 Thank you. It is now time for question period. The Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Doctors and patients are outraged by the liberal cuts to healthcare. We've heard many stories across the province of how this is affecting patient care. I'll share another today. We heard from Dr. Ver Borough, a recent graduate with his MBA degree, invested 11 years of his life and $250,000 to become a family doctor. He is frustrated with the Liberal government's attempt to limit the number of doctors who can join family health teams. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe this is the right message to send to Ontario's new doctors? Mr. Speaker, the question from the Leader of the Official Opposition. Mr. Speaker, we've made changes to our primary healthcare system, including focusing on those under-serviced areas, places in the north, rural and small town Ontario, that are lacking family physicians or in particular are lacking the family health team approach to providing healthcare, which is an approach which I think we all agree in the comprehensive nature of that care. It's very amenable to quality of care and it's a kind of service patients really appreciate. So what we've done is we've actually encouraged and incentivized our new grads as well as existing family doctors that aren't currently part of the family health team to go to those rural and small town parts of this province, to go to Northern Ontario to open up those family health teams. I would hope that that's something the Leader of the Opposition could support. Mr. Speaker, again for the Minister of Health, and only this Liberal government could try to sell an $800 million cut to healthcare as a good thing. You know, let's go back to the story of that new doctor, Dr. Verboa. This new doctor must see an average of six to seven patients per hour just to pay the overhead expenses, including rent, fees and insurance. After completing paperwork, Dr. Verboa will be left with three to four minutes of face-to-face time with each patient. Mr. Speaker, a four minute visit with a patient isn't adequate for quality healthcare in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, why does this minister seem to think it's okay to justify these cuts with more and more spin? Thank you, Minister. I would agree that a three to four minute visit isn't sufficient. And I, in fact, would argue that this particular methodology of practicing medicine isn't the norm in this province. Our family health doctors, our family medicine practitioners, our nurse practitioners for that matter, and the other frontline healthcare professionals do provide the highest quality of service. And in the case of our physicians, that's why they're the best paid in Canada. They make, on average, the remunerated $368,000. I understand that there are expenses associated with that that range from as low as 0% overhead. For example, our ER docs or those that practice in hospitals do a higher amount. That may be 30% or so in terms of those overhead costs. But our doctors remain and will remain the highest paid in this country, I would say probably in North America, in fact. That's part of the reason why so many new doctors are coming here. We have 700 new doctors that practice, net new doctors in this province. Mr. Speaker, back to the health minister. And the minister may be little stories like the one we just shared with Dr. Verboa. But the Ontario PC Caucus will continue to tell the stories of Ontario doctors. These are the stories of Ontario doctors are the stories of Ontario patients. These are patients that because of the Liberal government will have to wait longer for their emergency visit. They'll have to wait longer for their first appointment with an oncologist after learning they have cancer. Why? Because it's more important for this Liberal government to spend a billion dollars on e-health than on quality healthcare. It's more important for this government to waste a billion dollars in orange than investing and making sure Ontarioans have access to a doctor. Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister is what counts for this government? Doesn't it matter that Ontarioans deserve to have access to healthcare? Can't you accept the fact that an 800 million dollar cut is wrong? Minister? Mr. Speaker, the only cut to healthcare in this province has come from the federal government. The government has that, Mr. Speaker. So we continue to invest in healthcare. Our healthcare budget goes up from year to year to year. Minister, please. Mr. Speaker, I'd like the member opposite to explain, with our doctors being the best paid in this country, how that could possibly affect, and this is only about compensation, Mr. Speaker, how that could possibly affect quality of care or access to care. We'll continue to pay our physicians for every service that they provide. That won't change. They're the best paid in the country, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question for the Leader of the Opposition? Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Energy. This Liberal government is the only government in our history in Ontario that's had to sell one of its best crown assets in order to pay for infrastructure. This Liberal government isn't being straight with Ontario when they say this is required to pay for infrastructure. On the energy file loan, if you look at the misspending, if you look at the mismanagement, $1.1 billion on the gas plant scandal, $1.1 billion in exporting power to other jurisdictions this year alone, $2 billion on smart meters, $83 million on miss billings because a hydro one airs, that's $4.3 billion on the energy file loan because of your own mismanagement. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Energy accept if it wasn't for their own incompetence, you wouldn't need to do this fire statement? Member from Leeds, Grenville. The member opposite is indicating a number of expenditures that we have made. Mr. Speaker, we have made very significant expenditures in the electricity sector, Mr. Speaker. Starting, Mr. Speaker. Having that advice is not helpful either. The member from Nipissing come to order. Oh, I have a long memory. Carry on. It was scandalous, Mr. Speaker, what we found when we took over government. The state of the electricity system. Mr. Speaker, there had been a decline in generation. There had been a decline in transmission. We were in a deficit of supply, Mr. Speaker. We were importing $1 billion a year from the U.S. and rates were skyrocketing, Mr. Speaker. It was a dirty system. 25% of the civil grade come to order. And we had to rebuild the system, Mr. Speaker. And in the supplementary, I will tell the new member to the provincial chamber the investments that we have been making in the last nine years, Mr. Speaker, to make this system reliable. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the energy minister, soaring energy rates aren't just because of these endless scandals. It's the government's day-to-day mismanagement of the energy file. Mr. Speaker, in the last three years alone, we have lost roughly $3.5 billion exporting power to other jurisdictions. That's almost as much as they'll make on the fire sale of Hydro-1. They've already charged Ontario taxpayers $6 billion this year alone for the global adjustment taxes. And by the way, Mr. Speaker, that global adjustment tax, the Auditor General said is there just to pay for this government's expensive renewable energy contracts. Anyone who mismanages a company, this badly, would be fired. So my question, Mr. Speaker, is will the Minister finally admit that this is the fire sale of Hydro-1 is because of their own incompetence? Mr. Speaker, please remember from Red Fruit Nipissing Pembroke, come to order. And I'm inches away from moving to warnings. So take that under advisement. It'll happen. Minister of Energy. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question on the global adjustment. It's been raised in estimates as well by the colleagues. Mr. Speaker, before the global adjustment, wholesale market prices were insufficient to cover the cost of contract payments to certain electricity generators, leading to the former PC government to accumulate billions of dollars in debt. This contributed to the stranded debt that consumers continue to pay off through the debt retirement charge. Mr. Speaker, that government bankrupted the old Ontario Hydro. They had to create the debt retirement. The member from Oxford is Warren. Anyone else? And they kept prices artificially low, Mr. Speaker, because they did not include all the costs of the system. The global adjustment reflects costs associated with contracted and regulated generation, such as nuclear, natural gas and renewables, as well as the cost of conservation programs. The next supplementary, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about their statements about Ontario having the most expensive electricity in North America, which is wrong and wrong. I'm standing. I haven't acknowledged you yet. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, again to the energy minister, we already know that the minister personally objects to the sale of hydrogen. Along with the Attorney General, along with the minister for seniors and the deputy house leader. This minister has the opportunity to do the right thing. This is his chance. This is his file. The minister responsible for the people's hydro, while it's still the people's for now. We know the minister thinks this is a bad deal. He said so unequivocally when he was mayor of Ottawa. Mr. Speaker, my question is, will the minister of energy show he has some integrity, show he has the courage of his convictions, and go to your Premier and say what you believe in your heart, this is a public record. This is a bad deal for Ontario. Minister? I'm going to present an impartial opinion, Mr. Speaker. The member for Haji and Carlson is warned. It's from the Globe and Mail, Mr. Speaker. And it says, and this is all quotes, at immediate briefing, the IPO's top financial and legal advisors address the press gallery, allotting time afterwards to address substantive concerns about the country's largest privatization in years. Despite filing a 322-page prospectus chock full of colour and strategy on the market's appetite for utilities, they feel that incest and angry questions about executive pay, Mr. Speaker. Premier Kathleen Nguyen was re-elected last fall with a mandate to reinvest in the province, particularly through transit and infrastructure projects that are expected to fuel growth, much respect to the Liberal Premier for embracing such a difficult choice. The Liberals advised Mr. Clark the Liberals advised by Mr. Clark and other experts. They persuaded Bay Street to accept some of the lowest IPO under- Thank you. The member from Prince Edward Hastings is warned. New question. The leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. The Liberal government is desperately trying to justify their sell-off of Hydro-1 to Ontarians. They want us all to believe that they had no choice but to privatise our Hydro. The truth is they have better and smarter choices, Speaker, like asking our biggest corporations to pay just a little bit more to help tackle the costs of congestion by investing in transit and roads. But they refused to make a better decision for Ontario's Speaker. When will the Liberals admit that they prefer privatisation over every single smart and progressive option to fund the infrastructure that we need? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I read intently the nine-page platform put forward by the NDP during their election. Nine pages. It was very thorough. They assumed every fiscal assumption that we put in our budget and in our platform. I recall when she said this. On News Talk 1010, there is no doubt we did talk in our platform about looking at some of the assets the province owns. Looking also at ways to provide the funding necessary to support infrastructure and investments in our province. That's what we say we would do. That's what we're doing. The premier's sell-off of our most important public asset would only provide the equivalent of $400 million per year. The Golden Report shows that a 1% increase in corporate taxes will yield $700 million per year. More than 80% of Ontarians oppose the sell-off of Hydro-1. But a significant majority of Ontarians are in favour of modest corporate tax increases. This premier and this finance minister think they know better than Ontarians. When will the Liberals admit that they are rejecting better choices in favour of privatization? Thank you Mr. Speaker. The member opposite obviously doesn't wish to broaden the ownership of our assets to reinvest in other assets to provide greater prosperity and economic stimulus. She doesn't want to invest in infrastructure and she wants to raise taxes to our businesses who are struggling to rebound as well Mr. Speaker. Part of our platform is to invest in our skills and training invest in infrastructure over the next 10 years to bring Ontario to a place where it can be more competitive and also Mr. Speaker to also be very competitive with our businesses so that they can attract greater investment. That is why we have become the top destination all of North America for foreign direct investment. It is why businesses in Ontario are surpassing businesses elsewhere in North America by investing in things that matter that creates real jobs jobs that are sustainable jobs that will help families support their families and their children. Thank you. No need for the province of Ontario to have a corporate tax rate lower than that of Alabama excuses speaker. They have no way to defend the sale of Hydro One and maintain any credibility whatsoever. The fact is that they had a choice speaker. The premier had a choice this finance minister had a choice. They could have chosen to ask the most profitable corporations to pay just a little bit more speaker to build transit and infrastructure that we so desperately need but instead they deliberately chose to hand Hydro One to their powerful friends on Bay Street. When will the Liberals finally admit speaker that they chose privatization over every other option available and that Ontarians will pay the price for this bad choice for generations to come. Thank you. Do you see it, please? Thank you, minister. Speaker, yes indeed there are choices to be made. Some difficult choices. But by far the most important choice of all is the creation of more jobs. More than 100,000 new jobs were created last year because of our supports to businesses. And Mr. Speaker, the member opposite talks about supporting those most in need and what we put in this plan was also the minimum wage that has an effect on business. And she voted against that Mr. Speaker. She's voting against trying to create more support for business. Voting against those that are looking for better wages. Supporting those that want to invest in our economy that's what we support Mr. Speaker. That's what's going to create a much greater stronger economy for Ontario for Canada as well. Thank you. My next question is also for the acting Premier. The Trans-Pacific partnership makes it much easier for foreign producers to import vehicles and parts while reducing incentives for companies like Toyota and Honda to make products here in Canada. The TPP could kill a quarter of Canada's existing auto manufacturing jobs. That's nearly 25,000 Ontario families that will be affected but aside from figuring out where there needs to be compensatory action the Premier is happy to let this deal plow ahead. Will this liberal government stand up for Ontario's automotive sector and the good paying jobs that it actually provides and refuse to endorse this deal until it is fixed? Thank you. Mr. Speaker this is the only government that stood up for auto. This is the government that was there when auto needed the most. We stood there alongside the only subnational jurisdiction in the world to support the auto industry and I appreciate the members opposite for asking them all care questions. They don't even know what's in the deal. We want to make certain that we review it assess it and ensure that we protect the interests of Ontarians Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The Premier of this province has taken every opportunity to pick fights with Stephen Harper but suddenly she's willing to along with a massive secret trade deal that he has cooked up behind closed doors so that she can margin lock step with her federal leader. The Sierra Club says that if passed the TPP would quote undermine decades of environmental protections rather environmental progress and threaten our climate end quote. Why do Liberals and the Premier suddenly trust Stephen Harper's leadership on trade when the TPP could undermine efforts to address climate change here in Ontario and across Canada. Thank you. Mr. Speaker we want to seize opportunities the greatest amount of opportunities that exist in the province of Ontario and the world. I think we all recognize how important that is for ourselves to be able to take advantage of the markets elsewhere. We certainly can't rely on our market alone. Now the member opposite may want to stick her head in the sand and put walls around the country and avoid looking over the pond but we must look at what's happening elsewhere Mr. Speaker and we also must recognize that United States and she may want to hide behind the United States but they are making a tremendous amount they'll proceed with or without Ontario and without Canada. We must protect Ontarians, protect our dairy protect our auto and we will do so after we've reviewed and assessed the details as they move forward Mr. Speaker we're not going to make decisions when neither the NDP nor anybody else in this legislature knows the full extent of what has happened. Well it's kind of odd not knowing the full extent of what's in that deal and the Premier blindly supporting it in order to support her federal leader Ontario has already lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs to low-wage jurisdictions like Mexico and the southern US and now with the TPP there will be even more downward pressure on middle-class incomes. The former US Secretary of Labor called the TPP quote, a trojan horse in the global race to the bottom. No one is denying the need but this secret Conservative plan is badly flawed. The livelihoods of middle-class Ontarians that we should be protecting are at stake. Will the Liberals and the Premier blindly join Harper's race to the bottom or will they stand up for good paying jobs for Ontario families? Oh Mr. Speaker what is blind is the member of the third party and Mr. Mulcair because they don't know the details of the TPP none of us do. So they're asking us now to make a decision being blinded. We don't want to be blind. We want to make certain we understand what's in it and then make the appropriate decision Mr. Speaker. Do you have a question for the member from the picture of Conestoga? Yes, thanks Speaker. My question to the Minister of Transportation. Speaker this minister likes to say that motor safety is one of his top priorities and yet one year after we saw the QAW transform into a treacherous unplowed ice rink, he's still yet to actually deal with the situation. In fact, while the minister boasts of $500,000 in fines for the November nightmare, those fines are still under negotiation a year later. And now the minister spins and spins rewarding contractors with new equipment that government failed to ensure was on hand when they awarded the substandard contracts in the first place. Meantime the cost-cutting winter maintenance contracts government introduced in 2009 continued to place lives at risk. Speaker will the minister tell us why it has taken an entire year to deal with this situation? Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question coming from the member opposite that member would know as I've said repeatedly in this House he is 100% right in fact the ensuring that Ontario's roads and highways remain as safe as they have been for the last 13 years is one of my top priority and in fact as was noted in the auditor's report earlier this year Ontario's roads and highways have been ranked first or second across all North American jurisdictions over those last 13 years that doesn't mean we rest on our laurels the auditor did have eight recommendations with respect to the winter maintenance program and we've accepted all eight of those recommendations we have a plan to go forward for the upcoming winter season which is what I've focused on speaker to make sure that we provide an outcome for the people of Ontario that they expect and that they deserve thanks very much. Thank you supplementary. One year later as the minister ignored substandard winter maintenance contracts that led to tragic fatalities he continues to spin fine announcements that aren't even worth the paper that they're written on. No amount of fine can make up for the tragic toll this government's compromise contracting has taken but yesterday the minister didn't even know if the contractor would actually be paying the penalties he's levied. It seems when government watered down contract standards in 2009 to save a few bucks they included a bizarre dispute process that renders the fine system virtually useless in fact according to the auditor that process led to 80% of the fines levied in 2013 not even being collected will the minister tell us today the amount of fines levied last winter and how much did he actually collect? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker of course as I've said on many occasions anytime there is a fatality or an injury on Ontario's highways of course my heart goes out to the friends and family of those affected this member opposite will know speaker that over the course of the last number of months the ministry has worked very hard to come forward and that will provide that outcome that I referenced in answer to the first question including speaker for the upcoming winter season and for future winter seasons a strongly improved Ontario 5.1.1 website we're launching a new program known as track my plow both in the Owen Sound and Simcoe areas as pilots with plans for further expansion speaker we're increasing the use of anti-icing liquids before winter storms we're adding more equipment in key locations. In case the members didn't catch on interjections we'll get you a warning. Thank you speaker and we continue to work with contractors to ensure that they have both reliable equipment and trained operators speaker my responsibility as the minister is to make sure that our highways remain safe and I'm focused on this coming winter season and those to come in the future thanks very much speaker. Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question today is to the acting premier this week it was announced that the Trans-Pacific Partnership was signed. The agreement is going to be bad for rural communities bad for manufacturing bad for our health care costs and very bad for the auto sector it's good to see at least one federal leader is standing up and opposing the deal and hopefully your party will have the courage please switch the question thank you acting premier with this deal looming on the horizon what is this government going to do to protect good jobs in manufacturing and the auto sector that so many people in Niagara Oshawa the GTA Brampton and Windsor rely on thank you acting premier speaker what is courageous is for people to make a decision with information in hand what is discouraging is when people for political reasons are making decisions without information what we don't want to do is put Ontario at risk we have concerns we made that very clear when it comes to dairy farmers when it becomes especially when it comes to auto we recognize that we must protect mitigation and steps to ensure a sustainable industry in our province and we will continue to fight for Ontario as we did the Ontario industry required us we were there we will continue to be there we must do everything possible to support our workers and support our economy thank you Mr. Speaker the act of premier can talk all he wants about an auto strategy and about helping manufacturers but actions will speak louder than words and we haven't seen that action the government won't accept the job creators tax credit we put forward the other one is only going to add more pressure on these companies and the jobs they provide Jerry Diaz who I believe would know what's most important for the auto industry the president of Unifor has said that more than 20,000 Canadians will lose their jobs because of this Niagara, Oshawa and Windsor are going to be some of the hardest hit communities what will this government do to help people for manufacturing plants in Niagara and right across the province get back to work after this trade agreement is done Mr. Speaker the province of Ontario the only sub-national government in the world participated in a support for the auto sector we have provided economic development funds to attract greater investments in the auto sector in the province of Ontario we put forward in a budget $2.5 billion on a jobs of prosperity fund to support business investment especially in the auto industry and guess what Mr. Speaker that party churns its back on the province of Ontario and voted against those very measures to support the auto industry and now they have the audacity to suggest that they should make a blind decision without review that sir is what is inappropriate Thank you Mr. Speaker my question this morning is for the minister of northern development and mines the 2015 budget is one that I'm particularly proud of we are delivering on our commitment to follow the path to balance in the 2014 budget we introduced the province's economic plan and now in the 2015 budget we have demonstrated the significant progress that has been made on our plan to date and Mr. Speaker job creation and economic development is a key part of our plan for building Ontario up Mr. Speaker just last week I'm proud to announce $69 million in funding for highways in northeastern Ontario including rehabilitation on highway 69 and expansion of highway 17 Mr. Speaker through you to the minister can the minister please explain how we are investing in northern infrastructure Thank you Mr. Speaker thanks the member for Sudbury one of the strongest advocate for infrastructure work all across the province certainly in northern Ontario and as reference in our 2015 budget our government made the largest investment commitment in infrastructure the province has history 130 billion dollars over 10 years and in 2015 our plan investments $11.9 billion dollars are driving extraordinarily important infrastructure projects including continuing very important highway work in northern Ontario through the northern highways program we are committing over $560 million dollars this year for $387 million for rehabilitation and $173 million for expansion projects and that of course maintains our very strong commitment and priority on four leading major highway quarters in northern Ontario including highway 1117 we need Funder Bay and Nipagon which we will complete and also highway 69 between Perry Sound and Sudbury projects Thank you Mr. Speaker and I would like to thank the Minister of Northern Development and Mines for that answer we believe that when we are investing we are building and when we are building we are growing our government is supporting a dynamic an innovative business climate across the province Mr. Speaker and while the federal government is certainly not investing to the extent that Ontario's expect and need particularly in small rural communities just last month Mr. Speaker I was proud to join the Minister in announcing that nine kilometers of four laning of highway 69 is now in service between highway 64 and Murdoch River since 2003 the province has invested more than $770 million to expand and improve a total of 59 kilometers of highway 69 this ambitious highway expansion is vital to promote future economic growth in northeastern Ontario Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker will the Minister please explain some of the progress we have made this summer in northern Ontario Thank you Minister Thanks again to the member for Sudbury and Sudbury it is about economic development and how important these projects are but it's also about safety we understand as northerners how important it is to have a safe driving experience and these improved roads mean exactly that one of the great stories over the last ten years is the amount of investment put through the northern highways program in the northern highways which is more than $5 billion over the last ten years it references projects such as the one the member has referenced as well as many others we've been very happy to make if we look at the Thunder Bay the Nipagon story a project that really started in 2010 hundreds of million dollars have been invested in that four laning project which will indeed be an economic boom to the area very much improved driver safety in terms of that project more than half of that particular stretch between Thunder Bay and Nipagon is now absolutely complete or it's underway and we're going to make sure we drive through to the end Thank you New question to members from the team My question is to the Minister of Education for the past 48 hours my inbox and the phone calls to my office have been very much focused on the lack of security systems in place at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board Elementary Schools more than anything though I'm concerned about the children and not only their safety but how they're reacting to this in fact my own 10 year old daughter this morning told me she was having lockdown practice today in a school that no longer locks this is ongoing not only in Ottawa but as you know also in Halton when the former Liberal leader and when you were parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education you increased school safety supports in 2012 and week of the Sandy Hook shooting it was also during labor strife but it had widespread support now three years later student safety has been reduced to a bargaining chip and I want to know are you going to fix this before Thanksgiving weekend Thank you Minister of Education Yes and we obviously speak or share the concern about the safety of the children in the schools and certainly we to agree that it has been a big concern to parents to make sure that their children are safe in their schools I did call on the President of OS STF to rethink that part of the of the strike action that they are taking with respect to the monitoring of the buzzers and the screens and making sure that we have safe access to schools and safe entry to schools so we are absolutely working on that Supplementary Minister that's not enough Yesterday in a neighbouring community there was a man yielding a knife outside of three schools who went into lockdown their school board isn't affected the kids that I represent are and they are expecting more from their government these kids in elementary schools in eastern Ontario and the rest of Ontario have been going through labour strike since 2012 with bill 150 this is ongoing for three years and now they are fearing for their basic safety in the nation I am asking the government to take this seriously I would ask the government to ensure that before the kids in my constituency and elsewhere in this province go back to school tomorrow and for the Thanksgiving weekend that you resolve this issue I do understand that you called upon the member the President of OS STF I actually went one step further and had the conversation and asked directly will you do it Minister and we have certainly been in touch with the directors each day in terms of how they are handling the situation what protocols they have put in place and obviously the directors are reporting back to us on the steps that they are taking to secure the schools but I must challenge some of what the member opposite is saying what she has reported accurately during her question is number one that lockdown drills are continuing as they always do at this time in the school year and B that when there was an actual threat to safety the lockdown procedures were immediately implemented by the schools in question to ensure the safety of the children so I think she needs to actually listen to her own question that when there is an imminent threat that threat has dealt thank you the excuse me order order the the member from the P. and Carlton is named the member is seeking himself to be removed minister of education is warned new question the member from London west my question is to the minister of training colleges and universities when it comes to post secondary education this government has no problem allowing tuition fees to skyrocket no problem with poverty wages for teaching assistance and no problem replacing full-time jobs with contract staff but it is not willing to hold the line on executive compensation earlier I raised the issue of the million dollar salary legally paid to the president of western university now we are learning about a 50% salary increase for a university of Ottawa VP over the two years since the public sector wage freeze took effect Alan rock the university president and former liberal minister is defending the increase saying that it is compliant with provincial law why is this government using to take real action to rein in the salaries of senior university administrators thank you mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member opposite for the question mr. Speaker I understand why people are frustrated but Ontario's mr. Speaker they deserve to know why and what they are paid and that's why mr. Speaker we brought the public sector accountability act and based on that act mr. Speaker we are going to put caps on the salaries we are also going to prohibit the pay in lieu of leaps mr. Speaker I recently wrote a letter to the chair of the board of governors and executives at all universities and colleagues across the province of Ontario asking them and letting them know about the salaries and health benefits and other benefits which executives receive from the institutions mr. Speaker we are going to look at the work which other jurisdiction people do as well as putting a cap on the salaries of executives we are not going to do this on an individual basis mr. Speaker we are going to take a very close look at what's happening in other jurisdictions and make sure that we have a good supplementary thank you mr. Speaker Ontario University students pay the highest tuition fees in Canada they have seen tuition more than triple over the past 20 years post secondary students are among the fastest growing group well student tuition dollars are being used to subsidize out of control executive salaries the government talks about that work when will the minister close the loopholes remove the wiggle room and finally put a hard cap on salaries for senior university administrators Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for that question mr. Speaker again as I said Ontario deserve to know why executives are paid and how much they are paid mr. Speaker we are aware of the situation and mr. Speaker it's not uncommon for the university administrators those who are working research and education to get raised in their respective work and we are actually encouraging the administration to continue their academic activities as well with regard to student tuition fees mr. Speaker Ontario is one of the lowest in the country when it comes to student tuition fees student debt has been decreased for years mr. Speaker 70% of the fees which a student pays are grants non-payable grants so mr. Speaker we are so proud of our academic institutions to our university professors won Nobel prize yesterday I will remind the minister when I stand you sit new question the member from Trinity Spadina thank you mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of government consumer services the past weeks member of this legislative assembly have debated the proposed bill 106 to protecting condominium owners act they have brought forward important priorities from their constituents like transparent board governance accountable use of fees extensive warranty coverage professionally certified management and timely cost effective dispute resolution right now 1.3 million Ontarians living condos in my writing community such as city place for York Liberty Village home to many young professionals and common owners as the existing condominium act has not been updated for nearly 20 years this this it is these communities that need these change the most this proposed legislation has the potential to monitor law in these areas and provide common owners with the protection they need minister could you please inform this house to pass this bill minister of government consumer services thank you speaker first of all I want to thank the member from Trinity Spadina for his question for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the thousands of condo owners in his writing our government understands the need for condominium owners to have important protections and our party was the only one that spoke to this issue during the last election campaign and proposed legislation reflects 18 months of consultations directed toward ensuring this proposal meets the new standards that we're aiming to put in place in the 18 month consultation period we received over 2200 submissions from residents developers property managers agents and other members of the public as well as advocacy associations to protect condo owners we reiterated this commitment to modernizing the condominium act in our 2015 budget by introducing the proposed bill in 2006 last spring the bill was significantly influenced by condo owner organizations and I hope that all members will support this legislation supplementary thank you Mr. Speaker now I would like to thank the minister for this informative response and to his ministry for his hard work on this very important issue I personally know that it is a crucial issue in Trinity Spadina which is at a premium and it is important that we protect the rights and investment of our condo owners one of the benefits of this proposed legislation is that it will enable the creation of two new delegated administrative authority one will license condo managers and others will provide a modern cost effective dispute resolution system these are both very important functions for condominium owners to meet the needs of Ontarians it is important that these organizations are conable can the minister explain what mechanism have been proposed in this legislation to ensure that these DAAs are subject to public oversight thank you thank you and again to the member from Trinity Spadina the creation of two new delegated administrative authorities will be critical to adding accountability to the sector as the member stated these organizations will have added accountability and oversight and that is why for the first time the proposed authorities will be subject to salary disclosure, accountability agreements and auditor general oversight as organizations outside government were also taking steps to make them compliant with a process similar to FIPA inside government the administrative authorities model has a foundation of providing consumer protection in Ontario for over 15 years and its continued use was a key that the foundation put forth in the 2013 drum and report will continue to work to ensure that these proposed administrative authorities and other authorities are overseen by our ministry and meet the high standard of consumer protection that this government is setting in Ontario I look forward to seeing this bill hopefully move to committee and I want to thank the member for his help thank you my question is for the minister of the environment and climate change will the minister explain the process that the ministry uses to consider applications for permits to take water on a large scale and what assurances can he offer this house that the process adequately ensures the long term protection of the quality and quantity of the groundwater in adjacent areas thank you minister of the environment and climate change first of all I do want to recognize the member for Wellington and Halton Hills because we've been working I think very closely together on some matters that are not just particular to his constituents and some municipalities but concerns across that and I do say that he's taken such a very nonpartisan and statesman like role in this and I greatly respect the honourable member Mr. Speaker as the member knows and I think members in this house knows we have some constitutional differences in Canada in western Canada provinces own the water which allows them to manage and control and price water unlike Ontario and the eastern provinces where the water is held and loaned by people on the land which means protecting municipal water supplies is much more complex here so our watering permitting process works on the volume of water being extracted which provides some protection but not sufficient Mr. Speaker and that's the limitation we're working on and trying to find better solutions to and in the supplementary I'll continue the conversation Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker Nestle Waters a water bottling company says it's considering the purchase of property in the township of Centre Wellington with a plan to draw large quantities of water as a backup to its existing wells near Aberfoil and Hillsburg the township council and local residents have expressed interest and concern and township representatives and I met with the minister last week to discuss the relevant issues will the minister assure my constituents that any permit or applications by Nestle Waters will be subject to a thorough scientific hydrogeological review with an open process for public comment by interested residents taking into account the planned population growth in Centre Wellington because of the government's places to grow policy recognizing the water needs of agriculture and guaranteeing the protection and preservation of the quality and quantity of groundwater in our communities for present and future generations Mr. Speaker Thank you very much Mr. Speaker we share I know with the honourable member some serious concerns particularly in Aberfoil where we have 27 monitored wells and when water tables have dropped, water levels have dropped we've actually had to shut some of them down so we're being particularly mindful about the Nestle situation as to what it would mean to the protection of local water supply I want to thank the member opposite I also want to thank the minister of education the member for Guelph who keeps me abreast and we have been meeting and we met together with the honourable member and municipal leaders and I think we've crafted a reasonable plan going forward which I know the member has been supportive of and I will be accountable to him and to the community to ensure that that is fully realized we want to protect jobs in the community but not at the expense of our environment and I think in this case with the honourable member's leadership and the cooperation support I also want to recognize Mr. Guelph I think we're going to do this and get an economic win and an environmental win which I think would desire the honourable member Thank you My question is to the acting premier today the court overseeing the creditor protection process is expected to grant US Steel its demand and it is a demand to stop paying post-employment benefits to 20,000 pensioners and their families that's health benefits medical benefits, dental benefits and life insurance these are not handouts speaker these are deferred wages to line the pocket books in Pittsburgh these pensioners gave 30 to 40 years to the stelco plants bought by US Steel on a promise that they would not do this this work takes a toll on the people who undertake it it's hard hot work and breaks down your body for many of these retirees US Steel's callous cuts may be a death sentence US Steel is washing its hands of the thousands of pensioners whose health was ruined by these steel plants and there's no safety net to protect them what will this government do to hold US Steel accountable Mr. Speaker this is a very important question the member from Hamilton East Stony Creek has long advocated and I give him credit for standing up for the people of Hamilton and those workers we have before us a number of motions being put before the courts that will put in jeopardy the livelihood and the going concern of US Steel Canada which will affect 12 or 12,000 retirees 4,000 workers and puts them at risk we have been at the table will continue to do so recognizing that more needs to be done to support them I know that is before the courts I know things are fluid and they're ongoing but I've been disappointed in terms of what has happened thus far and we will work hard to ensure we protect the interests of our retirees and our workers Mr. Speaker I'm glad you said that Minister because there's 150 steel workers in this building Mr. Speaker it's hard to believe but it only gets worse US Steel is also expected to succeed in the demand to no longer pay municipal taxes to the city of Hamilton that's 6 million dollars a year to local coffers that goes to pay for schools and for paved roads and other things it's hard to think how this won't end up being a provincial problem with a provincial price tag and a large one Mr. Speaker everything has been conservative government has done absolutely nothing to help these people they sold out, they knuckled under they are a disgrace will this government stand up for the pensioners stand up to this corporation and hold US Steel accountable for what it's doing to my city of Hamilton and to the people of this province we must do something now thank you can you see it please thank you Mr. Speaker and to all those that are watching who are being affected we full heartedly agree that things must be done to support them but let me remind the NDP it was them who actually passed legislation to suggest that they're too big to fail when it comes to certain corporations we eliminated that protection we know that every company every corporation must be accountable to the people who work for them and we will do everything working it's um order please all of us carry on we will do everything we can to stand with those who are affected the retirees as well as the employees and I'm disappointed by the lack of leadership from the federal level who is hidden behind all of these initiatives we will work together with a member from Stony Creek who has been doing an admirable job in fighting for his brothers and sisters we recognize that that is important we are there with you as well and a question from Brampton Springdale my question is for the minister responsible for seniors affairs August 1st is recognized in Canada as National Seniors Day and by the United Nations as National Day of the Older Persons this year in celebration of National Seniors Day I had the great pleasure of hosting the minister in my community to discuss and observe ways in which the Ontario Government is helping Brampton Seniors stay active and connected on this occasion the Ontario Health Foundation for my writing of Brampton Springdale launched their senior step program this program strives to increase healthy outcomes and social involvement while decreasing isolation for hundreds of seniors in Brampton this beneficial program is being made possible in my community because of funding through the seniors community grant program as we mark another National Seniors Day can the minister provide us an update of this grant and how we are helping seniors remain engaged in their communities great question Thank you very much Speaker and thank to the member for the question and I want to thank her for her very deep passion with respect to the seniors that you represent in Brampton Springdale Speaker I was very proud to start National Seniors Day at the opening of our province's new Humboldt River Hospital it is North America's first fully digital hospital and I know it will serve a vast number of seniors in Ontario Speaker continuing with the celebration of National Seniors Day I thoroughly enjoy visiting the writing of Brampton Springdale the members writing there and I could see first hand the impact that the seniors community grant is having on seniors communities Speaker I walked in the room I joined the seniors there in Zumba exercises I had a lovely cooking classes as well Speaker and I have to say that in the last year two years Speaker we invested over $3 million supporting $116,000 across the province Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Minister for the answer Speaker with over 75 seniors in Brampton on National Seniors Day I experienced the tremendous success of the seniors community grant program funding in action I saw the energy the seniors displayed and how happy they were in sharing activities with the Minister and I including a Zumba fitness demonstration a discussion of senior safety and a healthy cooking class Speaker it is clear that as a government we are aware that keeping seniors connected active and engaged contributes to their overall health and well being Last week data released by Stats Canada confirmed that for the first time in our nation's history there are now more Canadians over the age of 65 than there are children under the age of 14 Speaker these numbers highlighted older adults particularly those in Ontario are living longer than before can the Minister elaborate on how Ontario is addressing this change To help me the challenges posed by an edging population Speaker we launched in 2010 the Ontario Action Plan for seniors National Seniors Day Speaker it's a time to honour seniors for their lifetime of contribution and reflect on how we can ensure they remain healthy, safe and supported Speaker in 2015 the Global Age Watch Index just named Canada the 50 best place in the world to edging our goal is to do even better Speaker and to make Ontario the best place to grow indeed and we have started Ontario is the first province to introduce strategy to combat elder abuse the first province to introduce a grant design specifically for social isolation and it's the first province to introduce mandatory sprinklers in retirement homes Speaker we always think of our seniors as first Thank you Thank you Thank you One question about the corruption scandal coming from the Premier's corner office the Premier's new habit seems to be passing the buck to the government house leader it appears the Premier has given him new talking points and tells him to answer every question by either citing a supreme court convention or parliamentary convention that he can't comment on the case before the courts Mr Speaker if it was so important for the government to follow this convention why did the Premier hold a press conference to proclaim Pat Sorbera's innocence in February You seated please Deputy Premier House leader Mr Speaker House leader I know Speaker the member from Lee's Gamble is really disappointed that he has to hear the answer again from him where I'm going to remind him yet again the supreme court constitutional convention which he acknowledged for the first time and I thank him for acknowledging that convention which is important Speaker it's not a joking matter that when a matter is before the courts it is advised constitutionally that we as members don't intervene in those proceedings Speaker the standing order speaks to it as well so I would just encourage the members opposite again that we should refrain from engaging in conversation about an issue that is before a court before a judge Speaker they teach us in law school the judge is the shrier of fact the members of the legislature are not believe the matter to the judge Supplementary Again my question back to the acting Premier the government house leaders exact words where there is a constitutional convention and even the supreme court has indicated that it should not be discussed within parliament yet the Premier stood in this house and said she didn't expect charges against Pat Sorbera answers over 100 questions on the topic I don't understand Speaker why the Premier is now avoiding to answer an easy question about testifying in the trial Mr. Speaker why won't the Premier tell us if she will testify why is she hiding behind this convention Mr. Speaker seated please thank you Mr. Speaker I again I just want to remind the member opposite and I think acknowledge the fact that the Premier has been very transparent in this house the Premier has now answered over 110 questions from members opposite on this particular issue and she's done so in a manner that is respectful of the independent investigative function that exists within the province and within our constitutional scope of things and in a way that she has been open and clear and transparent and truthful to the people of Ontario as well Speaker and I just ask the member opposite to respect those important conventions that have been cited by the supreme court and I refer back to him his own advice that he gave us back in February of this year that we should not interfere in any ongoing negotiations we have a deferred vote on the motion to third reading of bill 66 an act to protect and restore the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin calling the members this will be a five minute bell members please take your seats thank you on Tuesday October the 6th 2015 Mr. Murray moved third reading of bill 66 all those in favour please rise one at a time to be recognized by the chair Mr. Murray Mr. Sarah Mr. Mr. Ms. Hunter. Mr. Sergio. Mr. Sergio. Mr. Morrow. Mr. Morrow. Ms. Jassett. Ms. Jassett. Mr. Del Ducca. Mr. Del Ducca. Ms. Dahmerla. Ms. Dahmerla. Ms. Wong. Ms. Wong. Mr. Fraser. Mr. Fraser. Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Tabbins, Mr. Sam, Mr. Horvath, Mr. Vantai, Mr. Noble, Mr. Sadler, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Nadeshak, Mr. Nadeshak, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Amjelina, Ms. Fyke, Ms. Forster, Ms. Forster, Mr. Montag, Mr. Hatfield, Ms. Gretzky, Mr. Gates, Ms. French, Ms. French. All those opposed, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the court. Ms. Thompson, Ms. Jones, Ms. Jones. Mr. Clark, Mr. Clark, Mr. Fidella, Mr. Fidella, Mr. Yakibusky, Ms. Scott, Ms. Scott, Mr. Barris, Mr. Barris, Ms. Monroe, Ms. Monroe, Mr. Huda, Mr. Huda, Mr. McCleary, Ms. McCleary, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Walker, Mr. Walker, Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith, Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Nichols, Ms. Marteau, Mr. McDonald, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Pettipies, Mr. Pettipies. The ayes are 68, the nays are 20. The ayes are being 68, the nays being 20, and declare the motion carried. The second reading of the bill, 12th of June, next year, to pose you to the one. Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion. Motion for closure of motion for second reading of bill 106, calling the members. This will be a five minute bill. On September 15, 2015, Mr. Orazetti moved second reading of bill 106, an act to amend the Condominium Act 1998 to enact the Condominium Management Services Act 2015 and to amend other acts with respect to condominiums. Mr. Cole has moved that this question be now put. All those in favor of Mr. Cole's motion, please rise one at a time, be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Nackney, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Shirelli, Mr. Sousa, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Sandals, Mr. McCharles, Mr. Quinter, Mr. Cole, Mr. Takar, Mr. Bardinetti, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Orazetti, Mr. Grovelle, Mr. McMeakin, Mr. Murray, Mr. Morini, Mr. Leo, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Zimmer, Mr. Balthasen, Mr. Balthasen, Mr. All Binesis, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Dixon, Ms. Mangat, Mr. Crax, Ms. Hunter, Mr. Sergio, Mr. Moro, Ms. Jassek, Mr. Del Ducat, Mr. Domally, Ms. Wong, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Baler, Mr. Hoga, Ms. Fowalla, Mr. Ms. Molley. Ms. Martin. Ms. McGarry. Ms. McGarry. Ms. Nidu Harris. Ms. Nidu Harris. Mr. Pot. Mr. Pot. Mr. Rinaldi. Ms. Rinaldi. Ms. Rinaldi. Ms. Rinaldi. Ms. Rinaldi. Mr. Teebo. Mr. Teebo. All those opposed, please rise 1 and a 10. Be recognized by the clerk. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. Arnault. Mr. Arnault. Mr. Hardeman. Mr. Hardeman. Ms. Jones. Mr. Jones. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Mr. Fidelli. Mr. Fidelli. Mr. Claren. Mr. Bailie. Mr. Bailie. Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker. Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith. Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris. Mr. Nichols. Mr. Nichols. Ms. Marton. Ms. Marton. Mr.PDepips. Mr.PDepips. Mr. Singha. Mr. Singha. Ms. Horvath. Ms. Horvath. Mr. Vantauro. Ms. Donobos. Ms. Donobos. Mr. Tabas. Ms. Davis. Ms. Howler. Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor. Mr. Nadishat. Ms. Nadishat. Mr. Gates. Gates. Mr. French. Mr. French. The ayes are 51. The nays are 37. The ayes being 51. And the nays being 37. I declare the motion. Carried. Mr. Orzetti has moved second, rating a bill 106, an act to amend the Condominium Act 1998 to enact the Condominium Management Services Act 2015 and to amend other acts with respect to condominiums. Is it the pleasure of the House to the motion? Carried. I heard a no. All those in favour say aye. Aye. All those in favour say nay. Aye. In my opinion, the ayes have it. Calling the members, this will be a five minute call. Mr. Orzetti has moved second, rating a bill 106, an act to amend the Condominium Act 1998 into enact the Condominium Management Services Act 2015 and to amend other acts with respect to condominiums. All those in favour, please rise one at a time to be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Orzetti. Mr. Orzetti. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Hoskins. Mr. Hoskins. Mr. Charles. Mr. Quinter. Mr. Quinter. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. Mr. Takar. Mr. Takar. Mr. Bardinetti. Mr. Bardinetti. Mr. Delaney. Mr. Delaney. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Gravel. Mr. Gravel. Mr. Gravel. Mr. McMeakin. Mr. McMeakin. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray. five. Ms. Forrester. Ms. Forrester. Mr. Monta. Mr. Hadfield. Ms. Gretzky. Mr. Gates. Ms. French. Ms. French. Those opposed, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Nays are zero. The ayes being 88 and the nays being zero. I declare the motion carried. Second reading of the bill, does the unites you? Depose you to the y. Shall the bill be ordered for third reading? Shall the bill be ordered the Minister of Government and Consumer Services? We refer the bill to Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs. There are no deferred votes. This stands at least. I'm halfway through, so I will acknowledge the member from Beach's East Shark on a point of order. Well, thank you very much, Speaker, for that indulgence. I want to introduce a good friend of mine, Maria Sarez-Bocinos, who's in the house. She's mother of Paige, Jack, Angelica. Thank you. The member from Glengear took Russell on a point of order. Thank you, Speaker. Just a reminder, room 247, 248. Glengear, press, got Russell. Mr. Hudak, come on over. Thank you. There are no deferred votes. This is no further deferred votes. This house stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon.