 it's time for oral questions please recognize the leader of the official opposition thank you very very much speaker my questions to the deputy premier why is the premier cutting new funding for mental health by 330 million dollars a year to thank you for the question but in fact we are adding to funding for mental health and the provincial government to match the 1.9 billion coming from the federal government the liberal government in the past made a lot of promises during the election campaign but we know how solid those promises are and we know how accurate they are this is the biggest commitment in Canadian history to mental health and addictions we are committed to creating a comprehensive system that addresses all of the needs of the people of Ontario start the car supplementary speaker addictions in mental health Ontario says 2.4 billion dollars in new funding is needed over the next four years but instead of delivering the premier is dragging Ontario backwards the premier has cut 2.1 billion over four years and replaced it with 1.9 billion over 10 years now even the premier can do that math speaker instead of delivering the premier is dragging Ontario backwards why is the premier of Ontario cutting new funding by 330 million dollars each and every year and leaving thousands of people without the mental health care that they to the leader of the official opposition that is not happening we are adding to mental health previous liberal government's math we made a commitment to the people of Ontario that we are going to create a comprehensive system we are making the biggest investment in Canadian history and we are going to follow through on that we made a promise to the people of Ontario promise made promise 12,000 children waiting over 18 months to get the health care and there are 13,000 people in Toronto alone for the supportive housing that they need the premier's cut of 330 million dollars annually is not going to end the prices that we continue to have in mental health care in this province why is this government and this premier cutting funding for mental health care services that are so desperately needed across our province response thank you mr. speaker again through you to the leader of the official opposition I am certainly well aware of the situation for mental health and addictions in the province of Ontario I am doing I can't hear the deputy premier because of the noise coming from the government side I have to be able to hear the member who's answering the question or asking the question deputy premier and may I remind the leader of the official opposition that there was a select committee on mental health and addictions in Ontario that all three parties worked on but however may I remind the member that the Liberal government was the government that didn't do anything on the next question later the opposition you speaker my next question is also for the deputy premier the premier is driven by backroom deals that help his friends and we see it again with the disastrous decision to deny climate change and drag Ontario backwards cancelling cap and trade helps big polluters and puts more money in the pockets of the richest people in our province in fact families making over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year are going to benefit by about four hundred and thirty dollars each and every year in their pockets where low-income families are going to get eight dollars and fifty cents a month the biggest polluters and the richest people while the little guy gets stiffed that's right Mr. Speaker through you to the leader of the official opposition sorry the Ontario's carbon tax era is over commitment a clear commitment to put money back into the pockets of Ontarians we always putting two hundred and sixty dollars back into their pockets we know where this side of the house stands we're against a carbon tax how much will the carbon tax be that the leader of the opposition will propose will it be the highest carbon tax in the world as her caucus has provided yes well speaker anywhere any way you cut it the little guy's getting stiffed eight dollars and fifty eight cents a month is the only benefit that everyday families are going to see while the richest Ontarians and the biggest polluters are going to be laughing all the way to the bank just like the conservatives like it because that's what they're all about the biggest friend that big polluters have seen in years in this province the Premier's climate change denial legislation says that the government will set targets for reducing Greece greenhouse gas emissions so I asked I asked I want to ask this government will they commit to ensuring that their new targets that they're going to be bringing forward apparently are higher and tougher than Ontario's current targets or are they going to be beholden to big polluters Mr. Speaker and I appreciate this the leader of the opposition is correct we are going to be putting targets forward it is required as part of the bill as you as you would expect but but what I what I find difficult is is how the NDP and the leader of the opposition makes light of putting money back into taxpayers' pockets it shows a lack of understanding of the reality in Ontario for working families today these families need the money we were elected on this commitment the commitment to put money back in people's pockets to get rid of a carbon tax to get rid of a cap and trade scheme that wasn't working that's what we're doing final supplementary well the Premier takes care of big polluters and the richest people and stiffs the little guy with 8 58 a month he's creating a massive uncertainty for Ontario's job creators speaker and for everyone who has a contract with the Ontario government the Business Council of Canada says that the Premier's decisions are undermining investor confidence and putting Ontario's reputation at risk under cap and trade businesses spent billions for allowances trusting that they would be honored with the stroke of a pen the Premier says those credits are now worthless how can anyone trust the Premier to respect a contract Mr. Speaker the feedback I've been getting from business is positive about this government the business understands job creators understand that a lower tax lower regulation regime is what's going to create jobs but I'll return the question perhaps for another one to the to the leader of the opposition how much is too much for your carbon tax is it $20 is it $50 which the Prime Minister wants to call visit $150 what is too much in terms of tax frontarians for the NDP the opposition thank you speaker my next questions for the deputy Premier and Ontario is in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis an emergency supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites are saving lives in cities and towns across our province each and every day but for two days in a row the Premier of this province has refused to say that he supports this life-saving work will the deputy Premier commit today to keep Ontario's supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites open in order to keep saving lives opposition for her question as Premier Ford has indicated he wants to know the evidence about the supervised injection sites and the overdose prevention sites as a matter of fact I had a meeting with the Ministry of Health representatives yesterday I am starting my consultation process I am going to be rendering a report to the Premier in the near future we do take this very seriously we are losing too many people from the opioid overdose problem we are taking action right away and we will be making a decision in the very near future this is overwhelmingly clear speaker and maybe the Premier should have done his homework before making people very very worried about the future of the safe injection site this have supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites has been studied for years and years and years that's why they have been put in place by so many communities across our country and in Ontario they are saving lives each and every day during the campaign the Premier said he was dead against these sites he ignored all of the public health evidence and ignored the voices of communities across Ontario will the deputy Premier and the uncertainty right now acknowledge that the research has been done do the homework and commit to keeping Ontario's supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites open so they can keep saving lives in Ontario deputy Premier respond thank you Mr. Speaker through you to the leader of the official opposition we are very well aware of the situation as you will know the Premier subsequently made a comment to indicating that he wanted to see the evidence to support the use of continued supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites we are taking a look at that now we are gathering the evidence I will be making a report to the Premier in the very near future it is a priority for me and for the Ministry of Health we are working on it now we want to make sure that we can come to the right decision and we will thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks one of the pillars of our Ontario PC government's plan for the people was to end the cap and trade program nothing more than another liberal slush fund I'm sure like me my colleagues on this side of the house heard time and time again that their constituents have had enough of this program put in place by the previous government we've heard Mr. Speaker that the people of Ontario are fed up they need life in this province to be affordable again I'd like to ask the Minister for the benefit of the house how this ineffective program put a strain on our economy and the people of Ontario Mr. Speaker through you to the member from Willowdale and thank you for the question and certainly impressed by all the friends and family you have Mr. Speaker our government was elected on a clear a clear mandate to put people first and make life affordable for families in Ontario equally clear was our commitment to scrap the previous liberal government's cap and trade program and and that is what we're doing it was an honor to stand in this place yesterday and to introduce that bill and my first piece of legislation as a minister here and in doing so we fulfill a promise to the people of Ontario Mr. Speaker we understand the challenges of climate change we understand the problem we disagree on the solution the member asked what were the problems the problems were that the cap and trade system a carbon tax system punishes the low and mental income families it punishes them daily for just simple choices like choosing to drive a car that's not the solutions that we think will work we will bring forward those solutions but today we're talking about the end of the carbon tax year thank you Mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank the Minister for another excellent answer Mr. Speaker for years families have struggled with the increased cost associated with this regressive tax we've all heard the stories where people are literally having to choose between heating and eating businesses Mr. Speaker have also been reaching out to our PC government begging us for us to put an end to this program they simply can't compete with businesses and other jurisdictions while under the enormous weight of this tax yesterday the Minister said that quote this government was very clear with the mandate that it received from the people of Ontario end quote it is staying true to its promises and scrapping this job killing tax can the minister explain in real terms what this legislation will mean for Ontario families and businesses through you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Willardale for the hard work he does for his constituents I know he cares deeply deeply about their best interest in the best interest of the of the province of Ontario Mr. Speaker a cap and trade carbon tax is a price increase on everything we all know that that winding down that price increase will be to the benefit of Ontarians it's a key step in fulfilling our government's commitment and it is an important next step in our other commitment to reduce gas prices by 10 cents a liter cheaper gas prices lower energy bills will put more money in people's pockets now again on the other side of the house they make money in people's pockets but that's going to mean $260 for an average Ontario family every year year over year in addition to saving the money we eliminate the cost burden on Ontario businesses giving them the potential to grow and it's anticipated that the cancellation of cap and trade and the increase in fuel tax will increase Ontario employment by 14,000 jobs for Ontario families that's what's in it to cancel cap and start the clock member for Davenport Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Education to this past weekend we have a wonderful festival in Davenport called Big On Bloor and at that festival I met with many people who were gravely concerned about the repeal of the updated sexual education curriculum we had a petition circulating Mr. Speaker and within just a few hours we had over 1200 signatures so many people opened up to us with their stories they expressed their very real fear that being excluded from the curriculum will force LGBTQ kids back into the closet that means living in fear depression and with thoughts of suicide people kept asking us the same question why are we going backwards so I will ask this minister to stand up for all the students and young people she is responsible for and ensure the 2015 curriculum remains in place moving us forward not backward I want to assure this house I'm standing up for students across this province I invite the member opposite to join me and making sure that people in her constituency are aware of the comprehensive consultation we're going to be embarking on this fall we're respecting parents and we're following through on a campaign province promise excuse me because so many people were not listened to and I look forward to everyone in this house working with me to ensure it is the youth it is the youth and the children and the students who are calling on you not to revert back to the 1998 curriculum dragging the curriculum eight version and starting the consultation in September completely fails the kids who are going to be in classrooms this fall just a few weeks from now this government is leaving students vulnerable to online bullying and it's leaving kids without the language or tools to talk about consent and what a healthy or unhealthy relationship is mr. Speaker whether this government likes it or not we live in 28 I apologize I'd ask the members to come to order so that I can hear the members so close to me and I can't even hear response minister I would like to respond by sharing a quote from the federal leader of the NDP party when it comes to proper consultation it's clear the liberal government has not learned from previous mistakes Mr. Singh went on to say the lack of inclusive consultation before announcing the curriculum was disrespectful to my parents in my country and a mistake on the liberal government's part so speaker I share with you everyone in this house and the people across this province we are going to get it right and I invite everyone to encourage people in their constituency to get engaged this fall as we embark on the most comprehensive consultation the ministry has ever seen restart the clock next question the member for mississauga streets my question today is for the minister of children community and social services I have been watching the debate on immigration during question period in this house and with the federal government minister first I must congratulate you for your respectful tone and for standing up for Ontario its citizens and tax payers fortunately the tone from the federal government isn't as respectful nor is it straightforward in its responses I saw minister Hussein on television Tuesday evening and he now claims he doesn't know how much illegal border crosses have cost Ontario have you asked the federal minister for compensation and will you issue a formal bill lighted that she has become a member of this assembly her and I traveled to India a few years ago and we've come a long way since then congratulations Ontario obviously is a very welcoming society and as evidenced on the benches of this new government of yours we have over 20 people who have immigrated or were refugees to this country in the progressive conservative caucus with the situation that's happening at the border right now in Quebec there has been an unprecedented strain on our resources here in the province of Ontario that is why I traveled to Ottawa earlier this week to indicate to the federal government that we have a price tag of about 200 million dollars and they are only willing to come forward with about 11 million dollars let me itemize this bill for you speaker 20 million dollars in education costs 90 million dollars in social assistance costs 74 million dollars in shelter costs for Toronto 12 million dollars for shelter costs in the city of Ottawa we need the money we're going to stand up for the province we start the clock supplementary thank you mr. Speaker back to the minister I thank the member for her answer and appreciate that the implication is mr. Hussain doesn't consider these formal meetings useful or that what is said isn't listened to my supplemental question on the same topic relates to this bill that keeps growing how much is the bill for Ontario and its municipalities and is the federal government a partner to Ontario do you expect that they will pay this bill and for the price tag right now for the province of Ontario in response to the crisis created by the federal liberal government is 200 million dollars earlier today I sent a letter off to the federal government itemizing those costs requesting compensation to make Ontario whole speaker we will have a looming crisis on August the 9th given that there are 800 people that are in college dormitories in the province in the city of Toronto that will need to be vacated we have not heard from the federal government what the relocation plan is for those individuals so I can tell you today we're going to have a vote in the house I do hope the new Democrats and I do hope the independent members will stand with every member of this government for the province of Ontario for the people and ensure that the federal government we start the clock remember for Toronto thank you speaker speaker my question of the deputy Premier schools across Ontario are crumbling but instead of fixing our schools the Premier chose to cut 100 million from school repairs does the deputy Premier think cutting 100 million from school repairs is good for students and for the next generation thank you very much speaker and I'm pleased to share with the host today that we understand that over the last 15 years the liberal government allowed schools to crumble and it is absolutely concerning and that's why I'm pleased with the work that we're moving forward with in terms of working with both ministry officials as well as Toronto as school boards across this province and we are going to get it right and address priorities thank you very much thank you speaker again to the deputy Premier the Premier told Ontario's that he was cancelling school repairs because of his short-sighted decision to cancel cap and trade but in yesterday's briefing on bill 4 it turns out