 It is now time for oral questions, and I recognize the member for Brampton Centre. My question is for the Acting Premier. Last week, this Conservative government announced deep cuts to our education system that will leave students in our province worse off. There will be more kids in crowded classrooms, fewer teachers and educators in our schools, and at least a billion dollars cut from education over the term of this government. Why is this government so determined on dragging our kids in this province backwards when it comes to our education system? Question is for the Deputy Premier. Minister of Education. Minister of Education. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Speaker, and I'm pleased to stand up and talk about the announcement that we shared on Friday. First of all, let me share that I want to congratulate the Ontario Science Centre on their 50th anniversary of the great science of 10 people. Just the day before, they had entertained 7,000 kids and parents. I just think it was a perfect platform for which we could stand on and introduce our announcement. When it comes to, actually, what we were talking about, we introduced so many concepts that are going to take our education system well ahead into the future and enabling students to embrace not only the realities of today, but the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. Thank you very much. Thank you, the acting Premier. I think we all know when class sizes get bigger, student learning can suffer. There will be less opportunities for students to get the one-on-one attention, which will hurt students with the most complex needs. And teachers will be stretched even thinner trying to deliver quality education that their students deserve. Speaker, parents know, teachers know, and students know what this government ought to know. Cramming more students into under-supported classrooms is not the way to boost student achievement. Will this government go back to the drawing board and come back with a plan that actually works and will serve the needs of students in our province? Minister. Thank you very much, Speaker. And I'll tell you what the PC government of Ontario is going to do. We're going to make sure that students in this province, from one end of Ontario to the other, actually finally have the confidence that they're learning the basic skills and fundamentals that are going to encourage and help them get the jobs of tomorrow. I'm telling you that we're forced to seek out tutors to help them with math. Parents were forced to really try and help their students the best they can because, quite frankly, the previous Liberal government failed our students. And there's proof points to that. And Speaker, I have to tell you that we're not only standing with parents in our announcement on our plan forward, where education is going to work not only for parents but for students and teachers. We are just looking so forward to working with our education partners and our school boards because, at the end of the day, the greatest factor in determining a student's success is the effectiveness of the teacher from them. Thank you. Final supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the minister, I think that we all know by cramming more students into a classroom, we aren't increasing effectiveness. Firing thousands of teachers and cramming as many as 40 students into high school math classes. Side come to order. Will not help students achieve more. By taking away one-on-one attention. By taking away specialized classes. By taking away in-person instruction. This government is making the future a lot less bright for more kids. Will this government reverse their course and scrap the scheme to increase class sizes and firing teachers before it is too late? Please take your seats. Minister to respond. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I need to get it said right now. I fundamentally reject the premise of that particular question. Clearly clear, Speaker. There will be no involuntary job losses under our plan. We're standing with our teacher positive that parents understand, students understand that the investment that we're making in Ontario's education system to make sure our students are prepared. Again, the previous government did an absolute dismal job introducing ideologies that failed our students. Speaker, I can tell you once and for all, we're getting back on track in Ontario. We are announcing thanks to our absolute plan that has been well received. And I look forward to speaking about the endorsements from our stakeholders and future questions. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. We've just received word that Global News has obtained a very troubling letter written by the member for Lanark Frontenac Kingston. The member describes being removed from the government's caucus as a political revenge plot because he tried to blow the whistle. He alleges that he was kicked out of caucus because he raised, and I quote, concerns of possible illegal and unregistered lobbying by close friends and advisers employed by Premier Ford. Speaker, my question is to the acting Premier. What possibly illegal and unregistered lobbying has been happening behind closed doors with this government? Response, Deputy Premier. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you so much, Speaker. I don't know about this letter that the member opposite speaks, but what I can speak to is my relationship with the member for Lanark Frontenac Kingston. Obviously, we share a number of organizations. We, you know, the health units in our riding, the school board, a number of agencies. So I appreciate and will continue, no matter in what capacity that member sits in this house, that I'll continue to work with him. And again, if the member has allegations to make, you know, that's his choice in opposition. We on this side of the house want to continue to talk about government policy, want to continue to talk about the work that we're doing in our communities. We feel very strongly that members should be allowed to speak, but in terms of the contents of whatever allegations the member is talking about, you'll have to disclose them. Thank you, Speaker. These accusations are serious. The word illegal is not used lightly by members of this house. Now the people of Ontario are left to wonder. They're wondering if Chris Froggett and Dean French worked out a deal to let people buy their way into Doug Ford's back rooms. Or, Speaker, is the member from Lanark Frontenac Kingston referring to cash for access fundraisers? Minister. I'm very disappointed in the member's unfounded allegations. This government for the people respects the rules of this house, respects the rules in terms of the integrity commissioner, the lobbyist registry, the rules that we have to operate under this house. I can tell you that whatever the member is trying to get at is not with any basis of truth. I can speak for myself. I can speak to how I operate in my office. I know my colleagues in Cabinet. I know, quite frankly, my colleagues on both this side of the house and the member's opposite. Always act with integrity. Always act with the people in mind. And any other allegation, any other suggestion is absolutely completely false, Speaker. We start the final supplementary. Speaker, if people's pockets are being lined in exchange for favours, the people have a right to know. It seems as if there was a secret emergency cabinet meeting this morning. Maybe so that members of the cabinet could get their story straight. Speaker, which story have they landed on? Is it a reference to cash for access fundraisers or is it this separate pay-to-play deal that we're seeing unfold here today? The member's asking obviously a very serious question, making serious statements. I have to be able to hear the response. But I would caution all members of the house in terms of their language and the use of language so that it's parliamentary. Minister, can you respond? Speaker, through you to the member. I don't know what meeting this member was talking about. I don't know what type of access he means. You know what, I'll tell you something, Speaker. You know, our government has been very clear in terms of going through the fundraising rules and ensuring that if a grandmother wants to come to a $25 spaghetti dinner for one of their members, yes, they can go on our site, they can look at those events, and they can attend. But in terms of trying to do anything else, in terms of lobbyists or anything that the member is trying to insinuate or suggest, it's absolutely not true. Next question, the member for Davenport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. Parents and educators across the province were shocked. By Friday's announcement of deep cuts to Ontario's public education system, to be achieved through a dramatic reduction in the number of teachers and dramatically larger class sizes, fewer teachers, less support for students. As boards have been looking over the implications of these cuts, we are learning more about what the impact will be. As a result, elementary school teachers expect to see 4,500 jobs lost. Secondary school teachers expect to see 3,600 jobs lost. I'm hearing unparliamentary comments from the government side. I'm not sure who said it. Stop it. Apologize to the member for Davenport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I hit a nerve. And the Toronto District School Board expects to see over 1,000 jobs lost alone. But the Minister of Education said, and I quote, not one teacher, not one will lose their jobs because of our class size strategy. Acting Premier, what, which is it? Deputy Premier. Mr. Education. Questions referred to the Minister of Education. Deputy Premier and Speaker, thank you to you as well for giving me an opportunity to set the record straight here. Because the fact of the matter has been using your own discovery math. Because I was very emphatic actually on Friday saying there will be no involuntary job lost. Here, here. How on earth can she be pulling numbers perhaps out of the cloud? Who knows where she pulled those numbers from? Because quite frankly, the school boards and my ministry will be working together in the weeks and months to come. Because we have to assess the number of retirements, the number of resignations and the number of redeployments that have been brought into this. So I would suggest to the member opposite stop fear, and celebrate the fact that we are finally going to get Ontario Education back on track. Start the clock. Member for Davenport, supplementary. I'll tell you where I got those numbers. I'll tell you where I got those numbers. Mr. Speaker, I got them from a memo in Associate Director of Business Operations and Service Excellence of the Toronto District School Board. Thank you very much. He says that the reduction in just the Toronto District School Board alone is going to be 216 fewer teachers. He says the impact will be a reduction of approximately 800 teachers in secondary schools in that one board alone. The impact will be a reduction of funding another additional 82 teachers. I could go on. I know what the impact is going to be and the minister wants to argue, Mr. Speaker, that when somebody retires they're not a job lost. Tell that to the teachers who won't be getting a job. Tell that to the students. Steve Ontarians gave her government a mandate to balance the budget on the backs of our kids. The question has been referred to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, and again, I absolutely reject the premise of which that member opposite is trying to fear longer. You know, it's absolutely not. The fact of the matter is that she has the basics in math. She's got experience in a school board herself and she knows full well over the last decade and a half the past Liberal government absolutely failed our students. And because of that we have a lot of work to do and we're rolling up our sleeves and we look forward to working and making sure that education works for parents, teachers, students and our school boards. We have a modern, age-appropriate health and physical education and we have clear policy with regards to our process where our parents can work better with teachers. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. The Minister recently visited Cappuccino Bakery, a small business in Nobelton. Cappuccino reflects the backbone of Ontario's economy. They pay their taxes and they hire people and create jobs in the community they call home. All they expect in return from their government is respect. For their tax dollars and to have access to quality health care, education and other critical services. That's why it was so significant for the Minister of Finance to visit this small business to make his important announcement. Could the Minister inform the House that he will be meeting for the people of Ontario? Good question. Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Brantford-Brant. It was a pleasure to visit the bakery with the member from King Vaughn to announce that our government's first budget will be coming on April 11th. Through our province-wide pre-budget consultations the message we heard came through loud and clear. The House that has been overtaxed, over-regulated and faces threats to the services we rely on because of spiraling government debt. We can all clearly see the results of 15 years of liberal neglect and reckless spending and it's time to take action. Our first budget will continue our work to restore confidence by laying out responsible path to balance. We will continue to provide relief to families and small businesses while protecting what matters most health care and education. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response. I think we can all agree that for far too long the people of Ontario have been forced to feel like they are working for their government and you know what, it's about time that their government started working harder for them. I have full confidence that our first budget will truly put at the heart of government to do otherwise would be foolish unless we take urgent action it will be our children and grandchildren who will inherit the Liberals' mountain of debt and continue to pay more for fewer services. That's wrong, Mr. Speaker and it's unfair to leave that burden for future generations to shoulder. Could the minister please remind the House what is at stake for our province today and our children's province of tomorrow? Minister of Finance Richard Bluntley, the previous Liberal government left behind a fiscal mess. We inherited a $15 billion deficit and a $346 billion debt. That's $346 with $90s behind it. The Liberals were spending $40 million a day more than they brought in Speaker. As a result the interest we pay on that debt is now the fourth largest item of the budget. This has to end. We must put Ontario back on a path that is fiscally responsible. We must bring relief to families and businesses that have been overtaxed and overburdened for 15 years and received nothing in return. We must work together to protect the services that matter most and Speaker, on April 11th we will lay out our plan to do exactly that. Member for Hamilton West and London. My question this morning is to the acting premier the Brand Children's Aid Society which is located in the writing of Brandford Brent has been forced to lay off 26 child protection workers as a direct result of this government's actions. The executive director of the family and children service said when governments cut child welfare services children ultimately die or are allowed by society to live in unbearable, violent and neglectful conditions. Mr. Speaker, why is this government putting children at risk with these reckless cuts? Questions to the deputy Premier. Thank you very much Speaker, my pleasure to rise to respond to what I don't think are necessarily accurate portrayals of what's happening on the ground. Since 2015 the former ministry of education and youth services under the previous administration was working with the Brand Children's Aid Society to identify cost reduction strategies. These efforts have been unsuccessful and the Brand Children's Aid Society continues to struggle to deliver services. In addition to that, I think this is something the government should be very proud of and every Ontarian should be very proud of, we are moving to in many cases an indigenous led child welfare system as we have in the six nations the 1% of the children in the caseload into that first nations an indigenous led child welfare system. This is something we are proud of in terms of customary care. We know indigenous children are overrepresented in the children's society system and that's why we are moving toward that model to bring customary care into the community for those children to better serve them. Supplementary question. Mr. Speaker, I have to say when it comes to vulnerable children this government's record is nothing but the children in foster care in the Brantford Brant writing they will run out of money on Friday but when the society came to this government asking when funding for the new fiscal year would be provided this government decided to play hardball as a result they have had to lay off 26 staff members the premier committed to the people of Ontario that no jobs would be lost in their quest to balance the budget but we've seen job loss after job loss I ask how can this government justify this betrayal of the most vulnerable children in Brantford Brant and in the rest of Ontario Mr. Speaker, what that member is suggesting that the 18% of indigenous youth who are going to a customary care model as an indigenous led children in society don't deserve the funding that is required for them to get the services that they need they're proud as a government to continue on the legacy of previous administrations as we move to a more indigenous led focused approach but the member also is suggesting that this is an overnight problem it dates back to 2015 that's four years ago where this children's aid society has refused to look after it's a fiscal house and get its services in order as we transition this is not new just two weeks ago I was able to sign off on the 12th indigenous led children's aid society I was at the UN last week speaking with indigenous leaders from Canada about our work with the federal government as we move to a more appropriate model for indigenous youth in the province of Ontario and hopefully throughout the rest of Canada next question the member for Carlton Mr. Speaker my question today is for the Attorney General we on this side of the house have great respect for Ontario's construction sector this is one of our economy's key drivers my writing of Carlton alone is home to some of eastern Ontario's biggest construction companies and job creators including Tomlinson group of companies Marathon drilling Gary Krapin cartage Osgoode sand and gravel the new construction act will soon bring into force a new regime that will ensure Ontario construction workers get paid on time for the work they do and make the dispute resolution process simpler and through you Mr. Speaker with the Attorney General please tell us how our government is bringing into effect this new era of transparency stability and certainty for our construction sector order the Attorney General to respond thank you Mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank the member from Carlton for the question Mr. Speaker our government will always stand up for those working in the construction industry and we are working very hard to bring into effect the new prompt payment and adjudication framework that will strengthen the sector and lead the country in how we support the construction industry prompt payment will provide contractors and subcontractors clarity and certainty around when to expect payment something fundamental that many in other sectors may take for granted our new adjudication process will speed up dispute resolution and save workers time and money while also prevent unnecessary delays in projects our government is working hard to bring these new tools into force on October 1st we look forward to delivering this important new framework to this essential part of this province thank you supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker and through you I'd like to thank the Attorney General for standing out for this important part of our economy and making sure that the construction industry in Carlton and across Ontario can have the opportunity to work in other industries Mr. Speaker my constituents in Carlton know that this government was elected with a promise to get things done and to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to thrive in today's marketplace and they expect this government to deliver on its commitments Mr. Speaker through you could the Attorney General please tell us more about how Ontario is implementing this new regulatory framework to ensure that Ontario's construction industry has the opportunities and protections it brings the Attorney General thank you Mr. Speaker the women and men working in Ontario's construction sector have made it clear that they want this new regime in place on time and that means October 1st of this year a key part of this promise is the designation of the authorized nominating authority the ANA the arms length entity that will oversee the new adjudication framework all for applications for the nominating authority and we look forward to seeing a wide range of applications for this key component of the new construction act regime our government has developed a fair and transparent selection process that will evaluate the quality experience and knowledge of entities that apply for the nominating authority designation and will ensure that we designate only the most qualified for this critical job construction workers and the construction industry and we take that responsibility seriously we look forward to continuing to work and communicate with our partners in the construction industry on this important project next question the member for Hamilton Mountain thank you speaker my question is for the acting Premier in Ontario it has taken decades to build up the capacity to support children with autism spectrum disorder and still we have a shortage of therapists trained to provide evidence-based therapy yet because of this government's disastrous autism program therapists are being laid off kids ability in Kitchener laid off nine staff and that is just the start why does the acting Premier insist on a plan that causes layoffs when what we actually need is more therapist and more support good question good question questions referred to the minister of children community and social services thanks very much speaker thank you for joining me I think that one of the things that we're moving to in transitioning is a direct funding model to parents to give them an opportunity to get the services that they want I think that these layoffs are premature and I encourage the agencies to understand our plan better our plan will mean that there will be four times more children who will be able to access services and therefore I think that every child should receive support should continue to deliver quality support to those children but let me be clear, my parliamentary assistant Amy Fee and I continue to listen to parents and we continue to come to order so we can empower parents directly and we're looking forward to making sure that the 23,000 children who are presently on a waitlist are cleared off that waitlist for the first time in Ontario history thank you this government claims to provide parents choice that they actually have first the government won't provide funding based on need or evidence now the ABA Therapist Shortish will get worse as layoffs begin this is going to leave those who can actually afford ABA stuck on waitlists I wonder if the acting premier knows that it will take decades to rebuild this industry after her government destroys it did the acting premier anticipate layoffs of therapy workers or did their unintended consequences is based on their half-baked plan collateral damage minister to respond I guess the difference between this government and that party is we're fighting for children, she's fighting for an industry speaker, we have consulted with hundreds of families we have done a dozen roundtables we continue to speak to families to see how we can best enhance their experience as parents who are dealing with autism diagnosis we have made an historic investment of $321 million we are doubling our investment into diagnostic hubs we are going to clear the waitlist in the next 18 months our priority is for children to get direct funding and for Hamilton Mountain to come to order to receive the service that they need but if what the member opposite is suggesting that I take the phone and talk to children instead and go toward an association or an industry that's not my job, my job is to make sure that those children that are on the waitlist get the service that they need and their parents get the funding that's what this government is going to do that's what this government is going to continue to do the opposition will come to order member for Hamilton Mountain come to order start the clock next question the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of energy on July 13 the government announced the cancellation of the eastern fields wind power project in the nation township the decision received with cheers and applause by the people of Glen Gary Prescott Russell yet we just learned that the Ontario energy board issued a license to the proponents for the project Mr. Speaker can the minister please tell us if the eastern fields wind power project is on or off minister of energy natural resources in mind well thank you Mr. Speaker this has been a difficult file obviously the energy portfolio was an absolute opposition come to order important steps Mr. Speaker which include a commitment to renewing the hydro leadership Mr. Speaker canceling more than 790 million dollars worth of projects which would have Mr. Speaker had the effect of increasing the monthly bills for ratepayers the people of Ontario who pay their hydro bills Mr. Speaker we won't stand for that we also ended the culture of waste Queen spark by canceling projects Mr. Speaker that clearly municipalities didn't want and the grid didn't need thanks Mr. Speaker supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker back to the minister the question is simple did the government cancel the project like it said it did yes or no minister thank you thank you Mr. Speaker a simple answer we remain committed Mr. Speaker to our plan to restore Ontario's electricity system to reduce rates for hydro bills for the hardworking people of Ontario to make it more affordable for small businesses Mr. Speaker to operate their businesses large-scale mining companies Mr. Speaker and automotive plants who aren't just complaining about high electricity rates they're complaining about high unpredictable electricity rates Mr. Speaker we're working to address that we have now the prospect of developers association conference last week there's renewed confidence in our direction we're taking Mr. Speaker and we're going to stay the course next question the member for Halton Mr. Speaker my question is for the president of treasury board Mr. Speaker we have a responsibility to watch every penny of taxpayers dollar and we don't take this responsibility lightly we know that a centralized procurement system will create a more effective process delivering greater value for the people of Ontario recent estimates indicate that ministries spend approximately six billion dollars annually on procurement this doesn't include procurement spending in the broader public sector including our hospital and school boards Mr. Speaker every dollar spent inefficiently is a productive dollar lost we are putting this to an end Mr. Speaker can the president of treasury board please inform this house why the government is modernizing our government procurement I apologize to the member from Milton the response the president of the treasury board thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Milton Mr. Speaker modernizing procurement and realizing its full savings potential was recommended in the Ernst & Young line by line review now while the former liberal government will be more for less we promised Ontarians that we would govern differently that's why our government is implementing an awful concept paying for more in fact previous estimates show that the Ontario public service and broader public sector combined procurement spend is approximately 29 billion dollars a year Mr. Speaker this is just about finding almost a billion dollars in savings making it easier for businesses to do business with government it's about reducing red tape and making Ontario open for business and open for jobs Mr. Speaker it's been a new millennium for almost 20 years and our procurement system needs to get on with the times thank you Mr. Speaker our government for the people was elected on a platform of rebuilding trust and accountability in government everything we do we must remember that the money we spend is not ours it is from the pockets of people of Ontario and should we use the responsibility to better this province not wasted on pet project or unnecessary expenses Mr. Speaker this is the situation we find ourselves in the people of Ontario weighed down with a $15 billion deficit inherited from the previous liberal government a major cost for government is procurement government services need to purchase goods and services in order to operate are we ensuring this is done in the most efficient and cost effective way possible I ask the minister of government and consumer services Mr. Speaker could he outline our government's plan to identify back office efficiencies across government department and modernize our procurement practices Questions to the minister of government and consumer services Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for Milton for his excellent question our government is dedicated to keeping our promises to the people of Ontario and putting Ontario back on a path to balance while protecting our vital public services today the president of the Treasury Board MPP Bailey and MPP Cho and I announced three initiatives that will help us achieve this goal as the minister has said by centralizing procurement we'll drive $1 billion in annual savings in the broader public sector we'll leverage our buying power consolidate contracts transform how we deliver services and add value by adopting innovative products and services Mr. Speaker our lean and continuous improvement office will streamline how we deliver services and build a culture of continuous improvement across government we'll use the resources sorry we will also modernize voice services across government saving approximately $8 million a year response Mr. Speaker I want to thank the members of the Liberals to create their $15 billion deficit and solving this fiscal crisis will not place overnight we will however start by restoring accountability, sustainability and trap thank you thank you very much next question the member for Nipplebell thank you Mr. President my question is for the Prime Minister Health Sciences North in Sudbury has had to let go 60 frontline healthcare workers nurses technicians, hands-on care professionals last week Ontarians learned that jobs would also be lost at the 14 lens as their services will be amalgamated into the super bureaucracy can the acting premier tell this House the total number of frontline workers that will lose their job with the creation of the government super bureaucracy for healthcare the deputy premier thank you very much for the question as the member knows the issue with health sciences north are not new issues they have been ongoing for some time and the ministry is working with them to deal with some of the losses they've had in their financial difficulties that they have been dealing with for some time as for the health plan that we announced several weeks ago it is to modernize healthcare in the province of Ontario to connect care for people to make sure that people receive the best quality care whether it's in a hospital whether it's in a long-term care home or whether it's in their own home that is the point of this modernization exercise supplementary question the cuts in Sudbury have affected frontline services we have less access to the breast screening clinic we have reduction in our seeding program that help people that need specialized care those services existed long before this government came to power but now they offer less hours they offer less access what will happen with the crown jewel of our healthcare system once it falls under the mega bureaucracy will the world class institution like cancer care Ontario like trillion gifts of life will they also have to reduce their hours and decrease access to their services can the minister give the acting premier give today to those healthcare workers what commitment can she give regarding staffing well dealing first with the issues at health sciences north the breast screening assessment service is not closing there have been some rumors that have been spread out there by I'm not sure who but it is not closing since 2000 patients have come to the clinic for breast screening mammograms diagnostic imaging services biopsies and navigation and those services are certainly going to continue but with respect to the bigger picture and the plan that we have developed for the entire province of Ontario the goal of this as I've always had is to strengthen our public healthcare system to make sure that patients receive connected services they're not receiving that right now as soon as people charge from hospital often they're not connected with home care services and they end up back in the emergency departments the goal of this exercise and the goal of this plan is to make sure that people feel connected with and receive services from their healthcare system wherever they are in their healthcare journey that is the goal that is what we're going to continue to do the member for Burlington minister of children community and social services and the minister for women's issues last week the minister joined the Canadian delegation at the 63rd session of the United Nations commission on the status of women the commission is held annually and provides an opportunity for UN member states to discuss progress gaps and next steps in the fight for gender equity this year session included discussions on preventing sexual and gender based violence and empowering girls through social protection can the minister outline the work our government for the people is taking to empower women and girls and combat violence against women in Ontario minister of children community and social services I would like to commend the member for Burlington for being a strong female voice in this legislature and doing the great work she does in her community of Burlington she is right last week I had the opportunity to travel with the minister to speak about sex trafficking violence against women as well as women's economic empowerment I was able to take part and intervene at a session on sex trafficking that was organised by the Vatican I spoke with the general assembly about some of the strategic partnerships this government is engaging in in order to support those women who are fleeing domestic abuse as well as violence against women and I spent some time with the federal minister I was able to take part in the discussion about violence against women but also the child welfare and protection system I'll have more to say on the supplementary speaker but I am proud as an Ontario that we are leading not only in this country but throughout the rest of the world on our commitment to combat sex trafficking in the province of Ontario supplementary question thank you minister you're a constant inspiration to myself to combat gender based violence across the province Mr. Speaker I know that while attending the commission the minister had the opportunity to address the very important topic of sex trafficking we know that Ontario counts for roughly two thirds of police reported human trafficking cases each year this is just shocking statistic but I am proud to know that our minister is taking a leadership role nationally to address the serious human trafficking round table with her federal counterpart can the minister please explain how our government is working to protect women and girls in Ontario from sex trafficking very much to the member again obviously we want to continue to work to build on the great work that was done by our colleague Lori Scott the minister of labour saving the girl next door act that's why I've appointed the member from chamber to the minister of health the minister of education the minister of transportation and others within our government to make sure that we are looking at an inter ministerial approach that's also why I'm co-chairing a consultation process task table with the federal minister of health this is Ontario's dirty little secret it's also Canada's dirty little secret when I was at the United Nations I made it very clear these women are dehumanized to continue to stand in this house with this government for the people to stand and defend these young women to bring awareness to these challenges and make sure that it's not just strong women we're supporting vulnerable women but strong men in this assembly and elsewhere across the province restart the clock next question the member for Waterloo thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the acting premier during the campaign the premier stated that not one job would be lost he's changed the message saying that no frontline jobs will be lost but in Kitchener Waterloo we saw Grand River Hospital cut 25 full-time and 15 part-time registered nurses three weeks ago speaker these are 40 jobs lost and good jobs too one fired full-time nursing equals 2000 hours of lost patient care to people in my community people deserve better you cannot rebuild a health care system without frontline nurses in the province of Ontario so my question is to the acting premier why did the government not take action to ensure that patients get the frontline care that they need in Kitchener Waterloo and indeed across the province the deputy premier well I can certainly agree with the member that more frontline care is needed nurses are the backbone of our health care system that is the reason why we brought our plan forward that is the ideas to put more people into frontline care because that's what we hear from patients each and every day in the ministry of health that is what we're working towards with the local Ontario health teams that are going to be built that will gradually be taking over the responsibilities from the lens that is what is meant to happen so that there's a lot of people that want to be able to be delivering that kind of care I traveled broadly with groups that are ready to apply to be local Ontario health teams can't wait for the application process to start because they're already doing that level of care that's what we need to see happening across the province thank you supplementary member for waterloo again thank you Mr. Speaker the health minister used to fight for frontline nurses and she knows that these cuts right now have consequences for instance Becky lives with type 1 diabetes and other chronic illnesses for years she was too sick to work she was in and out of the ER due to diabetic crises regularly spending one month a year in hospital but everything changed when Becky became a patient at the Diabetes Centre at Grand River Hospital the monthly visits were invaluable to her chronic illness management and her long hospital visits all but disappeared this was a smart strategic investment in healthcare but now the Diabetes Centre services have been able to access care twice a year how can the government justify cutting frontline jobs that keep people out of the hospitals and healthy in the province Minister thank you very much Speaker there's really two points to be made here one is that the reason of creating Ontario health and putting organisations like Cancer Care Ontario their board under the Ontario health is to help promote a better chronic disease management strategy Cancer Care Ontario is an excellent example for providing cancer care and for dealing with renal indications there's no reason why we can't continue to use that model which will continue in its present form they will still be doing the work that they have always done but that model can be used for diabetes management for mental health and addictions management secondly with respect to the important role that nurses play in the system registered nurses association of Ontario has endorsed the plan which we announced several years ago I would like to talk about the transportation today's announcement marks the beginning of much needed change in the health system and the continued role registered nurses must play in both coordinating patients in their communities and in helping Ontarians navigate its complexities that is the goal that we look forward to start the clock next question the member for Kitchener Conestoga Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Finance over the past week we have heard about our government's call on the federal government to legalize single game sports betting given the response to our government's leadership on this file it is clear that people across Ontario would like to be able to bet on the outcomes of single sports games people in Ontario and across Canada are given the option of betting on the Super Bowl or the grey cup for example given the increasing popularity of single game betting it is important for our government to be able to meet consumer demand and ensure Ontario's high standards for responsible gaming can be met Mr. Speaker could the minister please explain why this change is necessary and how it stands to benefit Ontario Minister of Finance Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for Kitchener Conestoga for giving us the opportunity to talk about the issue of single game sports betting it is important to keep Ontario's gaming industry competitive eight US states now offer legalized sports betting and 20 more states are expected to adopt the practice within the next two years including Michigan and New York without legal alternatives in Ontario consumers are increasingly turning to US based casinos which offer single game sports casino Windsor for example would benefit from a more competitive position in the industry that's why we're calling on the federal government to amend the criminal code allowing single game betting will give sports fans more choice and enhance the contributions gaming makes in Ontario Supplementary question Thank you Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response it is exciting to hear about how our government is taking action to make a change that would increase consumer choice and benefit workers in Ontario's gaming industry it is also exciting to see the support of our government's initiative has been getting hopefully the federal government is listening and will amend the criminal code to allow single game sports betting in Canada it is clear that this decision makes sense Mr. Speaker legalization of single game sports betting has the support of the public the support of the gaming industry and the support for Windsor west on some of the support behind our government on this file minister response North American sports teams are in favour of single game sports betting particularly in light of the recent legalization in the US the CFL commissioner says we support the province's initiative to ensure our markets remain competitive and strong the NBA commissioner says should the federal government permit betting on single game sports betting the NBA would support the province of Ontario offering this form of betting the NHL commissioner says the NHL believes that a level playing surface for sports betting is in the best interest of the NHL's sports betting landscape the industry supports this change the people support this change and our government supports this change it is time for the federal government to amend the criminal code and legalize single game sports betting thank you speaker member for King Vaughn come to order member for Hamilton mountain come to order next question the member for Kuwait know me good job mr. Speaker my question is to the acting premier as of May 1 the government is shutting down the Ontario child advocates office resulting in the loss of 20 child and youth advocate jobs these frontline workers called answer the calls of young people and kids in crisis they listen first they take direction from the child or the youth as to how they can support them to be heard mr. Speaker this office has been in place for 40 years why is the government closing the Ontario child advocates office which employs 20 frontline workers for our most vulnerable children in youth the deputy premier mr. Children and community I really appreciate the question from the member opposite I appreciate him bringing his concerns to the floor of the house the government made a decision in the fall economic statement that they would be moving the oversight capabilities over to the office that said my ministry has taken steps so that we can have three tables established for children in care and children in custody the children in care there will be an indigenous led table as well as a table for children that are of color and we have also made arrangements to ensure that we embed child advocate within my ministry so that we ensure that children in custody and care have the access that they need for the advocacy role but let me be perfectly clear we believe the oversight capabilities are far superior than what we've got now and we believe that the ombudsman will continue to work forward in a very constructive way and that's why we're working with Paul Duthey and my ministry and we're going to continue to work. Thank you. Supplementary question. Mr. Speaker the youth involved with the child advocates office say their work has saved lives this government is ending youth partnerships like feathers of hope which helped indigenous youth all over northern Ontario and throughout the Ontario and to 2017 there were 38 suicides in the north this is 50 times higher than a Canadian average Mr. Speaker 50 times higher young people are losing their dedicated advocate in the team of professional professionals which support the important work that says disproportionately are going to hurt will hurt indigenous youth why is the acting premier isolating indigenous youth and leaving them without support Minister response. Thank you very much Speaker and again thank you very much to the member opposite for his question I've always admired him bringing his concerns to the floor of the community I just want to point out in 2017-2018 the Ontario Ombudsman's office received 367 complaints that's more than one a day that had to be referred to the child advocates office by repatriating the investigative powers into the Ombudsman's office working with Paul DeBay we're convinced we're going to get better reports that are more effective for this assembly and so if anyone is challenging the Ombudsman I guess this is now the place to do it but let me be clear we take our work with indigenous youth very seriously particularly because they are over represented in custody and in care and that is why we are going to set up an indigenous led table of children of lived experience so that we can best support them and that is why we're also embedding with him my ministry a child advocate next question the member for Aurora Oak Ridge is Richmond Hill thank you speaker my question is for the minister of environment conservation and parks for too long the hardworking people of this province were faced with inflated costs that they simply could not afford and to make matters worse in a couple of short weeks Ontarians will once again have to pay a new tax we know that the Trudeau liberal carbon tax is coming into effect on April 1st it will increase the cost of people of my riding and across Ontario to heat their homes fuel their cars and feed their families we're now learning the full impact of just how much this tax will cost our transport businesses our colleges and universities can the minister inform the house what our government with the leadership of the premier intends to do to stop this regressive job killing tax from being imposed on Ontarians good question minister of the environment and parks Mr. Speaker through you to the member from Aurora Oak Ridge is Richmond Hill and thank you for the question Mr. Speaker our government made a promise to Ontarians that we would make life more affordable and that we would make it easier for job creators to create jobs and a competitive economy we promised as well that we could balance a healthy environment and a healthy economy and that's what we're doing that's Mr. Speaker that the federal government committed to in greenhouse gases but it does it without a job killing carbon tax Mr. Speaker we are also through our emissions performance standards which are now out for consultation making it clear that institutions like colleges and universities will have the opportunity to opt in Mr. Speaker that means that those universities those colleges will not have to be spending valuable taxpayer dollars valuable tuition dollars on paying Justin Trudeau's carbon tax thank you Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the minister for his response Mr. Speaker I know the Trudeau government's carbon tax will have a direct impact on finances of Ontario's essential services on public institutions our carbon tax makes everything more expensive the resources of Ontario's publicly assisted colleges and universities should be focused on equipping our students with the skills needed to get the high quality of jobs tomorrow not filling the federal government's coffers can the minister tell us how the Liberals failed plan will impact institutions like our colleges and universities Minister of training colleges and universities Enrichman Hale for that very important question Speaker last Thursday I was pleased to be at Algonquin college with the minister for environment conservation and parks as well as members from Carlton and Ottawa West Nippian and the details of the impact of the carbon tax on our universities and colleges Speaker we know that the federal carbon tax will cost Algonquin college over $276,000 in 2022 alone and across the entire sector we know this tax will cost Ontario's universities and colleges approximately $24.7 million in 2023 Speaker the people of Ontario have paid for a 22% reduction in our emissions and we have a plan to get to 30% without a carbon tax Our message is clear our publicly funded institutions cannot afford to pay millions of dollars in new taxes to fill the federal government's coffers Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker and through you my question is for the acting premier during the campaign the premier repeatedly told the people of Ontario that not one job would be lost under his government and in December when this government decided to eliminate the office of the environmental commissioner they made no mention of any jobs being lost but we have now learned that at least five people will lose their jobs as a result of this government gutting the office of the environmental commissioner of Ontario does the premier not think these jobs count the deputy premier for the environment, conservation and parks Questions would refer to the minister of the environment, conservation and parks Mr. Speaker as is happening so often today I have to reject the premise of the members question Mr. Speaker Ontario will continue to be the only provincial government with an independent environment commissioner and that commissioner will report through the auditor general Mr. Speaker because and this will be the exact same system as the federal government the federal government Mr. Speaker has the same system why is that because we want to make sure that the environment commissioner has the appropriate focus has the focus in terms of how the environment is considered and it is done through an independent office but it will also be done more effectively and we will not apologize for being efficient and effective while protecting the environment of Ontario Thank you Mr. Speaker I just wanted to take a moment to announce to the house that my EA last week surprised his long-time girlfriend with a trip to Barbados and he asked a very important question and much to my surprise Dina Gowl who said yes so to Ryan Cole and Dina Gowl congratulations on your recent engagement on a point of order on a point of order a speaker on behalf of the Liberal Caucus I'd like to welcome to the legislature the council of Ontario the Toronto Construction Association who are holding their lobby today including the delegation in the delegation are members of the Toronto Construction Association including Romeo Milano their president John Mullenher and senior director of corporate development Susanna Fernandez Thank you for so understanding order 38A the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the minister of energy concerning the eastern fields and wind power project in the nation township this matter will be debated tomorrow at 6pm this house stands in recess until 1pm