Journal des débats 2009-juin-04 | Assemblée législative de l'Ontario

Hon. Monique M. Smith: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private bills and the motions for second and third reading.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I move that the orders for second and third reading of the following private bills shall be called consecutively and the questions on the motions for second and third reading of the bills put immediately without debate: Bill Pr16, An Act to revive Deep River Management Services Inc.; Bill Pr21, An Act to revive 1173931 Ontario Limited; Bill Pr23, An Act to revive Welechenko Transport Ltd.; Bill Pr24, An Act to revive a corporation named New Hermes Limited in English and New Hermes Limitée in French; Bill Pr26, An Act respecting The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of London, in Ontario; and

That Mr. Ramal may move the motions for second and third reading of Bill Pr21 on behalf of Mr. Rinaldi; and

That Mr. Norm Miller may move the motions for second and third reading of Bill Pr16 on behalf of Mr. Yakabuski; and

That Mr. Norm Miller may move the motions for second and third reading of Bill Pr23 on behalf of Mr. Murdoch.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

DEEP RIVER MANAGEMENT
SERVICES INC. ACT, 2009

Mr. Norm Miller, on behalf of Mr. Yakabuski, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr16, An Act to revive Deep River Management Services Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

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DEEP RIVER MANAGEMENT
SERVICES INC. ACT, 2009

Mr. Norm Miller, on behalf of Mr. Yakabuski, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr16, An Act to revive Deep River Management Services Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

1173931 ONTARIO LIMITED ACT, 2009

Mr. Ramal, on behalf of Mr. Rinaldi, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr21, An Act to revive 1173931 Ontario Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

1173931 ONTARIO LIMITED ACT, 2009

Mr. Ramal, on behalf of Mr. Rinaldi, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr21, An Act to revive 1173931 Ontario Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

WELECHENKO TRANSPORT LTD.
ACT, 2009

Mr. Norm Miller, on behalf of Mr. Murdoch, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr23, An Act to revive Welechenko Transport Ltd.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

WELECHENKO TRANSPORT LTD.
ACT, 2009

Mr. Norm Miller, on behalf of Mr. Murdoch, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr23, An Act to revive Welechenko Transport Ltd.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

NEW HERMES LIMITED/NEW HERMES LIMITÉE ACT, 2009

Mrs. Mangat moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr24, An Act to revive a corporation named New Hermes Limited in English and New Hermes Limitée in French.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

NEW HERMES LIMITED/NEW HERMES LIMITÉE ACT, 2009

Mrs. Mangat moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr24, An Act to revive a corporation named New Hermes Limited in English and New Hermes Limitée in French.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH
OF THE DIOCESE OF LONDON,
IN ONTARIO ACT (TAX RELIEF), 2009

Mr. Ramal moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr26, An Act respecting The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of London, in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH
OF THE DIOCESE OF LONDON,
IN ONTARIO ACT (TAX RELIEF), 2009

Mr. Ramal moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr26, An Act respecting The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of London, in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Orders of the day.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: We have no further business this morning, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): This House stands recessed until 10:30 this morning.

The House recessed from 0954 to 1030.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. John Wilkinson: Good morning. I'm pleased to introduce Jesse Beatson, who is from my riding and serving as a legislative intern in my office.

Mr. Wayne Arthurs: I want to introduce the mother of page Ajoy Paul, Sheena Paul, and his brother Aaron Paul from my riding. Please welcome them to the Legislature.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It's an honour to be able to introduce two of my great employees from the great riding of Nepean–Carleton. Kayla Fernet and Alicia Noonan work in my constituency office, and like all constituency assistants, they are the lifeblood of our organization. I want to welcome them to Queen's Park today.

Hon. Jim Watson: I'm pleased to introduce—I believe they were here earlier—members of the grade 8 travel club from Lakewood School, who are visiting Queen's Park from Kenora. They're joined by teachers from Lakewood: Terry Shaw, Marty Laffin, Jennifer Gray and Irene McCuaig.

Also, the two hardest-working summer interns in a minister's office, Aaron GlynWilliams and Nicholas Gallant from Municipal Affairs and Housing: Welcome.

Mrs. Julia Munro: I would like to ask all members to welcome the students from Goodfellow Public School in Innisfil, joining us here this morning.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I would like to take this opportunity to welcome two guests of the Clerk who are seated in the west members' gallery, Mary Polisk and David Love. Welcome to Queen's Park today.

LEGISLATIVE USHERS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I also want to take this opportunity to thank our ushers, who are students here in Toronto, for the work they've done during this session. Some of them will be returning next fall; some of them will be returning to other studies: Osman Akthar, Shae Frosst, Claire Glossop, Shiva Logarajah, William Ng, Michael O'Shaugnessy, Jordan Paolucci, Janette Piasecki, Jenni Simon, Jenna Smith, Kalin Stacey, Harlan Tufford, Nick Turner, Maria Chung and William Wong.

Best of luck to the student ushers.

Applause.

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): This being, hopefully, the last question period of this session, I'd like to ask all members to join me and thank our wonderful group of pages. We, too, wish them all the best.

Applause.

Mr. Peter Kormos: On a point of order, Speaker: This tremendous group of pages has been horribly shortchanged. New Democrats are prepared to sit next week for four more precious days; all we need is the co-operation from the government to that effect.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Welland is seeking unanimous consent for the House to sit next week. Agreed? I think I heard one no; lots of yeses.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to today acknowledge the fact that this is going to be the last day for Bob Runciman as the leader of the official opposition. Today's question period will be his last, although he will be continuing as our esteemed and valued leader until the end of the month, when we choose a new leader. Despite the fact that Bob might think he's spelling his name to all callers, I can tell you that Bob is held in high esteem not only in this House but throughout the province of Ontario.

Bob has twice had the opportunity to be unanimously elected as our leader since 2004, and although Mad Dog may not have been around from one of the earliest documented references to that nickname in the 16th century, I can tell you that since his election in 1981, he has been madly steadfast and unswerving in his dedication, not only to the people in eastern Ontario, but to all the people in the province. As our leader in the Legislature, he has served our caucus admirably as a very steady, enthusiastic and passionate advocate for people in this province.

Bob, you have certainly earned the respect of everyone in this House. You have served all Ontarians with distinction, and you have been an honest and very capable leader during a time of great need for our province, when getting to the heart of the issues was most critical as Ontarians today continue to struggle through particularly challenging economic times.

I hope that all members in this House would join me in congratulating our leader, Bob, for a job extremely well done. He is an individual who, I can personally attest, comes into this House every day to do the very best he can for every Ontarian.

Congratulations, Bob.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The leader of the third party on the same point of order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I'm very pleased to rise to pay tribute to the interim leader of the official opposition on behalf of the New Democratic caucus here in the Legislature.

Mr. Runciman is one of the longest serving members of this House, and by the time of the next general election, he will have been here for more than three decades. His record of service to his party and to the people of Ontario is as impressive as that of any member who has ever had the privilege of holding a seat here at Queen's Park.

Mr. Runciman has held cabinet portfolios under three different Premiers, he has chaired parliamentary committees, and he has been his party's whip and House leader. Simply put, Mr. Runciman has performed just about every role there is to perform in this place, and he has always done so with great diligence and eloquence.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I spent some time in his riding, and one thing was very, very clear: The people of Leeds—Grenville have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for their MPP, as well they should.

While Mr. Runciman and I may have different ideological perspectives, I know that we both agree that serving our constituents is the most important thing we do. As he steps away from the leadership of the official opposition, I know that he will continue to serve his constituents very well and, on occasion, hold the government's feet to the fire in the way that only he can.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Premier on the same point of order.

Interjection.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: There will be no hugs from me; I want to make that clear at the outset. But I rise to give expression to the wonderful sentiments that I think we all sense today.

A predecessor of mine, David Peterson, used to say that the toughest job in the world is to be the leader of an opposition party. I think he was wrong. I think the toughest job of them all has been interim leader of an opposition party—and to grapple with the fomenting changes inside your caucus as various personalities seek to assert themselves, and to garner support and to maintain some sense of order and to assume that high responsibility on behalf of Ontarians.

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I want to thank Bob Runciman, MPP, minister, interim Leader of the Opposition, husband, proud father, for all that he has brought to his responsibilities over so many years. He has been dogged; he has been determined; he has been faithful to his principles at all times. I'm not sure there's anything more we might ask of anybody who is privileged to hold public office.

I also hope that, given these warm and wonderful sentiments that we are now expressing, he will adjust his coming questions accordingly.

Laughter.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: If we need a recess for a few moments so that he might rephrase some of those, we will be there.

It is my personal theory of people that while we have more than amply demonstrated over the millennia that we can be selfish and shallow and short-sighted, and at our worst, mean-spirited, at our very best, there's something noble about people and something that takes us beyond our desire for flat-screened TVs and fast cars and big homes and vacation getaways. We want to do something of lasting value, something that endures. We want to do something good for others. My wish for Bob Runciman is that when he's alone with his thoughts and the house is quiet and his head is on the pillow, he enjoys that wonderful sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing he's made a powerful, lasting and positive difference for so many others. Thank you, Bob.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition on the same point of order.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: This is a complete surprise to me, I have to say. It is going to be difficult to go into question period after this, but I'll do my job.

I want to thank all the members for their expression of appreciation for my contributions over the past couple of years as leader of the official opposition. It's been an enormous honour for me and for my family and the people who have supported me over so many years as their MPP. I know we're all feeling proud to be in this place and to represent our constituents. Certainly having this opportunity, not only as Leader of the Opposition, but to be interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party as well for the past three and a half months, has been an enormous honour.

Norm just said it sounds like a eulogy, but I think Norm's eulogy will come ahead of mine.

Laughter.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: In any event, I want to thank Andrea, who has been most gracious in her new role as leader of the NDP. She did visit my riding and she's a warm and wonderful person.

I have to say, with respect to the Premier, that one of the things about what's happening here today is an indication of the fact that we all have our roles and responsibilities in this place. In opposition, as the Premier knows as well as anyone, we have a very important job to do in terms of holding the government accountable for their actions or lack of actions, whatever the issue might be. We have to do that job, and sometimes it's not easy because, as we have witnessed here today, we can be friends. It's sometimes a little difficult to be friends, given the nature of the debates or the questions, but at the end of the day we are friends.

With respect to the Premier and me, we have been friends for many, many years. I worked with his dad, and we served on committees together when he was just a rookie. I don't want this to show up in election brochures, but I remember when Dalton was running for the leadership of the Liberal Party and was pretty much an underdog. I met him in the hallway at the east door one night, and I said, "You know, if I were a Liberal"—God forbid—"I'd be supporting you, Dalton." And that's the way I felt.

Interjection.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: No, I didn't say that to anyone else.

I think it's an indication that, despite the fact that we have to take decisions based on principle and what we believe in and in terms of the roles we play in this place, we can still care about each other at the end of the day. I think that's important for all Ontarians to know.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I too, on behalf of the table and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, would like to thank Bob Runciman for his work as Her Majesty's loyal opposition leader.

And I didn't call the member from Kitchener—Waterloo to order on it, but I have been reviewing unparliamentary language and rulings that previous Speakers have made, and a previous Speaker actually ruled that "Mad Dog" is unparliamentary.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Best of luck to you.

USE OF QUESTION PERIOD

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Yesterday, the member for Welland, Mr. Kormos, raised a point of order with respect to the use of question period and specifically with respect to a question asked by the member from Huron—Bruce, Ms. Mitchell. The government House leader, Ms. Smith, also spoke to this point of order.

As the member suggested in his comments yesterday, Speakers have traditionally allowed a fair amount of leeway in allowing questions to be put. In this, I am no different than my predecessors. I have taken the view that members should be given the greatest freedom possible in the putting of questions. Like a hockey referee at playoff time, I am always mindful not to be overly intrusive, and as much as possible, to let the game play on.