that that's not true nothing nothing is stopping the government from fixing schools the cap and trade money was collected it is available these projects can move forward so why is the Premier not fixing our schools thank you very much speaker and I think it's very important that we take the time today and share with the members opposite that the GGRF does not repair boilers it does not repair the crumbling schools that happen under the Liberals watch and that's why I am so pleased that I am committed to fixing schools and we are going to be working with our ministry officials as well as our school boards to get it right and clean up the liberal mess next question restart the clock the member for Mississauga streets filled no sorry Aurora Oak ridges Richmond Hill thank you Mr. Speaker my questions to the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks the cap and trade carbon tax is nothing more than a tax grab that punishes families and chases jobs out of Ontario we promise that we would eliminate this tax and we are keeping our promise yesterday the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks announced details of the legislation that would if passed formally and the cap and trade carbon tax era in Ontario I have heard from many constituents who are praising this move by our government speaker I understand that this legislation would wind down the cap and trade carbon tax in a way that minimizes the risk to taxpayers while offering some support for eligible registered participants in the previous program with the Minister please explain to this house what is what is contained in this legislation Mr. Speaker through you to the member from Aurora Oak ridges of Richmond Hill and thank you for that that that well thought out and insightful question the member asked the question and gives us an opportunity to explain the bill the proposed legislation is about the responsible wind down of the cap and trade program it's also about minimizing the cost to taxpayers it includes the repeal of the cap and trade legislation extinguishing of allowance protecting taxpayers from further costs and setting out a regulatory framework for authority around compensation compensation however will not be given to people who got free credits compensation will not be given to people who have used their credits for polluting compensation will be given appropriately and that compensation estimate is considerably less than the many billions of dollars that were estimated before and yes Mr. Speaker it also requires us requires us to develop a plan around climate change develop targets and report back which we will do. Mr. Speaker back to the Minister thank you very much for this response Minister I'm pleased to learn about the important legislation that expects that respects taxpayers and fulfills our commitment to the people of Ontario I have heard from many constituents who have concerns about our about the about our environment while they don't believe that our taxes are an appropriate solution they are recognized the challenges that crime that climate change presents the Liberals cap and trade carbon tax failed to deliver results and was nothing more than a tax graph they want action to address environmental priorities including clean air and water conservation lowering emissions and reducing litter and waste can the minister please tell the House how he plans to balance these priorities through you to the member from Aurora Oak Ridge is Richmond Hill Mr. Speaker I can tell you that our government looks forward to moving past the previous government's obsession with raising taxes and towards a working environmental plan that's supported by the people of Ontario our plan for the people made it clear that we'll deliver on clean air and water conservation reducing emissions and cleaning up litter garbage and waste if past the legislation will table and will help us put together a plan that better addresses the real environmental concerns including fighting climate change Mr. Speaker our commitment is to put an effective plan in place our commitment is do so without a regressive tax on the people of Ontario my question is to the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing recently I was approached by a resident in my writing of University Rosedale who was in distress because their landlord is trying to illegally evict them from their home her fear that is if she is evicted she will not be able to afford to live in the neighborhood that she loves where she'll have to find a new school for her son where she'll have to find a new daycare for her son say goodbye to many of her friends and no longer be close to the job where she is located provided that you can even find an apartment at one bedroom in Toronto as you probably all now know rents for an average of $2,080 a month it's now the highest in Canada Ontarians should not be pushed out of the neighborhoods that they know and love because of skyrocketing housing and unaffordable rent my question is when will this government what will that government do to ensure that renters can afford to put a roof over their head thanks thanks very much speaker and I want to congratulate the member on being elected I look forward to to working with her in the chamber the issue of affordable housing both in the rental market and also in the home ownership market is a problem we're very much aware of particularly in the greater Toronto and Hamilton areas my ministry works very diligently with our community partners with our with the real estate industry with developers but also with our municipal partners and the federal government and we're very aware of bringing in more supply and supply is I think a key component in my supplementary as speaker I'll address her concerns regarding the residential tenants in fact thank you for bringing up the question about supply a new report just came out it was released by Acorn Canada and it shows that over 40,000 new rental units have been built in Toronto over the last four years however only a thousand of them are affordable that's one in 40 units so to Torontonians are finding it harder and harder and harder to find an affordable place that they can live in and that's completely unacceptable when will this conservative government commit to fixing Toronto's housing crisis so that families are not scrambling to pay the rent I guess I will continue with supply rather than the residential tenancies act but I you know we would like to talk offline about some of the issues that are