 I thank all of our guests for being here and it is now time for a question period the leader of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition. Well thank you to speak well in the spirit of the season let me wish everybody as well here in the chamber and across province a very merry Christmas with great help. I take it that means we won't get a jobs plan as a Christmas gift. It sounds like the house isn't sitting next week so I was hoping for that. I was hoping for that jobs plan we still had a few days left. Now I know the minute and never for St. Cath is trying to distract me so let me get to my question. Premier receiving today the golden panel which we understand is going to increase gas tax in the province by five cents a liter. If you're a commuter filling up your tank a couple of times a week if you're a family with two cars trying to get the kids to soccer and hockey that's a punishing new tax increase. I want to know Premier for the average commuter coming from Mississauga from York Region for Durham how much does that could impact their pocketbook in an annual basis? Thank you Premier. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Well as the leader of the opposition knows Dr. Ann Golden will release her report today later today and I certainly welcome this report because Mr. Speaker we on this side of the house are convinced that investing in infrastructure including transit infrastructure is absolutely necessary to the future economic health of this province Mr. Speaker. And the reality is that I understand that the opposition does not have a plan for funding transit Mr. Speaker does not have a commitment to building the kind of infrastructure that we know is needed in the GTHA and quite frankly beyond Mr. Speaker. But we believe that those investments along with investments in people and investments in a strong business climate are what are needed Mr. Speaker in order for the economy to grow. And I look forward to receiving Dr. Golden's report and continuing to make those investments in infrastructure Mr. Speaker. So I take it easy that you don't know you're not telling us how much exactly a massive increase in the gas tax is going to cost average families commuters in the province of Ontario. See Premier I come from this from a very different place than you or the leader of the NDP. I believe taxpayers are already doing more than their fair share. The taxes are actually too high. You believe the taxes are not high enough. And Premier I also believe that the top issue in our province is jobs actually good jobs that you can count on not the part time or minimum wage jobs that you seem to be focused on in our province. And if you're making everything more expensive by putting gas taxes up if you're taking money out of pockets of Ontario families isn't that actually going to make a very desperate job situation even worse in the province of Ontario. Should we be focusing on creating jobs and spurring our economy not taking even more jobs and money out of pockets of hardworking Ontario families. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. You know it's very interesting the leader of the opposition never talks about the cost of not having transit Mr. Speaker. He never talks about the hours and hours wasted. He never talks about the cost of sitting in gridlock Mr. Speaker. He never talks about the cost to businesses about not being able to move their goods and services around Mr. Speaker. He never talks about the quality of life Mr. Speaker that is diminished by having to sit in that gridlock Mr. Speaker. So I say to the leader of the opposition I look forward to receiving Ann Golden's report. The Minister of Transportation is going to carefully review the recommendations Mr. Speaker. But we are determined to continue to build transit in the GTHA and to invest in infrastructure across this province. He does not have that determination Mr. Speaker and he does not have a plan to do so. Final supplementary. Well no no I think the Premier is getting around here a little bit. If you want to know what I'm determined to do I'm determined to get our economy moving free of time to get taxes down in our province. But Premier you and I have talked about this right we sat in your office we've talked across your desk I laid out my plan for transit and I stand behind a proud history in the Ontario PC Party that has built 64 subway stations in the province of Ontario and the Liberal account. In fact Doug Holiday and I laid out this morning even more details of creating an Ontario transportation trust to put revenue there from prioritizing government spending as the economy grows to sell off surplus landed buildings to work in public-private partnerships to put that money locked in for taxpayers so they know where it goes. I talked about this for over a year including with you personally. I'll build subways I won't increase taxes you'll increase taxes and you never get anything done. I think our choice is very moving. Can you see me please? Can you see me please? Thank you Premier. Mr. Speaker I think it's terrific that the leader of the opposition has taken our idea of a trillium trust and has now entrenched it in his plan. I think the opposition is talking about transit but Mr. Speaker he talks about it as an unfunded plan. He has no plan to fund transit Mr. Speaker. He simply talks about it like a nice ethereal idea. The reality is we have a plan to fund it Mr. Speaker. We understand that those investments in infrastructure and in transit are critical to the economic growth of the province Mr. Speaker. There is no such plan coming forward from the leader of the opposition. The other reality is Mr. Speaker he talks about jobs and yet we are trying to get Bill 105 passed which would help 60,000 businesses. 60,000 small businesses in this province. It takes an idea from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to help those payroll taxes. They are not supporting us Mr. Speaker. We need their help to get it. Premier I think it would be a bit facetious here. You and I have talked about this over a year ago. We laid out our plan over a year ago for an Ontario Transportation Trust. You stole that idea you called the Ontario Trillion Trust. Fair enough I guess imitation is the best form of flattery. But here is the difference. We fund that by setting priorities. By doing public-private partnerships. By selling off excess land in buildings. And setting aside priorities in the capital by the 13 billion a year. So that's how we fund it. How do you fund it? A punishing new gas tax on hard-working families in our province. I don't think we need to treat driving as some kind of sin. I don't think we need to do sin tax on driving. And in fact that will cost us jobs in the province of Ontario. So let me ask you a very clear question. If you think HydroRich can go up 60% If you think it's okay to have that kind of waste at OPG I think it's okay to blow a billion dollars on gas plants in our province. And now you've got the gall to come back to increase gas by 5 cents a liter. You just got to ask him, what planet are you living on? But then that is somehow okay. You see the case? Before I go to the premier I've tried to allow members to discipline themselves even while I'm speaking. And to ask members now, even if this is possibly the last day I'll go back into the routine of the warnings. Discipline yourselves, please. Without the comments and the interjections because now that's only raising my temperature. Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, the leader of the opposition has not got the full story from the report. I ask him to read the report when it's released today, Mr. Speaker. We will review the recommendations. We are determined to continue to invest in transit, Mr. Speaker and in infrastructure. And, you know, the leader of the opposition talks about what he would do. What he is on record is saying he would do is cancel the Hamilton LRT, cancel the Mississauga LRT, cancel the York Rapid Transit, cancel Waterloo Region LRT. That's the plan, Mr. Speaker, and that is absolutely unacceptable to us. We believe that investing in the region, investing in the province, Mr. Speaker, making sure that communities across this region and across the province have the infrastructure including transit that they need in order for economic growth. We believe that those investments are critical. And I am not going to suggest that it is easy for a government to make these long-term investments, Mr. Speaker. But if we don't, then we're abdicating our responsibility to future generations. You know, I guess we're going to have to have another meeting. I know I tried to sometimes have a lot of meetings and conversations, but I've laid this plan over a year ago. You and I have talked about it several occasions. Sir, the environment come to order. But I think I'm making a big mistake in increasing taxes on families, particularly commuters here in the greater Toronto area. Your plan, according to the Golden Commission, is to increase gas taxes. Mr. Training College universities come to order. So, in our plan is to build subways. I think that is what world-class cities do, expand highway capacity. I'll keep talking about it, but I'll talk about it for some time now as leader. But here's a question I have for you. You've done studies, and then you had a study of studies, and now the Golden Panel is effectively a study of a study of a study. So, this is your final decision, right? You're not calling a friend here. This is the final call. Your plan is to increase gas taxes by five cents a leader, or you just kick in this down the road for another study. Here's the difference. Leaders make decisions. I've got my plan. I'm ready to go. It'll build subways, expand highways. It'll create jobs in the province of Ontario. Is this your plan? Yes or no? I got mine. I'm ready to go. Thank you. Appreciate it, please. Appreciate it, please. Premier? Very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, it's almost laughable. I'm trying not to, but Mr. Speaker, it's almost laughable that the notion that an unfunded plan that would cancel the projects that I listed in Hamilton, Mississauga, York Region, Waterloo Region, that that is somehow, Mr. Speaker, a plan that would help transit and would help the people in this region and beyond who are sitting in traffic, Mr. Speaker, businesses that are trying to move their goods around. The reality is that we have to make those investments, Mr. Speaker. We are determined to do that. We've settled along that we would put the plan into the 2014 budget. That is the target that we are on, Mr. Speaker. I hope that the leader of the opposition will read the Ann Golden report. I hope even more, though, Mr. Speaker, that the leader of the opposition understands that if we abdicate this responsibility now and we do not make investments in transit, then future generations will look back and say, what were you thinking? Why were you not making the investments that we needed in order for this? Thank you. Stop the clock, please. You see the place? Final supplementary. Premier, I think people will listen to you here today and they'll say that, you know, you said you're going to increase hydrates by 60%. Your energy minister famously said, don't worry about the gas plant waste. That's only a cup of coffee. And now you're going to increase taxes by five cents a liter on gas. They're going to say, what are you thinking? Exactly. And who are you talking to? It makes no sense. We've laid out a plan that will actually invest in subways to go underground to build world-class cities, expand highway capacity and set up an Ontario Trillion Trust to fund that plan. Your plan is to increase taxes to waste more money. And let me ask you this, too, because I'm not sure if this is your plan or another study that we followed by another study, but I see a member of St. Catherine's gave the gas tax of standing ovation. I see a member from Peterborough gave the gas tax of standing ovation. Let me understand this to be clear. Are you going to increase gas taxes in Peterborough, St. Catherine's and Niagara Falls to fund subway expansion in Toronto? Is that actually your plan? Yes, Mr. Speaker. Again, I ask the Leader of the Opposition to read the report when it's released today, Mr. Speaker. The member from Renfrew, Nipiss, has come to order. The fact is that the Leader of the Opposition can diminish the process of actually talking to people who understand how transit works and where it needs to be built, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition can grab on to a populist notion that building subways everywhere, Mr. Speaker, is the answer. That's not the case. The Leader of the Opposition can say that he has a plan to build transit when there is no funding apparent, Mr. Speaker. He has made no funding announcements, except, Mr. Speaker, to say that he will slash services. That he will cut thousands of jobs, Mr. Speaker, in order to slash services across government, as he did as part of the previous cabinet, Mr. Speaker. So there is no credibility, Mr. Speaker, to the notion that he is putting forward. We are determined to invest in the infrastructure, including transit, that is needed in order to grow this economy. Thank you. The Minister of Real Affairs will come to order. New question, the Leader of the Third Party. Thank you, Speaker. I would like to begin by on behalf of New Democrats, wishing the people of this province, the members, all of the staff of the precinct, yourself, Speaker, a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. It's going to be a wonderful season. Speaker, I also want to, on behalf of New Democrats, acknowledge a member who won't be joining us in the future here, for whom it's his last day, and that's the member for Thornhill. The member for Thornhill has served this legislature well for his constituents. He has been passionate. We haven't always agreed. That's for sure. But he did some heavy lifting and he has worked very, very hard for a number of years here, and he deserves our thanks and our respect as he leaves this place. He was passionate. He was committed to the work he was doing and his radio voice will be well missed in this chamber. Speaker, I would like to put my first question to the Premier. Ten years ago, the Premier was elected as part of a liberal team that suggested that the scandalous perks, bonuses and high salaries that drove up hydro bills were a failure of leadership and that they would, quote, never be repeated. Why has nothing changed, Speaker? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I want to reinforce what the leader of the Third Party said about the member for Thornhill and thank him for his service. Thank you very much. The culture at OPG clearly has been resistant to change and that has been through subsequent governments, Mr. Speaker. Government after government has made changes. Those changes have not created the kind of culture that we think is appropriate, Mr. Speaker. We are going to put in place controls that would give government some direct authority on the compensation, Mr. Speaker, at OPG and that, Mr. Speaker, has been done by governments before but clearly it is what is needed and that is what we are going to do, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, supplementary. Well, Speaker, the Premier insists that she's taking the latest scandals at the OPG seriously but where have the Liberals been for the last decade? That's right. They've paid lip service, Speaker, they've paid lip service to reigning in sky-high salaries yet done nothing at all about it. They've paid the bullies that have been under Hydro bills for Liberal in action. Will the Premier admit today that the failure of leadership is in the Premier's office? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, no because the fact is that this is a situation that has persisted over a number of governments, Mr. Speaker. We did make changes. We did make changes as a government previously. We made those changes Conservatives and as it did under the NDP mr. Speaker so what I'm saying is we need to put in place Government controls that are direct controls on compensation because the culture seems to be Resistant to the other changes that have been made and the culture has been resistant Whether it's been a conservative government an NDP government or a liberal government mr. Speaker So we're going to make the changes that are necessary in order for government to have those controls over those compensation I'll do respect the fact is people feeling squeezed harder and harder than ever by lost jobs shrinking paychecks Have heard this government promise over and over that things will change and they see the same old story Being played over and over and over again. They pay the bills well connected insiders get the millions The premier is blaming people and pointing fingers everywhere. She can but she's refusing to admit one simple fact The buck stops with her Point speaker does the premier stop looking around for people to blame show some leadership and admit That the liberals have simply failed to respect the people of Ontario's money Mr. Speaker the leader of the third party refers to the 10-year period the audit was over a 10-year period However, mr. Speaker, there has been a business transformation plan underway at OPG and it's important to note But over the last three years OPG has undergone a significant transformation 1500 full-time employees have already been eliminated the goal is to reduce the number of staff by another 800 employees going from 11,640 in 2011 to 9,308 by 2016 making a total reduction of 2,300 full-time employees, mr. Speaker in addition under the 2007 agency review panel OPG's executive salaries were reduced by 25 to 30 percent answer new contracts and Also, mr. Speaker the members should be aware of the fact that over the last eight years OPG has generated seven billion dollars bottom line transfer Speaker imagine how much they would have generated had they not been pulling down those exorbitant salaries Speaker my My next questions for the premier people are feeling squeezed more than ever by job losses and higher bills They've been asked to make sacrifices after sacrifices in tough times They're paying more in HSD more in hydro bills even while jobs are being lost and paychecks simply aren't keeping up Does the premier think it's fair to ask them to pay more in a gasoline tax? Thank you very much mr. Speaker. Well, I have to say mr. Speaker I would expect these questions from the conservative caucus mr. Speaker I would expect these questions from the leader of the opposition But from a party that apparently is progressive mr. Speaker that that puts itself out as a party that believes in The environment protecting the environment believes in public transit mr. Speaker I really find it Strange that the leader of the third party does not seem to grasp that if we do not invest in transit If we do not make those difficult decisions to invest in infrastructure and create a transit network That will work for the region and beyond if we don't do that mr. Speaker then we are abdicating our responsibility So I have to say to the leader of the third party I am very very surprised given the number of members that you have I know our Environmentalists who I know believe in transit that you would post that question to me I'm going to ask the attorney general that when the premier is answering that he not interject And I'm also going to ask the member from Hamilton Mountain to come to order Supplementary, please Speaker families feel like they're being stretched to the breaking point That's what new Democrats believe because that's what we hear every day when we go back to our writings Others sharing the same sacrifice They've been told to pay higher hydro bills to pay an HST on gasoline and home meeting and sacrifice services that they rely on But they've watched as the premier has let hydro CEOs collect million dollar bonuses and plow ahead with tax loopholes For Ontario's richest Corporations, it's a simple question speaker Does the premier think it's fair to ask these same families to pay more yet again? Thank you Thank you very much mr. Speaker Families are stretched they are stretched and part of the reason they're stretched mr. Speaker is that they don't have the public Transit services that they need so I would ask the leader of the third party to talk to the member from Kitchener Waterloo To talk to the member for beat disease York to talk to the member for Toronto Danforth to talk to the member for Trinity Spadina Parkdale High Park, mr. Speaker for Stony Creek I'll ask your whole caucus mr. Speaker whether they have constituents who want to see investments in infrastructure Want to see investments in transit mr. Speaker because the quality of life that people have to deal with mr. Speaker when they're sitting in gridlock When they don't have access to the transit that they need is not what we think is acceptable So if we do not if we do not make those investments mr. Speaker if we do not have a coherent Going forward as the third party does not have mr. Speaker then we are abdicating our responsibility We're not going to do that We need to talk to the single mom in Scarborough who can't pay her bills today change for a decade But they've seen the same old liberals offering the same old priorities People are paying the highest high row draw bills in Canada while hydro ceo's collect million-dollar bonuses people are paying new Unfair sales taxes and fees while the government plows plows ahead with a new with new tax loopholes for Corporations can the premier make it clear today right now will she be asking families to pay more yet again with a new gas Thank you very much mr. Speaker Single mom in Scarborough doesn't want to spend two hours to get downtown In transit mr. Speaker Exactly because the families in this region need that support mr. Speaker and as I say I Understand these questions coming from the conservatives. They've never believed in transit mr. Speaker, but I think it is shocking Start the clock New question the member from Mr. Speaker my questions for the premier Premier I'm a little I'm a little confused about the revenue tools Sometimes you use them and sometimes you don't use them like sometimes you need them and sometimes you don't need them And I can't figure out when those times are When you implemented all the kindergarten for a billion and a half a year you did not need revenue tools when you paid off the liberal fiasco's like the gas plants and e-health and orange and the overspending at opg you did not need revenue tools But now all of a sudden people want transit and you need revenue tools No, I don't understand why in this situation you need the revenue tools What I want to know premier is this for financial reasons or environmental reasons and why now? Thank you Transportation This is hysterically funny the member opposite the member for a Tobacco Lakeshore voted for a tax increase every year I get a 2% property tax increase when I was a mayor I cut taxes The place which he comes from and the leader he used to follow an interesting personality mr. Speaker Even Mayor Ford has increased taxes and is proposing a compounding tax When the member did not vote for taxes. What did he do? He canceled the subway in Etobicoke So he tells his own truth mr. Speaker yet when he voted for tax increases He got some ways when he didn't vote for tax increases mr. Speaker He canceled some ways the Tories are doing it again See the police the member from Renfrew nipissing Pembroke will come to order Supplementary I do yes Premier the the motorists in Toronto and Hamilton are already contributing more than their share to to the Transportation cost of the province of Ontario. I've had that information given me by the CAA and others And now you're wanting to add more cost to those people already now. I don't think that's fair But but maybe you do Social services come to order That's needed out of the overall cost of the budget and fine and just we'll find the same way you funded all day kindergarten But what I want to know premier is before you implement this new tax this new plan Will you go to the public and let the electorate have to say Thank you Mr. Mr. Speaker, you know, I've Owned a business and run a business And I think it's important on this side of the house. We try to take a broader perspective Mr. Speaker when when the member opposite looks at a household budget he's a talk to the member from her from From from Caledon mr. Speaker because you know there you have four or five cars if you actually because you have no transit in your neighborhood Have to have a beater for your 16 year old or beater for your 17 year old That's seven to eleven thousand dollars per child to get them to school And there are too many families in the 905 mr. Speaker who have three or four or five cars some of them are 10 or 15 years old That's pretty expensive on the household budget I will give you one hint about what's in the golden report mr. Answer one of the things that she will tell you is that the average commuter right now? Spends seven hundred dollars more burning gas with their car not moving nothing in her proposal costs have better said more than that Thank you very much mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of health and long-term care Speaker in 2010 new Democrats asked a very simple question What was dr. Mazza's salary that was our simple question three years later? We are still asking the very same question the minister can provide us with every excuse in the books about why she didn't know but the fact of the matter is tracking his salary and the Financial structure of orange is the responsibility of this minister is her job Now we can see that for the brief time that orange was reporting their salaries to the sunshine list that those numbers are inaccurate Will the minister simply admit that she failed to provide the oversight necessary? Speaker I have to say this is a very bizarre question and let me tell you why it's a bizarre question because The MPP from Guelph when she was on committee Requested because we all want a clarity She requested all compensation paid to dr. Mazza over a period of six years I believe that information was tabled with the clerk of the committee over a year ago Members have had access to that information for many many months speaker and they simply haven't read it So the bizarre question is going to get a straight answer You've got all the information you've asked for and today committee members received a summary of that because that was asked for As well speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker what's bizarre is that the minister of health would receive a report a forensic audit and not read it Mr. Speaker the forensic audit lays out a litany of disturbing facts Details of personal loans that Mazza was given the web of companies whose primary purpose was to shield executive salaries And the sheer excess of money that was given to a select few The fact that two years into the investigation orange new details and disturbing disturbing facts are still Surfacing means that Ontarians are asking the question has anything changed Speaker it seems that this minister has done nothing to ensure that the root cause of this problem Which was salary disclosure the sunshine list is accurate. She's done nothing to prove that the oversight has improved She continues to leave out important details in the hope that this sad scandal will simply go away How can the minister? That another orange won't happen again given her an inability to learn from her mistakes a Speaker again, this is very strange coming from a man who's had documents and apparently has not read them speaker It took only one year of Chris Mazza's salary to give me all the information I needed to take swift action speaker I called in the Forensic audit team speaker that forensic audit team reported a few weeks later and the findings of that Forensic audit team were so shocking that it was immediately referred to the Ontario provincial police That's where it should have gone speaker if I had to make the same decision over again It's exactly the decision that would have been made speaker I have been nothing but upfront that all of the information that the committee has requested has been there for months and months Thank You mr. Speaker to the minister of education Honourable this time government believes in creating a more prosperous and just society and that means empowering people by investing in education Our government has made consistent and persistent investments Upgrades in capital projects so that our children get the best education available in the English-speaking world Our kids need such quality education order compete for the high-skilled jobs of tomorrow's economy in uncertain times I believe it is to every citizen's advantage if they have a government build a strong future for Ontarians as Examples speaker graduation rates are up 15 points from 2003 to 83 percent this year and overall 71% of students are achieving the prevention standard in grades three and six combined up 17 points from 54 percent a decade ago Speaker can the minister please inform this chamber? How do the results here in Ontario compared to other jurisdictions around the world? Yes, thank you very much speaker and thank you do lie the member from Etobicoke North for raising this issue And I must say that our educators our teachers their parents deserve a tremendous amount of credit For the success that we've had in our schools And I'm pleased to share the latest result for the program for international student assessment or PISA Which is conducted by the OECD the results were released last week And they've again ranked Ontario students as some of the best in the world The results prove that the investments that we're making in our students in our schools are making a difference Both Canada and Ontario perform significantly higher than 48 other Jurisdictions on the paper-based math assessment Ontario performed above the OECD Answer in math science and reading like most other Jurisdictions across Canada. However, we know we have more work to do on math and that's why Supplementary Thank you speaker and thank you minister standals for your stewardship of this essential file Which ultimately will determine our children's and Ontario's future when I tour my own writing speaker and the schools of Etobicoke North I can see the results and the on-the-ground analogs of the Acknowledgements and success and virtual cycles that Ontario has cultivated But following the mantra of our government while we have seen great progress over the last 10 years There is as the minister has just said more work to be done Speaker, I know you have been engaged with our partners in education minister I know you've been engaged with our partners in education Businesses students and parents on the next phase of our education system. So can you please inform this house? What are some of the elements of success that you envision for the education system in the years ahead? Thank you very much, and we've had great success with programs that involve experiential learning with our secondary students for example The specialist high skills major the dual credits expanded opportunities for co-op Education of all help with the increase in secondary school graduation rates, and we will carry on with those We're also embracing 21st century learning with a focus on Creative and critical thinking as we move forward by making better use of technology and digital resources to engage Students and enhance their skills, and in fact on the piece of results We began to see that showing up already when you looked at a piece I had a subset Where they had a computer-based test as opposed to a paper based and on the computer-based test Ontario students did it Well, so we can see that move into more technology based to learning beginning to pay off Premier on Tuesday we learned that there was massive mismanagement at the OPG But we learned in 2011 that there are real problems at the OPG through a Port by the OEB the Ontario energy for the environment they told this government that massive increases to salaries and Pensions and benefits were showing up on from separate The full rate increase you knew then you knew in 2013 just last week when the auditor came out that this was a systemic problem with that board of directors with that management team and with your minister you have one option left You have to fire the three of them the minister the chair and the CEO. Will you do it? Yes or no? Remember from Oxford those are expensive desks Premier Mr.. Speaker, I do want to take the opposition to wish the compliments of the season to my official critic Our writings our neighbouring writings mr.. Speaker and she is my constituent, and I'm her constituent mr.. Speaker And I do want to answer the question of mr.. Speaker and that is I mentioned earlier That there was a business transformation that started exactly in 2011 mr.. Speaker which has already resulted in 1500 full-time employees eliminated 800 more on the way mr.. Speaker That's significant progress in addition in 2007 under the agency review panel mr.. Speaker OPG's executive salaries were reduced by 25 An envelope has decreased by 9% in 2010 mr.. Speaker thank you supplementary An answer on whether or not she would fire the head of the OPG the chair of the OPG and the minister and while the minister may have Me as a constituent, and I have him I can say that there's one MPP of the two writings That's actually providing reasonable leadership to the people of this province and it is Tim who dax MPP not Kathleen wins So speaker I will stand here in my place And I will and will she ensure that rape pairs are not on the hook anymore for handsome salaries big bonus And lavish pensions that her government will she fire them and will she make sure that that stops now? Thank you Minister mr.. Speaker sometimes the outrageous really outrageous mr.. Speaker, but I have to say that She keeps referring to the price of electricity And her leader her leader mr.. Speaker has agreed that he has no answer on that because when the leader the opposition was asked If he could promise lower electricity rates, he said the answer is no to that He has no policy whatsoever mr.. Speaker the only policy he has is a white paper to privatize OPG We know what the Toronto Sun has said about that mr.. Speaker They tried that much before mr.. Speaker and instead it led to the exact opposite race skyrocketed and it rampant Tory patronage and the conservators faced with rising public fury Abandoned the scheme leaving a financial disaster in their way. They still have a financial disaster They have no plan whatsoever. How are they going to govern without having a plan before the people of Ontario? Thank you. Speaker the question to the premier yesterday this government made it official The dream of creating 50,000 green energy jobs was was officially buried in the fine print of its new energy legislation Quebec is protecting its green jobs Can you explain why Quebec figured out how to protect its green jobs and you can't Mr.. Speaker coincidentally about three days ago Quebec announced its new electricity rate and it's going up by 5.8 percent Energy plan what you give us extra long-term energy plan will have 50% renewables by 2025 mr.. Speaker We are continuing to invest in clean energy We are continuing to take significant steps mr.. Speaker to push price pressure down One of that is by taking 15 billion dollars out of the cost base by Indefinitely deferring new nuclear mr.. Speaker. They still haven't said yes. They agree with eliminating new nuclear I'd like to hear the word. Yes from the NDP. Yes. Yes. Yes. You agree with taking 15 billion dollars of cost Evasion by the government is not a compliment. It is not Strategy that the people of Ontario want this government could have created those promised jobs and delivered green energy at lower prices It didn't Quebec has gotten it right not only the price is paid to Quebec's green energy generators lower than Ontario's But they've stayed on the right side of international law Will this government follow the lead of Quebec and protect Ontario's green jobs? Mr.. Speaker they did not support the Green Energy Act mr. Speaker they have no policy on They have no policy on clean energy. Where is it show it to the people of Ontario just like your leader mr.. Critic You have no policy in any way shape or form you are a disgrace to your NDP base Telling us by emails and phone calls that they like what we're doing with clean energy mr. Speaker Wow Thank you Thank you speaker my questions for the minister of health and long-term care I'm pleased to turn the house today representing my riding of Ottawa Orleans my riding like so many others in Ontario As a diverse population with diverse need but one thing that everyone in this process needs at some point is their life in their life as high quality health care One of the chief goals of this government's action plan for health care is the right care to be delivered Delivered in the right place for families in Orleans that means a facility providing excellent care in our community of over 100,000 people can the minister please provide this house for an update on the proposed Orleans health Thank you minister help long-term care Well, thank you and thank you to the member from Ottawa Orleans for this question and also for his continued and passionate advocacy on this and other issues I know the members been fighting for a health hub in Orleans for quite some time now The people of Ottawa Orleans know they have a strong champion in this house for their health care needs And I know that the Orleans family health hub will be an important part of this member's legacy I'm pleased to tell the house and and the people of Ottawa Orleans Today that we continue to make progress on the Orleans health hub We made this an important commitment as part of our building together plan in 2011 And since then the Champlain Lynn has submitted a stage one submission for the first phase of the health hub now Local health care and community leaders are working together with the Lynn to move this project forward when complete the Orlean family health hub will provide comprehensive primary care to thousand of EastEnders Thank you minister and the speakers through I'm sure that families in my writing will be happy to hear that the Orleans family health hub Remains a priority for this government in the meantime families across my writing still need access to timely high quality care Expectant mums families with young children and folks entering their sunset years People can experience health challenges at any stage of their life And they need to know that the care they need will be there when they need it through you speaker Could the minister please speak about what are other investments? She's making in Ottawa's health care. Thank you Minister. Thank you speaker There's no question. We've made strong investments in Ottawa, right for all people of all ages starting with newborns and Right through end of life. I was recently delighted to announce that the new midwife-led Ottawa Birth and Wellness Center will soon begin Welcoming patients when fully up and running the birth the birth center will assist with about 450 births a year Increasing access to primary care has been a priority for our government since day one our recruitment training efforts have attracted More than 550 Additional doctors to the Ottawa area. That's a 25% increase 2003 and 10 family health teams are providing care to almost One hundred and forty thousand people in the river and also speaker more than 900 long-term care beds have been or are being built or redeveloped including to 160 redeveloped bed in the Donna nursing home in Orleans Continue to make No question Minister this week the ruling that allowed the appeal of convicted killer Michael Rafferty Revealed that either legal aid Ontario or your ministry will assume the cost of Rafferty's upcoming appeal People in my riding in Ontario are outraged about this and rightfully so It is offensive that their tax dollars will pay for the appeal of a convicted child killer What's more is that he began his appeal? Shortly after his conviction and continue to appeal until he found a sympathetic judge Well his ability to appeal is an endless costly process for taxpayers The real cost is the emotional burden for his victims I am question. Do you believe this is justice? well I do appreciate this question and I realize full well that there's a tremendous amount of emotion involved particularly On behalf of the victim, but the member should be aware that section 684 of the criminal code Which Chris passed by the federal parliament federal defense a federal code for the criminal code Section 684 the criminal code permits a judge at the court of appeal to appoint counsel And if the judge thinks it's in the interest of justice for a person to have a lawyer and that person cannot afford one So it was an order of the judge in accordance with the provisions of the criminal code now in this particular case if legal aid Ontario further refuses to fund the council for the appellant and that's up to legal aid Ontario Then the court of appeal has ordered that those fees and disbursements must be paid by the ministry of the attorney general That is the status answer the member has an issue with respect to that Maybe she's talked to her federal counterparts to change the probation system It's so hard for victims of crime to deal with the horrors that they've experienced And we make it a great deal more difficult when a man who is clearly guilty of this crime can utilize tax dollars to fight the case How do I explain to my constituents? Well speaker I have some great sympathy sympathy with respect to how I explained this to the to the general public The member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke is Warren Speaker well understand that it may be very difficult to explain this to the general public and obviously It's a very emotional issue for all the parties involved particularly those that have been victimized as a result of the offense But the reality is Who's part of an independent judiciary to determine whether or not he or she wants to apply Section 684 of the criminal code if there are issues with respect to that Then I think that representation should be made to the federal government to change the criminal code in that regard in the meantime In the meantime, we respect the independence of the judiciary This has been ordered in this particular case. The matter has been referred to legal aid, Ontario Depending upon they do the minister of the attorney general may or may not New question the leader of the third party. Thank you speaker My question is the premier Fort Erie racetrack officials produced a detailed proposal to build a racing festival around the Chinese calendar's year of the horse The premier should be aware of the proposal because it was hand-delivered to her After this government removed the slots from Fort Erie and ignored this racetrack in their recent announcement of support for other racetracks Fort Erie racetrack officials were told to come up with and submit a plan. Well, they've done that Chinese New Year's is January 31st There is some real urgency here. Will this government support Fort Erie's proposal for the year of the horse festival plans? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker Well, I am aware of the plan and I I had the opportunity to meet with one of the people who is very interested in Advancing this plan and in fact exactly what I said needed to happen is happening. Mr. Speaker, the people who are interested in Fort Erie Continuing and being sustained are getting together and they have put together a plan There's a meeting on Tuesday with the ORC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and John Snowblown will be at that meeting to look at the plan Mr. Speaker, so exactly what I said a number of weeks ago should happen is happening, Mr. Speaker Thank you supplementary. Well, Speaker, what's not happening is a speedy decision Every day that this government delays the horse racing infrastructure around Fort Erie Diminishes as farms are sold off and people involved in horse racing move away The government needs to act now if there is going to be racing in Fort Erie next year instead of Responding to the Fort Erie festival proposal the Premier's office in fact sent an email out to media in Niagara Saying the government wants them produced to produce yet another long-term business plan This racetrack has produced business plan after business plan after business plan This government is burying them with paperwork and doesn't seem to get the urgency of the situation Will the Premier look seriously at this proposal and respond before December 31st to the Fort Erie year of the horse So there's an idea I think it's an interesting idea, Mr. Speaker But there does need to be a business plan the fact is that the work is not finished yet And so that work needs to be finished as I said there's a meeting happening on Tuesday and Mr. Speaker my ministry the ministry of Agriculture food will do everything we can to support the development of a business plan to support folks But they are going to have to complete a business plan It would be irresponsible Mr. Speaker for there to be no business plan and for government to or for the orc to adopt that plan So we just want to see a business plan, Mr. Speaker the process is in place And as I said what we what we thought should happen is exactly what is happening I'm very pleased that this idea has come forward, and I hope that the business plan will be produced Thank you speaker I've got a question this morning from the Minister of Labor Speaker today we find that too many new and young workers are unaware of the safety concerns that apply to their own jobs We find that the accident and the injury rates among new and young workers Remain persistently higher of those older and more experienced workers now as a government I think we all agree we need to do more to ensure that our new and young workers are safe when they go to work in the morning So speaker through you to the minister What is the Ministry of Labor doing to ensure that all workers get the proper training and the tools they need So they can sit they can stay safe on the jobs are working at good minister labor Thank you very much speaker I want to thank the member from Oakville for asking a very important question an issue that should be Very near and dear to everyone's heart in this legislature and around the province speaker It is extremely important that when people Everyone that when they go to work speaker they return home back to their to their loved one and to their families And that's why speaker we're really proud that our government has undertaken One of the largest transformation of our health and safety Rules and regulations in over 30 years We'll be making prevention the number one criteria to ensure that our workplaces are safe and as a result of the Expert panels report led by mr. Tony Dean We are in the process of implementing all the recommendation that he outlined Implementation was to have mandatory awareness training for all for all workers and supervisors speaker starting July 1st That training will be in place. Thank you Thank You speaker. I'm sure the parents and I'm sure that the young people themselves will be very glad to hear of the new initiatives That are being taken to protect young Ontarians Including those on their first jobs now the major change to how we to do business is going to require some time It's going to require extra information It's going to require conversations with business in order to be implemented in a proper way And I know the business wants to be our partner in this regard. So speaker through you to the minister How will the ministry ensure that employers and businesses have adequate time? They've got the right information so they can adjust and prepare for this new mandatory training. Thank you minister Speaker, thank you very much because I mentioned the mandatory awareness training for all workers and supervisors coming to place on July 1st of 2014 in the meantime, we're making sure that Workers and employers know what their obligations are the information for for that requirement is already out there You can get the workflow workbooks for free from service Ontario as well as you can do it online at ontario.ca Labour speaker. We're also working in making sure that we've got mobile enabled Apps as well for for workers so that you can download it. We're making sure that In nine different languages Plus English and French. We're making sure that we've got information available for in Low for people with low literacy and also a speaker or visually impaired again I asked businesses workers to start that training now Let's know what wait till July 1st 2014 and thank all the members for their support Thank you My question is to the premier speaker we have it on good authority that The premier and current and former ministers of this government are being haunted by their spirits of Christmas past They're being reminded of their reckless and irresponsible decisions that wasted precious millions of health care dollars on orange and e-health Drove hydro bills through the roof drove jobs out of the province and gave us a have-not Grinch and they're being told that the only solution to peace in their lives is Restitution and the only restitution that there is speaker is to bring an end to this government And so will the premier give the people of Ontario a gift this Christmas season? Will she give them a spring election? Yeah You see it, please Speaker well Brute is one of my favorite characters, mr. Speaker and what Scrooge did was he learned he learned from those Those ghosts of Christmas past Mr. Speaker and he then went on to focus on Christmas is yet to come and to make sure Mr. Speaker the tiny Tim had a future and I'm gonna make the investment that will ensure that the people of Ontario Well, you see speaker the premier got one step ahead of me on the Tim squad part of this Because where we were going with this is that if the premier and her ministers want peace in their hearts And she should give the people of Ontario an election so that Tim can in fact give the people of this province Will you give the people of this province an election in the spring? Appreciate the warmth and the goodwill in the Delivery of that question mr. Speaker and what I will commit to this house Is that as I said during the leadership and as I have said for the last 10 months? We will continue to make this minority Parliament work mr. Speaker, but if and when it's time to go to a general election I am ready to do that mr. Speaker, but I believe our responsibility is the future to make the investments in people and an Infrastructure on a business climate that works. We would love to have the opposition work with us on bill 105 So we could support small business in the province mr. Speaker, and I look forward to those features and working with Thank you new question the member from Windsor to come see thank you speaker My question this morning is to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. Good morning minister Minister we have another problem with the girders on the Herb Gray Parkway President the company which built most of the deficient girders has not been paying its bills Local suppliers the little guys have been hung out to drive One company in particular is owed one hundred and sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty-seven dollars and sixty-four cents The banks are calling several times a day Let me borrow a couple of lines from the Premier's running commercial. I'll speak simply and get to the point Will the minister set as a goal to do everything in his power to see that these bills are paid question paid today I want to Wish him not not only good morning, but Merry Christmas to my friends And I also want to thank all my critics. I think I have more than any other ministers There's seven of you, but all of you I wish you much joy health in that and I will gladly answer the question And wish do you especially the Christmas spirit as well? We are working very hard on that right now my colleague from Windsor West and yourself We are looking at a number of remedies There is a requirement now in the revised agreement that all of these companies must be current in their payments And I had suggested to you privately two or three approaches that we could take Mr. Speaker, so I am quite optimistic. We will do this most companies are being paid answer is one There is one company which is now involved in some litigation as a result of it that has called it Absolutely, thank you very much. Mr. Speaker Order from the minister of finance. Yes, Mr. Speaker point of order on behalf of all small businesses in Ontario our job creators Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding bill 105 an act to amend the employer health tax here here The minister of finance is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice on bill 105. Do we agree? I heard a no I heard a no Leader of the third party on a Excuse me Excuse me. I I will recognize the leader of the third party on a point of order Thank you, speaker I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding the note that regarding Nelson Mandela and the Toronto Transit Commission The leader of the third party is seeking an animal is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice Regarding Nelson Mandela and the Toronto Transit Commission. Do we agree? Agreed leader of the third party. Thank you speaker I move that should the Scarborough subway be extended the Legislative Assembly recommend to the board of commissioners overseeing the Toronto Transit Commission that the first subway stop be named Nelson Mandela station Miss Horvath moves that should the Scarborough subway be extended the Legislative Assembly recommended to the board of commissioners I I Would seek your Indulgence because you'd like to hear this to ensure that you know what you're voting on Recommend to the board of commissioners overseeing the Toronto Transit Commission that the first subway stop be named Nelson Mandela station Do we agree? Agreed Minister of Northern Development and Mines on a point of order before if I may mr. Speaker I just wanted to use this opportunity to Thank everyone in the legislature for their very strong support that you all gave me over the last year as I was My journey with cancer Responsible for senior affairs on a point of order Speaker on behalf of all the Ontario seniors I want to wish you and every member of the house a very merry Christmas joy is Noel and very happy holiday season and 2014 that will find us all back here and we hope to have Health happiness joy and no election. Thank you speaker. I do want to take a moment With your indulgence to thank everyone for the very very hard work that they do and Contrary to what all of us know are said from time to time I know that there will be a lot of work done in your constituency Your your tireless efforts are noticed appreciated on a personal note If I were to be the person that was responsible for giving out lumps of coal I would not do that to this group of people I It's a it's a fascinating one hour in our lives And I wish all of you a Very merry Christmas Season's greetings and thank you and for a healthy and prosperous new year. I appreciate that The member the member from Timmins James Bay on a point of order point of order mr. Speaker in light of this warmth that we now feel in this Legislature I would seek unanimous consent to move a motion in order to extend the sitting of the house into next Week the member The member from Timmins James Bay is seeking unanimous consent to put a motion Serious stuff I have to do my job The member from Timmins James Bay is seeking unanimous consent to put a motion without notice Regarding sitting do we agree? I? Did hear a note? There are no for there are no deferred folks this house stands adjourned until 1 p.m. This afternoon. Sorry. I was in the middle of it. I don't stop