 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. It seems important to start question period today with the commitment that the Premier made to parents of children with autism when he was looking for votes during the election campaign, and I quote, we will be there to support you one thousand percent. I promise you, you won't have to be protesting on the front of Queen's Park like you have with the Liberal Premier. Today, those parents are here and they're protesting on the front lawn of Queen's Park. What does the Premier have to say to them today? Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, I've talked to hundreds of parents with families, with children with autism, and it breaks my heart talking to them. This is, as I've said over and over again, Mr. Speaker, the hardest file I've ever dealt with, bar none. But when we came into office, we saw a bankrupt system when it comes to supporting families with children with autism. Actually, we had to run to the Treasury. We had to run to the President of the Treasury right here to ask for $100 million just to keep the system going. Then when we looked into it even further, we saw systemic problems throughout the whole system. The previous government put $256 million in, Mr. Speaker. We boosted that up to $321 million to help these families. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, I think I need to remind the Premier that it's not about him and it's not about how he feels. It's about how the people of this country because the Premier's plan is an absolute disaster. Some are looking at bankruptcy, deep, deep debt, uprooting their families and leaving the province just so that they can get the therapies and treatments that their children need. This kind of support that the Premier promised during the election campaign that he would provide. The Premier, do the right thing today, Speaker, and scrap this scheme and develop a new plan with new investments to actually meet the needs of children, like he promised. Minister of Children's Community and Social Services. Members, please take your seats. The question has been referred to the Minister of Children's Community and Social Services. Thank you very much, Speaker. Thank you very much, Premier, for your leadership on this file since taking office to ensure that the bankrupt system inherited would make it through to support the 8400 children currently on the list so that we can move forward in clearing the waitlist of 23,000 children. Three out of four children in the province of Ontario have been denied service by their Ontario government and we are changing that. That party opposite used to support clearing the waitlist until this government supported doing so. That party over there supported direct funding until this government here decided we were going to go to that model. And that party over there supported going to regulating service providers until this government decided to move forward with that. I want to know from the member opposite, what's your plan? What's it going to cost us? And why didn't she implement it during the last platform? She had a very billion-dollar shy budget. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She's got it for the children. She's in it for professionally protesting. No supplementary. Well, Speaker, hurling insults at parents that are coming here to fight for their children is a disgusting tactic by this minister. And may I remind her that in three and a half years' time when the NDP forms government, we will help families serve so much more than what they've gotten from this government. The government's new scheme pulls supports away from parents who desperately need it, away from their children who desperately need it. And it denies treatment to thousands of children unless they can come up with tens of thousands of dollars from their parents' pockets that those parents just don't have. And instead of admitting that they were wrong, this foreign government has threatened, bullied, and failed to deliver on his promises to parents. Last night, the government showed that they can reserve a rather reverse, a bad decision. That was shown last night. Maybe they could do the same thing this time. So will the Premier do exactly that and scrap this scheme, fire this minister? We'll come back with a plan. Thank you. Minister. Thank you, Speaker. Since assuming office, this government has done a number of things in order to make sure we have a more fair, equitable, and sustainable Ontario autism program. Unfortunately, the member opposite would like to continue to see a wait list of 23,000 children, three out of four children with autism in the province of Ontario. She would like to see diagnostic hubs where there are tons of children on the wait list. She would like to see an unregulated service provider situation that's occurring across the province of Ontario. We're not going to stand for that. That's why, since assuming office, I went to the Treasury Board, was able to receive an extra $102 million in order to ensure that the program could continue to exist and move 8,400 children through the system as we prepare to get 23,000 children who are being denied service by their Ontario government, the service that they deserve. But I still haven't heard, at any point in time, a solution from the member's opposite with the exception of the things that we are delivering on. They asked us to clear the wait list. We're doing it. They asked us to regulate service providers. We're doing it. They asked us to go to a direct funding model. We're doing it. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier, but I can say that what we would like to see and what these families would like to see is a government that keeps this promise to children and families when it comes to autism. Late last night, Speaker, as you know, Ron Taverner declined his appointment as the OPP Commissioner. Well, that was the right thing to do. And the right thing for frontline OPP officers and the people of Ontario. It does not undo the Premier's role in this whole scandal. The need to clear the air and address some of the serious concerns about political interference is as great as it ever was. Will the Premier stop hiding and call a public inquiry today? Premier? Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the leader of the police-hating party for the question. I have the highest degree of respect. I'm going to have to caution the Premier that sort of language is causing disruption in the house, obviously. You can't use it. Response, yeah. I have the highest, the highest degree of respect for the frontline police officers, the OPP and all the police officers across this province. They put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities and keep us safe. Since the beginning of this process, our objective has been new leadership up at the OPP to fix the systemic problems that we're hearing nonstop from the frontline OPP officers. And again, I've talked to hundreds and hundreds of frontline police officers and OPP officers across this province, Mr. Speaker. And I can tell you the stories I've heard are appalling, are appalling, but we're going to fix it. Speaker, this isn't just about the job that Ron Tavener won't be taking. It's also about the job that was taken from former Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair. It's clear that this was an act of reprisal by a Premier who can't handle dissent. We can now add Ron Tavener to the list of people who agree with Brad Blair's assessment that his appointment was bad for the OPP and bad for Ontarians. Does the Premier still want to argue that Brad Blair was wrong to raise those concerns, Speaker? I'll tell you, Mr. Speaker, as far as the rank and file officers, they're concerned and we must do better for them and we will do better. We need a new vision for the OPP, one that puts the frontline officers and the safety of the people of Ontario above everything else. Bringing about this change, bringing about this change at the OPP will require new leadership and a new vision. On behalf of our government, I want to thank Ron Tavener for putting his name forward. Member for Essex, come on. I can tell you, after 50 years of an impeccable record, I found it disgusting, Mr. Speaker, how he was berated. He was attacked by the opposition, personally attacked from a poor person that served 50 years of protecting families, community service. The Member for Essex is warned. Warned. Start the clock. Final supplementary. Apparently the Premier wasn't paying attention, Speaker, it was him we were attacking, not Ron Tavener or anybody else. The Premier that Ontario does need a new leader. Definitely we need a new leader. The people of Ontario have a right to know how a friend of the Premier became the frontrunner for the top job when he didn't even qualify for the initial posting. And they want to know why a veteran officer with over three decades on the force lost his job about speaking out about his concerns. They didn't believe the Premier yesterday and they don't believe him today, Speaker. A public inquiry will get the answers that Ontarians deserve. Will the Premier stop hiding and call one right now? Mr. Speaker, it's unfortunate the opposition has chosen to politicize this process rather than focusing on and supporting the frontline officers. All they try to do is get cheap political points on the backs of frontline officers on the backs of Superintendent Ron Tavener. But we shouldn't be surprised we shouldn't be surprised they have never, ever supported our police they've never supported our frontline men and women. I've never seen anti-police caucus than the one sitting across from us today the NDP Premier, take your seat. Yeah, again I'm going to caution the Premier because that sort of language is causing great destruction in the house and I'm going to ask him to withdraw. Thank you. Thank you. Next question, the member for Essex. Speaker to the Premier, for months the Premier has ignored concerns raised by decorated police officers about this appointment. He's brushed away the public concern about the conflict of interest surrounding Mr. Tavener's appointment as the OPP commissioner. Last night, late without warning Mr. Tavener suddenly withdrew his name. Will the Premier tell the people of Ontario what happened behind closed doors to prompt his withdrawal? Through you Mr. Speaker I find it very ironic coming from the MPP from Essex that continuously sat in this chamber Mr. Speaker and criticize Superintendent Ron Tavener over and over and over again. Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker we support our police we supported Ron Tavener and do you know what I feel sorry for not just Ron Tavener which is an absolute champion I feel sorry for the hundreds of frontline OPP officers that I spoke to personally that were so excited so excited to bring change to the highest ranks of the OPP a gentleman that would actually watch their backs have their backs and protect the frontline police officers that who I feel sorry for Speaker this government this premier had every opportunity to come clean to the public but instead of doing that they have blustered they threatened and they bullied anyone who raised concerns will the premier finally stop hiding and call a full and public inquiry into this matter Through you Mr. Speaker again I find it ironic coming from the MPP from Essex that criticize the police continuously another NDP member made racial slurs about the Toronto police chief who does that Mr. Speaker who does that who picks up a sign and runs down the street who picks up a sign runs down the street and says after police and still is sitting in caucus it's unheard of I can tell you if anyone did that in our caucus they wouldn't be sitting in our caucus but the leader of the opposition actually supports that language they actually support when they say that to the police that's unacceptable I say to all the members the speaker is not in a position to judge whether or not a statement is true or accurate or false in every case but I would again caution all members that the tone of this debate is deteriorating and we do ourselves a disservice to the extent that we deteriorate our discussion our debate during question into a series of personal insults it impresses no one next question I recognize the member Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of children community and social services and minister responsible for women's issues tomorrow is international women's day a day to celebrate the social economic cultural and political achievements of women however there's still a tremendous amount of work to be done to ensure women feel safe in their communities and empowered across the province we know now that one in three women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime we also know that women are three times more likely to be stopped and three and a half times more likely to be a victim of intimate partner violence this is unacceptable Mr. Speaker can the minister outline our government's efforts to empower women and combat violence thank you minister responsible for women's issues thank you very much speaker and thank you to the member from Etobicoke for raising this very important issue on the eve of international women's day which will be tomorrow we are right now striving as a government to join the world effort to balance for better this weekend I will be going to the United Nations with the Canadian delegation so we can discuss among other things women's economic empowerment sex trafficking and violence against women key initiatives that have been priority for me and my ministry that's why our government hosted early on women's economic empowerment round table which we are going to work with the minister of labour on for greater pay equity for women that's why our government hasn't invested in a historic amount of money in violence against women and shelters across this province to the tune of $174 million and that's why tomorrow we will launch consultations with the member from Cambridge as well as the member from Mississauga centre so that we can build on the important work of the minister of labour so we can eradicate sex trafficking or Ontario's dirty little efforts in the province of Ontario we're going to continue to do that and I'm looking forward to a statement in the house later on this afternoon through you Mr. Speaker thank you minister for your continued commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness for this important cause when we discuss violence against women it's important we acknowledge victims of sex trafficking disproportionately affects young women and girls we learned late last week that three individuals had a sexual assault and for trafficking a girl under the age of 18 no person in this province should have to experience what that young woman endured can the minister please tell this house how our government is taking action to protect women and girls across the province from this heinous crime thank you very much I do appreciate the supplementary sex trafficking in Ontario is our dirty little secret and that's why we must continue to be vigilant against it continue to speak out against it and ensure that we support survivors who we know are going to be the gateway to help us get those children to see awareness early early on so that is why we are engaging around table discussions throughout this province with the member from Cambridge and the member from Mississauga centre we will be working inter ministerial with the ministry of attorney general labour, transportation, education and health I am co-chairing the federal provincial task table across the province and as I mentioned this Sunday I will be travelling to the United Nations to discuss this issue but let me be perfectly clear as we move forward to supporting women supporting women is very important strong women must support vulnerable women but just as importantly strong men must support vulnerable women thank you next question the member for Hamilton mountain thank you very much minister speaker my question is for the premier no one believes in this government autism program many of the regional service providers have spoken out principals, teachers, school boards around the province are against it advocates and experts think the new program will fail children and their demanding changes and parents themselves have been mobilized across the province to fight back this government has introduced an astonishingly bad plan that has led to nothing so far but chaos why does the premier insist on pursuing an autism plan that no one supports and why will he not listen to the families who are here today members please take their seats premier questions referred to the minister children community and social services thank you very much speaker thank you very much premier as mentioned many times in this house my parliamentary assistant Amy Fee and I travelled across the province we had over a dozen round tables we met with stakeholders and we looked at the broken program that we inherited from the Ontario Liberal Party what was unconscionable and unacceptable to me and to this government that 3 out of 4 children were languishing on a waitlist that was endless with no hope in sight our priority, our motivation is to clear the waitlist so children who were denied service from their Ontario government could get a helping hand and support from their province 25% of the children were the only ones is doubling the diagnostic hubs so that the investment so that we can get children diagnosed more quickly we are going to a direct funding model where children will be eligible for up to $140,000 until they're 18 in order to receive the types of supports that they so desperately need whether that's behavioural therapy whether that is caregiver support respite training or technological aids but speaker our motivation is the 23,000 children who are not getting service thank you supplementary this government has failed every step of the way they created a plan based on a child's age and family income instead of what a child actually needs they have strong armed stakeholders, demanded endorsements and used parents quotes out of context they froze an inflated waitlist to make themselves look better their members have supported parents to drive it only to backtrack in the public out of fear they have abandoned all the families and kids that they stood up for under the last government and in the last election it's not too late to do the right thing by families and rethink this plan will the premier finally reconsider the changes to autism program members please take your seat for the charge of the minister children thank you very much speaker this will be the plan that we will implement on April the 1st and I think it's irresponsible for the members office to provide false hope to parents that this plan will change we have invested an historic amount of money $321 million into a program to clear the waitlist go to a direct funding model and ensure that there are greater standards before Hamilton Mountain come to order those service providers we have done everything that the NDP has asked for in the past and we're going to continue to do this we have autism not just 25% of the children I think it's important that we clear that waitlist for 23,000 children you heard that the member for Hamilton Mountain will withdraw minister should conclude her answer thank you very much speaker I just want to be perfectly clear that on April the 4th sorry April the 1st this will be the plan that we implement and this will be the plan that moves forward and we'll make sure that we do that thank you very much the member for Thorn Hill for the people has been clear in its commitment to get the people of Ontario moving the gridlock in the province is unacceptable in making it difficult for Ontarians to get from point A to point B in a timely manner Ontarians are stuck in their vehicle or on transit far longer than they should be it takes away valuable time that could be spent with family and friends our government made an election promise our premier and minister of transportation have made some great service expansion announcements already and I'm excited to hear what more is to come can the minister of transportation share with the legislature what his ministry is doing to get the people of Ontario moving the minister of transportation thank you much speaker and I'd like to thank the member from Thorn Hill for that question she truly is a champion of improving transportation throughout the GQH yesterday I had the pleasure to announce our government for the people Metrolinx and the Woodbine Entertainment Group are going to build a new Go Station at Woodbine and listen to this Mr. Speaker this is the best news this house could ever hear the fact that this station is going to be built and not cost the taxpayers a dime Mr. Speaker I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my parliamentary assistant member from Etobicoke Center for joining me yesterday for all the hard work she has I also would like to thank the support Councillor Ford showed at the announcement as well showing the municipalities of the Etobicoke is behind us 100% Mr. Speaker I have more to say on this but this is a great announcement for the province it's the second of its kind that we're building using private sector to help build it at no cost the taxpayers a good thank you supplementary Mr. Speaker for you I'd like to thank the minister of transportation for that great answer I think all of my colleagues will agree this is all good news for Ontarians and yet another way our government is getting the people of Ontario moving public transit is vital for the people of Ontario and yesterday's announcement by the minister of transportation is important to not only transit users in Etobicoke and western Toronto but the whole GTHA whether Ontarians are travelling for work for school to see a game or just to meet a friend for coffee our communities depend on our provinces transportation system this is why we need more efficient transit infrastructure to move people faster and ease the congestion on local roads and highways and our government is delivering on that promise can the minister share more about the new GO station in Woodbine minister thanks very much for that second question Mr. Speaker this new house our new station excuse me will be on highway 27 near Woodbine racing track right on the existing Kitchener GO line the new station at Woodbine will help to increase transit access to nearby landmarks like Woodbine mall Humber college University of Guelph at Humber and the Etobicoke General Hospital our government for people is putting transit users and taxpayers first with our agreement that this new station will be paid for by business partner Woodbine Entertainment Group Woodbine's plans for development around the station will bring new jobs housing and entertainment to Rexdale transit oriented development is an approach that allows us to take a more strategic look at our real state portfolio Mr. Speaker this is a development that promise the best results at the best cost to taxpayers the new GO station at Woodbine and around it are good news for transit riders we have a lot more coming forward and it's going to be benefiting not only GTHA but Ontario as a whole Ontario is on the move Mr. Speaker we start the clock next question the member for Windsor West thank you speaker my questions to the premier 20 Windsor parents of children with autism are here today they are angry with the conservative government's decision to deny thousands of families crucial funding for autism supports and services Meg is a mother of two kids under the age of five both on the spectrum she was at the autism round table in Windsor and felt that families presented offer the families present offered reasonable suggestions believing that they were being heard then just days later the full program was announced Meg says her world was upended her hopes for her kids future her career the happiness of her family were all dashed April Perry another parent from Windsor helped organize a rally in Windsor opposing this PC plan what does the premier have to say to Meg and all the parents here today there's lots more out on the lawn right now whose kids will suffer as a result of his phony consultation and callous cuts Premier Minister of Children's Community and Social Services thank you very much to Meg and to April we have decided that we would have a priority of clearing the waitlist for children who were languishing on it for years on it children have been denied service 23,000 to interrupt the minister and ask the person who's demonstrating you can't do that and if you continue to do it we'll have to ask you to leave Minister can conclude her response look it angers me that the government previous to this administration was running a program for children were denied service by their Ontario government that is why we are moving to our historic investment of $321 million to support every child with autism the province of Ontario we are doubly diagnosed we are going directly to power them to make the choices that are in the best interest of their children so we can ensure that not 20% of children in Ontario are getting service but 4 out of 4 children are receiving that's the opposition to come to order supplementary member for Ottawa Centre my question is also to the Premier and I want to remind the Premier and the minister responsible this is not just about a waitlist this is about services for people who need them in a rich province currently spending $2 billion on tax cuts for the wealthiest and for companies I want to talk about Kate Loeb from Ottawa who is Desmond's mom Desmond has high spectrum autism he has through his therapy said the words mom and dad for the first time speaker in a rich province like Ontario why is it appropriate that Kate has to cash in her RRSP to continue Desmond's therapy Premier is this appropriate is this the kind of Ontario you want to lead questions been referred to the minister of children community and social service very much speaker my heart goes out to Kate and to Desmond my heart goes out to the 23,000 children who are being denied opposition come to order that was endless and I think we had to make a decision in order to ensure that every child with autism in the province for Hamilton Mountain for Windsor West is what their plan is how much that would cost why are they providing false hope to parents across Ontario our priority is to clear the waitlist we are going to do that in the next 18 months we are going to provide Hamilton Mountain that is what our plan is we are leading with compassion and we are going to implement this plan on April 1st next question the member for Ottawa South thank you very much Mr. Speaker for the Premier we need to take a moment here and look around there are hundreds of people here families have come a long way they have come