tenant is facing I'd be more than happy to to engage with you in the issue of supply speaker I think our government was was crystal clear during the election we're going to cut red tape and we're going to streamline approvals to get more affordable housing online faster it's a it's a responsibility as I said in the opening question that we have many many stakeholders who want to work towards I've had a number of conversations with Mayor Tory since my appointment to cabinet he's made it crystal clear to me that supply and affordable housing is top of mind for him I plan on working with him and our other municipal partners a speaker we have some fantastic service managers and indigenous program administrative funds ministry works with it's something that we share it's something that we're aware of and we're something that we're to the opposition of working actually with thank you for Kitchner so desperate Mr. Speaker my question today is for the minister of children community and social services minister I've been appalled by the treatment that you have received during the federal immigration hearings the liberal members of that committee chose to question your motives suggesting racism and hatred lies in your requests for fair treatment they chose to ask questions about France hate crimes you and conventions and your language rather than about the real impact a legal border crossers are having on Ontario I have heard that bill for welfare housing education and immediate support is now over two hundred million dollars I heard this week that you will support my motion today in this house to make it known to the federal government that your requests for compensation are just supported by wide-ranging Ontarians so what I want to know from you will you support my motion number for her question and her and her her great question and for her election to this house let me be perfectly clear every member on the government side will vote for her motion we will stand up for the end nationally and we're going to continue to welcome newcomers but we have to be crystal clear with the federal government she's right the tone taken by the liberal members at the House of Commons was absolutely appalling they were not trying to be constructive I went there with a two hundred million dollar price tag speaker and I'm going to continue to press the federal government to invest in Ontario and to make sure that we are not only whole but we're able to provide the public services our people so desperately need in the province of Ontario so I'll ask the liberals and the NDP and the green are you going to be with us or you're going to be against us this afternoon restart the clock supplement your question back to the minister mr. speaker I'd like to thank the minister for supporting me and for answer I'm glad my motion is coming forward today and that it will have support of this government my hope is that the federal government will be honest and upstanding partner that will foot its bill my supplemental question though relates to the federal government's role in immigration I understand the federal government has the full authority over our borders and immigration system what I would like to know minister does our immigration system have integrity one of the most diverse writings in in Ontario the writing of the PN is is very diverse welcoming people and not just like me from other parts of Canada but people from all over the world and that has made I think our community richer and I really value that but let me be perfectly clear when I attended the federal hearings this past week there are some challenges within our immigration system that are testing the people of Ontario's patience it is the turnaround time for claimants that is an issue there is an issue at the border I'm heartened that the federal government has appointed minister bill Blair to deal with the challenges that they have at the border but they also have to come to grips with the $200 million price tag that it's costing this government so I would encourage the members opposite who decide they want to rent rave over there rather than be constructive on this issue you start the clock member for Parkdale High Park thank you speaker my question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in response to the lack of affordable housing and ever-increasing rents in Parkdale High Park residents have organized fought back and successfully use rent strikes to store corporate landlords from gouging them one of the buildings that was successful is 1251 King Street West but now the landlord Nusper has retaliated issuing an eviction notice to the lead organizer Mark and his wife Petrusa and their newborn newborn son it is clear to mark in Petrusa's neighbors that this eviction is punishment for Mark's role in the rent strike will this government commit today to implementing real rent control stopping above guideline rent increases creating a rent registry and protecting the rights of tenants like Mark and Petrusa thanks very much speaker and I want to thank the member for Parkdale High Park for the question I want to congratulate her on her election to the Assembly I look forward to to working with her my ministry has obviously been monitoring the situation in Parkdale High Park and looking at the situation obviously the Residential Tenancies Act does establish a framework for tenants to be able to provide those comments or regarding what a landlord has been doing for them the framework is very clearly spelled out and certainly there are remedies there for the the tenant to be able to express some of the things that the landlord has been done I think the process certainly I've heard since my appointment to cabinet I've heard from both landlords and tenants regarding the situation with the Residential Tenancies Act and the landlord tenant board I'd be more than half a month supplemental to provide more information to the member to the minister Parkdale organized is holding a rally outside the landlord and tenant board on August 1st the same day that Mark and Petrusa will have to appear for a hearing to fight their eviction notice residents of Parkdale High Park will be there to show their support for their neighbors and send a message that they will not be believed by corporate landlords so mr. Speaker I want to know from this minister whose side is the government on will they stand with the tenants and introduce legislation to protect them or will they take the side of corporate landlords thank you very much speaker I want to remind the member that the residential tenants tenancies act establishes the landlord tenant board which is an independent tribunal with the authority to resolve those disputes between landlords and tenants and I want to again remind the member that under the Residential Tenancies Act every tenant I want to stress that every tenant that faces eviction has a right for that hearing at the landlord tenant board the act is very specific in terms of how landlords must act with tenants it's an independent tribunal and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on something that is before the tribunal at this time thank you mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of economic development job creation and trade we understand the need to create a climate for companies to choose Ontario to invest in yesterday afternoon Amazon made an announcement about bringing jobs and businesses to Ontario can the minister please give the house an update on what the announcement was minister economic development member for the for the question yesterday was a great day for the people of Ontario mr. Speaker and it shows that Ontario sure is open for business and I want to thank Amazon for announcing their one million square foot facility that will create more than 800 full-time jobs for the people of Ontario we need we need more companies like Amazon to come to Ontario and bring those new jobs and that's what we work on in my ministry and every ministry has that mandate because it's a priority a very high priority for the government of Ontario so I thank Amazon but I also want to thank our member from Dufferin Caledon who played a key role in landing this investment in her riding so congratulations Mr. Speaker we promise the people of Ontario that we would work to make Ontario open for business once again and we're doing that by lowering taxes and putting more money in people's pockets cleaning up the hydro thank you thank you thank you through you mr. Speaker to the minister for that response I would also like to extend my congratulations to Amazon for their announcement on bringing jobs and business to Ontario will the minister please explain to the house and most importantly to the opposition why it is so important for Ontario to be open for business it's extremely important thank you again for the question and mr. Speaker it's obvious I think to all of us on this side of the house and I hope to everyone that being open for business is is crucial and we need to break down those regular regulatory barriers that were put up by previous governments especially the government last 15 years some 360,000 regulations that businesses and individuals have to try and deal with and some of them are extremely ridiculous mr. Speaker and we have them in all our departments so we have a deputy minister that's been established to go through those regulations and make recommendations to cabinet and caucus and really truly roll out the red carpet so that the people of Ontario the hardworking people of Ontario those people those million people on social assistance have an opportunity to have a hand up to get a job to put food on the table for their family to not rely on the state but to contribute to society by paying their taxes raising their children members will take their seats next question member for London Fanshawe speaker my questions to the minister environment and conservation parks speaker of course when this government canceled cap and trade it killed a number of green initiatives with it the green energy car rebate was good for the environment but it was also good for the economy 20 models of electric hydrogen fueled cars qualified for the consumer rebate Morgan works at the Finch auto dealership in London speaker and he is worried because the abrupt end to the climate change plan through cap and trade has meant an abrupt drop-off on sales of eco-friendly energy efficient cars what do you say to the car companies car dealers who saw this their business increased due to the green energy trades minister of transportation Mr. Transportation well thank you very much speaker and thank you to the member from London Fanshawe for the question and congratulations to her for being reelected again as well our government ran on a platform an absolute promise of getting rid of the absolute unfair cap and trade tax in this province as part of that as part of that we also had to eliminate the programs that were being funded by that unfair tax the electric vehicle program we made it very clear that would be one of the programs that would be lost but we also were extremely fair in the way that we ended it we gave on a July 11th we announced it until September 10th all dealers and everyone who had purchased a vehicle or had a vehicle on order as long as it was just as long as it was plated and delivered by September 10th and it was what other than other than Tesla they would receive the rebate Audrey cars they were priced within range of a new car and the rebate was significant for consumers due to the rebate car manufacturers and retailers saw 120% increase in sales last year green car initiatives were both worth 100 were worth 175 million to the economy since being introduced good for the environment good for the economy speaker what does the minister have to say to car manufacturers job creators in the province car dealers and consumers who relied on this rebate program thank you again to the member a $1.9 billion punishing tax on families is not good for the economy there's a leader gasoline as proposed by members of your party is not good for the economy so I say to the member when we eliminate that unfair tax we ended the program for rebates that everyone in Ontario was paying for but only some were benefiting by absolutely fair in the way that we came brought about an end to the program people understood during the campaign that this program would end because it was part of our cap and trade promised and thank you restart the clock next question member for Bruce gray Owen sound thank you very much mr. Speaker my question for the minister of seniors and accessibility during the election campaign I knocked on many doors and heard from many seniors and their families one question I heard often was how are seniors living in retirement homes protected in a turtle mr. Speaker through you to the minister can you please share with us how you're protecting and how you and your ministry are protecting our seniors thank you mr. Speaker through you I want to thank their member for asking me my first question as a minister mr. Speaker is an owner for me to stand up in this house especially after being hit by a stroke a couple days after my election and somehow our premier desk in a duck fort found out within an hour after my admission to the hospital the premier was there to prison me I want to thank the premier and also I would like to take all the members in this house in advance for having to put up with the my speech articulation after my stroke mr. Speaker we want to ensure that seniors in retirement homes all across the province are treated with the care and respect if you operate retirement home in Ontario you must be licensed and comply with the law that protects seniors requirements of this law include a duty for operate you supplementary question speaking back to the minister and great to have you here minister mr. Speaker I've been fortunate to visit a number of retirement homes and the residents over the course of the election given that maintaining residence safety is paramount to this government how many licensed retirement homes are in Ontario and what is the retirement homes regulatory authorities role and ensuring that residents are kept safe box mr. Speaker currently there are over 730 retirement homes licensed in Ontario and subject to care and safety standards since becoming the minister of our seniors and accessibility I have already met with the retirement homes regulatory authority representative I'm confident that the authority will continue to take all necessary steps needed to protect residents and make sure their safety and well-being is maintained for example the authority has completed over 6,000 inspections of retirement homes these inspections include responding to reports of abuse and neglect evaluating licensing suitability checking of compliance with the act mr. Speaker in summary this government is committed to ensuring that return homes across the province are safe secure start the clock member for nickel belt thank you mr. Speaker my question is for the deputy premier since the premier was sworn in jobs are being cut at Sudbury hospital at least 51 hard-working dedicated healthcare providers are set to lose their jobs at Health Sciences North the union president say and I agree these hospitals employees are stressed to the hilt these job rest in the premier's hand he has the power to stop those layoffs and funding hospital enough to have the staff that they need my question is simple will the deputy premier stop these job cuts at Health Sciences North in Sudbury thank you very much to the member for the question this is a serious issue I am aware that the Sudbury hospital has had some significant financial difficulties and so I can assure you that the members of the ministry is of well aware of the situation and we are urging the hospital to continue to work with the Lynn to resolve this so that job losses are kept to an absolute minimum we know that people need care we know that they they can't be laid laying off any more people are necessary they have already received some money from the ministry 4.6 million dollars to aid in the financial situation there is more work to be done the Lynn is working very carefully with the hospital speaker Ontario hospital cannot afford more cuts and more layoffs they have been cut to the bone by the last conservative government and by the last liberal government today every hospital in northern Ontario are on the brink of financial crisis in fact the board chairs of the four biggest hospital in the north north east penn the letter that says they are struggling to deliver services in and I quote a fiscal environment that threatens the basic financial survival the last thing or northern Ontario hospital need is more cuts is more layoff and longer wait time for the families in the northeast will the deputy premier stop the cut at Sudbury hospital and place a complete moratorium on job cuts in Ontario hospital start the clock deputy premier response well I would say to members who you Mr. Speaker that the some of the concerns being experienced the Sudbury hospital and some of the other northern hospitals demonstrates the need for system improvement and accountability after 15 years lack of improvement and lack of care by the previous liberal government we are committed to improving the situation that is why we are working very closely through the ministry and with the Lynn to deal with the situation right now at Sudbury to make sure that they can become financially viable it as soon as possible that is why 4.8 million dollars I've changed I'm sorry I'm just changing that number to address the correct number 4.8 million to improve the situation there may be more work that needs to be done but we are dealing with the situation very closely and we will make changes where we have to Waterloo thank you very much Mr. Speaker last week my questions to the acting premier last week the government announced that it had cancelled 758 renewable energy projects one of those projects one of those projects was a hydroelectric power plant to be built on the Park Hill road dam in Cambridge the Grand River Conservation Authority has been working for decades to get approvals for the project that would provide nearly 600 homes with cheap reliable electricity hydroelectricity instead the contract was cancelled with no notice that means lost jobs for the people of Waterloo region without taking one cent off of anyone's hydro bills speaker what does the government have to say to the 600 families who will now see higher hydro bills because your government scrap their cheap reliable and environmentally friendly alternative thank you Mr. Speaker what would I say well three words but I'll take my 60 seconds anyways help is here Mr. Speaker those are going to experience 790 million dollars worth of relief from cancelling those projects Mr. Speaker most of them that communities didn't need or want Mr. Speaker we're committed to cutting hydro rates not subsidizing them for future generations to take on that burden Mr. Speaker this is a promise made and a promise kept for today Mr. Speaker if Waterloo we start the clock Mr. Speaker those people that the minister refers to are going to pay higher hydro rates they're going to lose their jobs they're going to have compromise contracts in the province of interior speaker the government is getting rid of any renewable energy contract that their insider friends don't approve of the Park Hill road dam would have provided nearly 600 families with cheap reliable environmentally friendly hydroelectricity cancelling government contracts in this manner undermines investor confidence it signals to the business community that the government of Ontario cannot be trusted as a business partner speaker will the government do the right thing and fulfill their contractual obligations for the people in Waterloo region what we're going to do Mr. Speaker is fulfill our promise our promise to reduce hydro rates by 12% to cut them Mr. Speaker not subsidize them as this member and her party had supported time and time again when the Liberals were ruining our hydro with the unfair hydro act Mr. Speaker we're committed to renewing hydro ones leadership we're committed to getting rid of the carbon tax that's put in a burden on families and businesses Mr. Speaker Ontario is open for business we're making one promise after another and keeping one promise after another Mr. Speaker and her members are going to feel that will be very up the clock members will take their seats next question the member for King Bond. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Energy Northern Development and Mines Mr. Speaker this government made a solemn commitment to deliver positive results for the people of this province in nine short days in nine days Mr. Speaker we have delivered renewed leadership at hydro one and the cancellation of bad energy contracts Mr. Speaker a promise made promise. Mr. Speaker we ended the longest strike on campus in the history of this country your university a promise made and a promise Mr. Speaker yesterday our new government took decisive action to scrap the punitive scrap and crap and trade carbon tax Mr. Speaker could the Minister of Energy could the Minister of Energy Mr. Speaker commit today to another promise made and another promise kept. Minister of Energy we thank the member for his thorough understanding of this bill I want to thank the house leader and the whip and all of our colleagues for chiming in on the debate as well as the members across the way one thing was clear Mr. Speaker Ontarians wanted their students to go back to class Mr. Speaker promise made promise kept they didn't want to spend seven hundred ninety million sorry they wanted to save seven hundred ninety million dollars Mr. Speaker instead of wasting it on projects that they didn't want and they didn't need and they wanted hydro ones leadership to be renewed and that's exactly what's going on Mr. Speaker promise made restart the clock supplementary thank you Mr. Speaker back to the Minister of Energy it is refreshing Mr. Speaker to hear to finally have a government that actually delivers on their word the the rules up their sleeves in the service of the people Mr. Speaker this is the realization of responsible government is proud to serve with you sir Mr. Speaker could the Minister of Energy align today how our low tax plan for the economy will help create good value added jobs in our economy and create the conditions for prosperity in every region of this province I've been thinking a lot about that hearing about the NDP math here it sounds a lot like it did in Ottawa their forestry policy is their fiscal policy their fiscal policy is their forestry policy they think money grows on trees we know Mr. Speaker that it comes from Ontario taxpayers from their pockets Mr. Speaker they voted for a government that would reel in wasteful spending Mr. Speaker they smelled something fishy about the NDP plan some five billion dollars worth of fishiness in their platform Mr. Speaker we're going to take we're going to cast our net wide we're going to clean up wasteful spending we're going to create prosperity and opportunity for Ontarians from Windsor clear across to the great city of Canora Mr. Speaker help is here next question restart the clock member for timmons well my question that Mr. Speaker through you is to the deputy premier premier we deputy premier we see yet again more backroom deals by the Tories where Doug Ford went out talked to some big polluters talked to people to head money and said what kind of deal can I help you with and now we have legislation in place that's going to allow the largest polluters in this province to get off the hook from taking the responsibility of making sure that they're good citizens that they don't polluter environment to the degree they are now and you're shifting the burden on to individuals so why premier deputy premier can you tell me why does Doug Ford and the Conservatives choose to stand with the big polluters and not with the people of Ontario deputy premier minister of the environment Mr. Speaker through through to the member I appreciate the opportunity to say yet again that the era of the carbon tax in Ontario is over why the members opposite attack employers why they attack business on one hand and then say they're in favour of them I don't know but our approach is an approach that's based on what's best for Ontario families we were elected on a mandate to get rid of the cap and trade carbon tax we will put forward a climate change plan that's sensible that understands environmental and economic realities but Mr. Speaker the era of the carbon tax in Ontario it's over here here supplementary premier again to the deputy premier that doesn't cut it the reality is you guys made a choice and your choice was to stand with those big polluters and making sure that you stood with them and you don't stand with the people of Ontario people in this province understand there is a thing called climate change and we have to do something about it and instead you stand with the big polluters by way of back room deals and you say I choose to stand with the big polluters so I ask you again why are you turning your back on the people of Ontario that's Mr. Mr. Speaker Doug Ford and the PC government chose the people here here before the people we chose to put money back in people's pockets we chose to listen to the people about their concerns about the things that they cared about they do care about the environment that's why we will have programs around conservation around clean air around clean water around reducing greenhouse gases but we will also put $260 back in their pockets every year the people across can laugh at $260 and we will employ 14,000 more people with the elimination of the cap and trade program and our gas tax. Time for question period has expired there being no deferred votes this house stands in recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon