer. I cost the public so much money and I feel like a burden.” He tells me, “I feel like a burden.”

It breaks my heart. We shouldn’t have seniors in the province of Ontario feeling like they’re burdens because they have abscesses in their teeth. What have they done for us? They’ve raised children. They’ve paid taxes. They’ve worked hard. I think the job of any civilized government anywhere in the world should foremost be to look after our elders and our children and those otherwise disadvantaged. We should just cover those bases, period. This is the reality, and that’s the story I heard at the door.

I also want to acknowledge the luck we have in this sitting of the Legislature. Minister Elliott, as she has mentioned in the past, was the patient advocate and was, like my friend from Nickel Belt, the critic for health. There’s considerable knowledge with Minister Elliott, with my friend from Nickel Belt, and also with the member from Mississauga Centre, who was herself a front-line nurse. I spoke with her before Christmas, talked about the fact that you were going in to work shifts over Christmas so other health workers could get a break. Good for you, and thank you for doing that.

We have Dr. Fullerton, who is also a practitioner in the health care system. We have knowledge here in the Legislature. Did I miss anybody? I’m sure I probably did.

Interjections.

Mr. Joel Harden: Okay, Laurie Scott as well. Thank you. So we have expertise right here in the sitting of this Legislature to face this problem head-on. The question I have is, why aren’t we doing it?

This is what I know, as we continue this debate about dental care for seniors: One of the proudest things I was allowed to do as a candidate for my party was knock on doors in Ottawa Centre and say, “I think we should have dental care for everyone”—everyone, not just the super poor, not just the super rich. It’s cheaper and it’s more efficient if we ask employers and workers—and the government, for marginalized folks—to ensure we have dental care for everyone.

What will it cost? If you look at our plan, which is still alive, still on the Internet, it will cost $575 million—not a trifling amount of money. It would ask employers to pay 75% of the cost. It would ask workers to pay 25% of the cost, but it would ask the province to ante up funds for people making less than $30,000 a year before tax, and it would ask government to play that backstop role that government ought to.

The question then, as I constructively try to make this case this morning for dental care for everyone, because I know my Conservative friends are going to be asking this—and you ought to, and we ought to, too: How are we intending to pay for it? Well, I have a few ideas about that.

I know, having met, as my friend from London mentioned earlier, with health care workers this week—OPSEU was in the Legislature and I sat down to meet with our friends who work on the front lines—that we could save a lot of money in the health care system in Ontario if we contracted back in laboratory services. We are spending, right now, every year, depending upon whose estimates you believe, $175 million to $233 million a year because we have contracted out lab capacity in the province of Ontario. I’m not going to blame any particular government; I’m just going to state a fact. That’s what we’ve done.

Let me tell you what it means to seniors, because I’ve talked to a senior in a rural area outside of Ottawa who gave a bone marrow sample—which is excruciatingly painful, by the way: extracted from the sternum, difficult for anybody, let alone a senior, to go through. By the time the sample got to its desired location, the sample had gone bad. Word went back to the patient: “We’ve got to do it again.” What is going on?

If we contracted that work back into the hospital system in the centre of primary care, which is where the patient first interacts, not only would it be better for the patient and better for the practitioner, but we could save this province between $175 million and $233 million a year. That’s step one.

The first thing I’d invite my colleagues in government to do, and it’s a topic for conversation, is to walk back some of the commitments it has made in tax relief to the wealthiest in our province. This would capture me. At the moment, there is a plan under the current estimates—it will be confirmed in the budget that we’ll see soon—to finance a tax cut for the wealthiest 10% of our province that will cost us $275 million. I can tell you, Speaker, my family doesn’t need it. I don’t need it; my partner doesn’t need it.

I had so many moments in the election campaign that were real learning opportunities for me where I knocked on doors in the more affluent parts of our riding and they said, “Joel Harden, the socialist: I’m not voting for you.” I said, “Okay, that’s fine. Can we have a talk? Can we talk about what’s going on in our community?” And they said, “Sure, let’s talk.” I said, “What would you rather: Would you rather a senior being up all night because they have an abscess in their tooth for which they have no coverage, or would you rather the $4,000 in your pocket?

What would you rather?” Nine times out of 10 that voter said, “What are you doing? What are you talking about? Is this just crazy commie nonsense?” I said, “No, it’s dental care for everyone.”

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): No props.

Mr. Joel Harden: Excuse me, I know. No props. I’m sorry, Speaker.

But it was real, and I put the policy document in the voter’s hand and said, “We can do this. It’s costed. The dental practitioners have said it makes sense.” We turned so many voters in the course of our election in Ottawa Centre by making that case to everyone, but particularly to affluent voters, to say that we have led ourselves into a delusion lately that you can have lower taxes and great public services at the same time. That is a delusion. It’s an absolute delusion. It doesn’t work.

Anybody with a scintilla of sense who has run a business, who has overseen any care work for seniors or children, who is, like my partner and I, trying to be a good parent and raise their children, we know that you don’t get something for nothing. It sounds great. It sounds great to be able to have money in your pocket to run around and look after yourself, but in the real world where we live, we know that we absolutely have to have a strong system of public services that look after us.

There’s not only an ethical case for that, to my mind, from a social justice perspective; there’s a strong financial case for it.

We know that when seniors and other marginalized groups are accessing dental care through the primary care system—again, this topic is not in Bill 74, which is why I raise it—that costs us $38 million a year, according to estimates that I’ve seen. So what would happen if we actually as a society said, “We’re going to stop this. We’re going to stop this suffering”?

I’m going to encourage my friends in government because I know, at least in the election campaign, the details of which I’m familiar, you campaigned on a platform of covering dental care for seniors with an income cut-off of $19,300 a year. If a senior was an individual who made that or less, you’d cover them. I’m going to encourage you to go further, go much further. Go talk to your friends in Prince Edward Island—great province. Dental care is covered for all seniors there. Go to the great province of Alberta.

In the great province of Alberta, there is a system where these dental procedures are fully covered for all seniors: diagnostic services, examinations and X-rays, preventive services, polishing and scaling, restorative services, fillings, trauma, pain control, pins; extractions, simple and complicated; root canals, endodontics; procedures related to gum disease, periodontics, root planing; and—here’s a big one—dentures, full and partial basic dentures.

If the senior is earning less than $31,000 a year, or couples $63,000 a year, the province of Alberta steps in and says, “We are going to make sure you have dental health when you retire.” That exists. It’s the status quo in a province in this country.

We’re the richest, largest province in the land. What is stopping us from being able to do it?

I’m going to wager a guess. For advice on this, I’m not going to a traditional doctor; I’m going to go to Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss is probably my favourite author and the favourite author of my children. Dr. Seuss wrote a great story about someone called Yertle the Turtle. Have you heard it? Well, you’re going to hear it this morning. It’s fantastic.

I think you have to do some work, my friends in government, to convince your Premier to take this issue seriously. What I’ve seen to date in this government—and I wish it were otherwise—is that it would appear that the Premier’s office and the Premier’s staff really guide your decision-making. Leadership is important, but I’m worried that at the moment, we have a Yertle the Turtle problem.

Dr. Seuss writes—and I hope it inspires us to act this morning:

On the far-away island of Sala-ma-Sond,

Yertle the Turtle was king of the pond.

A nice little pond. It was clean. It was neat.

The water was warm. There was plenty to eat.

The turtles had everything turtles might need.

And they were all happy. Quite happy indeed.

They were... until Yertle, the king of them all,

Decided the kingdom he ruled was too small.

“I’m ruler,” said Yertle, “of all that I see.

But I don’t see enough. That’s the trouble with me.

With this stone for a throne, I look down on my pond

But I cannot look down on the places beyond.

This throne that I sit on is too, too low down.

It ought to be higher!” he said with a frown.

“If I could sit high, how much greater I’d be!

What a king! I’d be ruler of all that I see!”

So Yertle, the Turtle King, lifted his hand

And Yertle, the Turtle King, gave a command.

He ordered nine turtles to swim to his stone

And, using these turtles, he built a new throne.

He made each turtle stand on another one’s back

And he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.

And then Yertle climbed up. He sat down on the pile.

What a wonderful view! He could see ‘most a mile!

The poem goes on to talk about how more turtles were encouraged to join the pile, until he found Mack, a small, lowly turtle, who said:

“Beg your pardon, King Yertle.

I’ve pains in my back and my shoulders and knees.

How long must we stand here, Your Majesty, please?”

“SILENCE!” the King of the Turtles barked back.

“I’m king, and you’re only a turtle named Mack.”

But then later in the story we learn:

Then, again, from below, in the great heavy stack,

Came a groan from that plain little turtle named Mack.

“Your Majesty, please... I don’t like to complain,

But down here below, we are feeling great pain.

I know, up on top you are seeing great sights,

But down here at the bottom we, too,

should have rights.

We turtles can’t stand it. Our shells will all crack!

Besides, we need food. We are starving!”

groaned Mack.

And later:

But, as Yertle, the Turtle King, lifted his hand

And started to order and give the command,

That plain little turtle below in the stack,

That plain little turtle whose name was just Mack,

Decided he’d taken enough. And he had.

And that plain little lad got a bit mad.

And that plain little Mack did a plain little thing.

He burped!

And his burp shook the throne of the king!

And Yertle the Turtle, the king of the trees,

The king of the air and the birds and the bees,

The king of a house and a cow and a mule...

Well, that was the end of the Turtle King’s rule!

For Yertle, the King of all Sala-ma-Sond,

Fell off his high throne and fell Plunk! in the pond!

And to say the great Yertle, that Marvelous he, ...

And the turtles, of course... all the turtles are free

As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.

So I invite you to think, as I bring that poem up, of health care professionals and health care workers as those turtles that we’ve stacked for far too long on the backs of each other, and us, the government, as being Yertle—not any one particular person, but the people who have been trying to ration care and provide it to the folks who need it, who are hurting, and they’re going to continue to hurt. One way we can stop ourselves from collectively falling into the muck of the pond is by providing dental care to everyone, and particularly dental care for seniors.

Thanks for the opportunity, Speaker, to speak this morning. I encourage the government to look into this, please.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Seeing the time on the clock, this House stands recessed until 10:30 this morning.

The House recessed from 1010 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown: I’d like to welcome Lark Barker, who is a parent of two kids with autism, and an absolutely wonderful mom, from Beaches–East York. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Laurie Scott: It’s my pleasure to introduce Mike Cavanagh, board chair for the Ontario Pharmacists Association—and a local pharmacist, of course, in the riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock—back to the Legislature this year. Welcome, Mike.

I’d also like to welcome two special guests of Thomas Keys-Brasier, my page from the riding: his twin sister, Lily, and his grandmother, Ann Keys. Welcome to the Legislature.

Ms. Laura Mae Lindo: I’m so excited to welcome Amy Smoke, an MSW student from the Indigenous stream at Wilfrid Laurier University who happens to be doing their practicum in my office in Kitchener. Welcome.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I’d like to welcome the delegation from the Ontario Pharmacists Association here today: Mr. Mike Cavanagh, Jen Baker, Bill Wilson, Allan Malek, Sera Lee, Farid Wassef and Sherif Guorgui. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Jamie West: This morning I would like to welcome Carlo Berardi to the Legislature. Carlo is a Sudbury constituent and an Ontario Pharmacists Association board member who is here today for OPA’s annual Queen’s Park day. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

As well, I’d like to introduce two other constituents from the riding of Sudbury, Natalie Croteau and Erica Franco, who are here because of autism. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I’d like to introduce my husband, who is here today to support me on my private member’s bill: Paul Demers. He’s here for the day.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I’d like to welcome Mr. Rob Gill to the House today. He is here to rally for autism. Thank you for your support.

Mr. Stan Cho: I would like to welcome two board members from the Ontario Pharmacists Association who happen to be Willowdalers as well: Louis Wei and Sera Lee.

Mr. Joel Harden: I have the great pleasure today to have 50 parents from Ottawa who made the trip down here to talk about the need for autism services. It would be too long to read out all their names, but I just want to acknowledge that you’re here, and thank you for coming here.

I also want to acknowledge my good friends David Lepofsky and Thea Kurdi, two of the most acknowledged—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I want to remind members that this is not the time for members’ statements or for making a political statement. It’s strictly introduction of guests.

The Attorney General.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park for the first time a friend, a constituent and a member of the executive of PC Women in Politics, Diana Cosby. Welcome, Diana.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I have over 20 parents that came from Windsor today for the rally. I want to welcome Meg Ball Rigden and Craig Rigden, who are in the members’ gallery; Lisa Klassen, Rob and Lana Iftiniuk, Melissa Grass, April Pare, Melissa LaMarsh, Lillian Lamarsh, Heather Dresser, Margaret Cotter, Melissa Al, Tabitha Goodall, Kelly Whitesell, Meaghan McCulligah, Suzanne McGraw, Jillian Fenech, Livia Congi, Rosanna Perissinotti, Janaiya Toogood, Holly White, and I think I saw my good buddy Michau in the gallery over here to the left as well.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: I’d like to welcome a good friend and part of my campaign team, George Hatzis.

Mr. Doug Downey: I’m pleased to welcome my good friend Barb Shakell-Barkey to Queen’s Park today. She’s here to celebrate with the other Women in Politics. Welcome again.

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I’d like to welcome Peggy Brekveld from the OFA, from my riding, to Queen’s Park today.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I want to welcome Maddy Frechette from St. Mary’s high school in Pickering and Holly Christopher from Dunbarton High School as they shadow me today and join us for International Women’s Day, which is tomorrow. We need to inspire the next generation of leaders. Welcome to them.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’d like to welcome constituents from my riding who are here with the Ontario Pharmacists Association: Tim Brady, Chris Jordan, Sera Lee and Sherif Guorgui; also, Lana and Rob Iftiniuk, constituents and parents of Mason, who are here for the autism rally.

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: I would like to welcome a group of concerned parents who drove from Ottawa at 4 a.m. this morning. Thank you to Kate Logue and Jenny Sturgeon for putting this together: Brianna Kuhnle-Ware, Lynne Thibodeau, Martina Pietracupa, Jennifer Perlin, Laura Kefalas, Samantha Hollingsworth, Jennifer Sturgeon, Michael Kitor, Nicole Dauz, Katharine Dudley, Kimberley Conlin, Stephanie Jackson, Meredith Willis, Lori Law, Rhonda Allaby-Glass, Stephanie Brousseau, Mandeep Aujla, Cathy Kiraly, Elise Lanthier-Brun, Scott Corbet and Sadia Javed.

Mrs. Nina Tangri: I’d also like to welcome members of the Ontario Pharmacists Association who are here today to meet with MPPs. They are also hosting a lunch after question period in room 228, and all are welcome. I’d especially like to welcome Bill Wilson, Allan Malek, Mike Cavanagh and Jen Baker, who is the incoming board chair. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to welcome to the Legislature a Humber College public affairs class. They are sitting in the east public gallery: Alexandra Ristagno, Alicia Crough, Amanda Nsiah, Amy Howse, Amy Theriault, Bianca Montalbano, Bradley Mills, Brittany Hussey, Cameron Alexander, Catherine, Claudia Pusung, Helena Zychlinski-Mielzynski, Kathy Dwulit, Khamieta Inthahack-Christian, Lauren Darby, Lorna Godwin, Manasvi Noel, Marie Sako, M.J. Hussain, Michelle Murray, Praakrti Hotchandani, Sahana Srikandarajah, Logan Bonnett, Claire Chappell, Victoria Lee, Yana Myronova, Zainab Ramonu and their professors, Anne Marie Males and Professor Andrea Tavchar. Welcome.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today, from my riding of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, Clarence Nywening, who is a past president of the Christian farmers of Ontario. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Waterloo.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You looked the other way.

I’d like to welcome my constituency staff from Waterloo: Sydney Piatkowski and Suzie Taka are here today. Jennifer Beckett and her daughter Delphine Beckett are here visiting from Waterloo. A special shout-out to Janet McLaughlin, Sarah Jones and Melissa Small and also Kathie Shaw and the staff from A Balanced Approach in Waterloo, plus two busloads of parents for the autism rally.

Mrs. Robin Martin: I’d just like to welcome some other representatives of the Ontario Pharmacists Association who are here today at Queen’s Park in the members’ gallery, including Michael Cheung, Hitesh Pandya, Tim Brady, Mandip Khela, Deb Saltmarche, Carlo Berardi, Chris Jordan and Connie Beck.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’d like to welcome my good friend Sean Simpson, who is here today from Niagara-on-the-Lake with the OPA. I can’t say this isn’t political: He’s a fellow goaltender. I wish him the best at the Thorold Mounts tournament this weekend. Welcome.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Good morning. I’d like to welcome this morning the Italian ambassador to Canada, Mr. Claudio Taffuri, and his wife, Mrs. Maria Enrica Francesca Stajano. I’d also like to welcome the consul general of Italy in Toronto, Mr. Eugenio Sgrò, and consigliere economico commerciale Simona Battiloro. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Speaker, if I can also get your indulgence for one more minute: This morning, I have my daughter, Frances, who is here for the first time in the House, and my wife, who just found out that she is seven years cancer-free.

Miss Monique Taylor: It gives me great pride and honour to introduce and to welcome all of the families, parents and advocates who have travelled from across the province. We have 11 busloads of people travelling to Queen’s Park today. I’d like to welcome everyone to the—

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

The member for Cambridge.

Mrs. Belinda Karahalios: March 1 marked Professional Engineers Day in Ontario, when we celebrate professional engineers who help drive economic growth in our province. I welcome today to the Legislature Professional Engineers Ontario and thank them for their commitment to improving quality of life and creating good jobs in this province.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I would also like to welcome the parents and families of children with autism who have come here from Parkdale–High Park. Welcome.

Mr. Michael Parsa: I would like to welcome Agnes Curran from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill to Queen’s Park, who also happens to be the proud mother of one of our amazing pages, Vanessa. Welcome to the House.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I almost forgot and I would be remiss if I didn’t—I’m sure members of the gallery and the chamber would join in with me to welcome the Premier back to the chamber here today. We missed him—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Yes, I’m going to ask you to withdraw.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent to do the question of the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I believe the member for Ottawa South is seeking unanimous consent to ask a question in place of the member for Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. Agreed? Agreed.

Oral Questions

Autism treatment

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my question is for the Premier. It seems important to start question period today with the commitment that the Premier made to parents of children with autism when he was looking for votes during the election campaign: “We will be there to support you 1,000%.... I promise you, you won’t have to be protesting on the front of Queen’s Park like you have with the Liberal Premier.”

Today those parents are here and they’re protesting on the front lawn of Queen’s Park. What does the Premier have to say to them today?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I’ve talked to hundreds of parents and families of children with autism, and it breaks my heart talking to them. As I’ve said over and over again, this is the hardest file I’ve ever dealt with, bar none. But when we came into office, we saw a bankrupt system when it comes to supporting families of children with autism.

Ms. Catherine Fife: You doubled down on it.

Hon. Doug Ford: Actually, we had to run to the treasury. We had to run to the President of the Treasury Board right here to ask for $100 million just to keep the system going. Then, when we looked into it even further, we saw systemic problems throughout the whole system. The previous government put $256 million in, Mr. Speaker. We boosted that up to $321 million to help these families.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I think I need to remind the Premier that it’s not about him and it’s not about how he feels. It’s about how the people of this province with children with autism feel. That’s what this is about.

These parents are here because the Premier’s plan is an absolute disaster. Some are looking at bankruptcy, deep, deep debt and uprooting their families and leaving the province just so that they can get the therapies and treatments that their children need—the kind of support that the Premier promised—promised—during the election campaign that he would provide.

Will the Premier do the right thing today, Speaker, and scrap this scheme and develop a new plan with new investments to actually meet the needs of children like he promised?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take their seats.

The question has been referred to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Premier, for your leadership on this file since taking office to ensure the bankrupt system that we inherited would make it through to support the 8,400 children currently on the list, so that we can move forward in clearing the wait-list of 23,000 children. Three out of four children in the province of Ontario have been denied service by their Ontario government and we are changing that.

That party opposite used to support clearing the wait-list until this government supported doing so. That party over there supported direct funding until this government here decided we were going to go to that model. And that party over there supported going to regulating service providers until this government decided to move forward with that.

I want to know from the member opposite her plan, what it’s going to cost us and why didn’t she implement it during the last platform—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Waterloo, come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —$3-billion shy budget. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s not in it for the children; she’s in it for professionally protesting.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, hurling insults at parents who are coming here to fight for their children is a disgusting tactic by this minister. May I remind her that in three and a half years’ time, when the NDP forms government, we will help families with children with autism.

Parents deserve so much more than what they’ve gotten from this government. The government’s new scheme pulls supports away from parents who desperately need them, away from their children who desperately need them, and it denies treatment to thousands of children unless they can come up with tens of thousands of dollars from their parents’ pockets that those parents just don’t have. Instead of admitting they were wrong, this Ford government has threatened, bullied and failed to deliver on its promises to parents.

Last night, the government showed that they can reverse a bad decision. That was shown last night. Maybe they could do the same thing this time. Will the Premier do exactly that and scrap this scheme, fire this minister and come back with a plan—

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

Minister?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Since assuming office, this government has done a number of things in order to make sure we have a more fair, equitable and sustainable Ontario Autism Program. Unfortunately, the member opposite would like to continue to see a wait-list of 23,000 children—three out of four children with autism in the province of Ontario. She would like to see diagnostic hubs where there are tons of children on the wait-list. She would like to see an unregulated service provider situation, which is occurring across the province of Ontario. We’re not going to stand for that.

That’s why, since assuming office, I went to the Treasury Board and was able to receive an extra $102 million in order to ensure that the program could continue to exist and move 8,400 children through the system as we prepare to get 23,000 children, who are being denied service by their Ontario government, the service that they deserve.

But I still haven’t heard, at any point in time, any solution from the members opposite, with the exception of the things that we are delivering on. They asked us to clear the wait-list; we’re doing it. They asked us to regulate service providers; we’re doing it. They asked us to go to a direct funding model; we’re—

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

Next question.

Government accountability

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Premier—but I can say that what we would like to see and what these families would like to see is a government that keeps its promise to children and families when it comes to autism services.

Late last night, Speaker, as you know, Ron Taverner declined his appointment as the OPP commissioner. While that was the right thing to do and the right thing for front-line OPP officers and the people of Ontario, it does not undo the Premier’s role in this whole scandal.

The need to clear the air and address some of the serious concerns about political interference is as great as it ever was. Will the Premier stop hiding and call a public inquiry today?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I want to thank the leader of the police-hating party for the question.

I have the highest degree of respect—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to have to caution the Premier. That sort of language is causing disruption in the House, obviously. You can’t use it.

Response?

Hon. Doug Ford: I have the highest degree of respect for the front-line police officers, the OPP and all the police officers across this province. They put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities and keep us safe.

Since the beginning of this process, our objective has been new leadership up at the OPP to fix the systemic problems that we’re hearing non-stop from the front-line OPP officers. Again, I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of front-line police officers and OPP officers across this province, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you, the stories I’ve heard are appalling. But we’re going to fix—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: This isn’t just about the job that Ron Taverner won’t be taking. It’s also about the job that was taken from former Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair. It’s clear that this was

an act of reprisal by a Premier who can’t handle dissent.

We can now add Ron Taverner to the list of people who agree with Brad Blair’s assessment that his appointment was bad for the OPP and bad for Ontarians. Does the Premier still want to argue that Brad Blair was wrong to raise those concerns, Speaker?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I’ll tell you, as far as the rank-and-file officers, they’re concerned. We must do better for them and we will do better. We need a new vision for the OPP, one that puts the front-line officers and the safety of the people of Ontario above everything else. Bringing about this change at the OPP will require new leadership and a new vision.

On behalf of our government, I want to thank Ron Taverner for putting his name forward.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Essex, come to order.

Hon. Doug Ford: I can tell you, after 50 years of an impeccable record, I found it disgusting, Mr. Speaker, how he was berated. He was attacked by the opposition—personally attacked—a person who served 50 years, protecting families, community—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order. The member for Essex is warned—warned.

Start the clock. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Apparently the Premier wasn’t paying attention, Speaker. It was him we were attacking, not Ron Taverner or anybody else. And of course, I would agree; I would actually agree with the Premier that Ontario does need a new leader. Definitely, we need a new leader.

The people of Ontario have a right to know how a friend of the Premier became the front-runner for the top job when he didn’t even qualify for the initial posting. And they want to know why a veteran officer, with over three decades on the force, lost his job after speaking out about his concerns. They didn’t believe the Premier yesterday and they don’t believe him today, Speaker.

A public inquiry will get the answers that Ontarians deserve. Will the Premier stop hiding and call one right now?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take their seats.

Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, it’s unfortunate the opposition has chosen to politicize this process rather than focusing on and supporting the front-line officers. All they try to do is get cheap political points on the backs of front-line officers, on the backs of Superintendent Ron Taverner.

But we shouldn’t be surprised. They have never, ever supported our police. They have never supported our front-line men and women. I’ve never seen a more anti-police caucus than the one sitting across from us today. The NDP—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Premier, take your seat. Again, I’m going to caution the Premier, because that sort of language is causing great disruption in the House and I’m going to ask him to withdraw.

Hon. Doug Ford: Withdraw.

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

Next question.

Government accountability

Mr. Taras Natyshak: To the Premier: For months, the Premier has ignored concerns raised by decorated police officers about this appointment. He has brushed away the public concern about the conflict of interest surrounding Mr. Taverner’s appointment as the OPP commissioner. Late last night, without warning, Mr. Taverner suddenly withdrew his name.

Will the Premier tell the people of Ontario what happened behind closed doors to prompt his withdrawal?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I find it very ironic coming from the MPP from Essex, who continuously sat in this chamber and criticized Superintendent Ron Taverner over and over and over again.

Mr. Speaker, we support our police. We supported Ron Taverner. And do you know who I feel sorry for? Not just Ron Taverner, who is an absolute champion. I feel sorry for the hundreds of front-line OPP officers that I spoke to personally that were so excited to bring change to the highest ranks of the OPP, a gentleman who would actually watch their backs, have their backs, and protect the front-line police officers. That’s who I feel sorry for.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: This government and this Premier had every opportunity to come clean to the public, but instead of doing that, they have blustered, they have threatened and they have bullied anyone who raised concerns. Will the Premier finally stop hiding and call a full and public inquiry into this matter?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker, again, I find it ironic coming from the MPP from Essex, who criticizes the police continuously. Another NDP member made racial slurs about the Toronto police chief. Who does that? Who picks up a sign and runs down the street and says, “Eff the police,” and still is sitting in caucus? It’s unheard of. I can tell you, if anyone did that in our caucus, they wouldn’t be sitting in our caucus. But the Leader of the Opposition actually supports that language. They actually support when they say that to the police. That’s unacceptable—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again I say to the Premier—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

I say to all the members: The Speaker is not in a position to judge whether or not a statement is true or accurate or false in every case, but I would again caution all members that the tone of this debate is deteriorating. We do ourselves a disservice to the extent that we deteriorate our discussion, our debate, during question period into a series of personal insults. It impresses no one.

Next question.

Violence against women

Miss Kinga Surma: My question is to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and minister responsible for women’s issues. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. However, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to ensure that women feel safe in their communities and empowered across the province.

We know now that one in three women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. We also know that women are three times more likely to be stalked and three and a half times more likely to be a victim of intimate partner violence. This is unacceptable.

Can the minister outline our government’s efforts to empower women and combat violence against women across the province?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you to the member from Etobicoke for raising this very important issue on the eve of International Women’s Day, which will be tomorrow. We are right now striving, as a government, to join the world effort to balance for better. This weekend, I will be going to the United Nations with the Canadian delegation so that we can discuss, among other things, women’s economic empowerment, sex trafficking and violence against women. These are three key initiatives that have been a priority for me and my ministry.

That’s why our government hosted, early on, a women’s economic empowerment round table, on which we are going to work with the Minister of Labour, for greater pay equity for women. That’s why our government has invested an historic amount of money in violence against women and shelters across this province, to the tune of $174 million.

And that’s why tomorrow we will launch consultations with the member from Cambridge as well as the member from Mississauga Centre so that we can build on the important work of the Minister of Labour, so that we can eradicate sex trafficking, or Ontario’s dirty little secret, in the province of Ontario. We’re going to continue to do that, and I’m looking forward to a statement in the House later on this afternoon.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Miss Kinga Surma: Thank you, Minister, for your continued commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness for this important cause. When we discuss violence against women, it’s important that we acknowledge victims of sex trafficking, which disproportionately affects young women and girls.

We learned late last week that three individuals were charged by the Toronto Police Service for sexual assault and for trafficking a girl under the age of 18. No person in this province should have to experience what that young woman endured. Can the minister please tell this House how our government is taking action to protect women and girls across the province from this heinous crime?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: I do appreciate the supplementary. Sex trafficking in Ontario is our dirty little secret, and that’s why we must continue to be vigilant against it, to continue to speak out against it and to ensure that we support survivors, who we know are going to be the gateway to help us get those children to see awareness early on.

That is why we are engaging in round table discussions throughout this province with the member from Cambridge and the member from Mississauga Centre. We will be working interministerially with the Ministry of the Attorney General, labour, transportation, education and health. I am co-chairing the federal-provincial task table on sex trafficking across the province and, as I mentioned, this Sunday I will be travelling to the United Nations to discuss this issue.

But let me be perfectly clear. As we move forward, supporting women is very important. Strong women must support vulnerable women, but just as importantly, strong men must support vulnerable women.

Autism treatment

Miss Monique Taylor: My question is for the Premier. No one believes in this government’s autism program. Now three of the regional service providers have spoken out. Principals, teachers and school boards around the province are against it. Advocates and experts think the new program will fail children and they’re demanding changes, and parents themselves have been mobilized across the province to fight back.

This government has introduced an astonishingly bad plan that has led to nothing so far but chaos. Why does the Premier insist on pursuing an autism plan that no one supports, and why will he not listen to the families who are here today?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Premier.

As mentioned many times in this House, my parliamentary assistant, Amy Fee, and I travelled across the province. We had over a dozen round tables. We met with stakeholders, and we looked at the broken program that we inherited from the Ontario Liberal Party.

What was unconscionable and unacceptable to me and to this government was that three out of four children were languishing on a wait-list that was endless, with no hope in sight.

Our priority, our motivation is to clear the wait-list so children who were denied service from their Ontario government could get a helping hand and support from their province. Twenty-five per cent of the children were the only ones that were being serviced, so what we’ve moved to is doubling the diagnostic hubs, the investment, so that we can get children diagnosed more quickly.

We are going to a direct-funding model, where children will be eligible for up to $140,000 until they’re 18 in order to receive the types of supports that they so desperately need, whether that’s behavioural therapy, whether that is caregiver support, respite training or technological aids. Our motivation is the 23,000 children who are not getting service.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Miss Monique Taylor: This government has failed every step of the way. They created a plan based on a child’s age and family income, instead of what a child actually needs. They have strong-armed stakeholders, demanded endorsements and used parents’ quotes out of context. They froze and inflated wait-lists to make themselves look better. Their members have supported parents in private, only to backtrack in the public out of fear. They have abandoned all the families and kids that they stood up for under the last government and in the last election.

It’s not too late to do the right thing by families and rethink this plan. Will the Premier finally reconsider the changes to the autism program?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take their seats.

The question has been referred to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Speaker.

This will be the plan that we will implement on April 1. I think it’s irresponsible for the members opposite to provide false hope to parents that this plan will change.

We have invested an historic amount of money, $321 million, into a program to clear the wait-list, go to a direct-funding model and ensure there are greater standards—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Hamilton Mountain, come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —in place for those service providers. We have done everything that the NDP has asked for in the past, and we’re going to continue to make sure that we support all children in Ontario who have autism, not just 25% of the children. I think it’s important that we clear that wait-list for 23,000—

Miss Monique Taylor: That’s a lie and you know it.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I heard that. The member for Hamilton Mountain will withdraw.

Miss Monique Taylor: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The minister should conclude her answer.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Speaker.

I just want to be perfectly clear that on April 1, this will be the plan that we implement and this will be the plan that moves forward, and we will make sure that it’s an easy transition into the education system.

Public transit

Mrs. Gila Martow: Our government for the people has been clear in its commitment to get the people of Ontario moving. The gridlock in the province is unacceptable and making it difficult for Ontarians to get from point A to point B in a timely manner. Ontarians are stuck in their vehicles or on transit far longer than they should be. It takes away valuable time that could be spent with family and friends.

Our government made an election promise to decrease gridlock, and we are doing just that. Our Premier and Minister of Transportation have made some great service expansion announcements already, and I’m excited to hear what more is to come. Can the Minister of Transportation share with the Legislature what his ministry is doing to get the people of Ontario moving?

Hon. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to thank the member from Thornhill for that question. She truly is a champion of improving transportation throughout the GTHA.

Yesterday I had the pleasure to announce that our government for the people, Metrolinx and the Woodbine Entertainment Group are going to build a new GO station at Woodbine. Listen to this, Mr. Speaker; this is the best news this House could ever hear. This station is going to be built and not cost the taxpayers a dime.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my parliamentary assistant, the member from Etobicoke Centre, for joining me yesterday and for all the hard work she has continually done on this file. I also would like to thank Councillor Ford for the support he showed at the announcement as well, showing that the municipality of Etobicoke is behind us 100%.

I have more to say on this, but this is a great announcement for the province. It’s the second of its kind that we’re building, using the private sector to help build it at no cost to taxpayers. It’s a good-news—

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

Mrs. Gila Martow: Mr. Speaker, through you, I’d like to thank the Minister of Transportation for that great answer. I think all of my colleagues will agree this is all good news for Ontarians and yet another way our government is getting the people of Ontario moving.

Public transit is vital for the people of Ontario, and yesterday’s announcement by the Minister of Transportation is important not only to transit users in Etobicoke and western Toronto, but to the whole GTHA. Whether Ontarians are travelling for work, for school, to see a game or just to meet a friend for coffee, our communities depend on our province’s transportation system. This is why we need new, more efficient transit infrastructure to move people faster and ease the congestion on local roads and highways. Our government is delivering on that promise.

Can the minister share more about the new GO station at Woodbine?

Hon. Jeff Yurek: Thanks very much for that second question. This new station will be on Highway 27 near Woodbine Racetrack, right on the existing Kitchener GO rail line. The new station at Woodbine will help to increase transit access to nearby landmarks like Woodbine Mall, Humber College, the University of Guelph–Humber and the Etobicoke General Hospital.

Our government for the people is putting transit users and taxpayers first with our agreement that this new station will be paid for by business partner Woodbine Entertainment Group. Woodbine’s plans for development around the station will bring new jobs, housing and entertainment to Rexdale. Transit-oriented development is an approach that allows us to take a more strategic look at our real estate portfolio.

Mr. Speaker, this is a development that promises the best results at the best cost to taxpayers. The new GO station at Woodbine and the development around it are good news for transit riders. We have a lot more coming forward and it’s going to be benefiting not only the GTHA but Ontario as a whole. Ontario is on the move.

Autism treatment

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Premier. Twenty Windsor parents of children with autism are here today. They are angry with the Conservative government’s decision to deny thousands of families crucial funding for autism supports and services.

Meg is a mother of two kids under the age of five, both on the spectrum. She was at the autism round table in Windsor and felt that the families present offered reasonable suggestions, believing that they were being heard. Then, just days later, the full program was announced. Meg says her world was upended. Her hopes for her kids’ future, her career and the happiness of her family were all dashed.

April Pare, another parent from Windsor, helped organize a rally in Windsor opposing this PC plan.

What does the Premier have to say to Meg and all the parents here today? There are lots more out on the lawn right now whose kids will suffer as a result of his phony consultation and callous cuts.

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Premier. To Meg and to April, we have decided that we would have a priority of clearing the wait-list for children who were languishing on it for years on end, children who were being denied service, 23,000—

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I have to interrupt the minister and ask the person who is demonstrating—you can’t do that, and if you continue to do it, we’ll have to ask you to leave.

The minister can conclude her response.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Look, it angers me that the government previous to this administration was running a program where three out of four children were denied service by their Ontario government. That is why we are moving toward an historic investment of $321 million to support every child with autism in the province of Ontario. We are doubling investment into diagnostic hubs. We are going directly to fund parents so that we can empower them to make the choices that are in the best interests of their children so that we can ensure that not one out of four children in Ontario is getting service but four out of four children are receiving—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’d ask the opposition to come to order.

Supplementary? The member for Ottawa Centre.

Mr. Joel Harden: Thank you, Speaker. My question is also to the Premier. I want to remind the Premier and the minister responsible, this is not just about a wait-list. This is about services for people who need them in a rich province currently spending $1.2 billion on tax cuts for the wealthiest and for companies.

I want to talk about Kate Logue from Ottawa, who is Desmond’s mom. Desmond has high-spectrum autism. He has, through his therapy, said the words “mom” and “dad” for the first time.

Speaker, in a rich province like Ontario, why is it appropriate that Kate has to cash in her RRSP to continue Desmond’s therapy? Premier, is this appropriate? Is this the kind of Ontario you want to lead?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Once again, I’ll remind members to make your comments through the Chair.

The question has been referred to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: My heart goes out to Kate and to Desmond. My heart goes out to the 23,000 children who are being denied service—

Ms. Andrea Horwath: They want your help, not your heart.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Leader of the Opposition, come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —and who are on a wait-list that was endless. I think we had to make a decision in order to ensure that every child with autism in the province of Ontario would receive some support.

What I haven’t heard to date from the New Democrats is what their plan is and how much that will cost. Why are they providing false hope to parents across Ontario? We’ve been very clear. Our priority is to clear the wait-list. We are going to do that in the next 18 months. We’re going to provide for a seamless transition—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Hamilton Mountain, Leader of the Opposition, come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —into the education system. That is what our plan is. We are leading with compassion and we are going to implement this plan on April 1.

Autism treatment

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Premier. We need to take a moment here and look around. There are hundreds of people here, families who have come a long way. They’ve come a long way to express their genuine concern. They’re going to be rallying on the front lawn of the Legislature. They’re here.

Premier, will you join them on the front lawn right after question period?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: The member from Ottawa South has a great deal of audacity to stand in this place, after having worked for the former Premier Dalton McGuinty, who took those same parents to court who protested his previous administration and who they left a bankrupt system to. Not only was—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Leader of the Opposition, come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —a $15-billion deficit. We inherited a broken autism program. For 15 years, they had moments to look around, and they chose to allow a wait-list to grow to 23,000 children—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain must come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —who were denied service from their Ontario government. The difference between me and the member from Ottawa South is—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition must come to order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: —I’m going to clear that wait-list with the help of this government, so every single child with autism in the province of Ontario gets the support they need.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you, Speaker, but I can’t thank the member for that answer.

Families are here today because they’re asking for our help. They’re here because they want someone to listen to their concerns, to sit down with them and work with them to ensure that their child’s needs will be met.

Our job here is to hear the voices that are hardest to hear. All these people, all these folks are here because they are the voice of those who cannot speak. Premier, that’s why you need to be on the front lawn and listening to them. It’s important. It’s very, very important.

Through you, Speaker, I’m asking the Premier two things. First, will he please come out to the front lawn of the Legislature and spend some time with these families? And two, parents have lost confidence, and they need a fresh set of eyes and ears on this file. I would ask that the Premier do that respectfully.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The question has been referred to the minister.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: That member lacks credibility on this file. That member was part of the government that took parents of children with autism to court. He was part of a government that bankrupted the Ontario Autism Program, which forced me and this government to get an emergency $102 million just to keep the program running for 25% of the children.

We have decided that we would double our investment into diagnostic hubs so that we could clear the wait-list on diagnoses—which his government allowed to fester. We have decided we are going to go to a direct funding model, which parents have asked for, so that they can go directly to the best support that their children need.

We are going to make sure that we clear the wait-list of 23,000 children so that all those children have a fighting chance. Speaker, let me be perfectly clear: We are motivated by clearing this wait-list, and a seamless entry and transition into our education system. That is what this government will do on April 1.

Waste diversion

Ms. Donna Skelly: My question is for the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. We have brought forward our made-in-Ontario plan that will take action to preserve and protect our environment without imposing another tax. Yesterday, the minister released his waste discussion paper, which will play a crucial role in our government’s next steps toward cleaning up our province.

My private member’s motion, which will be debated later this afternoon, helps to address the need for diverting waste out of our landfills by encouraging retailers and consumers to donate their used clothing to charity. Reducing the amount of textile waste in our landfills is an important issue that needs to be addressed, given the environmental cost of today’s fast-fashion trends.

Mr. Speaker, can the minister explain why supporting initiatives like mine is important to help sustain Ontario’s environment for the future?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Speaker, through you to the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook: Congratulations to her on the private member’s bill she’s bringing in. This is just the kind of constructive initiative that, frankly, we’d like to see from the NDP. It is absolutely aligned with the sorts of things that are necessary.

We, as Ontarians, put a tonne of waste each into landfill—a tonne of waste each and every year. We are diverting less than 30% of that waste. That is not acceptable in 2019. We have to do better. We have to do better through constructive proposals like the one the member brings.

That is what our waste proposals are talking about. That is why we are consulting with Ontarians. We are going to be talking about organics. We are going to be talking about plastics. We are going to be talking about diversion. We are going to be talking about all the best technologies that are available in the world to make sure that we are taking the litter off our streets and we are putting waste where it belongs, not into landfills.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Donna Skelly: More than 24 billion pounds of unwanted clothing end up in landfills. Only about 1% of donated clothing is actually recycled. We are hoping that this motion will encourage manufacturers to invest in the technology to recycle more clothing.

This is just one example of a way Ontarians can reduce waste that is headed for landfills. I’ve spoken to many constituents who have great ideas to share and want to play a

part in cleaning up our province. Ontarians understand that real environmentalism starts close to home, and they’re ready to move forward on a cleaner, more beautiful Ontario.

Can the minister share with this House what goal the waste discussion paper hopes to achieve?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Again, through you, Mr. Speaker, to the member: These are exactly the kinds of questions that our paper asks. What can Ontarians do? What can producers do? The bill that the member is presenting works collaboratively with producers. That’s what we need to do in partnership with producers, municipalities and all the interested parties.

To the question, we will be looking at how we decrease the amount of waste going to landfill, increase the overall diversion rate—which, as I said, has been stalled at 30% for 15 years; not good enough. We’re committing to making producers responsible for the waste generated by their products and packaging; we’re going to outline ways to explore how we get value from waste and create less waste as a result; and we’re dedicated to providing clear rules around compostable products, packaging, and to supporting a sustainable economy for Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, this is another example of this government’s efforts to balance a healthy environment and a healthy economy. That’s what we’ll do for Ontarians.

Autism treatment

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Premier. With us today is my constituent Susan, who has a wonderful son with autism spectrum disorder who has high needs. Right now, he receives highly skilled, one-on-one care. He has someone who helps him use the toilet, has taught him to speak a few words and helps him stay safe. That level of care costs over $70,000 a year. Her family currently receives support through the Ontario Autism Program, but now, in less than 30 days, her family will only receive $5,000. Can the Premier explain to Susan why her son doesn’t deserve to receive adequate funding so that her son can stay safe?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members please take their seats.

The question has been addressed to the Premier and referred to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Premier, and thank you very much, Speaker. To the member opposite and to Susan: Her story is one that I’ve heard throughout Ontario. I’ve also heard from 23,000 others who are being denied service and really had no hope at the end of the tunnel.

Our motivation is to ensure that four out of four children, 100% of the children who require support from their Ontario government, receive it. That wasn’t the case under the previous Liberal administration. The fair, equitable and sustainable approach is to make sure that we double our investment into diagnostic hubs, go directly to fund parents—

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the person who is disrupting Parliament to stop. She has to leave.

The minister can conclude her response.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thanks, Speaker. That’s why we’re moving to a direct funding model—so that parents can have up to $140,000 per child so they can choose the services that best work for their family.

Speaker, let me be perfectly clear. This is the program that we’re implementing on April 1. Our motivation is to clear the wait-list so every child in Ontario with autism, not just one out of four, receives support from their Ontario government. That is the commitment we have made. That’s the plan that we have put forward, and that’s the plan that will be implemented on April 1.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Opposition will come to order.

Supplementary, the member for Essex.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Again to the Premier: I want to assure members of the gallery, visitors here today, families, that New Democrats hear you and we hear those out on the front lawn—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to interrupt the member once again. You’re not here to address the people who are in the galleries. You’re here to make your comments through the Speaker.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Speaker, from my riding, Lana and Rob are the parents of a beautiful boy named Mason. Mason has moderate to severe autism. Lana confided in me that she can’t afford Mason’s therapy on her own. He’ll be five by the time the new plan is in motion and the funding he will receive will only cover a few hours of therapy for a month or two. Lana says, “Giving them an hour or two a week requires them to start over every session of therapy. This will never help our child progress. In fact there will be a lot more regression before ever moving forward.”

Premier, why is your government forcing Mason to go without the therapy he desperately needs?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, please take their seats.

Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thanks very much to the member opposite for bringing Lana and Rob’s story and telling me a little bit more about Mason.

Our motivation is to make sure that every child with autism in the province of Ontario receives some level of support from their Ontario government. That wasn’t the case, Speaker. It was unfair, unconscionable, inequitable and unsustainable to only support one in four children, or the 8,400 children who are in service right now.

We have an obligation to every child in the province of Ontario who has autism to receive a level of support from their Ontario government. That’s what I’m committed to doing. That is the plan this government is putting forward. That will be the plan that will be implemented on April 1, so that we can clear the wait-list of 23,000 children who were not receiving any level of support from their Ontario government. That is our motivation. That is what we are going to do.

Economic development

Mr. Deepak Anand: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. I would like to thank the minister, the Premier and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for attending the job announcement at SodaStream last Tuesday. It’s great to see a global company like SodaStream investing in our province, opening their first-ever production facility in Canada right here in Ontario, creating 28 new jobs in my riding of Mississauga–Malton.

I know the minister and our entire PC caucus have been working hard, creating an environment where businesses want to grow, invest and, more importantly, create new jobs. Could the minister please outline to the House why global companies like SodaStream are choosing to set up a manufacturing facility right here in Ontario?

Hon. Todd Smith: It was great to be out in the member’s riding on Tuesday morning as we celebrated the grand opening of a new facility, an Israeli company known as the “island of peace” in Israel. It’s doing outstanding work in Israel, making a great product that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. I was pleased to be there along with the member, who is doing a great job in Mississauga–Malton, my friend the Minister of Agriculture and agri-food and the Premier, to celebrate this company.

Companies like SodaStream are choosing to set up and expand here in Canada, and that’s great news. I think it proves that the work we’re doing—that we’re making a change in the way that Ontario does business—is getting through to companies not just across Ontario, but companies around the world that are looking to locate here. We’re doing things like cutting red tape. I’m getting great support from all of the different ministers around the table and other members of our caucus, who are helping us to eliminate that burdensome red tape.

We’re reducing electricity costs, stabilizing those costs, and reducing taxes as well, to make sure that Ontario is open for business to all who want to invest here.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Deepak Anand: Through you, Mr. Speaker: Minister, thank you so much for your commitment.

With overall unemployment at 10% and with 25% unemployment in youth in the riding of Mississauga–Malton, I know the businesses and workers in my riding are glad that our government is making Ontario a better place to invest and create jobs.

After 15 years of having a government that never saw a piece of red tape they didn’t like, our government is flipping the script and reducing the regulatory burden. We are making Ontario open for business and, more importantly, open for jobs. The announcement at SodaStream is proof that our plan is working. I’d like to thank you on behalf of my riding.

Can the minister please inform the House of how our government will continue to make Ontario an attractive place to invest?

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks again to the member from Mississauga–Malton. It’s great to celebrate, like we did on Tuesday, a brand new company that’s expanding here in Ontario.

I can tell you that every day, businesses are deciding where they’re going to locate around the world. Be it here in Ontario—which is obviously where we hope they choose—Quebec, Michigan and Ohio, you name it, they’re all competing for these businesses to locate in their jurisdiction. That’s why we want to make those jobs land here in Ontario and do everything we can to do that. That’s why, as the member references, we eliminated or repealed the job-killing parts of Bill 148, which was brought in by Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal government.

I can tell you that in the meetings we’ve had with business owners, Speaker, since we became government, they are singing from the rooftops when they get the news that we are eliminating red tape and making it easier for them to do business in Ontario—things like Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, and now the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act—

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

Next question.

Autism treatment

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier. Yesterday, I received a letter from seven-year-old Lily. She has a question for this government, and here’s what she wrote:

“My name is Lily. I have a twin named Landon and I love him so much.

“It was bad to take the money from the kids who need help to learn stuff. Please help the government to change their minds.

“How would they feel if they had a brother with autism? I hope they would help them.

“Thank you from Lily.”

My question is to this government and to this entire Conservative caucus: What are you doing to these kids in the province of Ontario? It is unethical. It is unconscionable. You must do better for Lily’s brother and for all of those parents and all of those kids who are on the front lawn at Queen’s Park today.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Deputy Premier.

I appreciate the member opposite and her passion. I think it’s important that we consider the 23,000 children who were being denied service, the 23,000 children who were not being supported by their Ontario government, the 23,000 children who were on a wait-list, who were not getting any level of support from their Ontario government.

What’s unconscionable is that the previous Liberal administration left us a broken and broke system that denied these children—three out of four children in Ontario—service. That is why I had to go back to the Treasury Board for an extra $102 million: to ensure that 8,400 children currently on their way into the system would receive support, but also to give us the time so we could redesign a program and invest $321 million into all children.

That’s why we are doubling our investment into the diagnostic hubs. That’s why we are going to a direct funding model, and that is why we are going to regulate the professionals in this industry.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary? The member for London West.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Again to the Acting Premier: Speaker, Lindsay Frechette came on the bus today from London West on behalf of her 11-year-old son, Felix. When Felix was diagnosed with autism at age three, he was also diagnosed with cancer. Lindsay says if she had been told, “Here is your budget to pay for his cancer treatment and when you have used it up, too bad,” Felix would have died.

Lindsay describes life as an autism parent as, “Wait and fight, wait and fight.” Felix waited years for diagnosis and Lindsay fought for his treatment. He’s been doing well with current autism program supports, and Lindsay is terrified of what will happen to him when those supports are gone.

Speaker, why is this government abandoning Felix and parents like Lindsay?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Please take your seats.

Minister?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: The example of Felix having to wait forever almost, for years, for a diagnosis is exactly the changes that we want to make so that we can clear the wait-list, so that children will be diagnosed more quickly, and we can then start to fund their parents so that they can choose the types of supports that best support their child, whether that is behavioural support, whether that is caregiver training, whether that is respite or, finally, technological aids. That is the movement we want to go toward because we believe every child in Ontario with autism should receive support.

The Ontario New Democrats clearly think we should only be supporting 25% of the children. I think that’s unacceptable. That’s what’s unconscionable. It was inequitable. It was unfair, and the system that we inherited seven months ago was unsustainable.

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I would ask the person who is disrupting Parliament to stop.

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): You have to leave. Once again, you cannot disrupt Parliament.

Mining industry

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. Our government has been working tirelessly since we’ve been elected to get Ontario’s economy back on track. That means listening—listening to the large employers and job creators in key sectors of our economy on how we can support them.

Unlike the previous government that stood in front of employers and got in their way, we are standing behind the employers, pushing them forward, reducing the red tape, reducing electricity costs and creating good-paying jobs.

Many people talk about issues in our mining sector. I understand that our Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines has been doing a lot of work in this sector, and struck a working group at the last PDAC meeting.

Could you please elaborate on this group that you struck, Minister?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I appreciate the member from Barrie–Innisfil asking this important question. Not a moment too soon, Mr. Speaker, we struck a mining working group that will be busy over the next couple of years, fundamentally transforming a sector that sadly has moved largely out of province when it comes to capital, who are dispirited and are calling on this government to reduce red tape, to make tax conditions more favourable, to move Ontario into the pole position as the preferred destination to do the business of mining and actually mining.

Mr. Speaker, we assembled business leaders, Indigenous engagement, the finance sector, engineering—people who build mines and operate mines. They were there, emboldened by the presence of the Premier, taking notes, making sure that these things, in the coming months and the coming years, will be supported as we re-establish Ontario’s place and position as the number one place to do business when it comes to mining.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Thank you for that answer. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the minister for sending the clear message that Ontario’s government for the people is making the mining sector open for business. It’s a key piece of our government’s broader plan to make our province the economic engine of Canada again, stimulating our economy and going on to create more jobs—jobs like in the mining s