 It is now time for a question period, the Leader of the Majesty's Royal Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Premier, your finance minister says he wants to, quote, optimize and maximize public assets. Premier, we both know what he really means is creating Warren Buffett-style efficiencies. That means streamlining. It means cost-cutting. It means job losses. It means jobs are about to disappear at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Ontario Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation. Even Smokey Thomas, President of Ops, who recognizes that you can eliminate the deficit in three years without cutting services for the people of Ontario when he said, quote, with what they're promising to spend and how they're promising to control costs, the public service can only shrink. And so my question, Premier, is quite simple. How many liquor store employees, LCBO employees, Hydro One employees and OPG employees are about to lose their jobs? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, again, it is, I mean, it's an interesting situation when the party that ran on immediately cutting 100,000 jobs in Ontario, Mr. Speaker, are questioning us about that issue. So Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the reason we have asked Ed Clark and his team to look at the assets that are owned by the people of Ontario is that we want to make sure that they work to the optimal value, optimal benefit for the people of Ontario. And I have said a number of times, Mr. Speaker, that had we had such a process in place, had the government of the day had such a process in place when they were looking at the 407, Mr. Speaker, I believe that there would not have been such a bad deal for the people of Ontario because there's billions and billions of dollars of revenue that are lost to the people of Ontario on what was a public asset, Mr. Speaker, because of the arrangement. And we're not going to do that, Mr. Speaker. Go to supplementary. Again, to the Premier. Premier, here's a chance to display some of that transparency and accountability you always talk about. Here's a chance to tell the lenders and credit rating agencies exactly what you mean by optimize and maximize. Here's a chance to tell employees at the LCBO, OPG and OPA just how many of their jobs are on the line. So, Premier, why don't you just be honest? Can you tell the people of Ontario how many jobs you intend to maximize out the door? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, we have been very honest and we are honestly concerned that the assets that are owned by the people of Ontario, that they be optimized, Mr. Speaker, and that those revenues and that those assets work for the people of Ontario so that we can reinvest in the infrastructure that is needed, Mr. Speaker. So, for example, selling the LCBO headquarters, selling that real estate, selling the GM shares, Mr. Speaker, to make sure that we have that money to put into a fund in order to build public transit. That's responsible management of the assets of this province, Mr. Speaker. And to reinvest those dollars in infrastructure that is needed in 2014 is exactly what is at the core of our investment strategy around infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. I'll try again now, Mr. Speaker. Premier, you and your finance minister can speak in code all you want. You can talk about optimizing and maximizing, but we all know that you mean job losses. You're simply not being honest with the people of Ontario. If you're going to meet these deficit reduction targets you always talk about, there comes a point where the rubber meets the road, so I'll ask you again in this chamber, in front of your peers, and for the benefit of viewers at home, how many people will be out of work by the time you finish selling off Ontario's assets? Thank you, Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, you know, the reality is that the people of Ontario rejected the proposal that was put forward by the member opposite and his team to cut and slash across government, Mr. Speaker, to cut public services and what the member opposite didn't talk about was the services that would have been cut as a result of the extreme and reckless plan that they were putting forward. That plan was rejected, Mr. Speaker. Our plan is to invest in the people of this province, to invest in their talent and their skills. Mr. Speaker, I was just at a forum this morning with a visiting delegation from China, Mr. Speaker, and I was talking to a business owner who was setting up a research and development capacity here in Ontario, and the reason for that is the talent and the skills of our people. He said that explicitly. Because of our educated workforce, they are locating here in Ontario. That's the kind of investment we... Thank you. Any questions? The member from Kitchener, Conestoga? My question is to the Premier. Premier, yesterday you told the CBC that you'd be, quote, adding more GO trains immediately to the Kitchener Waterloo line. That statement is a big departure from your GO announcement earlier this year when you said it would take until 2016 for you to deliver the trains you actually cut four years ago as transportation minister. Gone trains. Premier, simple question. Did you misspeak yesterday, or have you learned from the air of your ways and now realize your decision to slash GO train expansion to KW should be corrected as soon as possible? Here, here. Here's your transportation. The transportation. Well, thanks very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the member from Kitchener for his question. This is the second opportunity that I've had since becoming the minister of transportation to stand at my place here in the House and respond to a question from that member regarding the crucial investments that we are making in his community and communities right across Ontario. And I'll repeat today, Speaker, what I said on the occasion of responding to that first question, which is this is one of the reasons that it's extremely important for members of that caucus and that particular member to support the budget that we've reintroduced in this legislature, Speaker. We are proposing, we are planning, and we are committed to investing $29 billion in crucial public transit infrastructure, which will serve communities like Kitchener Waterloo. And I know that that member will want to work with us in particular our members from his region, like the member from Kitchener Centre, to make sure that we implement a plan that makes sense for everybody in his community and right across Ontario. Thank you. Speaker, I know the new minister is keen, but these were the comments that were actually made by the Premier. So Premier, I'll ask you again. Premier, I know you've got a majority, but you can ignore me, but not the constituents that I represent here. Premier, you doubled down yesterday on your commitment to build high-speed rail from London to Toronto, claiming you could deliver within a decade. Yet you continue to say you need until 2016 to add two GO trains to the Kitchener Line that you actually cut as transportation minister. Premier, do you really expect Ontarians to believe that you can deliver high-speed rail in a decade when you say you need six years to add just two more GO trains to the Kitchener Line? Thank you. Thank you. Well, thanks very much again, Speaker, and I'm not quite sure how much clearer we can make this on this side of the house for the member opposite. Both with respect to the question around high-speed rail service and regarding the question of increasing GO service to his community. I just want to reiterate, try to make this as clear as I possibly can. Our government is committed to bringing full-day two-way GO train service to the UTA. As we've said, this is a plan that's going to take place over the next number of years. The $29 billion that are included in our budget for these kinds of investments will help make sure that we can make this commitment become reality, and we are determined to make that the case, Speaker. I should mention that, as we've said in the past, by the end of 2016, Metrolinx will be adding four additional trains, two in the morning and two in the afternoon to serve the Kitchener station. It's also important to note to me that we've invested $19.3 billion in public transit, specifically including $9.1 billion for GO service. I can't call on that member to support our budget to help his community. So again, you just heard the minister say 2016, but the Premier said yesterday she'd add those immediately. So clearly, my constituents and across Southwestern Ontario actually deserve an answer on this. So again, Premier, yesterday you told the CBC Kitchener Waterloo that your transportation minister would release a third-party report that you say backs up your claims about high-speed rail from London to Toronto. But just last week when I actually asked the minister in question period if you'd release the report, he refused. Ontarians are finding it hard to believe that you have any evidence to support your high-speed rail project, especially when experts across the province have rejected the proposal, calling it CBC. So Premier, if you really don't have anything to hide, why don't you just order your transportation minister to release that report today? Good question. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member opposite for that question again. You know, Speaker, in the interest of trying to provide clarity to that particular member, I am happy to work with him to provide him with a bit of a briefing on this issue outside of this legislature. It is important to recognize, as I said in the answer to the second question, we have made significant investments in crucial public transit infrastructure over the last 11 years, Speaker. And in fact, between 1999 and 2003 the PCs contributed nothing to go transit, Speaker, leaving it to municipalities to carry the weight and the responsibility. I think what was abundantly clear in the course of this last election campaign is that the people of the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, along with people right across this province of Ontario, understood the importance of the comprehensive and thoughtful plan that we are willing to implement. $29 billion over the next 10 years, $14 billion for communities outside the GTHA, $50 billion for communities inside the GTHA. Thank you. New question, the leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Does the Premier think it was a mistake for various conservatives to sell off the 407? Thank you. Yes, I do, Mr. Speaker. I think the way it was done, I think the fact that there has been no long-term benefit to the people of Ontario by that decision that the previous government made was a mistake, and I have used the 407, Mr. Speaker, and the lack of good process around that as an example of exactly why there needs to be a different process. That's exactly why we have asked Ed Clark and his team to look at the assets owned by the people of Ontario to optimize them to make sure that there is ongoing benefit for the people of Ontario and the ability to reinvest in new infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, which is needed now in 2014. Thank you. I didn't get a clear answer to my question. Does the Premier think selling off valuable assets like the 407, like the OPG, like the LCBO is a good idea? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think I know where the members going on this, Mr. Speaker. I think that the leader of the third party is trying to suggest that that's the agenda that we're sneaking into the legislature and into government. Mr. Speaker, it is it was a mistake to deal with the 407 in the way that the Conservatives did. That is my opinion, Mr. Speaker. I believe that there could have been a much better long term benefit to the people of Ontario. It is also a mistake, Mr. Speaker, for a government never to review the assets, never to look at whether they are producing the maximum benefit for the people of Ontario. So, Mr. Speaker, we're not going to make that mistake. We're not going to make that mistake. We're going to have a process that is responsible, that is prudent, that looks at those assets and makes sure that they are performing for the people of Ontario. Final supplementary? Well, Speaker, nobody thinks the Liberals are sneaking anything anywhere. Her plan is based on $3.15 billion coming in the door from the sales of assets. It is clear as a bell in their budget. And we know that in the long term, these kinds of activities, these kinds of sell-offs are a bad thing for the people of Ontario. It sets our province back. It cuts out sources of revenues. It leads to higher costs for the people of this province, Speaker. So why does the Premier think that asset sales are okay as long as they do it the Liberal way? So, Mr. Speaker, what I think is not just okay but responsible is that government look at the assets that are owned by the people of Ontario and that we make sure that in 2014 those assets are working in the best way possible so that the infrastructure that is needed, the investments that are needed now can be made. So part of our plan, it's not our whole plan but part of our plan is to look at those assets, to ask Ed Clark and his team who have expertise to look at those assets and make sure that they are working to the best advantage of the people of Ontario. That's responsible. That's what we're doing, Mr. Speaker. That's not what the previous government did with the 407. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier. Does the Premier think that Ontarians voted for austerity and cuts? Mr. Speaker what we know the people of Ontario did not vote for, Mr. Speaker was a disparate, disconnected list of ideas that were basically based on our fiscal plan, Mr. Speaker, and didn't hang together and had no coherence. So they didn't vote for that, Mr. Speaker. They did not vote for the leader of the third finish, please. The plan that we put forward, Mr. Speaker was a plan that would build the province up. It's a plan that was rooted in the budget that we introduced at the beginning of May that would invest in the people of this province and their talent and their skills, which is drawing investment from around the world, Mr. Speaker, that would invest in the infrastructure that's needed, whether it's the roads and bridges in Northern and rural Ontario or the transit in our urban centres, Mr. Speaker, and would set up an Ontario retirement pension and retirement security. That's what the plan is that we put forward. That's the plan we were eager to implement, Mr. Speaker. Does the Premier think that Ontarians voted for the cost of everyday life to go up for them and their families? So, Mr. Speaker, what we know is that if we do not have an economy that is thriving, then it will be very, very difficult for people to find jobs, Mr. Speaker. It will be difficult for our children and our grandchildren to have retirement security, Mr. Speaker. It will be extremely difficult to draw businesses to the province. So, what we need to do is make sure that we make the right investments now, that we have the constraints in place so that we can eliminate the deficit by 2017-18, Mr. Speaker, but making the investments in the province and making sure that we don't leave the most vulnerable behind. All of that is part of the plan we ran on. That's the plan that we are eager to invest, and that's the plan that the people of Ontario voted for. The Liberals insist that their budget is progressive, but this is what people see. They see that yesterday the Finance Minister gave auto insurance companies another boost, while drivers continue to not see any savings. They see the Liberal Plan will send hydro rates up to 2%, another skyrocketing increase over the next number of years. There is growing acknowledgement, a chorus of growing acknowledgement, that the job cuts that are hidden in this Trojan horse budget will be significant. They see a Premier who can't explain why she's moving forward with asset sales when she used to oppose them. People have some pretty simple questions about this Trojan horse budget, and my question to Premier is, why will she not come clean with the people of Ontario? There was a lot in that question. I'm just going to focus on the auto insurance. The NDP heard this throughout the candidate, the leader of the third party's candidate for halt and tweeted quote, just got my latest car insurance payment update, and I'm paying $22 less a month. That's $260 less a year. There's been on average more than $1 billion in savings than in the last election, Mr. Secretary Otto. What people see in our budget, Mr. Speaker, many of them across the board, they see $2.5 billion in jobs and prosperity fund, Mr. Speaker, they see $130 billion in public infrastructure investments, $11.4 billion in hospital expansions, a made in Ontario retirement pension plan, an increase in the Ontario child benefits and $810 million for people with developmental disability. That's all part of our plan. Thank you. The member from the through you is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Minister, it's been seven years since Ashley Smith suffered her terrible death and seven months since a coroner's jury made recommendations so that this type of tragedy wouldn't be repeated. On May 1st, the federal government partnered with the Royal Ottawa Healthcare Group to fund a two-bed pilot project for mentally ill female offenders at the Brockville Secure Treatment unit in my riding. The partnership between the federal government and the hospital is because of this treatment model's outstanding results with mentally ill male offenders. Minister, you know there are many women like Ashley in our Ontario jails suffering. My question is, do you think should deny them access to a program male offenders have been able to access since 2003 because of their gender? Thank you. Thank you very much Speaker, and I think the member opposite for asking a very important question. I know it's an issue that the member has spoken about in the past and has advocated and I know my predecessor the Attorney General has worked with the member opposite on this issue as well and Speaker, so do I. I continue to look into this matter. I've had the opportunity to speak with the CEO of the Royal Ottawa Hospital which happens to be located in my community of Ottawa Centre and most recently I had a brief conversation with member opposite and I look forward to continue working with him on this very important issue so that we are providing appropriate mental health treatment for all inmates within our detention system. Thank you. Yes, you're right Minister. I have spoken to you and your predecessor about this. In May, a spokesperson told Global News your ministry quote would be willing to review any proposal put forward by the federal government. Well your government has given me the same answer since 2010 and the federal government has stepped up Minister. You're wrong. The Attorney General is wrong. Chair, please. It's time to drop the excuse that you can do nothing now that the feds are moving forward. The good news is you've got a great opportunity now to do the right thing. You know Minister, the good work that the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group does with mentally ill patients you know the good work that they do so I'm asking you will you commit today to bring the province to the table and finally move forward with a plan to treat mentally ill women offenders. They shouldn't be in the jail. They should be getting treatment. Minister, when will you come to the table? Thank you. Thank you very much Speaker. Again, I thank the member opposite for his question and I will restate that on this important issue. We need to make sure Speaker that we are treating all our inmates with fairness, with respect and they deserve the same access to support as those in the community and I will continue as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services I will continue to work along with all members of this house to ensure that those type of services are presented for inmates in our custody. Speaker, Ontario has now provided specialized services to inmates and we are launching the Forensic Early Intervention Service at the Toronto South Detention Centre it's the first strategy of its kind in Canada. There's a lot of work that is ongoing right now Speaker in our professional facilities to ensure that inmates with mental health challenges are given proper treatment and I look forward to working with the member opposite to make sure that female inmates have fair and equal treatment available to them as well. Thank you very much Thank you very much My question is to the Minister of Finance Mr. Speaker, four years ago the Liberal government put $2 billion into the pockets of the insurance industry they slashed our benefits and resulted in a cost savings to the insurance industry of $2 billion annually yet drivers in Ontario are still paying the highest auto insurance in the country while they move so quickly to slash the benefits for drivers they move so quickly to increase the profits for the insurance industry why is it that the new plan announced yesterday by the Minister of Finance seeks again to put more money into the pockets of the insurance industry but drivers are still waiting to see any reduction in their insurance rates Interesting question from a member across the way who says he's advocating for lower rates and yet when we've tried putting forward legislation last February found ways to stall it delay and force us to now reintroduce it after a forced election which had been done initially would have resulted in lower rates today we have been fighting for lowering insurance rates since 2003 we've taken measures in 2010 to provide for the anti-task force in 2011 we've had private members from our side of the house that have been advocating for the same and will continue to do that obviously without their support because they voted against the very measures that would have reduced insurance rates by this point in time Mr. Speaker the measures that the Minister of Finance is speaking about have no guarantee whatsoever of reducing insurance rates for drivers but certainly will increase the profits for the insurance industry now when asked yesterday point blank will this minister and will this government be able to reach their 8% target reduction by August the silence was deafening in the response by the Minister of Finance now instead of guaranteeing that yes there will be reductions the Minister of Finance said shop around and maybe you can find them now the budget is silent on any new measures to guarantee a reduction for drivers in Ontario I have a very simple question for the Minister of Finance it's very clear that the Minister of Finance is not going to reach the August 8% reduction deadline will the Minister commit to guaranteeing a reduction for drivers instead of continually putting more money in the pockets of the insurance industry Mr. Speaker because of the measures that we've taken because we've added more teeth to FISCO because we're adding to the resolution system's acceleration because we're looking after the towing industry because we're working with adjusters and appraisers to ensure that there's a proper dispute mechanism and an appeals process to provide for charges against those that may violate because we're attacking fraud because we're looking after the clinics that are doing it because we're reaching and doing everything we can to reduce the claim cost which results in higher premiums we have made measures to reduce as well we have well over 14 insurance companies who have publicly filed with reduction in their rates by more than 10% some as high as 14% and 15% already we have publicized this we have put them on the web pages and his own colleagues have resulted they themselves have said that they've already received lower rates because they've taken the measures and because they've made those calls we will act obviously without serious please your question thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of municipal affairs and housing safe and affordable housing is an issue that affects all Ontarians whether they live in my riding of York Southwestern in Windsor or in Thunder Bay during the recent election the need for our government to continue investing in affordable and social housing was an issue that was frequently brought to my attention and last week in the throne speech our government committed to building a fairer and healthier province and that means greater access to affordable housing the question I'm now being asked is how are we going to tackle this pressing need so Mr. Speaker through you to the minister could he please explain what our government is doing and will do to ensure that we continue to invest in the vulnerable Ontarians who need greater access to safe and affordable housing thank you minister of municipal affairs thanks Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member from York Southwestern for her ongoing advocacy in this area we understand that long-term local solutions are really the only way to address the ongoing need to house vulnerable folk absolutely that's why our government is focusing on Ontario's housing first strategy we've invested over three billion dollars in affordable housing more than any government before us in our throne speech Mr. Speaker our government committed to expanding the community homelessness prevention initiative and the investment in affordable housing programs but it's not an issue just for the province or municipalities to be brutally frank we need an ongoing federal partner that we can counter for an answer to supplementary well thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you too the minister for confirming our government's commitment to social and affordable housing as you may know the first cooperative housing building in the city of Toronto was built in my writing of York Southwestern a residence called Beach Hall however Beach Hall is experiencing a crisis that hasn't seen the likes since the 1970s when the Toronto Borough of York threatened to phase out this complex in favour of a new development the federal government till now has provided assistance to co-ops and other housing providers to programs started in the 70s and the 80s however these agreements are expiring and the date is quickly approaching where most of these contracts will be phased out now many residents of Beach Hall are calling on the federal government to maintain the existing housing stock and they believe that the federal government needs to come back to the table with long-term stable sources of funding Mr. Speaker through you to the minister could he please explain what our government will do to ensure that the federal government maintains its funding Minister Mr. Speaker our government certainly welcomed the March 2013 announcement by the federal government to renew the housing program for the next five years that said they also indicated that they're about to get out of maintaining existing social housing stock which causes us some real concern so it remains the fact that the federal government's contribution is going to be reduced reducing and reducing quickly over the next 15-20 years so if we're going to get on with the social housing and cooperative housing opportunities that are presented and which many stakeholders in Ontario have been able to avail themselves of we are going to have to work together the federal government, the provincial government and the municipal government and I hope the opposition and the third party will join us in our efforts and particularly with respect to putting pressure on the federal government. Thank you. Prime Minister Elizabeth Nicholson is a 24 year old young woman who is living with a very rare disease called spinal cerebellia ataxia. This is a painful and disabling neurodegenerative disease which is ultimately terminal. Elizabeth's needs have recently become so significant that her family is not able to care for her anymore at home given that she requires 24-7 assistance. Her family has finally found a place where she can live out her days in comfort and dignity. If she can accommodate her needs her family has found such a place in its sunbeam lodge and Kitchener. Yet the Ministry of Community and Social Services refuses to fund the $40,500 it will cost to keep her there for six months which is just a little over $200 a day which will keep Elizabeth there for what might well be her last six months. Recently her family was forced to resort to the internet to essentially crowdfund the money that she needs. And her family will you commit to funding her stay at sunbeam lodge? Thank you. Minister of Community and Social Services Minister of Community and Social Services Well thank you very much Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for Whitby Oshawa for this question. Of course we cannot discuss any particular individual case because of issues of confidentiality but as a government I know that we remain totally committed to supporting those with developmental disabilities and we are providing additional services. We do take this issue incredibly seriously I know the member opposite from having worked with her previously on the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions is totally committed to issues around the vulnerable and I would just say to her that we also share that kind of commitment to what we are doing in the developmental disability community and we do believe very strongly that the families the individuals need the type of support that perhaps we have heard about in this particular case and we are committed to that. Supplementary? I would say to the minister this is a situation that really requires immediate attention and the answer that the family got back through your ministry is that the developmental services office is going to offer them some kind of respite or some kind of passport funding which we all know there isn't any money for this young person needs a place within the last six months she has a... Thank you Thank you We have no idea what the money is going to be used for that's been allocated in the budget you have not been forthcoming on that but this is a very specific case where this young woman needs your attention and all we get is a process answer well you can't hide behind process on this we all know that there is a way to do this if there is a will to do this so minister will you please summon the will and find a way to fund this young woman's day for what might be her life this month at Sunbeam Lodge Thank you Minister Thank you Mr. Speaker so perhaps maybe we need an explanation for our upcoming budget for those with developmental disabilities first of all I think the member does know that developmental services Ontario offices work together with families to explore all possible solutions in the community and so in our upcoming budget we're proud to be proposing an investment of $810 million over the next three years this is the single largest infusion of support to the sector province in history and this proposed please finish this proposed additional funding would increase our government's investment in developmental services to $2 billion in 2016 2017 this means there will be support for an additional 1400 people with urgent residential needs you will eliminate waitlist for 8,000 children Thank you Thank you speaker my question is for the Associate Minister of Finance pooled retirement pension plans are Stephen Harper approved plans that are good for banks they are however a gamble for families the Liberals insist their plan is progressive but it is a plan that's great for Bay Street but leaves Main Street falling behind Jim Leach is the head of the Ontario teachers pension plan he knows a thing or two about pensions this is what Jim Leach had to say about the promise of these private pensions if markets have been bad your retirement lifestyle will be far less so my question why is the premier gambling on a Stephen Harper approved private pension scheme Thank you speaker and I want to thank Member Opposite for her climate and his critic for pensions we know that this is a very important issue because our population is aging and we have to prepare for the future and that is why speaker we have proposed the Ontario retirement pension plan which is an opportunity for us to put away a little bit today for the retirement that is coming tomorrow and our Ontario retirement pension plan is going to be providing pensions for those in the middle class who currently are without a workplace pension it will be a comparable and and in fact will work very well with voluntary plans like the PRPP like RRSPs and other means speaker but what is important is that we plan for now for what is inevitable in the future which is an aging population speaker and we know that we are not adequately covering 3 million people without a workplace pension I am now moving to warnings individual warnings when I get quiet somebody uses that opportunity to say something I will get you supplementary like the budget this pension plan is a Trojan horse plan the Premier's rhetoric is all about a new public pension plan but when you look inside you find Stephen Harper's private pensions Stephen Harper likes this plan because it helps out banks and the bank fees on this PRPPs can take a third out of your retirement savings it's just another way that Bay Street benefits and Main Street falls behind so again why is the Premier's pension plan putting banks ahead of people is that we actually took our plans to voters in Ontario and they have overwhelmingly confirmed that we have ensured that we are taking care of retirement futures this is about building Ontario up speaker and in fact you talk about what economists are saying and in fact when we plan for the future and give people a predictable stream of income in their retirement years this is in fact good for our economy it sustains our economies in cities and towns across this province so speaker we are doing the smart thing by introducing the Ontario retirement pension plan while ensuring that voluntary options are still available to people so that they can meet their retirement goals and that is the responsible and the smart thing to do in terms of security to Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Transportation Mr. Speaker Ottawa is a world class city it is not only a great place to live but also a destination for businesses and tourists my constituent and those who visit the city are able to experience and appreciate so much of what the city has to offer being a world class city means we also need a world class transit system that is why with the support of the Ontario government otherwise building the LRT system this 2.1 billion confederation line is a solution for transit needs not only that but my constituents are thrilled that it will help promote the economics, culture and social benefits of the great city of Ottawa Mr. Speaker through you to your Minister can you please speak to the investment we've made so far in the LRT Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I want to begin by thanking the new member from Ottawa Orleans for that fantastic question our government has also recognized the impact that the Ottawa LRT will have on the city of Ottawa it is indeed a world class city a city that's population is projected to grow by 30% up until 2031 and public transportation is already nearing its capacity in the downtown core and these are some of the reasons why in 2009 our government committed up to $600 million towards stage 1 of the Ottawa LRT project thanks to the advocacy of all of the caucus members that we have on this side from Ottawa that is the single largest investment ever made to the city's public transit system from the provincial government the LRT is something that all of our Ottawa caucus members have advocated for through them the government has recognized the impact this will have on residents, tourists and business within that city construction began on the confederation line on April 2013 and the city of Ottawa projects that this project will create approximately 20,000 jobs you correct my record and I apologize for any member from Ottawa or Lies on a supplementary thank you Mr. President thank you Mr. Speaker for his response the benefits of the project to our city are vast both socially and economically Ottawa's prosperity depends on moving people more efficiently the LRT will mean reliable commuting, lower emissions and quieter neighborhoods all while creating jobs it is estimated that 67% of residents of Ottawa will live within 5 kilometers of the LRT I know we're excited to see the completed LRT going down the road in 2018 Mr. Speaker, what's even more encouraging to the people of Ottawa or Lies and the rest of the city of Ottawa is that our government's investment haven't stopped here can the minister speak to what other investment the government of Ontario has made to the transportation infrastructure of Ottawa and how have my residents of Ottawa or Lies benefited from this government thank you very much Mr. Speaker and again I thank the member from Ottawa or Lies for that fantastic follow-up easing congestion and helping commuters get home quicker is one of our government's main objectives and that's why Speaker we've committed approximately $1.09 billion to support public transit in Ottawa since 2003 this includes $27 million for transit maintenance and approximately $314 million in gas tax funding specifically as part of the Ottawa LRT agreement we have also committed to widening Highway 417 between Nicholas Street and the Ottawa Road to 24 split this Mr. Speaker will help ensure the Ottawa LRT is successful as the member knows as every member knows our budget includes our moving Ontario forward plan this is a plan that would see a record investment of $29 billion to support transportation infrastructure $15 billion within the GTHA and $14 billion for the rest of the province and investments like these will help to boost our economy and break the congestion that is costing us billions of dollars a year Thank you Speaker my question is for the Minister of Economic Development since taking over government just 10 years ago my riding of Stormont Dundas in South Congare has lost over 4,000 good paying manufacturing jobs in just the past few months 3 more companies have announced they are closing their doors American Standard, Canlight Phillips and Sensi and Biopharma are moving almost 300 jobs to our U.S. neighbours when will the Minister realize that they need to tackle the out of control regulation, fees, taxation and high door rates that are making our province uncompetitive and unattractive to business that are not receiving your government's corporate to giveaways Thank you Minister of Economic Development and Employment and First Front Thank you Mr. Speaker no matter how hard the PCs spin it no matter how hard they try to talk down Ontario's economy the fact of the matter is that it is a fact that we are up 460,000 jobs since the recession Mr. Speaker if the member really cared about jobs in this province he would be supporting the budget that we want to get moved forward this summer before the House adjourns Mr. Speaker if he was really concerned about jobs in the economy he would be supporting our $2.5 billion jobs that's designed to continue to attract investment into this province that's made us number one in North America for foreign direct investment and Mr. Speaker that helps all sectors of our economy if he really cared about jobs in this province he'd be supporting our budget which invests $130 billion in infrastructure creating and supporting up to 100,000 jobs Mr. Speaker every single year Thank you Back to the minister Ontario's unemployment rate has been of the national average for over 90 months the government has managed to lose almost 50,000 private sector jobs last month alone our public services rely on a healthy private sector that generates wealth and prosperity but this government seems bent on driving our private sector out of Ontario Minister will you tackle the competitive issues that are forcing our private sector companies to move to the neighboring states and provinces or will you stand idly by as our skilled workforce languages in the unemployment line Mr. Speaker we've just brought forward a budget that totally focuses on creating jobs and building a stronger economy in stark contrast to that you just fought an election on a platform that does nothing but kill jobs across this province and I'm not just talking about the 100,000 jobs you directly wanted to kill I'm talking about the 500,000 jobs that you and your party would place at risk direct and indirect in our auto sector I'm talking about the 50,000 jobs Mr. Speaker that we are creating to our regional economic development funds and our partnerships with open techs Mr. Speaker and other companies like Cisco 50,000 jobs under you that would be gone I'm talking about the 30,000 clean energy jobs that you do not support in the clean energy economy that we would bring to an end Mr. Speaker if you add it all up they talked about a million jobs they're going to bring in Mr. Speaker they'd be putting a million jobs at risk Thank you a new question Mr. Speaker my question is to the premier a few days ago premier you claimed that a high speed rail link between London and Toronto was possible within a decade and yet high speed rail is mentioned nowhere in your budget no timelines, no funding nothing at all Mr. Speaker if the premier really intends to build high speed rail to London why isn't it mentioned anywhere in her budget Minister of Transportation Thanks very much Mr. Speaker and I thank the member from London for that question obviously high speed rail is very very important to our government it's very important to the people of London communities like Windsor and beyond I think it's important for everyone to understand that with almost $14 billion in new revenue tools that are provided for in the budget to fund transportation projects outside of the GTHA this the high speed rail project is one of the ones that we plan to pursue to help create jobs and help boost the economy outside sorry in the London area as you may know the government had undertaken a pre-feasibility study the Ministry of Transportation had done that work and we are working hard to work with all partners municipalities and everyone else in the system to develop an implementation plan that makes sense but this is why as we said throughout this week throughout the budget debate Speaker that it's very important for members particularly from those communities that will benefit greatly from the investment plan to make to support our budget work with us and get on with the projects thanks very much Supplementary Speaker there is no funding for high speed rail in the budget it's not even mentioned in your budget in fact the government has been silent and how it will pay for transportation priorities that are mentioned in the budget the government has only found half the money needed to pay for existing transportation promises not including magical high speed rail line how will the government make up the difference by selling public assets by cutting programs Mr. Speaker, Ontarians deserve the truth will the Premier finally admit she can't keep her promises and her government will deliver austerity not a high speed rail Thank you Minister Thanks very much and I do thank the member opposite again for that follow-up question I thought that I was fairly clear in my initial response regarding how very clearly our budget lays out a plan to make transportation and public transit investments right across the province of Ontario 29 billion dollars I've said that repeatedly since having the chance to serve in this particular capacity that includes up to 14 close to 14 billion dollars for transit and transportation infrastructure projects in areas outside of the GTHA which would of course include the community of London as I mentioned a second ago the Ministry of Transportation has undertaken a free feasibility study we are in the process of finalizing a business case and embarking on an environmental assessment I would ask the member opposite to again consider supporting the budget that I've introduced in this house it includes the funding for 14 billion dollars worth of projects which would benefit the people of London you should support this project Thank you when I stand you sit new question the member from Durham Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Mr. Speaker this government has been investing in people investing in infrastructure and supporting an innovative and dynamic business environment we all recognize that a strong and vibrant Aboriginal communities strengthens Ontario culturally socially and economically Minister while we are making progress across many different areas can you please elaborate on how we have been helping to improve and create greater economic opportunities with the Aboriginal communities in Ontario Thank you Mr. Speaker we are active on many fronts creating opportunities for the private sector and the First Nations and Métis communities to participate in a meaningful way in our plan to grow Ontario's economy the 2014 budget if passed includes an Aboriginal economic development fund which includes an investment of 25 million dollars over three years the fund will support Aboriginal communities in the development of long-term economic strategies it will also provide grants for Aboriginal businesses and the fund province-wide regional skills training Mr. Speaker this government recognizes the importance of economic development for Aboriginal communities and wants to see meaningful employment and business development for all Aboriginal communities in Ontario very good Thank you Minister Mr. Speaker obviously this is a great investment both in helping people communities and businesses to create a more robust business environment Mr. Speaker the Aboriginal Aboriginal loan guarantee program was announced as part of the 2009 budget as a way to both enhance Aboriginal participation in Ontario infrastructure and to encourage forays into renewable green energy Mr. Speaker last week I joined the minister in a meeting with Chief Marsden of Alderville First Nation near my riding of Durham to hear an update on the Alderville solar project thanks to the loan guarantee program it is the province's first ground solar farm Holy First Nation committee Mr. Speaker through you to the minister what is the Ontario doing to ensure more communities can benefit from this program Thank you Mr. Speaker the 2014 budget of past would continue the Aboriginal loan guarantee program which was launched in 2009 to facilitate Aboriginal participation in renewable energy infrastructure projects to date the program has leveraged significant investments with 30 million in approved loan guarantees which have supported investments of eight communities representing over 10,000 First Nations people in four projects that have invested parlayed the investment into a total of $2.8 billion for the province I did have the pleasure last week to meet with Chief Marsden of Alderville First Nation along with the member for Durham and I'm happy to say that one of the four projects include the recently approved loan guarantee that will support a portion of the Alderville First Nations equity investment in the Alderville Solar Project making it the first 100% Aboriginal-owned solar project in Ontario the guarantee works to the benefit of all Thank you New question, the member from Simcoe North Mr. Speaker Bernie Fishbean worked as an advocate for the Electricians Union including them in over 60 separate legal cases over the past 20 years Despite this obvious conflict of interest your College of Trade saw fit to appoint him as chair of the Electricians' Racial Review panel where he went on to choose recommend the racial proposed by the union that employed him for 20 years Minister, it is unbelievable that you have accepted this conflict of interest and done nothing about it and Mr. Speaker yesterday the minister told the House he was going to appoint an advisor to review the boondoggle Mr. Speaker in spite of his clear conflict of interest and in spite of his ongoing judicial review and his bias Bernie Fishbean is apparently be considered for this job a whole review of the College of Trade So to the minister will you be appointing this long time paid advocate of the Electricians' Union Bernie Fishbean to be your advisor to the planned review of the Ontario College of Trade Thank you Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member opposite for that question the College of Trade has been doing a great job since it started its operation just about a year ago we created this college because we believe that Mr. Speaker the trade people they are the people who can decide on their own profession that's why we have created the College of Trade not only that Mr. Speaker to raise the profile of the trade people because we believe that Electricians' mechanics and other professionals and other trade people they have the same right as doctors dentists and the teachers and others to regulate their own profession that's why we have created the College of Trade and they have been doing great job Mr. Speaker since they started their operation about a year ago Mr. Speaker in the past 14-15 months since their operation they have reviewed 33 professions 32 trades and they have reduced ratios in 14 of them Mr. Speaker so I'll address the question the second part Mr. Speaker Thank you Well you didn't address the first part of the question so first of all let's correct the record under fish beans biased recommendation Ontario raised apprenticeship ratios for the Electricians trade from 3-1 to 6-1 that is more than double they got exactly what the union wanted second the College of Trades is a boondoggle it's not you have to know that no one likes it after all this so special interest groups are running the place they're restricting competition and are raising the cost of hiring trades people for Ontario companies also in fact young interiors are leaving to take apprenticeships in other provinces so to the minister have you had any discussions with special interest groups regarding the appointment of this advisor Mr. Bernie Fishman to the Ontario College of Trades Minister what deals have you made regarding Bernie fish beans appointment Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the College of Trades as I said has been doing a great job and in relation to the conflict of interest the member referring to it the cases before the course so I'm not going to comment on that Mr. Speaker but you know Mr. Speaker since we created the College of Trades for the past many many years when the members opposite his party was in office they never reviewed any single professions the ratios they never did it but the College of Trade within just 40-50 months since its operation they reviewed the ratios in 33 professions Mr. Speaker and they reduced the ratios in 14 of them so they have been doing a great job Mr. Speaker and this is for the first time in the history of this province that we have a regular college for trades people and they actually love to have this college Mr. Speaker they want to have the college they want to decide on their own profession that's why we have created the college and trades people they like the college in contrast to what the member opposite claimed thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker good morning to you my question is to the Minister of Labour yesterday the members of this legislature rose for a moment of silence for a minor Pascal Goulet 38 leaving behind his spouse and two daughters killed tragically last Thursday at his job at North American Palladium unfortunately Mr. Goulet is the 7th minor killed on the job this year in Ontario one death is too many but 7 is an outrage minors and their families have a right to expect that they'll come home safe at the end of their shift what will this minister do today to ensure that not one more minor is killed in this province and that their workplaces are safe thank you Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker I do thank the Honourable Member for that very very important question I'm here of the incident as all of us were around the house and my thoughts are with this person's family and the colleagues that he was working with I understand that we have the Ministry of Labour inspectors on the site investigating the Ministry's priority in this regard is to ensure that the Occupational Health and Safety Act is followed and enforced the investigation is ongoing Speaker as you know it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a specific circumstances related to this incident I will tell you though that this government is committed to protecting the health and safety of minors and all work is in Ontario we're leading right now our Chief Prevention Officer is leading a comprehensive mining safety review it's got an external group of industry labour and health and safety reps and it's a year long review I look forward to those findings and Speaker to answer the question specifically I look forward to acting upon those findings thank you thank you thank you Speaker again to the Minister of Labour last year the Premier rejected an inquiry into mining deaths and instead chose to review health and safety but at the very first public hearings the government didn't even advertise to invite participants so while we eagerly await the review's findings minors in this province continue to die based on the Westray law and supported by the United Steel Workers across this country Nova Scotia recently decided to create a special prosecutor to enforce workplace safety standards will the Minister act today on the appalling seven mining industry deaths this year and create a special prosecutor to enforce workplace safety standards in the province of Ontario thank you Minister thank you Speaker as the previous questioner noted one death is too many seven is not good one is not good Speaker between March and June of this year we've had 12 public consultation dates we've been to Timmins we've been to Kirkland Lake we've been to Sudbury, Red Lake, Marathon London to ensure that the mining sector itself and that's from Labour and business safety representatives are able to provide input into the mining review this is a review that we intend on acting upon obviously Speaker once we've heard from everybody over 150 people today to participate in these public meetings we've got over 60 written submissions we're working very very hard with the Chief Prevention Officer as I said Speaker I look forward to the findings when those findings are in we intend to act upon those findings Minister of Finance on a point of order Speaker we have young people who participate in politics it's always nice to acknowledge interns who show up and want to do this and I'd like to acknowledge Ashish Oberoro and Sean Chuck who are here today as interns participating in the political process we have a deferred vote on the motion that this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the government calling the members this will be a five minute bell everyone take their seats please take your seats please by 14th Mr. Susan Moof seconded by Ms. Wynn that this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the government all those in favour of the motion please rise one at a time Mr. Susan Mr. Shurelli Ms. Wynn Mr. Houskins Mr. Duga Mr. McCharles Mr. Quinter Mr. Cole Mr. Dillon Mr. Quadri Mr. Gravel Mr. McMeekin Mr. Chan Mr. Moriti Mr. Lille Mr. Flynn Mr. Zimmer Mr. Delaney Mr. Dixon Mr. Dixon Ms. Vanga Mr. Pratt Ms. Wong Mr. Hunter Mr. Sergio Mr. Tomorrow Mr. Jasset Mr. Del Ducca Ms. Kuala Ms. Molly Ms. Martin Ms. McGarry Mr. Milchin Ms. Nadu Harris Mr. Rinaldi Ms. Reneal Mr. Hartman Ms. McLeod Mr. Wilson Mr. Dunlop Ms. Jones Mr. Thompson Mr. Walker Mr. Smith Mr. Harris Mr. Nickles Mr. Marteau Mr. McDonnell Mr. Patekis Ms. Fight Ms. Horvath Mr. Tabin Mr. Miller Hamilton Mr. Taylor Mr. Natascha Mr. Armstrong Mr. Samantha Mr. Gates Mr. Chimino Ms. French The eyes are 57, the nays are 36 The eyes are 57, the nays are 36 The eyes are 57, the nays are 36 I declare the motion carried There are no further votes this house stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon