 It is now time for a question period. The leader of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition. Thank you, Speaker Mayan. The question to the Premier. Premier, why are you unable to table a budget by March 31st at the end of the fiscal year? Thank you, Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, we are working on bringing budget forward, Mr. Speaker. I know the leader of the opposition knows that there is a lot of work involved in putting together a budget. We have been gathering information from people around the province. Order. Another point to the member from Leeds-Grenville. You will not talk while I am standing. And the Minister of World Affairs will come to order when she is answering. No comments. Answer please. Very much, Mr. Speaker. I know the leader of the opposition knows that there is a lot of work that goes into putting a budget together. Making sure that we gather information from people around the province, Mr. Speaker. That we make the right policy decisions and that we put the right initiatives in the budget, Mr. Speaker. And I know that the leader of the opposition remembers that when his party was in office, Mr. Speaker, that every single PC budget was tabled in May or June. We are here exactly, supplementary. The Premier should obviously check the facts. In fact, I remember us bringing in a mini-budget because we faced a jobs crisis in this province in November of 1995. I understand now. The Premier says she won't have the budget by March 31st because it's a lot of work. Order. The Premier says that it's a lot of work. But, quite frankly, Premier, you've had a year to do so. And if it's too much work for you, then I'm willing to take it on. My team is willing to take it on. We're ready to bring in a turnaround plan to go back to work in our province. And we're facing a jobs crisis in the province of Ontario. There are one million people out of work. We lost 3,000 manufacturing jobs again last month alone. Premier, stop the dithering. Stop the delay. You've got a job to do. Do it. If you won't, we will. We need a turnaround. Thank you, Premier. And if you want to see how quick I'm going to be, try it again. First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me just say that there is an enormous amount of work going on already in this province to make sure that people have opportunity. More than 8,000 young people have a placement and a job opportunity, Mr. Speaker, because of our use of strategy, businesses, Mr. Speaker, to bring them to the province and help them to expand. So that work is ongoing. We are putting forward an aspirational practical document, Mr. Speaker, that our budget will see. We will introduce it, Mr. Speaker, in this house. We will bring it to this house. I've been introduced outside of the house when they were in government. And, Mr. Speaker, this will not be a mini-budget. We are bringing forward a full-fledged budget, Mr. Speaker, and we will bring it forth in due course. Supplementary? You know, I don't think I find myself saying this, Mr. Speaker, but it makes you long for the days of Dalton the Guinty and Dwight Duncan. They actually brought budgets in by March 31st. You can't even hit that standard, Mr. Speaker. I don't think you understand. We've lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs in this province. Ontario desperately needs a government. The minister of the environment comes over. It's a turnaround plan immediately. The Ontario PC Party, we have that plan. It's called the Million Jobs Plan. So today, we're tabling emotion in the house. So you'll either call a budget by March 31st. If you don't, then implement our jobs plan. But if you choose to do nothing, if you choose not to act at all, we want a confidence vote and nothing is enough, let's get on with the job. Thank you. You see it, please? You see it, please? Thank you. You know, Mr. Speaker, this is just another gimmick that the leader of the office is bringing forward. We know still well that there is work on going, Mr. Speaker, to create opportunity in this province. He also knows that what he's covered has been in office 1996, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2003, May 7th, May 6th, May 5th, May 4th, May 2nd, May 9th. It will create opportunity and security for this province. We're not going to stop to come to the gimmicks of a party. Thank you. New question, leader of the opposition. You know, Premier, here's what I'm worried about. I think that you have no jobs planned. You have no turnaround plan. You seem to be running in circles and chasing your tails, and that's not going to put a single person back to work in our province. I met a small business owner named Scott when I was in Brandford last week. Scott, probably early 30s, he had nine employees, a small construction company. Often these small businesses are the backbone of communities like Brandford and Niagara, in parts of Toronto. And Scott said to me before the Liberal government came and said, you have no employees. And now after tax increases, energy rate increases, more payroll taxes, he has no employees. I want to see Scott put nine people back to work and even more. That's what my turnaround plan will do for our province. You have no plans. You have no time to actually implement a turnaround plan to help Scott, to help his employees and put people back to work in the province of Ontario. Let's just get on with the job. Thank you. Mr. Finance. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question. I appreciate the concern that finally individuals across the way are looking to provide for jobs. What they're looking, however, is going back to glory days of smokestacks, low value added jobs, and you can't compete, Mr. Speaker. You can't go back in time and try to give Scott an aspiration, more hope, more opportunity. You only do that by investing. Investing in the skills, investing in training, investing in infrastructure, investing in maintaining a business climate. Things that that member opposite is not doing instead. He's gone to the Ford Nation School of Politics only slogans, Mr. Speaker. Nothing substantive underneath. Ontarians deserve better, and they are, Mr. Speaker. When we table this budget, something for the future, something for them. Supplementary? So the finance minister who's not capable of bringing in a budget by the end of the fiscal year, he's had the year to do so, and he wants to give Scott an aspiration. I want to give Scott more contracts, more money, more employees on his payroll. That's the difference between you and me. You've got no plan. Toby Barrett and I were there with Phil Gillies, our candidate in Brantford. Scott was not the only one around the table. They all have the same story to tell. Let me give you an example. Part of my million jobs plan, reduce the red tape burden to take off the handcuffs. Bill 119 was one example. I'm not going to go to the cross and province to put people out of work. I want to bring them down and give them better paychecks with more take home pay. I've got a plan, so minister, let me ask you this. If you have no plan by the end of the fiscal year, will you share your cards or will you face a confidence vote? Because enough is enough. We've got to get through the back door. We see it first. We see it first. Minister of Finance. Thank you. So we talk about maintaining a dynamic business climate. We introduce reduction to red tape. We eventually introduce reduction in taxes. We did so in the last just in the last session for 90% of businesses in this province, which they delayed, Mr. Speaker, which we put forward. But let me remind Scott and others out there what happened in 1996 by the Congress of Conservatives. They tabled a budget on May 7th. What happened in 1997 by the Conservatives? They tabled a budget on May 6th. In 1998 they tabled a budget in 1999. They tabled a budget May 4th in 2000. They tabled their budget May 2nd. Oh, wait a minute. What happened in 2001, Mr. Speaker? They tabled a budget on May 9th. Better still. In 2002, the members over there tabled their budget on June 17th, Mr. Speaker. We're going to tabled a budget on time and in an appropriate manner for the benefit of the long term, Mr. Speaker. Stay tuned. Thank you. Follow supplementary. You can say whatever you want to say about the PC government. It was clear what we stood. We did what we said we were going to do. And it was a time that people were actually working in the province of Ontario. We were booming. Taxes were low. Energy was under control. And we led candidates. I find myself in a unique position of trying to say to somebody who's settling the member that your own members are arguing back and forth. Let's just tone it down, please. You have a wrap up, please. Taxes were affordable. Taxes were down. We led North America in job creation. All I've seen from you, dithering, delay, study, after, study, after, study. And now you're going to kick it down the road a couple more months. We're going to turn around the plan now. And, Minister, if you're not capable of doing it, I've got a team here that's capable of doing that. I want to be with you. Thank you. Minister of Finance. Well, Mr. Speaker, Ontario has produced over 600,000 net new jobs. We're on the track to produce even more as a result of the investments we're making, not the reckless cuts that are being proposed over there. Well, give the member, the leader of the opposition, some credit. He is even more excessive and more reckless. And I'll give Mike Harris some credit for stewing what he said he would do. We will not do what they said they're going to do. And he's flip-flopping on that very issue as well. He wants to cut employment. He wants to destroy high-valued jobs. He wants to ensure that he attacks working families, Mr. Speaker. He has flip-flopped, and he's only doing gimmicks, Mr. Speaker. Ontario deserves better, and we're going to continue to provide for high-valued jobs. We're going to continue to stimulate economic growth, and we're going to table a budget that leads to needs of the people of Ontario, and the fortunes of Ontario. New question. The leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Two years ago, the Liberal government was forced to adopt the fairness tax on high-income earners. They had to be dragged, kicking, and screaming to do it, and they pledged that they would get rid of it as soon as they could. So the government current plan is to hand a million-dollar tax break to Ontario's highest-income earners within a couple of years. Apparently, this was the plan yesterday, anyways. Can the Premier confirm that this is still the plan today? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As we've just been talking about, the Minister of Finance was saying we are going to be introducing our budget. We are not going to talk about it in pieces here in the House, Mr. Speaker. I'm not going to respond to a specific question, Mr. Speaker, when we haven't introduced the budget. We will be bringing in the budget, and that budget will be aspirational. It will, as the Minister of Finance has said, it will invest in the people of this province, in their skills, Mr. Speaker. It will invest in infrastructure so that communities can grow, Mr. Speaker. It will partner with businesses, and Mr. Speaker, it will create a business climate, as we have been doing. It will allow businesses to thrive. That is the work that we are doing, Mr. Speaker. That is the budget that we will bring in. And as I have said, I'd be happy to have a conversation with the leader of the third party about that budget. If you are interested, she has not so far responded to our request to have a meeting. I'd be happy to have that conversation if she would like to. The Premier is also committed to opening new corporate tax loopholes that will allow Ontario's wealthiest corporations to write off the HST on entertainment expenses and company cars. Now apparently this was also the plan yesterday, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier confirm that it is still the plan today? No, Mr. Speaker. The leader of the third party is picking issues out of the air that are not based in what we are doing, Mr. Speaker. They are kind of coherent narrative of what she believes the people of this province need, Mr. Speaker. So if she wants to have a conversation about any of those things in context, about what we really are proposing or not proposing, I'd be happy to have that discussion with her. But, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to respond to hypothetical assertions by the leader of the third party because it is not a productive way to have a discussion about the fiscal situation in Ontario. Thank you. Final supplementary. Families are feeling squeezed in tough times and they are looking for help. But they are having a hard time believing that the same liberals that hiked their hydro bills, hit them with the HST and has scrambled for the wealthy, massive CEO salary hikes and billion-dollar scandals is actually going to in any way defend a beleaguered middle class. The Premier says she wants to do things differently, but trying to raise gas taxes and the HST and then frantically scrambling in the other direction isn't the leadership that families need. Do the Liberals really think that this is good enough for the people of Ontario? So, Mr. Speaker, let me address the issue of people who are struggling to make ends meet. I know that, Mr. Speaker. And the leader of the third party can assert that my announcement and our commitment not to raise the HST and not to raise gas tax and not to raise income tax on middle classes, she can assert that that's because of something that she said nothing could be farther from the truth, Mr. Speaker. We have been working on putting together a transit fund to make sure that we have the revenue to invest in transit for some months and I made the announcement simply because the leader of the third party was causing mischief and fear mongering about what we... So, I've made it clear that we are not going to raise those taxes, Mr. Speaker, but I've also made it clear that we understand that in addition to the 30% tuition off grant, Mr. Speaker, in addition to the plans for the programs for reducing electricity costs we know that people need investment in transit in this province, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question, the leader of the third party. Mr. Speaker, I think the premier is protesting a bit too much. We have the list of NDP ideas, we just keep ticking them off. The question is to the premier, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this month the premier said that she was shocked by the Chrysler decision to walk away from the discussions with the government about Ontario jobs. Like Chrysler, Cliffs Natural Resources also walked away from discussions with the government. Now, this was after the Liberals had promised thousands of jobs at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce a refinery in Capriol. So, can the premier report any progress on these two files, Mr. Speaker? Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'm so pleased to hear from the third party finally some discussion about Chrysler because during those negotiations they were trying to encourage the investment to come here. They were absolutely silent on this investment and fortunately we had the great members like the member for Windsor West that was actively working on the ground with Labour, with the employees, with Chrysler himself to land that important deal and we're pleased, Mr. Speaker, that Chrysler did make a significant investment both in Windsor and in Brampton. We're working with them and we're re-engaging them hoping to make these investments in Cisco in December, another important example, 3,700 jobs coming with the $4 billion investment. Mr. Speaker, to do this, I don't know where the NDP party is on that investment or the other efforts that we're making to bring important investments to this province. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my staff must have missed it in the inbox when I got invited to those negotiations but I'll have their jobs and their future and liberal promises in the future unless you're working in public relations for the government. The Premier is stubbornly sticking to a failing plan. Well, company after company seems to be walking away. Does the Premier think her plan is working? Well, again, Mr. Speaker, I'm not quite sure where the leader of the third party is coming from because we're making important investments in this province to the point where Ontario remains in North America the number one destination on a per capita basis for foreign direct investment. So I'm not sure what more the leader of the third party wants. Investment is coming to this province. I mentioned the Cisco investment. They've remained silent on that. The Ford investment last September which is securing nearly 3,000 jobs at the Oakville facility for a significant time to come. We're continuing to work with our partners in business and investors overseas to make sure that these jobs come and we're seeing the results as well with nearly 450,000 net new jobs created in this province since June of 2009. Thank you. Final supplementary. Speaker, for years the government has been defending the same old plans that have left Ontario's unemployment rate above the national average. The Liberals keep doing the same thing but somehow expecting a different result to incur. That's why new Democrats are actually suggesting something new. A job creator tax credit rewards the companies that are putting people to work. It doesn't just create more dead money or reward companies that ship jobs out of Ontario. Is the Premier ready to admit that what she's doing isn't working and it's time to look at some new ideas. Thank you, Minister. Well, thank you Mr. Speaker and I wish the leader of the third party listened to me yesterday about the job creators tax plan because well here, this isn't me speaking about it this is actually the Obama administration that abandoned a similar plan because the government report estimated in the United States that 92% of those hired under a similar program would have been hired anyway and our Ministry of Finance has looked at their plan as well. We asked the Jobs and Prosperity Council to look at it. Of course Jim Stanford from Unifor was a member of that council as well. They abandoned it and rejected it but our Ministry of Finance has estimated because we're not just talking about net new jobs, you have to actually provide this to all new job creations in the province. It could cost more than $2 billion a year to implement your plan. That's not good. Thank you. Your question? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Agriculture and Food. Minister, I know from past experience that the minister is involved when the Ralph University recommends closing Alfred and Kempville Agriculture Colleges. When I was the minister and I was asked I protected the Alfred and Kempville Colleges because I recognize their value. When Noble Villanoos was a woman member from Storm of Dundas Gunther in East Grenville as Minister of Agriculture he protected them too. Why didn't you? A member from Thunder Bay had a coke and come to order? No, no, no. When I say stop, you stop. Premier. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I know that my critic, the member opposite understands that this is an issue that the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities has responsibility for. I also know that as the Minister of Agriculture and Food I am very concerned that there are programs in place for young people to be able to get into the agriculture and food industry. It's extremely important to me. So Mr. Speaker I also know that the member opposite that we have worked, the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell has worked so that there is a partnership that has been created for the St. Alfred campus and also knows that we are open to partnerships so that understanding that the program is not closing Mr. Speaker, but that the venue is changing, we are open to partnerships so that there can be a local solution and I think the member opposite knows that full well. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, operating Alfred and Kentville Colleges is one of the four conditions for Guelph in their enhanced agreement to operate and that is an agreement with OMAFRA your ministry. An economic impact study of that partnership said that the campuses were crucial to agriculture research, science, process and training development. Guelph is still getting the partnership funds so if they are no longer to operate the campuses why did your government bargain that requirement away? The member from the PN Carlton will come to order. The member from Oxford will come to order. The minister of energy will come to order. I uh I'm not happy to hear that. Minister of training called his universities. Mr. Speaker, it's not by accident that Ontario has one of the top three agri-food sectors anywhere in North America. It's because we have a champion as our minister of agriculture and I work for her record in agriculture up with yours or your former college. He's on the edge. Carry on please. Said Mr. Speaker we understand the concerns being raised in eastern Ontario regarding the Kentville campus. We understood the concerns being raised as well regarding the Alfred campus. And the member for Glen Gary Press Cartwrestle has worked very very hard to ensure that that Alfred campus remains open. I want to thank him for that on behalf of the Franklin University. Mr. Speaker, we'll continue to work through the members opposite. Thank you. New question. The member from Kitchener Waterloo. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Kitchener Waterloo needs all day to a go service. We own trains in a couple more years. We'll go one time and it's another example of more promises and- Come to order. Minister of Education, come to order. You guys haven't figured it out. I'm in the mood. I'm just waiting for the right moment. Would you like to be the first? Please finish. Thank you. It is not two way and it is not all day. It's another example of more promises and delays from this Liberal government. My question to the Premier why can't the good people of Kitchener Waterloo get two way all day go service? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Well, that's exactly what the people of Kitchener Waterloo are going to get Mr. Speaker and the people of Guelph and all the stops in between Mr. Speaker. We are bringing two way full day go service, go train service to Kitchener Waterloo Mr. Speaker and the investment that we are putting in place Mr. Speaker will create more than 33,000 new jobs. So it's a double bonus Mr. Speaker. By the end of 2016 Metrolinx will add four additional trains two in the morning and two in the afternoon to serve the Kitchener Station and that will add a thousand additional daily passengers. So Mr. Speaker, we know that you have to take steps. You have to start on delivering this kind of service. This is a concrete proposal Mr. Speaker that we are going to be bringing for our budget. What I think the people of Kitchener Waterloo need to understand is that the member opposite is part of a party that has absolutely no plan for supplementary. Mr. Speaker no timeline no funding means one thing the Liberals have no plan to deliver two way all day go earlier than 2,000 days of Kitchener Waterloo Day two way go train service on the Kitchener line. But rather than listening, rather than investing and rather than creating 40,000 jobs the Liberals are stalling and wasting even more time. Just like the last Premier this Liberal Premier will say anything to destroy their record. She has no idea when two way all day go will reach Kitchener Waterloo Premier. Mr. Speaker, I just finished giving the member opposite a date Mr. Speaker. I just finished saying by the end of 2016 those trains are going to be in place Mr. Speaker. The member of few years Mr. Speaker we've invested what is outrageous is that a member of the NDP who has, Mr. Speaker, when she knows full well that we're bringing full day two way transit to Kitchener Waterloo and all she would do is criticize instead of bringing full day. I find it absolutely fascinating that I hear complaints all the time from all three sides about one side being too loud and then as soon as they start the other side gets loud. How about if we all just tone it down? No, you don't get the last word. I do. New question. Member from Miss Suck Cooksville. Thank you Speaker. Speaker recently in fact a few weeks ago I was at an elementary school in Mississauga East Cooksville. The name of that school is Metropolitan Andre and I was there to attend a parent council meeting and what I heard from those moms that evening and they were mostly moms the hot topic of conversation was actually multiplication tables and what I heard those moms tell me Speaker is they really want their kids to learn creative thinking and solving but they also want to make sure that their kids are learning their multiplication tables and math drills the same way many of us in this legislature did when we were in school. I promised them that nightspeaker that I would express their views to the Minister of Education so I'm really pleased that today I'm able to ask on their behalf and all parents in Mississauga East Cooksville to the Minister of Education what are we doing to ensure our kids learn their multiplication tables? Thank you so much Speaker and thank you to the member from Mississauga East Cooksville for the question the member is quite right on stereo students are performing well in math. In fact our results are above the OECD average despite what the official opposition continues to say and I'm proud of the gains that Ontario students have made but I do know we can do better so as Minister I've heard from students and community leaders who tell me they're looking for graduates who know their math and who are also critical thinkers and problem solvers which is why we are committed to ensuring there is a balanced approach to math instruction between practice and problem solving and not simply a one-dimensional back to the basics approach like the conservatives. In fact Ontario's curriculum is very consistent with Quebec and we know that it's important for our students to be able to understand math concepts know their facts and use them to solve problems. Thank you Speaker and thank you Minister for that answer. Now in the last few months the results for Ontario's EQAO assessments as well as the international assessment from the OECD have been released and there's some really great news it's reassuring to see that overall in Ontario 71% of students are at the provincial standard up from 54% when the Tories were in power. So we've done a really good job and thank you Minister for that but there's always room for improvement so can you tell this House what we are doing to further improve math scores in Ontario. Thank you Minister. Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member she's right Ontario does have a lot to be proud of when we look at our student achievement and that's thanks to the great educators that we have in our system but we do have more work to do on math we know that so that's why we're investing $4 million to create new learning opportunities in math for educators including workshops in the summer and incentives for teachers to take additional qualifications courses. Speaker I know the party opposite believes that the way to raise math scores is to give a merit pay for teachers to get the best math scores you know what we don't believe that will work because we believe that the way to make kids learn better is to help teachers teach to build and apply their math scores that's why we're investing in teachers and why we're working with the college of teachers and the faculties of education and the math pad of God. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker my questions for the education minister as your teacher's bargaining bill limps through committee weighed down by dozens and dozens of handcrafted union amendments the Ontario PC caucus has made but one request to get this bill passed we want you to ensure that sports teams debate clubs and choir practices are not used as bargaining for next time the unions decide the funny thing is minister that you actually agree with us as president of the Ontario public school board association you supported that idea we know this because in a 2001 brief to the government your report stated and I quote a comprehensive co-instructural program is an essential part of the education experience at that time you actually listened to parents and students who told you how important co-instructural activities are to them. I just had some time to think about this over the march break does she agree with her position before or after she became a politician actually it's an absolutely consistent position we totally believe that co-instructional activities are very very important to creating a safe and supportive and nurturing school environment we know that kids who participate in activities beyond just curriculum that that helps them to succeed and for many children it's those extra opportunities that actually present their attachment to school and if he wants more evidence of my stand on that if he'd look at all the reports that the safe schools action team made which I also chaired he would find that that is the same position what we don't agree with is that mandating these things and trying to legislate will actually solve the problem working with partners is what solves the problem not trying to ledgerously thank you supplementary minister if you say something is essential you will do whatever it takes to get the job done on your government's watch extracurricular activities were an afterthought a bargaining chip parents and students remember that vividly the same february 7th 2001 brief suggests that we and I quote remove co-instructional activities from the realm of selective service withdrawal and in brackets it says work to rule minister there was a time when you stood with students and parents I can't imagine what it would be like to work your whole life on behalf of students to then turn your back the second the unions tell you what to do enough empty rhetoric from that party and students deserve more than that will the minister stand by what she believes stand with parents and students in safeguard co-instruction activities in Ontario schools be the boss minister and do your job thank you minister the difference between the member opposite and me is as he just pointed out I've been involved in the education for a very long time a very long time the member from Lamp and Kent middle sex school withdrawal I got it relax I challenge everybody to ratchet it down minister thank you because what I know is because I was president of the school boards when they were the government is they from the P and Carlton will come to order the member from Lamp and Kent middle sex will come to order the member from Stormont Dundas and South Glingary will come to order oh yeah you did wrap up please yes speaker we had eight years of co-op chaos precisely because they insisted that they could solve all the problems of volunteerism by legislating it didn't work then it didn't work now partnerships work fights don't work did you recognize me ok thank you mr. president my question for the minister thank you mr. speaker my question is for the minister of health and long-term care these are outside today urging this government to protect patient care they are frustrated because more than 1000 nursing positions have been cut since 2012 and Ontario is falling behind given all that the government knows about the vital role that nurses play across our health care system why does this government keep laying nurses off minister of health and long-term care well speaker I welcome the question and I think it's an important opportunity to set the record right speaker we have 20,500 more nurses working in Ontario today than in 2003 let me repeat that 20,500 more nurses working now than in 2003 we have 4,000 more nurses working today than we did a year ago speaker we believe in the role of nurses speaker we're expanding the scope of practice we're investing in nurse practitioners in running clinics and working in very role throughout our health care system speaker I look forward to the supplementary but the numbers speak for themselves from the college of nurses we haven't seen an 18.4% increase in the number of nurses 20,500 more nurses working today than 10 years ago thank you mr. Speaker well the minister also knows that Ontario has the second lowest registered nurse to person ratio in our entire country we know that there is a direct link between patient outcomes and registered nurses workload or said the other way when you cut nurses you hurt patients when will this government stop patting themselves on the back and address the problem that they are creating minister let me repeat because maybe just maybe the member opposite did not hear the first time 20,500 more nurses working today than 10 years ago in the last year we have added 4,000 more nurses yes speaker the health care system is undergoing a transformation there are more nurses working in the community sector speaker that's a good thing that's a good thing for patients it's a good thing for our health care system it's a good thing for you tremendously the role that nurses play and that's why we've continued to invest in more nurses working throughout our health care system thank you thank you mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of children and youth services minister you and I have an interest in helping Ontario's vulnerable youth I'm pleased to acknowledge that this health finally passed bill 53 which you and I brought forward in 2017 proclaim as children and youth in care day a day each year that we can celebrate the accomplishments and more importantly raising the awareness of the challenge that these youth often face and this is the right thing to do minister children with communication developmental and physical disability face many challenges in my writing of Scarborough agent quarter met with many constituents facing these challenges as member of the select committee about the difficulties accessing services for the children Mr. Speaker through you to the minister can she please inform the house our government's doing in addressing the concern of these families minister children are you sources thank you mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank member from Scarborough agent court for the question and as well congratulate her on the passing of bill 53 earlier this week I was quite pleased to see that pass so congratulations to this house for passing that I would like to thank the committee of developmental services on the work that they've done and the interim report that they've just brought forward as well the current services we provide to children and youth with special needs make a real difference but we recognize there's more to do I know the committee has heard from parents and families just as I have as well I recently announced the new Ontario special needs strategy as part of this strategy we will be introducing a new plan to identify risks to a child's development as early as possible we will be hiring service coordinators and planning for a child's care easier and we will be integrating the delivery of rehabilitation supports to eliminate service gaps we know families have an interest in ensuring that we stay track with these changes thank you minister for her response I'm pleased to hear that we have brought forward some special needs strategy for children and families to access support in my writing I often hear families about the difficulty they face accessing services and I'm pleased to hear that we're taking actions I'm also impressed by the strength and commitments to caring for the children I want to make sure that these initiatives help families as effective as possible these initiatives need to include the feedback both from the families as well as the leading experts the special needs strategy in taking consideration of the advice of the families as well as experts in the field thank you minister our new special needs strategy incorporates the feedback that we have heard and certainly is reflected in the strategy I was when I announced the strategy I was at the York Simcoe Children's Treatment Network and you know it really strikes a chord and you really see the gratitude when you see parents in the audience with tears in their eyes because they we have listened and we've brought forward a strong strategy so you've heard that we'll be assisting with the navigation we'll be bringing forward a new developmental screen hiring service coordinators making it easier for families to navigate what is now a very complex system but as part of the strategy as well we will be putting in place a committee to assist us with the implementation of this so we will continue to focus our efforts we will continue to listen to parents and experts as we implement to ensure that we have all children reaching their opportunities and helping all children succeed thank you new question a member from Kitchener Conestoga my question is for the premier premier I have to admit it was a bit rich to hear your go transit re-announcement yesterday you seem to have forgotten your government's long list of broken promises on infrastructure projects in the Waterloo region in 2007 you promised you'd build highway 7 then you didn't in 2010 you'd promised you'd build highway 7 then you didn't in 2012 you'd promised you'd build highway 7 but you still haven't and let's not forget in 2010 you promised four eastbound and westbound GoTreams Kitchener and Toronto but you cut that in half premier with such a long list of broken promises on infrastructure projects in Waterloo region why should anyone in my community believe a word you now said thank you very much Mr. Speaker well you seen it please thank you much Mr. Speaker well it was my pleasure to be in Kitchener Waterloo yesterday and to talk to the Cambridge and Kitchener Waterloo chambers of commerce Mr. Speaker and to be able to talk about the investment that we are going to make in full day two way Go service Mr. Speaker and you know it was interesting because there were business leaders and local politicians in the room and they are all very pleased that we are bringing this forward in our budget Mr. Speaker they are very very happy I know that the member opposite knows he might just have forgotten but I think he knows that there is property being purchased along the corridor to deal with the highway 7 expansion and that commitment as well so we brought the train to Kitchener Waterloo Mr. Speaker we are going to be bringing full day two way Go service Mr. Speaker we are going to be building the expansion of highway 7 so all of those promises have been made and they are being implemented Mr. Speaker back to the premier premier lets review your Go Transit re-announcement from yesterday you gave no price tag you gave no specifics and you gave no time frame it was like an election yet you still want residents in Waterloo region to believe you premier you are the reason Kitchener doesn't already have full 2 way Go service in 2010 you were the transportation minister you cancelled the project now nearly 4 years later you claim you want to undo your broken promise but only after allowing another 2 years to pass do you really think it's fair to course the residents of Waterloo region into voting for you by promising the same Go Transit commitment that you cancelled nearly 4 years ago thank you premier well I remember very clearly being with the minister of government services when we announced the Go train service to Kitchener Waterloo Mr. Speaker I remember very clearly the enthusiasm for that and I know Mr. Speaker that as I said the business community and the elected officials yesterday are very pleased that by the end of 2016 Metrolinx expects to add 4 additional trains 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon to serve the Kitchener station and that that is a concrete move forward to implementing full day 2 way Go Mr. Speaker since 2003 this government has invested $9.1 billion in public transit $9.1 billion in Go Transit Mr. Speaker under the previous conservative government between 1999 and 2003 there was virtually no money invested in Go Transit there was no expansion of services so the fact is we are listening to the concerns of people in this province we know that integrated transportation systems are what are needed and we are delivering those and we will continue to do that Mr. Speaker my question is to the Premier Speaker the people of Hamilton are increasingly alarmed about the Ministry of Transportation's proposal to close portions of the Burlington Skyway this summer Ministry staff suggests that the closures will take place overnight on 18 weekends in effect to Toronto bound traffic the proposal suggests the closures will take place between this spring and the fall of 2016 Speaker has the Ministry been told that the province is hosting the Pan Parapan Games next summer and that the venues include Welland and Hamilton Thank you Premier Finance Mr. Speaker Mr. Finance Mr. Speaker I appreciate the members comments in regards to the Pan Am and Parapan American Games something that is going to be tremendous opportunity for tourism more importantly Mr. Speaker infrastructure spending and I understand the concerns you have in regards to transit and getting people around the greater Golden Horseshoe it's a valid concern it's one that we're addressing here with our Minister of Transportation as well as our Minister of Responsible Security ensuring that people in the province are safe ensuring that we move people more appropriately and more effectively and that will require some amendments and some changes to some of the lanes but Mr. Speaker it's going to be an investment in our future and Ontarians are going to be proud of their athletes performing in the Pan Am Games they're going to be proud that they're going to have venues, community centres and auditoriums and stadiums like never before that is a legacy that's going to be left to this province Thank you Mr. Speaker I don't know what that's got to do with the bridge but anyways Mr. Speaker not only will these closures have a significant impact on the citizens of Greater Hamilton and our tourism partners as well with concerns raised by city councillors in Hamilton about the rerouted traffic impact on our beach neighbourhood which has an 80 year old lift bridge during the night time closures there's also concern about the impact of the daytime closures should winds reach 85 kilometres an hour at times on that bridge I don't recall any consultation with me or my staff on Hamilton with this proposal I'm gravely concerned about the impact on our citizens our tourists our Pan Parapan Games participants Speaker will the Premier step back from this proposal until full consultation takes place and the real consultation given to the impact on Hamiltonians tourism, Pan Parapan Games and our Hamilton Council Mr. Speaker I attended a number of the announcements in Hamilton when we introduced the refurbishing and the new stadium that's going to be going to Hamilton and the mayor was there and the council was there and the member opposite was there as well celebrating the infusion of capital and investment into Hamilton for the benefit of the people of Hamilton and for the people of Rock on Ontario Mr. Speaker the council and the mayor as of last week have been consulted they're looking at ways to alleviate traffic woes during that construction those consultations are being had Mr. Speaker and I ask the member opposite if he wishes to involve himself by all means you have friends in council be part of the solution enable us to make this happen working together we can accomplish a lot I know you want to be part of this I know you excuse me excuse me oh yes you do that is a perfect example of why you address the chair and it's why I would ask if you ask the question listen carefully to the answer instead of heckling and I would ask and remind us all except for the member who wants to give me some coaching I don't want it right now if you would all just simply follow the rules everything would be fine thank you new question member from Oak Ridge's Markham thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Food Minister my great writing of Oak Ridge's Markham is as you know partly rural and home to many farms I know the farmers in my writing are very concerned about safe farming practices and workplace safety so I was pleased to hear that the Canadian Federation of Agriculture named last week as Canadian Agriculture Safety Week it is always good to see events that illustrate the importance of farm safety we need to be sure that safe practice is actually used Speaker through you to the Minister what is the Ministry of Agriculture and Food doing to promote a safe workplace environment on the farm thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Oak Ridge's Markham for a question and I know she is always concerned about these safety issues and I want to assure her that our government is committed to all farm workers and producers are protected that their health and safety is protected in fact the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has been working with the workplace safety and prevention services for over 15 years our goal is to reduce the occurrence of workplace injuries and illness on Ontario farms horticulture and landscape operations Canadian Agriculture Safety Week actually gives us an opportunity to reflect on the work that we've done to improve our safety record and working with rural affairs and a number of ongoing safety initiatives we have agriculture safety days that focus on safety education and training for children and families my ministry is pleased to work with workplace safety and prevention services with a transfer payment of $120,000 a year Mr. Speaker and that's specifically intended to ensure that it's program information are available to all families and to all farmers across the province Mr. Speaker thank you Minister for that response the Ministry of Agriculture and Food is working so closely with workplace prevention services and the Ministry of Rural Affairs to further ongoing farm safety initiatives as we all know agricultural work is often hazardous and can lead to serious workplace injuries people in my writing work in the agricultural sector and face these inherent risks each and every day I understand that in 2006 our government extended the Occupational Health and Safety Act to include farming operations from ever Speaker through you to the Minister can you tell my constituents what else our government is doing to protect the health and safety of Ontarians who work in our agricultural sector Minister of Labor I thank the member from Oak Ridge Markham for the very timely question Speaker we value the hard work that our farmers do every single day to make sure that local food comes to our table the Ministry of Labor has 200 trained inspectors with expertise on issues inherent to health and safety Speaker the Ministry of Labor will continue to conduct both reactive and proactive visits to farms across the province to address and continuously improve farm safety in Ontario the Ministry works with the farming technical advisory committee Speaker among many targeted initiatives the Ministry has produced eight guidelines to help employers in the farming industry further speaker the Ministry has included farming operations as a targeted sector for several blitzes most recently in 2003 in our vulnerable new and young worker Speaker will continue to value the work our farmers do and ensure that farming is saved into Thank you Thank you Speaker My question to the Premier Premier back in February the Minister of Transportation addressed the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce about transit in the Hamilton region Despite his well documented preference on LRTs in Toronto his comments that they were very subdued on whether your government would force LRTs on Hamilton as you may know two of your Liberal candidates in the area Ivan, Luke Sick and Yavid Mirza are strongly opposed to LRTs in Hamilton and I find it very interesting the Minister will take a stance on LRTs of any means in Toronto but as mixed opinions of them in Hamilton My question is Premier who's dictating the transit policy there the Minister of Transportation or the candidates who seat you want to win the next election Well Mr. Speaker if the question is about are we going to continue to invest in transit in the GTHA and beyond are we going to invest in integrated transportation plans Yes Mr. Speaker we are going to do that Remark is stand in stark contrast to what the opposition party has put forward Mr. Speaker which is no plan to invest in transit which is no support for developing integrated transportation plans On the issue of the particular modes of public transit municipality by municipality there are local discussions there is no doubt about that there are local discussions in Toronto in Kitchener Waterloo in Ottawa and in Hamilton and municipalities need to determine what is going to be the best mode for their own communities that's why we work in partnership with municipalities Mr. Speaker as we make those investments Thank you Mr. Speaker Back to the Premier Premier you've just said it and your Minister both talk about respecting local decision making yet your government railroads municipalities at every turn and your attention to a letter I wrote to the minister on March 6th about the Niagara GTA corridor the mid peninsula highway would bring thousands of jobs alleviate congestion and enhance cross border trade local bodies including the municipality of Niagara the city of Hamilton the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and many more who represent the local interest you've been talking about all of strongly support this project yet the minister of transportation missed the project that's ridiculous Premier I have to say do you support your minister and if so why do you think local decision making is important for LRTs in Hamilton yet unimportant for projects that would leave thousands of jobs in the Hamilton Niagara region Mr. Speaker I'm happy to have a conversation about the mid-pen highway and you know there have been many many opinions expressed the ministry has recommended building a new highway connecting 406 near Welland to the QEW near Fort Erie Mr. Speaker that recommendation has been done but you know that the member opposite knows that there has been a more contentious discussion about a larger project but Mr. Speaker I do believe that local input is important I also believe that making sure that we make these investments is important Mr. Speaker and it's very interesting that the party that is advocating cutting and slashing and not investing in the province Mr. Speaker that is talking about not investing in infrastructure and not investing in people and not investing in communities all of a sudden has members who are asking questions about making investments that would cost millions of dollars Mr. Speaker so the fact is we are going to make those investments we are going to work with communities and that stands in stark contrast to what they want to see Mr. Speaker my question is for the Premier Madam Premier each year for the past 26 years hundreds of thousands of music lovers have descended on the beach at Queen Street East for what has been described as one of the 10 best jazz festivals of the world the beaches jazz festival has grown bigger and better every year and hundreds of local volunteers and director Lito Cilelli and his team to create this phenomenal event last year 500,000 people attended for the past 7 years the festival has received funding from the Ministry of Tourism Celebrate Ontario program can the Premier explain why this ministry and her minister has rejected their grant application for 2014 Premier so Mr. Speaker I would be happy to have a discussion with the minister of tourism culture and sport I don't have the details on this particular investment Mr. Speaker but what I do know is that there are hundreds of events and festivals across the province Mr. Speaker that receive funding that each year we look at the applications the ministry looks at the applications Mr. Speaker and those decisions are made I'm happy to get back to the member on the specifics of this particular issue. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker it is true there are hundreds of applications made but this is the largest jazz festival by far in the whole province this festival generates 65 million dollars into the Toronto economy and over 30 million dollars of that right in the beach area the entertainment is free of charge classes and workshops are held for aspiring young musicians and world class entertainers appear on our doorstep that everyone can enjoy Speaker I don't think the ministry or the minister of tourism has properly assessed this application will the premier intervene Mr. of economic development trade and employment well thank you Mr. Speaker and as the premier indicated she will certainly look into this and get back to the member opposite but it gives us the opportunity to talk about this highly competitive program Celebrate Ontario but the amazing success that it has and I want to talk about its success the 22,000 jobs annually each year the funding through the ministry of tourism culture provides through Celebrate Ontario generates more than 22,000 jobs and I don't know what the member wants I'm going to get back to Greek into it unfortunately the minister responsible isn't here to respond directly but this is an important program and certainly in the beaches it's a very important program that we have supported for a number of years we will certainly get back to him on this issue Thank you I've got a question this morning Speaker for the minister of community and social services Minister the members of this house all heard the heartfelt apology from the premier to the former residents of Huronia, Rodeau and the southwestern regional centres when it was delivered in the legislature on December the 9th 2013 Observers myself included Speaker applauded the premier for her sincerity we also commended the leader of the opposition and the leader of the third party for their impactful apologies however speaker since then we've not heard an update on other important aspects of this settlement for the former residents one such requirement was that residents be provided access to their own case files should they desire them Speaker through you to the minister would you inform the house what is the status of this key settlement Question thank you minister Thanks very much Mr. Speaker I'd be delighted to respond to the excellent question of the house that in order to make it easier for former residents the government is providing one window access through the ministry's freedom of information unit and through this process no requester of information is required to pay any fee we brought in extra staff we've already reviewed over 70,000 pages of documents to date there have been 397 requests for personal records and all have been met and within the timeline prescribed as per the agreement Mr. Speaker Thank you the minister of labor on a point of order. Thank you Speaker I just want to correct my record my response to the member from Oak Bridges Markham I said that our most recent blitz on the for one of all new and young worker was in 2003 Speaker what I meant to say that it was in 2013 thank you very much there are no deferred votes this house stands adjourned until 3pm this afternoon