 It is now time for a question period, the member from Leeds and Grenville. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. You can give me some leeway as our Premier sprints to receipt. My question is to in fact the Premier. Premier the RCMP raided the headquarters of the Ontario Provincial Police Association on Friday. Yesterday it was announced that three senior OPP officials, the President, the Vice President and the CAO, are all taking voluntary leaves of absences while the investigation is ongoing. Back in mid-December I wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer and the Commissioner of the OPP and an investigation has been launched ever since that involves your Deputy Chief of Staff and a Senior Liberal Operative in Sudbury. To this day both of those individuals have yet to step aside even as the investigation into their alleged bribes continues. Question? Premier why is it that individuals who represent our police know to step aside when they're under investigation but your staff does not? That this is an active police matter and that I'm not going to be able to comment any farther. The member from Prince Edward Hastings will come to order and the member from Leonard will come to order as well. I know. Mr. Speaker on the issue of the Sudbury Violet to Mr. Speaker I've been very, very clear that there is an investigation ongoing. I've been clear about the trajectory of what my intentions are in terms of if there is a charge that Pat Sirbear would step aside Mr. Speaker and I've made that statement publicly and we're going to let the investigation take place outside of this legislature. Well back to the Premier, you know Premier I can't believe in a scrum this morning you acknowledge that you still have yet to meet with the Ontario Provincial Police about the ongoing investigation. But then again when pressed on your allegations against your staff you were quoted as saying and I'll quote you I will not force someone to resign over allegations I do not believe to be true. That's her quote. The people who are investigating you know when to do the right thing and they've done it. The police have done the right thing Premier. My question is is your staff above the law? Well again Mr. Speaker I take this matter very seriously I've spoken to it repeatedly the independent investigation is ongoing Mr. Speaker and I just would remind the member office that you know I think he himself said that it's important to and I quote stop interfering in an ongoing investigation and let it run its course we have to make sure that kind of interference doesn't happen Mr. Speaker I'm not going to do that and I don't think the other side should either Mr. Speaker. Well thanks again back to the Premier. In a news release the OPPA wrote it is in the best interest of the association and its membership effective immediately the members from the OPPA association Premier the opposition the public and the police know that it is in the best interest that your operative step aside while they are under investigation Premier will today be the day that your government finally demonstrates integrity Premier will today be the day that Pat Sorbera and Jerry Lockheed step aside. Thank you very much Speaker and I appreciate I appreciate you acknowledging me Speaker I want to remind the member opposite again that that the OPPA investigation he refers to or any other police investigation is exactly that speaker. The member from the storm will come to order and I would almost ask him to withdraw off I thought I heard what I thought I heard. Okay thank you. Thank you MSP because I was saying these are these matters which which are being dealt by the police these are live investigations we should respect that Speaker as we've said repeatedly these are these matters to be taken seriously they need not to be discussed here in this house we I heed the advice of the member opposite when he said that let the police do their work let the police do the investigation and we will respect that thank you. The question the member from Renfrew Niperson Pembroke. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question to the Premier. Premier we have risen again and again in this house to try to compel you to do the right thing concerning the Sudbury by-election scandal by removing Pat Sorbera and Jerry Lockheed from their positions of power and authority you are so off the mark on this issue. Yesterday we learned that three senior officials from the Ontario Provincial Police Association stepped aside or were asked to step aside when they became the subject of a police investigation. Premier will you do the right thing and remove your Chief of Staff your Deputy Chief of Staff Pat Sorbera and your political bag men Jerry Lockheed until this police investigation has been completed. Mr. Speaker let me just remind the member opposite that the OPP and the OPPA are they operate entirely independently Mr. Speaker and I have no knowledge no knowledge of the situation there and it's an act of police matter obviously I can't comment on it. Well I think you knew I was coming for you. The member from Renfrew come to order please the member from Lanark come to order. And Mr. Speaker I've been very clear about our position in terms of cooperating with the authorities in an investigation that's taking place outside of this house Mr. Speaker and we will continue to work with the authorities as is appropriate not in this legislature Mr. Speaker. Thank you supplementary. Premier what a sad response this is a simple question. On election night last year you said that the people had put their trust in you and that you wouldn't let them down. You said that you would lead with integrity that people would not be taken for granted. Such hollow words. Premier you left to point to examples of people doing the right thing. Well here's a clear cut example of just that. The OPP officials who are under police investigation had the decency to step aside until the matter is cleared up. Why is it that police officers in this province can do the right thing but liberal can'ts. Riddles can't. Why won't you put Jerry Lawheed and Pat Sabara in the pelly box till this is completed. Is that simply because of liberal arrogance? Thank you very much Speaker. I think the member opposite knows that we have something called presumption of innocence in our system of democracy where we do not judge people until they are proven guilty if that's the case. And that determination speaker is made by the judge not by the members of this House and we should respect that speaker. In fact, even the chief electoral officer in his report said I'm neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. Those decisions respectively for prosecutors and judges and the chief electoral officer is absolutely right. It is a matter for a judge to decide if any charges are laid. As we know, in this matter, no charges have been laid. There's a live investigation. We should respect that police investigation and we should not interfere in that matter whatsoever. In our system of democracy, people are innocent until they are proven guilty. In this case, everyone is innocent because there's been no charges that have been laid. Thank you very much. Final supplementary. Thank you Premier. The arrogance over there is something that I believe you will live to regret. I remind you again, three officials from the Ontario Provincial Police Association have stepped aside. They have done the right thing. We even find out today that you even haven't even interviewed with the OPP about the Sudbury by-election scandal. Premier, you were so quick, you were so quick to interview with the chief electoral officer about this scandal, but you can't find the time to interview with the OPP. Is it because the chief electoral officer is a provincial appointee but the OPP carry handcuffs? Thank you. Minister? Speaker, again, I don't know how many times we need to remind the members opposite that this is not the place or the time in the House to be interfering in a police investigation. In fact, if the member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke looked to the member from Leeds Grandville he should take his advice which is not to interfere in an ongoing police investigation. It is disappointing, Speaker, that the conservatives as being the official opposition are not focusing on the real issues that are facing on tears. They don't want to talk about things that will help. The member from Lanark is warned and the member from Prince Edward Hastings, second time. Carry on. Finish, please. Speaker, it is time that we focus on real issues at hand. We need to focus on making sure that we are growing our economy. We need to make sure that we are creating good-paying jobs for all hard-working Ontarians on all four corners of this province. I ask the opposition to really start focusing back on things that people have sent us to talk about and that is our economy, our job. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. When it comes to the Sudbury bribery scandal this Premier is in lockdown mode. I have a question and that is is that on Pats or Barrows advice, Speaker? Let me just say that I have answered this question many, many times. Next one. Carry on, please. And I've been very, very clear, Mr. Speaker, that there is an investigation ongoing and there was some heckling about, you know, I haven't had a meeting with the authorities. That's being scheduled, Mr. Speaker. And I just think the members opposite need to understand that that's a scheduling issue and I have said repeatedly that I am cooperating with the authorities. I will cooperate with the authorities and, Mr. Speaker, that was always my intention and it's what we're doing. Has Pats or Barrows been providing management issues briefings to the Premier on the Pats or Barrows issue, Speaker? Mr. Speaker, again, you know, the fact is I've made a public statement. I've made a statement about the situation in Sudbury. I've made a statement about my decision to have Glenn Tebow be our candidate in Sudbury, Mr. Speaker. Glenn Tebow, who apparently is an amazing photographer, Mr. Speaker, because the photograph on the front of the globe yesterday of the terrible derailment in Gogama was taken by our member for Sudbury, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, that is an issue that I think is very worthy of our discussion in here, Mr. Speaker. It's a very important issue, rail safety, and it's one that we should all be calling on the federal government to work with us on, Mr. Speaker, and make sure that we have all the protections in place for people across this province. Well, Speaker, I'm not sure I got an answer to whether or not Pats or Barrows providing advice to the Premier on the Pats or Barrows issue. I know Pats or Barrows wasn't on the Premier staff when the Premier was promising to change and to make things open and transparent around here. I also noticed that the Premier hasn't used the word openness once in this place since the liberal bribery scandal broke, and she only used the word transparency once. She won't even say whether or not Pats or Barrows attends cabinet meetings. It's obvious that the Premier is being neither open nor transparent refusing to answer questions. So I wonder, has Pats or Barrows come here to dial back the rhetoric about openness and transparency around here? Well, Mr. Speaker, okay, where I'm going with this, Mr. Speaker, I studied linguistics, and this would be an interesting exercise to go through which words each of us uses in the House, and the number of times and count those words, and then work up an exercise for a linguistic student, Mr. Speaker, to kind of see if we could get at the underlying themes that run through our discourse. But, Mr. Speaker, again, let me just say, we are cooperating with the authorities in an investigation that's going on outside of this House. We're working cooperatively with the OPP to set up a meeting, Mr. Speaker, and that's what I mean when I talk about working cooperatively with the authorities. That is happening outside of this House, Mr. Speaker, and the openness that I have, the openness that I, Mr. Speaker, in terms of committee work, Mr. Speaker, in terms of telling the people of Ontario Thank you. New question? Questions for the Premier Speaker. The Liberals seem to think that the law, that good ethics, that integrity, that the responsibility of economic development come to order. But, Mr. Speaker, I have a question that I would like to attend at the door to this legislature. Will the Premier stop hiding behind the OPP investigation and start answering questions like whether Pat Cerbera continues to attend cabinet meetings? Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear about where I will be answering questions and I would just remind the leader of the third party much as she wants to stand in judgment of people that the chief electoral officer clearly stated I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. Those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges. That process is underway, Mr. Speaker. Those decisions have not been made and they will not be made by the leader of the third party or anyone else in this legislature, Mr. Speaker. Our fourth OPP anti-rackets investigations into this liberal government but the Premier seems to think it's okay because the investigation is out there and she won't tolerate questions in here. This play speaker belongs to Ontarians and Ontarians deserve answers from their Premier. It doesn't matter whether those questions come in the interrogation room, whether they come at a media scrum or right here in the House, Speaker. Ontarians deserve answers on the Sudbury bribery scandal. Who made the decision to offer Andrew Olivier a job to step aside? Mr. Speaker, it actually does matter and not only do I tolerate questions I embrace questions. I'm here to ask an infrastructure. I thought, Mr. Speaker, that there might be a question about a whole range of issues in an important business of this government. Answering this question, and I will say it does matter what words we use, Mr. Speaker, and her member, the leader of the third party, member to her right, knows this. He said, the member for Timmins James Bay said, so you do have a larger responsibility to make sure you're careful in your use of your words so that you don't interfere in any way. And that's true for me. Well, Speaker, with all due respect, I think that the opposition of Ontario would rather have the Premier answer questions and embrace them. The Premier won't say who made the decisions in the bribery scandal. She won't even answer a simple question about the meetings Pat Cerbera has attended since the bribery investigation became public, which has nothing to do with the investigation at hand. The Premier doesn't have any evidence for her version of events. She won't even explain why the story that she's been clinging to is undercut by every single piece of evidence that we currently know exists. She insists that she behaved nobly and everything is above board. If everything's A-OK, can the Premier explain why it is that she's more comfortable answering questions in the OPP interrogation room that she is here in Ontario's legislature? Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The Premier wants to talk about and we all should be talking about the issues that are important to Ontario's. I ask the leader of the third party if she wants to play the word count game let's play the word count. How many times the NDP has spoken about the minimum wage in this house? How many times the NDP has talked about raising for public support workers in this house? How many times NDP has talked about raising childcare workers wages talking about public transit in this house? Speak of that is the problem. They've lost their soul, they've lost their values, they don't stand for anything and they want to talk about A-OK issues for Ontario's. Can you see this please? Can you see this please? New question? Doesn't help when he walks by and makes a hackle. Order please. Start the clock. The member from Kitchener County School. Thank you. My question is to the Premier and Premier of my constituents. Thank you for tolerating my question today. Premier, your predecessors Ferguson, Hepburn, Frost, Davis, Peterson and Ray they all have one thing in common. All had at least one cabinet resignation during their watch. Many with more than one and many due to allegations, and or concerns that prompted action to ensure accountability. Chris Dockwell, Jim Wilson, Bob Runciman, Cousin Greg, Sobara, Mike Cole and David Kaplan all went on to take the honourable step aside. Heck, even Dalton McGinty got at a dodge when the weight of accountability became too great. Yesterday three senior OPP union officials won a former Liberal candidate stepped aside. Premier take the lead, ensure bribery investigations against your Deputy Chief of Staff are conducted well. The alleged culprit will be in your office. Thank you. Well, I welcome the question from the opposition member, Mr. Speaker. I value the ability in this House to have a debate. I think it's an extremely important part of the democratic process. It's extremely important that the opposition have the opportunity to hold government to account. I think it is incredibly important and central to the workings of a democratic system, Mr. Speaker. What is also essential, Mr. Speaker, is that there be a separation between an investigation that's going on, Mr. Speaker, that really is not a political process that is a process that has to happen apart from the political machinations, the political debate in this House and that has to happen outside the legislature. So I'm going to take part in that investigation, Mr. Speaker. I'm working with the authorities, Mr. Speaker, and I have said I would do that and that's exactly what I would do. Supplementary? Yes, back to the Premier. Your Deputy Premier is right. Your continued rope-a-dope refusal to be accountable is getting so boring. Terrible. That said, today marks a significant milestone in your deflect, dither, and delay strategy. Today not only marks the passing of the 100th question yardstick on the exact same subject, it also marks exactly one month since the OPP announced their intention to bring you in to discuss the bribery offers clearly heard on the Olivier gate tapes. Premier, on this milestone day, for your sake, for your government's sake, even for the media's sake, do the right thing. Have Paps of Air and Jerry Loggy step aside and finally give some straight answers to the fair so we can all move on. Well, Mr. Speaker, again, I've said that we are going to take part in, and I am going to take part in the investigation that's happening outside of this house. We've been in touch with the OPP, Mr. Speaker. We're arranging an interview, Mr. Speaker, and we're working with them to arrange dates. I mean, if the question is, when am I going to meet with the OPP, the question is, when we can arrange a date for that to happen, Mr. Speaker, and that discussion is ongoing. But I have been clear, Mr. Speaker, that I've been very clear that I will work with the authorities but that investigation has to take place outside of this house not in this legislature, Mr. Speaker. Do you have a new question? The member from Timmins James Bay. My question is to the Premier. Premier, we learned yesterday that the OPPA after an investigation, members of the executive board stood aside in order to allow things to unfold and so that they could look their resignation I will try to speak with the economics development. We've learned that three members of the OPP Association are under investigation by the RCMP for what? We don't know. But unlike the Sudbury investigation, there doesn't appear to be taped evidence. Interesting to note, however, that two of the officials have stepped aside while the investigation is underway. No charges, no findings of guilt or innocent, but they stepped aside. Why won't the Premier's Deputy Chief of Staff and her Police Services Board of Pointy step aside while the bribery investigations are underway? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, as I said, I know nothing about the investigation that's going on in the OPPA and the OPP and the OPPAR separate organizations. They're independent organizations, Mr. Speaker. On the situation that we're dealing with, I've been clear about my position. I've been clear about the decision that I made regarding the candidacy in Sudbury, Mr. Speaker, and I've been clear that we're working with the authorities on the investigation that is taking place outside of this legislature. Thank you. Supplementary? Yes. Premier, what drives people back home crazy is the double standard that your government has when it comes to accountability. Why is it that members of this assembly, when they've been in similar situations, they've done the right thing and stood aside? The OPPA has done the right thing. They stood aside. But you have a different standard. Oh, no. You don't have to follow any type of standard. You don't have to follow the law. People just keep on going on the way they were. People expect their government to be different in the sense of making sure that you take responsibility. So I ask you again, why is there a double standard for liberal people while it's not the same for anybody else? Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mika. I think what's driving people crazy at home is that the opposition parties are not focusing on the real issues of the day. That's what people are talking about and that's what people are concerned about. Mika, what they want is the members' opposition really taking the time in the question period and I put government to account on issues that are important to them, like creating jobs in their communities, like making sure that we're building better quality healthcare and good schools are running in our community. That's what we were elected to do. That's what my constituents want me to focus on and I'm sure the members opposite are hearing from their constituents as well that they should be focusing on real issues that are important directly to their communities and stop scandal-mongering. Thank you, Speaker. New question. The member from them. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education. I know that Ontario's publicly funded education system stands as one of the best in the world. This progress that we've made is the result of the dedication work and vision of this Liberal government working hand-in-hand with the education community to create a world-class system. I am proud to be part of a government that recognizes the importance of investing in people, specifically through investing in education. We are proud of the progress we have made across Ontario and all of our publicly funded school systems. The English public, English Catholic, French public and French Catholic systems. Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on ensuring success across all of our publicly funded systems including the French and Catholic boards. We believe the Catholic boards play an important part of our vibrant and diverse education system. That's certainly true in my great writing of Davenport where we have a number of wonderful Catholic schools. Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can the Minister share with his House how we continue to ensure we remain committed to all publicly funded education systems across Ontario including the Catholic systems? Thank you, Speaker and thank you to the member from Davenport who I know is a strong supporter of Catholic education. And as I said as I mentioned earlier today the friends and advocates of Catholic education are here at Queen's Park and I'd like to welcome supporters from the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario who will be here later in the day. And indeed, as the member says together we have indeed built an excellent system. Over the past 10 years we've been able to raise the graduation rate from 68% to 83%. And our government remains committed to providing excellent education and that includes the Catholic school system. Thank you. So thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the Minister. We are recognized around the world as having one of the best publicly funded education systems in the English speaking world and I have two young sons that are part of the Catholic School Board here in the city and I know firsthand this is so true and I know our government's renewed vision achieving excellence continues to focus on basics like reading, writing and math while placing an emphasis on other skills like critical thinking communication and collaboration. Part of our government's plan entails working with our four diverse publicly funded school systems the English Catholic, French Public and French Catholic systems to ensure students continue to achieve excellence and success in my writing of Davenport and across the province. Supporting a world class education system is part of our government's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. Mr. Speaker through you to the Minister can the Minister share with his house our commitment to working with all boards across Ontario has helped ensure student success and well being. Thank you Speaker. You know we want every child and student on Ontario to gain the knowledge, skills and personal characteristics that will allow them to be successful, productive and with all four publicly funded school systems across Ontario we've a lot to be proud of when it comes to our accomplishments in education. We've invested 12 billion in school infrastructure since 2003. All four and five year olds now have access to full day kindergarten and our students remain competitive in math performing above the OECD average. On April 9th 2014 we released a renewed vision for education entitled achieving excellent a renewed vision for education in Ontario. We will continue to work with all of our education partners including our friends from friends and advocates of Catholic education to ensure that all our students achieve success. Great job. Speaker my question is for the Premier. As we saw yesterday with the RCMP investigation of the OPPA when others are under investigation they step away from active duty so that they are unable to share notes and talk to other individuals also under investigation. Yet you have taken a very different course of action with Pat Sobera she still works in your office where she is under your direct supervision and direction. After three weeks of daily questioning by the opposition and the media it is possible to believe that you have not discussed the details of the allegations made by the chief electoral officer in his report from February 19th. Why are you more interested in protecting Pat Sobera than ensuring the investigation can proceed without concerns that stories are being changed or emails to be watched. Mr. Speaker again and I challenge the premise of the question from the member the member officer can believe what she chooses to believe but I hope she believes the chief electoral officer when he wrote this Mr. Speaker I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges so Mr. Speaker that's why there is an investigation going on it is going on outside of this house and we are working with the authorities as I said we would Mr. Speaker Thank you supplementary Mr. Speaker it's not what I believe it's what the people of Ontario believe and what they want answers from the chief electoral officers report was released almost a month ago police officers teachers lawyers even cabinet ministers understand they need to step away from active duty when investigations are ongoing even at administrative duty would be an improvement what makes you think that you and your staff are above the law Mr. Speaker again this is another question where the opposition is asking me to answer questions which I have done but they're asking me to answer these questions in such a way that I would be interfering in an investigation that's going on outside of this house and then they would be the first to criticize if I did that so Mr. Speaker you know the fact is I have to do what I have said that I would do I said that I will work with the authorities and we are doing that Mr. Speaker we're working to set up a meeting with the OPP I've been very clear that we will cooperate with the investigation but Mr. Speaker I've been equally clear that that investigation has to take place outside of the legislature Thank you for the question the member from Bramley George Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the premier now I want to preempt an instance but I'm talking about the seriousness of the offence criminal offence is related to the deputy house leader is warned carry on thank you criminal offence is related to bribery are quite serious in fact section 125 of the criminal code of Canada influencing or negotiating appointments or dealing in offices is an adorable offence and can carry up to five years in prison now it's a serious offence but the premier doesn't seem to be taking it very seriously at all that her deputy chief of staff is facing criminal investigations does the premier really think that this scandal shouldn't concern us I've said over and over again that I do take this matter very seriously I take it very seriously I take it seriously enough Mr. Speaker that I will answer the questions in the appropriate venue not in the legislature where the investigation is not taking place so those investigative questions are taking place outside of the legislature and I would have thought I think the member opposite is a trained lawyer I would have thought that he would have understood that that independent investigation needed to take place outside of this house Mr. Speaker supplementary thank you very much Mr. Speaker well I'm glad the premier recognizes that this offence is very serious let me continue by pointing out that violating the elections act is also very serious in fact a general offence of the election act carries a $5,000 fine but an offence related to bribery is considered a corrupt practice and it actually includes a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment of up to two years now just like violating the criminal code violating the criminal the elections code the elections act is also very severe offence now can the premier explain to me this this is not about the investigation this is a simple question can the premier explain why with two serious investigations that despite these serious penalties Pat Sabira shouldn't just be put on leave well again Mr. Speaker let me go back to what the chief electoral officer said and I know that the member opposite takes very seriously what officers of the legislature say and the chief electoral officer said this clearly stated and I quote I'm either deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges Mr. Speaker there's an investigation going on it's taking place outside of the legislature Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of health and long-term care every year every year dieticians of Canada and dieticians working all over Ontario help promote healthy eating through celebrating nutrition month in March I know my constituents and Barry are focusing on promoting healthy eating the goal of the 2015 national nutrition month campaign is to inspire Canadians to eat better at work and make other positive changes for a healthy workplace registered dieticians work in many settings in Ontario bringing evidence-based nutrition and food advice to consumers clients and patients as regulated health professionals the public can have confidence that registered dieticians have the training and skills to provide safe ethical and confident care welcome to the dieticians that are here with us today Mr. Speaker through you I ask the minister what is our government doing to promote healthy eating and active life Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Barry for this very important question and I want to start I want to begin Mr. Speaker by acknowledging not just the dieticians that are here in the gallery with us today but the thousands of dieticians right across this great province that are working so hard each and every day to keep Ontarians happy Mr. Speaker and it's important that we ask these questions about health care and other topics that are important to Ontarians especially seeing as the opposition is not asking these important questions of the day Mr. Speaker and I want to say that as we all know dieticians play such a critical role in keeping people of all ages healthy and helping them to avoid chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease increasingly we see people looking to prevention as a key to staying healthy and we know that people in Ontario are interested in this approach that's why our action plan for health care and our healthy kids have both identified healthy and living as a top priority so thank you again to our dieticians they do great work, they do great work across this province each and every day Thank you Mr. Speaker I'm very proud of our government's healthy kids strategy on March the 18th the 6th annual dieticians day is being celebrated to recognize the work of dieticians and the value they bring to our health care system by preventing and managing chronic diseases and promoting recovery dieticians are a cost effective investment in the health care system promoting access to dieticians care and supporting them at work at full scope of practice helps achieve the health system goals my constituents want to know how to access this very important information and it turns out Ontarians can speak directly with a registered dietician for free by calling Eat Right Ontario I know our government introduced legislation to promote healthy eating and lifestyle For you Mr. Speaker, ask the minister what will this legislation entail Thank you, Minister Do the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member for this very important question and she's right this fall our government did indeed reintroduce the act if passed the act will require restaurant chains, convenience stores grocery stores and other food service establishments with 20 or more locations to post the number of calories in standard food and beverage items including alcohol what this means Mr. Speaker as you will be able to walk into your favorite Tim Hortons and see the calories in an ice cap or a donut and I believe this is about empowering Ontarians about giving them the information they need that they can make the right choice I'm very excited by this bill I know people across Ontario looking forward to this legislation the legislation is going through second reading right now and I look forward to support from all members to make this law Thank you Thank you Speaker My question is to the Premier Premier we learned yesterday that three senior officials from the Ontario Provincial Police Association took voluntary leaves during an ongoing police investigation the Premier actions speak louder than words the OPPA is working to maintain their integrity while you're working really hard to bring shame to the office of the Premier why have you not required Pat Severe and Jerry Logheed to step aside during the OPPA investigation Thank you again Thank you very much again Speaker I want to remind the member opposite that the Chief Electoral Officer has been very clear he has made no finding of innocence or guilt in fact he says I'm neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence those decisions respectively for prosecutors and judges I think Speaker that's something that's really important I think all members should be very careful that they're not making any assumptions about anyone being guilty until they actually proven so in the court and as we know Speaker there is a life investigation there has been no charges laid and and let the independent authorities do their work as they are mandated to do so because that is their job and we should take that time Speaker to focus on issues that are important to our communities I know the member opposite have important issues you want Thank you, supplementary You're back to the Premier Premier you've stood in this House claiming you're cooperating with the OPPA However it's been over a month and you have yet to meet with the police and nothing to hide would meet with the police as soon as possible irregardless of their schedule Premier wouldn't you agree that delaying the meeting with the OPPA is tantamount to interfering with the OPPA investigation If you're talking about hiding what I think what Ontarians want to know is that how many jobs 100,000 jobs that the opposition is going to cut why they're hiding why they're not telling us exactly the last estimates that we received that 22,700 of those proposed 100,000 jobs are going to be in the education sector the question is that still correct Stop the clock please I'm going to remind Minister I've said this on a couple occasions where I'm hearing the answer I need to see it directly at least somewhere into the question and I will put that to him to pull it back towards that Absolutely Speaker the point of the matter is that there are important issues that needs to be discussed that is related to our community that important issue that needs to be discussed when it comes to building our communities up we know that the party opposite only believes in cutting good hardworking public service jobs and not focusing what's it That's finished Do you have a question to the member from Kitchener Waterloo Thank you very much Mr. Speaker to the Premier Premier I hope you embrace this question I also hope you answer it the Premier says she's working with the police but the Premier's aides are investigating her office and her government are the ones that are at question Speaker we don't really know if she is cooperating because she's not answering any of our questions Can the Premier tell Ontarians whether the Ontario Liberal Campaign Director Pat Cerbera has been interviewed by the police a measure of my cooperation with the authorities will happen as part of the investigation Mr. Speaker it's not a measure of what I'm doing in this legislature because the investigation is not taking place in here and I know the member opposite knows that she knows full well that there has to be a separation between the political discussion that happens in the legislature and the investigation that is independent and so that's why the investigation is taking place again to the Premier actually what happens in this legislature does matter and if the Libras are so insistent that they are cooperating with the police will the Premier tell Ontarians exactly what assistance she's provided to the police and to elections Ontario and explain what the investigators have requested and what has been turned over please Mr. Speaker first what happens in this legislature matters very much Mr. Speaker and it matters that we not interfere with an investigation that is taking place independently of the legislature so the questions that the member opposite is asking are really the stuff of the investigation Mr. Speaker and so that investigation is taking place outside of the house and I will be and am cooperating with the authorities Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker and I have a real question program and my question is to the minister responsible for Pan Am games the Pan and Parapan American Games are coming was just four months away the excitement is building I know many people in my riding have bought tickets to the games we also have a venue in my riding that is being refurbished for the games the playing fields at U of T are being transformed into two world class field hockey because the fields are Ontario's first international caliber field hockey venue and will double the number of fields available for the sport in greater Toronto area the facility is also expected to be the highest quality two turf facility in question according to the field hockey Canada. Speaker can the minister tell us more about how we are preparing for the games Thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you and I'd like to thank the member from trinity spadina for his great question on government program and policy Mr. Speaker we're in great shape when it comes to the Pan Am Parapan and games so far we've been able to sell almost 300,000 tickets we have 52,000 people who have signed up to volunteer and Mr. Speaker as many of the members know last week we unveiled our new medals for the Pan Am Parapan and games and they're incredible and also in fact we had a great collaborative effort between the arts sector Christine Belcourt a made visual artist helped develop those medals and like I spoke about last week it's the first time Braille's been incorporated into the mail for any major games Mr. Speaker we are 17 Fridays away from the opening of these games and we're so proud of having many of our buildings that are set up for these games that are being used by the community including our athletes village and I'll talk a little bit about that in the supplemental Supplementary Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Minister for his answer I'm not sure that the member heard me the first time so I'm going to repeat it when everything is quiet the member from Hamilton East Stony Creek come to order put your question please I encourage the member across please use their opportunity to ask those questions to the minister directly these new sports facilities are built for generations of Ontarians to enjoy the venues will not be used will not only be used by all our high performance athletes but also by beginners and students who are just learning new sports as a post game legacy the Pan Am fields will host a number of different sports in U of T they will also add to the existing sports facilities benefiting students on the campus and members of my community can the minister tell the member of this legislature about the legacy of the athletes village will leave the comment Thank you Mr. Speaker I want to tell you a bit about the athletes village this village is part of a broader revitalization of the west Don lands and Toronto waterfront and it's accelerated the pace of the development in that area by 10 years the project Mr. Speaker includes 808 market housing units 100 affordable housing units and 253 affordable rental units it also contains for the first time a residence for George Brown students it's 175,000 square foot eight story building that will be home to 500 students per year and an 80,000 square foot YMCA new facility Mr. Speaker the YMCA facility includes gymnasium swimming pool fitness studio space for youth and community accessible green roofs 10% of the units will be fully accessible in the actual building which I think is the most important Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is the premium your chief of staff Pat Cerbera is currently under OPP investigation involving the Sudbury bribery scandal and yet she continues to have access to government's cabinet decisions and senior members of your inner circle when three OPP staff became subjects of a police investigation they immediately stepped down so as to not keep asserting their influence on that office and tarnishing the reputation of their association Premier why are you continuing to allow Pat Cerbera to stay in her position in the midst of a police investigation Thank you very much Speaker and again Speaker I remind the member opposite and he's heard the answer before and is that we have something called presumption of innocence in our system of democracy we should respect that in fact the chief electoral officer restated that very clearly in his finding and if you like I can read that passage to him again again doing the supplementary but Speaker I think what we really need to focus on issues that are important to our communities I'm sure the member opposite has got a hospital and this will be a great opportunity for him to advocate on behalf of his community by speaking on those very important issues and let the police do its work which is they're very much capable and responsible to do so because Speaker as you very much appreciate it will be highly inappropriate if we as a government interfere in that police investigation Thank you Speaker back to the Premier the people in my right believe that law and order is a fundamental tenet of democracy no one including the Premier is above the law the OPP put their membership in integrity first you're not doing that your steadfast refusal to rise above your own political needs and put the interests of the public first is a serious breach of the integrity of your office you are not above the law Premier will you do the honourable thing and ask Mr. Sabara and Mr. Lawheed to step down from their staff positions until the bribery investigation is complete Speaker the members are absolutely correct no one is above the law this is a kangaroo court Speaker we need to make sure that there's a process in place and we should respect that process and the process Speaker dictates that people in our system are innocent until they're proven guilty Speaker they are not to be judged as the members opposite are trying to judge certain individuals when not even a criminal charge has been laid as I said and I'll read again what the Chief Electoral Officer said in his own ruling I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter no determining anyone's guilt or innocence these decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges I ask the members opposite let those prosecutors and judges do their job thank you very much Speaker the question is from Hamilton Eastone Creek thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier can the Premier tell us how many of the Premier's staff and inner circle including the Deputy Premier herself who seems to know about your conversations with your soul have been interviewed by the OPP Anti-Rackets Division Minister of Community Safety Infection Services Thank you very much Speaker again I remind the members opposite we should not be talking about it about live police investigation in the house we should focus on issues that are important to the people of Ontario the Chief Electoral Officer has been very very clear that he is not making any no judgement in terms of innocence or guilt of any individual and he's asked us Speaker in his report that we should let the prosecutors and judges do their job I respectfully I humbly ask all members to respect the ruling of the Chief Electoral Officer that we respect the work that OPP is doing in that regards and not a live police investigation Thank you Thank you Speaker the Premier keeps insisting that she won't answer question because there's a police investigation ongoing who who on the Premier's staff and who at the Ontario Liberal Party have the police requested in views with and who has been interviewed and Speaker I'm having visions gas plants, orange, e-health I'm having visions it's like an instant replay Speaker here we go again this is scandal number 7 keep going guys you're doing a great job Well thank you very much Speaker again I think the member should be focusing his visions on minimum wage should be focusing his vision on supporting personal support workers he should be focusing his vision on supporting childcare workers he should be focusing his vision on building good public transit he should be focusing his vision on making sure that they're good paying jobs in our community Speaker that is what that is what Ontarians have asked us to work on Speaker it's a very sad day when we see that even the NDP has stooped so low that they focus on just scandal mongering Speaker we know there's a process that's ongoing we know there's a live police investigation and the OPP do its work thank you thank you Speaker my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry it's a very important policy question one that I know that my constituents in Cambridge care very deeply about this is a time of year that Ontario secondary and post-secondary students look for job opportunities for the summer ahead in previous years the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been a leading Ministry for providing summer jobs to youth in Ontario early last year my own son Alex applied for such a position and spent his spring and summer as a fire ranger youth in my riding in Cambridge are looking to learn new skills and develop real employment experience that they can carry with them into the workplace however many youth are concerned about whether or not they'll be able to find a summer job this year through you to the Minister would the Minister please inform the House of whether or not his Ministry will again be hiring young people this summer Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry thank you very much and I want to thank the member from Cambridge for giving me an opportunity to highlight this last week in Thunder Bay I was fortunate to be part of an event out at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry fire base where we were able to highlight students who are looking to summer job opportunities MNRF's program once again this year will be offering somewhere in the neighborhood of 1900 summer youth employment opportunities right across the province it's important to note that those job opportunities will be in 30 different communities or in close proximity to 30 different communities right across the province of Ontario I highlight for my northern colleagues and friends that about 800 of that 1900 will be in northern Ontario one of the programs is a youth stewardship program speaker and given our Ministry's commitment to biodiversity to wetlands and invasive species it's very important work that they're doing as well thank you to the Minister for his response and his commitment to providing summer jobs to youth in Ontario I know from knocking on doors in Cambridge and north Dumfries that many parents in youth were disappointed when the opposition conservatives gave jobs strategy in 2013 so they are happy to hear that our government remains committed to helping young people find summer jobs I also know that parents and young people want to find summer youth employment that provides meaningful experience, builds their resumes and gives them real hands-on experience in a field of work that interests them many youth in my riding are looking for summer jobs that move them out of the offices and into Ontario's vast natural environment will the Minister please tell this House how his ministry is providing summer job opportunities that provides hands-on experience in Ontario's great outdoors Minister, thank you once again I thank the member from Cambridge for the question, I really want to highlight one of the programs that we offer through summer employment it's called the First Nations Youth Employment Program I had the opportunity last year the Confederation College works to provide training their employed through MNR and I had an opportunity to go to that graduation ceremony last summer down at Marina Park and Thunder Bay when I listen to those young men and women speak at that graduation ceremony I can tell you that it was very emotional and very moving we actually witnessed I would say and I'm not overstating it at all young men and women who through this just participated in something that for them was very transformative I don't think I'm overstating it at all this program had availed them of an opportunity to truly engage in something that they felt incredibly passionate about I think people who work at MNRF take that with them no matter what their jobs are and even if they don't stay in MNRF when they leave this ministry they've learned life skills and have had great management opportunities this particular program and opportunity for me was wonderful and I want to thank MNRF for providing that opportunity through this particular program for our original use thank you thank you speaker to the premier three senior OPPA members came under investigation and did the right thing by stepping aside and ensuring that they can they can influence the process that is being investigated your deputy chief of staff Pat Sabara is also under investigation for Breiber but continues to have access to your office your staff ministers and civil services influencing public policy by refusing to show leadership in your own office you are dragging your own office and our democracy into the month premier when will you end this travesty and remove Pat Sabara and Jerry Lahi jr. from the positions under investigation thank you thank you thank you very much minister and I thank the member opposite for the question again if he's going to ask the same question that all his colleagues have asked over the question period he'll get the same answer speaker which is that this is a live police matter and it's been investigated by the police speaker and we should respect I know the members community I know there are some important issues in this community and I'm surprised that the member opposite is not focusing on talking about jobs in his community I know the previous member Jim Brunel who was a great member of this legislature would not waste any time but to talk about his own community and it's said to see that the member opposite when he had the opportunity through a question is not doing that this is a this is a police matter speaker we should respect that we should let them do their job premier said it again again she's cooperating and I think that's the proper course and we should focus back on issues that are important to our respective commentaries thank you thank you my resident my government that follows the law so in due time we know why the RCMP executed a search on the OPPA but you have known for months that your staff is under investigation for bribery the Canada's criminal code bribery includes public appointments and is punishable by up to 14 years in prison everyone what you realize is this is a serious crime yet you and your government stand by two liberal operatives who are on tape apparently doing just that when will you show some leadership in your own office and remove the stench of bribery by having Pat Shabara and Jerry Lahi Jr step aside until the investigation is complete Speaker I'm sure the member opposite know the law of the land is that you're presumed innocent until found guilty and in this case speaker there's been no charges laid the chief electoral officer is absolutely clear he's not making any determination of innocence or guilt and he's actually asking all of us to respect the process and let the prosecutors and judges do their work I asked the member opposite that they should also respect the law and let the police do its work thank you speaker just a quick point of order I just our pagecap to today in Naya's parents are here and her family that's Sadia, Yosef, Imam and it was Minya who was hackling the opposition earlier Mr. Speaker Speaker we have a deferred vote on a motion of interim supply calling the members this will be a five minute bell let's take their seats On March 9th Mr. Nackby moved that the minister of finance be authorized to pay the salaries of the civil servants and other necessary payments pending the voting of supply for the period commencing April 1st 2015 and ending on September 30th 2015 such payments to be charged to the proper appropriation for the 2015-16 fiscal year following the voting of supply all those in favor please rise one at a time and be recognized by the government Mr. Sousa Mr. Sousa Mr. Nackby Mr. Nackby Mr. Bradley Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Shirelli Mr. Quinter Mr. Quinter Mr. Kohl Mr. Tikar Mr. Tikar Mr. Bhargne fancy Mr. Dhillon Mr. Quadri Mr. Quadri Mr. Rizetti Mr. Trivali Mr. Trival Mr. paddle Mr. McM beginner Mr. McM Mr Moro, Ms. Jassen, Mr. Del Duca, Ms. Dommerlock, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Ballart, Mr. Balor, Mr. Dawn, Ms. Hogarth, Ms. Cawalla, Ms. Cawalla, Ms.余damelon, Ms. Mrs. Martens, Ms. Magary, Ms. McMahime, Ms. Milchin, Mr. Milchin, Ms. Nidu Harris, Mr. Potts, Mr. Rinaldi, Ms. Reneal, Drtebo, Mr. Thibault. The pulse police rise one at a time, if you recognize whether or not they're here. Mr. Fideli. Mr. Fideli. Mr. Hardiman. Mr. Hardiman. Mr. Yakibusky. Mr. Yakibusky. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Mr. Miller Perry Sound Miscotan. Mr. Miller Perry Sound Miscotan. Mr. Dunlop. Mr. Dunlop. Ms. Jones. Ms. Jones. Ms. Monroe. Ms. Monroe. Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott. Mr. Yerra. Mr. Yerra. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Hillyer. Mr. Hillyer. Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker. Miss干ay. Miss tempius. Miss Tuttee. Miss surface contact. Ms. Prime. Herrpys. Ms. Petapäus. Ms. Fife. Ms. Fife. You should be salty. You should be soft. I'm Jelineon. Mr. Tabbins. Mr. Miller Hamilton. Mristicon reached gera. BUtts thank. Mr.ㅋㅋㅋ. French. The Ayes being 54 and the Mays being 38. I declare the motion carried. There are no deferred votes. This house stands recessed and PM this afternoon.