a long way to express their genuine concern they are going to be rallying on the front lawn of the legislature they are here Premier will you join them on the front lawn right after question period Premier Minister of Children Community and Social Services Opposition come to order the member from Ottawa South has a great deal of audacity to stand in this place after having worked for the former Premier Dalton McGinty who took those same parents to court who protested his previous administration and who did not have a bankrupt system too the opposition come to order they left us we inherited a broken autism program so for 15 years they had moments to look around and they chose to allow a weightless to grow to 23,000 children who were denied service from their Ontario Government the difference between me and the member from Ottawa South the leader of the opposition must come to order with the help of this Government so every single child with autism in the province of Ontario to support they need supplementary thank you Speaker but I can't thank the member for that answer so families are here today because they're asking for our help okay they're here because they want someone to listen to their concerns to sit down with them and work with them to ensure that their child's needs will be met you know our job here is to hear the voices that are hardest to hear these people all these folks are here because they're the voice of those who cannot speak and Premier that's why you need to be on the front lawn and listening to them it's important it's very very important so I'm asking you again through you Speaker I'm asking the Premier two things first will he please come out to the front lawn of the legislature and spend some time with these families and two we lost confidence and they need a fresh set of eyes and ears on this file and I would ask that the Premier do that respectfully thank you Mr. Speaker questions been referred to the minister Speaker that member lacks credibility on this file that member was part of a government that took parents of children with autism to court he was part of a government that bankrupted the Ontario autism program that forced me and this government for an emergency $102 million just to keep the program running for 25% of the children we have decided that we would double our investment into diagnostic hubs so that we could clear the wait list on diagnosis that his government allowed to test her we have decided we are going to go to a direct funding model which parents have asked for so that they can go direct to get the best support that their children need we are going to make sure that we clear the wait list of 23,000 children so that all those children have a fighting chance but speaker let me be perfectly clear we are motivated by clearing this wait list and a seamless entry and transition into our education system and that is what this government will do on April 1st the next question the member for Flamboyle thank you Mr. Speaker and conservation and parks Speaker we have brought forward our made in Ontario plan that will take action to preserve and protect our environment without imposing another tax yesterday the minister released his waste discussion paper that will play a crucial role in our government's next steps towards cleaning up our province my private members motion which will be debated later this afternoon helps to address the need for diverting waste out of our landfills by encouraging retailers and consumers to donate their used clothing to charity reducing the amount of textile waste which is an important issue that needs to be addressed given the environmental cost of today's fast fashion trends Mr. Speaker can the minister explain why supporting initiatives like mine is important to help sustain Ontario's environment for the future minister the environment conservation parks Speaker through you to the member from Flamboyle grand book and congratulations to her on the private members build that she's bringing in this is just the kind of constructive initiative that frankly we'd like to see from across from the NDP but it is it is absolutely aligned to the sorts of things that are are necessary we as Ontarians put a ton of waste each into landfill a ton of waste each every year and Mr. Speaker we are diverting we are diverting less than 30% of that waste that is not acceptable in 2019 we have to do better we have to do better through constructive proposals like the one the member brings that is what our work is about that is why we are consulting with Ontarians we're going to be talking about organics we're going to be talking about plastics we're going to be talking about diversion we're going to be talking about all the best technologies that are available in the world to make sure that we are taking the litter off our streets and we're putting waste where it belongs not in the landfills thank you Mr. Speaker more than 24 billion pounds of unwanted clothing ends up in landfills only about 1% of donated recycled we're hoping that this motion will encourage manufacturers to invest in the technology to recycle more clothing Speaker this is just one example of a way Ontarians can reduce waste that is headed for landfills I've spoken to many constituents who have great ideas to share and I want to play a part in cleaning up our province Ontarians understand that real environmentalism starts close to home and they're ready to move forward to a more beautiful Ontario can the minister share with this house what goal the waste discussion paper hopes to achieve again through you Mr. Speaker to the member these are exactly the kinds of questions that our paper asks what can Ontarians do what can producers do again the bill that the member is presenting works collaboratively with producers that's what we need to do in partnership with producers municipalities and all the interested parties Mr. Speaker to the question we will be looking to increase the amount of waste going to landfill increase the overall diversion rate which as I said has been stalled at 30% for 15 years not good enough we're committing to making producers responsible for the waste generated by their products and packaging we're going to outline ways to explore how we get value from waste and we create less waste as a result and we're dedicated providing clear rules around compostable products packaging and support a sustainable economy for Ontario Mr. Speaker to balance a healthy environment and a healthy economy that's what we'll do for Ontario next question the members for Parkdale High Park thank you speaker my questions to the premier with us today is my constituent Susan who has a wonderful son with autism spectrum disorder and who is high needs right now he receives highly skilled one-on-one care he has someone that helps him use the toilet has taught him to speak a few words and helps him stay safe that level of care costs over $70,000 a year her family currently receives support through the Ontario autism program but now in less than 30 days her family will only receive $5,000 can the premier explain to Susan why her son doesn't deserve to receive adequate funding so that her son can stay safe thank you for your address to the premier referred to the minister of children community and social services thank you very much a premier and thank you very much a speaker to the member opposite into Susan her story is one that I've heard throughout Ontario I've also heard from 23,000 others who are being denied service and really had no hope at the end of the tunnel and speaker our motivation is to assure that four to four children that their support from their Ontario government receive it that wasn't the case under the previous Liberal administration the fair, equitable and sustainable approach is to make sure that we double our investment into diagnostic hubs go directly to find parents I'm going to ask the person who is disrupting parliament to stop she has to leave minister can conclude a response thanks speaker so that's why parents can have up to $140,000 per child so that they can choose the services that best work for their family but speaker let me be perfectly clear this is the program that we're implementing on April the 1st our motivation is to clear the waitlist so every child in Ontario with autism not just one out of four receive support from their Ontario government that's the plan that we have put forward and that's the plan that will be implemented on April the 1st our position will come forward supplementary to member for Essex speaker again to the premier I want to assure members of the gallery visitors here today families that new democrats hear you and we hear those out on the front lawn I'm going to interrupt the member once again you're not here to address the people who are in the gallery you're here to make your comments through the speaker speaker from my writing Lana and Rob are the parents of a beautiful boy named Mason Mason as moderate to severe autism Lana confided in me that she can't afford Mason's therapy on her own he'll be fired by the time the new plan is in motion and the funding that he will receive will only cover a few hours of therapy a month or two Lana says and I quote giving them an hour or two a week requires them to start over every session of therapy this will never help our child progress in fact there will be a lot more regression before ever moving forward and quote why is your government forcing Mason to go without the therapy that he desperately needs questions been referred to the minister please take the seats minister children community and social services thanks very much to the member officer for bringing Lana and Rob's story and telling me a little bit more about Mason our motivation is to make sure that every child with autism in the province of Ontario received some level of support from their Ontario government that wasn't the case speaker it was unfair, unconscionable inequitable and unsustainable to only support 1 in 4 children or 8400 children who were in service right now order we have an obligation to every child in the province of Ontario who has autism to receive a level of support from their Ontario government that's what I'm committed to doing that is the plan this government is putting forward and that will be the plan that will be implemented on April 1st so that we can clear 23,000 children that we're not receiving any level of support from their Ontario government that is our motivation that is what we are going to do thank you next question the member for Mrs. Saga thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for minister of economic development job creation and trade I'd like to thank minister premier and minister of agriculture food all affairs for attending the job announcement at Soda stream last Tuesday it's great to see a global company like Soda stream investing in our province opening their first ever production facility in Canada right here in Ontario creating 28 new jobs in my writing of Mrs. Saga I know the minister the entire PC caucus have been working hard creating an environment where businesses grow, invest and more importantly create new jobs could the minister please outline the house why global companies like Soda stream are choosing to set up a manufacturing facility right here in Ontario thank you Mr. Speaker minister for economic development job creation it was great to be out and the members riding on Tuesday morning as we celebrated the grand opening of a new facility company known as the island of peace in Israel it's doing outstanding work in Israel making a great product that is sustainable and environmentally friendly and I was pleased to be there along with the member who's doing a great job in Mrs. Saga Malton and my friend minister of agriculture and the premier to celebrate this company companies like Soda stream are choosing to set up and expand here in Canada and that's great news and I think it proves that the work we're doing is getting through to companies not just across Ontario that we're making a change in the way that Ontario does business but companies around the world that are looking to locate here we're doing things like cutting red tape and I'm getting great support from all of the different ministers around the table and other members of our caucus who are helping us eliminate that burdensome red tape reducing electricity costs stabilizing those costs and reducing electricity costs. Thank you Mr. Speaker and minister thank you so much for your commitment with overall unemployment at 10% and with 25% unemployment in youth in the writing of Mrs. Saga Malton. I know the businesses and workers in my writing are glad that our government is making Ontario a better place to invest and create jobs after 15 years of having a government that never saw a piece of red tape they didn't like our government is flipping the script and reducing the regulatory burden we are making Ontario open for business and more importantly open for jobs the announcement at SORA stream is a proof that our plan is working and I'd like to thank you on behalf of my writing. Can the minister please inform the House that our government will continue to make Ontario an attractive place to invest. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thanks again to the member from Mrs. Saga Malton it's great to celebrate like we did on Tuesday a brand new company that's expanding here in Ontario but I can tell you that every day businesses are deciding where they're going to locate around the world you know be it here in Ontario which is obviously where we hope that they choose to be. They're all competing for these businesses to locate in their jurisdiction speaker and that's why we want to make those jobs land here in Ontario and do everything that we can to do that and that's why as the member references we eliminated or repealed the job killing parts of bill 148 which was brought in by Kathleen Wynn and the Liberal government. I can tell you that in the meetings that we've had with business owners are singing from the rooftops when they get the news that we are eliminating red tape and making it easier for them to do business in Ontario. Things like bill 47 the Making Ontario Open for Business Act and now the Restoring Ontario's Competitive Nass Act of bill 66. Thank you next question member from Waterloo. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the Premier yesterday I received a letter from Lily. She has a question for this government and here's what she wrote my name is Lily. I have a twin named Landon and I love him so much it was bad to take the money from the kids who need help to learn stuff. Please help the government to change their minds. How would they feel if they had a brother with autism? I hope they would help them. Thank you from Lily. So my question is to this government and to this entire caucus what are you doing to these kids in the province of Ontario? It is unethical it is unconscionable you must do better for Lily's brother and for all of those parents and all of those kids that are on the front lawn of Queens Park today. To respond. Children, community and social services. Children, community and social services. Thank you very much Deputy Premier and I appreciate the member office and her passion and I think it's important for the 23,000 children who were being denied service. The 23,000 children who were not being supported by their Ontario government. The 23,000 children who were on a wait list that were not getting any level of support from their Ontario government. What's unconscionable is that the previous Liberal Administration left us a broken and broke system. Opposition come to order. They denied these children 3 out of 4 children in Ontario That is why I had the opposition come to order for an extra $102 million to ensure that 8400 children currently or on their way into the system would receive support but also to give us the time so we could redesign a program and invest $321 million into all children That's why we are doubling our investment into diagnostic hubs and that's why we are going to a direct funding model and that is why we are going to regulate the professionals in this industry Supplementary, the member for London West Thank you Speaker again to the acting Premier Speaker Lindsay Frichat came on the bus today from London West on behalf of her 11 year old son Felix When Felix was diagnosed with autism at age 3 he was also diagnosed with cancer. Lindsay says if she had been told here is your budget to pay for his cancer treatment and when you have used it up too bad, Felix would have died Lindsay describes his life as an autism parent as wait and fight, wait and fight Felix waited years for diagnosis and Lindsay fought for his treatment. He's been doing well with current autism program supports and Lindsay is terrified of what will happen to him when those supports are gone Speaker why is this government abandoning Felix and parents like Lindsay Minister The example of Felix having to wait forever almost for years for diagnosis is exactly the changes that we want to make so that we can clear the wait list so that children will be diagnosed more quickly and that we can then start to fund their parents so that they can choose the types of supports that best support their child whether that is behavioural support whether that is caregiver training whether that is respite or finally technological aids that is the movement we want to go toward because we believe every child in Ontario with autism should receive support the Ontario New Democrats clearly think we should only be supporting 25% of the children I think that's unacceptable that's what's unconscionable it was inequitable, it was unfair and the system that we inherited was unsustainable I would ask the person who is disrupting parliament to stop once again, you cannot disrupt parliament next question the member for Barry Innesville Thank you Mr Speaker my questions for the Minister of Energy Northern Development and Mines our government has been working tirelessly since we've been elected to get Ontario's economy back on track that means listening listening to the large job employers and job creators and key sectors of our economy of how we can support them unlike the previous government that stood in front of employers and got in their way we are standing behind the employers pushing them forward reducing the red tape, reducing electricity costs and creating good paying jobs many people talk about issues in our mining sector and I understand that our Minister of Energy Northern Development and Mines has been doing a lot of work in this sector and has been has struck a working group at the last pedagogy Could you please elaborate on this group that you struck Minister Thank you Mr Speaker and I appreciate the member from Barry Innesville asking this important question not a moment too soon Mr Speaker we struck a mining working group that will be busy over the next couple of years fundamentally transforming a sector that sadly has moved largely out of province when it comes to capital Mr Speaker who are dispirited and are calling on this government to reduce red tape Mr Speaker to make tax conditions more favourable to move Ontario into the pole position as the preferred destination to do business of mining and actually mining Mr Speaker we assembled business leaders and indigenous engagement the finance sector, engineering people who build mines operate mines Mr Speaker they were there emboldened by the presence of the Premier Mr Speaker taking notes, making sure that these things in the coming months and in the coming years will be supported by the NDP as we re-establish Ontario's place and position as the number one place to do business when it comes to mining Thank you for that answer Mr Speaker I'd like to thank the minister for sending the clear message that Ontario's government for the people is making the mining sector open for business it's a key piece of our government's broader plan to make our province the economic engine of Canada again, stimulating our economy and going on to create more jobs jobs like in the mining sector and Mr Speaker these are good paying jobs and I'm excited that our government is reducing their red tape so that we can be even more competitive in this global economy and the global mining industry Mr Speaker I would like to ask the minister if he can elaborate on the positive impacts that the mining sector has on the Ontario economy Minister Well thank you Mr Speaker and it was just great to be back at PDAC 87 years they've been the face of a vibrant, sustainable minerals industry Mr Speaker 8,000 members 25,000 people attended this year from over 135 countries in Ontario mining matters Mr Speaker 26,000 direct jobs 50,000 indirect jobs they in many instances build our towns and cities across northern Ontario from the ground up but the NDP member for Tomiskaming Cochran said apparently this week that the problem isn't regulations he should tell Valada he should tell Glencore, Moron, Barrett Gold, the Ontario Prospectors Association they may be the no drilling party Mr Speaker they may be in the business of not doing prospecting but we stand with the mining sector we're committed to being the place of the destination for mining business worldwide, thank you Mr Speaker start the clock next question the member for Brampton East Thank you Mr Speaker my question is to the Premier Johnny and Sue Lee are here from Brampton East they're two children and they both have autism before Michaela couldn't talk and would have violent outbursts but with therapy that changed she now talks with her family listens to her parents plays with her siblings her brother Taylor however has been on the wait list for a year and a half under this government's changes to autism program Taylor will not be able to get the same access to therapy that helped his sister succeed Mr Speaker will the Premier look into the eyes of Johnny and Sue Lee they're there in the front row look into their eyes and tell them that their family doesn't deserve support thank you Mr Speaker the question the Minister of Children Community and Social Services thank you very much I appreciate you bringing Johnny and Sue Lee's you cannot disrupt Parliament if you you're going to be asked to leave you have to leave you can't disrupt Parliament you have to stop Minister Respond Taylor is a reason that we wanted to move toward these reforms so that we can clear the wait list of 23,000 children children were trickling on the wait list they were on the opposition that was simply unacceptable to me and to this government which is why we are moving to clearing the 23,000 wait list within the next 18 months under our reforms families will receive a childhood but they value the most from the providers that they trust we are moving to this model because we believe every child with autism in the province Ontario deserves support from their member for Brampton North thank you Mr Speaker my question is to the Premier due to heartless changes made to the Ontario autism program 8 year old Vincent from Brampton will be forced out of therapy and forced into school Vincent is not ready for this change he's come so far Mr Speaker to pull Vincent out of therapy now especially without a transition plan will cause him to regress schools are not prepared to accommodate Vincent and children like him will the Premier tell us how much more pain must Ontario families endure before the Premier recognizes that this is a bad plan and direct his minister to go back to the drawing board the Minister of Children's Community and Social Services the question has already been referred to the Minister of Children's Community and Social Services thank you very much Speaker this will be the plan on April 1st the NDP are providing false hope to families we are moving forward with this plan thank you again you cannot disrupt Parliament from the visitors' galleries I have to ask that the person protesting be removed you have to leave you have to leave as well you have to leave you have to leave as well next question please recognize the member for Mississauga East Cookstone thank you Mr Speaker my question is my question is to the Minister of Children's Community and Social Services another year has gone by and the federal government still hasn't fixed the crisis at the border according to the federal government's website the RCMP intercepted 888 illegal border crossers seeking to enter Canada between ports of entry last January once processed we know a significant number of crossers are migrating to Ontario while they wait for their asylum claim to be heard placing an added strain on our already stretched municipal services the Toronto Sun reported last week that the city officials say an average of 18 to 20 new refugee claimants are seeking shelter each day can the Minister tell this House how our government is holding the federal government accountable for their failed border policies Mr Children's Community and Social Services thank you very much the Minister is also responsible for refugee resettlement in the province of Ontario we have been working with the federal government calling on them to reimburse this province up to $200 million and escalating in costs associated with the irregular illegal border crossings that's happening in the province of Quebec to date we have negotiated terms of reference with the federal minister Bill Blair and we are looking actively to get compensation for our two major municipalities the City of Ottawa and the City of Toronto our insurance and tax that concludes a question period for this morning for so understanding order 38 a the member for Windsor West has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question Minister of Children, Community and Social Services concerning the Ontario Autism Program. This matter will be debated Tuesday, March 19th at 6 p.m. I would now ask the pages to assemble, and I should have mentioned earlier in the Speaker's Gallery today is Kirsten Colquan, who is a teacher at Centennial Public School in Georgetown, who is visiting her student in one of our pages. See what Agarwal welcomed to Queen's Park. Are you all here? Now that they're all here, it's time for us to say a word of thanks to our legislative pages. Our pages are smart, trustworthy and hard-working, they are indispensable to the effective functioning of this chamber, and we are indeed fortunate to have them here. Our pages depart, having made many new friends, with a greater understanding of parliamentary democracy and memories that will last a lifetime. Each of them will go home, continue their studies, and no doubt will contribute to their communities, their province, and their country in very important ways. We expect great things from all of you. Maybe some of you will someday take your seats in this House as members or work here as staff. We wish you all well. Please join me in showing our appreciation to this group of Letters S until 1 p.m.