 It is now time for question period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Of course, our thoughts and prayers support with the families and colleagues of the tragically deceased pilots and paramedics. I'm here in the province of Ontario. I appreciate the moment of silence from the Minister of Health. My question now, Speaker, is Minister of Finance. Minister, do you have a plan to bring in a significant increase in user fees to help pay for your runaway spending? Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, what we have as a plan is to reduce the deficit, is to continue on our track to continue investing in our... If we're going to start, I'll start. Right away. Right away. All members. Minister of Finance. So, Mr. Speaker, we have a plan to continue to invest in our youth, to continue investing in infrastructure and continue to ensure that we have a competitive society and renewing our economy. We control our spending below 1% growth year over year as we've been doing, and we look to the opposition to continue to support those initiatives which are going to make us competitive in the long term. Mr. Speaker, it's critical that we take a holistic approach to the things that we're doing, one of which is providing confidence and that is why our budget has been well received by the very markets that are looking at what we are doing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I don't think, Mr. Speaker, the minister answered my pretty direct and simple question. Minister, we're very concerned that we've seen decisions from the wind government basically to cave into the teachers' unions. You're spending hundreds of millions of dollars in more union contracts. You tossed out the wage trees. There's no mention of arbitration reform in your budget, and you've increased spending with 20 brand new promises, including a billion dollars, to buy the support of the NDP. The minister says the deficit comes down. Actually, minister, your deficit actually goes up in this fiscal year. I'm worried now that ordinary Ontario families, men and women, are going to have to pay the consequences of your decisions to throw more and more money at every problem under the sun. Mr. Minister, again, very clearly, do you have a plan to increase user fees on families and businesses by almost $300 million? Yes or no? Mr. Speaker, our plan is working. We've beaten our targets year-over-year, $5 billion last year alone because of some of the very restraints that we've taken. And we're already ahead for next year, Mr. Speaker. So we're taking steps to transform the way we provide public service. Ontario is the lowest per capita cost government in Canada because of the steps that we've taken. We're on a path to balance by 2017-18, and that is what's critical. Mr. Speaker, we need all sides of the house working together for the benefit of the people of Ontario. Don't take extreme measures, Mr. Speaker. We're adopting a lot of measures to control our spending, but we're not going to jeopardize the sensitive recovery in this province. We're going to work in a balanced approach. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the minister is a twice, dodge a very straightforward question. Are you planning to increase user fees on average Ontario families and on businesses? And I think it's, I suspect it means that he does plan to do so. Minister, we've already heard you musing about increasing the HST, increasing gas taxes, you've increased spending. The consequence of all this mean that taxes are going to go up under a liberal NDP coalition and the deficit actually gets larger. I want to know why the finance minister thinks that Ontario families need to keep tightening their belt when he refuses to tighten their belt one single notch. Mr. Speaker. So let me ask the minister again. In fact, we're loosening it up. I think that's a tacit admission you're going to ramp up user fees. So if that's the case, when were you planning to announce to Ontarians that you're increasing user fees by $270 million? So Mr. Speaker, we've put out a number of initiatives to support economic growth. We have over 400,000 net new jobs as a result of the programs we put in place. We're continuing to invest in our youth. We're going to continue to invest in capital infrastructure and in public transit. And we'll do so for the benefit of our long-term success. This is not about election cycle politics, Mr. Speaker. We can't think short-term. We've got to look at the long-term play. And that is exactly what this budget talks about. It talks about our future in as much as it talks about the fiscal constraints that we're taking now. We also have to look at where we're going to be in years to come. I would look to the member opposite to support that initiative because it's imperative that we look for Ontario's long-term benefit. And during my couple of days that I've had with investors and other parts of the world, they appreciate the steps that we've taken in Ontario to look long-term and we'll continue to do so. Back to the Minister of Finance, Speaker. The problem, Minister, is the long-term means you've saddled our kids and our grandkids with $270 billion debt. The long-term means that you've doomed our province to underperforming to mediocrity, to steady decline where the PC plan will see Ontario surge ahead to be a leader in North America in jobs to actually restore hope for those who have lost hope. So the Minister says that his plan is to actually create jobs in the province. But I ask you, Minister, how is bringing in photo radar going to bring a single new job back to the province of Ontario? Is that actually part of your plan? Minister of Finance. I dropped it in the first time. It appears to me that the member opposite didn't read the budget because we didn't put tax increases in that budget. What we did do is continue to find ways to make our... I think maybe I'll go to individuals now. A member from Kitchener, Conestoga. Minister. Mr. Speaker, in fact, we've cut taxes over the number of years. We are one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in North America when it comes to small business, when it comes to corporate and when it comes to consumers. We recognize how important it is to ensure that Ontario continue to be an attractive place to do business and to invest. And we'll continue on that path. We'll continue to find ways to make Ontario even more competitive. But what is imperative, once again, is that we work together for that end. We cannot take excessive measures across the board cuts that will hamper that growth is also problematic. And we hear that loud and clear by the investors that we've been speaking to around the world who are looking to Ontario. Osterium measures of extreme measures, that is a reaction to the markets. And we won't be... I'll answer more in the supplementary. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. And of course, we read through every detail of the budget. No one in the budget was mentioned of this new tax graph for user fees, nor do the words photo radar appear, Minister. Hopefully you read your own budget or you have some other document. Maybe I do have that document. I'll ask one of the pages to come forward for a sec if you could. And take this over to the Minister of Finance. It's called 2013-14 Non-Tax Revenue Proposals. And I'll ask Minister to look at page seven. Page seven, Minister, refers to a new fee on our telephone bills. It refers to the expansion of red light cameras. And it refers to the reintroduction of photo radar in the province of Ontario. The Minister's goal is to create jobs in our province. I'll ask you again, how does photo radar bring any jobs to Ontario? And you can tell us today how much more money will you fleece in people's pockets with your photo radar proposing? You see that? Thank you. I promised and I will. The member from Renfrew come to order, please. The member from Durham come to order, please. Mr. Speaker, we've made no recommendations to order the sort. These may be reactions, could be proposals, could be recommendations. It could be things that are being reviewed, but there are not commitments that we've made. The commitments that we've made, Mr. Speaker, are highlighted in that budget. The budget speaks to where we stand and where we're going. That is what we should be concerned about. The member opposite wants to make things up and wants to suggest and use about what possibilities may occur. But I can tell you those are the discussions that we should be having. This is what we want to discuss. And we've made it clear that we will have a discussion before we make any determination. But what's important, Mr. Speaker, is that we continue to invest in our province. That commitment we've made, and that is what we'll continue to do. Your final supplementary. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Respectfully, Minister, we're not making this stuff up. That's your document. It's a treasury door document. You sit on that. I have to say I'm a little concerned that you initially weren't admitting that you've seen this document or these proposals were there and you say that there are city proposals. In fact, you know, on page three of your own document, you've already agreed to increasing fees and taxes across the province and you're looking further. So it's often people will tell that those are so hungry for more taxes and fees. So is this a proposal? Is it an environment? Is it a dialogue? Is it a conversation? Will you then rule out, Minister, if these are not real items? If this is some fictitious document, will then you rule out today no photo or radar, no expansion of red light cameras, and no new tax on our telephone and cell phone bills? Well, you simply rule that out and say we can't afford it. Thank you, Minister. So, Mr. Speaker, the member from the Refumberland will come to order. And the next time I get advice on that side, I'll talk to you as well. Minister of Finance. So, Mr. Speaker, these are, in fact, proposals as the member opposite has reviewed. As a result, I presume because of the Justice Committee's release of confidential reports. So be it, but our budget is on plan and this is exactly what we want to see happen. These are just documents that officials have been planning and have been suggesting. No determination has been made. So I would say to the member opposite, let's concentrate on what decisions have been agreed to and we have decided to do. And that is on this budget. And let's stick to that plan. A plan that is working and a plan that is being well received, I may add, by world markets because they see Ontario as having strong fundamentals. The member opposite should be proud of that, Mr. Speaker, and continue to support them. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. In 2010, the government promised that every one of Ontario's 600 long-term care homes would receive a thorough inspection. Can the minister tell us how many have been inspected? Minister of Long-Term Care. Well, Speaker, I can tell you that since 2010, since the proclamation, there have been more than 6,700 inspections of our 634 long-term care homes, Speaker. Last year, there were 2,347 inspections, Speaker. I can tell you that we demand nothing but the highest quality in our long-term care homes. We owe it to the people who are residents there, Speaker, to provide the highest quality care. Absolutely. I didn't hear the question. The question was about thorough inspections. The question was very specific to thorough inspections. Speaker, since 2010, only 123 of 600 homes have received the thorough inspection that the government promised would happen annually. That's less than 25%, Speaker. That is not a passing grade. Does the minister think it's fair for residents and their families to leave three out of four homes without their annual thorough inspection? Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Speaker, I need to make this very, very clear. Every home, every long-term care home in the province has an inspector in that home at least every year. Speaker, on average, it's 3.7 times that an inspector is in a home. Our homes are thoroughly inspected, Speaker. Our homes are carefully inspected. Yes, it is true that the homes where there are complaints, where there are critical incidents get those inspections more quickly, Speaker. But every home has an inspection at least once a year and on average far more often than that. Thank you. Final supplementary. Speaker, I'm going to pass the minister over through a page. A slide deck from her ministry that says very clearly that the resident quality inspection is the new annual inspection methodology for Ontario. All homes are to receive their first annual inspection under the Long-Term Care Home Act by December 31, 2011. Now, I'm talking about proactive inspection, Speaker. The ministry slide deck talks about proactive inspections. The minister tries to fool around with the numbers by talking about complaint-based inspections. That's not what the people of this province deserve. The government says they plan to eventually conduct thorough inspections of all homes. I want to know from the minister today is she going to set a date when these actual thorough inspections are going to take place in every single Long-Term Care Home in this province? Let me repeat. There is an inspection of every home at least every year. On average, a home is inspected 3.7 times per year, Speaker. Our inspectors are in those homes and they respond to complaints. I want to stress, Speaker, that it's very important that people understand that we have zero tolerance for abuse, for neglect in our Long-Term Care Homes, and we urge everyone who is in a Long-Term Care Home be they a resident, a family member, a staff member, a visitor, Speaker, that if they have issues that they think need to be inspected, they must report those and we will inspect those. We've increased the number of inspectors working in our Long-Term Care Homes and we will continue to provide very high quality inspection in Long-Term Care. Thank you. New question? It's pretty disappointing the Liberals once again are proving the old adage that figures lie and liars figure. People are concerned about the lack of protection, Speaker. I understand what the member is trying to say but I still think it's what you can't say directly, you tried to say indirectly, so I'd ask the member to withdraw. Speaker. Who's your question to please? Who's your question to please? Who's your new please? Because there were some people talking. Thank you very much. People are concerned about the lack of protection for vulnerable seniors living in care and the fact that the government is not providing the oversight that they promised to provide. The London Free Press reports that the ministry is now urging homes to inspect themselves, Speaker. Is this seriously the minister's plan to simply let homes in this province inspect themselves? Mr. Health Long-Term Care. Speaker, I'm afraid that the member opposite is taking a very serious question and talking it to her political advantage. I think that's wrong. I think that's disrespectful of the seniors and others who live in our long-term care homes. There are a range of initiatives underway to improve the quality in long-term care homes, Speaker. Many of our long-term care homes are very deeply engaged in improving the quality of the care that they are delivering. And I have personally met with frontline workers in long-term care homes who are very excited to be part of the quality improvement process called Residence First that is underway in long-term care homes. Speaker, we're all in this together. It's important that everybody is part of improving the quality of care. Yes, there is a role for government inspection, but there is far more that must and is being done to improve quality in long-term care. Thank you, supplementary. Speaker, what I'm doing is simply doing my job. Perhaps the minister should try doing her job. Inspection of every long-term care home in this province. It was their promise. The ministry said, quote, all homes are to receive their first annual inspection under the Long-Term Care Homes Act by December 31st, 2011. This wasn't a commitment to let homes inspect themselves, Speaker. Or to do a cursory review, Speaker. Is the minister going to admit today that she broke her promise and that their government once again broke their promise to seniors more importantly, most importantly, is she going to do something about it? Thank you, minister. Speaker, as I said earlier, we have increased the number of inspectors that now have been trained who are doing inspections, Speaker, in our long-term care homes, but that is only part of what we need to be doing. One of the most exciting things that is happening in our long-term care homes is the addition of highly trained people through behavioral supports Ontario who are trained to look after people We know that as people develop dementia their needs change the care that they need changes, and it's vitally important that our staff are trained to deal with people with behavioral challenges, including dementia. We've added 500 new trained people through behavioral supports Ontario so they can provide the most appropriate care. What we are finding through BSO is that the number of challenging events actually declines because staff know how to care for people with dementia. Thank you. Final supplementary. Speaker, here's the facts for seniors in long-term care and the families that love them. The government promised that every home would be subject to a thorough inspection by December 31, 2011. Speaker, it's now 2013 and only 123 of 600 homes have had that inspection occur. Now instead of admitting that they failed to deliver on a simple promise to vulnerable seniors and their families, the government says that the homes can inspect themselves. Does the minister really think that that's keeping a promise? Let me go back to say that every home is inspected at least once a year. On average, there are 3.7 inspections per year. We have added inspectors and we were elected. We had 59 inspectors. There are now 80 inspectors including 7 more that were hired last year. We have zero tolerance in our homes for abuse and neglect. We passed a new long-term care act that homes have to develop and implement a policy to promote zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of residents. Homes have a duty to protect residents from abuse by anyone when residents are not neglected. It is mandatory for homes to report abuse of a resident and it is mandatory for the home to contact the police immediately when there is an alleged, suspected or witnessed incident of abuse or neglect in a home. This is a serious issue, Speaker. We are dealing with it. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker, and to the Minister of Finance. Minister, just because you bury the facts doesn't mean that they don't exist. This is the case of gas plant documents received on Wednesday, May 29th. Your government's appetite and plans to spend are evident on every single page. However, we have yet to uncover one document asking any ministries to reduce spending. There isn't one page devoted to any directive on saving money. Leadership starts at the top and if the boss doesn't ask for restraint, it certainly isn't going to happen. In my two budgets as critic for finance, I have never seen any liberal government actually look for ways to cut waste and excess spending. You only create new ways to fleece taxpayers to cover scandals and misadventures. What is in these documents proves that. You don't really have Ontario taxpayers' best interest at heart, do you? Minister, is there a corresponding document listing potential places to save money? Minister of Finance. So, Mr. Speaker, they're referring to documents that has no reference to the gas plants and yet now they're using those documents to uncover things that are only talking about a proportionate amount of what it is we're doing. The member opposite should know this. Our program spending has been below 1% year over year. It is why we've been able to exceed our targets by $5 billion last year. $21 billion over the last four years we've been able to reduce. We've adopted many Don Drummond's recommendations and we dedicated a whole chapter in the budget around that and we're well over 60% of those as well. The member opposite should also know this. 15 of the ministries actually spent less than they were budgeted for. They are doing their job. We're doing what's necessary to support the people of Ontario and we look to you to also support us in trying to work for the benefit of Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That just doesn't wash. The first line of the document I'm holding in my hands that the minister has says and I'm quoting, ministries were asked to develop the following non-tax revenue components as part of their 2013-14 results based plan. So it came from an ask. Minister, your government shows every sign of being addicted to spending and you need help. It's unbelievable that on the heels of a scandal costing $575 million and counting you and your government have the audacity to look to taxpayers to cough up more. This government is abjectly incapable of cutting costs. Last week my colleague from Newmarket Aurora proposed a select committee to help you find savings and he was serious. I have an idea. Here's an idea. The clowns that you've put in charge at Metrolinx could easily save $100 million if they didn't drop a half of their money into highway 7 down into Thornhill to create a New Saint Claire disaster. If you really want to cut costs try the select committee to try eliminating the highway 7. Thank you. You're more finance. Oh my goodness, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite just cited highway 407. Really. Highway 407. one please refrain from calling people by their name you have a tradition here that you either identify them by their title or by their writing and the second thing I'd like to remind you too of is anyone who makes any kind of statement that requires correcting they can correct their own record and we'll leave it at that. Minister Finest please finish. So Mr. Speaker the members opposite gave away the 407 an annuity that today would have been great revenue source for the province of Ontario. Furthermore it should be noted that Ontario is the lowest cost per capita government in Canada because of the steps and the initiatives that we've taken and we'll continue to do that but more distressing than that Mr. Speaker. The members opposite have are receiving material to the Justice Committee material that we've openly and transparently provided because of the fact that they didn't want anything redacted and as a result they're making reference to material that doesn't pertain. Thank you. New question member from Nickel Belt. Thank you. Question I want to express my best thoughts and prayers to the family friends and co-worker of Captain Don Filter for my writing to first officer Jacques Dupree to pair medic Rick Snowball and Dustin Dagenet who died on Friday to the Ministry of Health. It is obvious that the idea of self inspection of long-term care home won't be enough to prevent future abuse from occurring. Speakers families are seeing loved one abuse in our long-term care homes. Ontarians are reading about a resident in the Scarborough long-term care home who was killed in March of this year. There is no way the Minister can say that her government neglect of annual thorough inspection is without consequences. Does the minister agree that it is time for real oversight of our health care system? Let me let me repeat our long-term care homes are heavily regulated and and and heavily inspected speaker on average every home has an inspector in it 3.7 times a year it is true speaker that they go where the complaints where where there are complaints the inspectors go where there are critical incidents reported the inspectors go in but they do get into every home at least once a year speaker and on average far more than that we are all committed to it to doing everything we can to improve the quality of care and I think it is especially important speaker that long-term care homes now are very much engaged in the improvement of quality in their long-term care homes their measuring quality and they're working to improve quality that's exactly what should be thank you supplementary thank you mr. Speaker Ontarians are worried and they are fearful they want to see real oversight of the health care system we suggested that the province ask the ombudsman to oversee health care but rather than give people an advocate who would be on their side the premier Doug then her eels now Ontarians are learning that the government is failing to conduct their annual required oversight of long-term care home the oversight that they promised if the minister refuses to provide ombudsman oversight of our health care system what is our solution to guarantee senior safety in our long-term care minister speaker our loved ones in long-term care deserve nothing but the highest quality care and that is a commitment and to their loved ones speakers we are working very hard to make our homes as safe as member from Northumberland and there is a long-term care task force on resident care and safety they report back every six months on the recommendations that have been made and the action in response to those recommendations speaker our long-term care home act includes whistleblower protection for employees who are coming forward with concerns about the level of care in those homes we pass legislation speaker to allow for stronger enforcement better inspections of long-term care home and under this legislation we are seeing an improvement in that in the care that is being delivered thank you in our long-term care homes thank you new questions my question is for the minister of research and innovation you know speakers Ontarians we have much to be proud of for instance when it comes to the economy we're one of the few jurisdictions that dominates in not one sector not two sectors but several sectors the auto sector information technology aerospace and farmer just a few examples of the sectors that we actually dominate in worldwide but it's really important that we leverage this this great strength that we have by making sure that these sectors collaborate with each other so speaker my question is to the minister what is this government doing to foster collaboration across sectors to ensure that we continue to be the best jurisdiction in the world minister minister research and innovation thank you mr. Speaker mr. Speaker I would like to thank the member from Miss Saga Cooksville East Miss Saga East Cooksville for that question mr. Speaker our government recognizes the importance of fostering collaboration among our researchers and also industry partners our commercialization and innovation voucher program will help entrepreneurs and the businesses access to innovation and also productivity and the commercialization services available to them in our research institutions with our 493 million dollar investment in Ontario centers of excellence we are helping to connect industry of and to Ontario's research and innovation institutions last week mr. Speaker I had the opportunity to participate in the Ontario centers of excellence discovery conference this conference mr. Speaker was huge successful with more than 2,500 attendees and the largest show floor to date with 350 exhibitors thank you mr. Speaker supplementary thank you minister speaker it's great to hear that our government is investing and using best practices for sharing ideas and resources across sectors one example is our government's hundred million dollar investment in the Ontario Brain Institute is you know one that shows how we can make gains through collaboration this investment is supporting a network of data on brain diseases across disciplines researchers will be able to turn information into clinical application and commercialization opportunities mr. Speaker through you to the minister of research and innovation what other collaborative initiatives is the government taking part in thank you minister thank you mr. Speaker I want to thank you again the member for that question mr. Speaker during the discovery conference last week we announced a joint Ontario centers of excellence and Ontario Brain Institute fellowship program under this program we will investing $400,000 to provide awards to eight postgraduate students and also early stage entrepreneurs to with $50,000 each this award mr. Speaker will promote commercialization of discoveries that help diagnose and treat or cure brain diseases mr. Speaker Ontario is a home for hundreds of top world top neuroscientists and it's important for us to support collaboration among them the research and innovation mr. Speaker that is being done in this area in this province is recognized as one of as one of the very best answer thank you a new question the minister of the environment minister in December the auditor general said quote that vehicle emissions have declined so significantly that they are no longer among the major domestic contributor to smog in Ontario you on the other hand told the Toronto Sun last week that quote automobiles are the single largest domestic source of smog pollution in Ontario minister who's telling the truth you or Ontario's respected auditor general whose 10 years of service to our province has been marked by honesty and integrity I think a previous member of this house mr. Norm sterling I can call him his name now no longer a member understood this when he introduced the drive clean program the province of Ontario it reduces unhealthy emissions of cars by up to 36 percent drive clean reduces automobile pollution Ontario by more than one third thank you carry on that's by making certain that cars drive as cleanly as possible to put it in a bigger context drive clean cuts smog pollutants by nearly 35,000 tons per year in fact the environmental commissioner says that he has a report before him and the drive clean program has undergone a number of independent program reviews that concluded significant reductions in smog pollutants were being achieved but that further reductions could result from program improvements including the implementation of on-board diagnostics emission testing which is currently underway that's the environmental commissioner thank you supplementary back to the minister minister that simply proves that your liberal government will stop at nothing to justify drive clean even if it's introducing a test with a computer to make more cars fail or inventing stories about the state of our environment to make the program seem necessary minister let's be honest if you invested that much effort into telling the truth we wouldn't have the drive clean program and you know it perhaps that's why we haven't seen the detailed cost benefit assessment of this program that the auditor general told you to conduct last December minister can we expect to see a report tabled in this house soon or will you continue to spend your time dreaming up new fabrications to justify this 30 million dollar government cash crowd I'm gonna offer a warning as opposed to an ask but what you can't say in directly what you're trying to say directly so I'm just gonna offer the member please it's getting too edgy here with this kind of stuff minister the environment Mr. Speaker it's it's really interesting that this question is asked this week Wednesday is clean air day here pollution probe will be launching its annual clean air commute and the conservatives have launched their war against clean air they scored green energy and want to fire up the small smog belching coal fired plants they want to scrap the drive clean program that cuts smog causing vehicle emissions by more than a third and so they don't know that smog happens to kill and the environmental commissioner the Canadian positions for environment had this to say our doctors are extremely concerned about air pollution in Ontario nearly 10,000 people die prematurely each year because of smog programs like drive clean which reduce smog components and poisons such as carbon monoxide are very important to public health our doctors believe that far from being eliminated these programs should be strengthened thank you my question is to the minister of finance mr. new democrats have been clear that we believe in a fair and balanced approach to funding badly needed public transit but imposing a $1.3 billion province-wide HST hike on hard-working on taroans is not our idea of fair and balanced why is this government so intent on increasing the HST province-wide on hard-working on taroans so Mr. Speaker recommendations I've been brought forward by Metrolinx recommendation I've been brought forward by municipal leaders recommendation been brought forward by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce by the Toronto Board of Trade and these recommendations are going to be reviewed we're going to have an engagement we'll have our discussions let us all of us let us all recognize the importance of what that state here and that is what's up before us now we have made no commitments we have asked for nothing what we're suggesting is we need to invest we need to invest in our infrastructure we need to invest in public transit it's a competitive imperative it's a social and economic imperative and we'll work together with the opposition to determine what best next steps we should take thank you Mr. Speaker federal new Democrats such as Olivia Chow have been clear that the federal government has an important role to play in funding public transit but taking over a billion dollars in sales tax out of the pockets of hard-working on taroans is not a fair and balanced approach why is this government so determined to impose a billion dollar plus province-wide increase of HST on hard-working on taroans so with that we agree we agree that the federal government should be at the table this is a national imperative it is a priority that is that speaks to the competitiveness of Canada in as much and as much for the benefit of Ontario so we agree that the federal government should be at the table as the member opposite should probably know we also responded to the Minister of Finance federally to his question and his determination of how to best proceed with our transit gridlock so I welcome their their their input I welcome the third party's input for that matter to find ways to resolve the issues eliminate the gridlock protect our competitiveness protect the health and safety of our people as well thank you question thank you speaker my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources Minister Ontario is fortunate to have a wonderful diverse natural landscape full of thriving and independent ecosystems which host a range of biodiversity one of the great greatest aspects of this biodiversity is our abundance and variety of fish and a quality and aquatic life this rich biodiversity can be found in the streams lakes rivers across our great province it is important for Ontario to protect this resource not only for the economic benefits that sustainable recreational fishing brings 2.4 billion dollars a year it was also important for the environmental environmental benefits that all Ontarians enjoy from lakes and rivers teaming with strong and thriving fish species speaker can the minister please explain what is being done to protect aquatic biodiversity and preserve this valuable resource thank you I want to thank the member from Ottawa Leans for asking this important question Ontario is indeed fortunate to have an abundance and diverse variety of plants fish and wildlife and in our ministry there are numerous initiatives that are designed to help protect aquatic biodiversity recently I was in the Port Dover area for the opening of the modernized Normandale fish culture station this is the oldest operating facility in Ontario and our government invested 18 and a half million dollars for its reconstruction the facility will now be producing all of the Atlantic salmon for Lake Ontario's Atlantic salmon restoration program a program those who fish in Lake Ontario and its tributaries will certainly enjoy this restoration project is strengthening the biodiversity of our Great Lake system by restoring a population of fish that had disappeared from Lake Ontario in the 1890s and over fishing speaker we are continuing to invest five and a half billion dollars a year in fish culture and stocking activities in Ontario and in working conservation efforts to support fish thank you thank you speaker and thank you minister for informing the members of this house on what the government is doing to protect and hence local biodiversity I'm pleased to hear that about the new facility and the conservation efforts particularly the restoration program for Atlantic salmon and how it will benefit the biodiversity of Lake Ontario this provincial this province boasts a thriving community of anglers even from more urban writings like my own who are committed advocates of environmental stewardship and aquatic biodiversity each year about 1.3 million anglers participate in recreational and sport fishing Ontario and I'm aware that this government prides itself on our sustainable fishing practices protection of aquatic biodiversity specific to fish and fish habitat is important to many Ontarians and I know that is particularly important to the recreational fishing community speaker can the minister share with the members of the question what an issue of this government is undertaking to support local efforts protect aquatic biodiversity and conservation to minister thank you speaker our government is working to ensure sustainable fishing practices to preserve biodiversity in Ontario and encourage local conservation efforts prime example of this is the partnership the ministry has with the Ontario Federation of anglers and hunters to create the community hatchery program the program will help strengthen community-based fish hatchery operations by providing funding to help local groups operate and maintain these hatcheries the executive director of the OFAH has endorsed this approach stating that community-based volunteers who remains a key part of fish and wildlife conservation in Ontario the OFAH has also recognized M&R's efforts to enhance community-based fish and wildlife conservation community groups within enthusiastic volunteers spending their time energy and money to operate local hatcheries that help to stock lakes and rivers throughout the province and contribute greatly to our biodiversity speaker we're pleased to support Ontarians who take an active part in local conservation which is one of our ministry's high priorities last week I asked you while you handed over the reins of hiring power to the teachers unions at the expense of quality in the classroom you have effectively handcuffed boards from hiring the best teachers as a result of regulation 274 but don't take my word for it speaker Howard Goodman a trustee from the Toronto district school board says this regulation is quote harmful to student achievement and well-being and Cindy a teacher with Peel district school board wrote to you and I and said bill to regulation 274 quote forces principles to hire candidates based on seniority over qualifications minister for our support of bill 150 we demanded that this provision be pulled yet you snuck it back in now given you had no trouble rescinding bill 115 questions after you had put it in place won't you please rescind this objectionable regulation to school boards and thank you yes thank you and I think one of the places where we differ from the official opposition in our approach is that we believe that it's very important that we collaborate with our education apart that includes collaborating with all our our education partners both though the teachers but also the school boards we believe that everybody needs to work together and that's exactly what we're doing on this file is number one we're looking at how do we move forward in the future with a new collective bargaining structure that will work for everybody a structure that will work for the government a structure that will work for school boards and a structure that will work for our employees so that's our number our number one priority is looking at how can we establish a better working relationship on May 27th you would have received a letter from the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association on the second page it says we now face a further erosion of our ability to hire the best teachers for our students due to the modifications to regulation 274 that's the Catholic Board the public board president Michael Barrett said this these changes are making that you are making do not rectify any issues that school boards put on the table it compounds them even further and Janet McDougall of the appeal district school board said flat out I think it's just an incredible waste of resources I guess everybody else just agrees with us because you simply are not doing your job and getting it done in fact your own constituents who are teachers are writing to you and asking you to re-send this regulation and go back to a merit-based hiring system that our PC leader Tim Houdak is calling for you are forcing professional and young teachers out of their job in favor of union leaders who will give their own jobs to their own friends want to stay this will affect quality in our classroom and don't you think they're based on merit will be thank you thank you speaker and we recognize that are there are some concerns with this particular regulation which is exactly why we have set up a working table we have set up a working table in our memorandum of understanding with the Ontario secondary school teachers Federation with OSSTF and with Oxford the Ontario public school boards Association so in fact there are ongoing meetings that working table has in fact been set up and my offer to those groups and my offer to all the other school board and union groups is if you can come up with a better version of the regulation in fact we are willing to amend the regular that work has been offers also been made to the Catholic boards and I fully look forward to the parties resolving new question leader of the third party thank you speaker my question is for the acting Premier last month in Thunder Bay the Premier avoided answering direct questions about Northwestern Ontario's electricity needs mining companies in the northwest need electricity security in order to invest and create much needed jobs for Northerners and First Nations communities the cancellation of the gas plan conversion yet again in Thunder Bay shows that the Liberal government just doesn't have a long-term plan for job creation and electricity security in the Northwest my question is a simple one speaker where will Northern Ontario's electricity come from if the gas conversion is no longer needed thank you deputy Premier Minister of Energy I thank the member for the question Mr Speaker and it is an important issue for Northwestern Ontario I did meet with the mayors from the north several weeks ago mr. Speaker I also met with the task force that is engaged in the community to deal with this particular issue I particularly gave the people of Thunder Bay and north a commitment that they will have the energy that they need when they need it they know that we are working on a solution mr. Speaker they know we're looking at alternatives we shared those alternatives with them we have not made a choice yet mr. Speaker but we will in the very near future and the people in Thunder Bay will be extremely pleased with the answer that we have for you supplementary well speaker the Premier said she's interested in economic development for the north but mining development won't get off the ground without a ready reliable and local source of electricity northerners don't need rhetoric speaker they need action in southern Ontario the Liberal government wasted well over half a billion dollars on cancelling gas plants instead of making policy on the fly speaker and leaving northerners to pay the price of government mismanagement when will this government keep their promise to northerners and ensure their energy needs are met mr. Speaker we thank and applaud the north for what they're doing in the area of mining and everything related to the mining industry the people from the task force mr. Speaker include people from the mining industry I took the occasion to thank them for the work that they're doing they are contributing the second largest contribution to our GDP in Ontario is coming from the mining sector mr. Speaker the mining industry will have the energy they need when they need it the people in the north will have the commitment that they will be able to go out and sell the mining industry with the knowledge that they'll have the energy that they need and the mining industry needs thank you speaker this question is to the minister of government services minister the former conservative government never had a plan to implement the photo health card in Ontario the expansion of service Ontario across the province especially in northern and rural areas has made access to photo health cards available in nearly 300 centres many people still have the old red and white health card they and many health care providers were relieved to know that people can convert to the new photo health card at their local service Ontario location the budget before this legislature proposed investing 15 million dollars during the next three years to speed up conversion from the red and white health card to the safer and more secure photo health card minister how will this expenditure on terrians make that change and what difference will it make sure government services thank you very much mr. Speaker as members may know my ministry is responsible for health card registration and related support services and I think members are aware of the need to convert the old red and white cards to eliminate fraud keep on terrians information current and create a more secure and transparent system as the member mentioned in his question and I thank him for it the proposed budget before this legislature provides funding for a more efficient health card transition process presently although 76% of all of all Ontarians have converted their cards that still leaves a significant number that need to convert it I want to assure those with the old red and white cards that they will still be eligible to be used but over the next number of years we will be aggressively converting them to the photo cards in fact mr. Speaker by our current estimates based on the proposed budget all health cards in the province are expected to be converted before the end of 2018 and all very much supplementary minister people have told me that the old red and white card does not offer sufficient protection from misuse and abuse even with the rudimentary background in information technology one can see many ways in which a careless or a negligent patient can lose control of his or her health card number or how a rogue health care provider could use the old red and white health card to treat patients who are not eligible for OHIP coverage at this past weekend's bread and honey festival in streetsville someone asked how they might convert to the new health card and whether that might mean an interruption in their coverage minister what is the province doing to take the conversion to red and white health card as easy as and as convenient for Ontarians and just one more time can Ontarians still use the old red and white health card minister mr. Speaker I want to assure all members and all Ontarians that until the conversion takes place of the photo card that people can still use their old red and white card in terms of accessing the service the ministry and service Ontario has made it easy and convenient for Ontarians to convert their health cards service Ontario it reaches out to individuals by mail asking them to visit a location in order to re-register their old cards our government has expanded access to routine health card services from 27 permanent issuing offices to almost 300 as an example in northern Ontario we only had six centers offering the service in the past now you will find almost 70 service on service Ontario centers in that part of the province answer I mean this is a significant improvement for families and rural and northern communities who in the past had to drive long distances now mr. Speaker 95% of Ontarians are within 10 kilometers of a service Ontario new question members from the minister safety and correctional services last week minister you belittled the hard-working correctional officers at the Elgin Middle Sex Detention Center you continue to say that safety of correctional officers and inmates is your top priority however you knew overcrowding was an issue and yet many cells are still occupied beyond capacity you knew the meal hatches were a problem last year and you haven't done anything about it you knew that staffed and have adequate fire related equipment but you did not procure anything better you say safety is your top priority why should we believe you now indeed the mr. Speaker the member of the official opposition is right ensuring the safety and security of our staff and our inmate is my number one priority so last week I met with many representative of Opsu including the leadership at EMDC and the meeting was very productive very productive and I was happy to hear first hand from the union about the concerns their concerns we have expedited some security features for the end of June and we will continue the dialogue with the union and a meeting regularly with the staff and my ministry and we're all very engaged in finding a great solution for EMDC thank you very much good supplementary thank you speaker back to the minister minister that meeting should have occurred two years ago when I first told you last Thursday the jail was locked down while staff tried to recover metal pieces that went missing following the fires last Tuesday night every time the jail is locked down it creates residual problems lawyers can't consult with inmates and as a result must delay court proceedings this creates cost to taxpayers burdens and overly already burdened backlog court system and delay sentences for offenders minister the problems you've ignored any MDC are now spilling over to other ministries we admit you're not up to the task to do the job and resign minister again mr. Speaker the health and safety and the security of both the inmate and the workers the correctional officer at EMDC are my number one priority but one thing was clear when I met with the union they said you know what you're stuck with a problem which they on the other side have started so it's not coming from me it's coming from the union they were very very clear you know the overcrowding because there was no plan to expand the facilities and to have more facility bill what they have done they took every space that were used for programming to put the cells in it so we have a solution we are building two new facilities one will open pretty soon and the other one is in Windsor and we will continue to read our infrastructure thank you new question the member from Trinity Spadina thank you speaker my question is to the Minister of Education students and parents are here at Queen's Park today to lobby against the proposed cuts to a tenor and music teachers and music instruction in Toronto schools and they're not alone according to people for education students at one in three elementary schools across the province do not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or participate in a band orchestra or a choir why are students in Ontario being forced to go without music arts education when it is part of the provinces compulsory curriculum yes as as as the member opposite actually just pointed out the music is actually part of the required curriculum particularly in elementary schools and in every grade so the primary way of funding elementary music programs is through the foundation grant to the schools and Toronto District School Board actually receives 1.2 billion dollars in funding however we recognize that for some teachers they may not particularly as they get more up into grade five six seven eight that they may not have the musical background so in fact we have provided funding for 4800 specialist elementary teachers Toronto District School Board actually got funding 626 specialist teachers so it would be up to the board to decide whether you spend that on music supplementary speaker there was a time in 2003 when the then trustee Kathleen when and this current minister fought the then provincial supervisor mr. Paul Christie who was trying to make the same cuts to it dinner and teachers and how things have changed ten years later when this government is attacking arts education last year they eliminated the program and had some program enhancement grant for arts programming this year provincial advisors their advisors are urging the Toronto District School Board to drastically cut music education at one in three Ontario schools students receive no basic music education when will the minister put in place a policy and funding to ensure all students have the opportunity to learn an instrument performing a choir band or orchestra yes thank you and I think we do need to sort out the information here number one there are lots of classes in which the classroom teacher does have a background in music amongst other things and the and the classroom teacher is totally qualified to deliver the music instruction however if you look at the people for education information what you see is that as there has been declining enrollment in many schools throughout the province that in fact what many of the specialist music teachers are not located exclusively at one school but actually cover several schools so that if you look at the number of answer schools in Ontario where there's either a permanent specialist music teacher or an itinerant specialist music teacher that has increased thank you the member from Wellington Hills on a point of order last Thursday the Minister of Energy made a substantive government announcement announcing major changes to the fit program outside of this legislature and I would like to seek unanimous consent of the House to allow the minister to revert to statements minister statements to allow the minister of energy to explain to this house the changes that he's made as well as giving us clarification on whether or not municipalities truly have the last word with respect to these kinds of application thank you the member from Wellington Hills is seeking unanimous consent to revert back to statements for the Minister of Energy to make comment do I hear agreement this house there are no deferred votes this house stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon