 Now time for a question period. The member from Leeds, Gregor. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker you mentioned this morning that the Chief Electoral Officer has tabled a report to this legislature. Quite frankly it's a bombshell. I wrote the Chief Electoral Officer in December 15th regarding perceived contraventions of section 96.1 of the elections act. In the report from the Chief Electoral Officer and I quote, No Chief Electoral Officer on material has ever concluded a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery or ever reported an apparent contravention at the home statutes of my office at Attorney General. Further in the report it says having reviewed the evidence and findings of this regulatory investigation, I'm of the opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Patricia Sorbera amount to an apparent contravention of section 96.1e of the elections act. And as reflected in my attached report, consequently I've reported the matter to the Attorney General. Premier, when are you going to do the right thing? Announce today the resignation of Pat Sorbera and Jerry Lahi. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and as the member opposite is well aware this is information that has just been received and from the outset we've been clear with elections Ontario that they have our full cooperation. We're glad the elections Ontario took this issue seriously and they've determined that the opposition's allegations against me and the member from Sudbury were baseless Mr. Speaker. Patricia Sorbera will continue to offer her full cooperation as elections Ontario's examination moves to the next phase in the process. I understand that the complaint has been referred to the ministry of the Attorney General and for further examination by the proper authorities Mr. Speaker. As the member opposite knows, election Ontario's examination is entirely independent of the government and neither the Attorney General nor her political staff have any involvement in that process Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Premier, this report was tabled in the legislative assembly of Ontario. All 107 members have a duty to uphold openness and transparency in government. You yourself said in your throne speech that you were going to have an open and transparent government and you were going to do politics differently. Premier, the report speaks for itself. There's alleged contraventions of the act, the member of this side of the house and the members in the opposition have all written to the OPP, to the chief electoral officer, when are you going to stand up at your place and do the right thing and cut these two bad apples loose? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. As I said, we have just received, we have all just received this information. We have heard that we will continue to work in full cooperation with elections Ontario. The fact is Mr. Speaker that this is the next phase in election Ontario's process and we will let the process unfold Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary. Member from Dufferin, Caledon will come to order. We're members of the legislative assembly of Ontario. We can decide that we're going to carry and do politics differently in this province. And the opposition, we were there. We wrote the chief electoral officer. We listened to the tapes. We could hear it. Ontarians could hear it. Now we're asking you a very simple question. Now the report is here and we all have a copy of it. Do the right thing, call for the resignations and let's move forward. Mr. Speaker, again as I have said, we have all just received this information. I understand the political imperative of the party officer Mr. Speaker. We will continue to work with elections Ontario. I am glad that they have taken this seriously and that they have tabled this report Mr. Speaker. As I have said, any suggestion, this doesn't change the fact that any suggestion that anything was offered in exchange for any action is false Mr. Speaker. That has not changed and that will not change. The fact is that we were working to keep this young man involved in the process. That's what Patricia Cerbero was doing. We just received this information Mr. Speaker and we'll take it under consideration. Thank you. Speaker, my question is back to the premier. I'm going to read you again a paragraph from the chief electoral officers report. Having reviewed the evidence and findings of this regulatory investigation, I'm of the opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Patricia Cerbera amount to an apparent contravention of subsection 96.1e of the election act as reflected in my attached report. Consequently I have reported the matter to the Attorney General of Ontario in accordance with section 402 of the election act. Premier, if you stand with these two, you're going to fall with these two. Stand up and follow up for the reservations. Premier. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the sentiment from the member opposite as I have said. We just received this information. We received the information from elections Ontario. The member has quoted from one letter. I will quote from the letter regarding my involvement. Having reviewed the evidence and findings from this regulatory investigation. Excuse me. I'm going to ask the members from Dufferin, Caledon and Huron, Bruce to come to order please. Second time for both. Carry on. I am of the opinion that the actions of Premier Wynne do not amount to an apparent contravention of subsection 96.1e of the election act. And similarly in the letter regarding Glen Tebow, having reviewed the evidence and findings from this regulatory investigation, I am of the opinion that the actions of Mr. Tebow do not amount to an apparent contravention of subsection 96.1e of the election act. So Mr. Speaker, we received all of this information. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker again, my question goes back to the Premier. In recent months your government has distanced itself from alleged criminals like Ben Levin for child porn, Chris Mazza for corruption and expense scandals, and Livingston Miller and Feist for the destruction of gas plant documents. Premier, you are degrading your office. Cut this bad apple loose and apologize to the people of Ontario. Leave this information today and we will continue to cooperate with elections on Ontario as well as Patricia Sabara. But nothing in this information today changes the fact Mr. Speaker that there was no offer for any action Mr. Speaker. The minister is not helping. And the member is not helping either. Thank you. Finish please. Deep respect for elections on Ontario and for the work that the chief electoral officer does Mr. Speaker. And I understand that they are moving now into the next phase but the fact is that what I did and what we have done on this side Mr. Speaker was work to keep a young person involved in the party. That is what we did Mr. Speaker. Regretfully I've heard some unparliamentary language and I can't identify the individual and I wish they would never say that again. Final supplementary. Premier you can spin it any way you want. You can talk about getting a young person involved you can issue press releases saying the tapes exonerate your staff but clearly proof is in these documents. There are contraventions. You can do the right thing Premier. Order. You can be what you said you would be at our inaugural meeting of this legislation. You can do politics differently. You can be open and transparent. Premier apologize to the people of Ontario. Let's get these people's resignations and let's move forward. Thank you. Premier. Mr. Speaker I received this information this morning. I've said that repeatedly. Patricia Sabara will continue to work with elections Ontario Mr. Speaker. And the fact is that elections Ontario has moved into the next phase. The Attorney General's office Mr. Speaker is and the other authorities will now take that investigation to the next stage Mr. Speaker and I will take all of this information under advisement Mr. Speaker. New question. It was a third party. My question is for the Premier. Today the Chief Electoral Officer said I quote it is my opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Pat Sabara, Patricia Sabara constitute an apparent contravention of subsection 961E of the Elections Act. Speaker I want to ask the Premier when she's going to actually fire Pat Sabara and remove Mr. Lahi from his position as the chair of the police services board. I will answer it once again. We just received this information Mr. Speaker. I've said from the outset that we will work with and that Patricia Sabara will work in full cooperation with elections Ontario. We have done that. We will continue to work with the authorities Mr. Speaker and as I just received this information this morning Mr. Speaker we are taking it under advisement. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker elections Ontario is non-partisan. They've investigated the actions of the Premier's office and her operatives and they say that Jerry Lahi Jr. and Pat Sabara broke the law. When will the Premier admit that this has happened and asked for their jobs? When will she make sure that she does the right thing and removes these people from their responsibilities because they no longer have the public trust speaking. Well Mr. Speaker, what the letters have said and that's the point that I was making earlier that in fact in terms of the fact nothing has changed Mr. Speaker. The elections Ontario is talking about allegations. They're talking about apparent allegations Mr. Speaker about the appearances. So the fact is that there was no commitment to offer anything in exchange for an action Mr. Speaker. That has not changed from yesterday to today. I made a decision about appointing a candidate. We work to keep the past candidate involved Mr. Speaker. That's the fact. Elections Ontario has taken this seriously and I'm pleased that they've taken it seriously and the process will unfold Mr. Speaker. But nothing in terms of the fact has changed from yesterday to today. Final supplementary. Speaker the report is one thing but what actually happened is something else altogether and it's time this Premier comes clean on exactly what happened around the time in February. This Premier learned that David Livingston was the subject of a police investigation. She rushed in to say quote, this is not the way government should operate. This is not the way the Premier's office should conduct itself. This is not the way my office operates. Now elections Ontario has an unprecedented finding in their investigation. They say that the election act was in fact broken. When will this Premier fire Pat Sorbara and make sure that Mr. Lawheed is removed from his position of public trust on the police services board in Sydney? So once again let's just be clear Mr. Speaker that is not what elections Ontario has said. Elections Ontario is talking about apparent actions Mr. Speaker. The facts have not changed from yesterday to today Mr. Speaker. Elections Ontario is going to the next phase Mr. Speaker. They have referred the complaint to the Minister of the Attorney General for further examination by the proper authority. This is in process Mr. Speaker. I received this information this morning as everyone in the house did. That I have said. The member from Renfrew, Nipissing, Canberra will come to order. New question. The leader of the third party. Speaker my next question is to the Premier. We now have Mr. Lawheed, Mr. Sorbara elections Ontario and the OPP with one version of what happened in Sudbury. The chief electoral officer said and the Premier with another version of what happened. So we have two different versions. We talked about that yesterday. It's clear the Premier is still sticking to that today. The chief electoral officer said this having reviewed the evidence, reviewed the evidence and findings from this regulatory investigation it is my opinion that the actions of Jerry Lawheed and Patricia Sorbara constitute an apparent contravention of subsection 961E of the Elections Act. This Premier has her version of the truth and everybody else has a different one. It must be getting pretty lonely is what I would say. Whose version of the truth can the people of Ontario believe? It's important to read closely what has been said in the opinion and an apparent contravention Mr. Speaker. There isn't a conclusion in that language. What Elections Ontario has done is they have passed this process on to the next phase through the Attorney General's office Mr. Speaker for further examination by the proper authorities. That is what the next stage is Mr. Speaker. We all just received this information this morning and I will take it under advisement. The Premier says that nothing in fact has changed but that is not true. Today Elections Ontario confirmed that there was a wrongdoing in Sudbury. This is a nonpartisan organization Speaker. This nonpartisan organization did their jobs and they came to the conclusion that Jerry Lawheed offered bribes to Andrew Olivier. Now the question remains will this Premier do the right thing? If she's not prepared to actually fire Pat Sorbara and Mr. Lawheed will she confirm that she will be appointing an independent investigator and prosecutor for this process to go forward. Time to actually take a look at what happened. In this by-election the best candidate Actually don't stop the clock. Order please. Carry on. Yes Speaker the people of Sudbury have spoken. In this election the best candidate and the older message was elected. And Speaker we've been very clear the Premier has said over and over again we did have a conversation with a past candidate about how to stay involved, how to continue to make a positive contribution. I think anyone here would, nobody here would suggest that those are conversations that happen within parties. Speaker the member from resigned her seat, accepted a paid position on the same day. I said and I quote from the Toronto Star, Scott who will now be the part of the paid election running this year. Final supplementary. Speaker this is a shameful demonstration of a government that simply will not take responsibility for its actions. They deserve so much better than this Speaker. They deserve to have trust in the Premier's office they deserve to have trust in the government they deserve to have people who are working for the Premier and the government to be above this kind of accusation and when this kind of accusation comes forward they deserve to have a Premier that steps up to the challenge and behaves in a way that's dignified and appropriate for a Premier to behave. Will she make sure Mr. Lawheed is no longer the chair of the police services board in Sudbury and will she appoint an independent prosecutor from outside of Ontario. That's 2009. Scott conceded it's a very difficult issue. A very difficult issue to get MPPs who have no pension plan to resign. Order carry on please. So Speaker it is not credible. Remember from Storm on Dundas and South Cullingary will come to order. Speaker it is simply not credible for the opposition parties to Remember from Prince Edward Hastings come to order. That don't happen in the political process. I suspect that we're difficult conversations with Jonah Shine, with Paul Ferrara, with Laurie Scott, the member of the Speaker. In politics this happens we have to talk to Paul. Please. The member from Renfrew will come to order. The member from Bruce Gray Owensal will come to order. And the member from Prince Edward Hastings will come to order. Second time for two of you. New question? The member from Leonard Frontenac Attica. Premier you apparently don't mind living and conducting your office in the shadows of shame, disgust and malfeasance. But Premier your actions cast a shadow I will ask you to withdraw. But your actions cast a long shadow over this whole institution and every member in it. It also casts a long dark shadow over the province your actions. Any honourable Premier would take this seriously. You mentioned that the chief electoral officer took this matter seriously. But clearly you are not. You are prepared to bring an injury to this institution. Will you do the honourable thing, relieve Sobera and Lowheed from their jobs until this matter is cleared up in the courts. Let me once again say that we all just got this information Mr Speaker and what I will not do is take rash advice from the other side of the floor until I've had an opportunity to consider all of the information. Let me just read from the report. This is page 8 in the report. What it says is that to form an opinion that conducts amounts to an apparent contravention is set out in section 4.0.2 of the Election Act. I must be satisfied based on the evidence obtained in my investigation that this is a prima facie case of a contravention. This means that I must be aware of sufficient facts that if proven correct would constitute a contravention of the Election Act or the Election Finances Act. And he goes on to say I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. That is what he says in the report Mr Speaker. Premier the Chief Electoral Officer cannot prosecute however he has the Chief Electoral Officer is an independent non-partisan officer of this house. He has a duty and obviously he's taken it seriously. Everybody knows what the right thing to do here is. The Chief Electoral Officer has spelled it out clearly that these allegations are a prima facie case of wrongdoing. He's recommended further action. How come you won't take any action at all? Premier no action at all. Have those too bad apples be removed and do the whole thing and take away this dark shadow that you're casting over all of this institution. Over what I quoted and let me just add to it go a little bit farther. So again what the Electoral Officer says this means I must be aware of sufficient facts that if proven correct would constitute a contravention of the Election Act or the Election Finances Act. When I form an opinion that there has been an apparent contravention in quotes I do not weigh questions of credibility or balance competing facts as between the parties. I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. Those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges. That is what the Chief Electoral Officer has said Mr. Speaker. He has passed on this information to the next phase of his process. You're talking about taking this to the next phase. You say that you'll take elections Ontario report under advisement. The fact is that political interference is at the heart of this scandal. Will the Premier commit today to take herself out of this process? Will she take her Liberal Attorney General out of this process? And will you appoint an independent prosecutor to prosecute these charges? Mr. Speaker. And trust the processes that we have in place in Ontario. Those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges. Start the clock. Supplementary. Well to the Premier. Premier it's in fact your disrespect of the process that's put you in this mess in the first place. The Chief Electoral Officer has said his report is now in the hands of the Minister of the Attorney General, your Liberal Cabinet Minister. I'm looking at the Minister of Eternal Attorney General who's sitting in the Liberal Front Bench and I'm asking will the Premier take out of the hands of the Liberal Attorney General and into the hands of an independent prosecutor from outside Ontario the responsibility to actually prosecute these charges? Attorney General. The Chief Electoral Officer is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Electoral Officer is in the process in place to investigate complaint. As has been mentioned previously on numerous occasions this process exclusively involve non-partisan official within the Ministry of the Attorney General. No political staff including myself or member of my political office have anything to do with this process. The system is already designed so that only non-partisan official and no any complaint and the third party has been made aware of this process. So and it is my understanding that the matter is being dealt with by another prosecution services. Thank you. Thank you. My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. This week is members of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario here with us in the Legislature. All members have the right to ask questions in the silence. As a past President of ACO Cambridge I'm proud to have worked with the ACO. The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario was incorporated in 1933. They had a vision to preserve the best of Ontario's architecture in natural areas that continues today. Preserving our heritage boosts tourism and provides economic benefits such as revenue from the film industry. Murdoch's mysteries chose My Riding of Cambridge as a filming location. Heritage tourists stay longer, spend more and this is a growing area of tourism. One year the annual Heritage House Tour in My Riding of Cambridge brought in 600 visitors from around the province. Speaker could the Minister please tell the members of this house about Ontario Heritage Week. Thank you. I want to first start by wishing all Ontarians who are celebrating Chinese New Year Happy New Year. I also want to thank the member from Cambridge for her advocacy around heritage here in the province of Ontario. Heritage Week is an amazing opportunity to put a spotlight on promoting and protecting our province's heritage. I'm glad the member from Cambridge has embraced these values. Ontario started on Monday and will go until Sunday, February 22nd and throughout communities across this great province. There will be many different events so I encourage all members to get out there and support their communities as they celebrate the heritage here in the province of Ontario. I know the MPP from Kingston the Island attended a great event this week to kick off Ontario Heritage Week. The event took place at the Ryerson Athletic Centre which goes to a historical site where the Toronto Maple Leafs won eight Stanley Cups and I hope all members have the opportunity to celebrate this amazing week. Thank you Minister. I know that each year there's a theme chosen to be able to celebrate Ontario's Heritage Week. When I was president of ACO one year we asked the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee and City Council to designate the Shade Street Arena in Cambridge under part four of the Ontario Heritage Act. Not only was it the oldest operating arena in North America it was beautifully built in 1922 with yellow brick with a roof full of skylights to allow in the natural light but one of the reasons it was designated was culturally significant history. Hockey player Bobby Hull played in this arena and taller cranced in the famed figure skater made his name while he skated in the Shade Street Arena. The citizens in my riding of Cambridge are very proud of our sports here. Speaker could the minister please tell the members of this House about the theme for this year's Ontario Heritage Week. Thank you Mr. Speaker and again I'd like to thank the member from Cambridge for her question. The theme for this year's Heritage Week is Play and Deer Inspire, Ontario's Sport Heritage and it's a celebration of our athletic past here in the province of Ontario and it's a reminder of our sport legacy that's enriched our province and it's provided inspiration to countless Ontario athletes and it's given us Mr. Speaker a very strong foundation to which to grow and develop sport and athleticism here in the province of Ontario. This year's theme is especially fitting because as we know in four and a half months we will have the Pan Am pair of Pan Am games that will take place in the GTA and throughout the province of Ontario and our athletes will be in the spotlight this summer and I know that they'll build Ontario's strong sport heritage and also make some history of their own. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Premier the report from Elections Ontario is not ambivalence it is clear there is an apparent breach of the rules they have broken the law according to the Chief Electoral Officer they have broken the law. Premier you have claimed to be a leader. I ask you to show some of that leadership you talked about always acting in the best interest of Ontarians with a commitment to transparency, to openness and accountability show that you are accountable and cut Pat Sabara and Jerry Lawheed loose at least until time as this investigation is complete. The Attorney General has completed their investigation and the OPP have completed theirs. Show some leadership and have these people step aside so that the people across this province can believe that there is some integrity left in this government. Mr. Speaker let me just once again read what the Chief Electoral Officer has said. To form an opinion that conduct amounts to an apparent contravention as set out in section 4.0.2 of the election act I must be satisfied based on the evidence obtained in my investigation that there's a prima facie case of a contravention. This means I must be aware of sufficient facts that if proven correct would constitute a contravention of the Election Act or the Election Finances Act. He goes on to say I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence those decisions are respectively for prosecutors and judges. That is what the Chief Electoral Officer has said Mr. Speaker. Supplementary. Leadership is not by demonstrating how long you can stonewall. Leadership is about doing the right thing even if it hurts. Even if it hurts. Even if it's an admission that something has come to a part. Now I guess we could ask are you protecting Pat Sobera and Jerry Loughey because they were working under your direct orders or would you do the right thing respect the report from the Chief Electoral Officer send these people into the penalty box at the very least if you're not going to fire them outright put them in the penalty box until this matter can be cleared up so on behalf of the people of Ontario I ask you do the right thing. Thank you. I'm going to say this one more time here is I'm quoting from the Chief Electoral Officer he said I am neither the Chief Electoral Officer writes I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence that is clearly what the Chief Electoral Officer has said. Speaker the people of Sudbury have made a decision the officer is not happy with that decision but I think at least they need to respect that decision. The new member for Sudbury has been a very strong advocate and championing the causes that matter to the people of Sudbury. Thank you. New question. The leader of the food party. Speaker my question is for the Premier. Pat Sobera is the Premier's Deputy Chief of Staff. Right now she is on the public and she is making decisions that affect Ontarians from one end of this province to the other. Today the Chief Electoral Officer said that quote I am of the opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Pat Sobera amount to apparent contraventions of subsection 961E of the Elections Act. Apparent obvious certain very very visually clear my attempt to have everyone put questions and answers in silence applies to everybody. Placement leader. Will the Premier do the right thing and ask or have Pat Sobera step aside from her position. It's hard to believe that I have to do this one more time but I'm going to do this one more time speaker. The Chief Electoral Officer wrote I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. I think the members of the opposition need to actually read what the Chief Electoral Officer said and respect the process. The Premier has said repeatedly that we will fully cooperate with any investigations underway in this matter as we have always done speaker. I do think it's important to remind the members opposite and I know this isn't easy but they had an MPP. The MPP stepped aside after five months and they lost to see the people of Sudbury who are sick and tired of the negativity. They appreciated the positive camera. Thank you. New question. New question. Leader of the third party. Thank you speaker. It is actually my supplementary thank you. Speaker back to the Premier what's really hard to believe is that the Chief Electoral Officer actually says that they have never conducted a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery or ever reported an apparent contravention of the home statutes of his office to the Attorney General. That's what's actually really hard to believe is that that's actually happening for the first time in Ontario under the watch of this government because of the actions that they've taken. Now I talked about Pat Serbera now I want to ask about Jerry Lockheed who is actually in a position of trust speaker as the Chief as the head of a police services board that's supposed to be upholding the laws of Ontario and this report says that he actually has broken the laws of Ontario. So my question to the Premier is when is she going to call for Jerry Lockheed to step aside from the position of the head of the police services board in Sudbury. Thank you. Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, I think that the Chief Electoral Officer in his report and his letter at page 4 specified very clearly that they have developed a protocol, a new protocol that was not in existence when they were in power but it's a new protocol that in this protocol any potential for placing the Attorney General in a personal conflict of interest is eliminated because the report of an apparent contravention is made by my office directly to the Deputy Attorney General of Ontario. And like I said earlier I was informed that the matter is being dealt with an independent prosecution service not by the ministry of Attorney General. Thank you very much. I apologize to the leader of the third party for missing her supplementary new question from Scarborough Roosevelt. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure regarding the Rouge Park in my riding and parts of Markham. Provincial governments of all stripes have upheld strong environmental standards for the benefit of the Rouge ever since Premier David Peterson announced these lands would be protected. Unfortunately the weak legislation put forward by the federal government to establish a national Rouge park fails to protect the environmental integrity of the Rouge. As a long time supporter of the Rouge I've been following this controversial Bill C-40 at the federal level of the Rouge National Park Act with interest and concern. It appears that the federal conservatives have blown a great opportunity to create a national Rouge park. Mr. Speaker, would the minister provide this house with an update regarding Bill C-40 and how it is failing Ontario and the environment in its current form. Thank you. Minister. Well thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member for that question. I want to thank him for his passion for saving the Rouge. He and I have been involved for over 25 years together in efforts to protect and preserve this valuable piece of land. Unfortunately the federal government has refused to adopt any recommendations from Ontario residents or environmental groups that would strengthen environmental integrity requirements with this bill. It's incredibly disappointing that the bill passed through the House of Commons in its original weak state. This bill as it stands simply fails to protect the environmental integrity of the Rouge and all the lands that surround it Mr. Speaker and that's not acceptable. As a result this minister and this government will not in good faith transfer provincially owned lands to federal ownership. Our government and I are calling on the Senate to work with the environmental groups. Those who founded the Rouge in the first place and fought for it to refer the bill back to the House of Commons and allow the bill to be strengthened appropriately. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I would like to thank the minister for this update. I'm proud to be part of a government that will not allow weaker laws to govern this important natural landscape in my riding. My constituents will be extremely glad to know that our government is championing the need to protect the environmental integrity of the Rouge. We have an obligation to assure that the Rouge is protected for future generations to experience and enjoy. Mr. Speaker some of my constituents have been hearing incorrect information from the federal conservatives regarding our government stands towards agriculture on these important lands. Mr. Speaker can the minister please educate the House on our government's positions towards agricultural lands within the park. Thank you minister. Again Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for his passion for these lands and let's be clear our government has always supported agriculture uses as a proposed use in the park. I've met with several farming groups Mr. Speaker and representatives of the agriculture community there to reassure them that our government has long accepted and supported agriculture as a continuing use in the park. Our environmental partners for the most part have also been clear that they support agriculture uses in the proposed park and welcome farmers and partners in conservation. Together we can make the Rouge a model for sustainable agricultural practices and again I repeat that we urge the Senate to work with the environmental groups when Bill C-40 is referred to a Senate committee and send the legislation back Mr. Speaker to the House of Commons to allow it to be strengthened so that the views of those environmentalists that founded the park and the views of our agricultural stakeholders can be taken into consideration. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to again read into the record a fact that was presented by the chief electoral officer today in his report. To which ministry please? To the premier. Thank you. Obviously to the premier. Not obviously. The quote is no chief electoral officer of Ontario has ever conducted a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery or ever reported an apparent contravention of the home statutes of my office to the Attorney General. This is a historic day for the province of Ontario. Wow the truth hurts minister the truth hurts. Speaker Mr. Bison and I for the NDF we both wrote to the chief electoral officer. The OPP are involved. Question please? The Indian Commission is involved. The office of the conflict of interest commissioner is involved. When are you going to Thank you. Stop the clock please. The minister of Aboriginal affairs, the minister for Trinity Spadina, the minister of labour and the deputy house, no yes the deputy house leader who is now warned the rest of you will come to order. Premier Speaker, if it weren't too late for Academy Award nominations I would be nominating the members opposite for their indignation speaker. The reality is that both opposition parties have had conversations with potential candidates, with past candidates, about how to continue to stay involved how to continue to make a positive contribution. We need look no further than the member from Kawartha Lakes Broad Speaker. She herself conceded that it's a very delicate issue. Thank you. Finish please. The member has conceded that it is a very delicate issue speaker. The member from Dufferin Callaghan is warned. The member from Renford Nipissing Pembroke is warned. Kerry. Thank you speaker and of course it isn't just the PDs who have had those conversations. The NDP has as well. We need think no further back than 2013 of the Scarborough-Gildwood nomination where a long standing party member was railroaded by Adam Giambroni out of the nomination speaker. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary. Thanks speaker my question going back to the Premier. Well you know what, there's a few Academy Awards going on and some performances going on there. Listen speaker I'm going to ask a very simple question. This is a government under three OPP investigations the Chief Electoral Officer has presented his report on his investigation. We've got other officers of the legislature we've got other commissions that are investigating this government. My question is simple Premier will you agree with me that we should reconstitute the Justice Committee have these people attend the meeting and let's discuss these investigations and get a full report to MPPs in this legislature. Deputy Premier. Well speaker you know I hate to go back but I'm going to. This is an article by Richard Brennan in the Toronto Star. Tempers flared Saturday when NDP Provincial Council blocked an investigation into a July Scarborough-Gildwood nomination won by former Toronto Councillor Adam Giambroni. You are one of the executives members has maintained that several ineligible members were allowed to vote giving the two person race to Giambroni a last minute entry. Speaker a call for an independent probe and the results was ruled out of order. I am very disappointed the President of the Association told the star. So Amarjeet a young woman who immigrated from India overcame childhood polio to run for the nomination was railroaded by the. Thank you. There are times where even I have to correct my record I apologize to the member from Trinity Spadina it was actually Beaches East York. New question the leader of the official opposition sorry I apologize again I'm hoping I said ingest Thank you. Sorry about that New question the leader of the third party. My questions for the Premier. Elections Ontario says the Chief Electoral Officer says I am of the opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Patricia Sorbera amount to apparent contraventions of subsection 961E of the elections act. My question to the Premier is who is responsible for giving Pat Sorbera her instructions. Thank you. The people of Sudbury made a decision to actually send a liberal a liberal who represented their value. We are delighted that he is here making that positive contribution speaker. Here's what why I believe that the people of Sudbury changed their minds and chose to send a liberal to Queens Park. The NDP has twice rejected a budget that contained many progressive initiatives including an increase to the Ontario child benefit they said no not once but twice. They said no to families caring for people with developmental disabilities not once but twice. They said no to personal support workers who had an increased supplementary. Elections Ontario says I am of the opinion that the actions of Jerry Lahi Jr. and Patricia Sorbera amount to apparent contraventions of subsection 961E of the elections act. Who is responsible for giving Jerry Lahi his instructions. So speaker again let's look at what the NDP who seem to have left their values somewhere else what they rejected not once but twice. They said no to 56,000 children that need investment in the student nutrition program. They said no to workers who deserve a fair minimum wage. They said no to aboriginal communities who benefit from the remote communities allowance and the regional economic development fund. They said no to people struggling with homelessness who need enhanced funding of the community homelessness prevention initiative. They said no to people who'd rely on social assistance rates and were hoping for an increase. They said no to people living in poverty who will rely on a new local poverty reduction fund. They said no to workers of future retirees who will save for retirement with a made in Ontario pension plan. They said no to families around even child care models. Thank you. Do you have a question? Member from Barrie. Speaker my question is for the minister of government and consumer services. Speaker Ontario's senior citizen population is projected to double from 2012 to 2036 and I am one of those people. I know the government has committed to better serving this community by delivering strong health services creating the Ontario retirement pension plan and working in collaboration with various stakeholder organizations. Speaking to my constituents I hear frequent concerns regarding the senior community and their consumer protection. Media coverage has described multiple scenarios involving seniors being taken advantage of by businesses and unscrupulous organizations. Many constituents are concerned about their loved ones and relatives who may not be familiar with modern industry trends and sales tactics making them the seniors vulnerable to exploiting. Thank you. Minister. Thank you speaker and I want to first thank the hard working member from Barrie for this important question. To discuss our government's efforts to protect Ontario consumers particularly vulnerable groups like seniors who can be victimized by unfair business practices our government's committed to helping seniors by providing them with protection on their transactions in particular bill 55 the stronger protection for consumers act was passed to protect vulnerable Ontarians against abusive and predatory practices of some companies. The act requires clarity in contracts and mandates cooling off periods on certain actions specifically door to door sales which often target our seniors with the constantly changing marketplace it's also important that seniors know their rights we have an active consumer awareness team to inform educate and empower Ontarians the consumer awareness workshops active living fairs and trade shows Ontario with the support of our ministry help seniors learn about industry trends and how their families can stay protected we're going to focus on effective legislation and far reaching consumer protection program. Thank you speaker thank you. Speaker my thanks to the minister for his response and for his efforts in improving consumer protection for Ontario seniors. I've heard positive feedback from various constituents about the ministry of government and consumer services awareness campaigns and applaud any measures that encourage Ontario consumers to ask the right questions. I understand that certain sectors can be especially difficult for our older community to navigate. Speaker can the minister of government and consumers services speak about what he sees as the most pressing concerns for senior consumers and how he plans to address them. Thank you minister of government and consumer services. Thank you speaker I want to thank my colleague from Barry for her advocacy for seniors in her riding. I'm pleased to address a couple of major concerns for seniors that have been detailed in the media lately first of all we're working to protect seniors as they monitor their finances in certain cases widows and widowers must manage their finances for the first time after relying heavily on a spouse for years. We help seniors from being taken advantage of in these situations by requiring clarity and contracts and implementing a 10 day cooling off period. We've also noted that many seniors are moving to condominiums they need less space than they once did. We're working with this community by reforming the condominium act for the first time in 15 years so that seniors on fixed income are not left without options with respect to mandatory qualifications for condo managers and affordable dispute resolution mechanism. These improvements will protect the growing number of condo dwelling seniors. Also a speaker we're continuing to identify on the Ontario beware list important issues that impact our seniors and I look forward to continue. Thank you. The question is for the premier. The chief electoral officer in doing his duty today is essentially asking that the Attorney General get this matter before Court of Law which is her and her ministry's responsibility. It is the chief electoral officer's job as you know or ought to know to it's not the chief electoral's job I should say to try this matter. He has no authority to do that nor can he convict or acquit. He can only recommend what he has done today and point out and recommend that the Attorney General bring this matter forward and he's done his duty today by pointing out the wrong that has been done. It's your government job to get this matter to the ultimate judgment of a court so I ask you today will you direct your Attorney General to expedite this matter and put it out as soon as possible. Thank you. I appreciate the analysis of the Leader of the Opposition and I know the Attorney General will want to comment in the supplementary but I just want to be clear because there were a couple of things that he said that I think are not exactly what the chief electoral officer said. So just to remind everyone what he said is that to form an opinion that conduct amounts to an apparent contravention is set out in section 4.0.2 of the Election Act I must be satisfied based on the evidence obtained in my investigation that there's a prima facie case of a contravention. This means that I must be aware of sufficient facts that if proven correct would constitute a contravention of the Election Act or the Election Finance Act and he goes on to say as the Leader of the Opposition has said, I am neither deciding to prosecute a matter nor determining anyone's guilt or innocence. Those decisions are effectively for prosecutors and judges and so it is absolutely the case that he has passed it on to the Attorney General. Supplementary? I didn't really hear an answer. You're laying out a process as you guys so often do. The fact of the matter is it's time for this matter to be put before a judge. Only the Attorney General can do that. I'm asking you to direct, not her directly. Remember from Beaches East York. Let's settle it once and for all. These people deserve their day in court by not allowing it to go to court and settle this matter. You're not only dragging down your office. You're saying the OPP are wrong to investigate this matter. Now you're saying the Chief Electoral Officer is wrong. You're saying the opposition is wrong. You're saying the media is wrong. You're saying the people of Ontario is wrong. Well, ma'am, you are wrong. You're delusional in this case. Do the right thing. Fire the people of Bolivar. Why don't we follow her back? I had mentioned previously on numerous occasions this process exclusively involve non-partisan official within the Ministry of the Attorney General. No political staff, including myself or member of my political office, have anything to do with this process. It's the Chief Prosecutor Officer who deals with this process. And I find it very offensive that a member of the third party know exactly that and continue to let the public believe that we direct presentation from my office. It's very clear in the letter of the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I have a question for the leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. To maintain the public trust in the administration of Justice Speaker, if something looks like a conflict, it is in the interest of justice to remove that perception. That's why the Liberal government appointed an independent prosecutor when Brian was facing charges, Speaker. Will the Premier do the same thing the Liberals did when a Liberal Cabinet Minister was facing an investigation and appoint an independent prosecutor today? Mr. Speaker, I said it twice already in this House. This matter is being dealt with with independent prosecution services. I've already been sent this week sometime to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. So I've said it, it's the third time and I hope that you will respect the process. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker, when Michael Bryant, a former Liberal Cabinet Minister, was under investigation, there was a prosecutor from outside of Ontario in charge of that investigation. That was the right thing to do, Speaker. This whole perception of justice not being done has to be removed from this process so that the public trust can be upheld. That is the bottom line. Now today, the Chief Electoral Officer said that one of the Premier's closest advisors, her Deputy Chief of Staff and Campaign Director, has in his opinion broken the Elections Act. Now it's time for the prosecution of that accusation. Will the Premier do the right thing and appoint an independent prosecutor from outside of Ontario right now today? First of all, Mr. Speaker, nobody has been charged. And I've repeated, it's for the fourth time that this matter is being dealt with by an independent prosecution services. It's being dealt by the Public Prosecution Services of Canada, not Ontario. Member from Timmins James Bay, come to order. I'm going to recognize the member, but before I do, the Member from Timmins James Bay was still talking while I warned him, so I forgot that. The Member from Kitchener Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, my question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Minister for young people who have special needs, whether it's difficulty speaking or mobility issues that stop them from getting around, the proper care can help them lead a more fulfilling and independent life. I've heard from constituents in my writing of Kitchener Centre about their needs for community tailored programming. We have a wonderful example of this in my writing of Kitchener Centre at the Kids Ability Facility that opened in June of 2011. Kids and parents now have access to therapy space and a large double gymnasium. Minister, can you please inform the members of this house what are you doing to improve services for children and youth who have special needs? Thank you, Minister of Children and Youth Services. Thank you, Speaker. And I want to thank the Member from Kitchener Centre for an important question and for being at the event with me last week at Kids Ability Centre. Our special needs strategy speaker is focused on supporting children and youth with special needs to get timely and effective services through early identification, coordinating services, and making rehabilitation services more seamless from birth right through the school years. And when I was parliamentary assistance speaker to this ministry, I traveled throughout the province and heard from families, heard from researchers and service providers on the strategy and informed the work we're doing now. So last year we invested $5 million a year to help children's treatment centres. And I want to say at this centre speaker at Kids Ability, the money we have given them is to help poor rehabilitation but what's very, very exciting through an additional $62,500 in one time funding to reduce weight less, Kids Ability was able to eliminate, completely eliminate assessment weight less through our funding speaker. So that means when a family goes there Thank you. Thank you. This is an order for the members from Haresone Mascolka for indulging me. I just want to ask members to recognize and welcome my daughter Abigail and my granddaughter Beatrice with this delight. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Anela Songrati who's joining us here from the beautiful riding of Don Valley East. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'd like to acknowledge delegation from Maycada, Leah Maluces, Christian Hellman from White's Head, Ontario, Kathleen Rogers and Anthony Dube. They met with me and I thank them for their interest in democracy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The leader of the, a point of order, at the point of order from the member, the leader of the opposition. Mr. Speaker, I would hope all members of the House would help those of us here in the PC party. Say goodbye to Mr. Alex Padoos, who has served very ably behind the chair there as our director of legislative affairs for many years. He goes on to the Senate. No, he's not appointed to the Senate. He's got to work for the Senate. I'm sending him ahead of myself to clear the way for my appointment. He doesn't know that, but I just told him. So thank you, Alex, for your hard work, your dedication and our really, really good mission. Further, there are no deferred votes. This House stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon.