 Therefore, it is time for question period. The member from the team. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the new Minister of Health. Congratulations, Minister. 40% of all children who try to access mental health treatment can't get the treatment that they need. There have been a 67% increase in hospitalizations for children with mental health disorders over the last decade. The majority of people being treated in Ontario today in their emergency rooms after a suicide attempt are not seen by a psychiatrist in the first six months. That's six months without treatment, Minister. Other wait times are upwards of 18 months for people who are suffering from depression or anxiety. Yet this liberal government and the NDP refuse to match the $1.9 billion federal transfer for mental health services. Why does this liberal government refuse to make the necessary investments into our mental health care system? Thank you. On this very important topic of mental health I think we really should have some kind of dialogue on this subject because all parties are absolutely in the same place on this particular very important aspect of our health. My predecessor often said there's no health without mental health. I actually feel that mental health is the most important part of our own well-being as individuals. And our government has put into place a very comprehensive plan across all aspects of mental health even starting with research so that we understand the human brain better. Significant investments from the brain institute and in CAMH. Of course we're looking at prevention, we're looking at early identification and treatment. The whole spectrum is being looked at and we are committed to doing even more than 1.9 million. Thank you. Supplementary, the member from Leonard Farnock, Lenox and Addington. Sure health. He found life was a constant struggle. His parents knew this and they tried to get him whatever help they could. Mikhail met with social workers and doctors many, many times. He confessed to having suicidal thoughts but was told it was just hormones. Mikhail would go on to attempt suicide 3 times over 1 year. Each after each attempt his parents would plead to keep him under supervision. Instead he would be sent home and they were told to keep an eye on him and that he really had a plan to kill himself. Soon after, on his fourth attempt Mikhail did take his life. The minister must answer as to why a youth who makes multiple suicide attempts and whose family tries and tries to find help are met with indifference. Indifference that begins and ends with this ministry and the members opposite. Thank you. Children and youth services. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank the member for the question. There is no question on this side that a lot has changed in Ontario over the last decade in regards to mental health. There is a lot more demand in the system for help. We know that there are regions where there is a longer wait list and that's why we've moved forward with a new strategy for mental health in Ontario. We will say that they will invest 1.9 million over a decade. It's simply, it's billion sorry, it is simply Mr. Speaker not enough. It is not enough of an investment. In fact Mr. Speaker over the last decade sensitive as this is we will still maintain the decorum in this house please refrain. 1.9 billion dollars Mr. Speaker is simply not enough money. We have increased funding to mental health by 10 billion dollars and I think that the demonstration of that 1.9 billion simply shows how the Conservatives are not prepared to govern this province. Thank you. The member from Stormont Dundas, South Glendaria. Mr. Speaker back to the minister. Our new mental health facility in Cornwall brings together many organizations under one roof as it seeks to be a one stop shop and it's needing mental health services. Last year at the celebration opening we were reminded health facilities aren't enough alone. A parent rose to ask the following question in a paraphrase. Do you mean do you mean to tell me that my child is diagnosed with a mental health issue requiring a psychologist that one will be assigned? The chief of staff rose and very soberly said no. We don't have any to assign. When will this government listen to Ontarians and provide the right mental health services that our residents deserve and need? Thank you. Minister. I think it's really important for Ontarians to understand what the Conservatives have proposed in their platform. They've proposed a 1.9 billion dollar investment over a 10 year period. Mr. Speaker we've committed over 10 billion in the last decade and we've made a commitment the former Minister of Health made a commitment in myself and the new Minister of Health is that we need to invest more than 1.9 billion over the next decade and it's simply not enough to commit money. It's more about how the system is organized to meet the new demands in the system. That's why we've moved forward on moving on mental health and we have lead agencies in New York that have built special items. Two quick items. When you refer your answer to the chair, it helps and the heckling is going to have to stop. Mr. Speaker we've made an investment into new youth hubs that are built more around the lives of young people and to meet their demands 24-hour access drop-in system. This is the way we have to re-approach mental health and the new question to the member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke. My question is to the Minister of Health My grandmother spent the last 32 years of her life because of mental illness in an institution from 1929 to 1961 when she passed away. We don't lock them away anymore and that's a good thing. But we do abandon them just the same. We allow them to languish in misery and suffer just to survive without offering them the treatments that they need so that they can get through life on a daily basis. We have many agencies in my writing like the Robbie Dean Center and the Phoenix Center for Children and Families. But the reality is that this mental health crisis it is time, I agree and I support the bell talk initiative more than talk. It is time to pay attention to a serious crisis in our society and ensure that the necessary resources are dedicated to helping these people who suffer from mental illness and end this crisis once and for all. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I would say that we agree I think all three parties in this house are on the same page. That's precisely what we've been doing since 2003. We've been doing investment ever since we took office. It's grown exponentially in terms of our type of investment. We've provided, there have been a lot of questions about children, more than 50,000 additional children and youth access to mental health and addiction services. In terms of adults we are providing supportive housing. There is certainly a huge development that is currently being undertaken in terms of 1,150 additional supportive housing units on top of the 1,000 new units that were added over the last three years. And this is going to reduce some of the homelessness that we see around it and it will improve the supports for people with mental illness. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Member from Elgin, Middlesex London. Thank you Speaker, back to the Minister of Health. Over the past 11 years access to children and youth services in London and southwestern Ontario has become more increasingly difficult to access. Demand for these services has on the rise while funding has remained stagnant. The Auditor General herself expressed grave concerns of the wait times for children and youth to access the services they need for mental health. Instead this government invested in bureaucracy and administration walked away from the community support agencies and froze their funding for over 10 years. In London alone children can be expected to wait for their children and youth to access the services they need. The Auditor General also expressed concerns of the therapy services in 226 days for intensive treatment services. My questions to the Minister. Does she agree that these wait times are unacceptable and if so will she address the issues by committing to add and match our 1.9 billion dollars in new funding on top of the old funding to make mental health services better for children and youth to access the services they need. I think that's a good example that we saw recently by the progressive concerns committed to that. In our case we know where we're going to get the funds to do so which I think is somewhat lacking from the party opposite. Just to reiterate some of the investments that we've made we're making additional investments of 140 million over three years to access to mental health services and to reduce wait times. I think one of the very important programs is our province-wide publicly funded structured psychotherapy program that will help people with mood disorders like anxiety and exertion with the supports and strategies to manage their conditions. We're going to do more than the official office. Thank you. The member from Dufferin Caledon. According to Children's Mental Health Ontario over the last decade there's been a 67% increase in hospitalization for kids with mental health disorders. Meanwhile over the last 25 years there's been a 60% reduction in the capacity of Children's Mental Health Services. When the minister and I sat on the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions all three parties made 23 recommendations to improve Ontario's mental health system. The minister said and I quote regardless of our political convictions we recognize that we must do better. Does the minister still endorse the 23 recommendations from the Select Committee? Thank you. Minister. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I just want to say that you know we've been on a journey here in Ontario to transform mental health services for young people the way they access those services and that's out there. We put forward lead agencies right across the province to create a single point of entry for young people that want to access those services and that was backed up through Bill 89. We put a whole new accountability process in place and Mr. Speaker that transformation piece in Bill 9 that speaks to mental health was voted against by the Conservatives here in Ontario. In fact Mr. Speaker I want to add this one piece the Conservatives propose a $1.9 billion increase but yet a $16 billion decrease in funding and cuts. What's going to happen to children use services here in the province of Ontario? The proposed cuts they're making through the people's guarantee if it's still your guarantee I'm not sure if it's still the guarantee but if it is still the guarantee those proposed cuts alone would wipe out my entire ministry. So we need to know is it an increase or is it cut? Order please. No question. The member from Wellin. Thank you Mr. Health Minister. Nancy Dimitro Bilbo is a 68 year old retired registered nurse from my riding. This past Sunday Nancy was taken to the Wellin hospital by ambulance and spent almost 24 hours in a chair in the emergency department. Upon arrival by stretcher she was put in a wheelchair in the waiting room for over four hours she was in excruciating abdominal pain she was moaning, vomiting dry heaving all without yet being admitted or given anything for her pain she ultimately spent hours in the waiting room and then hours in an uncomfortable hard chair in the hallway of the emergency department with a pain level in the score of 0 to 10 of 12 in her words before she received anything for pain. Can the health minister explain to Nancy in her family why she received medical care in a chair in a busy ER and not in a room where her privacy and dignity could be protected and her pain management could be controlled? Thank you Mr. Speaker and certainly when we hear very sad stories as we've just heard we need to ask about the circumstances obviously this is a particular situation and I certainly hope that the member opposite is liaising with my ministry with the MPP liaison to particularly delve into this particular case but certainly we are addressing on the broader sense hospital overcrowding we have made major investments in our hospitals just last year we invested nearly half a billion dollars in Ontario hospitals and in the last 2017 budget we invested over $500 million representing 3.1% overall increase to the hospital sector. These are significant new investments we are increasing capacity in our hospitals and we certainly intend to continue to do so. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you supplementary. Not only did Nancy receive her medical care in a chair in the ER instead of a bed she was told by the physician that while her condition warranted her admission that she needed fluid monitoring and pain management there were no beds. Nancy had two options one was she could wait over two days for a bed along with the 12 other people who were waiting for a bed or she could go home so she chose to go home because she said she simply couldn't take anymore. Does the health minister think it's okay that the health system that have made our hospitals so overcrowded that patients like Nancy go home before they're actually medically ready to go to do so? Thank you minister. Mr. Speaker first of all I do want to commend all our excellent front line healthcare workers. Mr. Speaker just last week I was at the Brantford General Hospital in the emergency room where we were actually increasing capacity to improve the services specifically in that hospital. We're doing this type of work incrementally. We know that not only can overcrowding be obviously a very difficult situation for parents for patients but it is also very difficult for the healthcare staff working in these situations but I would like to remind the member that we added some 26 beds to the Niagara health system just last fall. We're working on this issue we will continue to do so. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary. Well the 26 beds is not enough because all sites were actually overcrowded and overflowing and this is not about the well in hospital administrators or the front line healthcare professionals who are actually doing their absolute best job with the underfunded resources that they are given. They've had way too many years longer. Why won't the health minister stop talking about temporary funding, stop letting Ontario families down and do something about the consistent overcrowding problems so that people like Nancy don't have to face this in our hospitals every day. Mr. Speaker we know that our hospitals are facing increasing demands as a result of our growing and aging population and we do commend the front line medical staff nursing staff in all our facilities for the excellent work that we're doing. This year we also battled one of the worst flu seasons in years so in response we have increased capacity across the continuum of care by adding 1200 hospital beds that's equivalent to six new medium sized hospitals and in particular we have added transitional care spaces outside of hospital for up to 1700 patients who don't require care in a hospital and 150 new transitional care beds at the reactivation care center and acute care beds at Mackenzie health so we are working on this issue we're making incremental improvements as are required and we will continue to build our excellent healthcare system. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Any questions? A member from London West. Thank you Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health Speaker by now this Liberal government is quite familiar with the case of Stuart Klein a London man who passed away on Saturday. Yesterday Stuart's son David went on the radio and asked for an apology from the Minister of Health. David had listened to her response to my question last week and was offended to hear her say that her ministry was fully engaged in helping to coordinate this individual's return home. In fact David says that the minister did not make one phone call to our family the entire time neither her nor anyone who worked for her. I took that as an insult. Speaker will the Minister of Health apologize to the Klein family for this insult. Thank you Mr. Thank you Mr. Speaker and of course the death of a loved one is an extremely difficult and painful experiences and I do send my deepest condolences to the Klein family for their tragic loss. I know that the Premier also expressed her condolences yesterday. Ontario's health care system does stand ready to support any patient returning home with an illness or injury experience while travelling. We know that there are beds available for critical care patients in Ontario and so we would continue to urge travel insurance to work with our ministry staff on the ground to offer protection and coordination of medical services for their clients. I know that this is a really horrible tragedy for the family and something quite unimaginable how it happened while their father was out of the country so I want to again express my deepest condolences. Thank you Mr. Speaker David Klein said on the radio that it was inexcusable for the minister to try to avoid accountability for her government's role in this heartbreaking situation which is what we just heard again. David Klein stated what compounded the problem is that the health minister by not taking responsibility for the problem made it much worse. She blamed the insurance company but the insurance company made multiple phone calls in different cities. Speaker yesterday in this house the premier again pointed the finger at everyone but herself. Why is this liberal government blaming others instead of taking responsibility for their own failing? Good question. Mr. Speaker we need to say again that when you go out of the country and you purchase travel insurance you are relying on that travel insurer to work with the health care system. We rely on travel insurers to do their due diligence to engage our network of hospitals here at home. Beds were available health care professionals were on the ground there was Linstaff responsible for regional care coordination and our staff at the ministry are willing to go the extra mile to ensure the highest quality of care for patients. I certainly am very committed to ensuring that that coordination communication mechanism is strengthened and we will probably have more to say on that topic in the future. Thank you. Speaker for decades Ontario's hospitals have been operating with year over year cuts. This has led to hallway medicine and a chronic over crowding families like the climes. Both conservative and liberal governments have made it a habit to cut and freeze hospital budgets. Front line health care professionals deserve the resources necessary to treat their patients and when an emergency happens whether a person is in Ontario or out of the country they should be secure in the knowledge that our health and his family are no longer secure in that knowledge. This liberal government planned to change that. Mr. Speaker I'm going to have to reiterate that there were beds available. At the level 2 and 3 type bed in ICU on February 26, Toronto had 31 beds, the south west Lynn had 16 beds, the Erie St. Clair Lynn had 7 beds, Hamilton had 34. We will coordinate information between travel insurers and the ministry and we will be working on ensuring that that communication is occurring as well as possible. Thank you Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Health Midwestern Ontario has a schedule one facility which serves mental health patients in Godreach at Alexander Marine and General Hospital. I visited that hospital just a few days ago but when I got to the third floor I was very saddened with what I saw. The hospital team were hustling and bustling and it wasn't because of the Christmas season it was because they were hustling because they had people waiting in their hallways to be admitted. That's the reality that Alexander and Marine and General Hospital faces every day. This facility consistently runs at more than 90% capacity year over year and the workload for staff also has continued to increase in the last two years and just for example the last two years specifically it has increased 20% year over year. Speaker I have to ask the minister why is her government ignoring the growing mental health needs in rural Ontario? Thank you Mr. Speaker and I would certainly like to reassure the member opposite we are working extremely hard on improving our services not only for mental health but also for acute care in general. We are investing consistently for our hospital sector I'm going to have to again repeat that in the last budget the 2017 budget we invested over $500 million in funding representing a significant increase over the previous years. We are looking at the demographics of individual areas. This is exactly the type of planning that our lins are engaged in and getting the best advice as to where we need to concentrate our additional efforts. I would like to mention of course that as far as I could see there was no money for hospitals in the PC platform. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker back to the Minister of Health. Inching towards warnings. Thank you Mr. Speaker of Health. Your Liberal government recently borrowed $25 billion for short-term hydro-leaf and election ploy however your government refused to match the $1.9 billion federal transfer for mental health services. As such your government should have responsibility for the consequences. Wait for therapy takes too long and the next person to have a better chance than their child did because no one should feel they are alone. Nobody should be burying their child minister when it could be prevented. Suicides don't disappear because you refuse to adequately fund children's mental health. So I say to the Minister and her government you can't afford not to make the needed investment but since you believe otherwise can you tell us what could be a bigger problem. Thank you Mr. Speaker and certainly no family should have to endure the pain and heart ache of suicide and in all cases I think in all our families amongst our friends we have seen very tragic situations and this is precisely why our government in 2015 asked the Ontario Hospital Association if there was more that we could do particularly to work on the situation of suicide prevention. So we did establish a suicide prevention task force. We recently received the report of recommendations from that task force and we are working with our health system partners to address the recommendations made in the report as part of our ongoing work to enhance suicide prevention in Ontario. I think it speaks to the fact that we really need to come together to help with all the health challenges not only to de-stigmatise them but also to provide the support where and when they are needed. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Question from Nicol Belt. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health On March 31st this Liberal government is cutting all funding to eat right in Ontario the program that offers free nutritional advice to families across Ontario. We use eat right extensively in part because we don't have access to dietiton but also because we want to make sure that our families are eating healthy foods and getting the nutrition they need. With eat right people in Ontario could just pick up the phone send an email and get instant and reliable information from a registered dietiton about healthy eating and in many different languages. But on March 31st this program will be here. Why is the Minister cutting funding to eat right Ontario and making it harder for Ontario to eat well and stay healthy. Minister of Health While I'm not familiar with the particular service that the member opposite is speaking about of course I certainly concur that healthy eating is fundamental to our health as a former medical officer of health certainly public health are very involved in this particular area and we know that we encourage healthy eating across the spectrum starting of course with our kids we know that the healthier our kids are the less chronic disease they'll have later on in life and so certainly with the encouragement of the member opposite I believe she actually had a private members bill we've done things like menu labelling legislation that came in effect January 1st 2017 this was named the Healthy Menu Choices Act and so we're already posting calories on menus to help people make the healthy choices that they should so we're working in this regard across the province thank you Mr. Secretary Thank you Speaker the dietitians of Canada who have run Eat Right Ontario for the last 10 years say they are and I quote extremely disappointed with the government's decision and so are the families in my writing who count on Eat Right Ontario to help them stay healthy like the minister just said healthy eating is a primary factor in maintaining wellness healthy growth and development as well as prevention and management of major chronic diseases you have diabetes, celiac disease, bowel obstruction it's Eat Right Ontario and they help you you need to lose weight you need to prevent heart disease you want to eat healthy call Eat Right Ontario it is there to help or was there to help this is an incredibly important services for the people of Ontario and especially the people are represented in Northern Ontario why is this minister cutting funding to Eat Right Ontario Thank you I certainly will investigate this particular situation with I'm not familiar with precisely this particular agency but I can say that across this province we do have a number of services to ensure that our population gets healthy food the student nutrition programs in so many schools that are available as well as public health units it's one of the standards under the Health Protection and Promotion Act our population has access to information related to healthy eating and so while we are very conscious that we do have issues certainly in relation to childhood obesity we have many programs that are looking to reversing this trend and we will continue to do so Thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker this question is for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change The question concerns our remarkable sale of the cap and trade auction Climate Change is real extreme weather events, fluctuating temperatures they all have real effects including on human health and our auction was recently a sell out raising almost half a billion dollars but a responsible government has to have a credible costed plan we have actually been reviewing the people's guarantee speaker and all I can see from it is a kind of ostrich-like running away from climate change from what I can see Speaker all that it does is that it guarantees first you're going to have to put that one piece down because I can see that it is a prop so I'm going to ask the member to put that down and second of all today let's relate it to the government you can make that short introduction but talk about policy please carry on Thank you Speaker I accept your advice and get rid of it right now Speaker every cent of those proceeds is required by law to be invested in programs that reduce pollution and these programs the Green on Climate Change program is improving cycling infrastructure retrofits for hospital schools and transit Speaker the question is this to the government can you please explain to the House how a successful plan is reducing pollution in Ontario Thank you Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member from Etobicoke North for his passion I know as a medical doctor the member is well aware of the threat that climate change poses to our health and as the member mentioned a million dollars in proceeds from our first joint cap and invest auction with California and Quebec Speaker this goes to show that businesses are confident in our carbon market and that the market is functioning as planned we've seen that businesses as well as independent experts agree that our cap on pollution is the best way to put a price on carbon Speaker our program not only reduces pollution from businesses it does so at the lowest price possible in January Speaker the Independent Environment Commissioner of Ontario said Ontario's linked cap and invest program will save almost all of us money we're proud to stand on this Mr. Speaker Supplementary Speaker I find the minister's answer particularly reliable, credible and intelligent far more sensible Speaker Speaker as I was saying I find the minister's response far more reliable, credible and intelligent than the previous money back guarantee which I dare not name any further Speaker just yesterday the minister announced the green on challenge which will award $300 million to businesses non-profits and other organizations for projects that will reduce pollution in the province of Ontario it's about investing in Ontario's future fairer society not the ostrich like approach of others Speaker my question is this can the minister please tell the house how our plan is investing in green solutions for the benefit of all Ontarians Minister Well thank you Speaker and thank you to the member for Tobacco North and I agree with everything he said Speaker our plan is helping Ontarians fight climate change and save money Meanwhile Speaker we are so disappointed to see the PCs refused to take climate change seriously Speaker the environment is too important to be ignored climate change Speaker is too important to be ignored a plan that turns its back on climate change and leaves a $9.6 billion hole in addition to $16 billion is not one that is acceptable to this government or the people of Ontario Speaker we are investing in this province Speaker through our proceeds from cap and invest we are making social housing better and schools better Thank you the member for Whitby hospital Thank you Speaker my question my question is for the Minister of Health and long-term care a 2017 survey conducted by the Ontario Student Trustees Association found that one in three students Speaker concluded that their school mental health resources and support are grossly inadequate more recently Speaker the Association's 2018 election platform calls on the government to fund suicide intervention and mental health training programs to deal with this mental health crisis the Ontario Progressive Conservative party has already responded by matching the federal government's commitment of $1.9 billion for mental health resources particularly Speaker topping up elementary and secondary school mental health supports when will the Liberal government Speaker finally address the growing mental health crisis and Ontario schools Minister of Education Minister of Education Thank you Mr Speaker and I want to thank the member opposite for his question I also want to say that I want to thank the Ontario Student Trustees Association for their advocacy and we will absolutely continue to meet with them regularly to look at various ways that we can support our school systems and our school community and certainly our students Speaker mental health and the challenges that our young people are facing today is something that I absolutely take as a priority in our government and in our school system that's because that's because we know that children are facing more and more challenges when it comes to some of the things and the issues that they're facing today schools are dealing with panic attacks they're dealing with children for having anxiety issues they're dealing with children suffering from depression and I want you to know that we care deeply and that I care deeply about this and so I am absolutely proud to work for a government that has stepped up and is addressing some of these challenges by providing already an additional $49 million over the next three years and I'm happy to talk about that Thank you supplementary, the member before you Thank you to the Minister of Health of this year's National Student Award the Office of Student Alliance the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance College of Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities prepared a report entitled In it together, taking action on Student Mental Health in the report the four partners expressed that providing effective support for student mental health Mr. Speaker, representatives of the organizations visited Queen's Park last fall and shared their difficult stories, including students who volunteered to intervene in crisis situations on our campuses. Will the minister tell our students and educators why they have underfunded campus mental health support, forcing vulnerable students to take care of each other? Question. Thank you. Minister of Education. Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development. Minister of Advanced Education. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity to rise in the House and to talk about this very important issue, Speaker. We know that when students go off to a post-secondary institution, a college or university, that that is a very stressful and difficult time for them. It can be, Speaker. Oftentimes it's the first time that they're away from home and they need the supports to be in place as they're away from their families and their friends. Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of this issue, and in fact, our government has taken significant action. That is why, beginning in this school year, we are investing an additional $6 million annually in mental health supports over the next three years. This brings our total investment to $15 million annually, so that our campuses can be places where students are feeling that they have the supports that they need. They have a 24-hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week help line. We know that students need supports around the clock, and those supports are in place. Thank you. New question, the member from Hamilton Mountain. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Yesterday, I raised a question about Kenina Sue Turtle, who filmed her own suicide while she was left alone for 45 minutes in a foster home in Sioux Lookout. Her family wants to know what happened. In response, the Minister said that he is always available to any family that wants to connect. But this is simply unacceptable. The onus should not be put on a grieving family to reach out to the Minister. It doesn't help this family, and it certainly doesn't help the thousands of First Nation and Metis families with loved ones in care. I ask again, will the Minister tell this family what happened to Kenina? Thank you, Minister of Children and Youth Services. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since becoming the Minister responsible for Children and Youth Services in this province, I've found that these types of issues are often the most complex and most challenging. On the very surface, it is also quite heartbreaking to hear these stories that come from many places across this province. I often think about the family and the pain that they're going through, so my heart goes out to the family. I'll say it again, that I've always been willing to meet with any family. To have this type of conversation across a legislature about a personal story that's taking place, and this challenge that this one family is going through, this is not the appropriate place to have this conversation. I will meet with the families, and, you know, Mr. Speaker, I've met with many families across this province. I've been throughout all of Northern Ontario talking to families about the challenges that they're going through. Thank you. Supplementary. Now, that was an inappropriate response. This is the place where we raise the issues of the people of this province. In this place, I raise Kenina's death, along with those of other indigenous children who died in group homes. At that time, I called on the Minister to institute mandatory inquests into the deaths of all children in care. Instead, I understand the coroner is doing a review of 11 deaths, and we're not sure if Kenina's death is one of them. We must know what has happened so that we can stop the deaths of young people in care. Will the Minister find it appropriate to inquire and have a full inquest that is open and transparent so that lives can be saved? Thank you. Do you see the face? Do you see the face? Thank you. Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that, you know, all young people in this province deserve to feel safe. And if they need help, or if a family needs help, there needs to be places for them to go. And that's why we've updated our legislation, the province of Ontario, to make sure that there is more accountability and more transparency in the system. We've updated our blueprint that changes the very way in which the whole sector is regulated. You know, this is a family who's gone through a lot of pain. There's a lot of privacy issues in regards to this particular case. And I think it's completely inappropriate for the member to politicize this issue. You know, I think that if she really wants to help the family, if she really wants to help the family, then come and talk to me and let's see what way we can do it. If she wants to talk about policy and regulation that govern the way in which young people are treated in this province, then that's a completely different thing. But stop politicizing this important issue. New question. Thank you, Mr. Guelph. Thank you, Speaker. And my question is for the minister responsible for small business. You know, Speaker, we keep hearing from the opposition. You'll join them. You Speaker, we keep hearing from the opposition parties that our economy is struggling and that we're neglecting our business community. But in fact, we know that this just simply isn't the case. And we know that Ontario continues to drive national economic growth. In fact, we've created nearly 800,000 jobs, net new jobs since the recession. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in 17 years and under the national average for 33 straight months. It's important that we ensure our businesses and communities are thriving and continue to create good local jobs. And in fact, just yesterday, the minister was in my writing of Guelph to announce our partnership with Sleman Breweries. So, Speaker, through you, can the minister please tell us how this government is supporting regional economic growth? Minister of Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member from Guelph for that question. Mr. Speaker, last month, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce contributing BMO economists said that Ontario's underlying macroeconomics are the best they've been in decades. Investing in regional economic development is a smart thing to do. Through our Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, we've committed $163 million in funding support, leveraged over $1.9 billion in investments. We're helping to support over 40,000 local good-paying jobs. Just yesterday, I had the privilege and partnership with Sleman Breweries to support over 425 local Hottie-skilled dwells in Guelph, Ontario. Our support will help Sleman bring back production to Guelph to the United States of 100,000 hectoleders of beer from the United States to Ontario and grow good jobs while investing in advanced manufacturing technology. This is part of our pledge to create opportunities for Hottie-skilled workers and to assure Ontario's food and beverage processors remain the best in the world. Thank you. Supplementary? Member from Barrie. Thank you, Minister, for your answer. It's clear to me that this government is working diligently to make sure that we're supporting our communities and our businesses. The opposition parties would like the people of Ontario to believe that we're not doing anything to help businesses invest and grow in this province. This simply isn't true. And unlike their plan that guarantees nothing but cuts, cuts, and more cuts, we are investing in jobs right here, right now, at home. They're fear-mongering that increasing minimum wage will force employers to reduce staff by bringing in automation is also false. Just last week I was joined by the Minister of Economic Development and Growth to announce funding for innovative automation in my own riding of Barrie. This is another great example of how our government continues to support economic growth in local communities. Will the minister please tell us more about the importance of our regional economic development program? Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member from Barrie for that supplementary question. We're working hard to make sure our plan moves everyone forward. We're making sure families can take advantage of our economic benefits. We're also ensuring businesses keep investing in Ontario. And as a member from Barrie said, last week we announced our partnership with Barrie's innovative automation. In this great case, how robots are actually creating jobs. This will create 29 new jobs and keep 102 existing positions. We're helping this facility expand in Barrie and make sure that over 130 people have good paying jobs in that wonderful community. And what's even great is innovative automation will employ a lot of local talent. About one quarter of the facility staff are Georgian college graduates. The facility also does a large portion of its business within two kilometers of the new location. This is how our plan is working to help support our economy and keep Ontario competitive, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question? The member from Barrie, Westland. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-term Care Speaker. I recently had the opportunity to go on a ride along with officers from the Niagara Regional Police Services. And I had the chance on this ride along to learn more about the cost and impact of an adequate mental health funding in my community. And while I was with these officers, we received an MHA call, a mental health apprehension call. And these frontline officers shared many real life stories with me about the harm caused by this government's failure to invest in preventative mental health services. Most calls these officers receive are to deal with people who are having a mental health crisis, people who could have been helped by earlier intervention. Will the Minister commit today to matching the federal transfer for mental health to help my constituents and to enable the officers of my community to focus on policing? Thank you, Mr. Health Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the member's question raises an important point. And that point is that so many of our individual government ministries are involved in looking and tackling the issues around mental health. And that's precisely why we've established a mental health wellness table amongst our ministries, where in collaboration with the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Minister of Community Safety and Corrections are sitting talking about the issues and how the aspects of mental health do impact on so many different government services. This is a very important initiative. We, of course, have increased our community support through the years. And I'm sure your police force is well aware of that as well. We have had the increase in terms of supportive housing, the integrated youth hubs that my colleague, the Minister of Children and Youth is announcing or has announced. And so, yes, it's a complex problem, and we're working on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. The Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions reviewed frontline services that included 24-7 mobile crisis intervention teams for adults and children as well as crisis centers. They were interested by the possibility that these service officers offer, the services offered were very impressive, and some of the innovative initiatives already in place around the province could help. Initiatives like the Crisis Outreach and Support Team, or COST, which partners health and social service personnel with police officers. In fact, the Select Committee recommended supporting these models. Mr. Speaker, why is the government failing to offer these much-needed mental health support services to our frontline workers? Thank you. Community Safety and Correctional Services. Mr. Community Safety and Correctional Services. Thank you very much, actually, for the questions, because it gives me a chance, actually, Mr. Speaker, to acknowledge what we are hearing all throughout our province, that you know what, there is a need to transform our system, and mental health is definitely a key part. And one thing that I'm very proud to share today is that for the first time in our Police Services Act, we're introducing a Community Safety Well-Being Plan, and this will be something that each municipality, looking with their organization, with their policing partners, with their mental health organization, looking together in finding ways and solutions to address what the member opposite is sharing. I did some right along myself, Mr. Speaker, and to be very frank, the police are asking for us to give tools, to give extra availability, to look at this gap. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud that our government is taking action. Thank you. Thank you. Your question, the member from Windsor West. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. Decades of cuts and stagnant funding by this liberal government have pushed our mental health system into crisis. Windsor seniors are waiting months for mental health services, and many with specialized mental health needs, like dementia, are being placed in acute care because there is nowhere else for them to go. But there's an easy way to help alleviate this crisis. Hotel Due Grace Healthcare in Windsor has available beds. The units are built and ready to go. Brand new unit. All they need is the financial support of this government so that the beds can be fully operational and seniors can be placed appropriately. Ministry staff have toured the units and acknowledged the need to get them open. The Minister herself said this morning, mental health is the most important part of our well-being. Will the Minister of Health commit today to provide the funds needed for Hotel Due Grace so that seniors with complex needs can get the help they need without delay? Thank you. Mr. Health, long-term care. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And to the member opposite, my former critic and obviously in action here today, I'd say this is a very important question. And I know that this is precisely what we are looking at, across the province. Where do we have gaps in service? And how can we address them? She mentioned specifically seniors with complex needs, including dementia. And of course, we've had a very robust dementia strategy in this province. And we have committed to ensuring that people living with dementia and their families feel supported. They continue to be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. So within the 2017 budget, our government announced an additional investment of $101 million over three years for the Ontario Dementia Strategy. And this will improve coordination of care, strong partnerships between primary care and specialist physicians and community care providers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. Back to the Minister of Health. Perhaps you didn't hear me. It's a fully ready-to-go turnkey wing just waiting for the hospital to receive operational funding so they can bring seniors out of acute care into the care they need to actually provide them the dignity you claim that they deserve. Seniors that have worked their entire lives to better this province should get mental health services when they need them. And they should expect the same for their children and grandchildren. But we need to do more than just tinker with the same broken system, the same underfunded system. It's time for something completely different. That's why new Democrats have promised an overhaul. And for the first time, a comprehensive Ministry of Health and Addiction Services. Will the Minister of Health admit that Windsor families deserve better, give hotel de grace the financial resources that they need now and commit to our plan to deliver a Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction Services? So we fix this crisis once and for all. Thank you, Minister. Our government, Mr. Speaker, has made these commitments. And we will be looking at all potential applicants for funding over the next short while. And particularly to the member from Windsor, I would say that it's absolutely clear that somehow she missed our 2017 budget. We've invested over $500 million in funding to Ontario hospitals for expansion of services. This is precisely what we're doing. Our transitional care beds, our supportive housing initiatives, this is all part of the puzzleness, Mr. Speaker. We're working hard. We will continue to do so. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that all Ontarians live in the kind of dignity and respect that they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. New question, the member from Scarborough, Agent Clark. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for the minister responsible for accessibility. Speaker, our government has done more on the area of accessibility than any other previous government. With the creation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, our government has set forth to make Ontario accessible by 2025. Speaker, milestones were set in former standards and most have been reached, but there's more work to be done. My writing of Scarborough, Agent Clark, I know my residents are keen to learn more about this work. In addition to existing enforceable standards that are already in place, Speaker, through you to the minister, can she please inform the House the status of the standard for accessibility in education? Thank you. Minister of Government Services and responsible for disability. Speaker, and I want to thank the member from Scarborough, Agent Clark for this important question and her local work in her community to identify and remove barriers for all people in Ontario. So, Speaker, it's Tuesday morning and I'm asking you and everyone to imagine Ontario's classrooms and images that are brought to my mind range from kindergarten students creating finger-painting works of art to high school students doing some last-minute studying before their big math test. And as I reflect on that, Speaker, I have to reflect on what this looks like for students with disabilities. Are they getting everything they deserve from the education system? Will they have the resources that they need? Are there barriers that they face in being the best students that they can possibly be? So that's why I'm so pleased to confirm that we have established two new standards development committees in the education sector, one for K to 12 and one for post-secondary and I'll be pleased to speak more about that in the supplementary. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks to the minister for her response and providing the leadership on the area of accessibility. The work of the Accessibility Director of Ontario is of utmost importance in this government and has continued to create the most open, accessible and just society in North America. In my diverse writing of Scarborough Asian Court, I know my residents, and especially young people are keen to learn more about the new two standards and as well as the committee. Speaker, through you to the minister, can she please inform the House the composition of this committee and how the work they plan to do in accomplishing this goal? Thank you. Thank you, minister. Thank you, Speaker. And I think, again, it's a very important topic here to talk about accessibility in Ontario and the question about how these committees do their work is an important one too because these committees help create a more inclusive education system so all students can reach their potentials. And the diverse committees are made up of different kinds of people, Speaker. People with lived experiences, education, administrators, students, teachers and parents and forming these new standards in the sector are a real milestone in the evolution of the Accessibility Fraternance with Disability Act. By everyone bringing their skills and experience together, it makes a brighter future for our students who'll benefit from these new Accessibility Standards in our education sector. And that will impact children from when they start school, Speaker, right through to when they go to college and universities. I'm very pleased to confirm that Lindsey Rado is chairing our kindergarten to grade 12 Standard Development Committee and Tina Doyle is chairing our Post-Secondary Accessibility Standards Committee. Thank you, Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 38A, the member from Whitby Oshawa has given notice of his dissatisfaction to the answer to his question given by the Minister of Health, Long-Term Care concerning mental health. This matter will be debated today at 6 p.m. Pursuant to Standing Order 38A, the member from here on Bruce has given notice of her dissatisfaction of her question given by the answer, question given by the answer given by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care concerning mental health needs, rural mental health needs. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m. Pursuant to Standing Order 38A, the member from Niagara, West Glamrock has given notice, I'm not satisfied. Pursuant to Standing Order 38A, the member from Niagara, West Glamrock has given notice of his dissatisfaction to the answer to his question given by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care concerning mental health. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m. We have a deferred vote on the motion of second reading of Bill 194, an act respecting fairness and procurement. Calling the members, this will be a five minute bill. All members, please take your seats. February 26th, 2018. February 26th, 2018. Ms. McMahon moves second reading of Bill 194, an act respecting fairness and procurement. All those in favor, please rise one at a time to be recognized by the clerk. Ms. McMahon. Ms. McMahon. Mr. Nack. Mr. Nack. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Douduka. Mr. Douduka. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Sousa. Ms. Nidoo Harris. Ms. Nidoo Harris. Ms. Jassa. Ms. Jassa. Ms. Shirelli. Ms. Shirelli. Mr. Chan. Mrs. Ethan. Mr. Volia. Mrs. Elliot. Mr. Ms. Wong. Mr. Fraser. Mr. Frazer. Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Don. Mr. Don. Ms. Hogarth. Ms. Hogarth. Ms. Kuala. Ms. Marden. Ms. Marden. Mr. Potts. Ms. Thompson. Ms. Thompson. Ms. Arnaud. Ms. Arnaud. Mr. Hardiman. Ms. McLeod. Ms. McLeod. Mr. Wilson. Ms. Wilson. Ms. Jones. Ms. Jones. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Mr. Smith. Mr. Northern. Mr. York. Mr.ahl. Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Jedd. Mr. R. Mr. Paul. Mr. Ward. Mr. Howard. Mr. Henry. Mr. director for the supporting staff. Mr. Sampson. Mr. All those opposed, please rise one at a time to be recognized by the court. Mr. McLaren. Mr. McLaren. The ayes are 89. The nays are 1. The ayes being 89. The nays being 1. I declare the motion. Carry. Jim Lectures du projet de loi. Pursuant to the order of the House dated March 5, 2018, the bill is ordered for third reading. We have a deferred motion on the government notice of motion number 63 relating to allocation of time on bill 175 an act to implement measures with respect to policing corners, forensic laboratories, and to enact, amend, or repeal certain other statutes and revoke regulations. Calling the members, this will be a five minute bill. On March 5, 2018, Ms. Madame Dorose moved the government notice of motion 63 relating to the allocation of time on bill 175 an act to implement measures with respect to policing corners and forensic laboratories and to enact, amend, repeal certain other statutes and revoke a regulation. All those in favor of the motion, please rise one at a time to be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Nacky. Mr. Nacky. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Del Duque. Mr. Del Duque. Ms. McMahon. Ms. McMahon. Mr. Seuss. Mr. Seuss. Ms. Wynne. Ms. Wynne. Ms. Nidoo Harris. Ms. Nidoo Harris. Ms. Jass. Ms. Jass. Mr. Shirelli. Mr. Shirelli. Mr. Chan. Mr. Chan. Ms. McCharles. Ms. McCharles. Mr. McMeek. Mr. McMeek. Mr. Tebow. Mr. Francisco. Mr. Flete. Mr. Flete. Mr. Tebo. Mr. Tebo. Mr. Albanese. Mr Albanese. Mr. Albanese. Mr. Wornalde. Mr. Wornalde. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. Mr. Bondun. Mr. Bondun. Mr. Bondun. Mr. Bourdiney. Mr. Bourdiney. Mr. Dallaney. Mr. Delany. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dalyny. Ms. D inspectionll. Ms. Billill. Mr.埃al biddy Datte. Mr. Drew. Mr. Gritty. Dr. Blair. Dr. Dailto. All those polls, please rise one at a time. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hartamus, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Jones, Mr. Clark, Mr. Smith, Mr. Yakubusky, Mr. Hillier, Mr. Miller-Parisamaskoka, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Harris, Mrs. Munro, Mrs. Martot, Mr. Walker, Mr. Osterhoff, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Munro, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Pettipi, Mr. Cove, Mr. Choe, Mr. Choe, Mr. Bisson, Mr. Vantam, Mr. Vantam, Ms. Jelena, Ms. Fife, Mr. Tavis, Mr. Miller-Hamilton, East Stony Creek, Mr. Miller-Hamilton, East Stony Creek, Mr. Monta, Ms. Sattler, Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Taylor, Ms. Forrester, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Hathfield, Mr. Gratsky, Mr. Gates, Mr. McClaren, Mr. McClaren, Mr. McClaren. The ayes are 51, the nays are 40. The ayes are 51, the nays are being 40. I declare the motion carried. We have a deferred vote on the motion of second reading of Bill 196, an act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts in the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2018. Calling the members, this will be a five-minute vote. Same vote? Same vote. The ayes are 51, the nays are 40. The ayes being 51, the nays being 40. I declare the motion carried. Meeting of the bill, Dizzy بدzinger, Jr.,heits during the negroise. Order G196, third reading of Bill 196, an act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2018. Minister? Grande, I move third reading of Bill 196, an act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2018. It was third reading of bill 196. Do we agree? Is it the pleasure of the House of Motion carry? I Heard a no all those in favor say aye There's a poll saying a in my opinion the ayes have it Calling the members this will be a five minute belt same vote Same vote The eyes being 51 in the nays being 40 I declare the motion carried Reading the bill twice in lectures Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion We have a deferred vote on the motion for third reading of bill 193 an act to enact Roan's law concussions safety 2018 into amend the Education Act calling the members this would be a five minute Today Ms. Vermeer move third reading of bill 193 an act to enact a Roan's law concussion safety 2018 to amend various acts all those in favor please rise one at a time be recognized by the clerk The man When it's not you hear this is just Shurella, Mr. Shurella, Mr. Chan, Mr. Charles Mr. Mcmeek, Mr. Mcmeekin, Mr. Taka, Mr. Dugan, Mr. Dugan, Sandals, Ms. Matthews, Mr. Gravelle Mr. Gravelle, Mr. Ballard, and I'm the long and I'm the long Mr. Morridi, Mr. Morridi, Miss Huntyr-Mr. Cotto, Mr. Cotto, Mr. Leo, Mr. Leal, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Flandre, Mr. Thibaut, Mr. Thibaut, Ms. Obanesi, Ms. Obanesi, Ms. Ranaldi, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Cole, Ms. tryinetti, Mr. ん- Mr. Dillini, Mr. Dillini, Mr. Dillin, Ms. Domola, Ms. Damila, Mr. Zimmer, Miss is my dad Mr. Maro, Ms.Mollie, Ms. M innych, M override. Mr. Kada, Mr. Dixon, Ms Megga, Dr. Crap, Mr. Wong, Mr.Director, Mr. Fra affirmed Mr. Baker. Mr. Connor. Mr. Nguyen. Mr. indifferent. Mr. Hogan. Mr. Hogan. Ms. Quarola. Ms. Quarola. Ms. Martin. Mr. Martin. Ms. Pause. Ms. McCloud. Ms. McCloud. Mr. Powers. Mr. Wilson. Ms. Jones. Mr. Jones. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith. Ms. Yakubowski. Mr. Yakubowski. Mr. Hillier. Mr. Hillier. Mr. Miller Perry Sam-Scoca. Mr. Miller Perry Sam-Scoca. Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott. Ms. Thompson. Mr. Thompson. Mr. Harris. 0. The eyes being 91 and the knees being 0 and clear of the motions carried. The bill will be now passed and be entitled as in the motion. Go further deferred votes to this house dance recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon.