 It is now time for question period. The member from Napaean, Carleton. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Each day as we sit through the Justice Committee and re-read the OPPI TO it becomes more clear that Premier Nguyen could have either been complicit or ignorant of the alleged destruction of e-mail documents over the $1.1 billion canceled gas plants. Here are the undisputable facts. She co-chaired the campaign that canceled them. As a member of the Cabinet, she signed the contract. She said that the consolation cost $40 million when it cost $1.1 billion. The global password for Peter Faced was open well into her transition and as the OPPI said it was immediate. It was between February 6th and March 20th. Her assistant Brianna Ames had her computer wiped after February 11th and Peter Feist Question. The Secretary of the Cabinet told us that she could have launched an internal investigation into this. Why didn't she? Is she afraid of this? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, again, let me just say, as I have said before in this House and before committee, that I have taken responsibility for mistakes that were made around the relocation of the gas plants. I know that there needed to be an opening up of the process. I asked the Auditor General to look at the situation, Mr. Speaker. We opened up the scope of the committee. I have appeared before the committee twice. We have put hundreds of thousands of pages of documents in front of the committee, Mr. Speaker. We've changed the rules around the retention of documents, Mr. Speaker. So we have opened up the process and it's very clear, Mr. Speaker, that the allegations that are in front of the public at this time are about the former Premier's former Chief of Staff, whom I did not direct and who was not a part of my staff, Mr. Speaker. It's convenient to talk about the one individual where there is an OPP-ITO, but we do know other information. I listed it in a chronological way in an orderly manner. But the Cabinet Secretary appeared yesterday at the Justice Committee and he said he and this Premier spoke about passwords for the former Premier's computers. He also said he spoke with Manik Smith, the former transition chair for Ms. Wynn. And given as the OPP say the transition happened immediately, she and her transition team would have noticed after they gained access to those passwords that the hard drives were wiped. So I asked the Premier one more time, given what we know that you knowingly withheld information from this Assembly on the $40 million, how are we supposed to give you now and why did you hold a probe into this matter? Is it because you and Manik Smith know a little too much and you're afraid of it to come out? Thank you. Thank you, Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I know that the Government House Leader will want to comment on what was or was not said at committee yesterday. But, Mr. Speaker, let me just say on the issue around the passwords. And this is important. The member opposite has her facts completely wrong again, Mr. Speaker. On May 7th last year, the Justice Committee asked for all gas plant documents in the Premier's office. On May 21st, my office delivered 30,000 documents. And here is what my Chief of Staff wrote to the committee, which the member would have seen. Quote, I am writing on behalf of the Office of the Premier in response to the motion passed by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on May 7th, 2013. On May 9th, we were advised by Cabinet Office IT that the email accounts of 52 individuals formerly employed in the Premier's office could be accessed. A search of those accounts was conducted by my office and any available records applicable to the committee's motion have been included. I have enclosed with this letter a list of the 52 individuals unclosed. Thank you. Final supplementary. The facts speak for themselves. I sat in committee. That Premier didn't. The Secretary to Cabinet told us yesterday he spoke with the Premier about the passwords for the former Premier's office. He said he raised red flags with her transition chair, Monique Smith. One of her staff, as I indicated yesterday, had her computer wiped. Another one who did the wiping remained on payroll with the Liberal Party up until three weeks ago. No one believes the Premier on this. She said in this house it was $40 million price tag. It's a $1.1 billion price tag. She can sue the Leader of the Opposition. She can try to sue me, but she can't sue the truth. It will come out. So I again, I ask her, not the third grade, Herb Gray from Dalarama, I'm asking her, will you tell us why you have not decided to call an internal probe or will you call a judicial inquiry barring that? Thank you. You're ahead of me. Now we're going to do it properly. Would the member please withdraw? And the member from Leeds, Grenville, will withdraw. I'm going to try to finish this round by indicating to you that on both sides, while questions are being put, and I'll wait until I have the attention of the people who I need to hear this, I'll wait. Thank you. While the question is being put, I'm hearing heckling from one side and when the answer is being put, I'm hearing heckling from the same side. Premier. House Leader, Mr. Speaker. House Leader. Mr. Speaker, if I can begin, I just want to say that I am very, very proud to be compared to the right Honourable Herb Gray, a man of great integrity and an outstanding public servant, Mr. Speaker. And the Honourable Members across the way can compare me to him any day of the week. So uncouth. Mr. Speaker, let's talk about Mr. Wallace's third appearance at the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. He made a number of things clear. First, he confirmed that it was the Chief of Staff to the former Premier who requested the access codes. We confirmed that he had had he known Mr. Livingston was serious about the request. He would have taken very different steps. He confirmed that the public services response to committee document requests were done in good faith. And most importantly, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wallace confirmed that he had not briefed Premier win on the deletion or destruction of emails from the former Premier's office. He confirmed that he had not briefed Premier win's transition team. Thank you. New question? The member from Nipissing. Thank you. Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Last week at question period, I stood here and said, quote, many of your cabinet ministers stood in this House and said one thing about the gas plants, knowing the complete opposite to be true, quote, you stood up and told the legislature what I said wasn't true. Well, Premier, minister after minister stood and said, you have all the documents, but we didn't have all the documents. Other ministers, including yourself, told us the total cost of cancellation is $40 million, but the Auditor General told us it was $1.1 billion. Premier, you're telling the legislature one thing when the complete opposite is true. We bring the facts to this House. You say they're wrong. Why are you perpetrating false allegations? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, again, I am not. What I am doing is I am answering the questions that have been asked of me. And when I came into this office and the member opposite, all of the members opposite know this, when I came into this office, I knew there were unanswered questions about the reloading of the gas plants. I knew that we needed to provide documentation in response to committee requests. That is what we have done, Mr. Speaker, hundreds of thousands of pages of documents. The committee has had the ability to call dozens of people before it and ask questions and have had the answers, Mr. Speaker, from those people. So, you know, we knew the process needed to be opened up. I said during my leadership campaign that I was going to do that. I have done that, Mr. Speaker. There is now an OPP, an independent OPP investigation underway. We need to let that investigation unfold and the committee will continue to do its work. I hope at some point the committee will be able to write a report, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that. Thank you. But in the meantime, they have their work. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, Premier, there's so many scandals, so little time. Our leader Tim Hudak and a member from Nippee and Carlton dig deeper into your scandal and you try to silence them. The member from Aurora has done a remarkable job of exposing your orange air ambulance scandal and you point fingers instead of answering questions. The member from Barrie has exposed the financial scandal unfolding over the Pan Am Games. I bring the truth about our finances to the legislature and you accuse me. Whenever a member of the P.C. caucus presents more of the facts, brings the truth forward, you lash out with personal attacks and make false accusations. What are you afraid of, Premier? What are you hiding? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, well, you know, I actually have a profound respect for the way this house should operate, Mr. Speaker. I have a profound respect for the role of the official opposition and for the third party. And Mr. Speaker, had I believed that there wasn't a need for more openness, then during my leadership run, Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't have proposed that we open up the process. I knew, I knew, Mr. Speaker, that there were questions being asked that needed to be answered. That's why we opened up the process. Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely my belief that the opposition and the third party have a very important role to play in terms of shining a light on issues that are important to the people of Ontario. But in every case, Mr. Speaker, I believe that dealing with facts and dealing with evidence, Mr. Speaker, is what their modus operandi should be. I'm interested in debate. I want there to be debate. I want there to be healthy debate based on facts. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, please. Thank you. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, you continue to say we made mistakes. Mr. Energy, come to order. Premier, there's no mistake. This was all done by design. The gas plant scandal documents proved you signed the go-ahead for Project Vapor. It was your signature that approved a blank check in order to reach a deal. Your signature moved the gas plant from the public court to private arbitration. This was to keep the result secret. Then you told us it was only $40 million because you buried most of the cost on the Hydro bill. It took the Auditor General to show us the extra billion dollars owed by the tax payers. Premier, how can you continue to pretend you know nothing of the gas plant escalators when it was you and you alone who started the whole process? Thank you. Premier? Again, we have to deal with facts. I was part of a cabinet that took collective action to implement a promise that had been made by all parties. Mr. Speaker, that's the fact. I just want to use an example. When we talk about mistakes that were made, here's a mistake that I think was made. I believe that in the initial decision around relocating the gas plants, placing the gas plants where they were, and then relocating them, the community was not consulted, was not taken into account in the way that it should have been. There was not a process that engaged community and allowed for that input. We've changed the rules so that that can happen again, Mr. Speaker, so that communities would be involved. That's what I mean by learning from past experience, Mr. Speaker. New question? The leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Yesterday, Peter Wallace, the Secretary of Cabinet, described the plan to bring in outside liberal operatives to destroy the computer records as, quote, stupid. He told the committee that when it came to political record keeping, it was the incoming Premier's responsibility to check with her predecessor. Have the Premier ever talked to Dalton McGuinty about email deletions, computer wiping, or record keeping? And if so, what did he tell her? Thank you. Premier. Mr. Speaker, as the leader of the third party knows, the allegations on those issues that have been made were made about a staff person, the former chief of staff of the former Premier, Mr. Speaker. I learned of those allegations. I learned of the nature of those allegations at the same time that she did, Mr. Speaker. And I've been very clear that the allegations, the person against whom the allegations are laid, never worked for me, was not part of my staff, Mr. Speaker. Mr. McGuinty left office. There was a blaze of publicity around hidden documents, deleted emails, and possible contempt of the legislature. It's pretty hard to imagine that this wasn't a top of mind issue for pretty much everyone, Speaker. Did the Premier's chief of staff discuss record keeping in the Premier's office with David Livingston? And if so, what did he learn? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So here was what was top of mind on this issue for me when I came into this office, Mr. Speaker. And that was, how are we going to open up this process so that we can make sure that the documents that are being asked for, that the questions that are being asked are going to be answered. We talked about how do we open up the scope of the committee, Mr. Speaker. We talked about whether we should ask the auditor general to look at the situation. We did that. We opened up the scope of the committee. That's the last top of mind. And as I've said many times today and yesterday and before, Mr. Speaker, in my leadership run, I knew that we needed to open up this process. That's what I've done, Mr. Speaker. That's the commitment that I made, and that's exactly what I followed through on. Thank you. I think the Premier is trying to be a little bit deliberately obtuse here. The Premier served with Dalton McGinty for over a decade. She was his campaign co-chair speaker. She signed off on the gas plant decisions and pledged to uphold the legacy of Dalton. Is she seriously claiming that no one on her team asked basic questions about the scandal that chased Dalton McGinty from office? So, Mr. Speaker, the preamble to that question basically says I was part of a government and I was part of a cabinet that took action on a promise that had been made by every party in this house, Mr. Speaker. We implemented the relocation of the gas plants, which was a promise that was made by all parties. And I have said that that's the case. I was part of that cabinet, Mr. Speaker. We did act on that, Mr. Speaker, because the initial process of locating those gas plants was not what it should have been. The community was not consulted in the way that it should have been, Mr. Speaker. There needed to be a different process. So, two things on my mind when I came into this office. We need to open up the process and make sure that the questions that are being asked about the relocation get answered. We did that. The second thing was we need to change the process going forward. And that is what we have done. The member from Prince Edward Hastings will come to order. My next question is also from the Premier's Speaker. Peter Wallace told the Standing Committee on Justice that he began talks with Manik Smith, the head of the Premier's transition team, on January 22nd, before David Livingston asked for a password to wipe computers in the Premier's office. He said they discussed the situation with the gas plant scandal. What steps did the Premier's transition team take to ensure records would actually be protected? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, again, I think what I will do is quote what the Secretary of Cabinet said yesterday at committee, and he was asked by the member for Bramley Gormalton, did you provide updates to anyone, not perhaps in the Premier's office, to any minister's office, or anyone affiliated with any of the ministers? Peter Wallace said no, I did not. And Mr. Speaker, I know that the leader of the third party knows that during the transition period we were very engaged in getting ready for going forward with governing, Mr. Speaker. She knows that because my staff were meeting with her staff. We were working to set up the committee, as I said in answer to previous questions. It was top of my mind that we open up a process that would allow the questions that were being asked to be answered. That's what we did, and Mr. Speaker, I made that commitment and followed through on it. Thank you. The Secretary of Cabinet told the Gas Plants Committee that one of the things he raised with Manique Smith was record retention, and I quote, so we had broad conversations around the issues in front of the legislature about document production by the public service, about the absence of document production by others. Now, unquote, now can the Premier tell us what the head of her transition team relate to her about this conversation? Thank you, Premier. Well, Mr. Speaker, and I know that the Government House Leader is going to want to speak to the committee process yesterday, but just let me say this, that the leader of the third party knows that we have changed the rules around document retention in my office, Mr. Speaker. We have trained the staff, Mr. Speaker, to know what to retain and what not to retain. So, again, Mr. Speaker, it was very much my concern that we put in place the structures and the rules to make sure that this situation did not arise again, whether it was the initial situation of the location of the gas plants, Mr. Speaker, or the way documentation was dealt with. We changed the rules, we've made it clear what those rules are, Mr. Speaker, and in the process of doing that have provided the information that has been asked for by the committee. Thank you. Final supplementary. Speaker, the Premier continues to claim that she's as surprised as anyone by the allegations, investigations, and wasted billion dollars. But the people stuck paying the bill, Speaker, for this mess, know that she's not just an average citizen, she sat at the cabinet table. She headed up the campaign team. She signed off on the gas plant cancellations, and she and her team were briefed on what was going on, Speaker. Why won't the Premier simply tell us what she was told and when? Mr. Speaker, that member was a leader of the party that made the exact same promise going into the last election and fails to provide us with the costing and the work that she did. But let's talk about Mr. Wallace yesterday. What Mr. Wallace said in front of the committee, two important points, Mr. Speaker. In terms of his discussions with the transition team, and I quote, we did not express any advice with respect to the management of political records or the hard drives or the emails associated with the former Premier's office. That was his discussion with the transition team. So what is equally important, Mr. Speaker, is that Mr. Wallace and his testimony spoke about the commitment of the current Premier to make sure that necessary documents, documents that had been requested, would be provided to the appropriate legislative committees and that she made openness part of her hallmark as she became Premier. Answer. Another important point that Mr. Wallace made yesterday. Thank you. The new question, members of Lampton, Kate Nellis. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is to the Premier. Following up on my questions from yesterday about possible illegal liberal donations, the Toronto Sun has reportedly been speaking with Mr. Barry about what you said was a quote, clerical error since October. During this time, no adjustments have been made in the official records at Elections Ontario, and none of the seven liberal entities, including your chief of staff or your Minister for Community Safety and Corrections, have returned any of the nearly $11,000 in potentially illegal donations. Premier, a true clerical error does not occur multiple times over multiple years and does not occur in donations totaling nearly $11,000. Premier, was it because James Barry was illegally offering money to your liberal party that you decided to reward him with an appointment to the Board of Governors for the call to trade or was there another reason? Thank you. You see that, please? Thank you. Premier. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I don't think the answer changes from yesterday, Mr. Speaker. The rules surrounding political donations are obviously a very important part of the democratic process. We need to make sure that those rules are in place. My understanding is that Elections Ontario has been asked to look at some questions about some particular donations. My understanding is that that process is ongoing. And, of course, we'll work with Elections Ontario if they have any questions. That is what I said yesterday, Mr. Speaker. And it stands today. We will work with Elections Ontario as they undergo this investigation. A huge supplementary. You can spin this all you like, but the facts remain. Seven liberal entities, including your chief of staff and your minister of community safety and correctional services have accepted nearly $11,000 in potentially illegal donations violating the Elections Finances Act. Premier, this is not a clerical error. James Berry is a key public figure and heads the IBEW, a key donor to both the Liberal Party and the largest single donor to the Working Families Coalition. This organization has taught notch legal advice and has a sound understanding of Ontario election law because, as you know, they use its loopholes to fund the Ontario Liberal Party. Premier, is it because James Berry's IBEW is funding the Working Families Coalition that you have refused to take the necessary steps to remove them from the Board of Governors at the Ontario College of Trades or are you protecting them for yet another reason? Thank you. This is the university. This is stupid. All we have here is a complaint was made to Elections Ontario. Elections Ontario is looking into the complaint. The person in the organization that Elections Ontario is looking into has said that there was a clerical error. The member refers to that as something else because he obviously has more information than he's telling us because Elections Ontario is looking into this matter right now. I think we have to also correct the fact because he should know better than this. James Berry is not a political appointment, Mr. Speaker. Those appointments are made by the Appointments Council of the Ontario College of Trades. They appoint him to the position on the Board of Governors there. It's not a government appointment whatsoever. So, Mr. Speaker, I suggest when the member gets up to slur other people's reputation. The member from Simcoe North will come to order. New question. The member from Bramley Gore Mall. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Every time there seemed there was a chance to get answers, the Premier seemed to be looking the other way. She claimed she didn't learn about the allegations of computer wiping until March 27, even though members of her staff had their computers wiped a year and a half ago. She never asked the Secretary of Cabinet for a briefing on email deletions. She claims she's never seen the report of the internal government investigation of computer wiping. This rings the question, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier more interested in getting answers or advancing her own deniability? Thank you. Minister, Government House Leader Sider. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You know, I thank the member for his question. He's pointing out exactly what we're saying over here, that it was a former member of the former Premier's staff, Mr. Livingston, who is the topic of the investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police, and that the current Premier was not involved. I'll remind him of his words yesterday in front of the committee. This is what the member said. In making your decision, this was to Mr. Wallace about his interactions with Mr. Livingston, were there any points in time where you had contact with or you provided updates to information to anyone in the current Premier's office? Mr. Wallace, no. Did you provide updates to anyone, not perhaps in the Premier's office to any minister's office or anyone affiliated with any of the minister's office? Mr. Wallace, no, I did not. Mr. Speaker, this is a police investigation about Mr. Livingston. These are serious accusations. They are unfounded. We should allow the opening to do their work. Supplementary. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, that's exactly the problem, Mr. Speaker. That's exactly the problem. Getting answers and a $1.1 billion scandals means asking the tough questions. The Premier claims she wanted to fix the problem that led to the yatchers that the Secretary of Cabinet called potentially criminally stupid. How does the Premier expect to fix the problems if she won't ask the tough questions how the $1.1 billion were wasted and how key information was destroyed? Let's go right back to the beginning. There were 21 gas plants that were sited in the province of Ontario. Two of them were done in error. There were mistakes made about where they were sited. Every single party in this house said it was a mistake and that they would cancel those where they elected in government. Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, it was this Premier who opened up the process, the member from SCOMA, Dundas, and something, Gary, come to order. Who, and I can tell you as House Leader, I received direction that we have a broad as committee as possible with broad powers and scope, Mr. Speaker. And it has been this Premier who has been looking forward and finding out ways that these types of mistakes will not happen again so that the proper siding of power plants happens in the future. Thank you. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Speaker. I think everyone in this house would agree that it's been a very long winter, but sun is shining and spring is actually arrived. And that means several small and rural municipalities across Ontario need to be under watch for potential flooding caused by rapidly melting snow and or heavy rainfall. Just last Thursday in eastern Ontario, the city of Belleville declared a state of emergency due to high water levels. And just yesterday, the municipality of Centre Hastings and the municipality of Tweed also declared states of emergency. Speaker, can the minister tell the house on the current situation in Belleville and in the municipalities of Centre Hastings and Tweed, including the efforts that are underway to assist these communities? Thank you, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Thank you very much, Speaker. I thank the member for the question. Indeed, the flood season is upon us and the office of the fire marshal is ready to respond to any potential emergency and prepared to provide assistance when it is needed. The office has been in contact with affected and potentially affected communities. Speaker, unfortunately, as the member mentioned, we all know Belleville has been hit hard with the high water level since last week due to the spring melt and precipitation. The Moira River has overflowed, affecting approximately 70 homes thus far. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to commend the people of Belleville so far. They've handled the situation locally, bringing forward over 500 volunteers to Sandbag affected homes. This demonstrates determination and compassion and resilience. Speaker, both Centre Hastings and Tweed have both declared emergency on a precautionary basis as well. The Emergency Management Field Officer has been in touch with these communities and we are working with them to offer any assistance and advice that we can provide as a ministry. Thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you Minister for the update. It's good to know that the office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management is prepared to respond to any emergency and able to assist when needed. Like Belleville, Centre Hastings and Tweed, many communities across Ontario, unfortunately, may face the exact same situation. Rapid flooding can cause severe property damage and threaten the lives of several Ontarians. To avoid risk, it's always best to be prepared when facing a situation like this. Speaker, once again, can the minister tell us what information is important to share with those living in communities across our writings and how they need to prepare ahead of a potential spring flooding season? Question, thank you Minister. Thank you very much Speaker and I want to assure the member and all members that we will continue to of course work with local communities to ensure that they have all the assistance they need. I've had the opportunity yesterday to speak from the member from Prince Edward Hastings as well and I gave him my personal assurance that we will be there working along with him and his community to make sure that the communities are protected and they have the assistance they need. Speaker, we all have a personal responsibility when it comes to making sure that we are prepared for these type of emergencies. We expect it prepared to take care of ourselves and our families for a minimum of 72 hours. Speaker, being prepared is a three-step process, make a plan, build an emergency kit and be informed. I encourage everybody to go to emergencymanagementontario.ca for more information. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Energy. Earlier this week, Renewable Energy Approval was issued for Jericho Wind Incorporated, a project owned by Nextera Canada, clearing the way for building 92 new turbines in the municipality of Lambton Shores. But this isn't the only new approval. Over and above that, in February, an ERT dismissed the appeal of the Kerwood Wind Inc. project, approving 37 new turbines in the county of Middlesex. Also in February, another ERT dismissed an appeal of the K-2 wind project in Huron County, approving 140 turbines. This is happening at the same time as European jurisdictions are abandoning wind projects because they don't work. Ontario does not need power. Sorry the cross of electricity are making living in Ontario unaffordable. Minister, in light of all this, why do you keep approving new turbines? Why? Minister of Energy. I appreciate the question from Huron Bruce, but her information tends to be somewhat inaccurate. These are existing contracts Mr. Speaker. These are existing contracts which have been awarded to proponents. And she is suggesting that we ought to have cancelled contracts. She is suggesting that we cancel them all. The same as one of her other colleagues suggested. At a risk, Mr. Speaker, of $20 billion Mr. Speaker they say we shouldn't Just as soon as I get quiet someone decides to it. Now he's warned the member from Renfrew and Nipissing Pembroke again. Mr. Speaker, the member is basically saying there are existing contracts. Cancel contracts? Have you heard that word before over there? We have examined the proposal. The member from Prince Edward Hastings will withdraw. I will withdraw. The member from Leeds Grenville will come to order. The member from Lampton Kent Middlesex will come to order. The member from Huron Bruce will come to order. And the member from Northumberland Quinty West will come to order. Finish please. Thank you Mr. Speaker. You have requested a comment from the minister. And that is the response from the minister of energy which would give the minister of energy under his government the right to cancel 255 renewable contacts. Minister, your constitutional expensive wind projects. Minister, how will you do the right thing and implement an immediate moratorium on industrial wind turbines? When are you going to do this? Mr. Speaker, the opposition party to various members, including the leader, continue to suggest, not only suggest, but introduce legislation that would give the minister the authority to cancel the member from Prince Edward Hastings is warned finish please mr. Speaker out of respect for the opposition I declined to say anything else thank you no question the member from Nickelville I have a question for the minister of health the minister didn't apply that she had no role to play in addressing the over prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs to senior in our long-term care homes it was not herself but physician who did the prescribing she said this in spite of a 2007 report from the auditor general directing her ministry to address this issue and in spite of evidence that the province and the government needs to do a better job caring for people with dementia my question is simple does the minister still think that the problem lies solely with our physicians I'm happy to have the opportunity to clarify that in fact that is not what I said and I would happily share the transcripts from the scrum that indicated we are all in this together we all have a role to play long-term care homes are where our loved ones many of our lung loved ones and their lives we want the very very best care for them and speaker we really are making progress when it comes to providing non-pharmaceutical care for people particularly through behavior supports Ontario and I've got I'd be happy to talk more about that we've also established three centers of learning and innovation one at Briar and Ottawa one at Schlegel in Kitchener Waterloo and the one here at Baycrest in Toronto where where research projects are underway one of them specifically dealing with the appropriate use of a pharmaceuticals back to behavior thank you speak well the reality is that the use of anti-psychotic as chemical restraint is not because physicians don't know better it is because of systemic problems the minister is in charge of our healthcare system therefore she is the one in charge of fixing the problem not failing our seniors be concerning that the minister would rather point fingers then take a leadership role and face this growing crisis can the minister tell Ontarian what is it going to take or as some people say it how many people will need to die before she accept responsibility for this issue and take a leadership role thank you minister speaker I accept full responsibility and we collectively are working within the health care system to deal with this issue let me give you a couple of examples of behavioral supports Ontario having demonstrated results in one home behavioral incidents have dropped by 75% a decrease of 90 to 95% in physical injuries to staff due to due to behavioral supports Ontario one resident would start screaming loudly randomly throughout the day which was very distressing for him for residents for staff the BSO team through behavior mapping identified that he really liked cheeses and coke but he wasn't able to verbalize that that's what he wanted before he got angry so anytime he got agitated they now offer him cheeses and coke his outbreaks have been virtually eliminated answer through non-drugs there are many many success stories that do not involve those drugs speaker and we are working to bring those throughout the system thank you speaker speaker to live in mississauga is to spend a lot of time on the road in one's cars and that's why it's not surprising that oh sorry my question is to the minister of consumer services speaker to live in mississauga is to spend a lot of time in one's cars and I get my share of complaints from constituents from everything about fraud holds to auto insurance to tow truck issues therefore minister I was happy to hear that you have tabled new legislation to bring greater consumer protection to drivers in Ontario by addressing some of the many concerns that have been raised over the years with regard to towing services and as it has been pointed out in the past this sector also plays a role in perpetuating auto fraud which leads rates so minister can you please share with the house how this legislation is going to help my constituents thank you and speaker I'd also like to thank the member for mississauga cooksville for this great question tons of discussion about this item yesterday and today in the media we have nine million licensed drivers in Ontario who are concerned about insurance rates speakers and the members quite right this dating stating that fraud in the auto insurance industry is one of the reasons for high insurance rates for drivers in Ontario our bill 189 the Roadside Assistance Protection Act intends to address concerns that towing operators contribute to inflation rates inflation of rates there are stories of unscrupulous operators taking advantage of stranded drivers story stories of steering claimants to particular storage and body shop organizations and stories of motor motorist vehicles being towed to a location 20 30 or even 50 kilometres away and involved in traffic collisions or need of roadside assistance should feel confident that the tow truck operator will be treating them fairly thank you our legislation will do thank you supplementary thank you minister for that answer and speaker as a member with one of the major 400 series highway running through my riding I hear on a repeated basis concerns and issues with tow trucks and their operators on our highways specifically what happens when a car is being towed and after it has been towed that's why I was pleased to hear that there will now be specific legislation to address the issues that my residents and others have raised it's really important to ensure drivers are aware of their rights and that they know what to expect when the vehicle is being towed as it is a moment of vulnerability especially if it is after an accident unfortunately this moment of vulnerability is also an opportunity for those with unscrupulous intentions to take advantage of stranded drivers minister can you please share how question 89 will ensure drivers and operators are better protected thank you speaker there about 1200 towing operators in Ontario and 3000 tow truck drivers and most of them provide good service to keep our roads free and clear by removing vehicles including those involved in collisions they do it in a timely manner however there are concerned speaker and bill 189 tends and tends to bring clarity and accountability to towing industry so Ontario drivers are better protected and are safer on our roads this legislation of pass would do numerous things first is meant the highway traffic act to require all tow truck drivers in Ontario to register under the Ministry of Transport commercial vehicle operators registration system they're currently not registered the legislation would also require disclosure and the tow truck drivers obtain approval from consumers before charging for towing and storage and so prices have to be posted itemized invoices alternative payments not just cash would be required and access to tow vehicle contents thank you this will strengthen consumer protection in Ontario thank you my question to you is to the premier on March 6 I hand deliver the letter to you and your ministers of infrastructure as well as economic development trade employment and training colleges and universities asking all of you to review a proposal by Georgian College to invest in the relocation of the marine emergency duties training program to the on-site campus this investment would be a key source of jobs for the communities and region that depend on the marine industry premier will you invest in the education sector in jobs and in rural and Cheryl and commit to providing funding to this valuable program minister training colleges and universities training colleges I was speaking to one of his colleagues when he started the question but I heard the last part of it and mr. speaker the investments that we've made in in post-secondary education in rural Ontario and urban Ontario are on unprecedented mr. speaker we've been there for for our post-secondary students we've been there for a post-secondary students in the north when you look at the program expansions we've seen in the work we've done with with the universities like Lakehead and Laurentian and others when you look at the work we've done with our colleges in terms of outreach when we look at some of the outreach that those institutions are doing throughout rural Ontario to encourage young people to get access to post-secondary education it's not by accident we've increased access to post-secondary education by 161,000 students I'll say more about that in the supplementary mr. speaker thank you speaker my question will again go back to the premier but it's sadly none of the four had the time to actually respond to me I was talking about the old sound campus premier in your BLT leak budget it suggests you're prepared to provide 3.5 million public dollars to a private firm called Cisco yet you have given no such support to a public institution that is Georgian College premier if this particular training program does not receive your help to move to on sound there is widespread concern you will in fact drive the marine industry out of Ontario to the east and west coasts it's a fact the relocation of the marine emergency duties training center and program to the old sound campus is a no-brainer and will ensure jobs remain in Ontario as well as a future campus in on sound so premier once again will you commit to supporting what's in the public interest and invest in moving the marine emergency duties training program to Georgian College in on sound Mr. Speaker the responsibility for determining course offerings and program offerings for students across this province comes from our colleges universities and mr. Speaker no government has done better than we have in terms of meeting that demand that's why we've seen a hundred and sixty one thousand new students gain access to our post-secondary system right across this province you know that's the largest increase in students in any 10-year period in the history of this province including when Bill Davis set up the college programs so mr. Speaker will continue to work with our post-secondary partners as they bring forward ideas in terms of better meeting the needs of our students and better meeting the needs of our economy we're working towards differentiation within our our post-secondary system which is a first answer to ensure we can do an even better job at doing that but he's going to have to do his work with the Georgian College and Georgian College will then we'll then approach us with course all thank you proposals thank you new question from here the third party speaker nor sorry my questions for the premier northerners like all Ontarians will be paying through the nose for the liberal one point one billion dollar gas plan scandal but to add insult to injury a government that reneged on a promise to convert the Thunder Bay generator a station to natural gas is now refusing to allocate sufficient biomass supply to enable the plant to provide the energy the Thunder Bay needs does the government have any plan whatsoever to ensure the Thunder Bay residents Mr. Municipal Affairs and I'll come to order please for energy Mr. Speaker we've heard this question about 15 times Mr. Speaker about two weeks ago three weeks ago we arranged a meeting with the with the Ontario Power Authority and other people from the provincial government Mr. Speaker with all of the members of the committee who wanted to come Mr. Speaker they got answers to all their questions they went away reasonably satisfied they agreed to have an additional meeting Mr. Speaker I want to read a quote from Scott Travers president of society engineer professionals this is great news for northern Ontario and demonstrates the foresight of the wind government yes the biomass conversion will save jobs and provide clean energy in the longer term it also means that Ontario will be able to see the benefits of its mineral wealth to development of the ring of fire Mr. Speaker it was the right decision it's the right decision today and I think the member of the third party should get her facts straight thank you minister minister I stand you sit supplementary speaker experts have criticized the recent government announcement for a partial biomass conversion of the Thunder Bay generating station they say that the biomass supply approved so far is too small to supply the energy required by northwestern Ontario even in the short term never mind the energy needs flowing from future mining developments why was the government willing to waste 1.1 billion dollars to hold on to their political power instead of the power needs of northwestern Ontario mr. Speaker I've been working very closely with my colleagues from Thunder Bay both ministers moral and Gravel we have arranged meetings with the with the committee the Ontario power authority and independent electricity system operator mr. Speaker they have all the technical people in the room all the technical information indicated it was the right decision it's very doable mr. Speaker and on top of it mr. Speaker Thunder Bay is the last whole generation thank you your question member from all bridges mark thank you mr. Speaker my question through you is to the Minister of Rural Affairs Minister Ontario small and rural communities have many unique and diverse challenges when it comes to economic development and small business growth places like Schomburg Novelton and Van Dorf in my great writing of Oak Bridges Markham there are currently a number of programs designed to assist rural municipalities with these challenges including the southwestern Ontario Development Fund and eastern Ontario Development Fund one program that was very popular in my community with the rural economic development program we cannot stand by and do nothing while other jurisdictions are competing for jobs we need to give our local municipalities funding to help them grow their local economy mr. Speaker through you to the Minister of Rural Affairs what action are you taking to support our rural question thank you minister rural affairs well thank you very much mr. Speaker I want to thank my colleague and hard-working member from Oak Bridges Markham for a question this morning at a short time ago I had the opportunity to be with her to tour the Markham Fair just seems like a few months ago to take a look what's going on in that wonderful community and mr. Speaker ensuring that rural communities are able to attract good jobs and grow is the top priority for me and my ministry you know the rural economic development program is paying great dividends since 2003 we've invested more than 167 million dollars and 468 rent projects creating more than 1.2 billion dollars in economic activity and more importantly creating more than 35,000 as well good-paying jobs at rural Ontario mr. Speaker the red program that starts high-value low-cost projects that are the foundation of building good jobs and prosperity in rural Ontario thank you they show off innovation thank you yes supplementary and thank you minister for your response the rural economic development program has a strong record of job creation and economic growth and one that many municipalities are familiar with including those in my writing I know the rural economic development funding has enabled an innovative partnership between four companies in Woodbridge and Markham that have strong roots in rural Ontario but mr. Speaker recently we have heard criticisms from across the floor on rural economic development application guidelines through you to the minister of rural affairs could the minister please clarify how rural economic development program guidelines benefit rural thank you minister well thanks very much you mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for her supplementary question you know mr. Speaker I always believe that you stand on the shoulders of others so when I became the minister rural affairs I looked at the great work that was done by the the member from Oxford when he was the minister of agriculture food and rural affairs so I simply followed his guidelines in terms of the red program to make sure that the eligibility that he established would be applied for the red programs that I know when the wonderful member from Oxford was the minister he provided red funding to the city of London the city of Ottawa the city of Hamilton the city of car of Cornwall and the city of Toronto and he did so because those were agricultural entities in those communities that were buying products for their surrounding rural areas it was a good decision back then it's a good decision today and we'll keep investing in rural Ontario mr. Speaker thank you speaker my question is to the minister of community safety and correctional services minister in my hand I'm holding a letter from the Ontario Provincial Firefighters Association that threatens its members with the loss of benefits if they volunteer as a firefighter in another municipality the letter ignores the vital rule the double-hatter's play in providing leadership training and expertise to volunteer forces serving in rural communities instead of instead it narrowly focuses on the provincial unions Constitution which can be used to dismiss and punish full-time firefighters who dare to volunteer where they're needed the most minister do you have a plan in place to ensure rural municipalities can keep double-hatter's volunteering in their communities or will you just continue to stand by and watch more firefighters walk off the job well thank you very much speaker and I appreciate the question and but give my my word to the the member opposite that I look forward to working with him on the issue that he's raising I've not seen the letter that that he's referring to but speaker I can really I can say this with with definite confidence that we on this side of the of the house and I'm sure all members respect the work that firefighters do every single day speaker the minister of labor and now in my current role as the minister of community safety and correctional services I've had ample opportunity to spend time with our firefighters to appreciate and be a professional firefighters a volunteer firefighter speaker to appreciate the work they do day in and day out when when there is a fire in our community as we all rushing out they're the one who are rushing in in that in that services saving lives every single day and we salute them and we thank them for the work they do speaker again to the minister I'll send the letter with a page over for your viewing minister as you know the safety of rural communities in Warloo region has already been thrown into jeopardy as a result of the provincial union's intimidation tactics in fact three double-hatter's have already handed in the resignation letters in the Warloo region and more are on the way minister I hope you can understand why this is a major issue of public safety double-hatter's play a vital role in providing the leadership needed to keep rural communities safe so minister will you step up to the plate and present a plan to keep double-hatter's volunteering where they're needed the most or will you do what the liberal party and turn your back on rural Ontario once again you see that please thank you minister speaker with all due respect to the member opposite the safety of our communities and the safety of our firefighters it's not an issue between rural Ontario urban Ontario it's not an issue between the conservative party or the liberal party speaker that is an issue about making sure that members of our community are safe every single day so speaker I will not be based here by getting into these cleavages artificial cleavages that being created by the party opposite that this is somehow an assault on rural Ontario speaker on this side of the house will continue to work hard to make sure that members of all communities across the province as one Ontario are protected every single day thank you new portion the member from nickelville thank you mr. speaker my question is for the prime minister April 1st has come and gone that's the day the horse racing partnership plan we're supposed to kick in striking five years agreement for the continuation of horse racing in Ontario despite this deadline Sudbury down the only track in northern Ontario still does not have an agreement leaving the track owners the trainers the groomers the vets the farmer and everybody else who works at or around Sudbury down in limbo families are at risk of having to sell their farms and employees who don't know if they have a job when will the Premier deliver on the promise that she made a year ago in Sudbury to the people of Sudbury that she wants a vibrant horse racing industry in Sudbury well I know that the the member opposite if she is following this issue she knows that the negotiations are ongoing mr. speaker she knows that we actually have put horse racing on a sustainable path for mr. speaker and I you know it it really it surprises me that the that the third party would think that returning to a process that was not transparent that was not accountable that that would be the the right direction to go we're not going to go there mr. speaker we have committed 500 million dollars over the next five years to make sure that horse racing around the province has a future there are ongoing negotiations and my my expectation is that we will have good news we will have we will have racing at all of the tracks in the province mr. speaker thank you supplementary question those words are becoming harder and harder to believe there is no agreement and the racing season is supposed to start in a couple of weeks horses don't just happen in northern Ontario they have to know that they have a future the future of Sudbury down the livelihood of the people who depend on it all of this is still up in the air a couple of weeks before racing is supposed to start why because the government is missing the deadline that they announced a year ago business needs stability to operate horse racing family need to know that they have a future right now what we have is a self-fulfilling prophecy that if you leave them in limbo long enough they will all leave the area there won't be horses to race in Sudbury down because you will have shouldn't too long will the premier act because it is before it is too late to strike an agreement with Sudbury down the only track in northern Ontario the premise of that question is ridiculous the lead the member opposite knows that Sudbury downs is a summer meat track and that the dates would not be announced until later in April but that that's the expectation year over year so the lead the member opposite know the member of the third party knows that the negotiations are ongoing you know I believe that she's taking advantage of this moment because the agreement hasn't been signed it hasn't been finalized to ask this question but she knows full well that the negotiations are underway she knows that the race dates would not be announced until later in April we look forward to that and it won't be mr. speaker that agreement won't be in place because of the questions she's asked the agreement will be in place because of the process that we put in place because of the money that we are we are investing in the horse racing industry and the the commitment that I made to have a sustainable horse racing industry in the province and that's what we are going to have we have with us in the gallery the member from Cambridge for the 36 37 38 39 Parliament in the members West Gallery mr. Jerry Martin I suspect that the member from Cambridge's point of order was not a point of order but to steal the speaker's thunder so I'm pursuing to standing order 38 a the member for here on Bruce has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given given by the Minister of Energy concerning approvals of win projects this matter will be debated on Tuesday April the 29th at 6 p.m. we have a deferred vote on the motion by mr. Malloy that the question now be put on the motion for second reading of bill 83 calling the members this will be a five minute bill what all members take their seats please members take their seats please mr. Malloy has moved that the question be now put all those in favor please rise one at a time be recognized by the clerk mr. Malloy mr. Malloy mr. Bradley Bradley mr. Shirelli mr. Shirelli Madame Mayor Mr. Sousa Mr. Sousa Ms. Nackvist Ms. Nackvist Mr. Nackvist Ms. Sandals Mr. Sandoz Mr. Hoskins Mr. Hoskins Ms. McCharles Mr. McCharles Mr. Quinter Mr. Quinter Mr. Bartolucci Mr. Bartolucci Mr. Bartolucci Mr. Bartolucci Mr. Hugo Mr. Gravel Mr. Gravel Mr. McCmeen Mr. MackMeakan Ms. Prusa Ms. Prittees Mr. Murray Mr. Murray Mr. Morro Mr. Morro Mr. ليarr Mr. 스타일 Mr. Garrison Mr. Garrison Mr. Dylanimi Mr. Dulaney Mr. insists Mr. McNealy Mr. McNealy Mr. Quadri Ms. Albanese Mr. Albanese Mr. Orze Lara Mr. Kato Mr. Kato Mr. Sergio Mr. Sergio Mr. Flynn Mr. Flynn Mr. Crack Mr. Beeson Mr. Marquez Mr. Prove Mr. Tavis Mr. Sing Mr. Forester Mr. Campbell Mr. Vantall Mr. Armstrong Mr. Miller Hamilton Mr. Stony Creek Mr. Gates Mr. Hatfield All those opposed, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Wilson Mr. Hardimus Mr. Yakibusky Mr. Cleese Mr. Barrett Mr. McNaughton Mr. Dunlop Mr. Jones Mr. Monroe Mr. Chudley Mr. Clark Mr. Thompson Mr. Eure Mr. Walker Mr. Leonie Mr. McDonnell Mr. Hillier Mr. Milligan Mr. McLaren The ayes are 62, the nays are 28. The ayes being 62, and the nays being 28. I declare the motion carried. Mr. Garrison has moved second reading of bill 83 an act to amend the Courts of Justice Act, the libel and slander act and the statutory powers procedure act in order to protect expression of the matters of public interest. Is it the pleasure of the House the motion carried? I heard a no. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. In my opinion, the ayes have it. Carried. Mr. Lecture. The pleasure of the walk. Shall the bill be ordered for third reading? I missed it again. Shall the bill be ordered for third reading? The Attorney General Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. There are no further deferred votes. This House stands recess until Thursday right? Yeah, Thursday April 17th at 9 a.m.