 It is now time for question period the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition My questions for the deputy Premier Deputy in November of 2008 the Ministry of Health received a letter from a whistleblower who had worked at Orange In his letter of April 2008 Keith Wamsley Said that there were two sets of accounting books One was used for internal reporting and the other was used for quarterly reporting to the Ministry All with a view to hiding the surplus of money Orange had received from the Ministry So deputy Premier were you briefed on the problems at Orange raised by this whistleblower? When you first became Minister of Health in October 2009 Thank you I know the Minister of Health would like to speak about further progress at Orange as the member opposite knows we have had Years now of discussion about Orange the committee has met there has been Great debate in this house. The fact is speaker that we've moved on at Orange We have new leadership when I became aware of the problems at Orange I worked closely with the auditor general speaker to ensure that he had the information he needed as he did his audit We brought in and a completely new board new leadership New quality improvement plans speaker. The answer is We the orange is a far far better organization now than it was when I became Minister. Thank you supplementary Back to the deputy Premier Speaker I can From my experience without having held a number of cabinet positions The Minister would have been fully briefed By ministry officials on the top issues and concerns when she first takes office and that was October of 2009 So my Sadio deputy it's beyond believable That you would not have been briefed on the serious allegations raised by the whistleblowers letter In addition to alleging the shady accounting practice at Orange Mr. Wamsley says and I quote Individuals are also benefitting far too luxuriously for example the President's bonus of $250,000 end of quote Deputy Premier how can you continue to stand up every day and insist you knew nothing about the question Orange I don't want until December of 2011 Speaker I was called to committee. I testified on three different occasions I would be happy to send you the transcripts from that if you would like I stand my by My testimony at that committee what I can tell you speaker Thank you Speaker what I can tell you is that in response to concerns at Orange It was almost three years ago that I introduced legislation in this house to Remedy things at Orange that bill has been a debated Undistounding 23 different days in the legislature. It was sent to committee in April 2013 The member from Leeds-Grenville will come to order both the opposition parties ganged up answer hearings on that issue Speaker it's time to vote for bill 8. Thank you. This matter behind us Supplementary final supplementary Well again that deputy yeah, mr. Speaker the consequences of the deputy Premier's failure to act Could not have been more serious for Ontarians The committee learned that between October 2009 when the deputy Premier became the Minister of Health and December 2011 when she says she was first became when she first be says she first became aware of problems at Orange There were at least two serious incidents that are now subject of multi-million dollar lawsuits against this government in May 2010 a patient had to undergo an amputation as a result of a delay in transport in July 2010 a patient from the Sioux area died as a result of a delay in transport Deputy Premier patients have died because you sat back for two years as Minister of Health and did nothing about orange Question you not feel the moral obligation to do the right thing and step down Long-term care well, mr. Speaker I and my colleagues on this side of the house are Proud of the work that the deputy Premier when she was Minister of Health did Mr. Speaker Not only the former minister now the deputy Premier, but we continue to make important changes She's mentioned we have new leadership a new CEO a new board a new chair this deputy Premier introduced changes Including a new performance agreement conflict of interest guidelines a patient advocate many And there are changes still required That's why we speak of getting the opposition support to pass bill 8 to make those further changes and complete the transition Thank you no question Premier mr. Speaker Premier a total of 86 Ontario municipalities have now declared that they are not willing hosts for the continued spread of green energy projects These include the four municipalities That surround WPD's application to build eight 500 foot sorry the Premier's not here deputy Premier To build eight 500 foot tall wind turbines on the flight path to the calling regional airport I Say the deputy Premier. This is the very same project that the Premier committed to the weekend before She became liberal leader when she held a press conference in Calling and at times she said she would personally review that project So I say to you when all four municipalities are against this development in my riding because at that same press conference Premier said that the minister pal is here against it. They shouldn't have these projects question Is your government still going ahead with this dangerous proposal to build 500 foot tall wind turbines on the flight path to the calling Recognize that may have been a slip, but I do want to remind all members I take it as an opportunity not a criticism to remind everybody we do not talk about anyone's attendance in this place Excuse me Minister I've already explained my circumstance. I don't need editorials and I did say to the to the That I believed it was a slip. So I wanted to leave it at that teachable moment The member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke will come to order deputy Premier to minister of energy Mr. Speaker We have looked at the procurement process for renewables And we have a new regimen in place mr. Speaker There in fact is a very current Procurement going on at the present time For renewable project large renewable projects mr. Speaker Which require and will require a very significant municipal participation on the other hand mr.. I'm not going to let it build So stop Carry on the other hand mr. Speaker there are a number of existing contracts which are out there Which we will not break Because we will have the type of type of liabilities Which occurred as they know With several of our other energy projects at very significant answer There are communities who are asking us to break contracts large renewable projects There are some who are asking us mr. Speaker to extend. Thank you contract. Thank you supplementary the member from Dufferin call it These are new problems placement of industrial wind turbines and the related transmission lines are causing problems all across Ontario when you allowed the Green Energy Act to strip Municipalities of their planning power you also left those same municipalities to clean up your maps this summer Dufferin wind power has been installing a transmission line for its wind farm in Dufferin County this summer now In Malang than there are some transmission poles that are so close to the road the mayor has told me They're not going to be able to safely plow that road the municipality knew this would be a problem Raised it during the consultation in the spring raised it with the premier and your ministers through numerous letters And you still allowed the company to ignore their concerns. Absolutely. Is this your idea of your new consultation process? Mr. Speaker that party continues to ask us to break existing contracts as a matter of fact mr. Speaker Come to order clock is still running Carry on mr. Speaker the PC plan was to cancel existing contracts They introduced legislation which would get the minister of energy the right to cancel existing contracts Our calculations mr. Speaker mr. Speaker would show that that would expose the provincial government to liability To the extent of about 20 billion dollars to cancel power purchase contracts They continually have risen in this house to ask us to break existing Exposed the province to billions of dollars and penalties The member from Leeds-Grendel will come to order the member from Bruce Heryo and sounds not any seat will come to order Finished Final supplementary This is about public safety That is your job by the page to bring you a bring the minister picture So that you just you start to understand how close these utility poles are to the existing roadway if these poles aren't Relocated Melanquin may force to redesign. Thank you redesign the road to ensure safety and allow winter maintenance the minister of energy or the minister of transportation Could direct these transmission lines be moved so that Melanquin residents are not forced to pay the additional cost of redesigning Will you Here on Bruce will come to order the member from Cinco North will come to order and some are getting close to warnings carry on Member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke will come to order to mr. Speaker I have a quote here from the member from Nipissing When he was mayor The MPP from Nipissing Taking advantage of locally available green power resources is a good fit with the long-range development strategy We have for the community. I'm particularly pleased with the relationship We have struck with the wind west wind development for the first half of the project I am confident that the company's reputation as a responsible wind power developer can put North Bay on the map as a Showcase for the sensitive and responsible development of this great renewable energy project And sir speaker they continually stand up and challenge us to cancel existing contracts Which will expose the province to 20 billion dollars. Thank you. I stand you sit New question the leader of the third party. Thank you speaker. My question is to the deputy premier. I Want to ask the deputy premier an extremely important question speaker It's a question that matters to Ontarians in every corner of this province How many people with this government fire as part of the liberal austerity budget? Well speaker I can assure the member of the leader of the third party that our government is determined to get to balance by 2017-18 but we will not do it at the expense of a growing economy So we have a plan in place that will get us to balance. I have been appointed as president of the Treasury Board with a strong Treasury Board We are looking very closely at how we can get better value for the money that we spend That we can provide better services to the people of this province speaker the status quo is not an option We must get to work and get the best value possible for every tax dollars So I look forward to working with the the the NDP speaker because I think they may even have some good ideas on how to Continue to get better value for our hard-earned. Thank you supplementary Speaker the liberal austerity budget will cut six percent from most ministries each and every year Don Drummond looked at the liberal budget and he said that would mean a hundred thousand job cuts the people of Ontario soundly rejected the conservative plan to cut a hundred thousand jobs Why are the liberals now picking up the same plan and firing a hundred thousand people? Speaker I think anybody watching at home might need a little reminder that in fact the NDP built their platform all nine pages of it including the cover and the back cover speaker nine their nine page platform Used our assumptions, and then they said we can actually go further We can find an additional 600 million dollars worth of cut speaker, so I find it Puzzling a little bit that the the third party would be would be concerned about cuts when they actually promise to cut further Let's just take a look at how we are doing in this province as our economy continues to improve Since 2009 the recessionary low speaker. We've added over half a million jobs our unemployment rate speaker is down Our speaker last year Ontario employment increased by a hundred thousand jobs Thank you on the right track, and we will stay Well speaker a thousand jobs not coming to Windsor with the Ford plant Windsor's transmission plant clothes Oshawa's truck Thomas plant clothes st. Catherine's components plant Navistar in Chatham the list goes on and on speaker But the fact is Bloomberg News said that the liberal budget means the deepest cut since Mike Harris You know the premier used to say that she actually got into politics because of Mike Harris now We used to think that was to oppose him not to imitate him Now is she's going to go even further than as far as Mike Harris went the premier called the PC plant to fire a hundred thousand people Disastrous, but she's going to tint a hundred thousand pink slips with liberal red instead of Tory blue And insist that that's a progressive plan speaker now to the question. It's progressive to fire a hundred thousand people I'm sure the the leader of the third party will be very pleased to join us and Celebrating a very significant investment that is happening today in Alaston speaker. I'm very pleased that on that Honda is making the Alaston facility the global lead for the very Almost a billion dollars investment speaker will safeguard Highly skilled direct positions and help thousands more who are in that supply chain. So speaker Honda's investor 857 million dollars Over the next five years in the latest assembly and engine manufacturing technology. Thank you fantastic news Well speaker if you keep jobs at Honda and still fire a hundred thousand people, that's a hundred thousand people They're still unemployed speaker But the bottom line is my next question is also for the deputy premier You know last week speaker 15 nurses in Leamington learned that they'd lose their jobs when the hospital decides They'd be cutting obstetrics and gynecology unit out of the hospital Not only will that put nurses out of work speaker It is going to make it extremely difficult for women in this part of the southwest to access Obie gyne services close to home. What other health services in Ontario speaker are being cut as part of the liberal austerity budget? Thank you Mr. Health and long-term care well, thank you mr. Speaker I'm happy to speak about Leamington hospital and the decision that was taken by the board of the hospital to on a go-forward basis to close the obstetrical unit Mr.. Speaker it isn't a final decision because in fact it's a decision by the Lynn the local Lynn and In fact the Lynn next Wednesday has announced already that they'll be having a community meeting They're gonna have an open board meeting of the Lynn Specifically on this issue mr. Speaker including one hour set aside specific To this important issue so although in fact it was a decision by the local board of the hospital It isn't a decision which is finalized and I should add as well that currently Windsor regional hospital Roughly a 50% of the women who deliver were from the Leamington area do deliver already in Windsor Well speaker two weeks ago 40 nurses at the Timmins and district hospital found out they would be losing their jobs and 26 beds will disappear, so I repeat the question what other health services on Ontario are being cut as part of the liberal austerity budget Minister help Well, mr. Speaker, I know that from time to time Specific changes are made by hospitals in terms of their staffing requirements But the fact is mr. Speaker that in last year alone 4,000 more nurses were employed in this province Our party the Liberal Party took power in 2003 so I understand that the Member opposite the leader of the third party wants to focus on specific incidents where human resource Decisions are made by frankly mr. Speaker where those decisions should be made at the locality by the hospital in concert with the local Lynn as well But the reality is mr. Speaker that we're deeply committed to nursing in the profession in this province and the evidence is We've dramatically increased not only our investments in that professor increase in scope of practice The nurse practitioner led clinics, but also 4,000 new nurses last year alone Well, speaker when it comes to liberal austerity cuts the health care system is not the only victim People for education has reported that the liberals have slated 125 schools for closure before 2015 that means throwing parents and students into chaos across Ontario So can the deputy premier tell students and their families just what communities will be losing their local schools? As part of the liberal austerity plan Yes, thank you very much, and I'm always fascinated When I get these numbers that pop up out of nowhere, so I can guarantee you That there has been no directive so I have no answer to What? 125 schools because there is no list, but what I can tell you is That we do know that there are over 600 schools in Ontario Which are more than half empty? We are actually spending on the order of about one billion dollars per year on Empty seats we actually think on our side of the house that it would be better That's a very good idea. We will change the funding formula We actually think on our side of the house that we should invest money in the children who are Rather than an empty seat, thank you Thank you speaker my question this morning is to minister of finance Minister of the year last week when our tourism critic asked for the economic analysis supporting the punitive aviation fuel tax You've placed on Ontario families. You avoided the question So minister let me help you with the math We told you about the loss of 3,000 jobs and a hundred million dollars in GDP predicted by dr. Fred Lazar of York University University's Schulich School of Business Dr. Lazar also told us that eliminating the tax as in BC New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan could provide in 138 million dollar economic boost at 52,000 additional tours and close to 2,000 jobs But we're going in the wrong direction. In fact, we're the only Jurisdiction heading in the opposite direction. So tell us minister. What is the secret? What economic analysis have you done on the impact of job and revenue losses that this aviation tax will cause? Mr. Speaker since we announced the The aviation fuel modest increase of a penny Air Canada has launched new flights from Toronto to Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam and Pan Am You should also note that in comparison to some other jurisdictions and I believe they've named they've named Buffalo's one There's 68,000 flights in Buffalo in Pearson in Toronto. There's 420,000 flights There's seven airlines in Buffalo. There's over 65 airlines in Toronto in Pearson They only serve 22 cities, Ontario and in Pearson. They serve over 180 destinations worldwide and the analysis that he makes They're comparing 5 million Travelers in Buffalo in Pearson. It's over 36 million in 2013 alone You should also note Mr. Speaker that when they talk about the increase which hasn't been touched since 1992 And it's a penny They're asking the wrong level of government If they're going to petition anybody, they should let it be known where the real Thank you supplementary Well minister as I had mentioned Every other province in Canada who is going in the opposite direction aside from you And so as I've said before your numbers just don't add up and in fact you've Margellized them by characterizing the increase as a mere penny Minister your tax creates one of the highest Order cuts both ways Please finish. I know it's tough having them here and review remind us Please finish Minister your tax curates One of the highest fuel taxes in North America and that means higher ticket prices for travelers families and business people It means minister another 400,000 travelers diverted from Ontario airports on top of the 3 million that already crossed the border To fly from aviation fuel tax-free airports like Buffalo We've seen the headlines minister Buffalo Airport will take advantage of your increases putting on a full-court press Courting travelers or travels airlines south of the border sun wings just the wingtip of the iceberg so minister You have no economic analysis. So will you please join us heed our call to thank you Thank you I stand you sit Mr.. Finance, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well the marketing manager in Buffalo Airport called on Terry Compared to the federal taxes and surcharges that's being charged now Pearson has actually indicated that it will continue to grow regardless of the issues that we put forward and the member opposite should know this An average ticket price domestically to Vancouver from Toronto is about 284 dollars Of which five dollars and 90 cents goes to the province of Ontario. How much goes to the federal government? $52 $44 goes to the federal government and thirty four dollars goes to the US government authorities You should be fighting for Ontario You should be telling your cousin New question the member from Parkdale High The the member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke in the middle of my sentence will now be warned and the member from north Simcoe North Come to her the member from Parkdale High Park. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation We now know the government only got two bidders for the Eglinton Crosstown Public-private partnership just mr. Speaker to with only two giant consortia bidding taxpayers are going to pay more That's inevitable. In fact last year the construction and design alliance of Ontario said the government was about to overpay By half a billion dollars for the Eglinton Crosstown P3 alone These same warnings came from ATU 113 amalgamated transit union the TTC at Experts in the American Public Transit Association as well so with the contract about to be signed How much in fact will the government overpay for the Eglinton Crosstown mega contract? Thank you very much mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member from Parkdale High Park for that question You know the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project is Speaker is one of the most exciting projects that our government has in our lineup as the member there knows There is already work that's underway speaker It's important to put this project in terms of its scope and its importance in context the Eglinton Crosstown LRT Will run about 19 kilometers through a through midtown Toronto 25 stations and stops the province of Ontario Because of the leadership of our premier in this government is investing 5.3 billion dollars in this project Speaker this means that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is the largest public transit project in more than half a century here in the province of Ontario and that work is taking place in communities represented by people like my parliamentary assistant the member from Eglinton Lawrence our new member from Davenport it's going to provide positive results because of the leadership that we are showing on this side and The importance that we understand or that we assign to the Ontario up. Thanks. Thank you Thank you, Mr. Speaker So with public-private partnerships the public is kept in the dark as the minister knows while the important decisions are actually made We don't find out about surprises like a half billion dollar overrun and costs or dirty diesel trains until it's way too late We know the plans for the Eglinton Crosstown have changed There's no question about that Kennedy Station might need to be moved and there will be complicated Conversations and connections with TTC bus and subway lines and TTC itself We don't know if expensive change orders will be needed. The public is completely in the dark Mr. Speaker instead of negotiating the final plans for Eglinton behind closed doors with private contractors Will the government publicly disclose the contract requirements so we can know exactly what we are paying Billions for thank you Well speaker, I think it's important for me to say and this is being said by the Premier It's being said by others on this side of the house This is in keeping speaker with the unfortunate mythology that this member and that caucus continues to spin About how our government moves forward with important important transit and transportation infrastructure The member speaks about the impact this is having on people and whether they know Transparenly about what's happening speaker in fact my own in-laws live a stone's throw away from where this Eglinton Crosstown LRT Will be built in the neighborhood of Dufferin and Eglinton when I see them on a regular basis They are excited They are thrilled because a part of their neighborhood will be built up over the next number of years speaker That's that's the kind of transparency that we're delivering That's the kind of positive results that we're delivering and speaker It's important to know that over the last number of months at every opportunity when our government has provided a plan To the people be it in the budget in an election answer or in the second version of the budget that member and that party have voted to stop Public transit investments and that speaker Thank you speaker my question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister last month you announced some significant changes to the Ontario building code taking effect on January 1st 2015 Ontario will now allow the maximum height of wood frame buildings to be increased from four to six building stories While new to Ontario mid-rise wood construction is common in parts of Europe such as Scandinavia Austria and Italy British Columbia introduced amendments to its building code in 2009 Stony Creek Wood frame construction for residential occupancy and now over 100 mid-rise wood buildings are currently built or in construction in BC Minister although mid-rise wood might be permitted in other jurisdictions Ontarians need to know these changes are right fit for our economy Speaker can the minister explain how mid-rise wood construction will impact Ontarians Well, I sure can mr. Speaker, and I'd be delighted to do so. I want to thank the member from Cambridge for that question Allowing mid-rise wood construction will encourage the building of affordable housing across the province as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing I know this is incredibly important in fact some people in the building industry say it could lower the cost of some Some houses as much as 30% absolutely true these changes will also give builders more choice in how buildings are designed Filling a gap in the housing market between high and low-rise buildings, and that will certainly enhance our street street scapes The change will also help strengthen the forestry sector which creates thousands of jobs and Sustains the local economies of more than 260 communities across Ontario Mr.. Speaker mid-wise mid-rise wood construction is just one way that our government and sir working to build Ontario up Thank You Speaker Minister in my riding of Cambridge three story buildings on Main Street and Galt were initially built from wood in the mid 1850s after a devastating fire in the mid 1850s these buildings were rebuilt in stone Speaker there is some concern regarding the safety of six-story wood frame buildings Many wonder about an increased risk of building fires and whether occupants and firefighters Well-being will be compromised as a result in addition Ontario is moving ahead on its own mid-rise wood amendments before similar amendments are made to them to Model the national building code as with any impactful province-wide change of this nature Ontarians need to know the considerations that public safety or paramount so speaker through you can the minister explain what safety? the member from The member from Hamilton East Tony creak has warned Please finish Thank You Speaker through you can the minister please explain what safety measures have been incorporated into these amendments into the building code Well, that's a good and fair question and it deserves a good and fair answer. Thank you Speaker safety is always our number one priority when considering changes to the building code Our choice to allow mid-rise wood construction is based on extensive public consultation with the fire service building regulators and building professionals We believe are made in Ontario model for mid-rise wood Offers the highest degree of public and firefighter safety in Canada For example all mid-rise wood buildings in Ontario Must have stairwells and roofs built with non combustible materials Mr. Speaker Ontario requires all new construction to meet very high safety standards Especially with respect to fire safety and mid-rise will be no different lastly I'd like to thank a couple colleagues the Honourable member from Thunder Bay Attic Colkin who first introduced a private members bill And he was are capably assisted by his Honourable colleague from Thunder Bay The member for Thunder Bay superior. Thank you The Minister of Agriculture today is the one-year anniversary of the local food act But you chose to proclaim this legislation in sections and play politics with it for election purposes We shamed you into finally proclaiming the section for increased access to local food to the tax credit for farmers farmers who donate to community food programs food banks and Other churches other groups like that and that was an amendment Based on five years work by our colleague the member from Sarnia left But just still haven't proclaimed other parts of the bill you speak of being open and transparent But today you should be publishing your first annual report on local food in Ontario Minister today is your opportunity to be open and transparent Why are you saying one thing and question not doing another? Thank you very much mr. Speaker that question is a bit rich from that member when it came to developing the local food act We took the opportunity to reach around to all sides of this house to get to get particular piece of legislation That is profoundly changing the agricultural sector in the province of Ontario You know we've introduced the sale We've introduced the sale of VQA wines at Farber's markets in the province of Ontario Since May the sales of those VQA wines are a quarter of a million dollars Contribute again to the great success of the local food act right across the province of Ontario But the facts are mr. Speaker on numerous occasions I've got it a by way to recognize the member from Sardinia left it when we did the announcement That's her when we did the announcement in Hamilton I made sure that the member from Sardinia left it was up front with me and gave a chance to speak to that guy Thank you One of the provisions of the local food act was to publish goals and targets Ministry you've had a bit of a rocky start Obviously with farmers and food banks and the needy who had truly benefit from this kind of legislation Again talk about being open and transparent is the prime example of how you aren't and how you fail to live up to your own Legislation we all voted for it your premier boasts of being a champion for local food yet years later I ask why do we still not see local food and our schools and our hospitals and other government? Institutions why why are you holding back? Why is that should have not been proclaimed? Well, mr. Speaker the local food act has been an overwhelming success to the province of Ontario Everywhere I go the opportunity in north south east west I visit for farmers and they continually talk about the success of the local food act I just this morning Yeah, perhaps the member from hall of adorfolk was a bit late when he came to the egg farmers of Ontario's obla breakfast this morning But again during my remarks I paid tribute to the member from Sardinia Lampden The gentleman that developed the tax credit for donations that are made by farmers to food banks the province of Ontario That's the way we operate on this side of the house We recognize people who make contributions to the agriculture sector province of Ontario And I don't share the members assertions at all of the local food act Thank you speaker to the minister of natural resources minister you met Start over start over To the minister of natural resources Minister you met with the rainy river district delegation that traveled to Queens Park to ask you and the premier for your government's help with Ensuring the mill in their town resumes operation They have asked for your help And as minister that is respond you have a responsibility to the people of Fort Francis You can't leave this to the two companies to solve as Minister you need to involve yourself and your ministry in helping to broker a solution You know as well as I do that there is more than enough wood in the cross-route forest to be able to meet the needs of all parties and Therefore this should be a win-win situation Minister the rainy river district and I are asking you to do your job and help broker a solution that creates jobs and add a Coken Ignace and Thunder Bay and saves the 1,000 jobs in Fort Francis Question Speaker thank you, and I thank the member for the question speaker She is right. We did meet with the delegation both the minister northern development and minds and myself And I would describe the meeting as productive and Conducive to trying to see what we can do to move the process forward What I would say too is to offer my strength of support specifically to Roy Avis the mayor of canora or a story of Fort Francis who in my opinion speaker is a true gentleman and Who I think is one of the best mayors that we have right across northern, Ontario? I've had opportunities to work with Roy previously mayor Avis previously on other files I very much respect the position that he feels that he's in I very much respect the position that the community of Fort Francis feels that they are in themselves as a broader community I understand their fear. I understand their anxiety and as I've said in this house over the course of the last several days I'm committed and have still been answer ever stopped trying to work forward to try and find a solution Not only for Fort Francis, but for the broader community of northwestern, Ontario. Thank you Here that we have your support, but what we really need is your action as minister You have a responsibility to the people of Fort Francis the mayor of Fort Francis and First Nations chiefs from across the rainy River district came here this week to meet with you and ask you to act they came 1,800 kilometers after the business deal fell apart because this is a government related problem having to do with the forest license Minister the clock is ticking. I ask you again Will you find a solution that benefits the people living in communities across the northwest? Speaker in my first response I reference that I very personally can understand and Be attenuated to the feelings that are in the community of Fort Francis in 2005 When the forest industry first started to go through this economic cataclysm I think it's fair to describe it as my home community of Thunder Bay was very much affected There were multiple sawmills and multiple pulp and paper mills They closed that had been there and serviced our community for generations So I very much respect what is going on in Fort Francis as I've said repeatedly in the house We are looking to try and find a solution I would respectfully suggest also the solutions that have been for put forward at this point by the third party Are not necessarily things that I think can work. We are open to all options We're open to all good ideas, but we need to understand there are other forestry operators working right across the province of Ontario who will very closely be paying attention to what we do in response to this particular situation Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions for the Minister of Labour, Hon. Kevin Klin Committee on General Government met earlier this week for clause by clause consideration of an important piece of legislation Bill 18, the stronger workplaces for a stronger economy act Speaker with your permission I'd like to commend the third party as I often do For joining with the government and putting forward important enhancing and substantive amendments Which ultimately strive to capture the many lessons learned during our consultations with the public and stakeholders But regrettably speaker the official opposition resorted to procedural gains filibusters and delaying tactics in an obvious attempt to derail the proceedings. They introduced hundreds Speaker hundreds of repetitive meaningless amendments in order to tie up the proceedings These disruptive efforts are pleased to say we're met with sheer determination on government side Speaker the committee has completed its work third reading debate has been completed. So can we get on with this bill? Thank you Thank you, Speaker I want to thank the member for for his important and very timely question on this bill I want to begin by thanking the majority of the members of the general committee for the hard work for the Contributions and the advocacy they've had for workers in the development of this bill And especially the chair of the member from Glen Kerry Prescott and Russell for the excellent work He did the other night passing this bill is about protecting workers in this province We can't afford it to lay it any further than these tactics already have One of the main features of the bill is changes to the minimum minimum wage that are based on the consumer price index It's going to provide certainty to workers certainty to business and they're able to plan for any changes in the future To the minimum wage speaker in order for this bill to come into effect in time for next year For workers in the province of Ontario answer this bill needs to pass through the legislature Very short period of time. I'm hoping all members will support it Thank you speaker as my colleague from Trinity Spadina reminds me he's a actually endured 400 filibuster type amendment So we have to commend I think the government side for that Speaker the workers of Ontario I think appreciate our overall efforts on their collective behalf I think it's clear that we can should and must vote in favor of bill 18 today Particularly if our attention is to tie the minimum wage to inflation and of course speaker Organizationally this has to be implemented soon in time for next year Minister bill 18 we brought back to the house I think momentarily for a third and final reading before it's voted upon if pass promises to make stronger Protections for thousands of workers across the province will of course emanate from these this new law Speaker I'd like to know what's been I report back to the people of the great riding of the topical north with regard to bill 18 Thank you speaker Thank you for the excellent supplementary speaker the members absolutely correct It's been nearly a year and many many hours of debate since we first proposed the stronger workplaces for stronger Economy Act which will have passed it takes very important steps to ensure that every Ontarian in this province gets the paycheck They've earned at the end of the day it protects vulnerable workers from dangerous working situations and it makes our businesses more competitive speaker and it ensures They treat their workers fairly it ties annual changes in the minimum wage to inflation We need to net pass it now in order for this to take effect in 2015 speaker speaker this morning members will have a chance to vote on this important piece of legislation in Third reading I would urge all members of the house to continue their support of this bill at third reading Just as we did unanimously as a group and second reading speaker. I urge that support Thank you Minister the Leamington district Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is being forced to close Leamington's obstetric units due to a lack of Funding this closure will result in the firing of up to 40 good-paying jobs including registered nurses Keep in mind minister Leamington is still reeling from the massive job losses that hit this community earlier this year Places Leamington's economic recovery in jeopardy, but more importantly it puts the health of local residents in jeopardy Mothers going into labor will now be forced to make the long drive the Windsor with millions of dollars spent on middle management in health Care, why is there no room for Leamington's vital clinic? Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy to speak to this issue again and And I do understand that Leamington district hospital that the board has made this difficult decision To on a go-forward basis the recommendation to close the obstetrics unit or at least certainly certain elements of it That being the birthing of of children Many aspects of the Leamington obstetrics program Gynecological program the board has considered and will wish to retain The next stage of this process as it should be mr. Speaker is that the local health integration network of that region? Be involved they are involved mr. Mr. Speaker. My office has been in regular contact with them There is as I mentioned earlier a public meeting next answer to give the opportunity for the public to be heard on this Important issue of the people of Leamington. Thank you supplementary Thank you back to the minister of the sustainability of health care and rural communities has to be looked at through a different lens minister, I understand that LDMH Has in fact submitted a proposal that would incorporate midwife and OBGYN programs that have already been acknowledged as a unique and Viable program. However, the Erie St. Clair Lynn has not provided the support needed to move funding of the program forward This Lynn has cut two million dollars in funding to LDMH Health system funding reform is closing rural hospitals Your ministry is putting mothers and families at risk by not providing this funding in order to keep Obstetrics in rural hospitals and by the way minister LDMH has provided excellent health care in the community since 1956 My question to you is why has this government question that's promised to make its decisions through a municipal lens Thank you again, Mr. Speaker, and I think the member opposite needs to talk to his colleague from Bruce Grail and sound To see what we are doing with our rural hospitals I was with him a number of weeks ago in Markdale announcing that the government will be building constructing a brand-new Markdale hospital So the truth is the opposite of what the member is trying to portray with respect to Leamington hospital Mr. Speaker the services that will be retained in fact the board of the hospitals argument for closing obstetrics was partly because the volume of deliveries isn't sufficient to To maintain the effectiveness of that unit roughly half of the women in Leamington currently are choosing to deliver in Windsor regional hospital in Windsor, Mr. Speaker But the gynecological services will be retained the pre and post care services as well be In fact, they're adding beds the proposals to add beds at Leamington hospital in acute care and other aspects to more accommodate the needs of the region Thank you to the deputy premier speaker a Private company is trying to cut a deal with the Hamilton port authority to build a waste gasification plant on Hamilton's waterfront Residents are very deeply concerned speaker This plant will use immature technology that so far exists only as demonstration projects with no track record We don't know the environmental impact and what it will be at full scale Will this government commit to a full environmental assessment on this proposal so that we can understand How it may affect our environment Thank you very much mr. Speaker the environmental assessment process is determined independently by Scientists and experts in the ministry of the environment. I don't think we want to politicize that process the member I think opposite knows that How that process works, I'm happy to meet with her Certainly one-on-one to get a bit of a briefing from her on what her concerns are we will be very responsive We want to make sure that the people in Hamilton are Are have higher quality high water quality any business activity on the waterfront is consistent With protecting the environment protecting the people of Hamilton and I just want to commend the Hamilton port authority just in the last couple of Years they've added 12 new businesses and Hamilton port has now emerged as one of the largest ports for food And that's her food production and transmission And coming out of the recession This is one of the been a large job creators in Hamilton and we're very proud of that and I'm sure the member opposite is as well Speaker Hamilton's air shed is already overburdened with pollutants now the government seems poised to allow a new Unproven technology that relies on waste as a fuel to contribute further to the pollutants in Hamilton's air Children and families deserve to breathe clean air speaker And it's up to this government to make sure that the quality of air and the people of Hamilton are being protected So while I will ask one more time will this minister commit to a full environmental assessment to protect the air and the people of my community? As the member opposite knows and mr. Speaker They that you could not open this plant without an environmental assessment and so yes, of course They'll be an environmental assessment. I don't think we want to politicize these processes I I don't think any of us in this house are an expert on this particular technology The member opposite has said it's a new technology. It will be evaluated properly And we will ensure we have both the highest standards in North America right now on environmental protection We're very proud of that. That's the legacy of this government and quite frankly her party in power as well. Mr. Speaker, so This is the government here mr. Speaker that closed all the coal plants that has seen the largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions North America in almost every area of environmental protection and we have no intention to back off our record on that mr. Speaker Thank You mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of energy Minister on tears nuclear facilities currently provide approximately 50% of electricity used by Ontarians and A number of other reactors are coming to the end of their life cycle I am aware that our government intends an upgrade in our Darlington and Bruce nuclear facilities So that they continue to provide the province with reliable safe and emission free power Minister last week you tore that Ontario power generation opg Darlington nuclear generating station in my riding of Durham The upgrade of the Darlington's reactor is particularly important to me as it represents a significant investment for the province as well as a very large number of people It was doing jobs for no riding Minister could you please inform the house as to the status of the Darlington nuclear refurbishment? Thank you Mr. Speaker I thank the member from Durham for raising this important question particularly good He's writing our government has put forward a long-term energy plan Which includes refurbishing the nuclear reactors at Darlington and Bruce generating stations to ensure that we get the Best value out of our existing infrastructure, Mr. Speaker The refurbishment of Darlington will allow continued operation until 2055 at approximately 50% of the cost of building new nuclear and Opg is ensuring maximum efficiency in the dirt Darlington refurbishment by allowing workers to train on a state-of-the-art Training facility including a full-scale training reactor nuclear refurbishment will begin in 2016 and the planned upgrades will create almost 25,000 jobs and generate five billion dollars annually in economic activity answer Thank You mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I would like to talk to the minister for ensuring that our government is taking a significant step to ensure refurbishment refurbishment in Darlington is done right While opg's Darlington generating station is one of the top performing nuclear stations in the world It is still reassuring to hear that opg will be subject to strict oversight To ensure safety reliable supply and value for rate payers during your tour last week You stated that the government will hold opg accountable and that we are committed to having refurbished refurbishment hot on time and on budget Minister, could you please inform the house as to what other measures our government has in place to protect anterior's rate payers From cost overruns and to ensure the project move forward and budget Mr. Speaker we have full confidence that the project will hit its targets and the refurbishment schedule is spread out to ensure that further refurbishments will only proceed after the successful completion of the first unit Our plan has built appropriate off ramps should operators be unable to deliver the projects on schedule and on budget We've been very clear that we will not proceed if there are significant cost or schedule overruns The province has an independent oversight advisor to monitor progress and spending at each stage of the development Our nuclear refurbishment contracts ensure that operators and contractors are accountable for refurbishment costs and schedule A nuclear refurbishment will ensure we have safe reliable affordable emissions free energy answer rare and when we need it Mr. Speaker Ontario has an unblemished record of 40 years in nuclear power We're among the safest in the world. Mr. Speaker, and we have a tremendous supply chain Thank you On November 1st Ontarians once again saw an increase of 3.7% on their energy bills today Social housing assistance for energy costs is based on 1997 prices. This scale no longer reflects every house Associated with the liberal failed green energy act and a decade of liberal mismanagement Stakeholders such as the municipal social service association are asking your liberal government for a more realistic Utilities scale, but to date have met with no success Minister, can you commit to including in your strategy an updated utility scale for social housing and more importantly? When will you get this done? Thank you. I am delighted to be asked a question about the poverty reduction strategy speaker because first I have to say this may be the first time So thank you for asking about the strategy that the question demonstrates a new focus from the opposition party They're reducing poverty actually does matter because you know the history is not so good They voted against the Ontario child benefit They voted against all of the progressive initiatives including most recently in this budget speaker So we continue to increase the Ontario child benefit our new poverty reduction strategy sets a very ambitious But achievable goal of ending chronic homelessness speaker and if I can now move forward with the confidence So I have the support of the opposition answer. I will be very very very pleased Thank you We need achievable outcomes today because people are going without heat minister There's no excuse for turning a blind eye to today's problems that you know are hurting hard-working families across Ontario Energy prices are going to continue to skyrocket I'm currently hearing of residents who are using food banks so that they can save their scarce dollars to pay their utility bills People are selling their homes because they can no longer afford to stay in them The United Way in my area announced last week that the utility assistance funding in 2014 is already dried up and waiting lists are running long We don't even have an inch of snow yet minister So today will you do the right thing do the honorable thing and commit right here right now to resolve this shortfall before winter is here to stay Do something today Again again speaker. I am delighted to see this abrupt change in tone because the PC party actually when they were in office Slash social assistance by 22 percent speakers They throw social assistance benefits They ended construction of social housing They cut all funding for affordable hands They even cancelled construction of units being built speaker I happen to know that there are people here that need to sit for a vote The minister responsible for seniors has done it again and I won't tolerate it You're warned During the past election they had a plan to slash social services The most vulnerable people in this country depend on And speaker in our budget that they voted against We actually included in that budget that you voted against Implementing a support program for low to modest income families that would provide Thank you Member from Halliburton, North of Lake Sprock on a point of order Thank you Mr. Speaker Yesterday the professional engineers of Ontario were here And they award annually member of each caucus for their hard work And I just wanted to acknowledge the member from York Simcoe that received the award The member from Kitchener Waterloo that received the award And the minister of community and social services that received Member from Hamilton, Mountain on a point of order Thank you Mr. Speaker One of my guests joined us since the beginning when the formal introductions happened So I'd like to welcome Frank Maselli to Queens Park today Thank you Before we proceed I'd like to give you some sad news That our pages are experiencing their last day today I want to thank them for all the good hard work that they've done On the motion of third reading of bill 18 An act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour Calling the members this will be a five minute bell Please take their seats All members please take your seats Minister on November the 5th Mr. Flynn moved third reading of bill 18 All those in favour please rise One at a time to be recognized by the clerk Mr. Flynn Mr. Shirella Badam-Meya Mr. Sousa Mr. Sousa Ms. Wendy Ms. Matthews Mr. Huskers Mr. Hoskins Ms. Sandle Ms. Sandoff Mr. Duga Ms. MacCharles Mr. McCharles Mr. Quinter Mr. Quinter Mr. Cole Mr. Col Mr. T'carr Mr. T'carr Mr. Broadnetti Mr. Dillon Mr. Dillon Mr. Quadri Mr. Quadri Mr. Zetti Mr. Gravel Mr. Leal Mr. Zimmer Mr. Zimmer Mr. Delaney Mr. Delaney Mr. Vulcation Mr. Albanaise Mr. Dixon Mr. Dixon Mr. Manga Mr. Manga Mr. Crack Mr. Crack Mr. Crack Mr. Wong Mr. Wong Mr. Hunter Mr. Hunter Mr. Sergio Mr. Sergio Mr. Mauro Mr. Mauro Mr. Jasif Mr. Dalduka Mr. Dalduka Mr. Domerla Mr. Frazer Mr. Fraser Mr. Anderson Mr. Markey? Mr. McGarry? Mr. McGarry? Mr. McMahon? Mr. Miltjen? Mr. Milchian? Mr. Véler-Harris? Mr. Potts? Mr. Rinaldi? Mr. Rinaldi? Mr. Vernille? Mr. Vernille? Mr. Hillier? Mr. Hillier? Mr. Clark? Mr. Miller, Perry Sound, Muskoka? Mr. Miller, Perry Sound, Muskoka? Mr. Dunlop? Mr. Dunlop? Ms. Jones? Ms. Thompson? Ms. Thompson? Mr. Barriss? Mrs. Monroe? Mrs. Monroe? Ms. Scott? Mr. Bailey? Mr. Bailey? Mr. Walker? Mr. Martau, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Pettipies, Mr. Pettipies, Mr. Beeson, Ms. Sadler, Ms. Taylor, Ms. Taylor, Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Armstrong, Mr. Singh, Ms. Singh, Ms. Fyke, Ms. Forster, Mr. Manta, Mr. Mantha, Mr. Hadfield, Ms. Campbell, Mr. Gates, Mr. Gates, Ms. Gretzky, Mr. Chimino. The ayes are 96, the nays are zero. The ayes are 96, the nays are zero. I declare the motion carried. Third reading of the bill. We have now resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion. We have a deferred vote on the motion of second reading of bill 10, an act to enact the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, to repeal the day nurseries act, to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act in 2007, the Education Act and the Ministry of Training, College and Universities Act, and to make consequential and related amendments to other acts, calling the members of the C kann' you of five minutes up. Incorporate. I heard renewed. October 22 and Ms. Sandals moved second reading of bill 10. All those in favor, please rise one at a time to be recognized by the clerk. Ms. Sandals, Ms. Sandals, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Sharrelli, Mr. into twinter, Mr. Mr. Quadrie, Mr. Orzetti, Mr. Gravelle, Mr. McMeacon, Mr. Murray, Mr. Murray, Mr. Chan, Mr. Moriti, Mr. Coteau, Mr. Coteau, Mr. Leel, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Bulkasen, Mr. Albanese, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Manga, Mr. Crack, Mr. Crack, Mr. Wong, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Sergio, Mr. Sergio, Mr. Moro, Mr. Jassa, Mr. Dalduca, Mr. Domerla, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Frasier, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Baker, Mr. Ballard, Mr. Ballard, Mr. Don, Mr. Don, Mr. Hogarth, Mr. Hogarth, Mr. Koala, Mr. Dan Lalong, Mr. Mollie, Mr. Martin, Mr. McGarry, Mr. McMahon, Mr. Miltjen, Mr. Miltjen, Mr. Nadeau Harris, Mr. Potts, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Reneal, Mr. Tabbins, Mr. Beeson, Mr. Hardock, Mr. Sadler, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Sing, Mr. Sing, Mr. Spice, Mr. Forster, Mr. Mantha, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Gaines, Mr. Gretsky, Mr. Chimino, Mr. Chimino, All those opposed please rise one at a time, that you recognized by the Steps. Mr. Clark, Mr. Arnott, Mr. Harteman, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Fedelli, Mr. Fedele, Mr. Yakibuskio, Mr. Mr. Miller, Perry Sound, Muscovia. Mr. Miller, Perry Sound, Muscovia. Ms. Jones. Ms. Thompson. Ms. Thompson. Ms. Barrett. Ms. Monroe. Ms. Monroe. Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker. Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris. Mr. Nichols. Ms. Marteau. Ms. Marteau. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. Patepe. Mr. Patepe. Mr. Hillier. Mr. Hillier. The ayes are 74, the nays are 22. The ayes being 74, and the nays being 22. I declare the motion carried. To the order of the House dated November 5th, this bill is ordered, referred to the standing committee on social policy. There are no further deferred votes. This House stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.