Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The committee met at 1615 in room 228.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): I call the meeting of the Standing Committee on General Government to order. We’re here to deal with the report of the subcommittee on committee business dated Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Mr. Colle.

Mr. Mike Colle: Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Report of the subcommittee that met Tuesday, May 7, 2013:

Your subcommittee on committee business met on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, to consider the method of proceeding with the committee’s study relating to the auto insurance industry and recommends the following:

(1) That the committee meet for the purpose of public hearings on Monday, May 13, 2013 and invite the following organizations to appear: General Insurance Statistical Agency (GISA), the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO); and that OSFI be offered the opportunity to appear via video conference.

(2) That GISA, OSFI and FSCO each be offered 10 minutes for their presentations, followed by up to 50 minutes of questions by committee members.

(3) That the committee invite any groups or individuals who were not accommodated on Monday, May 6, to appear before the committee on Monday, May 13, 2013.

(4) That groups and individuals be offered 10 minutes for their presentations followed by up to 30 minutes of questions by committee members.

(5) That the research officer contact the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) for comments on the taxi insurance situation in Hamilton and provide this information to the committee by Monday, May 13, 2013.

Your subcommittee met further to consider the method of proceeding on Bill 11, An Act to amend the Ambulance Act with respect to air ambulance services, and recommends the following:

(6) That the committee invite the following individuals to appear on Wednesday, May 15, 2013: staff from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; the Acting Auditor General of Ontario or his representative; and the Ombudsman of Ontario or his representative.

(7) That ministry staff, the Auditor General and the Ombudsman each be offered five minutes for their presentations followed by up to 30 minutes of questions by committee members.

(8) That the Committee Clerk, in consultation with the Chair, be authorized prior to the adoption of the report of the subcommittee to commence making any preliminary arrangements necessary to facilitate the committee’s proceedings.

I move adoption of the report.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Thank you. Any debate, comments? Ms. Scott.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I just ask the Clerk, was there feedback on who can come, or is that kind of afterwards?

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Sylwia Przezdziecki): For the meeting on Monday?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Yes.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Sylwia Przezdziecki): GISA, who were scheduled to appear originally today, are able to reschedule their appearance. OSFI, to my understanding, will be providing their answer in writing to the committee shortly.

Ms. Laurie Scott: And FSCO is able to come? Do we know?

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Sylwia Przezdziecki): FSCO, yes. In my conversation with the assistant to the CEO, they indicated a willingness to find the individuals who could respond to the committee’s—

Ms. Laurie Scott: Then for the next one, May 15, have we heard back that everybody would be able to come of the three that were asked?

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Sylwia Przezdziecki): For May 15? I do not have the feedback for all of them.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Okay. My only comment was that if someone wasn’t able to come—so if two out of the three could come—we could adjust the times if we wanted to ask more questions, but I don’t know at what point I can ask for that to happen procedurally.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: Probably the day of.

Ms. Laurie Scott: The day of is okay?

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): We would have to do it on the day of, and it would be by full agreement of everyone.

Ms. Laurie Scott: That’s why I was wondering if I needed to bring it up here. So we can just do it the day of if, all of a sudden—

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): As long as everybody agrees.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Of course.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Mr. Singh.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Could we just agree to that now? I think that’s a pretty reasonable thing, that if it turns out that only two of the three can show up, we just allocate more time for questions then. The people who are coming are people whom I’m quite interested in asking lots of questions of. Can we just agree so that we don’t have to worry about that? We’re already here anyway? Does that sound reasonable?

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): I don’t know. Let me just check. Can we amend a subcommittee report to read that way?

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: Well, we’re already doing up to 50 minutes. It’s in the motion.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): No, this is the second part.

Ms. Laurie Scott: The second part of what?

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Number 7, where it has the three groups. The concern is that if we only have two, can the time be extended for those two?

Mr. Mike Colle: Are we talking about number 7 or insurance?

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Yes, the auditor, the Ombudsman and the Ministry of Health. If only two out of the three can come, can they take up the time?

Mr. Mike Colle: I don’t think there’s a problem with that.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: It’s “followed by up to 30 minutes,” so the time is built in, whether one, two or three come. The time is already there.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: You’re right. That’s where it is.

Ms. Laurie Scott: But we wanted to increase the number.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: No, it’s already there.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: It is.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Up to 30 minutes.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: Yes.

Ms. Laurie Scott: But we—

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: So if only one shows up, you can question him for 30 minutes, if you want.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I want a longer time with some.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: She’s right.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): She wants to go beyond 30.

Mr. Rick Bartolucci: Well, the subcommittee decided that. You’d have to go back to the subcommittee to decide that.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Oh.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): That’s why I’m asking.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Because it’s 30 minutes each, based on three people showing up. If one doesn’t show up, then you can take the 30 minutes and spread it out, 10 minutes each, so it should be 40 minutes each. So would we agree that we’ll do that?

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield: I think we should do it that day. I don’t think we should do it now. Wait and see who shows up.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Just wait and see?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: That’s fine.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Okay.

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield: Yes, that makes sense.

Mr. Mike Colle: They’re going to be here anyway, I think.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: They probably will be anyway. It’s not a big deal.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): They should all show up. They’re appointees of this government.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Well, it’s scheduling, right?

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Yes.

Ms. Laurie Scott: Okay.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Shall I take the vote?

Mr. Mike Colle: Yes.

The Chair (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): All in favour? Carried.

Any other business? None? This committee is adjourned.

The committee adjourned at 1622.

CONTENTS

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Subcommittee report G-177

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Chair / Président

Mr. Bas Balkissoon (Scarborough–Rouge River L)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Présidente

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre / Etobicoke-Centre L)

Mr. Bas Balkissoon (Scarborough–Rouge River L)

Mr. Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury L)

Ms. Sarah Campbell (Kenora–Rainy River ND)

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre / Etobicoke-Centre L)

Mr. Mike Colle (Eglinton–Lawrence L)

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity–Spadina ND)

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock PC)

Mr. Todd Smith (Prince Edward–Hastings PC)

Mr. Jeff Yurek (Elgin–Middlesex–London PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Ms. Teresa Armstrong (London–Fanshawe ND)

Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Bramalea–Gore–Malton ND)

Also taking part / Autres participants et participantes

Mr. Rob E. Milligan (Northumberland–Quinte West PC)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Sylwia Przezdziecki

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Lorraine Luski, research officer,
Legislative Research Service