 Therefore, it is now time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Yesterday, Minister of the Crown made a $150 million announcement. That's no small amount of money. So what was the minister's response when she was asked where the money was coming from? She said, this is a direct quote, I'm actually not quite sure where it's coming from. Can you believe that, Mr. Speaker? She actually said she had no idea where the funds were coming from. So Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell us where the money is coming from for that announcement? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me just make a shout out to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the idea of a basic income has been around for a very long time. And the Honourable Hugh Siegel, who some members in the party opposite might know, has been talking about this and has worked with researchers. And to have the opportunity as a government to put in place a pilot project on a basic income at a time when work is uncertain, Mr. Speaker, when we have a global economy that is uncertain, we know that finding the data, getting the information from this basic income pilot is extremely important. Not just here in Ontario, Mr. Speaker, but internationally there's a great deal of attention being paid to the outcomes of the basic income pilot. Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier, I didn't get an answer on the question of where the funds were going to come from. The Minister of the Crown had no idea. Mr. Speaker, the reality is, and this might be a news flash for this government, but money doesn't grow on trees. It actually has to come from somewhere. And the spin afterwards by the government saying it could come from the budget. The budget doesn't produce money. The budget doesn't pay taxes. The budget doesn't pay fees. Taxpayers pay fees. Taxpayers work hard. And to have a government right now that is completely disrespectful to taxpayer funds making announcements with no idea how they're going to pay for them. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to get the government made an announcement yesterday. They had no idea where it's coming from. Can the Premier show this legislature the decency to tell us where that $150 million is going to come from? Mr. Speaker, I look forward to Thursday, Mr. Speaker, when it will be laid out very clearly how our balanced budget feels on the clock. We have been working very hard, Mr. Speaker, to get to the point where we could invest in the people of this province, which we have been doing all along. But to balance the budget, Mr. Speaker, actually gives us the opportunity to take the next step, to further invest in the people of this province and do the things that we know are necessary in order to build the inclusive economy that we know is necessary for this province and for the people who are struggling with uncertainty, Mr. Speaker. Now, I'm not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition doesn't support the basic income pilots. I'm not surprised at all because this is a party that has a history of cutting public services, Mr. Speaker, of actually undermining the foundation of the social safety network and the services that have been delivered in this province. But this is a good thing, Mr. Speaker. Can you see it, please? Can you see it, please? Thank you. Without comment. Start the clock. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier. If the Liberals were sincere about their announcement, they would have had some idea of how they're going to pay for it. The reality is, after 14 years on Taran's work harder, they pay more and they get less in Liberal Ontario. The cost of everything is going up. So it worries me, Mr. Speaker, when they make announcements with no clue of how it's going to be paid for. There's one thing I know about this Liberal government. If there's one thing they're good at, it's raising taxes. So when they make an announcement with no clue how it's going to be paid for, the reality is it's new taxes. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier assure us they're not going to pay for this announcement through new taxes? Thank you. Well, Mr. Speaker, what I can assure the member opposite of is that we will be bringing in a balanced budget on Thursday, Mr. Speaker. A balanced budget that will allow us to make investments in the lives of people in this province. And a basic income pilot, Mr. Speaker, is part of that. Making sure that we have the evidence to demonstrate whether such an initiative would actually be able to be rolled out across the province, Mr. Speaker. Whether it would help with the precarious employment and the realities of displacement because of technology, Mr. Speaker. Because of the changing nature of work, Mr. Speaker. This is a huge opportunity to get evidence that will help us to make good decisions going forward. Not just us, but internationally, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question? The Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. We know the Liberal government gave the Gandalf Group over $3 million of taxpayers' money to complete polling. And let's just remember the Gandalf Group is led by the Liberal Premier's campaign manager, David Hurley. Mr. Speaker, can we get some assurances today from the Premier that this thank-you to David Hurley ended at the $3 million mark? Can the Premier assure us no more taxpayer money is going to be used to fund the Gandalf Group? Just a sec. I have to give it to you. President of the Treasury Board. President of the Treasury Board. We will sort this out. Thank you very much, Speaker. And the Government Advertising Act is very, very clear. The people who get government advertising contracts actually go through a competitive procurement process. So if anybody, any firm has a contract to do government advertising, that firm has gone through a procurement process. Some of them might have been Liberal, some might have Tory ties, some might have NDP ties, some might have no ties. It doesn't actually matter, because what they all have in common is that they go through a public procurement process. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier, I can appreciate why the Premier doesn't want to be on the record on this. $3 million to the Gandalf Group. $3 million. And the Minister says there's a strict process to determine who gets these polling contracts. Is the qualification to be on the Liberal campaign team? Because this doesn't add up. The reality is the research that has been released publicly, they're not even using the polling. The polling said 70% were against the fire sale of Hydro One, they don't care, they proceed. It said 84% of people opposed ending coverage of some healthcare services and they cut the budget of physicians anyways. So if you're paying millions of dollars in polling, you don't use the polling, the impression that's left, this is simply a thank you to your campaign manager. Be honest with the people of Ontario and explain why the $3 million was spent on the Liberal campaign manager. Nina, please. Thank you. President? Yes, thank you and my apologies. You're usually asking about advertising. Sorry, I didn't catch it was polling. But in fact, the answer is actually the same. If you are going to do market research for the government, you must go through a competitive procurement process. And the Gandalf Group, like absolutely anybody else who does market research for the government of Ontario, whether that's a Liberal government or a Victoria government or an NDP government, has gone through a competitive procurement process. Finish, please. And the decisions about which vendor is suitable after there's an additional bid, the finalist. Go through a committee process, which is a bureaucratic process, not a government process or a political process to arrive at the... Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier, I'd appreciate if the Premier could answer this for the House. Member from Beaches East York. This Liberal thank you program where millions of dollars go out to the Liberal campaign officials. In this case, the campaign manager, one of the questions they actually pulled was interesting. It said that they're asking what the public support would be for raising the HST. And of course, the vast majority of Ontario, 69%, opposed the idea. But given the fact they've ignored all the previous polling, can we now assume that we're going to see a raise in the HST? Can the Premier assure the House today that the HST is not going to be raised? Thank you. Yes, thank you. And apparently the member opposite hasn't quite understood yet that this is a competitive process. We have a number of vendors of record on our market research vendor of record list. So for example, and I'm quoting from the 2014-15 public accounts which you have access to, the other market research included forum research, Ipsos Read, Strategic Council, ECOS research, and Veronica's research, Harris Dexamuk research. Member from Nebusy. It isn't just one firm. A variety of firms have been the winner when it comes to competitive procurement of government contracts for market research. In fact, it doesn't matter what you procure. It is a competitive procurement. Thank you. New question? Member from Beverly, Gordon Moulton. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The question is to the Premier. More than 2 million Ontarians do not have drug coverage. One in four Ontarians cannot purchase the drug medications that they need to save their lives. Ontario is one of the wealthiest provinces, one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It's simply unacceptable with the current situation. People are going without the medication that will save their lives. This is just unbelievable. Does the Premier think that it's okay for this to go on in our province? Mr. Speaker, as a government, we know how critical it is for the people of Ontario to have access to affordable and quality healthcare close to home, and that includes pharmacare, Mr. Speaker. We believe that increasing access to pharmacare is a good idea, and we understand that this is an extremely important issue for the people of Ontario, and the Minister of Health has been engaged in this conversation across the country, Mr. Speaker. We understand that this is a very important idea, and I appreciate the question from the member. Mr. Speaker, new Democrats believe in national pharmacare, but we've been waiting for national pharmacare for 50 years. If Tommy Douglas had waited for the federal government to act, we would have American-style healthcare here in Ontario. I don't think that people should have to wait... I don't think that people should have to wait for the federal government to act in order to have access to medication that will save their lives. Ontario new Democrats are going to do something about it. That's why we've announced our plan for pharmacare. How long is this government going to have people wait before they get the coverage for life-saving medication that they need so desperately? Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I know the member opposite knows just my own views on this and the views of this government that we believe how critically important it is that Ontarians and Canadians across this country have access to the drugs that they need, the prescribed medications that will keep them well, Mr. Speaker, or will get them well if they fall ill. It's an issue that the Premier has been championing for a long time. And I'm really pleased, Mr. Speaker, that after three years of our advocacy on the national stage that the NDP has finally decided to come to the table and joining our efforts to provide that access because they haven't addressed this publicly prior to just very recently. Thank you. Fantastic. Final supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe our health care system, new Democrats believe our health care system should include medical coverage. People should not be able, should not be in a situation where they cannot access life-saving medication that they need. People shouldn't have to wait for Ottawa to maybe one day hopefully get its act together. Why does the Premier think that it's OK that people are waiting to receive this desperately needed coverage, to receive the coverage that they need right now? Thank you, Minister. Well, Mr. Speaker, I know that this is an important issue to this government. It's an important issue to me as a health care practitioner. And I had the opportunity, I was just reviewing the, you know, I wrote an op-ed way back in December of 2014 that spoke to my own experiences of physician because of the practice that I've worked in for over 20 years is exclusively immigrants and refugees, primarily from the Horn of Africa. And they're individuals that are of lower socioeconomic status, Mr. Speaker. And I spoke of them many, many times where I knew if I gave a prescription to those individuals, those families, it was unlikely that they would have the resources to fill it. Or I would have to go into my sample drawer to actually provide them with a sample prescription because I knew they couldn't afford to get it from offices. I understand how vitally important access to medicines is. And I, again, I welcome their recent advocacy on this issue. Thank you. New question, a member from Nicolville. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nicolville, thank you to the Premier. And again, this morning, the Minister of Health agreed with then my leader and NDP that pharma care is the unfurnished business of Medicare that was envisioned 51 years ago. New Democrats, we want to finish that business. We want people to get the life-saving medication that they need. And we are ready to do something about it. Why aren't the Liberals? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud of many of the activities that this government has been responsible for when it comes to prescription drugs. 170,000 more seniors no longer paying the $100 annual deductible. Mr. Speaker, 170,000 more seniors in this province since last year's budget receiving their medications without any annual deductible at all and with the co-payment reduced from $6 down to $2 per prescription. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud of the work that we've been doing nationally with the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance as well where we nationally have saved over $700 million through bulk purchasing and bulk negotiating, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Premier. The Premier may want to wait for her federal cousin, but Ontario cannot afford to wait. We cannot afford not to have pharma care. Does the Premier believe people in Ontario should have universal access to medication? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We announced earlier this year that we would be providing hepatitis C treatment to anyone with a diagnosis of hepatitis C infection at a cost, Mr. Speaker, of hundreds of millions of dollars to Ontarians. But this is almost a cure in 95% of the cases it results in a cure and it's a dramatic new development in this field of treatment of hepatitis C. These are the kinds of investments that we're making and we're constantly adding medicines to our formulary as the evidence proves their efficacy and their value in treating and providing that important treatment to Ontarians. And Mr. Speaker, last time I checked it because we would welcome not only the advocacy here but last time I checked Alberta does not have a pharma care program either. I certainly would appreciate their advocacy in talking to their cousins in Alberta on this important issue. Thank you. No supplementary. Well, Mr. Speaker, my question was about universal access. When people get the medication they need, we all agree it saves lives. But the Liberals have left Ontarians waiting and waiting and waiting even longer for the drug coverage that they need. Pharma care isn't something that people should be waiting for. New Democrat, we get that. And we're ready to do something about it. Why don't the Liberals get it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, it's clear our government's position on access to medicines is crystal clear that for many years now we have pointed out the fact that one out of ten Canadians, probably one out of ten or more Ontario families are unable to access the medicines that they need because of financial limitations, Mr. Speaker. And that's not right. And that's why we have so strongly advocated for increasing that access or why we continue to advocate for it. And we take measures like we did last year, 170,000 more seniors that no longer have to pay $100 deductible, no longer pay that $6 co-payment, it's now $2. These are the kind of measures. But I appreciate it. Member from Lancaster, come to order. Wrap-up sentence. I'm glad the NDP has come to the table. We need their help as we continue to access the medicines. Here, here. Any questions? Member from the middle sex London. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Speaker, Section 20.1 of the Local Health Systems Integration Act 2006 prohibits local lands from restricting or preventing individuals from receiving services based on the geographical area in which they live. I've been assured by numerous senior sources of both my local land in Norriding, as well as ministry staff, that land boundaries would never prevent or interfere with one's right to access decent and proper health care in this province. Speaker, is the Minister aware of any deviations from this specific policy? Well, clearly, the member opposite has one, and I'm going to hear about it in supplementary. But, Mr. Speaker, it's important to reiterate to this house as well as to Ontarians that what, at least in his first question, what the member opposite has stated is true, that there are no boundaries in terms of access to medicine. So an individual, perhaps that resides in Thunder Bay, is welcome to access the health services that are available in Sick Kids Hospital or Ottawa Civic Hospital, that there are no restrictions for any type of community service that's provided, rather health care service that's provided. I'm interested in the supplementary, I suspect. I'm going to hear of a concern. And I'm going to preempt, to some degree, the member opposite by saying, I want to work with you because that is not permitted in this province, and let's find a way to address it effectively. Thank you. Supplementary, the member of the matter, Farmer, Richardson, Addington. You're absolutely correct, Minister. We do have an example. On April 21st, the Ottawa Hospital sent out this member. Informing doctors in my writing that the Department of Medical Imaging's breast imaging program is experiencing significant delays. Their solution, as outlined in the memo, would be that they will only accept patients from the Champlain Lynn region. This prevents people in my writing from going to Ottawa to get necessary services. It is in direct conflict with the minister's statements. And it's in direct contradiction to the legislation. Speaker, will the minister direct the Champlain Lynn and the Ottawa Hospital to accept patients from outside their Lynn and contact the doctors in my writing and ensure them that this memo is false and has no effect. And if I could send the memo over to you. Thank you. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to receive this information and I look forward to seeing the memo. Frankly, I kind of like it as well when members ask to speak with me directly or grab me at the end of question period and solve a problem. But I appreciate that there might be an ambition to score a political point at the same time. I'm interested, Mr. Speaker, in solving problems. And I think almost every member on that side of the legislature knows or even has personal experience of how hard I've worked with them to try to improve or augment or correct health services in their jurisdictions. That's the way I work as health minister. I'm happy to work on this particular issue. I know we've dramatically expanded breast cancer screening services across this province under the previous health minister who's sitting to my left, Mr. Speaker. I anticipate that those services are available over a wide swath of that region, but I'm going to look into it specifically. Thank you. A question from Toronto Danforth. Speaker, thank you, my question to the Premier. Late last week, the government quietly announced that it had approved massive increase in the salary ranges for OPG executives. The top salary of the OPG CEO is now $3.8 million, which is double his current salary. Meanwhile, starting next week, ratepayers who've been unable to pay their hydro bills will start losing their electricity. How does the Premier explain to families who may lose their electricity why they have to pay more to give an OPG CEO a 100% increase in salary? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, when it comes to OPG salaries, Mr. Speaker, we do have a framework in place to ensure that they are paid peratively, Mr. Speaker, and paid fairly. And when we have people running our nuclear facilities, Mr. Speaker, and having a 40-year history of safety, we want to ensure that these people are paid not at the top, Mr. Speaker, not at the bottom, but paid right in the middle of the pack in their sector. When it comes to looking at rates that are happening for folks right across the province, Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear last week that the Ontario Energy Board's decision will begin to lower rates even further on May 1st in anticipation, Mr. Speaker, of our government's fair hydro plan. So that's going to mean on May 1st the OEB's decision will have rates reduced by 17% by May 1st. And while the opposition partners have like a pamphlet for their plan, we're acting, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary. Again, to the Premier. It's not surprising that a Premier who thinks ratepayers should pay twice as much for the OPG CEO also thinks ratepayers should pay twice as much for hydro. The connection between skyrocketing hydro-CEO salaries and skyrocketing hydro-disconnections could not be clearer. It treats for the values of this government which treats hydro ratepayers as cash cows for senior executives for private financiers and for other friends of the Premier. At the same time dismissing the struggles of ordinary Ontarians until, of course, this government is backed into a political corner. Why does the Premier always put the interests of the executive class ahead of the needs of ordinary Ontario families? Why? Thank you. Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very pleased to rise and talk about how this Premier and this government is putting the needs of Ontarians first, Mr. Speaker. Not on the last page of their plan like the third party, Mr. Speaker. We're making sure that First Nations that their delivery charges are addressed. They don't even mention First Nations, Mr. Speaker when it comes to offering help. This Premier and this government, Mr. Speaker finish, please. So thank you, Mr. Speaker. So when it comes to the Ontario electricity support program, Mr. Speaker, we increase that by 50%, Mr. Speaker ensuring that families and individuals that are struggling when it comes to their electricity prices will receive more help, Mr. Speaker. That is what this Premier and this government does. On that side of the House, Mr. Speaker, they have no plan and they can't even make up a plan that works. Any questions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. It's no secret that the housing market and the greater Golden Horse who has experienced dramatic price increases in recent months. We have all seen the stories reporting that housing prices in Toronto are up 33% from this time last year. But, Mr. Speaker, while our hot housing market is tied to the confidence people have in the Ontario economy, we know that many are struggling in their housing policy. In my own riding of Davenport, I've heard from so many hard-working young families about the difficulty that they're having entering the housing market. So just last week, I was so proud to stand by the Premier as she, along with yourself and the Minister of Housing, announced the introduction of Ontario's Fair Housing Plan. Mr. Speaker, this announcement was wonderful news for the constituents in my riding of Davenport is a safe and affordable place to call home. So could the Minister please share with my constituents and all the members of this House what this plan means? Thank you, Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the member from Davenport who attended that press conference and has been advocating and fighting not only for supporting those who are renting and who are being subject to valuations beyond their control but for young families to get a start at home and enabling them to get some equity built in their homes and given the spike and the great increase year over year that's occurred she's been advocating alongside this caucus to find ways to temper the marketplace by going after those speculators who are with deep pockets crowding out those very families that are trying to get a start. So I congratulate her and our team and our caucus for finding ways to cool the market to ensure that we have a better future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and to the Minister for his answer I know my constituents in my riding of Davenport were also excited to hear that Ontario is also proposing to expand rent control as part of the Fair Housing Plan. This is an issue I've had the pleasure to write to the Ministry of Housing about previously and most recently in February. Minister, as you are aware many tenants across the GTA including in my riding of Davenport in one case, tenants in the south end of my riding received a shock when their rent on their two bedroom condo nearly doubled from $1,660 a month to $3,320 a month. With so many of my constituents in Davenport and right across the greater golden horseshoe living in rental housing, it is so important for our government to let those people know what that economic conventions are unacceptable. Speaker, through you to the Minister Minister Minister of Housing Minister of Housing Well thank you Speaker and to the member for her question she has indeed been a tireless advocate on this important issue Speaker we've heard stories of unreasonable and shocking rental hikes in today's market. Stories like Pauline who lives in Toronto and told me that she's fearful that her family will be forced out of their condominium due to an unreasonable rent hike. Stories like Pauline and her family is why we introduced the Rental Fairness Act yesterday in the House. If passed Speaker, our bill will expand rent controls to all private rental units including those built after 1999. In addition, this bill includes a suite of other measures that protect tenants. Speaker by passing this bill a quarter of a million people would be protected from unreasonable rent hike. Speaker, whether you're a senior on a fixed income or a young person just starting off, all Ontarians deserve rent that's affordable. Thank you. Thank you Speaker, to the Minister of Health the health of Ontario's hospitals is suffering from a critical lack of funding. Formal community hospital, the occupancy rates are so high patients have to be accommodated in hallways, empty office spaces or any cubby holes, staff can find. You have ministry people that miss the concern saying the real number really happens at midnight. Would this minister really stand next to a senior heart attack patient and tell them in a stretcher in the hallway and tell them that they really only count if they're still alive at night. Well, Mr. Speaker of course as the member opposite knows we've made substantial new investments in our hospitals on two fronts. On the operating side we've increased the operating budgets by about 3% this year alone Mr. Speaker close to $500 million and on the capital side Mr. Speaker we've made what I believe I'm confident is the largest, most substantial capital investment in hospitals in this province's history $12 billion over a 10-year period and we're seeing the results of both of those actions where in many cases quite dramatic increases in hospitals operating budget budgets Mr. Speaker we've referenced the member from Halibur and the lakes, her hospital, the Halibur hospital getting a 10% increase in her operating budget last year. Thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you back to the minister the Cormo community hospital reported occupancy rates as high as 138% this year with a high incidence of alternative level care of patients facing longest wait times in Ontario for proper placement yet when questioned the government says they have twice as many beds as they need until 2030 and it isn't the waiting patients Ministry if the figure if as your figures say we have too many beds then why are the ALC patients in Cormo waiting over a year to be placed Minister Mr. Speaker I feel like it's perhaps a two part answer that is required here when it comes to Cormo community hospital itself I'm proud to say that we increased their operating budget in the last year that was a 5.4% increase in the operating budget for that hospital alone and when it comes to long term care and ensuring that residents of Cornwall and the surrounding region have a place to live that's why we're making our investments where we've since coming into office have built more than 10,000 brand new long term care beds where we're redeveloping an additional 30,000 beds but we're also looking at other opportunities to ensure whether it's in the home or in the community or in long term care or in the hospital where patients and clients are getting the highest quality of care at the best possible place for them and where they want to be Mr. Speaker Thank you, your question to the member from Bradley Gorman Thank you Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier After nearly 14 years of Liberal government for far too many working hard working Ontarians full time jobs are a thing of the past what have they been left with with this Liberal government worries Mr. Speaker worries about how they're going to pay their bills their hydro their rent worries about how they're going to make a good future for their kids now the changing workplace review is in what are you waiting for where's the action not the talk where's the action from this government to implement some changes for the people of this province Minister of Labour Minister of Labour Thank you very much Speaker the member must be a Maple Leaf fan because he knows a bandwagon when he sees one Speaker we've been working very very hard at this Speaker we want every family in this province to benefit from the growing economy but even as we create those new jobs Speaker we need to be aware that the world of work is changing these changes comes new challenges Speaker we're addressing these concerns head on through the changing workplaces review Supremea said yesterday it's more about just protecting people's wages and their ability to earn a good living what we're doing Speaker is creating a framework for an economy that focuses on decency for workers and for fairness for those families Speaker Ontario workers need us to get this done right Speaker not just quickly the NDP call this process a waste of time I couldn't disagree more Speaker workers in the province Ontario couldn't disagree more if this is a hockey game this government would get a penalty for delay of games too many too many Ontarians have reached the tipping point that's why new democrats have committed to a $15 minimum wage to an easier path to the middle class on the government legislation to the same paying for the same work for people working through a temporary job agency to drug coverage for all Ontarians we want hard working Ontarians to be lifted out of poverty not to be stuck in it so what is the Premier going to do today not for her friends but for the hard working Ontarians of this province who have been under this government rule for 14 years today. We need action now. Question? Thank you, Minister. Speaker, thank you to the member for the question. Speaker, we've made sure that the province of Ontario follows a very consistent, a predictable and an impartial process when it comes to minimum wage increase in the province of Ontario. Contrast that to between 1996, 2003, Speaker, the party officer, froze minimum wage for seven years, Speaker, at $6.85. Since that, since 2003, Speaker, we've increased the minimum wage by more than 70% Speaker. What we did is we went out, Speaker, we consulted with organized labour. We consulted with business. We consulted with poverty advocate, Speaker. We consulted with anybody that had an interest in the economy and the healthy economy of this province, Speaker. And we've got a predictable system in place. We're having an increase this year, Speaker, as we have year after year after year. Speaker, this was a football game. The end, he fumbled the football. New question. The member for Lancaster, Dundas, Flammerl, and West Elm. Thanks, Speaker. Before I ask my important question, I just want to take a minute as a cancer survivor to thank the Cancer Society who's here today doing such great work all across Ontario. Speaker, my questions for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Speaker, our government has always taken a leadership role in exploring creative and innovative ways to reduce poverty and support people living on low incomes. In the 2016 budget, our government committed to testing how the basic income might help people on low incomes better meet their basic needs while improving their education employment and health. Speaker, yesterday morning, I was thrilled, thrilled to host the Premier in Hamilton and Ministers of Housing and Community Social Services when the Premier announced details of Ontario's basic income pilot. I understand the plan for the pilot builds on feedback, so, Speaker, I want to know through you, can the Minister please tell members of this House more about Ontario's basic income pilot? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and to the member for his long-term championing of this very interesting idea. Speaker, the basic income pilot will be testing a new approach to income support in a careful step-by-step way to ensure we get it right. We're starting small using the lessons learned as we build the pilot out in further phases. Our ultimate goal is to better understand whether this approach could help people living on low incomes in their everyday lives. Beginning later this spring, the three-year pilot will launch in two regions, Hamilton, including Brantford and Brant County, Thunder Bay and the surrounding area. A third location, Lindsay, will be added in the fall. Speaker, up to 4,000 participants will be included in the pilot across the three sites at full implementation. And as I said yesterday, I'm pleased that I'm not going to be losing anything from my social assistance budget as we move forward with this important project. Thank you, supplementary. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the Minister. Speaker, my constituents were excited to hear the news yesterday, and they know that though Ontario's economy is in a relatively strong position, many people in the province are not feeling that growth in their everyday lives. People are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living and facing precarious employment with little job security or benefits. Ontario's basic income pilot will be, I think, a great opportunity to study whether a basic income can better support vulnerable workers and give people the security and opportunity they need to achieve their potential. Speaker, will the Minister tell us more about this innovative pilot project, including who will be eligible to participate and how much support they will receive? Minister, responsible for the poverty reduction strategy. Is responsible for poverty reduction. Well, thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable across Ontario. Speaker, the basic income pilot will help us test ways to make everyday life easier for Ontarians by removing barriers that still stand in the way of improved health, employment, and housing for too many among us. Study participants will be randomly selected, 18 to 64 years old, living in one of the selected test locations for the past 12 months or longer, and living on a low income. We're using a tax credit model, Mr. Speaker. The Ontario basic income pilot will ensure participants receive just under $17,000 a year for a single person, less 50% of any earned income, just over $24,000 a year for a couple, again less 50% of any earned income, and up to an additional $6,000 a year for a person with a disability. Speaker, testing a basic income model. Sorry, new question to the member from Halibut and Fourth Lakes Rock. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for accessibility. The Canadian Hearing Society provides vital services to tens of thousands of culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened or hard of hearing persons across Ontario. Unfortunately, an unresolved labour dispute at CHS has brought their important work to a halt for over six weeks now, which is having a damaging impact on the lives of deaf individuals in our province. For example, many seniors that cannot hear are literally shut in their homes in isolation while also dealing with chronic health conditions. These are life and death situations, Mr. Speaker. So my question to the Minister is, what is the government doing to protect the deaf community in this situation, and what backup measures have they put in place to ensure that the Ontario deaf community isn't falling through the cracks? Minister responsible for accessibility. Thank you, Speaker. I want to thank the member opposite from from the PC party for this question. It's important. I've met with this group on many occasions and have received the recent correspondence as well. They are strong advocates for the deaf community in Durham and beyond, and they do fantastic work and they are pushing forward on a number of fronts, including visual smoke detectors. I know the Minister of Labor will comment on the supplementary on the labour issues, but I do want to acknowledge the work. I think I have a meeting upcoming with them as well so we can talk about these issues and coordinate our efforts with the Ministry of Labor. So thank you for raising the question and the Minister of Labor will respond to the labour issues. Thank you. Supplementary, the member from Thornhill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my question is also to the Minister of Accessibility. Members of the Canadian Hearing Society have been on strike since March 6th and are demonstrating in front of the Ministry today. Recently, Kevin Hannah from Thornhill sent an email to the Hearing Society on Spadina to request repairs to his hearing aids. The return email told him that he will be put on a wait list until the strike is over. Mr. Speaker, this is a vulnerable community whose lives have been put on hold. Will the Minister please tell us what she's doing to ensure that Ontarians who require sign language translators, hearing tests, and hearing aid repairs are not left in silence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the question, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the member opposite for showing her support for the parties that are involved in this negotiation. I also have talked to members of the third party and this speaker. During the labour dispute, the government does a focus on assisting the parties to get them back to the table. It's assured responsibility, Speaker. We've got some of the best mediators in the country work right here at the province of Ontario. We've had somebody in. We've had somebody involved with the parties. We remain available to assist them to bring them back to the bargaining table. What we're doing, Speaker, is we're encouraging the employer and the employees in this case and the union to make every effort to resolve those differences, bring them back to the table. Speaker, if we're confident if they work together these parties can reach a settlement. We have a strong history in the province of Ontario, Speaker, of resolving these differences without strikes, a lockout, almost 99 percent. In this case, we need to do a little bit more work, Speaker, and we will. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Premier parents, families and advocates know that we don't have a child care system in Ontario. What we have is a crisis. We don't have affordable fees for family. We don't have decent work or pay for educators. We don't have enough quality not for profit child care spaces. The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care has said we need every dollar of this child care expansion going to our kids. There is simply no room for profit. When there's a political crisis, that's when this government wakes up. Unfortunately, they were too late on the hydro crisis and they were too late on the housing crisis. Speaker, what will it take for this Liberal government to wake up to the child care crisis in this province? Thank you, Premier. Minister responsible for early learning and child care? Minister responsible for children and yes, sirs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank the member opposite for this question. Now, I understand that the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care was here today to talk about child care in the province and absolutely creating a safe and healthy environment and giving our kids the best start in life is the most important thing that we can do. Our plan is to transform the way that child care is delivered in this province and it's great to see a young Ontario in the house today with us. We are here, you know, really as voices for parents and families. We know that parents for parents finding an infant, a toddler or preschool child care spot can be very challenging. I know the current capacity isn't there. That's why we're committing to build 100,000 new spaces and transform the way we're delivering child care in the province. Thank you. Premier families cannot wait any longer. Parents face the highest child care costs in Canada. Child care fees in Ontario cost 50% more than undergraduate tuition in the province. 24% of the ECEs who are here today make less than $15 an hour. Speaker, we know that public and not-for-profit child care spaces provide the highest quality but this government won't commit to building a system based on quality. For 14 years families have waited as costs have risen and wait lists have grown. They cannot wait any longer. When will Ontario see quality, affordable, accessible child care system that puts children ahead of profit? Thank you, Speaker. And, Speaker, I just want to say that we are transforming the way we deliver child care in this province. Absolutely. We are currently working on a five-year rollout plan which is under development and what we're committing to do is create accessible, affordable, responsive quality spaces. What we have done is gone across the province, holding consultations with thousands of people. We're now in the process of making sure that our plan is good and strong. The third party does a lot of talking but the bottom line is even in their recent vision statement child care was only one paragraph of what they put out as part of their plan. So there were no timelines, there were no funding numbers. We actually have done our homework and we're getting ready to ensure that we create a space for 100,000 new children in child care in this province. Good work. New question, a member from Edmonton, Lawrence. To the Minister of National Resources and Forestry Speaker. Minister, as you know last week the government south of the border attacked our dairy farmers and our dairy industry. This week they're attacking our forestry industry and our forestry workers. Many Ontarians are very concerned of what's happening and they're wondering what the impact of these new exorbitant tariffs and duties that are threatened by the the states will do to our workers in our softwood lumber exports and in this industry. What actions is our government taking to stand up to these abusive imposition of tariffs and attacks on our dairy industry and especially in our forestry industry. Thank you Minister, Minister of National Resources and Forestry. Thank you Speaker and I'd like to thank the member from Eglinton, Lawrence for his question. So Speaker I am disappointed that the US government has decided to impose unreasonable duties putting unnecessary financial pressure on Ontario's lumber producers and manufacturers. We believe that fair and open trade is the best outcome for consumers on both sides of the border. Our government is standing alongside our forestry sector and the families that depend upon it. Our government's been working with various partners to increase the amount of Ontario wood used in large-scale building construction across the province and that's not all Speaker. I'm also proud to say that we've just provided 10 million dollars in additional funding to the forestry industry to reimburse costs for road construction and maintenance on public access road. Ontario is standing alongside our forestry sector to protect the well-being jobs and important economic benefits that this sector provides for workers and their families. Thank you Mr. Minister for your response. As you know, many small communities throughout Ontario depend on jobs in the forestry sector. I don't have to tell you that and I think we need to all stand together and saying this is not acceptable. So therefore on behalf of not only the workers in the forestry sector but of everybody on Ontario who's worried about these arbitrary increases in tariffs and what they're going to do to jobs and this important industry wonder what concrete steps the ministry has taken and will take to ensure we don't let them get away with this. Thank you Speaker and I appreciate the member's concern over this important issue. Our $15.5 billion forestry sector plays a significant role in 230 communities across Ontario and in the management of Ontario's boreal forest in support of climate change initiatives which is why we recently hired our chief negotiator former federal trade minister Jim Peterson. Jim will help to advocate for free and open trade for Ontario's software industry. In Canada, negotiating trade deals is the responsibility of the federal government and that's why we're asking the federal government to listen to the Ontario and Quebec forestry industries and create a loan guarantee program and I've met with ministers Carr and Freeland many times on this issue. We cannot let the predictability of our southern neighbour affect the jobs and well-being of people here in Ontario. As we depend against this unfair decision we'll support our industry partners responding to their concerns and vigorously representing their industries in Ottawa and Washington. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the minister of northern development and mines. In the three years worth of public polling your government tabled quietly in February one poll by the ministry finance found that 65 percent of northern Ontarians were very concerned and 29 percent were concerned about their local economies. In total 94 percent of northerners are concerned or very concerned about their local economies. Speaker does the minister agree that developing the ring of fire will boost the northern economy and alleviate some of these concerns. Mr. Speaker thank you to the member for the question. Maybe I'll I'll deal with the ring of fire piece and the supplementary but maybe start by just talking about the difference in the level of support that has come from this government to the municipal sector as opposed to the level of support that did not come from the opposition conservatives when they were government from 95 to 2003. Speaker it is very clear and it is very obvious to the municipal sector right across the province of Ontario not just in northern Ontario but that the financial assistance that has flowed through a variety of programs from this government starting in 2003 has better positioned businesses right across northern Ontario and has better positioned local resident taxpayers when it comes to the communities that they live in. No thanks to the work that went on with eight years of no support from a conservative government but tremendous support through a variety of programs from this liberal government since 2003. Speaker those programs are in place those programs continue and local taxpayers are better positioned as a result. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker I guess the minister didn't hear my question 94 percent of northerners are concerned about their local economies that's very disturbing. Northern Ontarians need this government to do something to give them some hope. Mining especially the Ring of Fire offers that hope this government has made lots of promises but delivered very little on this file. This government has more than once announced funding for transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire region so my question Mr. Speaker would the minister please tell us how many dollars have been spent on transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire region and when can we expect to see the physical evidence of some actual work being done. Yeah that'd be good. Mr. Speaker when it comes to support from for northern communities you just heard the minister. You're doing so well. It comes to support for northern communities and businesses based in northern Ontario you just heard the minister natural resources and forestry run down quite a significant laundry list of supports that we've put in place to help 230 communities in northern Ontario that rely on the forest industry. Like bringing back up for our forestry roads programs that were downloaded by both the previous opposition parties the NDP when they were in government and the conservatives when they were in government. Speaker specifically on the mining sector the member knows they want to focus on one project that's fine they want to try and score a few political points you want to talk about mining then perhaps the member opposite can ask and speak to why Newgold has just operated a mine four hours west of Thunder Bay 600 people on a construction site 450 people who remain employed in that operation once it's open mining is continuing to move forward they want to focus on the one project it's doing very well exploration's up. New question the member from Windsor West. Thank you speaker my question is to the premier workers at the Canadian Hearing Society are now entering their seventh week off the job that seven weeks where people who are deaf or hard of hearing are not getting the support they need to thrive the result people like Paul in Sudbury who had been forced to tell his father that he's going to die to sign to him that he's going to die rather than be able to simply hold his hand during his final moments. Speaker workers at the Canadian Hearing Society are here today along with allies fighting to have their work valued does the premier agree that it's time for the employer and the union through a third party get these issues dealt with and let these workers get back to serving a vulnerable community. Speaker thank you and thank you to the member for that question speaker I I know the member opposite more than any but more than many in this House speaker believes in the collective bargaining process right speaker and we know if we can get those parties back to the table using the skilled mediators that we have in the province of Ontario we can reach an agreement speaker we always do 99 percent of the cases of collective bargaining agreement speaker in the province of Ontario I reached out without any lockout without any strike without any action at all speaker speaker we're encouraging the employers and the unions to get back to the table to resolve their differences speaker it's how it's done in the province of Ontario speaker and it works in the province of Ontario as I said to her previous answer speaker 99 percent almost 99 percent answer speaker almost 99 percent of a collective agreements are reached without any action speaker last year we had 18 work stoppages in the province of Ontario speaker but compared that to final supplementary thank you speaker again to the premier while this government constantly passes the puck on their responsibilities to protect workers and vulnerable populations they have done nothing to rein in executive salaries at taxpayer funded organizations the chs receives more than 20 million dollars for services from the province each year unfortunately a large portion of this has gone to exorbitant wage increases for top executives including a 75 percent increase for the CEO in just three years all the while frontline staff many of whom are deaf or hard of hearing themselves haven't had a wage increase since their contract expired four years ago I invite the premier to join me workers and allies at the rally today to support the workers of the canadian hearing society and recognize the importance of their service to the community will the premier finally give vulnerable populations the respect and attention they deserve thank you minister speaker we've got a very highly skilled mediation team a conciliation team speaker in the province of Ontario that I think is second to none it's got a tremendous record for helping to revolve to resolve disputes such as this speaker we've been involved with the parties if you think it's over it doesn't necessarily mean I can't warn you or name you finish please speaker my job as a minister of labor is to be impartial and and to ensure that we're doing everything we possibly can to bring these parties back to the table speaker we don't like strikes we don't we don't like to see lockouts we don't like to see we're not receiving the services last year speaker 18 work stoppages the member from Windsor west is warned 139 works off of the speaker no questions minister of the minister of housing on a point of order yes a point of order mr. speaker I just like to correct my record Ontario's new fair housing plan will expand rent controls to all private rental units including those built after 1991 this for auto the member from Ottawa South on a point of order very much mr. speaker point of order I'd like to welcome Ron Clifton board director with the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and Byron James from the Canadian Cancer Society both from Ottawa welcome to the legislature thank you very much minister responsible women's issues thank you speaker I'd like to welcome Catherine small gang she is a guest her page Kenna small gang who is here in the public gallery today welcome to Queens Park thank you we're so into standing order 38 a the member from storm out Dundas South Hungary has given notice of his dissatisfaction to with an answer to his question given by the minister of health and long-term care concerning high occupancy rates at a community hospital this matter will be debated today at 6 p.m there are no deferred votes this outstands recess until 3 p.m this afternoon