 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Thank you very much, Speaker. My first question is to the Premier. Our health care system is stretched to the max with patients being treated in hallways without the privacy and dignity that they deserve. David Jones is a person who knows this firsthand and he'll be joining us later on today at Queen's Park. On April 8th, David's wife was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton due to complications from cancer she had been battling for several months. When the ambulance arrived, she was transferred to a bed in the hallway of the emergency room, waiting room, or rather, waiting for a room to become available. Tragically, Donna passed away that day without ever being moved to a hospital room. What does this Premier have to say to David, who, like so many others, have had to watch their loved ones be treated in hallways and hospitals across the province? Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. First, let me express my condolences to the family. This is something that is a tragic situation, but one that we know that we need to fix. That was one of our major promises when we got elected was to end hallway health care. That is something that has been developing over 15 years under the previous government's rule. This isn't something that just happened overnight, but it's going to be our responsibility to fix it. Now, it is a multifaceted problem. It's not something that there's going to be one solution that's going to change everything overnight. We're looking at enhancing our long-term care facilities, making sure that those patients who are at an alternate level of care that are in hospitals but don't need to be have a place to go, either home with home care support or to a long-term care home. We know that there are many people that are waiting long periods of time to get out of the hospital to where they need to be to receive the best care. That is what we're working on. I'll have more to say in the supplementary. Supplementary. Well, David found that those caring for Donna during her illness, and I quote, almost without exception, professional and caring, end quote. But he goes on to say in a letter, quote, having observed the health care system during the several months of Donna's illness, I'm aware of the challenges, but I believe that in this instance, Donna deserved better. I think we can all agree that Donna deserved better speaker. So can the Premier explain specifically what investments he will make in the hospital system to eliminate the sort of hallway medicine that's become all too common in Ontario? Minister. Well, I would certainly agree that our health care professionals are doing a wonderful job in situations where that are not ideal for the best provision of care, hallways, storage rooms, auditoriums, that sort of thing. So we need to move away from that and get people into beds in proper hospital rooms, which is for their benefit, but also for the benefit of the health care professionals who are doing their best to provide excellent quality care to all patients. We have already made some investments and we're continuing to make more. As I indicated before, it is a multifaceted problem, but we have already announced the inception of 6,000 long-term care beds and have put $90 million into hospital care to at least get us through the flu season while we are developing a long-term capacity plan for our hospitals. And I wanted to note, if I could just complete that, is that we are also investing $3.8 billion into a comprehensive plan. Thank you. Thank you. We start the call. Final supplementary. Well, it was disappointing for us on this side of the House that the government shorted the flu surge funding by about $10 million compared to what the previous government invested last year, Speaker. No one should have to have a loved one, watch a loved one, pass away in a hospital hallway because they can't get a room, Speaker. We can address the challenges in our healthcare system, in our hospital system, but we won't get there with an agenda of cuts and so-called efficiencies. Just this week, we've seen the future of a hospital in Grimsby put in doubt due to lack of funding. Will the Premier reject an agenda of cuts and privatization and commit to investments in the hospital system that desperately needs it? Minister. Hard to know where to start. There was a lot in that question, but I think the overall theme I completely disagree with. What we are doing is increasing our services in mental health and addictions in hospital care, in healthcare. We are increasing across the board because we know with respect to the flu season, a significant amount has been put into that, $54 million. There are no shortages of the flu virus this year. Anyone who wants to receive a flu shot will be able to do so, either at their family doctor's office in public health units or in many pharmacies across this entire province. They are available, no shortage. With respect to hospital funding, we are continuing to fund hospitals. We are continuing to make the investments both in terms of renovations. Patient care and safety is an absolute priority. We are investing in that and we are going to invest $3.8 billion into mental health and addiction. We start the clock. Next question. Leader of the Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. A worker in his 40s was killed last Thursday when he was pinned between a tractor trailer and the loading dock at a Farrah Foods facility in North York. We don't know his identity yet, but he is the fourth person to be killed working at Farrah Foods, all of whom were temporary workers. Four families have lost loved ones and we all have a responsibility to make sure this doesn't keep happening. The Minister of Labor is investigating now. Will the Premier wait for their findings before moving ahead with his changes to the employment standards? Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to hear the news. My condolences go out to the family. It's an absolute tragedy. Any time a worker loses their life, it's a tragedy. My thoughts again are with the family. The Minister of Labor is currently investigating the situation. The official opposition is attempting, which I find disgusting, is attempting to politicize last week's tragedy, and I won't have anything to do with it. I'm very proud of the legislation we introduced last week, but, Mr. Speaker, again, I'm not going to politicize the death of a worker. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, whether the Premier likes it or not, he is responsible now for preventable deaths that happened in our fee was just 23 when she was killed while working at Farrah Foods. Aidan Kazimov was 69 when he was crushed by a transport truck on the job. And Ivan Goliashov was just 16 years old when he died cleaning a Farrah Foods dough machine. All of them were temporary workers. Each and every one of them were temporary workers. None of them should have lost their lives as workers in the province of Ontario. The government is proposing major changes, Speaker, to employment standards laws that protect temporary workers. So will the Premier, at a bare minimum, a greater weight ministry of labour investigation before... Minister of labour. Premier. This ingenious. Unbelievable. I ask the Premier to withdraw his unparliamentary comment that I heard. Minister of labour. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We all feel horrible of the tragic incident that's happened in that company. Our thoughts are work with the family and the workers. Look, the Ministry of Labour is strongly committed to the health and safety of all Ontarians. And it's through the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which the ministry is investigating through, not the Employment Standards Act, Mr. Speaker. So I say to the member opposite, this is tragic. The Ministry of Labour is investigating the processes are being followed, and I please ask you not to politicise such a tragic event that's happened in Parliament. Final supplementary. Final supplementary. I will stand in this house every day to try to protect workers. Workers are worried that basic protections on the job were not there for their loved ones. I heard an unparliamentary remark. Would any member over there like to withdraw it? I'm not sure who. Minister of Energy. Sorry to interrupt the meeting. They're very worried about what they see from this government. Canceling investigations designed to protect temporary workers. Getting legislation that ensured temporary workers will be properly paid and receive decent treatment on the job. We have an obligation to these four people to learn what we can do to prevent tragic deaths like those from happening again and ensure that they don't ever happen again. Why is this Premier so determined to move ahead with this plan to gut workplace rights and protections? Minister of Labour. Thank you again, Mr Speaker. Again, I reiterate to the fact that the Ministry's key role is to investigate the fatalities and health and safety incidences at workplace, and that is under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. We're making sure that those things are followed and they are enforced. Again, Mr Speaker, it's an ongoing investigation. We are very concerned of what happened. The investigation is in process through the Ministry, through the Occupational Health and Safety. It has nothing to do with the Employment Standards Act. So again, Mr Speaker, through you to the leader of the opposition, please don't politicize such a tragic event. We are all here to make sure workers in the province are safe. Not the investors. Next question. Leader of the opposition. Mr Speaker, my next question is also for the Premier, but I think the government needs to know that treating temporary workers like lesser than workers puts them in a precarious position in their work. Here's what one former temp worker said last night at a vigil for the deceased man. And I quote, it is so sad because this is what happens when we don't have rights and protections at work. End quote. These are people who work incredibly hard, Speaker, to provide for their families. They don't have money to hire lobbyists, but they pay their bills, they raise their families, and they deserve to be heard. Will the Premier listen? Premier. Minister of Labor. Minister of Labor. Through you, Mr Speaker, we want to protect all workers in the province of Ontario. That's why we do have the Occupational Health and Safety Act. And we want workers to have good paying jobs. And we want to create more, better paying jobs in the province of Ontario. So we want more people in the province of Ontario to have better paying jobs, better benefits, better ways of life. That's why we brought in Bill 47. So we can attract those types of businesses. End quote. Supplementary. Speaker, working people have some very serious concerns about the government's changes to the Employment Standards Act. Whether it's losing a day's pay when you get sick or losing basic on-the-job protections for temporary workers. Before the government tears up legislation that protects people on the job, they should wait for the evidence that these changes won't do harm, especially from their own ministry investigating a death on the job. Speaker, with yet another person dying at Fiera Foods, will the Premier do that? Will he at least wait until the Ministry report is complete to ensure that these changes are not going to make things worse? Minister? Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is stretching. There is no connection between Open for Business Act in Ontario, Bill 47, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Of course we're protecting workers. The best thing that we can do for workers in the province of Ontario is remove the worst burdens on Ontario businesses while preserving the real benefits for Ontario workers. So businesses have the confidence in reasonable and predictable regulations and everyone who works should have the confidence of a good estate workplace. And that is what we're doing on this side of the place. We are protecting workers and making Ontario Open for Business so there are better jobs out there for all the workers in the province. Member Finagra Falls, come door. Member for Hamilton East, Stony Creek, come door. Minister of Economic Development, come door. Premier, come door. Member for Waterloo, come door. I'm learning your writing names. Start the clock. Next question, the Member for Flamborough, Glendorf. Last week, Minister, we tabled the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act. This legislation is the first step in closing two gaps in Ontario's education system. Mr. Speaker, student safety is always a top priority for this government. But for a while now, we've known that sometimes students have been taught by individuals guilty of sexual abuse towards children. However, these individuals have escaped legal trials because of poorly worded laws. In some cases, it took months and years of complaints from students, parents and teachers before these individuals were removed. Mr. Speaker, this is completely unacceptable. Can the Minister explain what our government is doing to make our schools and early years and childcare settings safer? Minister of Education. Thank you very much. I'd like to thank a hundred members from Flamborough, Glendorf, excuse me, for that question because we need to talk about this, Mr. Speaker. Our PC government has zero tolerance when it comes to any form of proven sexual abuse within the school environment, be it a student or a teaching colleague. And that's why we've proposed mandatory revocation of teachers and early childhood educator certificates of registration for all sex or acts, excuse me, of proven sexual abuse. Today, a certificate will only be revoked, Mr. Speaker, if the specific form of sexual abuse is on the current defined list of the Ontario College of Teachers Act or the Early Childhood Educators Act. We believe very strongly on this side of the House that the previous government did not go far enough and I know there's members of the NDP caucus that agree with that. So we're proposing that in Bill 48, if a member of the Ontario Teachers College or the College of Early Childhood Educators is found guilty by the respective disciplinary committee of committing any form of sexual abuse, their certificate will be revoked immediately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, to the minister and thank you for ensuring that student safety remains the top priority. Ontario's parents also want their children to succeed. However, our students have been falling behind in math with some students graduating at a disadvantage due to poor math development. Now, the previous government just made things worse with an unproven and experimental curriculum called discovery math. Now that we have discovered that it is a failure, can the minister tell me how the Safe and Support of Classrooms Act will address the level of math achievements in Ontario? Good question. Good question. We know for the past five years there has been an overall decline in the education quality and accountability off math scores. And as I've said before and we all echo it, this is absolutely unacceptable. We recognize that more needs to be done and we will work with teachers to ensure they are prepared to teach the fundamentals of math in order to improve the success of Ontario students. The Safe and Support of Classrooms Act would require any new teacher seeking to be registered with the Ontario College of Teachers to successfully complete a math knowledge test. All of these changes, Mr. Speaker, will provide more confidence that our PC government is working to make sure that Ontario continues to have the best education system in the world. Thank you very much. Next question, the member for Brampton Centre. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Bramptonians have been patiently waiting for a university in our city and now that dream has been shattered because this government has decided to cut the funding to our new university. The Brampton Campus of Ryerson University in partnership with the Chair of the College has met so much like better access to education, job opportunities and a stronger economy for Ontario at large. But this cut signals that the Conservative government doesn't care about education or job creation, especially in the city of Brampton. Speaker, why does this government keep giving Brampton a short end of the stick? Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government has had to make tough decisions across Ontario regarding expensive projects. However, I want to share a quote from a letter sent to me from the President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance representing 150,000 students, Danny Chang. He says, quote, At USA, we believe in responsible investment that will effectively improve the lives of students and the future of our society. That is why our students wanted to communicate alignment with your decision on October 23rd. We believe that the Ontario University sector should ensure that any new or growing university institutions and campuses are financially sustainable. Speaker, Ontario students know the importance of fiscal sustainability, and it is time for the NDP to recognize that as well. We start the clock. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One time again, the Conservative Government has demonstrated that it does not care for the people of Brampton, and now it is taking away a university in our city that would have created jobs, economic development, and provided a much needed campus close to home for those living in our city. Sadly, yesterday, not a single government member from the Brampton side stood up to be counted on yesterday's motion to preserve funding to our university. Does this government not believe that Brampton is worth the investment? Minister. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for the question. Our government has had to make tough decisions about projects across Ontario, I repeat. I want to share the perspective of Leo Groerk, President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University. He says, quote, in a situation in which the system is characterised by a lack of students creating entirely new campuses take students away from existing campuses at a time when they are scrambling to find students they need to fill the spaces they already have available. He goes on to say that we, quote, cannot expect a provincial government that is trying to wrestle with its deficit to pay for new campuses at a time when there is no pressing need to establish them. The Ford government has made the right decision. Unquote. Speaker, the people of Ontario expect us to make tough decisions and clean up the fiscal mess left behind by the Liberal government. Start the clock. Next question. The member for Milton. Question is for the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Yesterday the minister had the opportunity to represent our government at the Empire Club to address important issues we currently face. For the last 115 years, the Empire Club of Canada has hosted debates on some of the most important topics. Leaders have participated in forums discussing the issues of the day. Today, our government is faced with 15 years of Liberal mismanagement that has left our province $15 billion in deficit. Our government for the people has made a clear priority to address the concerns we've heard during our campaign. Under the leadership of our Premier Ford, our government is focused and remains clear and consistent. Can the minister tell the members of this legislature what he was able to share yesterday's events? The Environment, Conservation and Parks. Thank you very much through you, Mr Speaker, to the member for Milton. It was an honour to speak on behalf of the Premier and the Government yesterday at the Empire Club. What I was able to tell them was that our government has wasted no time in terms of putting in place the actions that will make life more affordable for Ontario families. Canceling the cap and trade program. Ending drive clean. Scrapping wasteful green energy act. Freezing driver's license fees and other fees. These are just the beginnings of trying to put more money in the pockets of the people. We talked about the introduction of the Making Ontario Open for Business Act and how that's going to reduce red tape. Unlock thousands of skilled trades jobs for Ontarians and repeal the worst parts of Bill 148 which has burdened Ontario with unnecessary regulation. We talked about the completion of a line by line on it which is going to help put our finances back on an even track. And Mr Speaker, this is just a beginning. Like the rest of the members of the government I'm proud to be part of a government that's standing up for the people and working to make life more affordable for families. Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for making it clear that this government is working hard to ensure the voices of all Ontarians are heard and our commitments are kept. Speaker, back to the Minister. During election time people of Ontario were clear. They were tired of dealing with Liberal government that acted in their own political self-interest. They were tired of being imposed, taxes being imposed on them Mr Speaker. Ontarians called for a government that would finally listen to the people. Mr Speaker, one of the concerns facing this province is a threat of climate change. Mr Speaker, we see more frequent storms resulting in flooded basements structural damage and costly cleanups. Can the Minister tell us what he was able to emphasize on at the entire Empire Club in terms of how our government will address the concerns like we're facing in Ontario Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, through you to the member from Milton. We talked about how the elimination of cap and trade is going to save Ontario families $264. We talked about the threat of the imposition of a federal carbon tax that could add hundreds of hundreds, even $850 to the price of our Ontario families. We also though talked about Ontario's climate leadership. We talked about how Ontario is on track to meet its Paris 2020 targets. We talked about the plan that will bring forward next month that will be a balanced plan that will balance the economy and the environment. Mr Speaker the Prime Minister is going to be leading with other premiers. He is meeting with other leaders across the country to make sure that the unconstitutional tax that Prime Minister Truro is bringing forward will not be brought forward that Ontario families will not be punished will meet our environmental agenda. Thank you. The next question is the member for Niagara Centre. Thank you Speaker. Through you to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Yesterday in this House I asked the Minister about what the minister meant at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital specifically obstetrics and surgical programs. Following my question I heard from Frank Triviari a constituent from the riding who feels this action is a slippery slope to a hospital closure. In January he suffered a heart attack and received exceptional care at this hospital. Frank asked me what the minister meant when she stated she would be maintaining services and I could not give him a clear answer because she wasn't clear on what services will continue and which will not. Speaker will this minister be honest with the people of Niagara West and explain what services will not continue and why there was no consultation with the hospital or the people of Niagara. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Well we did have a discussion about the West Lincoln hospital here yesterday and I indicated to the member that I recognize this is a matter of concern to all the residents in Grimsby and surrounding area and I can tell you again that the member from Niagara West has done an excellent job in reiterating those concerns and bringing forward considerations that have been brought to him by members of the community so I'll say again today what I said yesterday hospital services will continue to be provided at West Lincoln hospital and the ministry of health is in active discussions right now with the Linn Hamilton Health Sciences and with the West Lincoln hospital to determine the best way to provide care to patients that need services and where that care will be provided in the short term but in the long term I can tell you there will be Well Speaker again this minister is playing word games with the people of Niagara when it comes to their health care the chief of staff of the hospital resigned because of this government's member from Niagara West come to order member from Niagara West come to order against his own government will the minister confirm today whether the obstetrics and surgery programs will member from Niagara West is warned I think the question was put response minister I think there's a short answer to this I have been very clear with my communications throughout as has the member from Niagara West as has the premier who visited the West Lincoln hospital last Friday we are all working on a solution that is going to benefit the people of Grimsby and surrounding area patient safety isn't at most concerned we're all looking at that but we are also very concerned that the hospital remain open so a solution is being formulated now that is going to take into consideration all of those factors but the hospital in West Lincoln is going to remain open next question the member for Ottawa South thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is for the premier good morning premier it's great to see you premier there's so many things that we haven't had a chance to talk about like how proactive inspections have been stopped by your government making workplaces and workers' rights more at risk or how your finance minister has been unable to get the signature of the controller on this year's public accounts or how the costs from all the programs you've cut aren't reflected in the public accounts or where the proceeds from cap and trade are going either so speaker most importantly how workers' rights and wages are being stripped in bill 47 the premier can hire his ex-party president and a campaign advisor to $350,000 year jobs government's second order so my question to the premier is this speaker does the premier think that six friendly questions today is a good thing that's what you're using your question for through you Mr. Speaker I'm not too sure where the member from Ottawa South is going but I find it pretty rich I find it pretty rich that this member was part of the $15 billion deficit that's being put on the backs of businesses put on the backs of the people here in Ontario the member from Ottawa South was personally responsible for destroying the financial books of this province he destroyed 300,000 families that lost their jobs the government we have the highest higher rates in North America under his government he wants the highest carbon tax anywhere in the entire world we are facing $338 billion the largest sub-national debt in the world because of this government government side come to order government side come to order we are ready to start the program we have a little bit of time but we are ready to start the program supplementary I think I put six questions in there I didn't hear an answer to one of them one question a day 22 minutes on a sustainable bill vote in the business of this legislature, most recently in 2003. In 2003 a motion was passed in this legislature that supported the seven members of the NDP and the 600,000 people who voted for them. Two weeks ago we put forward an amendment that mirrored that motion. You voted it down, supported by the NDP. So Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, will the Premier commit to passing a motion that will ensure the voices of the more than one billion people in this province are fully supported in this legislature and can participate in a fulsome way in the business of this legislature. Premier, will you commit to that? To remind all members to please make your comments through the chair. Premier, this is what he's wasting his question on. Through you Mr. Speaker, again to the member from Ottawa South, I just find it so rich and so ironic. He's talking about oversight. There was no oversight for 15 years for the taxpayers. We have an inquiry going on. We have a select committee going on to find out who got rich off this government, the liberal government. I'm telling you Mr. Speaker, we've never seen more backroom deals, more scams, more people getting their pockets lined under this government than any government. I caution the Premier on that sort of language. Next question, the member for Kitchener South Hasbrook. Minister of Education, world-class education means accommodating all students, including those with unique learning needs. Research shows that service and therapy animals provide a wide range of emotional, physical support for students. Parents across the province have expressed the need for service animal supports in school boards. Today though, only approximately half of Ontario's 72 school boards have a policy or guideline in place to address the needs of students with service animals. That means half of the school boards and families are being left behind to try and navigate the system. Minister, what will this government do to provide consistency across the province when it comes to student access to service animals? Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the member from Kitchener South Hasbrook for the question. She's an amazing MPP, an amazing advocate, and I would like to share with the House that after 15 long years of inaction, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that it's the PC government that's taking this issue of support dogs very seriously, and we have taken the first step to get it right. It has only been 120 days and our government is proposing a legislative amendment to the Education Act that would require every single school board in this province to put in place a policy to address this important and unique need. Mr. Speaker, I stress the fact that currently there is not one consistent policy in the province and we owe it to our students to get it right. If the proposed amendment is passed and I hope we have support from all of the members of the House, school boards will be directed to have a publicly available, clear and fair policies regarding support animals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and back to the Minister for staff. Thank you for those kind words. I'm very glad to hear that this government for the people is taking action to put our students first. My constituents have been participating in consultations via fortheparents.ca. The people of Ontario are pleased that they have a say in what student education will look like, and I'm sure they will also have a lot to say around student access to service animals in our schools. Through you, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister, can you confirm that my constituents and all Ontarians will have the ability to submit opinions on what these policies and guidelines will look like? Thank you very much. And, Speaker, it's my pleasure to rise in the House and say to the constituents of Kitchener South Hesbler and to all across Ontario, thank you for exercising your voice. We want to hear from you. If you haven't already participated in fortheparents.ca, we are listening. And with regards to support animals, service animals in particular, all members of the public will have an opportunity to provide input on the policy directive that would be issued to the boards. That includes families, education partners, advocacy groups and community agencies. It will help us best to develop the best form of guidelines for school boards and develop policies that will work for students with special needs. Parents deserve a clear and transparent process for requesting service animals, no matter where they live, Mr. Speaker. And I'm proud that our PC government is listening and striving to ensure every student and family will be accommodated in our education system. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, the Premier claims to believe deeply in respect for taxpayers and transparency and government. Government side will come to order. Just a second. The clock hasn't started. We haven't started the clock yet. The government side will come to order. Start the clock. Member for us. Mr. Speaker, from the members of the government, maybe they might want to wait until I'm done the rest of the question to show their enthusiasm. Speaker, that's why it was this was really shocking to see the the Premier refused to tell reporters how much taxpayer money he'd be spending on his plan to roll out these new welcome to Ontario billboard signs up at the border. Can he tell us now, Speaker, how much of the people's money he'll be spending on this side? He's going to come to order. Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, and to the member of Essex. Matter of fact, we're going to put a sign up right down the street from the members home there. Make sure the world knows and the millions of people that cross every border across Ontario that we now have a province that encourages business to open up because we're going to lower the higher rates. We're going to create a business friendly atmosphere to invest. We're going to make sure we don't lose the 300,000 jobs that the previous administration lost 96% of the vote. They supported the Liberals. They were part of destroying this province. We're going to make sure we have this province thriving. We're going to create tens of thousands of new jobs. We're going to attract new businesses. And again, Ontario is open for business. Government side come to order. Minister of Transportation come to order. Start the clock supplementary. We don't care whether it's billboards or bumper stickers from Deco labels. We just want to know how much it's going to cost the people of the block. I also committed to some additional taxpayer spending this week. He committed to bilateral trade talks with the province of Saskatchewan, a province that we do about 5% of inter-provincial trade with, which is especially interesting considering Ontario and Saskatchewan were the only two provinces to skip a meeting of inter-provincial trade this week, this past week. Speaker, that's where the other 95% of inter-provincial trade is actually being discussed. Can the Premier tell us how much of the people's money he'll be spending on trade talks with his friends at Saskatchewan? Take your seats. Another along. If he nods to the Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I was proud to have been to the Premier, to the Premier, to the Premier, to the Premier's host, Premier, he's like-minded. In total, we do $11 billion of trade, but stay with the study. It's costing us $50 billion a year as a country that we don't even have proper inter-provincial trade. We have regulations, but guess what? We're going to blaze a new because people also said it's costing Ontario 15 to 20 billion dollars to the economy but I can make sure I can make sure that we're gonna we're gonna have a deal with Saskatchewan and then you're gonna see all the other provinces hop on board because we talked about the USMCA deal we can't even get trade down within our own country. But under our leadership, we'll make sure it happens, we'll make sure we create jobs. Classics come to order. Premier come to order. Start the clock. Next question, the member for Kitchener Conestoga. Thank you Mr. Speaker. This government has committed to being responsive to the needs of Ontarians and most importantly we are listening. While the Liberals ignored the business community and ignored the people this government is working day and night to get Ontario's finances back on track, something my constituents are very happy to hear. That's why the President of the Treasury Board has been conducting roundtables and stakeholder meetings with organizations across the province. In fact, a few weeks ago I welcomed him to Waterloo Region where we went with job creators and constituents to discuss the state of Ontario's economy and finances. Can the President of the Treasury Board please inform this house who he has consulted with over the past few weeks? Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Kitchener Conestoga for that excellent question. Our goal is to transform government to one that is both efficient and responsive to the needs of the people. This is the only way that we can repair the damage to both the public finances and the public trust caused by liberal mismanagement. That's why the planning for prosperity consult consultations have evolved from a have evolved for the people to a conversation with the people. Over the past two weeks I have visited four chambers of commerce, two colleges and universities, two innovation hubs, a dairy farm, a greenhouse farm and many more. I've heard from hundreds of Ontarians who know that help is on the way and that Ontario is now open for business. Mr. Speaker and thank you to the President of the Treasury Board for his answer. Mr. Speaker businesses across Ontario are being suffocated by red tape. My constituents are also concerned about how the legacy of poor financial management left behind by the Liberals will impact them and their families. In fact this sentiment is the same toward the federal Liberals. A recent survey shows the majority of Ontarians surveyed preferred balancing the budget compared to running a deficit. Despite the opposition's insistence that we are nothing more than a party of cuts, it is this Premier in government that is actually listening to the people and building up Ontario. Can the President of the Treasury Board inform this house as to what he has heard during his consultation with Ontarians? Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for that question. I can say that our government for the people is taking the necessary steps to finally get this province back on track. We will be cutting red tape, we will be cutting inefficiencies and Mr. Speaker we will be cutting the deficit. Everywhere I've gone I've been hearing a common theme. I hear that red tape is haunting businesses. That's what we need to improve and modernize this province's services and that the needs of business owners are finally being addressed. Mr. Speaker Ontarians want change. They want a government that is efficient, effective and receptive. To those who have participated in our consultations I say we hear you. We are working non-stop to get this province back on track Mr. Speaker and I say again Ontario is open for business. The next question the member for Windsor West. Thank you Speaker my question is to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. The Conservative Government has announced that they will be releasing the results of their 100 day review of Ontario's social assistance system on November 8th. However they have been surprisingly tight-lipped about how exactly they are conducting this review and who has been involved in its development. Can the Minister tell us exactly who she has consulted during this process and can she explain the steps her ministry has taken to make sure that the public has been engaged? Particularly those who have lived experience with the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works. Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Thanks very much for the question. It's really great that the NDP is finally starting to talk about this important issue which should be in their wheelhouse but they're really neglectful that they really haven't engaged very much in the legislature. We were very clear when we assumed office that we were going to hit the pause button on the previous Liberal Administration's patchwork disjointed system when we repatriated the five ministries that I'm now responsible for. When we did that we said we would bring in a 1.5% increase on ODSP and Ontario Works right across board and that's happened and we've started to engage stakeholders and we'll be ready in a couple of weeks to outline the positive changes that we'll be making as a government to lift more people out of poverty and back on track where they're able and where they're not we're going to be able to provide additional supports but I can assure the member opposite that we have been engaging with stakeholders and we've been engaging with previous research and administration and we're going to continue to make those supports but I can assure you one in seven for one in seven people living in poverty in the province of Ontario is to start the car supplementary. Thank you Speaker back to the minister minister you might remember the Mike Harris government that actually cut social assistance rate by nearly 22% and your government that is also cut social assistance. Over the past my community social policy experts and leading advocacy organizations and I have yet to find anyone that was invited to take part in the minister's review. It's shocking to hear that this conservative government is not including in the process the very people who will be impacted by their decision. Does the minister think that it's smart policy making to make unilateral decisions without consulting the people whose lives she is directly impacting? Does she simply think that she knows best and understand social assistance better than anyone that is currently receiving it? Thank you much speaker look the member opposite is misleading the House by suggesting that there's been a cut because of... Member knows the rules shall we draw? Draw. The member opposite knows we raised rates by 1.5% across the board and one in seven people in this province are living in poverty. What we were doing in the past is not working and that's why I will stand here to make sure that the best social safety net in this province is a compassionate society. The best social circumstances are when those people who are in the labor force and I... The services come to order. The minister of municipal affairs come to order. Member for Hamilton Mountain come to order. Member for Hamilton Southern sorry Ottawa Southern come to order. Start the clock. Next question the member for Oakville. Thank you speaker my question is for the Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade while the federal liberal government is dreaming up new ways to tax the people of Ontario. Our government for the people is working hard to create jobs and bring new investment to our province. Last week we introduced the Making Ontario Open for Business Act which we have received an outpouring of support from people across this province. Our government continues to stand up for workers and job creators and I'm happy to see our government working with other governments who have the same goals in mind. Just yesterday the minister and Premier Ford met with the Premier of Saskatchewan and unlike our opposition members over here you know we recognize the importance of Saskatchewan as part of Canada to the agricultural community and to stand up to the federal government which I'd like to see this party do more. Could the minister please important the house of what our government is doing to strengthen the economy. Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade. Honourable colleague for the for the question yesterday the Premier and I did welcome Premier Scott Moe to our province to discuss how our governments can best serve our people and fight the federal government's carbon tax. The Premier's went so far and I agree to call this new federal tax a scam and Canadians agree that it's a scam Mr. Speaker. The federal government is trying to bribe Canadians with their own money but the people aren't falling for it. Under the federal Liberals carbon tax we would all be paying higher gas prices higher home heating costs and thousands of people would lose their jobs. The good news is Speaker the Canadians from coast to coast to coast are fighting back and that fight started under the leadership of Premier Scott Moe and former Premier Brad Wall. Killing the federal carbon tax is the right thing to do for families for workers for businesses for jobs and I'm glad you sat in on that meeting and watched this wonderful Premier fight for the workers and families of under the clock. Supplementary. Thank you Speaker and to thank you for the minister for your response. I'm glad to hear that our government is joined by others in our fight against the federal Liberal government's carbon tax and I'm also glad to hear that inter provincial trade was discussed reducing inter provincial trade barriers will provide real benefits for the people of Ontario. While the federal government is creating new tax graphs our government is taking action to put more money in the pockets of hardworking people of Ontario. Through you Speaker could the minister please outline how the Memorand of Understanding will create opportunities for Ontario families in our province. Thank you. Thank you for the question yesterday Premier Ford on behalf of the Government of Ontario was pleased to sign a memorandum of understanding with Premier Scott Moe Premier of Saskatchewan. The MOU is a sign of our shared commitment to reducing inter provincial trade barriers which continue to impede job creation investment throughout Canada. We've heard from Ontario's job creators that this is one of the primary obstacles to attracting new investment in jobs to Canada. It's very important that we act now and Mr Speaker I was proud to sit in that meeting. I've been around here for 28 years and I can't name you five inter provincial trade barriers we've ever brought down in that time. We've built up more and more and more and it's a shame that the NDP don't respect the 11 to 13 billion dollars worth of two-way trade we deal with Saskatchewan if we bring down trade barriers with Saskatchewan we'll do more trade we'll do more exports outside of Canada and the rest of the provinces will follow. I just wish to inform the house like once the ovation started I couldn't hear the minister who had the floor and I had to stop the clock. Order. Start the clock next question the member for Algoma Manitoula. Thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier we all know there's huge potential in this province for mining which will benefit Ontario's and Canada's economy however nothing can be done unless the groundwork the groundwork is laid and done and and if we establish good relationships with our first nations in Ontario industry players mining companies are at the table first nations indigenous communities are at the table municipalities are at the table can the Premier explain to us why his government just like the Liberal government before him is not ready to come at the table or prepare to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Premier? For Northern Development Mines. For Energy Northern Development Mines. Well thank you just just taking that drive with the Premier in and out of beautiful Algoma country Mr Speaker I think it was abundantly clear that this government is at the table creating extraordinary opportunities for indigenous communities in northern Ontario and municipalities to mutually benefit from the resources that we develop and the resources that we share with this country and contribute to our economy and to the global economy there's no question that this is a great opportunity Mr Speaker there are more indigenous people employed in mining than any other sector in this country now although we'd love to see those numbers improve across sectors we're very proud of the traditions in northern Ontario that we have we're committed to developing more mines Mr Speaker unlike the NDP who bought in 97% of the time to the more than 380,000 regulations that shut mining down that shut forestry down Mr Speaker and shut northern Ontario out of its rightful place to contribute to the economy of this great problem start the clock supplementary again to the Premier he along with the Minister of Energy Northern Development Mines and Indigenous Affairs and I were up at the White River to open up the heart gold sugar zone mine right and let's be clear the only thing this government did was cut a ribbon there that that was the prime opportunity for this government to acknowledge the lands of the traditional territory of the Pickmobard First Nations people however neither the Premier nor the Minister took that opportunity or offered that respect it's hard to think that this government will come to the table fully prepared when they're not willing or even interested in building a trusting relationship with Indigenous people when the Premier makes statements and I'll quote if I have to hop on that bulldozer myself with dick on the other one we're going to start building the roads to get the mining done does the Premier believe that does he really believe that making statements of this kind and jumping on a bulldozer will advance any development in a ring of fire with the Indigenous communities that are there or the mining companies take on words Mr Speaker but it's true we were up there to cut the ribbon and to cut tape as recently as a couple of weeks ago when my office had to break through to make sure that heart gold could actually open up the project isn't that right through you Mr Speaker to the Premier thank goodness that they have a government as the CEO said that is open for business and committed to mining in northern Ontario Mr Speaker and as it goes for the ring of fire this is a tragic report seven years it's been bogged down Mr Speaker in the kind of bureaucracy that in my meeting with leaders of in the ring of in the propinquity of ring of fire and we need to break through we're engaged with those communities we're meeting with those communities municipalities and Indigenous communities in that area can look forward to a renewed relationship that delivers results builds a corridor to prosperity Mr Speaker unlike the no digging party we're going to get our shovels out and our bulldozers bullsots start the call next question the member for Brantford brand thank you Mr Speaker my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry I was very pleased to hear that the Minister and our Premier devoted time in their busy schedules last week to visit our northern ridings and spread the great news that Ontario is finally open for business and I'm happy to hear that our government will be working with our northern partners to help rebuild a robust economy I was also pleased to hear of an announcement regarding the wolf transfer to our friends in Michigan there are many questions about whether this transfer will be done in a safe and humane way and if the wolves will be able to adapt to their new homes south of the border Mr Speaker can the through you can the Minister please tell the House how the transfer will take place and how this will benefit both Ontario and Michigan moving forward Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry I'd like to thank the member from Brantford brand for that question this partnership will see wolves moved from Ontario to Michigan's Ohio Royale National Park it's part of a mutual commitment for conservation between their state and our province wolves play a critical role in managing moose population preventing overgrazing of vegetation and sustaining the ecosystem dynamics with very few wolves remaining at Michigan's Isle Royale National Park a natural population recovery unlikely Ontario has agreed to move several Ontario wolves during the winter months Mr Speaker the wolves will be transported in the safest possible way it's expected to take no more than two hours to transport the wolves via helicopter from the current home to the new home in Michigan callers will be placed on each of the wolves in order to track them in the wild by radio and satellite and in doing so Mr Speaker we'll be able to learn just how they're adapting to their new environment thank you supplementary through you Mr Speaker I'd like to thank the Minister for his response it is promising to hear the partnership such as this one are creating opportunity on both sides of the border I am relieved to hear that this process of transferring the wolves can be done in a safe and humane way Mr Speaker I know that last year alone two-way trade between Ontario and Michigan totalled eighty four billion dollars wow this is a significant number and suggest that we must continue to strengthen this relationship relationships must remain strong between Ontario and our neighbors to the south and the partnership demonstrated by this wolf transfer suggests positive news moving forward Mr Speaker back to the minister can he please tell us how leaders in Michigan are responding to the news of Ontario being open for business question my team at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is very pleased to participate in this collaborative initiative with Michigan and the United States National Park Service there are many great things being said from our counterparts in Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said Michigan is proud to be part of this international effort to return a viable wolf population to Isle Royale and we appreciate the partnership provided by Premier Ford in the effort if that's not enough Mr Speaker Isle Royale Superintendent Phyllis Green stated the National Park Service appreciates the support of Premier Ford and Governor Snyder in helping restore predator prey dynamics in the Isle Royale National Park Mr Speaker despite the howling coming from the other side all right Northern Ontario is open for business start the clock next question the member for Hamilton Mountain speaker my question is for the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks many of my constituents on Hamilton Mountain as well as others across the province have entered into agreements with the Green Ontario Fund for rebates on work being done to improve energy efficiency in their homes in July the government canceled the program saying that it would not honor any agreements if the work was not completed by tomorrow October 31st contractors have been working hard to meet that deadline but they're finding it impossible Bob Elliott is the owner of Ken Mason insulation in Hamilton as a contractor he's finding it impossible to complete orders by the deadline set for the Green Ontario Fund manufacturing delivery and installation of windows and doors takes time that that time runs out tomorrow delays happen speaker Ventrelux windows and door system have pointed out the impact of rain days and manufacturing defects these realities of the industry appear to be lost on this government will the minister extend the unrealistic deadline so that contracts entered into in good faith will be honored Mr Speaker I thank the member for her question Mr Speaker the government's been very clear with the people of Ontario we were elected on a mandate to end the cap and trade program and to end the programs that it was subsidizing Mr Speaker the program of which the member speaks was an example of an out of control subsidy program would literally have cost the people of Ontario hundreds of millions of dollars but we did make it clear in fact in June we made it clear that this program will be winding down originally we talked about the work being completed by August 31st Mr Speaker we extended that deadline we extended that deadline in good faith to support the kinds of people that that the member speaking to and that deadline is now October 31st Mr Speaker the only responsible thing to do when winding down a program when stopping money flowing into the government conference is to end the program and end the cost to taxpayers so the we will not be extending the the deadline we have been we have extended on one occasion and we want to be clear that when we said we were going to cancel the program concludes the time for question period this morning Pursuit to standing order 38c the member for Windsor West has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the minister of children community and social services concerning the 100 day review of social assistance and this matter will be debated today at 6 p.m. government house leader has a point of order thank you speaker i seek unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding extending the meeting of the general government committee on Wednesday October 31st government house leaders seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding a committee agreed agreed government house leader speaker i move that notwithstanding the order of the house dated October 25th the standing committee on general government be authorized to meet until 6 30 p.m. on Wednesday October 31st for public hearing on bill 32 FBA 20 is moving that notwithstanding the order of the house dated October 25th the standing committee dispense is it a pleasure the house of the motion carried carried there being no deferred votes this house stands in recess until 3 p.m.