 It is now time for oral questions, and I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Before I begin, I think I just want to relay, I think on behalf of all of the MPPs in the legislature, our sincere concern and worry about the fire that's happening at York Memorial Collegiate Institute and all of the staff and faculty and students who attend there and who work there. It's devastating to see that institution go up in flames on its 90th anniversary, so I think it's just important to acknowledge that. Speaker, my first question is to the Premier. Does the Premier think getting beer into corner stores is more important than vaccinating children or providing school breakfast programs? Oh, great. Questions to the Premier? You can't make those kinds of interjections in the House. We're going to ask you to leave. I'm going to remind everyone who is here as a guest that we're pleased to have you here to view and listen to the proceedings of Parliament, but you can't interject. You can't yell at the members on the floor. To do so disrupts the proceedings of Parliament. We have no choice but to ask you to leave if you do that. And all of you know and you're informed when you come in that you can't do that. Please respect Parliament, those of you who are left. Restart the clock. Premier, head the floor. Through you, Mr. Speaker, we're putting $433 million into Toronto Public Health. We're putting $2 billion right across the province. But, Mr. Speaker, why are we doing this? We're doing this to make sure that we support the things that matter to people. Things that matter to families, matter to their children. And it's not sustainable. It's not sustainable if we continue spending. We have a $347 billion debt. We have a $15 billion deficit. Mr. Speaker, the students in the stands up there, they're worried about their parents making sure they keep a job. We're creating jobs. We created 123,000 jobs. We lowered their taxes. When they go home, their parents will see a lower heating cost instead of a higher heating cost. We're putting money back into their pockets. It's unsustainable. You can't keep spending. The opposition, all they want to do is spend the taxes. Thank you. Supplementary question. Seems to me the Premier wants to spend the people's money on campaign stickers on gas pumps, Speaker. That's not a priority. They challenge the Premier's misplaced priorities and his reckless cuts to public health. But he's not alone. Mayors across Ontario say the Premier is engaged in downloading by stealth. And just yesterday, the City of London announced that the Ford government cuts have created a $4 million hole in their budget. Meanwhile, doctors and frontline health workers say cuts to public health will put families at risk and make hallway medicine even worse. Does the Premier really believe all these people are, to use his own words, irresponsibly wading into issues that they don't understand? Premier to reply to you, Mr. Speaker, the only thing you're responsible is a rhetoric coming from the other side. All they want to do is continue to spend the taxpayers' money. As they run their households, as they run their small businesses, people around this province, you can't spend more than what you take in. It's very simple. They don't understand math. We understand math. The only way we're going to protect health care, the only way we're going to protect education, by the way we put $700 million more into education, every teacher is keeping their job because we put a safety net of $1.6 billion. The only way you can do that, Mr. Speaker, is take care of your balance sheet. They don't understand that. They would spend, spend, spend. They bankrupt this province. We inherited a bankrupt province through the Liberals that the NDP supported 98% of the time. It's irresponsible. They do not know how to run a fiscal balance sheet if their life depended on it. Stop clock. Final supplementary. These would be the same small businesses that don't want the Premier's campaign stickers on there. We have to realize that funding cuts and insults are no way to build a health care system. Yesterday, the chair of the Kingston, Frontenac, Lenox and Addington Board of Health laid out the dangers of public health cuts and I quote, we simply cannot afford to have any infectious outbreak like SARS or water contamination event like Walkerton. History tells us the next threat is just around the corner. These cuts to our health care system put all of us at risk, Speaker. Do we have to wait until the next disaster before the Premier understands what happens when you roll the dice with health care cuts? Premier? Deputy Premier, Minister of Health. Refer to me, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health. The idea is that we are investing more money in health care, over a billion dollars more in health care, but I think it's important to note that we are focusing on what matters the most, what counts the most. And we were elected by the people last June to do that. People know that we were spending more than 40 million dollars a day than we were taking in. That is not sustainable. So we are asking our public health units to do the same, to focus on the key priorities, to focus on the things that count the most, to make sure that children get vaccinated, to make sure that the school breakfast programs continue, to make sure that children with special needs continue to get the help that they get. If they continue to focus on those priorities, there will be enough money to make sure those basics are covered. But what happened with the City of Toronto? What have they done? They've had a surplus in their public health budget over the last 10 years to a total of 52 million dollars. In other parts of their budget, they've spent money with tree maintenance programs. Thank you. Well, Speaker, my next question is to the Premier, but I have to say it's pretty disgusting that this government promised no cuts to health care and no cuts to education in that campaign, and yet that's exactly what they're doing. If public health is not being most across Ontario are worried about the Premier's reckless cuts to childcare across Ontario. Yesterday, the Premier dismissed concerns from his former ally, the Deputy Mayor of Toronto, but virtually every municipality across Ontario is facing direct cuts to childcare funding. Today, mothers from across Ontario have come to Queen's Park to express their concern. Will the Premier listen, or will he tell them not to meddle in issues that they don't understand? Questions to the Premier? Minister of Education. Minister of Education. I'd like to share a quote from a press release titled, license day care operators see opportunities for municipal savings. And I'd like to quote specifically what I shared with you yesterday. The reaction by some municipal officials have been totally over the top, says Andrea Hannon, Executive Director of the Association of Day Care Operators in Ontario. It's like they want families to start panicking. The fact of the matter is, there's been a lot of waste in the system for a very long time. And the fact is, we recognize that there's opportunity to realize efficiencies, but most importantly, we recognize we must make sure that parents are the centre of every decision around childcare for their families, as opposed to governments telling them where they need to go and what they need to do. And more importantly, making sure that parents are part of the decision making is central, but we also want to make sure that we're leaving money in parents' pockets. Our childcare plan is going to enable 300,000 families. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, apparently parents in this minister's own writing wrote an open letter today begging her to fund childcare. Not for profit, that's one speaker. The Premier is creating a crisis here and it won't disappear just because he denies that it's happening, or insults people that raise concerns. One parent joining us today is from the riding of Huron Bruce. She warns that the government cuts to childcare will, quote, make childcare harder to access, more expensive and will put young children and families at risk. Does the Premier deny his cuts will impact families that rely on programs that are losing funding? Well, again, just like any MPP in our government, we encourage all our constituents to come to us directly and work with us because the fact of the matter is we look forward to meeting with our constituents because we are absolutely listening to our grassroots. And our grassroots have told us that they are tired of government spending money out of their pockets left and right. And so the fact of the matter is we're making sure that families feel supported like no other time before, like over the last 15 years. We're investing over $2 billion, as I said, any family that has a child between the age of 0 and 7 actually get a support of $6,000 a year for her child and the family. And above that, from ages 7 to 16, they get support of tax credit of $7,750 and families with special needs children can get an $8,250 tax credit. Thank you very much. Well, Speaker, the fact is that this government kept these cuts hidden from families because they know how shameful and heartless they really are. And they know they are targeting families who are in the most need in our province, Speaker. The Premier did not receive a mandate to slash not-for-profit childcare funding for families across Ontario. That was not what he promised on the campaign trail. Nobody voted, Speaker, to see fewer options for affordable child care. Why is the government targeting children and low-income families with these cuts? Minister Dourfly. Well, again, this is about getting things right. And we know across the province there are families not only for the likes of the city of Toronto, but municipalities across Ontario to take a look at their administration and realise some efficiencies to make sure that the focus of childcare supports coming from my ministry is focused on families. Again, we are making sure that there is flexibility, affordability and accessibility to all families in every corner of this province. We are actually making sure that for the first time, people who have a right to choose between in-centre care, in-home care or summer camps, and the fact of the matter is, all of those expenses will be covered off. 75% of childcare expenses will be covered off by our care, our tax credits. Response? So the fact of the matter is, we are getting it right. We've listened to parents and shame on this opposition for the opposition opposition. Next question. Once again, the leader of the opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier, but I have to say it is not right. It is wrong to cut on the backs of the most vulnerable families. Two years' cut, Speaker, are being felt across Ontario and the schools from one end of the province to the other. Just this week, we've seen reports of nearly 40 classes being removed from a secondary school in Stoville like media studies, music, history, and French, all being scrapped, because the Premier fired the people who teach those courses. Does the Premier really think it's appropriate to target cuts at our students? Questions to the Premier? Mr. Speaker, it's very difficult to sit here and listen to inaccurate statements. Just totally inaccurate, Mr. Speaker. I'll tell you what we did promise. We promised to get bankrupt province out of bankruptcy to make sure we protect the real people in this province, that people are working in the factories and people are working in the offices struggling to pay their mortgage. We're lowering their taxes. We created 123,000 jobs. There's 123,000 people that weren't working before because before businesses didn't have any confidence in the Liberal government or the NDP government, there is no confidence right now that we're being fiscally responsible. We're driving the economy. We're making sure we're creating good paying jobs. Companies are flooding all over the place. So the students up there, their parents are going to have a sustainable job. They're going to have lower taxes. They're going to have lower bills because of our government, not because of the spend, thrift, NDP, and Liberal policies. Well, Speaker, struggling families are struggling even more under this government, and you know what? They're struggling because they didn't get their $15 minimum wage, what they should have got to help about students, and so I'm going to get back to that, Speaker. These classes laid out a clear path towards fulfilling post-secondary education and a career. Now they are being left to try to piece together a schedule that doesn't reflect their interests or their potential. Ontario students are watching as the Premier tears up their plans for their education, leaving them to pick up the pieces. Why is the Premier so determined? Stop the clock. Stop the clock. There is a standing order that says that interjections are out of order. That means you can't yell across the floor at the person who has the floor. I apologize to the Leader of the Opposition to restart the clock. She has the floor. The question is, why is the Premier so determined to leave Ontario students with less options in our schools and fewer prospects after they graduate? Premier. Minister of Education. The Leader of the Opposition is doing nothing but filling people with absolute rhetoric that is nonsense. It's not true. The fact of the matter is you are at the opposition party behind her is actually doing a disfavor because the fact of the matter is we are going to be working with school boards because we have an attrition protection program for goodness sakes. $1.6 billion. One teacher is going to involuntarily lose their job. That perhaps teaches a technology program or perhaps teaches arts. We are going to make sure. Minister of Education will take your seat. Order and the member for Waterloo to order. Next question. Minister of Education will come to order. Next question. The member for Mississauga Senate. Mr. Speaker, nurses are an incredibly important and valued healthcare system. In fact, they are its backbone. They deliver high quality, compassionate, patient-centered care that Ontario's patients and families can rely on. That is why I am so proud to stand in this legislature to celebrate National Nursing Week. I am also proud to be a part of a government that values the hard work of Ontario's nurses. Mr. Speaker, could the Premier please explain to the members of this legislature why it is so important? Mr. Speaker, please speak in our province. The question is addressed to the Premier. For you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the great member from Mississauga Senate for the question you do. Premier, I am going to have to interrupt. Stop the clock. I have to interrupt. Please take your seat. The clock stopped. The member of the committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, we have to recognize National Nursing Week because they are incredible people. I said throughout the campaign and the opposition want to make fun of me of saying I love the nurses. I truly do love the nurses because I have had many experiences like all of us have. When you take a loved one into the hospital, of course the doctors are there overseeing everything. But the backbone is the nurses. The nurses are there around the clock. The nurses are taking care of the patients, making sure they are feeling better. Mr. Speaker, there is no one that appreciates nurses more than our team, our caucus, our PC government. And we are going to make sure we take care of the nurses because again, Mr. Speaker, they are the backbone of every hospital throughout this time. Supplementary question. I thank the Premier for his response. There is no doubt that our nurses right here in Ontario are the best. And I know that it means a lot to everyone in the healthcare sector, that we have steadfast leadership in our Premier and our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, who care so deeply about what matters the most. That is why I am proud to be a part of a government that supports the hard work and supporting frontline nurses by ensuring that they have the tools they need to provide the highest quality patient-centered care for Ontarians. Mr. Speaker, could the Premier please inform this House what our government is doing to support nurses across Ontario? Premier? Through you, Mr. Speaker, and I forgot to mention the MPP from Mississaug is actually a nurse. She is actually a nurse. She has no one understands it better. We have lots of nurses so we hear firsthand. First hand their needs. First hand when it's in the middle of the night and they have two nurses on duty on a whole floor, that's what concerns our government. We need to support our nurses, which we will support our nurses, because again, when the patients need help and they need to be taking care of the patients, who takes care of them, the nurses. So we need to take care of the nurses out there. I can assure the nurses out there they'll be well taken care of. We'll listen to their concerns because no one understands the healthcare sector is better than the frontline people. The nurses are there day in and day out. They see the struggles. They see the struggles with the patients. They see the struggles with the doctors and the nurses. Nurses are absolute champion. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. The last question is to the Premier. Yesterday, John Tory, the distinguished Mayor of Toronto and former leader of the Premier's party, said that since the Premier had so many budgeting suggestions for the City of Toronto, maybe the City of Toronto would reciprocate by helping the Ford government find waste in their own budget. New Democrats would like to help Speaker, there's the House Leader's secret junket to India, the finance minister's visit to the Big Apple, the current billion-dollar beer store boondoggle, and of course, who could forget the Premier's off-the-books personal pleasure wagon. Speaker, can the Premier help us? Help Mayor Tory. Questions to the Premier? I'd be more than happy to help the City of Toronto find savings. I was down there for four years. We saved over a billion dollars. Where's the savings now? All you've seen in the City of Toronto, the budget go up billions of dollars over the last number of years. The services have gone down and the spending's gone up. Who goes out and buys $10 million fleet and has it sitting in the basement and does nothing? Who goes around paying people the water stumps on trees? You know, the Auditor General, the Auditor from the City of Toronto has given them a lengthy list of savings, and guess what, Mr. Speaker, the City of Toronto has ignored them. Name one efficiency, anyone in this room. One efficiency Toronto has found in the last five, six years. I can tell you, not one, not one single efficiency. All they do is waste money. They're part of the NDP liberal little gang over there that loves to spend. Speaker, we know that we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to this government's indefensible spending, but we understand the Premier has asked Mayor Tory not to meddle in provincial affairs. The Premier has criticised the Mayor for irresponsibly wading into provincial issues that he is either not involved in or doesn't understand, and we get it, Speaker. It's annoying when another level of government irresponsibly wades into issues that they aren't involved in and they really don't understand. Speaker, can the Premier explain why he does it so often? Premier, Gal positions, please take your seat. Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, the City of Toronto has over a $13 billion budget. We just took $20 billion. We took over $20 billion off their butts. Some backlog repairs. We're delivering a $28.5 billion transit system. We're giving Toronto Health $433 million. We're supporting the City of Toronto like no other government. But I remember one thing, Mr. Speaker. When I was at the City of Toronto, we never came hat and hand to the government. Not once. The position come to our door. Because as they were spending, we were saving. As they were raising taxes, we were lowering taxes. Matter of fact, the first year, Mr. Speaker, we delivered a 0% tax increase. They don't understand that. Mr. Speaker, just imagine. If they took care of all their constituents that voted for them and ran their government and we ran ours, they'd be bankrupting a bunch. Absolutely bankrupt. The member for Essex has to come to order. The member for Ottawa Centre has to come to order. Next question, the member for Scarborough Rouge Park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Tongue Care. This week is Mental Health Week. It is an important time to raise awareness to help end the stigma around mental health. That's why I'm very proud to be part of a government that is committed to develop and implement a comprehensive and connected mental health and addiction strategy, not just this week, but every week. I heard time and time again from my constituents of the writing of Scarborough Rouge Park that people cannot access the mental health and addiction services when and where they need it. We need to do better. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister please inform the members of this Legislature what has been done to support Ontarians living with mental health and addiction challenges? Minister of Health and Long-Tongue Care. Thank you very much to the member from Scarborough Rouge Park for this question. I know this is a really important issue for you as well. Ontario's mental health system is disconnected, making it difficult for patients and families to get the care they need when they need it. This fragmented approach to treating Ontario's families is simply not good enough. That's why our government is added desperately needed mental health and addiction services on the ground in schools, communities and health centres across the province. I was proud to announce yesterday that our government is investing $174 million in new funding to address the critical gaps in Ontario's system and to support patients and families living with mental health and addiction challenges. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for her response. There's no doubt our mental health and addiction systems needs immediate action. We need better wraparound services so the people of Ontario are supported in their mental health and addiction challenges. My constituents and everyone in Ontario will certainly benefit from these community services and I'm proud to be part of a government that takes mental health very seriously. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister please inform the members of this legislature what this investment of $174 million will be used for? Our government is keeping our promise to the people of Ontario to make mental health and addiction services a priority and that is why we are taking a multi-ministerial approach to Ontario's mental health and addiction challenges. This funding will go directly towards services for patients and families and help reduce wait times, enhance opioids and addiction services, create additional housing, build capacity in child and youth mental health, support our men and women in uniform and add services for seniors, francophones and Ontario's Indigenous peoples. These investments are part of our government's commitment to spend $3.8 billion over 10 years in mental health and addiction services. Together, we will create a connected system of care that will make sure that services are available for individuals and families throughout their journey to mental wellness. Next question is from Hamilton Mountain. Thank you, my question is for the Premier. The new Ontario autism program was supposed to start April the 1st. Thousands of families across the province have waited anxiously for the new program. Yet to date, not one family in Ontario has received their childhood budget. This government's reckless rollout of their autism program has actually left parents waiting longer. Families feel like they have been shifted from a bad liberal wait list to a conservative one with absolutely no end in sight. Premier, how much longer will families have to wait to get the funding for services for their children? Questions addressed for the Premier? Minister of Transportation. Referred to the Minister of Transportation. Thanks very much, Bill. For the member opposite for that question. You know, Mr. Speaker, last year we came out with a new program for autism in Ontario. Not only did we double the funding, Mr. Speaker, but we went to work at a system that clearly wasn't working for Ontarians. One out of four children only received treatment from their government, Mr. Speaker. We worked to end that wait list so that four out of four children are going to receive treatment for support for the children with autism throughout this province. And, Mr. Speaker, we're doing just that, not only with our why is to clear the wait list, but also we're going to support it with complete, clear funding. We're up to funding to $600 million. And we've just started a consultation process, Mr. Speaker, to see how we can best move forward towards a needs-based program. This is what parents have been asking for, Mr. Speaker. We're going to deliver that. And I hope the opposite members will join us in that consultation. To develop a program together to ensure that people, children with autism, are truly supported. Supplementary question. Just so the minister knows, I've been talking to families for four years, for eight years. You can't put programs before you talk to parents. It's backwards. Families have no idea when they will receive funding for their children with autism. Families who were next on the list under the old OAP are still waiting. It's not clear if this government is withholding funds deliberately or if they're delayed just because they designed programs on the fly. Families shouldn't have to wait for the conservatives to get their house in order. Premier, when can families expect to receive not just application packages, but actual funding to purchase the services that their children need? Minister of reply. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker, for that question. You know, previously, prior to our changes, three out of four children in this province were not receiving any funding and were indefinitely placed on a wait list, Mr. Speaker. It seems like the member opposite and the opposition wants to return to that type of system where three out of four children in this province do not receive any funding and only have zero hope to get off that wait list. Mr. Speaker, we're making a change this province. We're putting more money in. The minister has put more money into the system. We're working to make sure that four out of four children with autism receive the support and care that they need in this province. Order. Not only have we started consultations for a needs-based system, Mr. Speaker, but we're working with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to create wraparound services, something the opposition has been asking for, Mr. Speaker, to wraparound services for children with autism. We're going to continue to deliver on that program. We're consulting right now. We're listening to parents. I would hope the member's opposite would help work with us to help parents and children with autism get the support and services they need. All right. Next question. The member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Speaker, it's for you to the Premier. Premier, I hope you slept well to dreams of your double-dip dodge. And I want to follow up on that question that I asked you yesterday. And now that you've had time to think about it, I'd like to present to you some new facts. So on April 29th, Chair, Mr. Speaker, $85,000 was deposited to your leadership campaign on the way to Conservative Party coffers. 46 people donated the maximum. That's just in the last two weeks. Speaker, the Premier knows this is wrong. It's an unfair advantage. He knows that not any other member in this legislature can do this. It's wrong and he knows it. I know that. So through you, through you to the Premier, Speaker, does the Premier believe there's one rule for him and another rule for the people? Questions to the Premier? Through you, Mr. Speaker, I think our MPP, the leader of the Liberal Independent Party, Liberal Party, whatever you want to call them, he forgets the $20,000 of plate dinners that he would go to with the Premier, with the Minister, running around. They actually had to change the rules because of what was going on for the pay-to-play. It was called pay-to-play under the Liberal previous government. You go spend $20,000 and you get to have a one-on-one with the Minister. You might even be able to get a one-on-one with the Premier. We're raising money around the province, $25 spaghetti dinners. The majority of our, we'll put out a statement, Mr. Speaker, and we'll, in between $5, $10 and $25, we'll raise $100,000 because people believe in our message. They believe in what we're doing. They believe we're turning the province around and putting more money in their pocket. Supplementary question. Thank you very much, Speaker. And the Premier might want to check his own website because the LCBO chair is raising money for his finance minister and it's not a $25 spaghetti dinner. So, Premier, on April 29, 34 people exceeded their annual contribution limits. You asked them, you said, you asked them, you said, give me some money for my leadership and then give me some more money for the Conservative Party. And you know, you know that this is wrong. Okay. You have to make your comments through the chair and the question has to be relevant. Come to us. Thank you, Speaker. The Premier knows that this is wrong, okay? So, you're closing in on three-quarters of a million dollars to a leadership campaign. Come inside. Come to us. And, you know, the millionaire Premier and the millionaire finance minister, Speaker, may believe that this is okay. Question. For regular folks, this is a lot of money, Speaker. So, I want to ask the Premier one more time. Does he believe there's a rule just for him? Thank you. Premier Dureplot. That's why you're in the party. Through you, Mr. Speaker. We had to change the rules because of all the nonsense going on with the Liberal Party. They were filled with scandal, deceit, backroom deals, Mr. Speaker. And that's the Premier Dureplot. Mr. Speaker, they were attending $20,000 a plate dinners. We're raising money from people again with a $5, $25, $30 donations. They actually, Mr. Speaker, they actually changed the green belt boundaries to suit their developer buddies. They switched it. Matter of fact, they switched the green belt 19 times, Mr. Speaker, to suit their development buddies. 19 times. We wouldn't even mention it when people go wild. They change it 19 times because it's called pay-to-play under the Liberal Party. The next question, the member for Hastings, Lennox and Addington. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the minister everyone loves. The caring minister for seniors and accessibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, the minister of seniors and accessibility and our minister of health and long-term care announced publicly funded dental care for low-income seniors. Mr. Speaker, no senior in Ontario should ever, ever have to go without quality dental care. Yet, we know many seniors live in a fixed income. And two-thirds of our low-income seniors do not have any access to dental insurance. Mr. Speaker, could the minister for seniors and accessibility please inform this House what our government is doing for low-income seniors with their dental care? Minister for seniors and accessibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through you, I'd like to thank a very hard-working member for raising a very important question. Our government is protecting what matters most. Our seniors. We recognize living on a fixed income can create gaps in care, something that many seniors in Ontario face. That's why we introduce our dental care program for low-income seniors which will help reduce unnecessary trips to the hospital, prevent chronic disease and increase quality of life for our seniors. Increase dental care for our low-income seniors. And this government introduced the program in our fourth budget. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to ask the minister to take a seat. Supplementary question. Well, I certainly thank the minister for his response. I know seniors in my constituency of every member here certainly need a program such as this, and this is a program that takes the health needs of our seniors seriously. Because not only is it beneficial for our seniors, but it's also beneficial for our larger public health care system here in the province of Ontario. So could the minister as well please explain how this program contributes to our government's larger plan that's going to modernize the Ontario health care system and hallway health care and finally bring proper care back to our seniors in the province. Minister. Thank you for the supplementary question. I'd like to refer that question to hardworking my favorite minister for health and long-term care. Welcome. Thank you to the member from Hastings, Lennox and Addington itself for the original question. Preventable dental issues lead to 60,000 emergency room visits per year, a significant portion of which are seniors. This puts a strain on our hospitals and is a failure to our seniors. No senior in Ontario should go without quality dental care. That's why we are investing nearly 90 million dollars per year in dental care for low-income seniors. Public health units, community health centres, Aboriginal health access centres and mobile dental buses assist Ontario seniors with their dental needs. Ontario seniors can be confident that their public health care system will be there for them when and where they need it. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you very much. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the acting premier. Speaker, legal aid clinics are looking at an approximate $16 million cut to their overall budget. The South Asian legal clinic is one of 73 legal aid clinics in this province. They, like others across our province right now, provide council and legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people here in our province. Like a woman they refer to as Miriam, a new immigrant and a tenant in Mississauga. Her landlord kept turning up at her unit without a notice. On one occasion she complained that her landlord even assaulted her. After that came the threat of eviction. The legal aid clinic worked with Miriam to ensure that she was not evicted and to get compensation that she deserved for her injuries. Speaker, where does the premier suggest thousands of people like Miriam go to get the help they need? Question is to the acting premier. The member for Northumberland, Peterborough South, is warned. The member for Sardia Lampton will come to order. Member for Niagara Center will come to order. The member for Essex will come to order. Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry will come to order. Where were we? Start the clock. The deputy premier has the floor. Refer to the attorney general. I will be very happy to answer the question from the member opposite and speak to the vital services that legal aid provides, including to people such as Miriam, but I do want to point out that the photographer from the opposition party has been in the gallery today and it looks as though the opposition has been coordinating an effort to disrupt this house. The government side will come to order. The government side will come to order. Start the clock. The attorney general, please conclude your response. Mr. Speaker, legal aid provides vital services and that is why it is essential that we do everything we can to ensure that it has accountability and transparency and there are hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the front line services that are so desperately needed. Mr. Speaker, over the last few years we have seen legal aid spending almost $100 million more and people, legal aid clients and taxpayers have not been seeing the results that they should expect from that kind of investment. Thank you. A worker we will refer to as Imran worked for an employer who paid him only $7 an hour even though our minimum wage here in this province is $14. The legal aid clinic helped Imran make an employment standards claim for his wages over time and termination pay. Imran says that without that help he would not have been able to get what was owed to him and he is grateful for the clinic's support. This government's cut put these clinics at risk and the closure and the attorney general knows that this is the case. Is it the premier's intention to close legal aid clinics so that people like Imran can't get the wages that they are actually owed? The attorney general. Mr. Speaker, legal aid has said itself that front line services will continue to remain strong. So the services that people such as Imran have received will continue to be offered. Legal aid has a budget of over $100 this year and it will have even more if the federal government commits to pay the funding that it is responsible for. While some lawyers may not welcome this renewed accountability at legal aid, Mr. Speaker, it is essential for legal aid clients and for the taxpayer of Ontario that is spending so much money to ensure that those people in Ontario who cannot afford legal representation are able to get that. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Vice Premier. Gambling research exchange Ontario has been studying problem gambling and finding ways to help reduce the arm of gambling, providing resources to front line agencies to prevent gambling addictions. Last week, the government announced that it is cutting their entire budget, shutting down the organization. Speaker, as this government said, to expand alcohol and gaming access across Ontario including free alcohol in casino and casinos, why is this government not concerned about those most vulnerable people affected by gambling addictions? Questions to the Deputy Premier? Thank you. Well thank you very much for the question. Of course we are concerned about people with gambling addictions but we are also concerned about making sure that we put resources on the front line so that people really need the assistance. So we have made the decision to redirect all available resources to the front lines. We have to wind down some of the research programs so we are committed to supporting an effective and respectful wind down period for the gambling research exchange organization. However, we are continuing to invest in programs to prevent gambling prevention and to ensure treatment programs such as effective prevention, funding of the responsible gaming council, YMCA and the Ontario Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Program made up of seven Indigenous organizations to implement community-based program gambling prevention initiatives targeted at top populations at risk including children and youth and ethno-cultural and Indigenous communities. I will have more to say in supplementary. Supplementary question. I appreciate that Deputy Premier's answer but compared to the net profit of gambling of over $2.4 billion the 2.5 million annual budget to fund research into problem gaming I would say is fair and reasonable especially since we know all too well in this house the effect that problem gambling can have on individuals and families. Speaker, this cut follows the trend as governments retreat from its responsibilities to Ontario's Ontario's public well-being from public health autism, childcare legal aid, children with disability the list goes on Mr. Speaker and on top of that we can now add problem gambling. Speaker this government has talked about paying down the debt it is willing to pay the cost to have beer in corner stores but it is unwilling to deal with the gambling addiction can the Deputy Premier explain the rationale of not looking Thank you Minister to reply Thank you. Well our government is committed to protecting what matters most we are committed to protecting our education system with an additional $700 million going into that to protecting our health care system with an additional $1.3 billion going into our health care system but we also are committed to respecting adult choices by allowing people to make responsible choices that work for them this includes ensuring the people of Ontario have access to safe and legal gambling options but in terms of we've already spoken about prevention but in terms of treatment it's also important to note that we fund 94 agencies across the province who offer problem gambling services including treatment for co-occurring substance use programs so we are addressing the problem but we want to make sure that the services go directly to the front line that's what we're committed to doing and that's what we are going to make sure happens across the province Next question My question is for the Minister of Transportation Last week the Minister of Transportation introduced legislation called Getting Ontario Moving Act that includes a number of proposed measures that if passed will cut red tape reduce regulatory burdens and keep Ontario open for business Mr. Speaker our government for the people was elected last June with a mandate to grow our economy and make life easier for Ontarians we have been acting fast to attract new investment to create and protect jobs and to reduce regulatory burdens by cutting red tape for businesses the majority of us in this legislature can all agree that a successful business cannot run when they are burdened with debt and red tape I know last week's proposed legislation contained a number of measures that if passed would cut red tape and reduce burdens for the business sanitarians can the Minister of Transportation share some of the proposed measures in the Getting Ontario Moving Act and regulatory postings Questions to the Minister of Transportation Thank you very much Speaker and I think member from a Tobacco Lakeshore for that question Mr. Speaker, last week I was proud to introduce the Getting Ontario Moving Act this comprehensive piece of legislation if passed will cut red tape save businesses and taxpayers time and money and help keep Ontario's roads amongst the safest in North America in addition to legislation we'll also be changing many regulations to meet these goals we're doing this because it's fundamental to make Ontario moving and ensure businesses are not bogged down by red tape some of the measures we are proposing to cut and reduce are making life easier for people with personal use pickup trucks and trailers by changing regulations to exempt them from burdensome annual inspections and reducing the burden on the short line railway industry by addressing concerns from the industry for the Ministry to develop a risk based short line rail oversight and burden reduction strategy Mr. Speaker, I look forward to more in my supplemental supplementary questions Mr. Speaker, thank you to the Minister of Transportation for that great answer and I know the community of the Tobacco Lakeshore will be pleased with the proposed measures Mr. Speaker, across this province individuals who own a pickup truck or a personal trailer have to go through the time and expense of getting them expected as if they were commercial vehicles this proposed change if passed will change that and give people exemptions for personal use vehicles additionally I know that six freight and four short line rail operations that are licensed by the province will be thrilled about the burden reduction for this industry if this industry's proposed changes are passed can the Minister of Transportation tell us more about the burden reduction measures introduced last week Minister Thanks again Mr. Tobacco Lakeshore for that question Mr. Speaker, the Getting Ontario Moving Act if passed will make life easier for tourism operators and recreational off-road vehicle drivers by simplifying the rules around off-road vehicles to allow them to operate on municipal roads unless specifically prohibited additionally a proposed regulatory change will amend the vehicle weights and dimensions regulation to allow for the use of advanced technologies such as wide-based single tires this will harmonize our rules with other jurisdictions to improve industry productivity reduce fuel consumption and improve road safety demonstrating to everyone in the world that Ontario is open for business Mr. Speaker, these are just but a few great examples of the proposed measures in the Getting Ontario Moving Act and proposed regulation changes Mr. Speaker for the people is not just a slogan it's our guiding principle that drives us each and every day in government our government wants to keep goods and people moving it's transportation network it's what we're elected to do and it's what we're going to deliver to this province the next question the member for Thunder Bay Attic Hotel Speaker, my question is for the Acting Premier yesterday I asked about the demise of the 50 million tree program and it's devastating impact on both the environment and the businesses like Ferguson Tree Nursery in Kempville and Milson Forest Industry in Timmins according to Ed Patchell from Kempville his business will have to destroy 3 million trees that were intended to be planted in 2020 and 2021 the minister said that Mr. Patchell I'm sure when he examines what's really happening will want to change his statement Mr. Patchell stands by his statement how can the how can this government justify cuts that force businesses to literally throw trees in the trash the question I guess the Premier great minister of natural resources referred to the minister of natural resources in forestry the member for the question as I said yesterday the planting of the trees that is scheduled and contracted for this year will go ahead forces Ontario have already indicated that they're looking at other sources to fund the further planting of trees on private property makes it eligible for MIFTIF grant speaker MIFTIF reduction in taxes we are going to ensure that the trees that were contracted for this year will be planted for further years forest Ontario and the nurseries have ample time to look for private funding to plant trees on private property we want to see that continue but the taxpayer of Ontario which was left a $15 billion deficit by the previous liberal government which was supported every step of the way by the NDP must make choices our choice is that we're going to have those trees planted this year but in the future in the future thank you supplementary question thank you speaker again to the Premier yesterday the minister of natural resources in forestry stated that every tree contracted under the $15 million tree program this year will be planted but according to forest Ontario planting this year's trees was never in question the problem the government has not addressed however are the tree seedlings that are already being cultivated to be planted for future years tree seedlings take approximately three years to grow as I know the minister knows because they need to be for southern Ontario they need to be a certain size in order to be viable this is the unsolved problem for these businesses will the Premier do the right thing and reverse his decision to cut the $50 million tree program questions referred to the minister as I have said the trees that are contracted for this year will be planted forest Ontario and all their partners have ample time before next year's planting season and the season after that to do as they have indicated that they were going to do which was go to the private sector to find that funding to fill that funding gap we made it clear we campaigned on a promise to fix the fiscal mess we were left by the Liberal government which as the member knows was supported by her party every step of the way we are doing that and we are making sure that the trees that have been contracted for this year will be planted further years forest Ontario and its partners have to make alternative arrangements because we have said to the taxpayers the province of Ontario we are going to fix the mess that was left us and this is part of the decision that we had to make thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the deputy Premier and the minister of health and long term care Mr. Speaker only two million people in Ontario currently live with asthma living with asthma can be challenging never knowing when it is going to flare up or how severe it is going to be making it hard to breathe and I know the fear of watching helplessly as one of my boys has struggled to breathe after just normal activities that is why it is so important for my constituents and for the people of Ontario to have proper asthma supports Mr. Speaker could the minister explain to the members of this legislature how our government is supporting people in Ontario who are living with asthma Mr. Health and long term care well thank you very much to the member from Brantford Brant for your question I know it is personally very important to you as it is for many people and I am very grateful that the people from asthma Canada are here today Mr. Speaker did you know that one in three people will develop asthma in his or her lifetime and four children will be affected by asthma uncontrolled asthma can lead to school and work absenteeism and increases in urgent and acute health care needs that is why our government is investing up to four million dollars in the asthma program our government recognizes the need for a coordinated integrated approach to asthma care in order to improve health outcomes we will continue to work and listen to partners in front line care solutions and build a health care system that will work for the people of Ontario living with asthma supplementary question Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank the minister for her response and for her excellent work on this file and this incredible ministry there is no doubt that asthma is a serious health issue that needs to be properly addressed that's why I am so proud to be a part of a government that supports people living with asthma in the province of Ontario together we will create a connected sustainable public health care system that truly works for everyone in Ontario Mr. Speaker could the minister please inform the members of this legislature how our government's plan to modernize the health care system will benefit people living with asthma across Ontario Mr. Speaker we have committed to the people of Ontario to build a modern, sustainable and integrated health system into the way health care every step of the way we have put people at the centre of our decisions we are empowering our nurses and doctors to provide better faster integrated care I know the people living with asthma will appreciate a better connected health care system one that ensures that they will get connected to the right specialist care where they don't have to repeat their health care situation over and over again because all of their care providers will have access to the health records these are the kinds of changes that are needed to deliver care that is truly focused on patient on their families and on their caregivers the next question the member for Kitchener Centre thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the acting premier last year or yes last year the president of the Treasury board warned that funding for innovation hubs was on the chopping block for community tech in Waterloo region this morning became a reality when they were forced to lay off 15 of their innovators due to the conservative funding cuts the government has no research and innovation plan for the province but innovation helps like community tech actually do community tech does way more than simply support the tech industry in Kitchener Waterloo from arts to finance they have spurred innovation in every facet of Waterloo regions economic development these cuts will have a chilling effect on innovation in the future why is the government cutting investment to our province's most successful economic drivers President of the Treasury I'm glad that my colleagues remember who I am here in the front row Mr. Speaker thank you to you to the member opposite for that question you know we I was just up in Cambridge a few weeks ago I've been there many times I've visited the community tech facilities there they do a great job our government is continuing to focus on innovation Mr. Speaker we have helped create 123,000 new jobs in this province with which community tech has played a role and I'm very pleased to say that we continue to be one of the largest funders for community tech but there has to be a bridge to somewhere and the private sector has gotten involved in fact there were a number of companies at my speech in which community tech has supported community tech and will continue to support the good work response so Mr. Speaker this government is focused on protecting good jobs in this province and we're proud to work with community tech to continue that path forward supplementary question the member for Waterloo very much Mr. Speaker well community tech in Kitchener Waterloo has a proven track record of success for every public dollar that is invested into the economy Mr. Speaker if it was a stock I would have invested years ago despite this the government went ahead and cut community tech funding by one third and they were forced to lay off staff that's 15 more jobs lost in Waterloo region due to this government and your actions if the government wanted to make Ontario a place to attract investors they would be doing more not less to support organizations like community tech adding funding for Ontario based startups like community tech when they strengthen the economy draw investment into Ontario and create jobs it is absolutely taking this province backwards thank you Mr. Speaker again thank you to the other member opposite for that question you know the number 15 was mentioned and it just gave me a flashback in breaking news to the member opposite we inherited a $15 billion deficit they forget about it it's important that we take action because after 15 years it's the number here 15 years of inaction and spending by the previous government we inherited so much debt do you know Mr. Speaker the previous government spent $40 million more a day than they took in in addition $30 million of interest expense every single day that's $70 million that went out every single day we didn't go to one new hospital didn't go to one new school didn't go to one new social program Mr. Speaker we got elected on a commitment to take action on exactly what we're doing Mr. Speaker and we won't tire until the job is done concludes our question period for today pursuant to standing order 38A the member for Ottawa south has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question he debated tomorrow at 6pm beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled a report concerning the Hon. Doug Ford Premier of Ontario from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario the member for Timmons has informed me that he has a point of order thank you very much Mr. Speaker earlier today two were members the member from Davenport and the member from London Fanshawe overheard the government member from Flamborg Landbrook say to a protester please jump I would like to give the member from Flambor a chance to apologize or withdraw those comments I have to assume that all members are honourable I didn't hear the comment point of order order the attorney no I was going to do York south western next member for York thank you Mr. Speaker I rise with a heavy heart today on behalf of York south western I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the teachers and staff who acted swiftly to ensure there were no tragedy and casualty to the brave firefighters of the Toronto fire service and first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe also I would like to thank my leader the official opposition leader on behalf of York south western thank you the attorney general on the point of order Mr. Speaker it appears that the official opposition coordinated an effort to disrupt question period today by bringing in their official photographer to photograph protesters Mr. Speaker there is a level of decorum here that's required in this house and that coordinated effort disrespected this house as well as yourself Mr. Speaker so I ask the members of the thank you the speaker has to presume that all members are honourable there is a procedure for caucuses to seek application to have their photographers in the gallery and I think both sides of the house understand that I'm not going to draw any conclusions beyond that this house stands in recess until three o'clock this afternoon