The member made reference to standing order 37(a), which refers to the necessity of questions being of urgent public importance. This particular reference has caused some difficulty for almost all occupants of this chair. Like them, I am reluctant to sit in judgment as to what is or is not a question of urgent public importance. I would refer members to a Warner ruling from June 3, 1992, Journals pages 101 to 110, for a fuller explanation of why this is so.

It is a subjective question, and as demonstrated yesterday by the response to this point of order by the government House leader, there are differing opinions on what is considered to be either urgent or of public importance. One member's pothole is another member's crater.

Having said that, there are certain principles governing the form and content of questions, and it would greatly improve the decorum and public perception of this place if they were more closely observed. To begin with, while there may be other motives, the primary purpose for asking a question is to extract information from the government and to call it to account. Specific to this point of order, questions should not be hypothetical nor should they seek merely to elicit an opinion from a minister of the crown. In particular, this principle would prohibit a question that simply offers the minister to whom it is addressed an opportunity to cast an opinion on a comment made outside of this House by another member or members. This kind of question is especially troublesome if it is intended as a meandering attack on a honourable colleague.

In my view, the initial question by the member for Huron—Bruce falls into this category, and I would encourage greater observance of this principle in the future. I thank the member from Welland for raising this point and the government House leader for her response to it.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): It is now time for oral questions. Leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to reality.

This is to the Premier. Yesterday, the Minister of Health said that it is long overdue for this province to be able to have the eHealth infrastructure that will drive and improve patient care and patient safety. Premier, your minister looked the other way while Liberal-friendly consultants charged taxpayers for $15 cocktails, and $300 an hour to read newspaper articles. One consultant even billed taxpayers for sending messages to herself.

Premier, do you really think this type of offensive misuse of scarce tax dollars is improving patient care and safety in this province?

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Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. David Caplan: I want to thank the member for the question. But before I get to the response, I want to congratulate the member on his years of service and on his last day as interim leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition. I look forward to sparring with him in question period—and others.

I do acknowledge that in fact the investments in eHealth are significant. I do acknowledge that, unfortunately, a previous government set up Smart Systems for Health with the wrong mandate and put the wrong leadership in place. I do acknowledge that we are behind where we should be. And I do acknowledge that we are finally taking steps to be able to rectify that matter.

We are moving forward to modernize Ontario's eHealth infrastructure. We are going to do it, because it will bring better patient care, better patient safety, connect health care—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: The minister clearly has a political damage control team in place, advising him to use the same responses to one of his scandals and subsequent efforts to bury and hide his failures, regrettably, to do his job. We saw it at OLG and now we're seeing it at eHealth.

CBC is reporting that when Sarah Kramer was considered for CEO of eHealth, she was given a supportive reference by one Will Falk, a former Liberal staffer. Shortly after Ms. Kramer got the job, she handed off an untendered $1.3-million contract to—guess who?—the same Will Falk. That strikes me as a very lucrative taxpayer-paid thank you for the reference.

Minister, let's stop the bafflegab. Give us an explanation as to why this use of tax dollars was appropriate.

Hon. David Caplan: It's my expectation that, whenever possible, the contracts are tendered in an open and fair competition. The eHealth board made the decision during that transition period to get eHealth moving forward as quickly as they possibly could. It's important not just for eHealth but for all of us who have the privilege to serve Ontarians, including, I would say to the member, all members of this Legislature. That's precisely why I had a conversation with board chair Dr. Hudson and sought assurances, which were not received, and why I have directed eHealth and the board to undertake a third party review. That will be under the auspices of an internal government auditor, along with the agency's external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers. There will in fact be another layer where we have the Auditor General of the province of Ontario, an independent officer of this Legislature, who in fact is looking at—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Final supplementary.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Yesterday in the scrum, even the media were laughing at the minister's desperation in trying to justify these very offensive expenditures of tax dollars.

I want to go to another incident. The Courtyard Group, which is another Liberal-friendly consultant with close ties to the Deputy Premier, also received lucrative taxpayer-paid untendered contracts worth over $2 million. Top Courtyard employee John Ronson was a former Liberal staffer. Another employee, Karli Farrow, was executive assistant to Minister Smitherman and a policy adviser to the Premier. Courtyard head Michael Guerriere worked right alongside eHealth chair Alan Hudson, who has gone underground since this scandal came to light.

Minister, you can't deny that Liberal entitlement is written all over this. You need to do the right thing: Fire Ms. Kramer. You are the Minister of Health. You're responsible for this file. If you can't do your job, please step down and let—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: I want to caution the member about some of the accusations that he makes. I can tell you that Dr. Hudson has made very valuable contributions to the medical—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister of Transportation.

Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: As I was saying, I want to caution the member about some of the accusations that he is making. Dr. Hudson has made tremendously valuable contributions to the medical community and to health care in this province.

I want to quote today's Toronto Star. "Hudson ... received an honorary degree from the University of Toronto for creating a neurosurgical training program widely regarded as one of the best in the world and for his role as head of the push to improve Ontario's wait times for health services." I can tell you that the results speak for themselves and they are impressive.

In fact, Bob Bell, president and CEO of University Health Network, said: "It's unfortunate the work Kramer and Hudson have done at eHealth is being overshadowed.... The leadership of Kramer and Hudson vastly improved Ontario's wait times for cancer surgery, joint replacements, diagnostic scans, cataract surgery and cardiac procedures."

Speaker—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

GOVERNMENT'S RECORD

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: To the Premier: Today, as we know, is the last day of the session, a session which has been marred by a record-breaking Liberal deficit, fiscal mismanagement that has made Ontario the only province facing a reduced credit rating, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

This session ends with Minister Caplan looking the other way while fat-cat Liberal consultants are rewarded with untendered million-dollar contracts. Thousands of Ontarians continue to lose jobs.

Interestingly enough, the Premier, yesterday, told the media that this is one of the best sessions he's had. If we needed any further proof that the Premier is living in a taxpayer-subsidized bubble, he gave it to us with that comment. Premier, do you understand the bad shape this province is in under your watch?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We had a very productive session in fact. It was our most productive session since we've earned the privilege of serving Ontarians as their government. I say that not simply in terms of number of the bills that we've passed during the course of this session, but in the quality and the substantive aspect of those bills. Take a look, for example, at just one of those: the Green Energy Act. It places Ontario at the forefront in North America.

I recently had the opportunity to visit New York City and hosted a dinner there with a number of venture capitalists in representative ethical investment funds. It is perfectly clear that we have risen to the front of the line when it comes to putting in place the kinds of legislation that will harness energy from the sun and wind and biomass and create some 50,000 jobs, although I should tell you that our American counterparts are saying that in fact we've underestimated. They expect it will create many more than that. That's just one substantive bill—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Let's list a few of the other scandals that occurred during the Premier's "best session." Dalton McGuinty brought Ontario into have-not status. He announced his massive McGuinty sales tax, hitting seniors and struggling families with taxes on everything from gas to heating fuel, vitamins and even funerals.

We had the failure to report abuse of caregivers by Ministers Fonseca and Wynne, in order to protect a federal Liberal friend. Minister Caplan looks the other way while his fat-cat CEO of eHealth twists, bends and manipulates the rules and gives her friends untendered contracts of $5 million in tax dollars.

Why do you accept such low standards when on this side of the House you screamed for perfection?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Let's keep in mind the context and the real successes that we have enjoyed, working hard together with Ontarians. I just don't share my honourable colleague's negative and pessimistic view of where we find ourselves and where we're going.

If you take a look at the budget, for example, we have found a way, working hard, as I say, together with Ontarians, to introduce measures that will both make us a more competitive and a more caring Ontario. While we've reduced business taxes and reduced taxes for 93% of Ontarians, we've also effectively doubled the Ontario child benefit.

We're putting new money into social housing. We found more money for health care, more money for education and more money for colleges and universities, notwithstanding that we find ourselves at a time where our economy is contracting. We put forward a good, solid budget that is designed to meet the needs of the day and ensure that we can look forward to the future with a great deal of optimism.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Every day, we're learning more and more that if you're a friend of Dalton McGuinty's Liberals, abuse is allowed, even implicitly encouraged, by a government becoming increasingly comfortable with their entitlements.

In the real world, where people are struggling to put food on the table, pay a mortgage, put their kids through school, rules abused the way that Sarah Kramer and Alan Hudson have willingly abused them—it's grounds for termination; no ifs, ands or buts.

Why won't you do that on behalf of Ontarians? Send the right message at the end of this session. Tell Ontarians that it's not okay to manipulate rules in order to fill the bank accounts of your friends and keep them protected. Why won't you do that?

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Hon. Dalton McGuinty: The people of Ontario, the people we are privileged to serve and to represent in this Legislature, have high expectations of all of us, and justifiably so. One of those expectations is that we will, in each and every thing that we do, try to be fair.

The opposition has raised some real concerns; I acknowledge those. I think the fair thing to do is to allow our Provincial Auditor to look into this matter, to inquire as thoroughly as he generally does, to come back with some substantive recommendations, for us to carefully consider those recommendations and then to act on those recommendations. I think that speaks to our highest obligation to be fair to Ontarians and to all individuals involved in this matter.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. I want to start by sharing a quote with the House: "This government is trying to spin them with their own money, trying to convince people that they're doing a good job. It seems to me that good policy speaks for itself. You don't need to spin people and tell them you're doing good work for them. Let the policy speak for itself." That was Dalton McGuinty, October 25, 2001, in this Legislature.

My question is this: Has the Premier changed his mind about spinning Ontarians with their own money?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I assume that what my honourable colleague is getting at is whether or not we ought to take measures to inform Ontarians about our recent budget, and I believe we should. I think at the beginning of the 21st century, Ontarians lead hectic, just-in-time lives and I think we have a responsibility to convey to them what we're doing on their behalf.

I think that overwhelmingly, Ontarians don't know that 93% of them will enjoy a permanent income tax cut; they're not aware of that. They're not aware of how we intend to move ahead with a single sales tax and why that's so important to all of us and our economy for jobs today and jobs tomorrow. Just as we have found ways to communicate with Ontarians in other areas on the matters of health care or education or social policy, we think it's also important to talk to them when it comes to financial policy or budgetary policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath Well, apparently for the Premier, policy doesn't need to speak for itself when he's in government. That's cynical politics at its worst.

Here are some more enlightening comments from the Premier: "Partisan government advertising is a disease, and I have the cure." His cure was to introduce legislation to prevent advertising whose primary objective was to foster a positive impression of the governing party.

Dr. McGuinty, why won't you heal thyself? Why won't the Premier halt his shameless attempt at breaking his own law with a multi-million-dollar HST ad campaign, whose only goal is Liberal Party damage control?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My only affliction is the constant attacks of the opposition parties.

I think we owe it to Ontarians to tell them a little bit more about what we're doing in government to help them better understand. As I do this, I'm proud of the fact that we have put in place the kind of legislation that details what kind of advertising is appropriate and what kind is inappropriate. We put the rules in place and adopted those rules, which were not accepted by my colleagues when they were in government.

So we've made a big step forward. There are rules in place; we will respect those rules. We'll also respect our responsibility to Ontarians to ensure that they are well informed about what it is that we plan to do.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Instead of investing scarce public money on child care spaces, on hospitals and seniors in long-term care, the McGuinty Liberals are spending millions of dollars on a partisan advertising blitz. They're choosing partisan put-downs and publicly funded propaganda over straight talk. Why won't the Premier put the brakes on his mass-marketing campaign and pull the plug on the 8% unfair tax grab?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Just to be clear, we have not run any ads. I've seen a number of ads run by the federal government with respect to their budgetary initiatives. There are ads in other provinces with respect to their budgetary initiatives. We haven't run a single ad yet. But we do think that we are going to have to find some opportunities to better communicate with Ontarians about the specifics to be found within our budget. We think that's important. Ontarians lead busy lives. We have a responsibility to find a way to reach out to them, but to do that in a way that is respectful of the new rules and new laws that we ourselves have put in place.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I look forward to the airwaves over the summer, is all I have to say to that.

Again to the Premier: We are learning each day about the outrageous spending at eHealth Ontario. This agency has burned through millions and millions of dollars on high-paid, high-flying consultants who see nothing wrong with emptying the public purse. We see million-dollar contracts handed to friends of eHealth executives, contracts tendered without a due process, and billing for unconscionable expenditures.

Today I would like to give the Premier one last chance to answer this very basic question: Does he condone this flagrant disregard for taxpayers' dollars?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the opportunity to say what I've said a number of times already. Some things have taken place there which we simply cannot condone. We're going to have to find ways to ensure that those kinds of things don't happen again.

I think the best thing we can do in the circumstances is to allow the Provincial Auditor to do his work, to conduct his investigation, to speak to the appropriate parties, make the appropriate inquiries, come back to us, lay out the facts clearly and provide us with some specific recommendations so that together we might act on those recommendations. I think that's what fairness demands in the circumstances.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: You would think, with this government allowing emergency room closures in places like Fort Erie, with shortages of nurses, doctors and personal support workers across this province, growing crises in our long-term care and home care systems, that the McGuinty government would be looking to save all the health care dollars it can and invest properly in our health care system. Instead, this government has stood by and watched millions and millions of dollars go down the drain through mismanagement at eHealth Ontario. When will this Premier finally take some ownership, step in and clean up this mess?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, I think the fair thing to do in the circumstances is to allow the auditor to do his work, and I think Ontarians are with us there. They are objective, interested, and they want to allow the auditor to complete his work.

But I think, in fairness, we should acknowledge that while we have been working with eHealth to move forward and make progress in that area of establishing an electronic health record system in Ontario, we've also been building new hospitals, hiring more nurses and putting in place family health teams. We've been funding new procedures and we've been improving the rate of getting access to procedures through our wait time progress. So it's not as if we've been focused exclusively on the eHealth challenges; we've also, at the same time, been breathing new life and new strength into the broader health care system for all our families.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Ontarians have a good reason to be fed up with what appears to be the government's lackadaisical attitude towards health care. Our health care system is clearly in crisis. With cutbacks and increased privatization, communities are being forced to do with less while dollars are flowing in the wrong direction. This government's health minister clearly is not up to the job of managing his ministry. It is up to the Premier to step in, put his foot down and fire the minister and the top officials at eHealth Ontario. Why is he refusing to do that?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I think I've indicated clearly now on a number of occasions that some things have taken place over at eHealth which none of us are comfortable with, and there are certain things there which none of us could possibly condone. We need to get to the bottom of it, and I think we need to do that in an objective and dispassionate way.

Fortunately, we have an officer of the Legislature who is perfect for these kinds of things. It's the Provincial Auditor. We've asked him to go in there. The Minister of Health has sent him a letter putting in a specific request, asking him if at all possible to accelerate his report, to make that available both in hard copy and online so the public has access to it, so that we can, working together, act on those recommendations at the soonest possible opportunity.

I want to do that in a way, obviously, that doesn't interfere with the progress that we need to make when it comes to putting in place an electronic health record system for Ontarians. We need to find those efficiencies and continue to improve the quality of our care for all our families.

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ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is for the Minister of Health. I thought, when we heard about the eHealth consultant billing taxpayers $300 an hour for reading the newspaper, watching TV and riding the subway, that we'd heard it all. Unfortunately for taxpayers, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Miyo Yamashita, the sole-sourced contractor who billed hundreds for talking to her husband, also had one of her employees bill the taxpayer for editing the bio of Allaudin Merali, the guy making $60,000 a month and billing taxpayers for a nightly cocktail. He's the same guy who left Alberta after a scathing report from that province's Auditor General.

Minister, can you tell us just what Ms. Yamashita edited out of Mr. Merali's bio?

Hon. David Caplan: Of course, the member raises concerns, and both the Premier and I have said we neither condone nor defend the actions, which is why we moved quite swiftly to bring in and to order a third party review, under the auspices of an internal government auditor, in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers, to be able to conduct that investigation. I think that that is important for taxpayers to be able to get to the bottom of it, to make recommendations and to have those recommendations implemented as quickly as possible.

As the Premier has indicated, I have in addition written to Mr. McCarter, the independent Auditor General, officer of this Legislature, under section 17 of the act to ask him, as soon as his report is ready, to please table it with the Legislature and to give me a copy of it, so that we can ensure that his recommendations are implemented as quickly as—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: By not taking action, the minister is defending these offensive expenditures. The example I just gave is ridiculous, but it gets worse. Ms. Yamashita submitted a time sheet to the taxpayers of Ontario for sending herself e-mails and talking to herself on the phone. I know this is too bizarre to believe, but it's true, and it would be funny if it wasn't so outrageous.

The minister continues, day after day, to stand in his place—and he says he's not defending them, but that's what he's doing, and the Premier as well, suggesting there's no justification for dismissals now. Clearly heads need to role. Kramer needs to be fired, Hudson needs to be fired and this minister, if he doesn't quit, needs to be fired. Will the minister do the right thing, step aside and let someone else clean up your mess?

Interjections.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Nobody fired Tom Long.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Minister of Transportation is not helping the situation.

Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: I think Ontarians understand the partisan nature of this place, that members on the opposite side will have certain views and certain partisan rhetoric. Of course we'll get into the conversation here in question period.

I also know that Ontarians are fair-minded people, that they will want independent officers of this Legislature to get to the bottom of these matters. The Auditor General has long been looking into the Smart Systems for Health Agency, the transition to eHealth Ontario and the subsequent work they have done. In addition to that, we have one of Canada's, indeed the world's, foremost auditing management firms looking at the management practices and financial controls under the auspices of an internal government auditor.

I know that Ontarians are fair-minded. I know that my friend opposite as well, regardless of the rhetoric that he uses, would want to get to the bottom of this. I know that he too would want to see—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

M^me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le ministre de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée. This minister's actions are alarming. He is presiding over an agency that has mismanaged millions of precious health care dollars, and every day, it just keeps getting worse. As this minister tries to shield himself and his friends at eHealth, Ontarians are wondering, who's protecting us? Who's protecting our interests?

Why won't the minister take my advice? Take a deep breath that goes in through the nose and out through the mouth, and then admit to Ontarians that there is a disaster at eHealth and that he will take the immediate, necessary, decisive steps to make it right?

Hon. David Caplan: In fact, that's exactly what I have done. I do acknowledge that the investments in eHealth are significant but ultimately will result in better patient care. One day we have the leader of your party saying we should pull the plug—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: You know, we do have on one day the leader of the third party saying we should pull the plug, that we should not investing in the eHealth infrastructure of this province. On another day we have the critic for the third party saying that these are critical investments and that we should be moving forward as quickly as possible.

Frankly, I do agree that it is long overdue and it is work that should have taken place quite some time ago. Regrettably, the previous government in 2002 set up the Smart Systems for Health Agency with the incorrect mandate and with improper leadership. It took my colleague, my predecessor, Minister Smitherman, to order an operational review of Smart Systems in order to point us in the right direction and get this back on track.

I can tell the member opposite that the current leadership is yielding good results, where we have a pilot project on ePrescribing, linking up pharmacists with primary care physicians, so far in two communities: in Collingwood and in Sault Ste. Marie. We have already begun—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

M^me France Gélinas: I tried to offer this minister a lifeline, an honest way out of this mess, but he needs to denounce the culture of entitlement, the waste and the corrupt business deals that are going on at eHealth. The minister needs to do this but he keeps refusing. Sarah Kramer is still the CEO and president of eHealth, and the minister is just fine with that. He isn't prepared to do the right thing: to send a clear message that this kind of culture is not tolerated and that heads need to roll. He needs to step aside and allow someone who is capable of taking over. Will he finally do that?

Hon. David Caplan: The right thing to do is to be fair in these circumstances: to have an independent officer of this Legislature, Mr. McCarter, the Auditor General, be able to do his investigation and give us his recommendations, and to see those recommendations implemented to the benefit of not only Ontario taxpayers, but Ontario patients who will rely on the eHealth infrastructure once it is in place.

In addition to that, because I know that Ontarians are fair-minded people and because I know they want to understand what has happened and ways that we can strengthen things, I know that they would support having, under the auspices of an internal government auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers come in to provide that external third party view of what has taken place; to have a look at the management functions, look at financial controls—again, provide us with the proper advice, guidance and recommendations that can be implemented to protect—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Mr. Khalil Ramal: My question is for the Minister of Education. Minister, yesterday the Education Quality and Accountability Office released the results of the 2008-09 secondary schools' literacy tests, the tests administered to more than 140,000 grade 10 students this past March. It measures whether students are meeting the minimum standards for literacy across the curriculum. I am aware that our government has focused on helping all students improve their literacy skills. We created a literacy and numeracy secretariat to support student achievement in schools across the province, provided funding for 10,500 teachers in our schools, and have invested more than $5 billion in the education system, despite 106,000 fewer students since 2003. I know that this year's results have only improved by 1% over last year. Is the minister satisfied with these results?

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Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I thank the member for the question. I am indeed satisfied with the results, and the reason is that we were already at a very high level, and so the improvement over last year—we've gone from 84% to 85% of students in grade 10 passing that literacy test. That is a 13% increase over when we came into office in 2003.

Our teachers in our schools are working hard throughout the elementary and secondary panels to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of all of our students. Those efforts are paying off: 85% of English language students passed, up from 72% in 2003; and 84% of French language students. Significantly, students with special needs and English and French language learners are improving, so that 66% of English language learners passed this year compared to 59% last year. We've got more to do there, but we're moving in the right direction and more of those kids are—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Khalil Ramal: It's remarkable how much these scores have improved since the McGuinty government took office in 2003. Our government wants to see a good outcome for every student. I have seen the evidence in my riding of London—Fanshawe.

For instance, in the Thames Valley District School Board, we have increased funding by $130 million despite almost 9,000 fewer students. That has formed a 40% increase per pupil since 2003. This increased support includes funding for 396 new teaching positions, including 70 secondary student success teachers and 761 EAs. But while these test results are coming out, we still have a third of our student population not graduating. Can you tell us what you are doing—despite all this investment—to increase that population?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: It's a very good question, because there are still students who are not achieving, and in education in Ontario, we are involved in a cultural shift. It used to be that schools were sorting mechanisms—particularly secondary schools—where there were certain students who were going to achieve and others were not going to, and those kids were written off. We have put a student success teacher in every secondary school in this province and a student success leader in every board. We've placed grade 8 and 9 transition teams in order to help kids make that transition from elementary school to secondary school. We are focused on making sure that every student has the supports that he or she needs in order to succeed.

That means that those students may go on—will go on—to graduate from high school and have more opportunities in their lives after school. That's what we're doing in our schools. We've got 13,500 more kids graduating every year. It's a huge success story, and we will continue to support those kids as they go on in their lives.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: My question is to the Minister of Health. Sarah Kramer signed off on many untendered contracts, totalling over $3.3 million, to Accenture and Courtyard. Let's connect the dots one more time. William Falk, a partner at Accenture, gave a reference for Sarah Kramer's application to eHealth. He is also a former Liberal minister's political staffer.

Then we have Courtyard. One of their key staff members is John Ronson, a former political staffer, along with Karli Farrow, who worked in both George Smitherman's and Dalton McGuinty's offices.

Minister, you have allowed this culture of entitlement, this mismanagement and abuse of taxpayer money. Ontarians don't need a third party review again. The facts are on the table. Will you resign and give the job to somebody else who can clean up the mess?

Hon. David Caplan: In fact, my predecessor ordered an operational review into Smart Systems for Health, set up by the member—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: My predecessor ordered an operational review into the eHealth agency set up by my friend and her colleagues opposite, which was in quite a mess. We have cleaned that up, the legacy which my friend opposite has left. In fact, we are seeing good results already in the few short months that they have been operational.

The member says that a third party review is not required. I understand that was standard operating procedure when the member opposite was on this side of the House. But I want the member to know that I have trust and confidence in Mr. McCarter, an independent officer of this Legislature, who over the years has done outstanding work on behalf of not only this Assembly but Ontarians and Ontario taxpayers. I believe that the Auditor General will provide us with outstanding insight not only into Smart Systems for Health, into the transition and the actions taken, but give us good advice and guidance on a way forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: Again to the Minister of Health: Every word that you say brings you deeper and deeper into the scandal that is swirling all around you.

Here's another connection: Sarah Kramer, Will Falk of Accenture and Joanne Walker of the Courtyard Group together penned an article recently bragging about their success. I wonder how much money this cost the taxpayers of Ontario.

Minister, you have allowed this culture of entitlement to continue. You have continued to reward Liberal friends and former staffers. This flies in the face of everything that your Premier has pretended to oppose in the past. Will you finally today recognize that you're in over your head, that you can't clean up the mess, and resign?

Hon. David Caplan: I would quote for the member Bob Bell, president and CEO of the University Health Network, who said, "It's unfortunate the work Kramer and Hudson have done"—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. David Caplan: I say to the member opposite that Bob Bell, president and CEO of the University Health Network, disagrees with the member opposite. This is a respected leader in the health care system, who says that the work of eHealth has been impressive, that they have in fact delivered, and out of the ashes of the former Smart Systems for Health Agency.

I'd like to list for the member some of the accomplishments in a few short months. I've mentioned the ePrescribing system that is in place. We are seeing the rollout of electronic medical records in primary care, in conjunction and in partnership with OntarioMD, our partners at the Ontario Medical Association. We've launched the baseline diabetes data initiative to measure the current state of diabetes care in Ontario, providing physicians with information needed to improve patient care. We've established the diagnostic imaging network, we've developed an electronic system to store images, and we're going filmless right across—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

Mr. Michael Prue: My question is to the Minister of Finance. A recommendation contained in the Financial Services Commission of Ontario's five-year auto insurance review would slash insurance payouts for serious car crash injuries by 75%. The cap on medical and rehabilitation costs for non-catastrophic injuries would be lowered from $100,000 to $25,000. This recommendation would impoverish accident victims, leave taxpayers on the hook for health care costs and further enrich the insurance companies.

I asked a similar question two weeks ago; you've had time to ruminate. Will the Minister of Finance today make it clear that he will reject this recommendation?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: We just wrapped up a second round of public consultations with respect to the auto insurance reforms as part of a five-year review that our government put in place when we made initial changes to insurance legislation back at the beginning of the last term. We are assessing the responses we've had from the public on a range of issues, and as I indicated to the member here in the House last week, I anticipate responding likely in the next two to three weeks.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Prue: In two to three weeks, of course, we will not be sitting here.

The recommendation would seriously damage the quality of rehabilitation services that accident victims receive today. Dr. Peter Rumney of Bloorview Kids Rehab says the following: "It's a huge step backwards.... The proposed $25,000 cap for rehab services for 'non-catastrophic' claims would, in most cases, be exhausted in three months. It might cover a wheelchair, a couple of modifications to a house and a month of nursing care."

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Just yesterday, I met with the Association of Independent Assessment Centres, and they are echoing the same fears as the many health professionals who have contacted me, and I'm sure you, over the last two months.

When will this minister do the right thing, listen to the experts and say no to FSCO's wrong-headed recommendation?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I will respond, as I indicated, likely in the next two to three weeks, with respect to the recommendations. And the member's right: We've done extensive consultations.

What I will remind the member is that Ontarians have benefited from a 13% decrease in auto insurance premiums under this government's watch and, if I might add, $7 billion of auto insurance premiums savings since the reforms we brought forward, implemented in 2003-04 here in Ontario, and reforms, I might add, that were followed in other provinces.

We want to get this right. We've taken a good deal of time to consult. We are completing the five-year review. We will have a response likely in the next two to three weeks. What I can tell you is that this party, this government, the McGuinty government, is looking out for the interests of auto insurance consumers and those who have to access benefits in the unfortunate circumstances they find themselves.

ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: My question is to the Minister of Research and Innovation. The world is changing. People are looking for cleaner ways to generate power and for new ways to live and do business more sustainably. Environmental technologies represent a multi-billion-dollar global market. They also mean cleaner air, solutions to climate change and a more sustainable and liveable planet for our children. I know that, through the Green Energy Act, our government plans to be at the forefront of this new green economy.

I want to tell Ontarians about a proud example of the cutting edge of this new economy that is located in my community of Ottawa. EcoVu, based in Kanata, has a remarkable technology that identifies and removes contaminants in water by way of a unique single-step process. EcoVu holds five patents for its processes, the result of more than 20 years of research, dedication and hard work. Sir, tell us what the Ministry of Research and Innovation is doing to help bring technologies like this to the global market.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I want to thank my friend for the question. Global opinion leaders predict that by the middle of this century, some one half of humanity will not have access to clean drinking water. That is a global challenge, and our government is convinced that what we need to do is seize global opportunities. In Ottawa, in Kanata, there is a company called EcoVu that has come up with a wonderful, innovative solution to increase the ability of humanity to have clean, safe drinking water.

Through our innovation demonstration fund, we've made an investment of some $4 million into this company as they scale up their processes to meet this growing demand. It's exactly the type of job that we need to create in the province of Ontario to serve a global market.

I'm particularly proud that the innovation demonstration fund, initially allocated with $30 million, was recently re-endowed with some $50 million more, bringing our commitment to—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: EcoVu's technology both detects contaminants and purifies water in a single step. I've seen this technology with my own eyes, and it's incredible the way it works. This two-in-one approach is faster, achieves higher levels of purity and can yield cost savings by eliminating steps in the purification process. EcoVu's technology can be used for purification and analysis by both industrial users and municipal water departments to increase the sustainable and efficient use of fresh water in the industrialized world.

But also, we know that water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity. This is a dangerous and troubling reality for much of humanity.

Will the minister outline what the people of Ontario, Canada and the world can expect in economic ramifications of an investment—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I know the member has seen this technology with his own eyes; so have I. I recommend that people go to the website for the Ministry of Research and Innovation, and you will see there a video about this groundbreaking technology, because that video speaks volumes about the tremendous breakthrough that has been made by EcoVu. Right now, that company employs 12 individuals, but they believe that they'll have up to 30 individuals in the next few years.

I want to praise Algonquin College. Algonquin College in Ottawa has been part of the success story of EcoVu. I remember actually making an announcement in regard to EcoVu at Algonquin, and we want to thank them.

Clean technologies represent an amazing economic opportunity for Ontario in what is projected to be a $125-billion global market by 2010, within the next two years. I don't know about you, but I believe that Ontario needs to get its fair share of $125 billion—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Back to the Minister of Health: Minister, will you confirm whether or not you've received or did receive any correspondence advising you not to involve either Alan Hudson, Sarah Kramer, or both, in the eHealth agency?

Hon. David Caplan: I'm not sure what the member is referring to. However, I can tell you that I have treated concerns that have been brought here to this Legislature in a manner most serious. I've expressed my concern—I neither condone nor defend them—as has the Premier. I think that's why we took the prudent step that Ontarians would expect that we would take, which is to instruct the board, under the auspices of an internal government auditor, to take on a third party review through the external audit process of PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

In addition to that, I have, on occasion, been able to share with the member that I have been in conversation with Mr. McCarter, the Auditor General of the province of Ontario. Under section 17 of the Audit Act, I have written to Mr. McCarter requesting that he table his report with—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I'll say it once again: By not taking action, the minister has condoned this offensive abuse of tax dollars.

As you noted, Speaker, he didn't answer my question. It's a simple question, and I think it's a very important question, because if he did have these facts before him before these appointments occurred, I think his complicity in this scandal is even greater.

If he won't deny, then I ask him if he will search his files, make this letter public and save people the time, save the public the time and expense of obtaining a copy through the FOI process. Will you do that?

Hon. David Caplan: I have said to the member opposite, I want to caution him in some of the accusations he makes. I would note that Dr. Hudson is a very well-respected member of the medical community; in fact, so much so that members opposite appointed him as head of Cancer Care Ontario in 2001. He has done tremendous service to this province, as Bob Bell has noted—as I have read that quote earlier.

Perhaps I did go a little bit far in my earlier comments regarding Smart Systems for Health, because they did accomplish some important objectives for this province, and I do wish to acknowledge that, in contrast to my earlier remarks. For example, they helped to build and connect approximately 7,000 secure network sites in the province. In fact, we are now connected—every surgeon's office in the province. No other province in Canada has this type of system in place—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

LABOUR MOBILITY

Mr. Paul Miller: My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. As you know, other jurisdictions in Canada have a far less restrictive regime than Ontario when it comes to allowing accounting professionals to practise in the area of public accounting. As labour mobility is founded on the acceptance of professional qualifications from other jurisdictions, when will this government support the removal of all barriers blocking accounting professionals who can practise public accounting in their home province from practising public accounting in Ontario?

Hon. John Milloy: I may refer the supplementary to the Attorney General, but I'd like to point out to the member that Ontario is a signator to the Ontario Labour Mobility Act. We brought forward legislation in this House which will remove barriers for individuals to practise across the province. At the same time, the province of Ontario, as well as other provinces, has the right to put forward exceptions or instances where we believe there are differences between the professions, and for a variety of reasons, such as health and safety, that we feel that an individual who comes to this province in this profession needs to upgrade their skills or seek other training. We're in the process of developing that list of exceptions and working with other provinces to keep them to a minimum, but at the core, we want to see the borders open throughout Canada.

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The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Paul Miller: I guess they've got to watch those paper cuts.

What evidence does this government have to support the claim that Ontario consumers would be at risk if a licensed public accountant, other than a chartered accountant, were to practise public accounting in Ontario? This government's position is particularly bewildering, given that an independent trade panel has already ruled that the Ontario government's barrier to labour mobility—which he says it isn't; it is—for public accounting is inconsistent with the interprovincial Agreement on Internal Trade. It is more bewildering, given that the continuation of this barrier will cost Ontario taxpayers up to $5 million under the terms of AIT's new dispute resolution mechanism.

I repeat: Without any evidence that consumers will benefit, why is this government pursuing this unfounded barrier to labour mobility for public accounting?

Hon. John Milloy: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: The maintenance of accounting standards is important for all of us, whether in a business or individually. That's why, after 40 years of discussion, this Legislature came together and agreed on the process we now have in the province of Ontario, a process which provides the determination of these standards, and who qualifies, to an independent body, the Public Accountants Council, that makes the determination of the standards to protect us all.

We all came together—all branches of the profession within the province came together. These very important issues for the people of Ontario are determined independently, according to the principles that apply to accountancy. They are not a political issue for us.

SPORTS AND RECREATION FUNDING

Mr. Dave Levac: My question is for the Minister of Health Promotion. As all of us know, amateur sport plays a significant role in communities across the province. It contributes to Ontarians' physical and emotional well-being, among other benefits. Considering the health benefits, there is certainly a need for Ontarians' sport and physical activity participation levels to increase.

Promotion of physical activities focuses on active living and encourages Ontarians to look for enjoyable ways to make physical activity a regular part of their daily life. Amateur sport provides Ontarians of all ages with opportunities to participate in sports activities to suit their aspirations and abilities.

Whether it be children and youth, seniors, women, aboriginals or individuals with disabilities, all Ontarians should have access to greater opportunities to stay active.

Can the minister share with us the plans that are in place to ensure that we're providing Ontarians with appropriate support, and specifically, how those who most need it are getting it?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: I want to thank the member from Brant for that question. He's certainly a great advocate for his community.

Interjection: Hear, hear.

Hon. Margarett R. Best: Hear, hear.

The McGuinty government continues to work to increase opportunities for participation in sport among our most under-represented groups. I had the privilege of announcing on Monday, along with the federal Minister of State for sports, an investment of $5.3 million to assist disadvantaged and vulnerable Ontarians to gain access to physical activity and sports. Under the Sport for More bilateral agreement, the McGuinty government and the federal government collaborated in investing $2.65 million each. This is a total investment of $5.3 million.

This is another example of our government's commitment to Ontario's children and youth, Ontario's aboriginal communities, Ontario's ethnic minorities, Ontario's—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Dave Levac: Improving the health and quality of life of Ontarians through sport and physical activity is indeed vital and also proven by research. I'm pleased to hear that the funding will focus attention where the greatest needs exist.

This type of support will also work towards the goals of Canada's first-ever national physical activity targets for children and youth aged 5 to 19, set at the federal-provincial-territorial conference on sport in Victoria on May 21 and 22, 2008.

Ontario's aboriginal community has a great history, heritage and traditions that enrich our province. It's important that members of the aboriginal community receive sufficient opportunities through this bilateral agreement. It's important to my riding of Brant, and indeed to those who are living inside the entire province of Ontario, especially those with disabilities. There is a great interest, in the residents of my community and the rest of the province, for the McGuinty government to provide for First Nations communities and Ontarians with disabilities. Could you elaborate on the level of—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: Our government, the McGuinty government, is committed to engaging all Ontarians in active, healthy lifestyles. That is why we are investing over $1 million in our aboriginal communities; that is why we're investing over $400,000 in support of organizations such are ParaSport Ontario, the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association and the Ontario Deaf Sports Association. As a result of this investment, over 10,000 children will have access to organized activity sessions from 60 First Nations communities across Ontario.

In addition, six new aboriginal community activators have been hired in First Nations reserves, bringing this to a total of 15. Over 5,000 vulnerable children and youth across Ontario will receive customized sports camps through the—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

TENANT PROTECTION

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Housing. With little notice and no consultation, the Landlord and Tenant Board has recently changed all in-person hearings to telephone hearings in southwestern Ontario. This has resulted in tenants losing their homes, sometimes in a matter of seconds, by telephone. Under this new process there is little or no access to mediation services, and it is very difficult to provide free tenant duty counsel services to low-income tenants. Some tenants are on cellphones, paying for their own eviction. Some have no access to a phone at all. Why is this minister allowing such gross violations of due process at the Landlord and Tenant Board?

Hon. Jim Watson: I hate to correct the member on the very last day, but in fact not all hearings are being held via teleconference. That is an option for those individuals in more remote areas. In fact, we have a number of very highly qualified adjudicators who are responsible for having in-person hearings. The work that this government has done—and my predecessor, Minister Gerretsen—to reform the Landlord and Tenant Board and to make it more user-friendly for tenants has gone over very well. We're very proud of those reforms. They're very progressive.

I again remind the member that we do have adjudicators. They have in-person hearings, and we're proud of the work we've done. We have allowed some hearings to be heard by teleconference as a cost-saving measure, but individuals do have the right to have an in-person hearing.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: It's a cost-saving measure for landlords but certainly not for tenants. Perhaps this minister is unaware of how grossly unfair telephone eviction really is. In a recent hearing in Stratford, a social housing landlord told the Landlord and Tenant Board that a tenant, who was a subject of the eviction application, did not have a telephone. The landlord requested that the hearing be held in person. The request was refused.

Under the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the tribunal has an absolute responsibility to avoid electronic hearings if it is "likely to cause the party significant prejudice." Why won't the minister end this absolutely shameful practice?

Hon. Jim Watson: Again I'd remind the honourable member that individuals do in fact have the right to have an in-person hearing. If the honourable member would like to provide me with the specific issue and the individual's name, I'd certainly go forward to Dr. Ma, who is the chair of the Landlord and Tenant Board, doing an excellent job on behalf of tenants and landlords in the province of Ontario. I'd be very happy to examine that particular case and see why that ruling was given, because we want to make sure that every tenant who appears has unfettered access to the Landlord and Tenant Board. We're happy to look into any specific issue that the honourable member would like to forward to me.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. I'd just like to remind the honourable members of the Cattlemen's barbecue on the front lawn today. Also, happy birthday, the 29th, to the member from Burlington. "Happy birthday to you."

This being the last question period, I wish all members and all staff in the Legislature a safe summer and look forward to seeing you all in the fall. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1150 to 1300.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome two guests to the Legislature today, sitting in the east members' gallery: Mr. Fred Opolot from the Office of the President of Uganda; and Gilbert Kadilo, director of communications from Makerere University in Uganda. Welcome, gentlemen, to Queen's Park.

I'd also like to welcome, on behalf of the member from York West and page Alexander Singh, his mother, Shirley, his father, Buddy, and his sisters, Natalie and Sharon Singh, in the east members' gallery this afternoon. Welcome to Queen's Park.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HOLLAND MARSH

Mrs. Julia Munro: Many of my constituents have been writing, phoning and e-mailing me with their concerns about the peaker plant that the government wants to build in King township in my riding. They are concerned that this plant will be built in the greenbelt right next to the Holland Marsh.

Let me remind this House of the importance of the Holland Marsh: 7,000 acres of low-lying land containing some of the richest farmland in Ontario. The annual value of the carrots grown in the Holland Marsh today is estimated at $130 million, with onions at $160 million. Greens, such as celery and lettuce, make an estimated provincial impact of $160 million. About 90% of all vegetables consumed in Ontario are grown there. Tomatoes and ornamental flowers are also grown inside 18 acres of year-round greenhouses. Growers estimate the marsh has a total economic impact of over $1 billion annually.

In the process of approval for locating a peaker plant, how important is our food supply to this government? Community residents are naturally concerned and believe that only a full environmental assessment can protect the unique features of the Holland Marsh.

WAJIH HAMKA

Mr. Khalil Ramal: I rise in the House today to recognize Dr. Wajih Hamka, a very generous dentist and businessman from Ottawa. His continued support to numerous organizations, hospitals and charities reaches well beyond not only his community, but also our country and the world.

Dr. Hamka has proven time and time again to be an exemplary citizen and role model to all. Apart from the numerous humanitarian deeds he has completed thus far, Dr. Hamka is the recipient of several awards, certificates of merit, as well as congratulatory praise from community and organizational leaders. His philosophy on charities goes beyond making financial donations: He is committed to being involved, regardless of the challenge.

Although he travelled and lived in many countries before settling in Canada, Dr. Hamka never ceased to help those around him. Due to his kind nature, he founded the Hamka Charity Foundation in 1990. He lives to serve our province and our country.

I wish him all the luck and success for his undying generosity, as he's always able and willing to give to others.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to make the statement. I wish Dr. Hamka all the success, and to continue to give to our province and our country, and to help others, without any conditions.

CATTLE FARMERS

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Today, members and staff of this Legislature have been treated to a great lunch of high-quality Ontario corn-fed beef. I want to thank the Ontario Cattlemen's Association for providing lunch and doing a great job of letting us know the challenges that our farmers are facing.

However, I'm disappointed that the items they are asking for today are similar to the ones they needed last year. It seems a sad statement on the responsiveness of this government and the Minister of Agriculture that in that time no progress seems to have been made.

The Ontario cattlemen are still asking for a $20-million corn-fed beef ledger account to provide stability to our cattle farmers. As the minister drags her feet, statistics are showing that there are fewer and fewer cattle being raised in Ontario.

They are still asking this minister to admit that the AgriStability program—that she signed on to—isn't working; since, the minister hasn't been addressing the problem of helping young farmers.

The Ontario Cattlemen held round tables to talk about the challenges beginning farmers are facing and what solutions are needed. They have heard from young farmers that we need to look at interest-free start-up loans. While we wait for a response from the minister, our farmers continue to get older.

Since the government has created this long summer break, I hope the Minister of Agriculture will use it to get out to the farms, talk to our farmers and take real action to help our farmers succeed.

Thank you to the cattlemen of Ontario for being here to provide us with that great barbecue on the front lawn of the Legislature.

AIR QUALITY

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I'm rising in the House today to speak about a phenomenal coalition called the Clean Train Coalition.

Many may not know this, but Metrolinx is planning on sending diesel trains through our communities at the rate of up to 400 diesel trains a day from the current traffic of about 40. What they're going to be spewing into the air is incredible—hundreds of toxic air contaminants, including arsenic, benzene, cadmium, dioxins, lead and mercury. This is within 30 metres, or less in some instances, of 200 schools—30,000 little children whose lungs are just developing. In fact, this is more polluting than if people just took their cars to work downtown, which is some misinformation that Metrolinx is putting out.

What the Clean Train Coalition is asking for, and what we're asking for, all along the train corridor is real consultation with our community. We're also asking for electric, now. It's way cheaper to put electric trains on those rails right now than it is to pay the health costs for our children and our grandchildren and their grandchildren. That's what we're asking for.

We're not hearing back from Metrolinx, but certainly the challenge is there—and to Minister Bradley, whom the Clean Train Coalition is asking all their members to e-mail.

Go to cleantrain.ca and please e-mail Jim Bradley and tell him you will not take it; you want electric trains and you want them now.

EVENTS IN YORK CENTRE

Mr. Monte Kwinter: In the spirit of National Tourism Week, I'm pleased to tell this House that the riding of York Centre recently received funding of almost $38,000 through our government's Celebrate Ontario program.

This program, initiated by the McGuinty government, is supporting the growth of the fourth annual Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival, which occurred in my riding at Downsview Park recently. The festival, which took place May 22 to 24, 2009, was held in the original de Havilland Aircraft of Canada factory as well as outdoors. This historical backdrop offered visitors a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with vintage and modern aircraft, classic cars and much more.

The support from our government helped to boost the local economy in York Centre by attracting new audiences and generating more economic activity in my riding.

Just this year, the Celebrate Ontario program provided $11 million to 224 festivals and events, an increase of 150% over last year. To date, the program has invested a total of $25 million for festival events throughout the province.

PENSION PLANS

Mr. Norman W. Sterling: Our society is built on the belief in fairness. People believe that their governments will treat all people in an even-handed manner.

This week, the Ontario government, the McGuinty government, gave General Motors $3.5 billion. That's $307 dollars for every man, woman and child in Ontario. The money will flow through GM to its pension plan. The 67% of Ontarians who don't have a pension plan will be bailing out the GM pension fund.

One e-mail I received sums it up: "I don't have a company pension so I have to fund my own. It seems insane to think I am funding someone else's."

What about Nortel pensioners? Their plan is also underfunded, so many of them will see their pensions cut by 25% to 75% when this historic company winds down. Is it fair to ask them to pay $307 each so that GM retirees will get 100% of their pensions?

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The Premier is creating two classes of pensioners and people: those at GM who receive $3.5 billion in tax dollars, and the rest who have no protection for their pension, or no pension at all, but are still expected to pay the bill for the GM bailout. When we ask what he will do for Ontarians, our Premier tries to shift the blame to the federal government. The Premier caused this inequity and should face up to his responsibility and come forward with a plan that is fair for all Ontarians.

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

Mr. Dave Levac: As we wind down this interesting sitting of the Legislature, it's a great pleasure to be able to stand here today to recognize all of the great and wonderful men and women who make the lives of all members in this House easier and complete during these long days of work here at Queen's Park.

From the Clerk and her staff, to the Sergeant at Arms and his staff, to the legislative security services—especially Harold who takes care of my car in the parking lot—and to you, Speaker, and your staff.

Of course, the most critical individuals who make Ontario's Legislature work are the many young grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario, the legislative pages. Page Matthew Crawford from the great riding of Brant, or the daughter of Dr. Johannna Carlo, the page Samantha Carlo-Beleutz, who resides in the beautiful riding of Beaches—East York of the member across, Mr. Prue—who takes care of my executive assistant Chris Yaccato—for the example that they work incredibly long hours to ensure we're all looked after.

We discussed today that the pages are enjoying themselves so much they don't want to leave. I did a little searching and found out. I heard through the grapevine that the reason they don't want to leave is because they haven't been able to locate the ghosts that reside here at Queen's Park yet and they want to catch a glimpse of a ghost.

Unfortunately, the summer break is here, and I would like to reiterate that the pages are some of the hardest workers in the Legislature, and we want them back at any time. And I know the members will agree with me that when they grow up to be our successful leaders in the communities, one of them might even sit as an MPP. I hope they don't want my seat.

Pages, as you leave the Legislature, know that we appreciate your work, and thank you for the dedication you have for us and your communities and your parents. You've done them all proud. Congratulations.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Ms. Helena Jaczek: I rise today to recognize United Nations World Environment Day, celebrated each year on June 5. The theme for this year's World Environment Day is: Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.

Climate change is our generation's greatest environmental challenge. Our government's ambitious climate change action plan lays out among the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets in North America and a roadmap to achieving those reductions. Our government recognizes that the solutions to the twin challenges of the environment and the economy go hand-in-hand, and this session, our government has taken two more important steps.

The new Green Energy Act will provide the government with the necessary tools to ensure Ontario's place as North America's renewable energy leader and sets Ontario on the path to a 21st-century green economy. Last week, our government introduced legislation that, if passed, would enable the establishment of a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system for Ontario, helping industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stay competitive in the emerging low-carbon economy.

As we recognize World Environment Day, we know that there remains much more work to be done. We will continue to move forward to protect our environment and grow the green economy.

CATTLE FARMERS

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel: I rise today to welcome members of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association who are visiting us here at the Legislature for their annual beef lunch on the front lawn at Queen's Park. I especially want to welcome the OCA president, Gord Hardy, who is a constituent of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex. I had actually hoped that he would be here today, but judging by the lineups that we had outside, I think he's probably still serving beef. I know members and staff will tell you that this is probably the most anticipated lunch of the year here.

This day is very important, as it gives members the opportunity to engage with Ontario's beef producers and also to thank them for providing us with the best and safest product in the world.

Formed in 1963, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association represents 19,000 beef producers throughout the province through 49 county associations. In 2008, the farm gate sales of calves and cattle valued at over $1 billion. We know that this industry is vital to Ontario's economy, employing approximately 30,000 people. Our government continues to work closely with the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, as well as all our partners in agriculture and the agri-food sector. We will continue to make strategic investments in research, innovation, branding and marketing to help Ontario's agri-food industry grow to be a strong, strong participant in our economy.

Again, I hope everyone enjoyed their lunch here today.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PENSION BENEFITS STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2009 /
LOI DE 2009 MODIFIANT DES LOIS
EN CE QUI A TRAIT AUX RÉGIMES
DE RETRAITE

Mr. Wilson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 195, An Act to amend the Pension Benefits Act and other related Acts with respect to the transfer of assets between pension plans / Projet de loi 195, Loi modifiant la Loi sur les régimes de retraite et d'autres lois connexes en ce qui a trait au transfert d'actif entre régimes de retraite.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement?

Mr. Jim Wilson: This bill would amend the Pension Benefits Act to allow for the transfer of pension assets, and require the administrators of pension plans to enter into an asset transfer agreement in respect of employees whose employment has been transferred.

It would specifically deal with an issue that I have been working on regarding the transfer of pension assets for paramedics throughout Ontario, and in Simcoe county in particular. Ontario's paramedics deserve to receive their full pension benefits when they retire, even if they have been transferred between employers throughout their careers.

BARRIE-INNISFIL BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT, 2009 /
LOI DE 2009 SUR LA MODIFICATION
DES LIMITES TERRITORIALES
ENTRE BARRIE ET INNISFIL

Mr. Watson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 196, An Act respecting the adjustment of the boundary between the City of Barrie and the Town of Innisfil / Projet de loi 196, Loi concernant la modification des limites territoriales entre la cité de Barrie et la ville d'Innisfil.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The minister for a short statement?

Hon. Jim Watson: I'll make my statement during minister's statements.

HUMAN RIGHTS CODE AMENDMENT ACT (FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION), 2009 /
LOI DE 2009 MODIFIANT LE CODE
DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE
EN CE QUI CONCERNE
LA LIBERTÉ D'EXPRESSION

Mr. Klees moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 197, An Act to amend the Human Rights Code with respect to freedom of expression / Projet de loi 197, Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne en ce qui concerne la liberté d'expression.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement?

Mr. Frank Klees: This bill, if passed into law, will repeal section 13 of the Ontario human rights act. This is the section that is being used by the commission to justify investigation into the views and opinions of citizens of Ontario. This has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and is contrary to that important value in our democratic society. Freedom of expression is a core value of democracy, from which rights naturally flow and without which our very political system would perish.

There are those who want to abolish the Ontario Human Rights Commission. I strongly disagree with that position. Abolishing the human rights commission and its tribunal is not the answer and would in fact send the wrong message to Ontarians and the international community about the importance we place on human rights in this province. That is why I believe the responsible solution is to reform and refocus the human rights commission, not to abolish it. That is why I'm proposing this legislation, and I'm asking members of this House, from all parties, to support us in quick passage.

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Ms. DiNovo moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 198, An Act to amend the Planning Act with respect to inclusionary housing / Projet de loi 198, Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'aménagement du territoire à l'égard de l'inclusion de logements abordables.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: The Planning Act is amended to include the adequate provision of a full range of housing with this bill, including housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income households, as a matter of provincial interest.

Section 34 of the act is amended to allow the councils of local municipalities to pass zoning bylaws requiring inclusionary housing and regulating the required percentage of affordable housing units in new housing developments in the municipality.

The new section 37.1 of the act allows municipalities to pass bylaws requiring that a specified percentage of housing units in all new housing developments in the municipality be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.

Section 51 of the act is amended to allow the approval authority to impose, as a condition to the approval of a plan of subdivision, a requirement that a specified percentage of housing units in all new housing developments in the subdivision be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

Hon. Brad Duguid: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members' public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Brad Duguid: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(g), the requirement for notice be waived with respect to ballot items 25, 26, and 27.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY
AND RESPONSES

MUNICIPAL PLANNING /
PLANIFICATION MUNICIPALE

Hon. Jim Watson: Today, I'm pleased to introduce the proposed Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009. This is a key part of the Ontario government's support for sustainable and managed growth in the Lake Simcoe area. It's part of our integrated approach to improve the quality of life in Simcoe. Resolving the long-standing Barrie-Innisfil boundary dispute would help us address the growth planning and environmental protection issues in the area.

Ce projet de loi est une pièce maà®tresse du soutien accordé par le gouvernement de l'Ontario à la croissance gérée et durable dans la région du lac Simcoe. Il fait partie de notre approche intégrée d'amélioration de la qualité de vie dans la région de Simcoe. Le règlement du différend de longue date sur les limites territoriales de Barrie et Innisfil nous permettrait de résoudre des questions de planification de la croissance et de protection de l'environnement touchant la région.

The government has tried to encourage and champion a local solution to this issue on several occasions over many, many months. That has always been our preferred, number one option. As such, I have previously met with the mayors of Innisfil and Barrie, as well as the warden of Simcoe county. We sent in a provincial facilitator to help, and while a settlement was proposed for consideration by the municipalities, no agreement was reached. I also helped convene a further meeting of all parties at the AMO conference in Ottawa. Again, this was met with no local resolution. I then met individually with Innisfil, Barrie and Simcoe county representatives, and still no solution could be reached.

All local options have failed, and this government is prepared to act, and to act decisively, because this issue has dragged on for far too long. This solution will greatly improve the long-range planning and management of growth in this important part of the province. A point I wish to emphasize is that under the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe area, the city of Barrie contains the only designated urban growth centre in the Simcoe area. As such, the province is proposing, through this bill, to extend the southern boundary of the city of Barrie. This proposed boundary adjustment is based on Barrie's land needs, the growth plan policy and additional consideration, such as the protection of the Lake Simcoe watershed.

The proposed boundary adjustment would provide the city of Barrie with 2,293 gross hectares of land as of January 1, 2010. This would provide Barrie with enough land to satisfy its land needs until 2031 and beyond. The lands would retain current land use designations until such time as the city of Barrie proceeds through a land use planning process to determine the future use of the lands. In considering where and how it will grow, Barrie is required to ensure consistency with the provincial policy statement and conform to the growth plan, both of which are aimed at curbing urban sprawl. However, this boundary adjustment is not just about the city of Barrie and its land needs. Our government understands the importance of protecting the individual characteristics of the town of Innisfil.

In addition, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will consult over the summer on the area known as Innisfil Heights. If the proposed changes to the growth plan are made following the consultation, Innisfil Heights has the potential to bring much-needed employment opportunities within the Innisfil boundary as well as expanding Innisfil's current tax base. I believe that this boundary adjustment would be a win-win for both Innisfil and Barrie as well as Simcoe county. It would provide Barrie with larger development parcels of land that are close to the Highway 400 corridor. It would extend the municipal boundary between Barrie and Innisfil to Innisfil Heights, and although no planning decisions have been made, this could ultimately enable both Barrie and Innisfil to plan for development and employment lands along the Highway 400 corridor. It would give a clear signal of the direction for managing growth in the Simcoe area.

I've worked closely with my cabinet colleagues the Honourable George Smitherman and the Honourable John Gerretsen, the Minister of the Environment, and we have come up with an integrated approach to the growth challenges of the Simcoe area that protects Lake Simcoe and its watershed. Our government forecasts 73,000 new jobs in the Simcoe area by 2031.

J'ai collaboré étroitement avec mes collègues du Conseil des ministres, les honorables George Smitherman et John Gerretsen. Ensemble, nous avons élaboré une approche intégrée pour surmonter les défis en matière de croissance de la région de Simcoe tout en protégeant le lac Simcoe et son bassin versant. Notre gouvernement prévoit la création de 73 000 nouveaux emplois dans la région de Simcoe d'ici 2031.

Boundary disputes create unnecessary friction and division and do not help to create a sense of confidence, stability and progress within the Simcoe area. They also don't help to create jobs or encourage economic development. Businesses need to know the future direction of the Simcoe area in order to expand businesses, and municipalities need to know in order to attract businesses.

Simcoe and Barrie, like all counties and cities in Canada, must focus on ways to attract jobs and opportunity and not discourage growth or add confusion. These issues don't create one job, and it's counterproductive to what we should all be doing during this time of economic challenge. This proposal, together with the work of my colleague Minister Smitherman, who is releasing a discussion paper today entitled Simcoe Area: A Strategic Vision for Growth, will be in the best interests of the entire region. We should be working together to retain and grow jobs in Simcoe, Barrie and Innisfil. That is the message I passed along today when I personally called the mayors of Innisfil and Barrie and the warden of Simcoe county.

The McGuinty government wants to ensure that those jobs are accommodated in a sustainable fashion. That means protecting our natural environment and our farmlands. That means bringing a semblance of order and thoughtful planning to the entire region. That means creating liveable communities. And that means supporting the infrastructure investments necessary for sustainable development. That vision can be a reality. I urge all members to support the passage of this bill.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Statements by ministries? Responses?

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Mrs. Julia Munro: I'm pleased to be able to respond, on behalf of the official opposition, to the bill that has been introduced today.

While there's the story of David and Goliath, and as everyone knows, I'm sure, David won, today the Liberals rewrote the story, and Goliath, known as Barrie, has won without lifting a finger. With the stroke of a pen, this government has created 2,293 hectares of land open to any kind of development at this point.

The minister made reference to the fact that the city of Barrie contains the only designated urban growth centre in the Simcoe area. What's interesting about this reference is the fact that the only way the government sees this happening is obviously at the expense of Innisfil. I think all of us thought that the notion of the growth plan was to contain sprawl, and that, to most of us, means intensification. Instead, we have the appetite of Barrie being met with this piece of legislation, and then we're going to talk about the principles of the growth plan.

The minister talks about the importance of opposing urban sprawl, but that's after the fact that this transfer of thousands of acres would go to Barrie. It's important to see the principle, but we are just going to make this one adjustment and we'll come back to the principle after the opportunity has been given to Barrie to provide this kind of growth.

There are many questions that will have to be answered. The bill itself simply identifies the area of land that Barrie will assume. The minister has talked about a process of consultation that will go on during the next few months. I would suggest to the minister that he needs to have these conversations in Innisfil and Barrie and talk to the local residents.

One of the issues, certainly—the minister alluded to this, but I would just point it out—is the question of the protection of Lake Simcoe. I pointed out last week that Innisfil actually has a better environmental record than Barrie. Barrie puts two and a half times as much phosphorous per litre into the lake than Innisfil. Obviously, the question that comes from that is the danger of these new development lands on the water quality of the lake.

Although the minister has referenced past meetings that took place, I think that certainly the people I have the privilege to represent were looking for the minister to offer a greater opportunity for consultation. As we look at this particular piece of legislation, the residents of Innisfil will be watching very closely for this consultation process and for assurances of the continued viability of Innisfil.

As I have the opportunity to share my time with the member from Simcoe—Grey, I would just ask that a page come to deliver the messages from the people of Innisfil on this issue.

Mr. Jim Wilson: I just want to take this one minute to put on the record a letter from His Worship Tom Walsh, mayor of the township of Adjala-Tosorontio, which I think reflects the sentiments of all 16 municipalities that make up the county of Simcoe. This letter was written to the minister on June 2: "As mayor of a municipality in South Simcoe, I feel that I must advise of our concerns about the proposed acquisition of lands from the town of Innisfil by the city of Barrie."

As I'm going to run out of time, Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that they're very much opposed to this. It affects all the municipalities in the county of Simcoe, because our assessment will be lower as a result of not having commercial and industrial development in Innisfil and its ability to pay the county bills. I just want you to know that not all is well in Simcoe, and they're not all in favour of what you're doing today.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Responses?

Mr. Michael Prue: I've just been handed a copy of the bill, as is the way we do business around here, and I had an opportunity to read it. The first thing that popped out to me is that this is a transfer of lands that were put aside some 20 years ago, so this ought not to come as a surprise, literally, to anyone. These lands were set aside and there has been an ongoing dispute for more than 20 years on what to do with them.

But the question that next comes to me, though: Is this a fair resolution? Is this the right thing to be doing in terms of Barrie, which obviously wants to expand and have more money, more power and more ability to tax? Is it a fair resolution to the people of Innisfil and the surrounding municipalities, which are going to find themselves with less land, less ability to tax, and therefore having to go back to their members and their citizens to get alternative forms of monies in order to keep going?

The bigger question, though, has to be, how will this land be developed? That has to be the question, because we have seen what this government has done before with annexations: the annexation in Oxford; the annexation and the secret negotiations in places like Bradford, where there was a secret negotiation of 1,800 acres of prime farmland that was negotiated away; in Innisfil, where a thousand acres were negotiated away for residential housing; and the expanding hamlet of Bond Head, which the government was right into and which went from 500 people to 4,500 people. Is this what the government has planned?

The whole question I have is, is the government committed to its Places to Grow Act? Is that what this is all about, in order to prop up and keep the Places to Grow Act going? Or is this just another opportunity, like Oxford, Innisfil and the hamlet of Bond Head, for urban sprawl? Is that really what the government has in mind, because, quite frankly, I'm very worried, given what has happened in the past.

The government of Ontario, of course, is imposing its will. This is a government that likes to talk the good talk about talking to municipalities—the 480 municipalities—being equal partners, the 480 municipalities having an opportunity to have input and to be respected. And here again, we see the government using the heavy fist and the heavy hand.

It was only last week or the week before last that I listened to my colleague from Simcoe raise the question, and I heard the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing skirt around the question about whether anything was going to happen, how he was going to have consultations, whether the consultations were ongoing and what he was going to be doing. Well, my goodness, this is a fairly complex and large bill with lots of stuff. He must clearly have understood when he answered that question last week that the minister's mind was already made up. I cannot, in my wildest imagination, believe that this bill, from that day to this day, was completely compiled, went through legal and translation, and went through all of the machinations that are required to present it here today. Quite frankly, his mind was made up before, so that when that question was asked, he already knew what he was going to do. In effect, when the good people were here from Innisfil, he held out hope to them, when there was, in fact, no hope to be held out.

This is akin, to my mind, to the forced amalgamations that took place across Ontario a number of years ago, in which my city, the minister's city and other cities were forced into something they didn't want. The people of Innisfil and the people in surrounding Barrie probably do not—not probably; they definitely do not want this and what is happening to them.

What the minister has done today is again produced a winner, Barrie, and a loser: all the other towns and all the other people who live in them. But there are losers as well throughout all the municipalities of Ontario, because every single rural municipality, every single small municipality that is around a larger city, that is in close proximity to a larger city, must have shivers going up and down their spines. Here is a former mayor from Ottawa who knows exactly of what I speak, because you have sent shivers up and down all of their spines by doing what you've done here today.

In the end, the question comes down to the opportunities, whether they're going to be there. I have no idea what Barrie is going to do with this land, what idea they have in terms of development, but I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this minister knows what those plans are because this has been in the works for a long, long time. It's not just something that's come out here today.

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Hon. Monique M. Smith: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I believe we have unanimous consent that five minutes be allotted to each party in tribute to Sam George.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

SAM GEORGE

Hon. Brad Duguid: As I rise today and speak on behalf of the government, and probably all of us here in this Legislature, my words are shared by the Honourable Gerry Phillips and Maria Van Bommel, who have a particular connection to what I'm about to talk about.

It was with great sadness that we learned yesterday morning that Sam George began his spirit journey in the early hours of June 3. He was home at Kettle and Stony Point, surrounded by the love of his family and friends.

It was only six months ago that I had the honour to stand in this Legislature to honour Sam for his tireless efforts and wisdom in helping to build better relationships between our government and First Nations. It was a role Sam hadn't asked for, but one that dominated the last 14 years of his life. Somehow, Sam was able to overcome the inevitable emotions of anger and bitterness over his brother's tragic death and channel his passion into a relentless pursuit of the truth, followed by reconciliation.

From the evening of September 6, 1995, when he got the terrible news that his brother Dudley had died at Ipperwash park, Sam asked only, "What happened, and why?" It was the question that launched the Ipperwash inquiry, an examination of relationships far beyond those between the people and organizations present in the park that tragic night. This is what Sam wanted the inquiry to be, I really think.

Sam found the courage and grace to work with the Ipperwash inquiry and the government to find truth and fairness for his community. I've met few people in my life who could exceed the strength of character demonstrated by Sam at all times in the most difficult of circumstances. His contributions ensured that together, we would find a way to move forward into a new era of healing, reconciliation and peace with First Nations in Ontario. He was a modern-day hero whose legacy will impact future generations.

Sam was tireless in his efforts. He travelled near and far to talk about his experiences and the path he was on in seeking the truth about what happened to his brother. He wasn't used to the mechanisms of a formal inquiry, he told Justice Linden and others, but the elders in his community told him that the answers he sought would come.

Even then, the elders had faith in us, and the answers did come. Sam didn't quit when the inquiry issued its recommendations. He had only just begun to work with us at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, a ministry his passion helped to create, when he was diagnosed with cancer.

I'm grateful to say I was privileged to meet Sam on many occasions, most recently at his bedside following the May 2009 signing of an agreement to transfer Ipperwash Provincial Park lands to the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The community had asked for this transfer, and Justice Linden supported this in the inquiry's final report. I'm so glad he lived to see this historic agreement become a reality.

Despite his failing health, Sam was very much with us in spirit that day in the park, and afterwards, he met with many visitors at his home. It was a day of celebration and renewed hope, and Sam was one of those who made it possible.

His goal was never accolades, he told us; his work was dedicated to the respect and honour of his brother's memory. Dudley George gave his life for his people. Sam George dedicated the last 14 years of his life to ensure that Dudley's tragic death did not go unaddressed.

Fourteen years ago, relations between the government of Ontario and aboriginal people were at an historical low. Today, 14 years later, that relationship is at a high point. The sacrifice made by those two brothers and the George family has provided our generation with a historic opportunity to work together to do something our forefathers failed to do.

As we work to eliminate the socio-economic gaps that exist between aboriginal people and communities and other Ontarians, we will do so with the knowledge that Sam's tireless efforts played a critical role in making this possible. His children, grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces will know that their beloved father and uncle changed the course of Ontario history.

Sam has helped to paint a new and brighter future for all of us here in Ontario. Sam's loss will be deeply felt by First Nation people and Ontarians right across this province. At the same time, there's comfort for Sam in his passing. Sam told the Ipperwash inquiry that from the time he got the phone call about his brother, he hurt. He said, "I will hurt until the day I meet with my brother again." So we wish Sam a joyful reunion and peace.

I've had the privilege, as I said, to meet and spend time with Sam's family, and what a generous, kind and loving family they are. On behalf of Premier Dalton McGuinty, on behalf of Sam's very good friends and champions, the honourable Gerry Phillips and MPP Maria Van Bommel, my colleagues here in the Ontario Legislature and all Ontarians, I extend our sincerest condolences to his wonderful wife, Veronica, daughters Tammy and Yvonne, son Donald Jr., Sam's extended family, his friends and the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

We've lost a great leader, teacher, visionary and friend.

Mr. Norm Miller: It is a privilege to rise in this House on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus to pay tribute to Maynard Donald (Sam) George. I would like to start by offering my condolences to the George family.

It was just a little over six months ago that I rose in this House to congratulate Mr. George for receiving the Order of Ontario, Ontario's highest honour. It was through Mr. George's tireless efforts that clarity was brought to the events of September 6, 1995. For all those people who say that one person cannot make a difference, he proved them wrong. As Chief Superintendent Chris Coles of the Ontario Provincial Police testified towards the end of the Ipperwash inquiry—he spoke of Mr. George's character. He said, "Many times I've looked in his eyes. I have no brothers, but I believe sincerely in my heart that if I had a brother, Sam George is an example of a brother I would have liked." That is indeed significant praise for a man whose persistence had put Mr. Coles on the hot seat.

Mr. George revealed that there needs to be better understanding, communication and respect, not only between government representatives and First Nations, but between all Ontarians. His ability to exert bravery and perseverance through difficult times are qualities we have all come to admire. Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, who nominated Mr. George for the Order of Ontario, stated, "Sam George did not seek revenge, he sought justice. Sam is a man of peace, a shining example for us all."

It is with great sadness we say goodbye to this fine man whose legacy will live on. We thank him for his advocacy for first peoples and for his contribution to this province.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I rise on behalf of my NDP caucus colleagues and all New Democrats across Ontario to pay tribute to Sam George.

Ontarians should always remember September 6, 1995. It was a watershed day in the history of our province, a day on which a group of concerned people from the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation gathered to protest peacefully at Ipperwash Provincial Park in memory of their ancestors. Tragically, events spun out of control and one of those protestors, Dudley George, was shot dead. It's something that never, ever should have happened. It had the potential to cause great upheaval in relations between this province and First Nations peoples. Fortunately for all Ontarians, an unassuming man by the name of Sam George stepped forward. It was his brother who had been shot. Sam decided Dudley's death would not be in vain. In his own meticulous and methodical way, Sam George went about making a profound and lasting difference in the way Ontario treats First Nations peoples.

Sam George was a quiet and a humble man, but a quiet, humble man who made a giant impact. He did not seek to make headlines, but he was determined to achieve justice for his brother, for his people, for all of the First Nations in Ontario. We have much to thank Sam for. He set an example for all of us.

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Last December, he was honoured for his work with the bestowment of the Order of Ontario. The tribute, I think we all agree, was richly deserved.

Yesterday, Sam George left us, succumbing to the cancer he had valiantly fought. He leaves his wife, Veronica; his three children, Don, Tammy and Yvonne; a large circle of loved ones and a province filled with admirers.

While Sam was able to achieve justice for his brother, there is now a challenge for each and every one of us in this place and across the province to use Sam's powerful legacy to improve the lives of the First Nations in Ontario. Too many live in deplorable conditions, with inadequate health care and a lack of essential services that the rest of us take for granted. Their children attend schools that are in states of dismal disrepair. Jobs and opportunities are scarce. In fact, even to today, their leaders are jailed for simply defending their land and their rights.

Ontario must do better for the people whose land this truly is. They have shared an enormous gift with us: a magnificent, wondrous place of limitless opportunity and boundless hope. It's a place where everyone should be able to prosper, but we're not there yet. There is much work to be done to get us there, and we have a collective responsibility to get that work done.

The recent transfer of Ipperwash Provincial Park back to aboriginal hands should serve as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when we set our minds to it. Sam George has shown us the way. He may no longer be leading us, but his memory remains with us. Let's make sure that we pay tribute to that memory, and let's do it by ensuring all First Nations peoples are able to share in the promise of Ontario. It's something that Sam wanted, something that he was extremely passionate about, something that's long overdue. Thanks to Sam George's leadership, it's something that we will get done. I trust absolutely that that's the case.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I'd ask all members and our guests to please rise as we observe a moment of silence in memory of Sam George.

The House observed a moment's silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

PETITIONS

TAXATION

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a petition signed by hundreds of people, to do with the McGuinty merged sales tax. It reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the McGuinty government is planning to merge the 8% provincial sales tax and the 5% federal sales tax; and

"Whereas the new 13% harmonized sales tax will be applied to products not previously subject to provincial sales tax such as gasoline, home heating fuels, home renovations, haircuts, hamburgers, television service, Internet service, telephone and cell services, taxi fees, bus, train and airplane tickets, and dry cleaning services; and

"Whereas rural and northern Ontarians will be particularly hard hit by the harmonized sales tax, as will seniors and families;

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

"That the McGuinty government should remove this harmonized sales tax from its 2009-10 budget."

I've signed this petition and I give to Matthew.

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas physically present pharmacists have served the Ontario public well over the years by ensuring high levels of safety and care, the requirement for the physical presence of a pharmacist to operate a pharmacy and compound, dispense or sell a drug in a pharmacy should be left intact to protect the public interest;

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

"We request that the laws requiring the physical presence of a pharmacist to operate a pharmacy and compound, dispense or sell any drug in a pharmacy be left intact; specifically, clauses 146(1)(a) and (b), and 149(1)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act be left intact and unchanged, and legislation should not be introduced which undermines the protections and service offered by physically present pharmacists."

I agree with this and give it to Ajoy for delivery.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I've got a petition today from Merv Smith who, despite serious health challenges, has 305 signatures on the petition, which reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Health Canada has approved the use of Revlimid for patients with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of cancer; and

"Whereas Revlimid is a vital new treatment that must be accessible to all patients in Ontario for this life-threatening cancer of the blood cells; and

"Whereas multiple myeloma is treatable with the proper therapies, thereby giving hope to the 2,000 Canadians who are diagnosed annually;

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

"Immediately provide Revlimid as a choice to patients with multiple myeloma and their health care providers in Ontario through public funding."

I agree with this petition and will sign it.

TAXATION

Mr. Jim Wilson: I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Sondergaard for sending me this petition.

"Whereas the hard-working residents of Simcoe—Grey do not want a harmonized sales tax ... that will raise the cost of goods and services they use every day; and

"Whereas the 13% blended sales tax will cause everyone to pay more for, to name just a few, gasoline for their cars, heat, telephone, cable and Internet services for their homes, house sales over $400,000, fast food under $4, electricity, newspapers, magazines, stamps, theatre admissions, footwear less than $30, home renovations, gym fees, audio books for the blind, funeral services, snowplowing, air conditioning repairs, commercial property rentals, real estate commissions, dry cleaning, car washes, manicures, Energy Star appliances, vet bills, bus fares, golf fees, arena ice rentals, moving vans, grass cutting, furnace repairs, domestic air travel, train fares, tobacco, bicycles and legal services; and

"Whereas the blended sales tax will affect everyone in the province: seniors, students, families and low-income Ontarians;

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

"That the McGuinty Liberal government not increase taxes for Ontario consumers."

I agree with this petition and I will sign it.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

Mr. Michael Prue: I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) released the Report on the Five Year Review of Automobile Insurance to the Minister of Finance on 31 March 2009, and that this report contains recommendations for changes to automobile insurance, and that the Minister of Finance is considering adopting the FSCO recommendations; and

"Whereas the FSCO recommendation (number 22) to reduce the cap for medical and rehabilitation benefits for non-catastrophic claims from $100,000 to $25,000 will deny further access to reasonable and necessary assessment and treatment, undermining a return to functional independence and gainful employment, and increase the burden on the social welfare system (i.e., OHIP"—and it goes on; and

"Whereas the FSCO recommendations (numbers 15 and 21) to have assessment requests and treatment plans completed only after a referral is made by the health professional primarily responsible for the claimant's rehabilitation (in most cases a family physician) will further burden the OHIP system and already overextended family physicians, undermine timely access to treatment, and is prejudicial against some 800,000 Ontarians without a family physician; and

"Whereas the FSCO recommendation (number 20) to revoke section 42.1 of the SABS, which allows claimants to obtain an assessment from their health care provider (known as the rebuttal report) to address issues raised in an insurer examination, will remove all balance from the system; and

"Whereas the FSCO recommendation (number 29) to make housekeeping and home maintenance expenses and caregiver benefits optional, is prejudicial against women who traditionally assume these roles, and single-parent families;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to oppose adoption of the FSCO recommendations by the Minister of Finance."

I am in agreement and have signed my name thereto.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: I have a petition that's addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the McGuinty government has committed $27.7 million in new infrastructure funding for Centennial College, located in the riding of Scarborough Southwest and other parts of Scarborough;

"Whereas this money is committed to improving and enhancing post-secondary education in Scarborough and across Ontario by offering state-of-the-art technology that will facilitate cutting-edge, world-class learning opportunities in the form of a state-of-the-art library;

"Whereas these opportunities will equip our youth and retrained workers to be at their competitive best when companies seek employees to fill new-economy jobs;

"Whereas these types of initiatives are part and parcel of a larger economic plan that will bring new high-paying and sustainable jobs to Ontario;

"We, the undersigned, therefore request the McGuinty government to continue to continue to follow this approach when it comes to its long-term economic plan for Ontario."

I agree with the petition and affix my signature to it.

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PENSION PLANS

Mr. Jim Wilson: "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas several paramedics in Simcoe county had their pensions affected when paramedic services were transferred to the county of Simcoe, as their pensions were not transferred with them from HOOPP and" the OPSEU Pension Trust "to OMERS, meaning they will receive significantly reduced pensions because their transfer did not recognize their years of continuous service; and

"Whereas when these paramedics started with their new employer, the county of Simcoe, their past pensionable years were not recognized because of existing pension legislation; and

"Whereas the government's own Expert Commission on Pensions has recommended that the government move swiftly to address this issue; and

"Whereas the government should recognize this issue as a technicality and not penalize hard-working paramedics;

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

"That the Minister of Finance support Simcoe—Grey MPP Jim Wilson's resolution that calls upon the government to address this issue immediately and ensure that any legislation or regulations allows paramedics in Simcoe county who were affected by the divestment of paramedic services in the 1990s and beyond to transfer their pensions to OMERS from HOOPP or OPTrust."

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY FRANCHISE

Mr. Jeff Leal: I'm pleased today to introduce a petition on behalf of Cheryl Foster, of Chelsea Crescent in beautiful Stoney Creek, Ontario. She must be a great hockey fan.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has the highest average ticket revenue per game in the National Hockey League; and

"Whereas the Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked the most financially valuable team in the NHL; and

"Whereas many Hamilton and greater Toronto area hockey fans are unable to attend professional hockey games due to a lack of adequate ticket supply; and

"Whereas the Hamilton and greater Toronto area boast the biggest and best market in the world for hockey fans, with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment bringing approximately $2.4 billion to the local economy over 10 years; and

"Whereas a new franchise in the Hamilton and greater Toronto area is valued at $600 million by some economists; and

"Whereas competition in both business and sports is healthy for both the Hamilton and greater Toronto area economy and sports team performance; and

"Whereas, despite having the most loyal fans in the world, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup in over 40 years; and

"Whereas Hamilton and greater Toronto area fans deserve competitive professional hockey teams;

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

"To request that the government of the province of Ontario express its strong support to the board of governors of the National Hockey League for the relocation or expansion of a second NHL hockey team in the Hamilton and greater Toronto area in order to realize the economic advantages to the taxpayers of the province of Ontario and to provide healthy competition to the existing Toronto NHL franchise."

I agree with this and will affix my signature to it.

TAXATION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, signed by a great number of my residents and, it appears from other petitions, by a lot of residents throughout Ontario.

"Whereas residents in Oxford do not want Dalton McGuinty's new sales tax, which will raise the cost of goods and services they use every day; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals' new sales tax of 13% will cause everyone to pay more for gasoline for their cars, heat, telephone, cable and Internet services for their homes, and will be applied to home sales over $500,000; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals' new sales tax of 13% will cause everyone to pay more for meals under $4, haircuts, funeral services, gym memberships, newspapers, and lawyer and accountant fees; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals' new sales tax grab will affect everyone in the province: seniors, students, families, farmers and low-income Ontarians;

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

"That the McGuinty Liberal government not increase taxes for Ontario families."

I affix my signature, as I agree with the petition.

AIR QUALITY

Mr. Charles Sousa: I have a petition that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) conducted 22 months of ambient air monitoring and determined that the Clarkson, Mississauga, airshed study area was taxed for respirable particulate matter (PM2.5); and

"Whereas the average annual PM2.5 concentrations measured in the Clarkson airshed were among the highest found when compared to data obtained from the ministry's air quality index monitoring stations; and …

"Whereas the study found that emissions of acrolein and acrylonitrile exceeded provincial limits; and …

"Whereas the MOE stated that industrial emissions may contribute as much as 25% of the PM2.5 concentrations in the Clarkson airshed study area; and

"Whereas the MOE stated that it would focus on achieving reductions of the target pollutants from the 57 identified emitters that currently operate in the area; and

"Whereas the Ontario Power Authority is accepting proposals from companies for the operation of a gas-fired power plant in the Clarkson airshed study area that would see a new, very significant source of additional pollution into an airshed already determined as stressed by the MOE;

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

"That no contract be awarded by the Ontario Power Authority for the operation of any gas-fired power plant that would impact the Clarkson airshed study area."

I affix my signature and provide it to Rebecca.

COSMETIC PESTICIDES

Mr. Toby Barrett: This is entitled Scrap the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban:

"Whereas the cosmetic pesticide ban will eliminate control measures available to control invasive insect species, invasive weeds and noxious weeds, forcing control measures to be adopted which are more expensive and far less effective; and

"Whereas all products being banned have already been approved by the PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) process for public safety, a method of application, classification and distribution;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to not ban cosmetic pesticides for Ontario consumers."

Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues could we ask for a five-minute extension, being that it's the last day. There are a couple more petitions.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed to extend petitions by five minutes? Agreed.

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY FRANCHISE

Mr. Bob Delaney: I know the Speaker will be disappointed, but I'm fresh out of ambulatory surgery centre petitions. So today, on behalf of my colleague from Oakville, I'd like to support him with this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows: