 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the Leader of the Official Opposition. Well, thank you very much, Speaker. My first question is to the Acting Premier. As Acting OPP Commissioner Brad Blair showed incredible integrity and courage, standing up for the independence of the Ontario Provincial Police, and standing up to the Premier when he tried to install his friend, Ron Tavener, as the Commissioner of the OPP. Why did the Premier have him fired? To the Deputy Premier. To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. I will once again reiterate. Mr. Blair's employment with the OPP was terminated as a result of a nine-member Deputy Minister Committee of the Public Service Commission. To be clear, that recommendation to terminate his employment was in consultation with the Commissioner, Gary Couture. No one is above the law, whether you are a Constable or a Deputy Commissioner. You swear an oath, Speaker, to uphold the laws of our province. Position come to order. Breached his duties as both a police officer and a public service. That is why the recommendation was made to terminate his employment, and that is why his OIC was rescinded. Supplementary. Speaker, for months the Premier and the Minister's force to defend his actions insisted that hiring the Premier's oldest friend as Commissioner was a coincidence. And that buying an off-the-books van with a reclining leather couch was a cost-saving measure. Now they want to attack a dedicated career officer who had the courage to both blow the whistle on this government. Why should anyone believe that this is anything, but the Premier trying to settle the score? Speaker, I think in the interest of clarity, we better read from the dismissal letter that was sent to Brad Blair, which was made public earlier today. And I will quote, you have no authority to unilaterally disclose confidential government emails in furtherance of your personal interns. Quote, the disclosure is both a contravention of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation made under the PSOA and the violation of your oath of office you took as a public service. Quote, it is a clear attempt to use your professional status to further your private interests by implying that the legal activities in which you are engaged are a party of your official duties and or sanctioned by the OPP. This individual chose to sell the reputation of the excellent OPP officers to serve our public and the people of Ontario. He was terminated as a result. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, every PCMPP should take a moment to ask themselves if their constituents sent them here so that the Premier could install his personal friend into the top job running the OPP and fire anyone who doesn't agree with him. Maybe it was because Brad Blair blew the whistle on political interference. Maybe it was because he said the OPP wouldn't make off-the-books purchases for the Premier. Maybe it was because the Premier was worried about the investigation into the 407 data breach, but people deserve answers. Answers this government has not provided. Will the government call a public inquiry today to clear the air? Again, in the interest of clarity, I will confirm that Mr. Blair's employment was determined as a result of a nine-member Public Service Commission decision. That recommendation was accepted. We have now moved forward. We need to ensure that the integrity of the OPP, the integrity of the people who choose to serve in our Ontario provincial police and in the OPS are prepared to withhold and prepare to make sure that they prepare their oath of office. We have individuals in the OPP who are excellent and yet we have an individual who chose to, and I will quote again, you have no authority to unilaterally disclose confidential government emails and furtherance of your public interest. He was terminated as a result of a recommendation from the Public Service Commission. That led to a revocation of his order in council. It's done. We need to move on. Let's start the clock. Next question, the leader of the opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is also to the Acting Premier. I think it's shocking that the Minister says it's done. Nothing to see here. It wreaks like a stinking mess and this government needs to clean it up, Speaker. They need to clean it up. OPP says that the Acting Commissioner, Brad Blair, is fired on the orders of Mario Di Tommaso, Ron Taverner's former colleague and the man who changed the OPP Commissioner job description in order to lower the bar so that Ron Taverner could qualify to apply. But yesterday the Minister of Community Safety claimed that the decision was made by the Public Service Commission in consultation with the OPP independently. Whose version is accurate, Speaker? The Ministers or the Ontario Provincial Polices? And the Deputy Premier? The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Service. The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Service. Speaker, you know, the leader of the NDP can't have it both ways. You ask for an independent public service. You ask that there is no involvement and intervention. And yet, when I explain the process, when I talk about the Ontario Public Service, the commission that made the decision to terminate Mr. Blair's employment with the Ontario Public Service and the OPP, you are suggesting that in some way we now need to get involved. I vehemently disagree. I support the Ontario Public Service. I support the recommendation. Members, please make your seat. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, I daresay the Minister and her Premier better figure out whether this was a political appointment or it wasn't. They can't have it both ways, Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services said that her Deputy Minister, Ron Taverner's friend, Mario de Tomasso, recommended the termination of Brad Blair and the Minister claimed she didn't ask why Mario de Tomasso was doing this. Supposedly, he didn't give her his reasons for wanting to fire Brad Blair, but she approved the decision anyway. Why would the Minister approve terminating an OPP Deputy Commissioner without seeking an explanation or rationale for the decision? Minister? Speaker, in the interest of clarity, again, I will read from the dismissal letter given to Mr. Blair. Quote, you have no authority to unilaterally disclose confidential government emails in furtherance of your personal interest. Quote, the disclosure of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation made under the PSOA and the violation of the oath of office you took as a public service. Quote, it is a clear attempt to use your professional status to further your private interest by implying that the legal activities in which you are engaged are a party of your official duties and or sanctioned by the OPP. Quote, this is also a contravention of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation. Quote, you have acted in a manner that is incompatible with the faithful discharge of your position as a public service. Enough said. Government says the OPP decided to fire the acting commissioner, Brad Blair. The OPP says it was the decision coming from Mario Di Tomaso, the deputy minister who is also a friend of Ron Taverners. The Premier has been saying for months that Brad Blair should be punished for speaking out. Can the acting Premier tell us did the Premier or his chief of staff have conversations about this matter with the deputy minister before he recommended the firing? Thank you, Speaker. I am going to repeat this in the interest of ensuring that everybody is clear. No one is above the law whether you are a constable or a deputy commissioner. You swear an oath to uphold the laws of this province. Mr. Blair's employment was terminated as a result of the Public Service Commission nine-member committee. This action was taken in consultation with the OPP Commissioner Couture. I think that it is perfectly appropriate that someone that used their uniform and position as a deputy commissioner to further his own personal gain violated the use of his office and, frankly, sullies the reputation of every excellent OPP opposition who serves the province of Ontario and the people of Ontario. We need to make sure that the people who choose to serve in our Ontario Public Service and with the OPP respect that oath of office that is what the commission has done by terminating his employment. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is to the acting Premier. The deputy OPP Commissioner was ultimately terminated through an order in council, an order in council that was signed by the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Did anyone, did anyone in the cabinet, ask any questions about Blair's termination before citing the order in council that removed him or are we supposed to believe that the Premier asked no questions about this unprecedented termination? Deputy Premier. Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Thank you, Speaker. I think in the interest of clarifying process it is important to note that the order in council occurred after Mr Blair was terminated as a deputy commissioner for the OPP. You cannot have an order in council of an individual who is no longer actively engaged in the role as commissioner of the OPP. That is why the recommendation was made to me as minister to revoke the order in council. After the termination occurred on Monday morning we revoked the order in council as was appropriate. Thank you. The Premier has claimed that it was a remarkable coincidence that his oldest friend was awarded the job of OPP Commissioner, even though he wasn't qualified to even apply for the initial posting. Now he expects us to believe that impartial civil servants and the OPP decided spontaneously to terminate the decorated officer that the Premier has been complaining about for months. Why won't the Premier stop asking people to believe the unbelievable and put all the facts on the table with a public inquiry? That's what the people of this province deserve. Take your seats, minister. It's sadder that the individual who did not ultimately get the offer of employment to serve as the OPP Commissioner is a little angry, but that in no way excuses him and allows him to be above the law. So again, the dismissal letter sent to Mr. Blair, which was made public today, and I quote you have an authority to you do not have authority to unilaterally disclose to government emails in furtherance of your personal interests. Quote, the disclosure is both the contravention of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation made under the PSOA and the violation of your oath of office you took as a public servant. Quote, it is a clear attempt to use your professional status to further your personal interests by implying that the legal activities in which you engage are party of your official duties by the OPP. Opposition members, some of the interjections are dangerously close to the line of acceptability or unacceptable in terms of parliamentary language. Next question, the member for Niagara West. My question is for the minister of training colleges and universities. Speaker, I know from listening to students and families that sky rocketing fees for university and college in Ontario became increasingly unaffordable under the previous liberal government. In fact, since 2006 undergraduate tuition for Ontarians has risen from an average of $5,000 to almost $9,000. And so my classmates at Brock University have been clear to me that a sustainable and affordable post-secondary education is crucial to them and their future. Can the minister tell us what steps this government is taking to make university and college affordable for students and their families? Minister for training, colleges and universities in Ontario have been calling on tuition relief from Niagara West for the question. For years, student groups and even the opposition have been calling for tuition relief from unsustainable tuition fees. And our government is taking unprecedented steps to provide tuition fee relief. And for the first time in Ontario's history we will be reducing tuition fees across the board by 10%. And, Speaker, I will handle a 3% reduction in funding. $150 million in tuition relief to students and their families. In addition to this historic reduction we are creating a student choice initiative. This initiative will allow students to choose whether or not to support optional fees so they can find additional savings. Speaker, our government is putting students first by making post-secondary education more affordable and putting more money back in their pockets. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you. And for the second response, Speaker, it's shameful. Shamful that under the previous Liberal government, tuition was allowed to skyrocket. Since 2006, undergraduate for tuition for Ontarians has risen from an average of $5,000 to almost $9,000. But I know that many professional degrees including medical degrees, computer science and business degrees are even more expensive for students. I know large savings for students and families in those programs and so can the minister tell us how many how many how much students in my writing could save in these programs because of our government's historic action. Minister. Thank you Speaker and thank you again to the member the question speaker. The member is right to say that students and families will see real and substantial savings from our 10% tuition reduction. In the members writing a student studying game development at Niagara College will save $560 and $650 even more next year thanks to our government's changes. A student studying an undergraduate degree of commerce and business at Brock University will save $890 next year and a student studying a master's of education at Brock will save $1,200. Speaker we were elected on a promise to put more money back to tuition reduction and our student choice initiative. We are doing just that. Thank you. The next question is from the member for Essex. Thank you very much speaker through you to the acting premier speaker was acting OPP commissioner Brad Blair fired for telling the people of Ontario that the current part-time premier requested an off the books purchase of a special luxury van complete with a reclining couch, a bar fridge and a widescreen TV. The deputy premier safety and correctional services. Mr Blair's employment with the Ontario Provincial Police was terminated because no one is above the law. Whether you are a constable or a deputy commissioner, you swear an oath to uphold the laws of this province. He chose not to do that when he didn't get the job that he wanted. A decision was made by the Public Service Commission to terminate his employment. That is what happened in full consultation with the OPP commissioner Couture. Supplementary Speaker that truly is some Trudeau level spin coming out of this minister. Brad Blair. Brad Blair didn't have a lot to gain from blowing the whistle on this premier, but the premier had everything to gain from firing blood bear. He could he could clear the way for his appointment of his friend Ron Taverner as commissioner. He could get his luxury van complete with reclining couch, bar fridge and widescreen TV. Speaker our part-time premier has a proven track record of threatening blood Brad Blair. So when the premier said that this has nothing. No, you can't impute motive. I'd ask the member to put his question without imputing motive. Speaker, I would draw. Speaker, when the premier says that this has nothing to do with him, why should anyone in Ontario believe him? Speaker, the difference between Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford is Premier Ford stands behind the women in his cabinet and supports letter sent to Brad Blair, which he made public yesterday. You have no authority to unilaterally disclose confidential government emails in furtherance of your personal interests. Quote, the disclosure is both a contravention of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation made under the PSOA and a violation of the oath of office you took as a public servant. Quote, it is a clear attempt response to your professional status to further your private interest by implying that the legal activities in which you are engaged are party to your official duties and are sanctioned by the OPP, which they were not clearly. Thank you. Question. The member for Barry Springwater or Mr. Speaker. Thank you. My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Mr. Speaker, our PC government was elected on a promise to make life easier for the people of Ontario. For 15 years, the Liberal Party, with the support of the NDP, nickled and dimed Ontarians. They were more concerned with finding ways to raise taxes than with how to make life more affordable. Under the leadership of our Premier, it's a new day in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry has been hard at work to make hunting and angling more affordable for the people of my riding. After the Liberals ignored them for 15 years, recently the minister announced that hunting and fishing license fees would be frozen. Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister is, how much of the money will this initiative put back in the pockets of the folks in Barry Springwater or Medonte who fish in Lake Simcoe and Overlake? Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Well, thank you, Speaker. I want to thank the member from Barry Springwater or Medonte for the question and his great service to his riding. We're making life easier for hundreds and fishers by putting more money back into their pockets. These are great sports enjoyed by people all across Ontario. It's also a big driver of our economy, particularly in rural communities. With our PC government, Ontario is finally open for business and open for jobs. Canceling the Liberals previously approved fee increases of $2 of service fee increases plus the license fee increase themselves will make hunting and fishing more accessible to people all across Ontario so they can contribute to their local economy by spending more money on the things that matter to them. Perhaps more money at the bait shop. Perhaps more money at the tackle shop. Speaker, I'm pleased to inform the member that this initiative will put $4.3 million not into the government's pockets, but back into the people pockets of the people of Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for that answer. I'm always glad to hear how committed the minister is to making life easier for hunters and anglers by putting more money in their pockets. It's unfortunate. It's unfortunate that the NDP decided to support the Liberals for 15 years while the cost of day-to-day life became more than Ontarians could bear. However, it's clear the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and our government have the right priorities for the people of Ontario with common sense initiatives like this. Mr. Speaker, I know the decision to exempt veterans and active Canadian Armed Forces members who enjoy recreational fishing from needing a fishing license was also very well received by my constituents, including my friend Aaron Gerv. Ontario is finally on the right track, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister elaborate on the significance of hunting and fishing for Ontario's economy? Minister. I want to thank the member again for supplementary and we were very proud, very proud as the government for the people to exempt veterans and active servicemen from service people from their fishing license fees. Ontario is recognized as a destination for both hunting and fishing and the impact that it has on our tourism industry is significant. We have a bountiful amount of natural resources and we want people from everywhere to take advantage of that. Recreational fishing alone is a $2.2 billion industry here in the province of Ontario that contributes so much to the local economies, particularly in rural Ontario. Hunting is also over a $400 million business here in the province of Ontario. So when we can have people enjoying those pursuits, those sports, particularly with their families, and we can reduce or eliminate additional costs to make them more accessible that's what we do in Ontario because this government wants to do the things that the people care about. Members will take their seats. Start the clock. The member for Hamilton Mountain. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Deputy Premier. I've been traveling the province where hundreds of families have come out to town halls. We've heard from parents who are being flat out denied enrollment for their children with autism at their local public schools. We're hearing warnings from experts that improper transition out of therapy and into schools is damaging, and parents are feeling the pressure and anxiety of what lies ahead. Families from all across the province are coming to the front lawn of Queen's Park on Thursday to make their voices heard. Who from this government will come out and speak to them to justify their autism program? Questions for the Deputy Premier, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the honourable member for the question. The system for autism services that our government inherited from the previous Liberal government was both unfair and unsustainable. Currently, just 2,400 children are waiting for a diagnostic assessment. However, Speaker, more than 23,000 children are presently on the waiting list. Just 8,400 children are receiving the official help that they need, which means, Speaker, that three out of four children, and I really wish the government or the opposition would understand that what's happening is three out of four are languishing on the waiting list. Our government and our minister made a decision that responded, that we wanted to reform the system, and that's exactly what our government is going to do. Supplementary. Speaker, back to the Deputy Premier who used to care about this file. Yesterday, it was the member from Carlton giving parents false hope. Today, I'd like to share the finance minister's previous words of support. Quote, this government has a responsibility to ensure individuals with autism can realise their full potential. Instead, after years of waste, scandal and mismanagement, the Premier is attempting to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable. End quote. Mr. Vic Fidelli in 2016. Once again, I'll remind all members, we refer to each other by our writing names or a ministerial name of the persons in the cabinet. Please, your question. Speaker, sorry. I couldn't have said it better myself. And I wonder if the minister still agrees with himself. Will the acting Premier encourage her members to join parents on the front lawn, perhaps the minister of finance or the member from Carlton? Thank you, Speaker. Our government for the people is taking action so more families of children with autism can get the services that they deserve. Over the next 18 months, over 23,000 families will move off the waitlist and get the help that they deserve. You know, again, Speaker, our government inherited a system that was unfair and unsustainable. Our minister and the members of our government are committed to ensuring that over the next 18 months that we'll order clear that waitlist. Our government's plan is built out of compassion. And we want to make sure that again, we are responsive to the needs of parents, but we can't have an unsustainable system where three out of four children language response. That's not fair. That wasn't a good system. We're going to change that speaker. I'm sitting right here. Next question. Member for Scarborough Guildwood. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the deputy Premier. The Premier said that he wanted a use ban. But thanks to court records, we know that this is not true. What the Premier really wanted was a custom van fit out with a 32 inch screen television a Blu-ray player, a leather powered reclining bench, a mini fridge and Wi-Fi. The use ban was supposed to cost over $50,000, not including the actual cost of the van. This is the real gravy train. We learned that what the Premier really wants is a handpicked government-side OPP detail. Why doesn't he trust the OPP detail that he was assigned? What doesn't he want them to see? We learned all this thanks to a whistleblower, a man with a 33 year public record of service to our provincial police. But we now know that the Premier's handpicked deputy minister has fired him. Why the cover up, Mr Speaker? When to ask the member to withdraw? Questions to the deputy Premier? To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. To be clear, there is no used van. There is no van. What we have is a decision made by the Public Service Commission that the individual whose employment was terminated by OPP on Monday clearly had a different agenda that did not match with his oath of office. And I will quote again from his dismissal letter, you have acted in a manner that is incompatible with the faithful discharge of your position as a public servant. We cannot have individuals who have an agenda because they didn't get the job that they applied for undermining the excellent work that our OPP officers do every day. Defendant members come to order. Supplementary. Mr Speaker, we need to know what the real agenda is. Again, to the deputy Premier, our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom protects legal rights and allows us to remain free from a police state. Why do you think that the Premier is running the OPP as his own private police force? Mr Speaker, make no mistake, a Premier taking control of the OPP in this way is a big red flag. The Premier is undermining the rule of law. How is any Ontarian expected to believe that this force is independent when the Premier is using them in this way? He's fired the whistleblower and tried to cover up the purchase of a luxury van. Once again, I'm going to ask the member to withdraw the unparliamentary comment. Mr Speaker, he is having his staff use their... Sorry, you have to withdraw the unparliamentary comment and please place your question. He's having his staff use their personal emails to carry out this order. When will this Premier do the right thing, not hire Ron Tavener, and fire Mario... Minister to reply. You know, I have a question. Speaker's questions in this chamber in the last 10 years and as a former minister of the Crown, it amazes me that this member is suggesting that the nine member public service commission is in any way influenced or impacted by political decisions. You know, to be clear, the commission made a decision, the commission made a decision, Speaker, to terminate Mr Blair's employment with the OPP as a result of him no longer being a member of the OPP because, quote, you have acted in a manner that is incompatible with the faithful discharge of your position as a public servant. His order in council was rescinded. This is an individual who is using his office as a deputy commissioner in the OPP for a personal gain and a personal agenda because he didn't get the job. Thank you. A member for Mississauga Central. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is for the attorney general, Mr Speaker. On this side of the house, we respect the work done by the police officers. We know that they are everyday heroes and they protect our communities. Last month, last month, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services tabled a very important Bill 68 to change the police officer's roles. We work with other partners of public safety to correct Bill 175 from the Liberal government, which is the most anti-police bill that we've known in Ontario. Our police officers deserve our respect. Our government wants to protect our officers and it is an absolute priority. The attorney general, could she tell us what our officers are telling us about the changes tabled by our government? Mr Speaker, thank you to the Mississauga Center MP. If our bill is carried, it will offer clarity and transparency to officers, to police chiefs and to the population of Ontario. It would concentrate investigation resources where we need them to help our communities. Bruce Chapman, Chief of the Association in Ontario said that his members are very happy of this bill and I cite him. The members in uniform need adequate resources to protect our communities. We repeated our support to an efficient system based on transparency and responsibility to restore the public trust. Mr Speaker, our government is determined to keep safety in our communities and to give our police officers the tools they need to accomplish their very important work. Supplementary. Thank you, Madam Minister. I'm happy to hear that our government listened to the officers concerns. I believe that this new bill is stable, respectful and equitable. I know that the first line officers in my community in Mississauga and everywhere in Ontario will be happy about these changes. The changes tabled by bill 68 will make sure that we respect our officers and our citizens. On this side of the house, we know that the women and the men in uniform have high training and they risk everything for our safety. Will the Attorney General tell us how the changes to the special unit's investigation unit will improve the lives of our officers? Mr Speaker, our government knows that women and men in uniforms are everyday heroes. To offer clarity and transparency to the population and the officers, we would clarify the SIU mandate. If it's carried, this bill would concentrate its resources on criminal activities within police oversight, which is transparent and efficient. The bill would make it clear for every case where there's an obligation, where let's say detention, use of force, and when there is a person who's deceased or greatly harmed or when there's a sexual assault, this bill meets the needs of all of TELIC's recommendations. Thank you. Next question for Brampton North. Thank you Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Over the weekend, there was a violent incident at the Toronto South Detention Centre that resulted in eight correctional staff being injured. Two were sent to hospital. Yesterday, staff withdrew all non-essential services in reaction to the violence. Minister, there has been a crisis in corrections for a long time. The last Liberal government did nothing about it. What actions are this government going to take to fix the corrections, the crisis in corrections? Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Thank you for the question and it was a very serious incident on the weekend and I think we really need to appreciate as legislators what legislation, policies, how they impact people on the front line. You know, we often talk in this chamber about very lofty ideas about how we want to make society better but now we need to make sure that those changes that we make don't actually impact or frankly hurt the individuals who are working in our institution, the people who visit our institutions and the people who are serving in our institutions. We are actively engaged in those discussions right now. We've already made some some changes that have been a positive response but this is not an easy ship to move. There are a lot of moving parts when you're talking about corrections and the impact that the justice file have. That is frankly why the ministry attorney general and myself worked together to make sure that changes that happen. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Back to the minister. Howard Safer's in his report on the state of Ontario Correctional System called the Toronto Self Detention Center the most violent correctional facility in the province. The problems aren't mysterious. Safer's was clear. The shifts where the most violence occurred were the shifts where they were understaffed. Instead of hiring casual part-time on-call staff to fill vacancies left by full-time correctional staff will the minister commit today to hiring full-time correctional staff at the levels needed to effectively manage or troubled correctional facilities. Minister to reply. I hope that our corrections officers do across Ontario up against any institution worldwide. I think that we have excellent people doing excellent work. We as legislators need to make sure that we give them the tools to ensure that they stay safe. This is about a system that includes the attorney general. A system that includes the ministry of health. A system that includes all of us as legislators to make sure the changes that we make actually improve the system give the corrections officers the tools they need to stay safe but there is no one who's more proud of the government than our government. Thank you. Next question the member for Ottawa Vany. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister of community safety and correctional services and how important how crucial it is that all Ontarians have the utmost confidence in the independence of the OPP and the appointment process for the OPP commissioner. The dismissal of Brad Blair after he revealed his concerns raises some questions. The issue that remains unresolved at this point is the process that led to the disciplinary charges being laid in front of the public service commission. Yes or no did the minister have any conversation with Deputy Minister Dita Masso about the conduct of Brad Blair since the revelations last December. The minister of community safety and correctional services. When my deputy minister sent a letter as the ethics officer on December 28th of course I was notified. I was made aware that there were concerns that an individual who did not receive the position or offer was upset and was using his office inappropriately. So to point to clarity again I will I will lead you to the dismissal letter that was given to Mr. Blair and made public today. You have acted in a manner that is incompatible with the faithful discharge of your position as a public servant quote this is also a contravention of your obligations under the conflict of interest regulation response it is a clear attempt to use your provincial status and your professional status to further your private interest by implying that the legal activities in which you are engaged. Thank you supplementary. So from the answer I gather that she supported the laying of disciplinary charges against Bill Blair but my question also goes to the integrity of the entire process. By now there has been so many allegations that the Premier wanted a new commissioner a new commissioner that was a little bit more sympathetic to some of his concerns on transportation and on the staffing. Does she not agree that at this stage any Ontarian will not have confidence in the appointment of Ron Taverner and we need to go back to square one because it's crucial for Ontarians to have the utmost confidence that the OPP commissioner is not playing is not supporting one side of the house but will act in a completely neutral apolitical way with integrity all the time. That's what we need in Ontario and I ask her to go back and look at this process again. Minister to reply. Thank you Speaker I think that the member as a lawyer and a legislator legislator would also agree that no one is above the law whether you are a constable whether you are a commissioner whether you are a member of provincial parliament you swear an oath to uphold the laws of this province. Clearly Mr Blair chose not to do that when he used his personal position as a deputy with the Ontario Provincial Police to try to bolster his argument that he should have received the job. I you know I cannot understand how you don't get he cannot use his uniform and his position as a deputy commissioner to further his own personal gain. This was a clear violation of his trust and the costly place in the Ontario Provincial Police. Thank you Speaker. Next question the member for Sarnia Lampton. Mr Speaker my question is to the minister of transport. Our government for the people is committed to ensuring we are supporting our small rural communities across Ontario because they tend to lack the population base or resources to support a public transit system like the urban areas. I know the minister represents rural areas as do I and many of my PC colleagues. We understand that rural communities need support from all levels of government to continue to thrive but also to get their residents to and from where they need to go. We value our municipal partners working collaboratively with them to deliver the best possible service to Ontarians across this province. Our government for the people was elected on that promise to get people moving and we are doing just that. Can the minister share more about how our government is working with our municipal partners and getting the people of Ontario moving again? Minister of Transportation. Thank you very much Mr Speaker and I want to thank member from Sarnia Lampton for that great question. It's great to be a colleague with him over these past eight years and he's such a champion for the people of Sarnia Lampton and he's also the master of private members business. We should all take a lesson how Bob can work on both sides of the house and get his bills passed. It's great of him to do that. Mr Speaker as the member mentioned I do represent to Elgin Middlesex London which has many of the gems of this province in rural Ontario. Our government for the people is committed to continuing to work with and support municipalities and rural communities across the province. That's why I was pleased to announce just recently our government for the people supported the transit projects across smaller communities across this province through the community transportation grant program. This program is making life better for people throughout rural and northern Ontario because they have access to fewer public transportation options. Mr Speaker I will speak more of this in the supplementary. Supplementary question. Thank you Speaker and through you and to you thank you to the member for that answer and for the ongoing support of solid communities and municipalities. It's great to hear that our government for the people is yet again working with municipalities to support those programs that help Ontario and stay connected in their communities. The previous government propped up by the NDP had 15 years to find a solution on this province and transit and fail. The only thing the Liberals and NCC seemed to be good at was racking up a 15 billion dollar deficit. The people of Ontario especially those in rural Ontario cannot afford the delays in financial mismanagement of the previous government. I know my community of Sarnia Lampton was thrilled to hear about the announcement of the community transportation grant program. Can this minister please share more about this great program? Minister. Thanks again for that question Mr Speaker. Our government for the people is working with smaller communities support programs that he'll help Ontarians. One stay connected with their communities, access employment and social programs, attend appointments, visit friends and families, and maintain an independent and active lifestyle. Over five years the program will provide 30 million dollars to 39 municipalities. Missing Palais we use this provincial funding to partner with community organizations to coordinate local transportation services. This is yet another example of our government for the people keeping its promise to get Ontario moving. Since the inception of the program more than 28,000 people have used new services to make more than 105,000 trips. Our government for the people is committed to getting the people of Ontario moving and we are just doing that across the province which is more than the previous government supported by the NDP did over their 15 years in office. Mr Speaker we're proud of our work so far in its response. We're proud of working with rural and northern Ontario and we're going to keep on doing this over the next four years. Next question the member for University Rosdale. Thank you Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. York Region and GO buses used to travel to the center of York University but now these buses drop people off at a TTC subway stop up to three kilometers away. Thousands of students and workers now must make an unfair and costly choice. Pay another fare to ride just one or two subway stops or walk up to three kilometers in the cold. And this is hurting people like Bonnie Cormier from Whitby. Bonnie's commute has increased by up to 40 minutes a day and she has to pay extra for worse service. She also has to pay extra for childcare because she now has to drop her 14 months old off early and pick him up late because of her longer commute. Minister when are you going to show leadership and bring back the buses to York University. Mr. Transportation. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and thank you for that question and we do take issues that you have raised like Bonnie's quite seriously but just to be crystal clear to this house York University are the ones that requested GO buses be removed from their campus. We did so after their direction Mr. Speaker only after Metrolinked advocated on behalf of students and computers did York University agreed for the buses to come back until the end of January but they are now left. Unfortunately Mr. Speaker York University was all for removing these buses until staff and students protested the fact that they removed these buses and Mr. Speaker York University was unable to provide a safe access for where these buses would resume services so we are ongoing Metrolinks in York University discussing how we can get these buses back to the campus. We only wish that we had more of a partner with York University to find a solution that we need. Supplementary question. Thank you Speaker. York University has a very different understanding of the problem minister and what we also know is that this is a transit problem that has been going on for six months and people like Bonnie and thousands of people like her are paying higher fares for worse service. You are the minister you can fix this problem. Tell Metrolinks to return bus service back to York University and move forward on fair fair integration so that riders who use two different local transit systems don't have to pay a double fare. Minister when will you direct Metrolinks to return service to York University? The minister's reply I'm going to remind all members to please make your comments through the chair. Minister. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker back to the member. To solve this problem Mr. Speaker we actually need to have two partners willing at the table to find a solution Metrolinks is sitting at the table willing to put a solution forward that would be acceptable to the staff and students at York University. Asking buses to come back to the campus but not on the bus loop doesn't make any sense as there are no other safe alternatives for the students and staff to get off Mr. Speaker. We're willing to sit down and work with this. I would hope the NDP isn't using this an opportunity to politicize a situation which can be solved at the table and we're looking forward to Metrolinks to continue working with York University to find a solution. We want to find a solution to this problem Mr. Speaker. We will find a solution to this Mr. Speaker. We just need York University to sit down and work with Metrolinks on that solution and it's going to happen as long as York University is willing to work with this government. Thank you. Next question the member for King Bond. Thank you Speaker. My question to the minister of environment conservation in parks. Last evening the Prime Minister held a rally to promote his government's intention of placing a carbon tax on families, on workers and on seniors of this province. The Trudeau carbon tax will place a burn on the people of Ontario costing up to a thousand dollars per household and as high as five thousand dollars in the future. Yet the Prime Minister claims that this tax will put more money back into the pockets of Ontarians. Speaker I do not trust any politician that promises a tax hike will ultimately lead to tax savings. To our Prime Minister stop offending the intelligence of Canadians. We do not trust your government. We have lost confidence in this government and we believe Canadians including former members of your own cabinet demand greater transparency from this government. So to the minister can you outline the true cost and economic consequence of the Trudeau carbon tax? Good question. Mr. Speaker through you to the member for King Bond and again he's a great great representative for his constituents here. Mr. Speaker I I do understand that the Prime Minister received a bit of a mixed reaction last night even among a partisan crowd and perhaps that's because even partisan liberals know that a carbon tax is going to hurt families. They know that a carbon tax will have a direct impact on families and businesses. A carbon tax will cost the people of Ontario more to fill their cars to feed their families to heat their homes. It's bad for families, bad for jobs and bad for investment. Higher costs, less jobs and lower investments. Mr. Speaker if that's not a recipe for a recession I don't know what is. If the Trudeau Liberals are interested in a plan then they can take a good look at ours see that how we will meet the targets they set the Paris targets but not do it without a job killing recessive carbon tax. Mr. Speaker we stand with the people of Ontario and we use all the tools at our disposal to fight the Trudeau carbon tax and to protect them. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker back to the minister and I appreciate he's made clear that this government intends to fight climate change without placing an expensive tax on the people of this province. Our party's proud to have a strong record of advancing conservation here in Ontario. The party that created and protected the Oak Ridge's Moraine. The party that expanded park space in Ontario by the single largest amount by the Living Lands program. The party that initiated the first closure of a whole fire gas plan in this province. We did all of this without imposing higher taxes on seniors on families and the future prosperity of this province. Speaker while middle-class families will pay the price the Prime Minister cut a special carbon tax side deal with Canada's largest emitters that mean that they will continue to pollute for free while families and small businesses get hit with the full force of this tax. Minister what are the next steps you're taking to fight this tax while making sure we protect our environment for the next generation. Mr Speaker and again thank you to the member first question. Our government is committed to reducing greenhouse gases. That's why we brought forward our made in Ontario environment plan that will work with Ontarians to have a balance of a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Mr Speaker we've already brought forward some key pieces of this of this plan for consultation. Mr Speaker we have brought forward our plans to increase the increased renewable content in gasoline to 15% in order to reduce emissions. As I mentioned last week we've brought forward our plans to have big polluters pay to make sure that there are emission standards that are tough but fair on polluters. And Mr Speaker as I've also mentioned in this House I will be bringing forward our plan on waste. A plan that will reduce organics going into landfills which will reduce harmful methane which is also a dangerous greenhouse gas. Mr Speaker this province deserves a plan that balances a healthy economy with a healthy environment. That's the plan we're bringing forward and we're bringing it forward without a carbon tax. We start the clock. Next question the member for Kiwet and all. Miigwech speaker the question is do that deputy premier. It's been three years since the chief of grassy narrows First Nation called for an investigation into the mercury poisoning of the soil in the river. A retired mill worker in Dryden said he helped dump 50 barrels of salt and mercury behind the mill in 1972 and he had identified a spot. The government's own environmental experts recommended the cleanup in the area over a year ago but this week the Toronto Star reported that this this government and the Liberals before them have not taken any action to find the barrels. How long will it take this government to dig and clean up this toxic dump before more people from grassy narrows are poisoned. The deputy premier. Referred to the Minister of Environment Conservation and Partnership. Mr. Speaker through you to the member and I do thank him for the question our government is committed to the health and safety of all of our communities. Mercury contamination the English and Waggon River has profound impact on the communities and has to be properly addressed. We're committed to continuing to address this issue with the communities involved. As the member knows there's a tripartite group including the wind First Nation and the grassy narrows First Nation and we're working collaboratively with that group. Mr. Speaker I visited grassy narrows and Chief Tuttle in October of last year in in grassy narrows. We made it clear that once we had the science we would meet with them further and that science was concluded in December. The results of that have now been communicated to the working group which includes all three First Nations and on February 7th I send a letter to Chief Tuttle in this regard. We'll continue to work with the grassy narrows First Nations ban also with the wind First Nations ban to ensure that this issue is addressed. The children the youth elders of grassy narrows First Nation live downstream from the Dryden mill and eat fish from the Waggon River. If poison was buried in Toronto you can be sure that this government would act. After more than 200 days in power it is time for this government to take action to find the buried mercury upstream from grassy narrows like they would for other communities in this province. Deputy PMIR why the double standard? When will grassy narrows have answers? The community is waiting. Mr. Speaker and again thank you to the member for his question. Let me assure you in this legislature that we are concerned about the health and safety of every community. That's why I visited grassy narrows that's why I met with Chief Tuttle that's also why I met with Chief Passick. We are working cooperatively as the tripartite agreement calls for to make sure that once the science was confirmed we will then go forward with the study and that's what the working group will be focused on. So we are working with the local communities we are working with the affected individuals to protect the health and safety of that community and we'll make sure that that is a priority for this government. Member for Scarborough Guildwood on a point of order. Thank you so much. I'd just like to welcome some members from Scarborough here today. Kingsley Kwok, Anton Paul from my riding and Brenda Allen and Drew Finokone who are with Opsu Health Services. The member for Ottawa Vanier on a point of order. Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to correct my record it's Brad Blair and not Bill Blair. That concludes question period as I said. I beg to inform the house that pursuant to standing order 98c a change has been made to the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members public business such that Ms. Lindo assumes ballot item number 60 and Ms. Fife assumes ballot item number 73. Pursuant to standing order 38a the member for Ottawa Vanier has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Concerning the dismissal of Mr. Blair and the appointment of Mr. Tavernor this matter will be debated today at 6 p.m. We have a deferred vote on government notice of motion number 31 relating to allocation of time on bill 68 with respect to community safety and policing. Call on the members this will be a five-minute bill. Members will please take their seats. On March 4th 2019 Ms. Thompson moved government notice of motion number 31 relating to allocation of time on bill 68. All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Ms. Thompson. Ms. Thompson. Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker. Mr. Bethlehem Fawley. Mr. Bethlehem Fawley. Mr. Fidelli. Mr. Fidelli. Ms. Elliott. Ms. Elliott. Mr. Yurei. Mr. Yurei. Ms. Moruni. Ms. Moruni. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Ms. Yacobusky. Ms. Yacobusky. Mr. Tavolo. Mr. Tavolo. Mr. Barrett. Mr. Barrett. Mr. Pettipi. Mr. Pettipi. Ms. Martell. Mr. Martell. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey. Mr. McNaughton. Mr. McNaughton. Ms. Fullerton. Ms. Fullerton. Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott. Ms. Jones. Ms. Jones. Mr. Joe Willard. Mr. Smith Peterborough Corker. Mr. Smith Peterborough Corker. Ms. Kanger. Ms. Kanger. Ms. Pichina. Mr. Pichina. Mr. Kramp. Ms. Cramp. Ms. Wye. Ms. Wye. Ms. Tang. Mr. Tang. Ms. Tang. Mr. Bae. Mr. Bae. Mr. Rashid. Mr. Rashid. Ms. Sandhu. Mr. Kuzedow. Ms. Kuzedow. Ms. Dunlop. Ms. Dunlop. Ms. Kanapati. Mr. Kanapati. Ms. Mabiki. Ms. Mabiki. Mr. Babe. Mr. Babe. Mr. Tabitha. Mr. Sing Brampton Center. Mr. Vantho. Mr. Natashire. Mr. Natashire. Ms. Fife. Ms. Sattler. Ms. Shaw. Ms. Shaw. Mr. Mamakow. Mr. Mamakow. Mr. Yard. Mr. Yard. Ms. Carpoche. Ms. Carpoche. Ms. Lindo. Ms. Lindo. Ms. Armstrong. Ms. Armstrong. Ms. Stiles. Ms. Stiles. Mr. Kernahan. Mr. Kernahan. Mr. West. Mr. West. Ms. Stevens. Mr. Gates. Mr. Gates. Ms. Taylor. Mr. Birch. Ms. Birch. Ms. Burns-McGow. Ms. Burns-McGow. Mr. Arthur. Mr. Arthur. Ms. Sherbrook-Wang. Ms. Sherbrook-Wang. Ms. Bell. Ms. Bell. Mr. Glover. Ms. Glover. Ms. Morris. Ms. Morris. Ms. Morris. Mr. Rikosa. Mr. Rikosa. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Deferred vote on government notice of motion number 32 relating to allocation of time on bill 66 an act to restore Ontario's competitiveness by amending or repealing certain acts. Calling the member. Same vote? Same vote? Agreed? Agreed. The ayes are 61, the nays are 42. The ayes are 61, the nays are 42. I declare the motion carried. This House stands adjourned. Our story in recess. This House stands in recess.