 It is now time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting Premier. For the last two days I have said that if the Liberals actually wanted to get hydro rates under control, they should stop signing ludicrous contracts. Ontario has a surplus of energy. Stop signing contracts for more. This government can't continue to sell it at a loss. So why won't the Liberals stop signing these contracts, Mr. Speaker? All right, it's because the wind and solar companies donated $1.3 million to the Liberal Party. So the Liberals keep on filling their coffers and then return off for the people of Ontario band-aid solutions for this hydro crisis. Mr. Speaker, for once, will the government of Ontario think about the people of Ontario, not the Liberal Party? That's an abrupt change of tone, isn't it? Speaker, I can tell you that on this side we have made choices that reflect the wishes of the public of Ontario. Of Ontarians every single day, Speaker. It was a deliberate choice to reduce our GHG emissions and to clean the air that Ontarians breathe. Is there a cost to that? Yes, there is. Right here. The members of these groups will please come to order. Finish, please. Electricity system that existed in Ontario when we were elected, Speaker. It had been badly neglected. Important maintenance had been deferred. We were subject to brownouts and blackouts. We now have a clean, reliable source of electricity that we are taking step. I may find myself in yesterday's circumstance where I moved to warnings. I'm just putting that on the table now. If it continues, I will. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, back to the acting Premier. Liberal math struck again yesterday. So let's see how the acting Premier would do on this math test. If the Minister of Energy is correct in his claim that he says exporting power reduced the cost by $230 million, as he said in the legislature yesterday, how do they justify the fact that this government has given away $3 billion in power in the last three years? So Mr. Speaker, what I want to know from acting Premier is how much have we actually lost? How much have the people of Ontario lost? How much are they paying more because of your exports of energy to Pennsylvania, to New York and Michigan? Leader of the opposition to a website called gridwatch.com. Some of you will know this website. I refer to it regularly. It uses IESO data to on an hour-by-hour basis talk about where we're generating electricity, where we're exporting it and importing it. It's a really interesting look into our electricity system. The bottom line, Speaker, is we are part of a larger system. We import electricity when we need to. We export electricity when we have access. And different parts of the province need to export and import at different times. It is part of a larger system, Speaker, and we have a clean, reliable source of electricity in this province. We've eliminated a rule which saves us $4 billion in health care costs, Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the acting Premier. It's almost amusing to hear the government trying to reconcile $230 million in, $3 billion out and try to spin that it's a profit. Well, let's talk about some more fuzzy liberal math. Canceling a 10% discount and bringing in an 8% bandied solution. The government is still oblivious to how they're hurting Ontario families. The Premier said we don't have a plan. Well, I've been very clear, Mr. Speaker. Step one, stop signing these contracts for energy we don't need. And step two, stop this reckless fire sale of Hydro-1. So, Mr. Speaker, my question with acting Premier is will you actually act on energy? Will you stop signing these contracts and will you stop the fire sale? Yes or no? Deputy Premier. Well, Speaker, let's take a look back to 2002. Speaker, Ontario paid $500 million to imp... Remember from Leeds Grandville's second time. And I'm inches away from warnings. Carry on. So in 2002 when the Conservatives were in office, Ontario paid $500 million to import electricity because we were not producing enough. In 2003, Ontario paid $400 million to import electricity because we did not have the capacity to generate that electricity. Speaker, we have made... Remember from Leeds Grandville's warned. Wrap up, please. Speaker, reliability was a real concern as was the environment. 127% increase in the use of coal, Speaker. Thank you. We have now eliminated... New question, the leader of the opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting Premier. On April 19th, the former Minister of Children and Youth Services said that she had read the clinical expert committee report on autism services. On May 16th, the former minister said that they were continuing to listen to experts and that her plan was based, I quote, in large part on the clinical expert committee. But we just learned in the Toronto Star that on April 18th, before the minister made those comments, the expert committee wrote to the minister. They tried to caution the minister that her plan was detrimental to vulnerable kids and that there was no evidence to support kicking kids off the waitlist. So clearly she had not read the report or listened to the experts. Mr. Speaker, if the minister had read the report, was she intentionally misleading the House? The Minister of Children and Youth Services, Speaker. Mr. Children and Youth Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the leader opposite for the question and I know he publicly recognized the work of this ministry for accommodating the children who are on the waitlist for IBI services as we transition into a new program. Mr. Speaker, what we're trying to do here as a government is to establish a new program here in Ontario that will open up 16,000 new spots. We had a challenge here in Ontario with a long waitlist. What we're planning to do is by June of next year to build a new system that will allow for children to be diagnosed earlier. We will open up new spots here in the province of Ontario and we'll put in a system that allows young people to reach their full potential and that's what this government and I think all members of this House want to achieve to give young people the ability to find success here in the province of Ontario regardless of their ability. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the acting Premier. Let's look what the experts actually told the Liberals. They clarified the committee report cited by the ministry did not propose imposing an age cutoff. The letter went on to state the government was initiated action prematurely without sufficient consultation and the services outlined in the new autism program last spring will fall short of the needs these children have. This government has put families with children with autism through unimaginable pain and stress. This government looked those parents in the eyes and told them that they are falling expert advice. This simply was categorically false. Mr. Speaker, how could this government turn their backs on these vulnerable children and their families and how could they do that? How could they look them in the face and blatantly lie to them? We'll withdraw and if it happens again the member will be passed on his question. Withdraw. Minister. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I think the member opposite, the leader of the opposition has to recognise that this dedicated half a billion dollar investment into our children is probably the most significant investment into any autism program here in this country. In addition to this, we are setting up a new autism program here in the province of Ontario that will allow young people to get the skills they need the ability to access the programs and services they need so they can actually get out there and reach their potential. I think the member opposite should be standing and actually saying back to this government that we made the right decision. We're heading in the right direction and that the member will work with... Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the acting Premier. I appreciate that the government has finally realised that autism doesn't end at five and I realise I've been warned but Mr. Speaker, I've been so frustrated with how these families have been treated and I know the government is touting their new plan. They claim there is funding for children kicked off this waitlist but I have parents tweeting, e-mailing and calling almost every day. They told me they have not received a single cent to help cover the cost of IVI treatment despite this announcement happening. Not a single cent. So I have a very specific question for the government and I would like a specific answer. Mr. Speaker, how many families that were kicked off the waitlist have received the promised funding? Has there been any funding delivered to the families kicked off the waitlist as of now? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I became the minister for this file the first thing we did was we sent out a letter to 24,000 families here in the province of Ontario. A letter from the ministry, from me as the minister explaining the transition that was about to take place. In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, in addition to that, Mr. Speaker, we set up a 1-800 number where parents across the province and families could call in and get real-time information about the transition that's taking place. Mr. Speaker, we've dedicated half a billion dollars over the five years to transition into a new program. And yes, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the leader of the opposition to do is rather than standing there and constantly complaining about this program, get behind parents, show them the direction in which they can access programs each and every one of their opposite. Thank you. New question, the leader of the third party. Mr. Speaker, for the acting premier, the government promised that their throne speech would be a reset, Speaker. People were counting on the government to make life a little bit easier, to make sure that they could get a good paycheck and fair benefits to fix our hospitals and schools. But instead, the people of this province got a great big letdown on Monday. We're going to reset, Speaker. It was a disappointment. People know it's time for action in this province. Why doesn't the government? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, perhaps we could review some of the highlights of the throne speech that demonstrate we are committed to making life better for Ontarians, Speaker. 100,000 new childcare spaces, I think is something we can all apply. To get reduction in electricity bills, Speaker, is something we can all support. The third party's been calling for this action. We're now in a position to take that action, and we are reducing by 8% the electricity bills and a further reduction for those who live in the most rural parts of our province, Speaker. We're also investing more to help companies reduce their consumption of electricity, and they will save money as a result of that. So, Speaker, we have responded and will continue to respond to the wishes of the people of this province. Thank you. Thank you very much, Speaker. I'm sure new Democrats were not the only MPPs this past summer who were out talking to people and more importantly, listening to people, Speaker. Every back venture on that side of the House, and Minister, must have felt the disappointment from the people of Ontario as we did. Whether it was the decision to privatise Hydro-1 or the choice to ignore crumbling hospitals and schools, this is not what people hoped for, Speaker. And I'm sure that every Liberal Minister and every Liberal member must have heard that. Does this government understand that? Do they understand where the people of this province are? Do they understand how disappointed and in many, many parts of this province upset people are about the functioning or misfunctioning of this government? Thank you. I almost think that the Leader of the Third Party hasn't been listening to one of the things that we are doing on this side of the House, Speaker, including 100,000 new childcare spaces, including reducing the costs of electricity in this province. Speaker, and what I've heard a lot about is the impact of free tuition for Ontarians with income. Family income of $50,000 on yesterday. I met with a mom who told me that because of this, her children will now be able to go on to college or to university, Speaker. I've met with young people in grade 11 and grade 12 who looked at me and said, really, when I said tuition would be free for those with incomes of $50,000 or less. In fact, Speaker, the middle class and up to $160,000 income will benefit from the changes we're making on tuition. Thank you. We're listening to the people of Ontario and what they're telling us is that they want something better and they deserve something better, Speaker. They are worried about their future, but more than that, they're worried about whether there will be a future for the next generation in this province. Instead of hope, the people of this province are feeling extremely let down. Privatisation, flat wages, robbing schools and hospitals of the resources they need, that's not what people voted for, Speaker. Is this government ready to acknowledge that they have gone off course and commit to making big changes in direction today? Thank you. Speaker, there are many items I'd like to highlight that we are, steps we are taking to make life easier for people, but let me focus on investors we're making in young people in our youth speaker, an extra $250 million over two years to help 150,000 young Ontarians focus on skills development, on labour market connections, on entrepreneurship, on innovation. Investing in these young people because we know that if we make the investments that will be repaid many, many times over as they enter the workforce and make a real contribution to this province, Speaker. When it comes to childcare, as I said, 100,000 new spaces, which means more people will be able to get that solid foundation so that when they go into full day kindergarten which is another initiative that we're very, very proud of on this side, to look to their absolute maximum, Speaker, and we will allow those parents of those children to participate as well. Question. Speaker, my next question is also for the Acting Premier. You know, I was hopeful. I was hopeful that yesterday, sorry, Monday's thrown speech would have been one that was a session of indicating a session of action that we were going to have here in Ontario, but instead what we have here that remains dead set on privatizing Hydro-1. The government is defending an $11 minimum wage instead of taking action on a $15 minimum wage. There is no plan whatsoever to improve the quality of jobs in Ontario or to fix the schools and hospitals in this province. Childcare, which this definitely, the Prime Minister, wants to talk about a lot, remains far too expensive for far too many families and that's not changing, Speaker. It is not a reset. It is yet another disappointment. Why is this government letting people down yet again? Thank you, Deputy Premier. Well, you know, Speaker, we on this side acknowledge there is always more to do and we always work hard to make things better. But I tell you, I think the leader has a kind of, I don't know what the opposite of rose-coloured glasses is, but they're dark glasses. She's looking at this great province, Speaker. What we see is an economy that is growing 6.1% growth over the past two years, leading the country, Speaker. When it comes to unemployment, our unemployment rate, 7%, has been lower than the national average for 16 straight months, Speaker. Our kids are graduating that was a graduation rate of 68% when we were elected in 2003. It's now 85.5% for our education. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker, people in this province need hope, not another let down by their government. This province, Speaker, is at a key moment in time. Without big changes, things are going to get a heck of a lot worse for the people of this province. And instead of getting to work, the government is making things harder, making life harder for folks. Will this win government finally change course and start taking real steps that make a real difference in people's lives? Thank you. Well, it was, Speaker, I've been informed by my caucus mates that maybe it's orange-coloured glasses that they're wearing that make everything look dark and gloomy, Speaker, because I can tell you, any objective observer would say that things are better in Ontario now than they've been in some time. And it's because on this side we've made our choices. We've made choices to invest in infrastructure, to invest in our young people, to our education, to invest in our healthcare system. We are continuing, our economy is continuing to grow and expand. We are impacting immigrants from all over the world, Speaker, who are choosing to make Ontario their home. We're number one in foreign direct investment, Speaker. Yes, there's always more work to do. And our focus is always on making things better for those who are facing tough times, Speaker. But to make the suggestion that all is doom and gloom in Ontario, Speaker, is just not a reflection of reality. Final supplement. I'm very supportive to think that the Liberal MPP's actually listened to people over the course of the summer, because I certainly have a whole different story from the people of Ontario than the Liberals seem to have, is that you can't live on schools and hospitals that need billions of dollars in repairs. That is not what the Premier of this province promised when she ran her election campaign a couple of years ago. The problems, Speaker, they are making the problems worse here in Ontario. Now, will this wind government stop making things worse and start taking action on the priorities that matter to the people of Ontario? Thank you. Well, Speaker, certainly the priorities of the people of Ontario were indeed reflected in the throne speech. We heard loud and clear that people with young children are really looking for more child care options, Speaker, and that's why we're committed to 100,000 new child care spaces starting in 2017, Speaker. That's why we're moving forward with an eight-percent reduction in their hydro bills and more for those in our most rural parts of the province, Speaker. We heard loud and clear that people with young children in 2017, Speaker. We are taking action on infrastructure because we hear from people that the daily commute is really preventing people from spending good quality time with their families. Speaker, we are making the priorities of the people of Ontario our priorities, and we are acting on those priorities. My question is also to the acting Premier. I'm sure you're very familiar with his worship, Hector McMillan, the mayor of Trent Hills. He's joining us in the gallery today. He has cancer, but like one of my constituents who is suffering from breast and brain cancer, OHIP won't find the potentially life-saving procedure. He said that he has been, quote, essentially murdered and, quote, sentenced to die by the government. And what happened when he spoke out? He was killed by the government to sit down and shut up, and now they're threatening to delay his OHIP panel. He was scolded for trying to save his life and for speaking out on behalf of the thousands of Ontarians every year who are candidates for the same potentially life-threatening treatment. Mr. Speaker, we all know that this government doesn't like its critics, but they can really defend trying to muzzle a dying man. Thank you. To the Minister of Health and long-term care. Minister of Health, long-term care. Mayor McMillan, sir, thank you for joining us here today. I want to start by saying how very, very sorry I am that you're facing this diagnosis, this challenge, the biggest challenge of your life and your family and your loved ones are facing that challenge with you. I also want to say how very sorry I am that you have lost confidence in health care in this province. And it's my job and I want to do everything I can to restore that confidence, sir. I can't begin to imagine what you're going through, the experience that you've faced yourself and your family, your friends, your loved ones. And, sir, I can only hope that were I to face a similar challenge that I would demonstrate the courage and the fortitude that you have. As sensitive as this is, I remind all members that questions are put to the chair and the answers are put to the chair. And also a kind reminder that there are no participation from members in the gallery. Supplementary. Thank you very much, Speaker, and I appreciate the compassion coming from the Minister of Health. But this is happening far too often. We've seen billions wasted, literally throughout the health care system and other ministries in the government. And at a time when Hector and other people are facing life-threatening diseases, sometimes they may only have a couple of months, it's the health care system that we need to work within that has to open up and limit the barriers that he faces. My father died of cancer and it was the worst six months of my life. I know what Hector is going through. I've spent the morning with him. We've spoken many times. I didn't hear that you were going to help him. And I think we have to recognize that we do have two-tiered health care in the province and that it is limiting for people like Hector. He's courageously taking a stand. But I want to know, will you help him? Will you look within your department? Will you make sure he gets that life-saving surgery? And will you help other patients across Ontario who are fundraising for basic health care? Thank you. Minister? Mr. Speaker, I am doing absolutely everything I can. It's important, I think, for all of us to understand that this difficult decisions such as this are governed by the Health Insurance Act and the associated regulations. I have absolutely no discretion or ability to approve or reject an application that comes forward in that context. To do so would be a violation by myself. I do understand, having spoken with Mayor McMillan, that his prognosis may have in fact changed for the better in terms of the staging of his illness. And I believe it's important that as a society from the bureaucrats to the highest level of clinical experts that we demonstrate the flexibility that if a condition changes, if a prognosis changes that we have the ability to provide the appropriate and best course of care in that case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And my question is to the acting Premier on behalf of the people of Oshawa. People in Oshawa are coming to a tipping point. We are going to keep building if we are going to keep building vehicles in Oshawa. This Liberal government needs to step up and move forward. Today it's Oshawa, but the negotiations between General Motors and Unifor will set the tone for the future of good auto jobs across the province. People haven't heard from the auto czar, Ray Tangay, and people know that ministers crossing their fingers and hoping for the best is not a strategy. Will the government commit right here today to make auto jobs a real priority for this government? I don't think we could be any more clear than we've been as a government with regard to support to the auto sector. There is not a sub-national government anywhere in North America that's been a stronger champion of the auto sector than the province of Ontario. In fact, the Oshawa plant would not even be there today had it not been for this government with lukewarm support from the NDP. And absolutely no support from the PCs when we made billion-dollar investments in the auto sector, including Oshawa. Both parties are negotiating hard. The negotiations appear to be going well. We wish them well in that collective bargaining process. We have an obligation not to get in the middle of that. At the same time, both parties know how supportive we've been in the past. Both parties know that we will continue to be supportive in the future. Getting that plant mandate for the future is our number one priority and we'll do everything we can and need to do to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the summer, I spend a lot of time speaking with people in Oshawa who are very concerned about the future of our city. Some of them work directly in the auto sector but lots of them don't. Whether it's people working for GM in any of the industry spin-off jobs or all of the jobs supported by the sector, people know how important GM is to Oshawa. They're worried about what losing these good jobs could mean for the next generation. Ontario's New Democrats are in full support of efforts to keep and create jobs in Ontario's auto sector, not just for today but for future generations of Ontarians. Government commitment to automotive should be ongoing, unwavering and unshakable. Will the government get off the sidelines and commit to doing its part to keep these jobs in Oshawa and in Ontario? Thank you. This government has never ever been on the sidelines. In fact we've always been in the playing field and Mr. Speaker, we've been running harbour and more aggressively than any government in North America when it comes to support for this very important sector. And it is important to the people of Oshawa. It's also important to all the people in Ontario and our entire economy that we do everything we can to ensure there's a future mandate for the plant in Oshawa, that there's a future mandate for Chrysler and Brampton, that there's a future mandate for the plants in Windsor, the engine plants in Windsor, and all of them. When you pay attention to the chair, you know that I'm standing. Remember from Niagara Falls come to order because I don't think you've heard me the first time. Please carry on. Thank you Mr. Speaker. So this government will continue to be a leader because they still propose a tax hike that would put a corporate tax hike on Oshawa and all other future investments. That would hurt us more than help us. It's something that she really should look into with her own policy. Good question. The member from Kingston in the House. My question is for the Minister of Housing and Minister responsible for Ontario's poverty reduction strategy. Firstly, I have to say congratulations on your new position and anyone in the House. It's a whole winter to truly understand homelessness deserves to be the Minister of Housing and Poverty Reduction. As Ontario continues to grow, we have to make sure that not only my riding of Kingston in the islands, but all of our communities remain affordable and accessible to people of all income levels. Ontario's updated long-term affordable housing strategy will develop a new portable housing system that will transform the housing system. Will the Minister explain what this benefit is, how it will make the social housing system more efficient for Ontarians seeking housing assistance? Thank you, Minister of Housing and the responsible for poverty reduction strategy. Well thank you to the member from Kingston in the islands for that great question and I'd like to thank her for her continued advocacy and ensuring that people have stable and secure housing is very important to our government and to me. The member is right about the portable housing benefit. Once developed the benefit will have a major effect on improving the efficiency of social housing in Ontario. Currently Ontarians in need of rental assistance rely on various programs across the province, many of which are tied to specific units at a specific address. The portable housing benefit would give people more flexibility to choose where they live. This means that when a person moves the benefit moves with them. This will mean more consistent support, more choice for people in need, as well as more flexibility for those who deliver the service. Minister, last Friday I was honoured to announce that the community of Kingston, located in my riding of Kingston and the islands is receiving over $330,000 in new funding for the survivors of domestic violence portable housing benefit pilot program. I know that Sheldon Laidman of the City of Kingston was very pleased that there were sufficient funds to cover all 30 families on the waiting list in this category. Kingston Interval House provides emergency shelter and second stage housing for women, children and youth who are fleeing circumstances. Last year the Centre received over 2,500 crisis calls from women suffering from domestic violence looking for emergency support, safe shelter and counselling. In the same year 250 women and their children were living at Kingston Interval House. Through you, Mr Speaker, can the minister explain to the House how this benefit will help the survivors of domestic violence, such as those at Kingston Interval House, finds safe and affordable housing? Thank you, minister. Thank you to the member from Kingston and the islands for a second great question. Mr Speaker, domestic violence is a very serious problem that crosses every social and economic boundary. It will not be tolerated in Ontario. That's why together with our federal government counterparts we're investing more than $20 million over two years and the survivors of domestic violence, portable housing benefit pilot. The pilot will provide ongoing assistance to approximately 1,000 survivors of domestic violence each year. Through the pilot project, good number, through the pilot program, surveillance of domestic violence will have the option to receive a portable housing benefit so that they can immediately find housing in their community instead of having to wait until a social housing unit becomes available. Mr Speaker, ensuring that housing assistance is flexible and not tied to one particular residence will help keep those fleeing domestic abuse safe and support. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. As you know, Ontario has been hit by a moderate to severe drought this year. Farmers are saying this drought is turning off their crops and their livelihoods. Recent rains have come too late to be of any help. For many farmers, the 2016 growing season will be a year to forget. Mr Speaker, I know rural issues are rarely on this government's mind, but farmers feed cities. Will this government promise they won't turn their backs on our farmers? And what are you doing for those in need right now? Mr. Speaker. Mr. Environment and Climate Change. Mr. The Environment and Climate Change. Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I know my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is working very hard with farmers right now. We are working on a number of assistance programs. I know he's been out meeting with them. There are significant up to 20% reductions on electricity coming. We are working on offset programs. I have personally on climate change working with the OFA on offsets and assistance to farmers. Probably been to over 50 farm visits now across Ontario. Listening to farmers on the drought issues. We expect, as we do with our colleagues in western Canada, that we are seeing permanent changes to our climate which are going to affect weather patterns. The droughts and these recommended heat waves that all Ontarians are expecting are going to make the challenge of farming more difficult. Don McKay from the OFA is taking a leadership role right now. Mr. Speaker. Again to the act and Premier. Summer rainfall is highly variable in Ontario. This is always the case. But this year, instead of some farmers getting a little and others a lot it's been a case of some getting a little and others getting nothing. Beyond a lack of water many crops have been set back by drought related weed and insect infestations. The drought is making it tougher to fight weeds and insects. But your government is banning neonics making it even tougher for farmers. So Mr. Speaker, I ask where is this government support for farmers to deal with this drought? Especially those whose insurance won't be covering the loss of both crops and livelihoods. Thank you. Minister. Thank you very, very much Mr. Speaker. As you know we have a very strong range of business risk management programs to assist producers including production insurance, the risk management program and Agra Invest and I know my colleague the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs but also we have been saying and preparing for a long time for this while the official opposition denied climate change was happening. We have know very much that both our farmers and people who work in forestry are going to start to experience in our unprecedented new patterns of weather. The jet stream alone that moves weather through Canada is already 20% slower than it used to be and that dramatically is changing the length of rain. I did not hear the member opposite talk about climate change once or that. Our climate action plan developed with the OFA focuses on agriculture and resilience for everything from new resist resilient crops and we are massively investing in those things. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the assistant premier. Contamination in grassy narrows paid in part by your government said that it is possible to clean up the Wabagoon River. Great news. Yet the premier producing no evidence whatsoever said no to cleaning the river. Now government scientists are saying that clear cutting around grassy narrows territory will disturb the mercury and no one is tracking the implication. Why is your government so quick to jump and say yes to logging and no to cleaning? Thank you. I can assure the member opposite and the people of this province that our government is absolutely committed to working with grassy narrows First Nation and the federal government on this very important issue. I understand and I am sympathetic with the concerns of grassy narrows First Nation. We have already taken action on the recommendations of the recently released report for grassy narrows First Nation. We are spending $300,000 to support water, sediment and fish sampling speaker and this includes field work to determine the current levels of mercury and provide critical information needed to develop options to remediate the English Wabagoon River. We look forward to working and meeting with Chief President of the United States to regularly to ensure progress is being made. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. Well, it is rather interested that you have committed in me to fund the field work recommended by the scientists but soon the river will freeze up and within the change to conduct the field work will be gone for another year. When is the government going to come through with their commitment but really when are you going to clean up the river? Water is life. Thank you. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Thanks. As a matter of fact, Minister Zimmer the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation I have a formal political committee of which Chief Minister Zimmer is a member and we meet every month for several hours and review the entire implementation. Over $600,000 is currently being invested in the First Nation to run their own testing and our scientists run alongside. This is one of the most comprehensive studies and Chief has been very pleased with the progress and I and Minister Zimmer make regular visits to the Narrows and the Premier recently met with Chief Fobbister to review all of that. The science team led by Dr. Rud is continuing its work our scientists are working alongside and there is third party science verification and the development of an implementation plan to remediate mercury in the river I can't imagine we could be doing more. No question. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker for the minister of international trade. Early this summer our government expanded our cabinet which include the creation of a stand-alone ministry of international trade. I know the minister have been very busy this summer holding meetings with the start no, building his new ministry and mandate during the past few weeks the minister have been traveling across the province meeting with municipalities and business leaders. Speaker through you to the minister can he please share with the House what is for the new ministry and what is mean to the constitutional Scarborough agent court. Thank you Minister of international trade. Thank you Speaker thank you to the member from agent court for asking I was very pleased excited when I learned that the premier would be creating the first ever ministry of international trade. Speaker over the last two years we have been working hard for the communities for Ontario. We have had many missions supervised signing of many business agreements and have secured nearly four billion in investment for the province. As a new ministry we can deepen our effort and dedicate time and resources to further this success. Speaker I want to continue to target key markets abroad where Ontario businesses can profit and I want to continue engaging our business sector with them to identify ways our government can help. Thank you Speaker. Thank you. On Monday's speech the government reaffirmed its commitment to international trade, particular trade missions Mr. Speaker. Having heard the minister's plan for his ministry I'm confident that his work is working diligently to increase Ontario's presence abroad and bring jobs and investment to the province. And I witnessed Mr. Speaker first hand last fall how hard the minister worked in organizing the China trade mission which was a great success. I understand the value of trade missions one cannot create business relationship without face to face contact. Despite this Mr. Speaker some people continue to criticize or doubt the value of trade missions. Speaker through you to the minister can he kindly please explain to the House how trade missions benefit the people of Ontario. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Trade missions give us an opportunity to meet people face to face to forge new relationship strengthen old ones and to sell Ontario but what does that mean for Ontario Speaker it means convincing foreign companies to open operations in our province where Ontarians will be employed. It means 200 jobs from our Israel mission 150 from India 1700 from the 2015 mission to China and 1400 from another mission to China in 2014. Speaker it means increase business at hotels restaurants and tourist attractions when foreign delegations take up our invitation to visit Ontario. Speaker and it means working with companies in northern Ontario that have challenges to export over such long distances. Speaker trade missions may a difference. Thank you. Thank you. We now know that the reality of your electricity rebate is 36 cents a day and in my writing this is what your hydro crisis looks like. Thousands of cases dealing with people who can't cope with the stress of making their hydro payments and are desperately begging for help people defaulting adding to the growing list of those in arrears people destitute and needing my office to seek bridge funding people unload limiters like we're in a third world country residents and businesses crushed by delivery charges in rural areas. Residents and businesses forced to pay massive balloon payments because of an inept billing system. Residents and businesses struck with broken or dysfunctional meters from the failed smart meter program. Farms collapsing because of stray voltage businesses cutting jobs are shutting down all together. Mr. Speaker can the deputy premier please tell us how she came up with 36 cents as the end. Deputy Premier. Mr. Speaker I wait with great anticipation for the supplementary in which the PC party will outline their plan to reduce electricity costs. Finish please. We are taking 8% The member for plan for a second time we're cutting delivery charges for the most rural customers by 20% speaker and we're empowering industrial businesses to reduce their bills by one third through the industrial conservation initiative speaker. But I do want to highlight other programs that are there for people who are facing real financial challenges particularly the Ontario electricity support program speaker saves eligible low to moderate income households an average of 430. Thank you. Well Mr. Speaker to the deputy premier you are not the one in the grocery line trying to try and cover food purchases you are not the one burning your staircase to heat your home. Through you Mr. Speaker the Liberal government is not the one hitchhiking to work because you can't afford a car that you need to get to your job in order to pay your electricity bill these are real stories from my writing so Mr. Speaker will the deputy premier finally admit that they have lost all control of the electricity situation in the province of Ontario. So Mr. Speaker I do want to go back to the Ontario electricity support program saves and I correct my record an average of 430 dollars per year. Now one of your caucus mates suggested that it wasn't his job to inform constituents of this program but I say it is your responsibility as MPP of all the people to inform people about the Ontario electricity support program that is there for people in low and moderate income family speaker to give them this is in addition to the Ontario energy and property tax credit for qualifying individuals and families up to $1,008 per year with a maximum of $1,148 per year for qualifying senior speaker our reductions are on top of these initiatives designed for those with the lowest income. Chief Government Whip is warned. New question member from Hamilton Melbourne. Thank you Speaker my question is to the acting premier the throne speech was called the plan to build Ontario up for everyone but there's nothing to build up over 1.8 million people with disabilities who still face barriers when trying to get a job an education, adequate housing or even basic health care services according to the alliance working on behalf of Ontarians with disabilities nothing in this speech will help a quarter of a million students with special education needs in Ontario schools there is nothing to ensure that they will get an equal shot at the education they deserve and building everyone up why wasn't there anything in the throne speech about them? Minister responsible for disabilities would like to answer that question and I will certainly have her make sure she's aware that that question was asked and to get that answer but Speaker this Government has been very focused on improving opportunities for people with disabilities in fact I remember very fondly that we passed the AODA Act Speaker the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities I remember so clearly the people that filled this chamber and supported our actions for people with disabilities when it comes to people on ODSP and I'm sure the Minister of Community and Social Services would love to speak about initiatives designed to support people with disabilities to get back into the labour market and focus on this very important issue because we know that we are all stronger when all of us have the opportunity to contribute fully to our communities and to our economy Thank you Thank you again my question is to the Deputy Premier I've listened to the speech from the tournament there was absolutely nothing regarding Franco Ontarians in Ontario Francophone University that is clear and after the speech all media have been wondering where was that promise of a Francophone University we wanted a Board of Directors that was simple that was clear why didn't the Minister leave behind 600,000 Franco Ontarians and didn't make any promises for them Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to the member for this question I'm very proud to be able to discuss this topic today and I would like to reaffirm that things are going forward we are putting forward an application process the bill tabled by the member with an accelerated process requires different settings if we want to be responsible and I want to assure people here that the wind government is acting concretely if we're looking at the speech from the throne Mr Speaker I went everywhere in the province this summer and all I've heard people talk about is actions that we've put in place daycare centers electricity balancing the budget all the comments I've heard were about those topics and to be told that we've forgotten Franco Ontarians I do not agree with that at all I just wanted to take a moment I wanted to take a moment to explain something I've given some leeway in question and period because of the throne speech to have a little give and take that stops this week next week I'll be more specific when your questions and supplementary questions stay focused on a single issue the other way that's for debates where the throne speaks brings out opportunity to speak about the generic condition of the province because of the throne speech so starting next week I will be a little less lenient when it comes to questions that they must be related to the question put on the supplementaries new question the member from Trinity Spadina my question is to the minister of government and consumer services first I would like to congratulate her on her new responsibility for many Ontarians buying a home is the largest investment they're making their life when making such a purchase especially one with this magnitude it's extremely important to ensure that there are no hidden problems with the home whether it's a house or condo consumer often rely on a consumer from a home inspector to make informed decisions when buying or selling a home can the minister of government and consumer services please inform the house on how our government is ensuring that Ontarians who purchase a home are protected in making this very important investment thank you thank you thank you Mr. Speaker thank the member actually from Trinity Spadina for his question my Mr. Sri has recognized the need to establish a new licensing program to provide better consumer protection when making a decision as important as buying a home just last month we together announced our government's plan to introduce legislation that will take important step toward increasing consumer protection in the field of home inspection we want to improve consistency in the quality of evaluation on inspectors provide across the province consumers are in a home inspector should be able to count on a certain level of qualification and expertise and our government intends to address these issues Speaker through this initiative and many others I will continue to work with Ontarians to ensure that they have the full confidence in the investment they make I look forward to providing more information Thank you Speaker I want to thank the minister for her answer and I want to thank her work in she's doing to protect home buyers and instill confidence into Ontarians and I want to take this opportunity to thank her predecessor Mr. Orazadi and Mr. McChiles for their hard work on this particular file as you know it's very very important to me buying a home is equally exciting and stressful and it's important that consumers be careful and well it's important that consumers be careful and well informed when making this big investment I'm happy to hear the minister is committed to ensure quality service for consumers speaker I know Ontario has a largest real estate market in Canada the process of buying a home especially for new homeowners can seem daunting and overwhelming Can the minister of government and consumer services inform this house how our government is helping Ontarians achieve home ownership Thank you Thank you again for the member and for his question but also his advocacy on this file Mr. Speaker the real estate and business brokers act has been very effective at having accountability and enhancing consumer protection to the real estate industry the act is administered by real estate council of Ontario referred as RICO which regulates real estate brokerage brokers and sales for people as a result consumers have access to a more open and transparent real estate market real estate professionals are bound by a code of ethics and are registered with RICO ensuring compliance across the industry our proposed legislation on licensing home inspector will ensure Ontarians feel greater in entering the housing market and purchasing the right home for themselves or their family Speaker I look forward to working with prospective buyers as well as professional in the industry such as actually our outgoing colleague Timudak and the Ontario Real Estate Association Thank you Let me apologize to the house particularly the opposition for my 30 seconds of clarification it should have been done after and I apologize it could have cost and I beg your forgiveness for it there are no deferred votes this house stands adjourned until 1pm this afternoon