 Seeing no further introductions, it's therefore time for Question Period. The member from the Leeds, Brenda. Thanks, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee passed a motion to review the GO station the minister approved in his writing. But let's not forget, this isn't the first time the minister has put his own interest ahead of better transit. Two years ago, Mayor Tory called for the subway to York University to be opened before the rest of the line is finished to Vaughan. Mr. Speaker, did the minister block that project as well, because the subway wasn't ready in Vaughan? Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member. I actually find it remarkable that somebody from that caucus in particular had the audacity to stand up and ask a question about the construction of a subway in the GTA area, because I've actually lived here in this region my entire life, and I seem to recall a really dark period for transit investments here in the GTA. That would be the period in the mid-1990s when the conservative leader of the day, the conservative Premier of the day, Mike Harris, chose to kill and fill the Egleton subway speaker. And here we are now a generation later trying to make up for that disastrous decision made by a conservative government and a conservative leader with respect to transit speaker. And I look forward to the next two questions on this topic. Thank you. Supplementary. Back to the minister. Two and a half years ago, the Mayor said that he was open to all options to stop the bleeding of the extension, including a phased opening that would see trains turn around at York University to start. But the minister rejected that plan. He said Ontario has the expectation that the project would be running all the way to York region. So here we are three years later and the minister appeared to be making decisions based solely on his writing. Mr. Speaker, how does the minister defend his history of politically motivated decisions? And now, Speaker, based on my answer to the first question, it shouldn't come as a shock to anybody here in this chamber that a conservative MPP would be so horribly wrong about transit here in the GTA speaker. That member, if he knew in his party and his leader, Patrick Brown, if they knew just a little bit about transit projects like the Toronto York Spadina subway extension, they would know that it's a project that is being led and managed and built by the Toronto Transit Commission, the TTC, that is, Speaker. But let me say, the really exciting news, unlike the conservative party, Speaker, the really exciting news about subway expansions here in the GTA is that because of Premier Kathleen Nguyen and because of other former liberal premiers and other former liberals from this side of the house, in less than three months, Speaker, on December the 17th, the Toronto York Spadina subway extension will actually open to service here. Speaker, this is a very real accomplishment, a single, largest transit accomplishment in this region in my entire lifetime. No thanks to members from that. No supplementary. Again, to the Minister, ethics and accountability are rare on the liberal benches. The Minister shows it time and time again as he puts himself above the transit needs of Ontario. If he hadn't have got caught, tax pay... Come to order. Please finish. If he hadn't got caught, taxpayers would have been on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars. How many more millions of dollars will this Minister cost taxpayers for his own personal political benefit? You know, Speaker, the really funny part is it's funny to hear that member from Leeds Graham will ask a question about how many more things, how many more times... Guys, I guess the question I have back, Speaker, is how many more times will members of the Conservative caucus approach me about making sure we invest in transportation in their riding, Speaker? I look at every single member on that side of the house, Speaker, every single one and I can think of virtually all of you over the last three years and a few months since I became the Minister of Transportation, regularly sending me letters, making requests. Order, please. Order, please. In case you have to be reminded, I'm standing. Wrap up, please. Because I was saying it's a shameful example of a completely ridiculous question from the member from Leeds, Grenville. And that member and his colleagues and his leader and his transportation critic on a regular basis have applauded decisions that suit them and their narrow political interests and try to hold me accountable. Speaker, at the end of the day, we are building transit and transportation in every corner, including in Conservative ridings and we're going to keep making sure that we get it right. Thank you. New question to the member from Briscoe on South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Last spring we heard the Minister promise to support my private members bill to provide guaranteed funding for seniors in long-term care. This was after he was exposed for underfunding them by so much that even prisoners were being fed better than our seniors in long-term care. Mr. Speaker, imagine the difference in the quality of life. Better care this funding would guarantee would give our seniors. On their behalf, I ask, when will the Minister enshrine in law a guarantee that spending on seniors in long-term care keeps pace with inflation? Well, Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member opposite missed our spring budget where we increased the food allocation for residents of long-term care by 6.5%, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we increased it at a level that was greater than the ground rules sector themselves had asked for. So we continue to make investments. In fact, that was part of a more than $80 million new investment this year alone, Mr. Speaker, and in such issues as not just the quantum towards food in long-term care, but also for behavioral supports for seniors in long-term care, as well as for the overall resident needs and for specialized care. So we have more than doubled our investment in long-term care since coming into office. We continue to make those important investments, and I look forward to the supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Minister of Health, Long Dream. The minister has shown the light on you and shamed you into it, making a difference, taking responsibility and showing confidence so that seniors can finally get better care, better oversight and protections, all of which they deserve. Considering the minister admitted in question period on September 14th that he has abdicated responsibility in protecting seniors from abuse and neglect by not enforcing the law 100%, I want to know, will he finally agree to act as a genuine guardian of our seniors and protect them by enshrining in law guaranteed funding of long-term care? Thank you. Minister. Well, Mr. Speaker, I obviously don't have the same recollection as the member opposite does. I take my responsibility for seniors in long-term care very, very seriously. Member from Bruce Grio and South. That's why we, since taking office, we've built more than 10,000 new long-term care beds. That's why we've redeveloped more than 13,000. I have the list right in front of me, and I'm happy to talk to the member opposite afterwards that, Mr. Speaker, we've redeveloped more than 13,000. We've committed to redeveloping 30,000 by 2025. So our investments in long-term care are substantial. They're continuing, including the 80 million that I referenced in the spring budget that that member voted against, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary member from Perkwell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to the minister. Sunday is National Seniors Day, and there's a lot to celebrate. The traffic, which I represent, was again named one of the Canada's best places to retire. But seniors are worried, and they won't get the long-term care beds they need. And it's no wonder. Investment has dried up, even as the need keeps going up, and the government is considering a proposal to transfer up to 50 of our beds out of Perk County and into London. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Other long-term care homes are going to close when their licenses expire. Will the government stop the bed transfer? Thank you. Minister? Well, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite, I believe, knows that it was under my direction that I changed the process when we do receive proposals from the long-term care sector. This isn't a proposal from the government. This is an operator of a long-term care or a number of long-term care homes when we receive those proposals. I have directed that there be a substantial community consultation led by the Linn, Mr. Speaker. We take into account that community consultation after we've received that proposal before we go any further at all. So, Mr. Speaker, no decision has been made with regards to any potential transfer. It's simply a proposal that has come to us without us requesting it, a proposal that has come to us making some suggestions in terms of how that redevelopment might occur. We are in the phase and the stage, the critical stage, of getting that community consultation. So we'll understand what the impact on the community might be, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question. The leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Premier. For almost four years, the Premier and her Health Minister have denied there's a crisis in our hospitals and in our long-term care. She told nurses and healthcare workers that they were wrong. She told doctors that they were wrong. She told hospital administrators that they were wrong. She told journalists and opposition politicians that they were wrong. She told people lying in hallways or broom closets instead of rooms that they were wrong. Yesterday, she finally admitted that there is a crisis in our hospitals and our long-term care system. Will the government now admit that this crisis is of their making the result of years of budget cuts and freezes and negligence on behalf of the Premier and her government? Minister of Health and Long-term Care. Well, and I regret the fact that the leader of the third party wasn't here yesterday for her party's two lead questions. Thank you. Withdrawal. Thank you. So, Mr. Speaker, what I find absolutely shocking about the third party is that when this government comes forward with solutions to address the very capacity challenges that that member just referenced, that her party opposes them. So, Mr. Speaker, when that party opposes a proposal that has come from half a dozen hospitals in the GTA, in the central, Toronto Central Lynn, a proposal to increase their capacity and alleviate the very pressures, her party has specifically emphatically opposed that proposal which will relieve the precise thing that they're trying to solve, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I was in Brampton with a woman named Sinanda. She told me about being left in the hallways of Brampton Civic Hospital for two and a half days. She couldn't sleep because it was too loud. She was shuffled around constantly from hallway to hallway to hallway, sometimes in the middle of the night. And she didn't get any food for the first day and a half that she was in that hospital. Sinanda's story is tragic, Speaker, and sadly not unique in Ontario. The Premier's plan may be one day to open 150 beds in Toronto with no timeframe or guarantee that will actually ever happen will not help Sinanda and patients like her. Does this government really think that 150 beds will fix the province-wide crisis that they've created in our hospitals and long-term care system? Well, Mr. Speaker, only the NDP would see utilizing resources, increasing capacity and helping patients. Only the NDP would see that as a problem, Mr. Speaker. And it was emphatically clear yesterday that despite many, many months of the NDP asking this government to increase capacity, that when we in fact are entertaining and considering a proposal that comes from the Toronto Central Linn, that comes from a number of hospitals themselves, which will do precisely what they've been asking for, only the NDP would emphatically and categorically reject that proposal, Mr. Speaker. And I can confidently tell the public and the legislature that those 150 beds, the proposal that's been put forward to us by a number of hospitals in the GTA, in the Toronto Central Linn, that proposal would result in those beds being available this calendar year, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplement. I'm sure what's emphatically clear is 150 beds is not going to address a 30,000-person waitress in long-term remun in the province of Ontario. Brampton Civic Hospital has been overcapacity, Speaker, for more than two years. That's not the NDP saying that, Speaker, or even Bramptonians like Sundana. In fact, that fact comes from the hospital itself, but it's not just Brampton Civic either. Hospitals in Kitchener, in Brant, in London and Sudbury are all overcapacity on a daily basis in this province. It is the new normal in Ontario. 150 beds is not a real plan, Speaker. What's the government doing right now to alleviate this entire crisis that stretches from one end of the province to the other? Question? Thank you. Do you see it, please? Do you see it, please? Thank you. Minister? Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm glad now that the third party appears to support the proposal coming for the Finch site of the Humber River Hospital, Mr. Speaker. The fact is that from April through July, William Osler, which includes the Brampton site, Mr. Speaker, had an 86% occupancy, which in fact was less than it was last winter. So, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite, the leader of the third party, knows that we've made a $24 million investment that was referenced in the budget that they voted against earlier this year, specifically to increase capacity and to provide specialized transitional support, including rehabilitation and individual support for individuals who are non-acute that perhaps reside in hospital, perhaps not, but perhaps reside in hospital and can actually get that focused care. So, we've reached out across the province for precisely that. We're not going to do what the NDP did when they were in power. They closed more than 9,000 beds. New question. The leader of the third party. My next question is also for the Deputy Premier, Speaker. The fact is that this government's last budget shorted the hospital system by $300 million that they requested from the government. That's the fact, Speaker. Hospitals are desperately overcrowded. Patients are being left in hallways for days. People are waiting in emergency rooms for 12 hours or more. The wait list for long-term care, as I mentioned earlier, Speaker, is 30,000 people long right now. And we have a government that is maybe offering 150 beds. The Premier is scrambling to find a band-aid after years of making this problem worse. Can the government tell the people of Ontario why they caused this crisis to happen in the first place and refuse to take real, immediate action to help those who are sick in our province? The Minister of Health and Long-term Care. Well, Mr. Speaker, I absolutely appreciate the change of heart of the leader of the third party and her caucus, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the proposal for 150 beds in the Toronto Central Linn was described by them as mothballing, as warehousing, Mr. Speaker. And now, clearly, I anticipate I'll give the leader of the third party the opportunity and her supplementary, but I believe they've had a change of heart. And they see that this actually will contribute to the capacity challenge that is faced for a number of reasons across this province. And we're working across the province, Mr. Speaker, with our Lins, with our hospitals, where we specifically have asked our hospitals to come forward with proposals that they believe will not only improve the quality of care for those in the hospital for non-acupation, but provide those focused, transitional, high-level care opportunities that they deserve. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaker, the NDP is committed to funding hospitals at a minimum to the rate of inflation and population growth and to meet the unique needs of rural, small and northern communities. It is a first step, Speaker. It is a first step in undoing the damage done by decades of liberal and conservative cuts. If the premier is concerned, as she says, that she is about the state of our hospital, Speaker, then what I have to ask is will this government commit right now to providing the immediate emergency relief that the Ontario Hospital Association has asked for and make sure that at a minimum the ongoing funding keeps up with inflation, population growth, and the unique needs of the communities in our province? Thank you. Well, Mr. Speaker, we provided our hospitals with more than $500 million in the spring budget and increased our capital investment by $9 billion so that we're actually building new and expanded hospitals to the tune of $20 billion over the next decade. Of that $500 million, Mr. Speaker, it includes improving access and expanding services for cancer treatment, for diagnostic treatment, for emergency services, for wait time reduction, Mr. Speaker, for the north, for the south, for the east and the west of this province. We're making those investments, including those that are specific to addressing the capacity problem that a number of hospitals that I have acknowledged in the past do face because of a growing population, because of an aging population, because of the need to make sure that we continue to make those investments, the investments that they voted against earlier this year. Thank you. If the government won't even commit to keeping up with inflation, one wonders how they expect hospitals and frontline healthcare workers to provide the care that people need. This is how we got into this mess in the first place, Speaker. The last Conservative government fired 6,000 nurses. They closed 28 hospitals. They slashed over 7,000 hospital beds. And this Liberal government has cut or frozen hospital budgets for years and years on end, Speaker, a decade of freezes and cuts. 150 beds is not a credible plan to fix this entire mess when there are thousands, thousands of Ontarians crammed into hallways of almost every hospital in this province. Does the Liberal government sincerely believe that if they reopen a few beds in one hospital, that the crisis that they've created in our province will be solved? Well, Mr. Speaker, since they brought up the Conservatives, I need to remind Ontarians about the NDP government when they were in power. They delisted 10% of all the drugs on the formulary. They delisted home care from OHIP, Mr. Speaker. They closed 24% of the acute hospital beds in this province. They closed 13% of the mental health beds in this province for a total of 9,645 beds. In their last budget, they reduced hospital funding by 1%, Mr. Speaker, and they reduced total health care spending in their last budget as well by 1% for the second year in a row. That's their legacy. They had a minister of cuts that was going to take an additional $500 million out of health care and education should they have been elected in 2014, Mr. Speaker. That's their record. That's their legacy. They're the last people that I'm going to take advice from, Mr. Speaker. Can you say it, please? Can you say it, please? New question to the member from York Central. My question is for the acting Premier. Earlier this week, the leader of the opposition had some questions about the impact of the heat wave on our students. Recently, a local parent reached out to me to voice his concerns. Last Thursday, a student in my riding brought a thermometer to school. The parents were concerned about the heat. At 11.30 a.m., the thermometer read 32 degrees. The following afternoon, it read 34 degrees. Acting Premier, I know that when your office gets too hot, you can move to a more comfortable place for a meeting. But we don't have that luxury for our students. So I'm asking you to commit here today that we will have a mandate for maximum temperatures for Ontario schools in the event of a storm. Thank you. Deputy Premier. Minister of Education. Thank you, Speaker. I want to thank the member opposite for the question. We certainly have been experiencing some warm days this week in the season in September and very happy that today we've had some natural relief. It's much, much cooler today. And I'm sure that our classrooms are experiencing that change in the weather. I understand the concern that the member opposite is bringing forward and our students, our parents and our teachers. Of course, when the classrooms are warm, that is impacting their ability to learn in the classroom. And Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why we have been providing school boards across Ontario with increased investments in rural funding. $1.4 billion has been provided to school boards to address their priority concerns including installing air conditioning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, thank you. The Premier has championed this government as a leader in climate change. And you acknowledge that it will trigger extremes. Why isn't the learning environment of our children a priority? I will ask you one more time. Will you commit here today that we will have a mandate for maximum temperatures for Ontario schools? Thank you. Minister? Well, Mr. Speaker, you know, I actually believe that our education system is a priority of this government, Mr. Speaker. And you see that in our record when the member opposite, when her party was in power, our education system was actually in a state of chaos, Mr. Speaker. Graduation rates were only 68%. Mr. Speaker, as of last year, they are at an 86.5%. Funding for education since 2003 has actually gone up by 66%. So we are spending more today on a per-pupil basis than we have before. But as it relates specifically to the learning environment, we have prioritized that, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned in my earlier answer $1.4 billion in investment. And that is in addition to the $2.7 billion that we have provided to our school boards over the last two years so that we can improve the learning environment for all of our students. Thank you. New question to the member from Kitchener or Waterloo. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health. Statistics recently released by Public Health Ontario showed that Waterloo Region is experienced an increase in opioid fatalities. In 2015, 23 people died from overdoses. This number rose to 38 in 2016. Between January and July of this year, 35 people have died of opioid overdoses. It is clear that there is an increasing strain on public emergency services to respond to opioid-related incidents in Waterloo Region and indeed across Ontario. To address this crisis, Waterloo Region Police Chief Brian Larkin ordered $43,000 worth of nalaxone doses. They have asked this government to provide emergency relief funding. Can the government commit today to funding nalaxone kits for frontline workers in Waterloo Region? Thank you. Thank you. Minister. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me an opportunity to reiterate a portion of the member opposite's question that we are facing an unprecedented opioid crisis in this province. That's why this government has acted early and substantially to almost $300 million over the next two and a half years, Mr. Speaker, that will go specifically and entirely to addressing all of the opportunities to slow and stop this crisis. It includes the Linn that the member resides in and represents the community within the Waterloo Wellington Linn, where earlier this year we provided additional human resources and financial resources to every single public health unit around the province. It includes nalaxone, which is available in more than 1,600 pharmacies and 200 communities across this province. And I'm happy to talk more about the investments that we're making in supplementary. Thank you. Thank you. Now, the police chiefs of Ontario wrote to this government almost nine months ago asking for emergency relief on this very issue. This summer I had multiple conversations about the opioid crisis with Chief Larkin. In just two months this past summer, nalaxone kits were administered six times and saved four lives. The other two times nalaxone was administered to officers who were exposed to fentanyl. The wellbeing of officers is compromised when they come into contact with narcotics and require medical attention. Simply put, this is a matter of workplace health and safety for frontline workers. It is a public health crisis. It is time for this province to catch up to this crisis. And I will ask again, can the government commit today to providing emergency funding for nalaxone for frontline services, which is what they deserve? To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Mr. Community Safety Correctional Services. Well, thank you very much. And I thank the member for her questions. And certainly, you know, when I look at the great work that our police officers are doing every single day to support communities and support us, we have to commend their great efforts. And you know, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that I do have a regular conversation with Chief Larkin and all other police services, including our OPP officers. And the aspect of moving forward to ensure that they are safe in their practice, but also ensuring that they have the right resources to practice and to continue the great work they do, I am very open. We are moving on our strategy for safer Ontario, Mr. Speaker. And definitely, this is something we are considering. The question, the member for the train is here. Well, thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Ontario's vibrant arts and culture organizations are part of what makes this province such a great place to live. Forward Richmond, a building in my writing, is occupied by over 140 artists, culture creators, start-ups, galleries, festivals, and shops. And many of the tenants in this building are nonprofit terrible organizations. On Tuesday, I was very happy to announce that Forward Richmond has had their property tax assessment reduced. This reduction is a result of a reassessment of the property valuation by the municipal property assessment corporation. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can he please share with us the details about the reduction of the property tax reassessment for Forward Richmond? And the question, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the outstanding advocacy of the member of Trinity Spadina on this very issue. And I am proud and happy to talk about the resolution to his stakeholders and his writing. MPP Dawn has worked tirelessly with the owner and tenants of 401 Richmond since February. And I thank the member for his leadership, and I cannot underestimate the value that cultural innovation hubs contribute to our communities and our economy. Which is why I am pleased that MPPAC and the property owners were able to resolve the assessment appeals for this property through a negotiated settlement which has reduced the 2016 current value assessment by more than 40 percent. There will also be a tax refund for the 2013 to 2016 tax years. I am proud to work alongside all our colleagues in this house and my caucus members who work so hard to support local arts and our community centers. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you. Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I'm pleased that MPAC was able to deliver a reduced assessment for this cultural hub, which is so important to me and people in my writing. While the reduction provides some time to address the concerns of the tenants, it does not address the future financial uncertainty that they're facing regarding the potential increase in their property tax. That is why I'm encouraging the City of Toronto to explore a new property tax class for nonprofit organizations. I'm mindful that this will impact the bottom line of the city. That is why I'm happy to hear the Ministry of Finance is taking a very responsible approach by asking the city to provide a definition of this property tax class. Speaker, through you to the Minister, can he provide details on the next steps of implementing this new property tax class? Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, following MPP Don's engagement on this issue, we have been meeting with the City of Toronto to discuss the tools that the city can use to reduce property taxes for the owner and the tenants of 401 Richmond. These discussions have examined the range of existing tax tools at the City, at the City's disposal, including tax rebates for charities and heritage properties and tax exemptions from municipal capital facilities. We've also explored the possibility of creating, as the member just mentioned, new property classes, a property class that could be created through regulation under the Assessment Act. So first and foremost, we would need a formal request from the City of Toronto to create such a class. We've already seen support from local City Councillor Joe Cresci who has recognized our government's cooperation. And once we receive the Council's resolution, the Minister of Finance would work with the City to develop a framework that would encompass the eligibility criteria that it desires. We will continue to support the City and other parties in this effort to ensure that properties like 401 Richmond can continue to operate as important incubators for arts and cultural community. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Minister, I asked about the safety plan for the Bala Falls hydroelectric generating station on Monday, but your answer was not clear. So I'll ask again, has your ministry received a safety plan from Swift River Energy? Thank you very much and thank you very much for the question. It's kind of a bit surprising with the question from the member opposite who has really not been engaged in this process, whereas my ministry has for some years. But the Ontario government is committed to expanding clean and renewable sources of energy such as water and wind power. There has been many years worth many consultations with the community and a lot of work that my ministry and the Ministry of Energy and Climate Change has put towards this particular project and public safety has been the A number one issue at this area. At the moment, Swift River Energy has signed approval for pre-construction work, including fencing, storing equipment and materials and constructions of coffer dams. Our ministry has posted signs and fences to ensure public safety. The ongoing safety concerns are heard. Both the plans are in place and I'll speak more of the details of the supplementary. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr Speaker and back to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Minister, I want to read from the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act administrative guide published by your ministry. It states that one of the purposes of the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act is the quote, protection of persons and property by ensuring dams are suitably located, constructed and operated and maintained. This is the Minister's responsibility. This power dam is being located in the middle of a popular recreation area with cottages and swimming areas in close proximity both above and below the dam. The life-saving society issued a report on the dangers of this project two years ago. Speaker, what is the minister doing to ensure that the Bala Falls power dam will not pose a danger to swimmers and boaters? Thank you Thank you, thank you Speaker and thank you again for the supplementary. But at the moment public safety measures including fencing and warning signs have been put in place around the Bala Dam area. This is the proponents with River Energy's responsibility to put a safety plan in place and closer to the end of the project is the time where most of the details will be there. The project has to be built in order to get some of those measurements in place. At the moment the interim safety plan is in place. It is being enforced by the proponent and those safety plans will be in front of my ministry and others to ensure that the safety of this site will continue. I just want to reiterate it's the proponents responsibility at the moment the interim plan is keeping the public safe which is my ministry's number one issue. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the acting premier. Today Joshua M. Ferguson will be filing a human rights application over the delay in issuing a non-binary birth certificate by this government. In May I ask the government about Joshua's application to amend the sex designation on their birth certificate. Service Ontario's birth certificate application should take no more than six weeks but Joshua's application has been pending for over four months. Will the liberal government stop dragging its feet and ensure equal rights for trans and non-binary folk as promised five years ago with Toby's law. Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Thank you Speaker and I want to acknowledge the hard work and advocacy of the member from Parkdale High Park on this very important issue and Speaker our government is yes she deserves credit for this and our government is very proud of taking a lead on this issue. We're very pleased to see other jurisdictions including the federal government aligned with us and our government of course values acceptance, respect and diversity and ensuring that all Ontarians are treated ethically, equitably fairly including trans and non-binary community and similar to the drivers license and health card policies we've already implemented we're developing that gender neutral option for Ontario certificates. We've been moving forward with stakeholder consultations and as I've said here in the House and outside of the House with a view to implementing a new non-binary certificate in 2018 we're working very diligently on this speaker engaging all parts of our government including the federal government. Thank you Supplementary. Mr Speaker why should it take the government six years to amend a forum even the Ministry of Government and Consumer agreed in a letter to Joshua that they quote understand and appreciate the negative consequences experienced by those who do not have identification that is congruent with their gender identity. Yet you've taken no action. In the meantime others like Newfoundland and Labrador the Northwest Territories have already started to issue birth certificates with non-binary designations. Does this government obviously this government does have to get sued in order for action on basic human rights. Thank you. Thank you Minister. Speaker I do want to assure this House that this government is taking action. We recently introduced a new policy to help trans and non-binary persons live according to the gender identity but because birth certificates are the foundation for many other forms of identification we need to make sure we get this right for the people of Ontario and we're working very closely with the federal government on this and with the other Canadian jurisdictions as well to ensure that anything we do that affects a foundation document such as a birth certificate will not have negative impacts on the holders. The federal government has indicated it will move forward to offer the removal of sex designation for passports for the time being the federal government said they are implementing interim measures and now Ontario will continue to work on developing a system for the issue of non-binary birth certificates my commitment is unwavered to seeing this through Speaker for the new year. Thank you. Thank you. No question the member from Kingston in the islands. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of the status of women. The minister asked a question in question period about the anti-human trafficking conferences that took place in Barrie. More than 200 law enforcement social service workers and court service workers came together to break through the chain of human trafficking. In this meeting our law enforcement partners discuss how they could effectively address the terrible reality of human trafficking. In collaboration with them we are working hard to address and eliminate this terrible crime and Speaker will say that I am very proud of the law enforcement officers like the ones in my riding of Kingston and the islands where specialized and trained units use a whole team approach to address and prioritize human trafficking cases. Human trafficking is a crime that violates every human right and continues to affect the most vulnerable people in our society. Mr. Speaker can the minister please update us on the conference that took place and what the government is doing to end this scenario. Thank you Minister. Speaker when I thank the member from Kingston and the islands for a hard work on this issue and for this important question. Speaker absolutely human trafficking is a heart wrenching crime and I want you to know we are working tirelessly to help survivors heal and bring traffickers to justice. It's conferences like the ones in Barrie and Canora that have allowed us to move quickly to address human trafficking. I'm pleased that we're able to hold conferences and find ways for law enforcement to address human trafficking. Speaker our government takes this issue seriously that's why we launched Ontario strategy to end human trafficking and have invested close to seventy two million dollars including funding for forty seven community based initiatives. We are also pleased that we passed the Anti-Human Trafficking Act. Speaker we've consulted with more than two hundred organizations as part of the Human Trafficking Community Supports Fund. Applicants will soon know about the funding available and we've created a new human trafficking lived experience round table. Thank you. There's more work to be done. Supplementary. I want to thank the minister for her answer and speaker as I said earlier police services across the province are working hard at finding the most effective ways of fighting this heinous crime. Last week my riding of Kingston and the islands I would suggest that there were some errors mentioned in the house regarding what officers in my riding are doing to end human trafficking. I'm proud to report that the Kingston police takes a collaborative team approach to battle human trafficking and that it does not fall on the shoulders of one unit or say a couple of members of its highly capable team. With a population of one hundred and sixteen thousand in its city core Kingstonians can rest assured that this department will continue to take a team approach and that they will continue to keep human trafficking a high priority. I would like to thank all those who are helping to fight human trafficking. Can the minister please speak to how our government is working with police services across this province to put an end to human trafficking. Minister. Minister of community safety and correctional services. Thank you very much and I want to say thank you to the member from the community for the questions. We know that a big part of putting an end to human trafficking is to ensure police have the necessary tool in training. Through our policing grant programs we help police services get the resources they need to stop this unacceptable crime. Just a few months ago Mr. Speaker the London police service alongside police services from Stratford and Woodstock made 78 arrests and helped 18 survivors six months investigation. Since April the OPP have also laid 22 human trafficking charges and an additional 92 criminal code offenses and starting this fall the OPP will lead an anti-human trafficking investigation coordination team to aid municipal and first nation police services in their investigation. We will continue closely with our law enforcement and partner to end human trafficking. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question today is to the Minister of Energy. Last week my private members bill the Transparency and Gas Pricing Act passed second reading with tri-partisan support. It's a straightforward piece of legislation that would allow natural gas customers to see the cost of cap and trade on their bill giving Ontario rate payers the same level of transparency already enjoyed back in British Columbia. Speaker support for this common sense bill is widespread. The auditor general's survey of rate payers revealed 89% thought it important to disclose the impact of cap and trade on natural gas bills. Speaker does the minister agree with 89% of natural gas users and does he think people deserve to know exactly how much they're paying for the Liberals cap and trade program. Thank you very much very much Mr. Speaker please to rise and provide comment to the question in relation to cap and trade on energy bills Mr. Speaker and the cost of that was a decision that was made by the Ontario Energy Board Mr. Speaker. That's a quasi judicial independent organization from the government Mr. Speaker they did their due diligence they went through the process they spoke with people Mr. Speaker around the province they even Mr. Speaker allowed for written submissions to this to the subject matter Mr. Speaker and then after they made their decision they realized Mr. Speaker that their decision was that this was a cost of doing business like it's been done in many other instances and many other sectors Mr. Speaker their decision was independent of this government and they made the decision Mr. Speaker to put that as a part of cost of doing business Mr. Speaker supplementary Mr. Speaker back to the minister when people get a bill they expect and deserve to see every tax they pay Mr. Speaker cap and trade cannot be credible or fair if its cost is hidden in the delivery charge this liberal government has spent millions of dollars advertising their hydro plan because they claim it's critical that people understand their hydro bills but they refuse to support legislation which wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime to give natural gas users basic transparency will the minister step up and give the people of Ontario the accountability they deserve and the transparency that they were promised by this liberal government thank you Mr. Speaker when we're talking about transparency it's this government that brings it forward Mr. Speaker the only time we're talking about transparency is when we're talking about the bill the member from red food come to order and the member from Leeds Grandville carry on thank you Mr. Speaker the only thing that's hidden is that party's plan on anything to do with energy Mr. Speaker we keep waiting we've heard 200 days ago that there be a plan along with tricity when it comes to cap and trade dollars Mr. Speaker we're making sure that we're investing in this we shut down coal plants it's like taking 7 million cars off the road saving 4 billion dollars in our healthcare system Mr. Speaker we are proud of what we've done to ensure that we're doing our part to address climate change Mr. Speaker and making life more affordable for Ontarians thank you thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Deputy Premier I learned that the scandal plagued Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority gutted its watershed management department in half firing many key frontline staff the NPCA is mandated to protect Niagara and parts of Hamilton's environment for nearly a million residents instead it's been very busy firing environmental specialists ensuing private citizens who dare to speak up for accountability despite receiving government funding despite my community's pleas for this government to do something they continue to let the people of Niagara down by doing nothing when will this government stop the waste of public tax dollars ensure accountability and transparency are brought to the NPCA and restore our community's trust in our conservation authority thank you Deputy Premier I join the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry thank you Speaker I'm a member for a question as I've said before the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry has no authority to intervene in the operations of any given conservation authority and the member from Welland knows this we've had several conversations regarding my authority as a minister each conservation authority is governed by a board of directors whose members are appointed by participating municipalities these municipality representatives decide on the programs including policies related to staffing oversight of day to day operations and human resource management is typically delegated to a general manager or chief administrative officer who's again chosen by municipal representatives I can assure the House I've had multiple conversations with a member from St. Catherine's as well as Welland on this issue and regarding their concerns Speaker this issue highlights the importance of modernizing the Conservation Authorities Act I was pleased to see support from both opposition members on this important act well Speaker we need to amend the bill that's going to committee to add the addition of appointing a supervisor this isn't the first time that I've listed the issues plaguing this authority this year alone we've seen the NPCA fire many key staff censure board members with dissenting viewpoints when will the government to allow developers to build on significantly protected wetlands stall the auditor general's offer to audit the books stall freedom of information requests and allow widespread widespread workplace harassment and the list goes on when will this government step in one of its ministries and hold the NPCA board accountable ensure that public dollars are well spent and that necessary transparency accountability are brought back to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Ministry Thank you Speaker so through our proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act we're aiming to strengthen oversight and accountability to ensure that decisions about Ontario's natural resources are made in accordance with modern expectations for transparency oversight of conservation authority operations is the responsibility of the board however there are ministery review is necessary so we're proposing to enhance the ministries authority in these situations by enabling the minister to require a conservation authority to disclose or publish information on programs services or operations so this would help to shed light on perceived issues with conservation authority decisions Speaker this is just one example of the many proposed improvements we're making to the Conservation Authorities Act yesterday all three parties voted to support the changes and I'm happy to see that the parties opposite take these seriously and hope to see their support for bill 139 I understand they know they have no plan we do and I'm happy they're supporting ours New question the member from BCC short Well thank you Speaker my question is to the minister of health and long-term care now clearly speaker the members of the opposition in particular the leader of the third party haven't fully embraced the extensive magnitude of investments that we're making in healthcare in the province of Ontario I know that healthcare is a top priority for our government but it's astounding to hear questions about adding new beds in long-term care to somehow be clarified classified as a negative so investing in health infrastructure is an important part of ensuring Ontario patients have access to high quality care that is needed today and well into the future speaker in my riding of beaches east York of the government's new investments to the Michael Garen hospital our local hospital last year the hospital received more than 2.8 million through Ontario's health infrastructure renewal fund and over 3. million additional dollars in the budget Speaker will the minister of health please update this house on the important investments that Ontario is making in hospitals Minister of health long-term care Thank you Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question of the $1 billion that we're investing in health care this fiscal year half of that investment goes to hospitals half a billion dollars Mr. Speaker including for them to be able to address challenges that they face but also specifically we're making multi-year investments to reduce wait times as well so we committed in this year's budget to $1.3 billion explicitly in the government investment for hospitals as well as in mental health facilities to reduce wait times for key health services Mr. Speaker we have an addition over the next three years we'll be increasing the health budget by an additional $7 billion and that investment that we announced earlier this year represents a 3.1% increase just to the hospital sector and Mr. Speaker we will continue to make the investments that are required to ensure that that highest quality care is being provided Supplementary Well thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for that response and the incredible work that he is doing to ensure that we have excellent health care in the province of Ontario because it is reassuring to know that our government is committed to ensuring quality care across Ontario and particularly in my own area of beaches east York and the people of Ontario because it will reduce wait times provide access to care and enhance the patient experience in beaches east York Speaker you should be might be aware we have three RFPs now accepted going forward to be evaluated for a massive new infrastructure renewal project and Michael Garrett which is likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars of investments to provide the excellent quality care that we need and deserve in beaches east York so with the minister speaker provide further details on how these investments operational and capital will benefit the hospitals across Ontario and all the people of Ontario Thank you minister Thank you Mr. Speaker and in addition to the fact that over the last several years we've added more than a thousand hospital beds to this province's capacity in this year's budget we specifically targeted priority services almost 200 million dollars for cardiac surges services critical care organ and tissue donations and transplantations rare diseases bariatric services and also supporting new and redeveloped hospitals we are contributing 91 million in targeted investments to reduce wait times for specific procedures hip and knee replacements stroke therapy chemotherapy MRI Mr. Speaker 30 million in high growth communities 10 million in new funding for medium sized hospitals 15 million in new funding for small northern and rural hospitals 13 million dollars of new funding for specialty mental health hospitals and 12 million earmark for pediatric hospitals to support the continued provision of high quality patient care. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister transport they call it carney jowling the stretch of 401 between London and Tilbury is one of the most dangerous roads in Ontario on August 29 a truck truck crossed the center median of the 401 near Dutton and smashed into a van head on the two people in the van a mother and her 5 year old daughter were killed sadly there was another tragedy on July 31 where two people were killed and two more seriously injured in a collision involving a tractor trailer and six cars a median barrier would do a lot to prevent needless deaths and accidents like these in 2009 the ministry of transport received environmental clearance to expand carney jowling to six lanes and to install a median barrier however the MTO claimed it wasn't worthwhile to make carney jowling safer because of a lack of traffic on that stretch of the 401 the government's position is appalling we're talking about one of the busiest highways and border crossings in the country minister if you want to expand 401 to six lanes will you at least pay for grass medium and build a barrier thanks very much speaker I thank the member for his question I have said on a number of occasions here in this chamber and elsewhere that road and highway safety is the top priority of the ministry of transportation speaker when I hear any kind of message that's conveyed regarding an injury or a fatality on any stretch of road or highway in the province of course my heart goes out to the family and friends of those that are involved and in the case of an injury to the person who was involved themselves I'm aware of some of the challenges that exist with respect to the stretch of the 401 that the member opposite is talking about I know whether we're talking about that particular piece of the 401 or most of the highway network right across the province of Ontario we are currently involved in many upgrades and many rehabilitation speaker we are literally investing not just hundreds of millions of dollars but billions of dollars in every corner including in the southwest on on highway 401 another speaker I know there's a very specific request this member has made the supplementary thank you supplementary thank you speaker next Wednesday minister close to a hundred people from my writing of Chatham Kent will be coming to Queens Park they'll be here to protest the extreme danger of carnage alley they're all friends and family of the two latest victims who lost their lives in that head-on collision they want to talk to me about the recent tragedy and explain the necessity of a medium barrier my question to you minister is very simple will you make yourself available to talk with them also thanks very much speaker so a couple of things I'll point out first as I mentioned I would say in the supplementary so and the member would probably know this since 2015 the ministry has been reconstructing sections of highway 401 through Chatham Kent under several separate contracts there is definitely more work that is both needed and is to come including the installation of barriers in the grass median in an upcoming project for example the ministry will be reconstructing the east bound lanes of the 401 from east of drake road to east of chairing cross road and from west of mall road to west of Victoria road that work will also include installing high tension cable barriers within the 15 meter wide grass median from the beginning of the four lane section of highway 401 until the Victoria rate interchange in Chatham Kent for a total length of 50 kilometers I point this out to say that there is ongoing work that's taking place speaker and with respect to the last part of the members question when the individuals are here next week assuming that I'm available I'd be happy to meet with them thank you very much speaker thank you speaker and my question is to the acting premier for the past two weeks classrooms in my community have been sweltering teachers were taking photos of classroom thermometers some classrooms endured temperatures as high as 42 degrees they reported this week with temperatures like that students health at risk and their ability to learn their ability to learn as compromised speaker thankfully today our students are finally seeing some relief the temperatures are expected to rise again next week some community councils were able to spend fund raised money on electric fans for the classroom this week schools and economically challenged areas like the school I had in the south end of Oshawa don't have community councils with extra money to spend on fans so I would like to know does the premier think that parents should have to fund raise to make sure that the kids can learn in safe and healthy environments minister of education thank you speaker and I want to thank the member opposite for question and the answer is no we are providing funding to our school boards so that they can prioritize the needs in their schools and as I have said in this house 1.4 billion dollars have been provided to school boards to prioritize the capital renewal needs in their local communities and Mr. Speaker I do want to say that there are school boards for instance that are prioritizing adding cooling areas into schools so they are adding air conditioning to areas like the gym or the library that can serve as those cooling areas and I believe that all of our locally elected school boards as well as the directors of education really do understand the needs in their communities as well as the school leaders, the principals vice-principals and the teacher educators and we want to give them that flexibility to make those decisions Mr. Speaker the member from the school board point of order Mr. Speaker on behalf of my leader Patrick Brown I would like to welcome in the gallery Zach Hofer you may have heard of him from Zach makes tracks this young hero ran from Barry to Ottawa all the way along the route he was raising awareness and funds for youth mental health welcome to Zach and his family Mr. Speaker I would like to correct my record I reported in my question that there were 35 opioid overdose fatalities actually there have been 42 since August 22nd thank you Speaker I'd invite all members of the legislature to please welcome a member of the National Assembly of Bangladesh Maja Bin Khalid elected in 2014 is also a member of the standing committee on foreign affairs accompanied by Javed Ali Khan a local community leader welcome thank you Mr. Backer called your food and rural affairs on a point of order Mr. Speaker I would like to correct my record on Tuesday I mistakenly said that Ontario Racing was in attendance for a meeting with a member from Niagara Falls I would like to correct this area it was Woodbuying who joined us in that meeting and not Ontario Racing thank you for so understanding order 38A the member for Kitchener Rodaloo has given notice of her dissatisfaction of the answer to her question given by the Minister of Health for long term care concerning Ontario will be debated Tuesday at 6 p.m. there are no deferred votes this out stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon