 It is now therefore time for Question Period, the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you and good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. When Ontario's credit rating agencies saw the 2018 budget, they gave a stark warning. The rating firm stated, quote, the fiscal plan set out by the Liberal government would harm the province's credit profile over the long term. Rudy said, quote, the planned return to deficits is credit negative, as it will raise borrowing requirements adding to Ontario's already elevated debt burden. DBRS said, quote, it demonstrates in the clearest terms that the province is not committed to disciplined fiscal policy. What that means is the Liberal government is putting all of Ontario at risk with their reckless spending. Mr Speaker, is it really worth risking Ontario's future to try and win this election? Well, thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, today is Equal Pay Day. And what that means, Mr Speaker, is that from January until today basically women in this province have worked free because of the gender wage gap, Mr Speaker. This morning I was with the Minister of the Status of Women and we were talking about our investment in free preschool childcare, Mr Speaker. The number one thing that we can do as government is provide childcare accessible, high quality, affordable childcare for families, Mr Speaker, so that women can get into the workforce. Mr Speaker, that is economic policy, it is social policy, it is fiscal policy, Mr Speaker, because having more women involved will mean that the economy will grow. That is why we are making the investments that we are making, Mr Speaker, to see this economy grow with everyone included. Thank you. Back to the Premier. We're also seeing the harmful effects of this Liberal budget on Ontario's bonds. When Quebec and Ontario offered up their bonds last week, the market told this government what they thought of their budget. The market picked Quebec's bonds, making Ontario's bonds more costly. We are getting a raw deal because this government can't control their spending. As our costs go up, frontline services are crowded out. We've seen this from the Liberals, nurses fired and hospital beds closed. Mr Speaker, why are the Liberals risking Ontario's future, risking frontline services just to try to win an election? Thank you. Premier. I believe deeply that the future of this province depends on its people. That is our advantage. We have people, Mr Speaker, who are hardworking. They deserve to have the supports that they need to be able to care for themselves and care for their families. When I talk to businesses in other parts of the world, Mr Speaker, they look to Ontario for a strong educated workforce, Mr Speaker, and that's what we have. Mr Speaker, if we do not make these investments in people, if we do not invest in childcare, in tuition, Mr Speaker, so that everyone can go to post-secondary, if we do not make sure that people have the supports that they need to be able to thrive, having balanced the budget, Mr Speaker, is a great accomplishment. It is a very important accomplishment. Mr Speaker, the party opposite would have us put the future at risk by not investing in people. We're not going to go down that road, Mr Speaker. Can you see it, please? Can you see it, please? Final supplementary. Back to the Premier. In a remarkable business turnaround, Quebec and Ontario are literally trading places. Referring to the fact that the market paid a cheaper price for Quebec bonds, Brian Calder of Franklin Bisset said, quote, no way, no how did I ever think we would see Quebec trading through Ontario. He said, quote, simply put, Quebec has been better behaved. Quebec outlined their plan to deliver five consecutive balanced budgets, pay down debt, and lower taxes. In contrast, Ontario will plunge us into six years of deficits, add billions in debt, and increase taxes. A decade ago, what was unimaginable is reality in Liberal Ontario. More nurses fired, 100 in my own community. More hospital beds closed, 60 in my own community. Mr Speaker, do the Liberals really want to put Ontario at greater risk? Thank you, Mr. Finance. Mr Speaker, here's the reality. Ontario's debt to GDP outperforms Quebec. Furthermore, Ontario has $30 billion in liquid reserves right now, Mr. Speaker, because investors have oversubscribed on the bond issues from the province of Ontario outperforming Quebec. We have more liquidity in our bonds, and it trades well. And furthermore, Mr. Speaker, Quebec receives $11 billion from the Federation. Ontario is a neck contributor to the Federation. It always has been, even when we qualify for equalization, to the tune of $11 billion, Mr. Speaker. We support all of Canada, we're the engine of Canada, and they are talking down the province of Ontario. Mr. Speaker, please. Mr. Speaker, please. After round one, clearly indicated to me, we're in warnings. We're in warnings. New question. The Leader of the Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My new question is for the Premier. Almost a year ago, on May 5th, 2017, a Canadian press headline read, quote, Ontario prepared to lower corporate taxes in response to the U.S. Mr. Speaker, it's been almost a year. Will the government lower taxes to help grow and attract businesses? Mr. Finance. Mr. Finance. We did, Mr. Speaker. We reduced taxes for small business by 22%. And our corporate income taxes are already the most competitive in North America. A member from Dufferin, Caledon is warned. Finish, please. And the United States recognizes that they need to be competitive. They're trying to catch up to Ontario's rage, Mr. Speaker. They're laughing again, Mr. Speaker, at the province's prosperity and the growth that we've intended. And we have been the top destination for foreign direct investment for a reason. Because we are competitive, it will continue to be, and we're going to take the respective actions that's in the budget. Chapter 2 talks all about remaining competitive and providing support for businesses to continue to become one of the best provinces and jurisdictions in North America. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, back to the Premier. Last time, or last year at this time, the US was talking about dramatically cutting corporate taxes. Our former economic development minister then said, quote, we'll do whatever we need to do to maintain our competitiveness. A year later, the US did indeed drastically reduce their corporate taxes. And how does the Liberal government respond? They are doing exactly the opposite of what they said they were prepared to do and of what this minister just said. Yes, in the budget, they are raising taxes between personal income tax and new taxes on business. The government is raising your taxes by almost $2 billion. Mr. Speaker, while the US cuts taxes to become competitive, why is Ontario raising our taxes? Thank you. Minister. I'm going to pass on the supplementary to my colleague from economic development and trade. But let's be clear. The member opposite is talking about a closure of loopholes, tax avoidance measures, things that the federal government are doing. And every province then has to emulate some of those practices. But what the member is also saying is, let's cut programs, Mr. Speaker. Member from Niagara, South of Clint, Niagara West, Glenbrook is warned. Finish, please. And the member knows that almost 87% of personal tax fathers are not being affected. And in fact, 700,000 tax fathers are receiving tax cuts. So the member opposite would like to portray something that is actually going to continue to harm the very investors that he's speaking of. Ontario has the lowest tax rates and the lowest tax revenues compared to other provinces, including Quebec. We will continue to be competitive. We'll continue to be the latest government in Canada while providing and safeguarding the programs and services done to people in Ontario. Final supplementary. Well, back to the Premier. In the U.S., taxes go down. Here in Ontario, personal income taxes are raised for 1.8 million people have a raise in their personal income tax. And tens of thousands of businesses are also taxed. This is a government that says one thing, Speaker, and does the complete opposite. The minister said, quote, the competitive edge is important to Ontario's economy. And he wants to, quote, assure the business community and the government. Minister, public safety, community safety and correctional services is warned. And I have about four more than I'm waiting for to have one more chirp. Speaker, we lost our competitive edge years ago under this liberal government and it is only getting worse. The government has been told they have made Ontario the most expensive jurisdiction in North America in which to do business. Mr. Speaker, why are the Liberals raising taxes instead of making Ontario more competitive? The members opposite make it abundantly clear that today in Ontario, if you're a Doug Ford conservative, the truth is not your friend or your ally speaker. You know, we know with a trumped up question like the one that just came from the acting leader of the opposition that they actually seem to specialize in talking down our province speaker. The people of Ontario have every reason to feel hopeful and optimistic about the future and all of the statistics point in that direction. Lowest unemployment in 17 years, lower than the national average for nearly three consecutive years. We see month over month, week over week job creation speaker on this side of this house. We will continue to invest in our people. We will continue to invest in our infrastructure. We will continue to invest in a hopeful and optimistic future for the people of this province because that's what they expect and deserve. And I would caution members opposite. It's most important for us to work together to collaborate to build the province up instead of consistently talking it down. New question in the leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My questions for the Premier. Hospitals in Ontario are overcrowded and underfunded. Who's responsible for years of frozen hospital budgets and overcrowding? Premier. Mr. Speaker, I know that the leader of the third party was pleased last year when we increased hospital funding by $500 million and I'm sure that she will be pleased and I'm sure given the question she will support the budget, Mr. Speaker, that increases hospital funding by more than $820 million, Mr. Speaker. We recognize that the healthcare system has been undergoing a transformation. More people want to be in their homes. There have been billions of dollars that we have invested in home care, Mr. Speaker. And there is more that is needed on that front. But we also recognize that the changes that hospitals have made require that we make a substantial investment this year as we did last year in the operations of hospitals, Mr. Speaker. So that people can get healthcare faster in the hospitals, as well as in the community, Mr. Speaker. Answer. Thank you. Supplementary. This problem didn't appear out of nowhere, Speaker. It was completely predictable. The Liberals froze and cut hospital budgets. And the result is that people are treated in hallways, shower rooms, bathrooms, waiting rooms, broom closets. Over 30 days from December 15th to January 15th of this year, Trillium Health Partners ran 316 beds in hallways or unconventional spaces. In fact, there were only two nights during that month, during that 30-day period, where someone wasn't in a hallway. Those two days happened to be Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That means if it wasn't Christmas, people were being treated in a hallway. Who does this Premier think is responsible for that? Thank you. So, Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is going to want to comment, but I just want to say that, you know, the people who work in our hospitals deserve our utmost support and respect. It is hard work, Mr. Speaker. You know, we have pockets of the province where population is growing, but all over the province, Mr. Speaker. And we're seeing an aging demographic that means that there are pressures on our hospital system. Mr. Speaker, every single budget that we have brought in in this, since I've been Premier and before, has increased the funding to healthcare, including increasing funding to hospitals. But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, as I said, I recognize that there have been transformations that have happened, meaning that there are more people getting care in their homes, in community, as they wish. We recognize that there is a need. We have included more than $820 million in this budget directly to hospitals. Mr. Speaker, I thought the Premier was just going to say that she was sorry that she made such a mess of our hospitals. That's what she should have done. One night in January, Trillium had 193 unfunded beds. From December 15th to January, they had 4,555 unfunded beds. The occupancy rate never once, for a single day, dipped below 99%. To remind the Premier, the safe level of occupancy in our hospitals is 85%. This problem didn't just appear out of nowhere. It is the completely predictable result of years and years of cuts and underfunding with the Premier all up to a hallway medicine crisis that she has created in our province. Health and long-term care. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And here are the facts. Hospital operating funding in Ontario has increased by more than 65% since 2003 to almost $19 billion. In the past two years alone, we've increased operational funding to hospitals by almost $1 billion. So, of course, the investment that we're proposing to make in this year's budget, and I certainly hope, obviously, that we will get support from the third party for our entirely progressive budget this year, we're making an historic investment of an additional $822 million in Ontario's publicly funded hospitals. The types of quotes that we are getting from various hospital CEOs is incredibly impressive. From Eric van der Waal of the Joseph Brandt Hospital, President and CEO, I would like to thank the provincial government for the investment in quality healthcare. The provincial government's funding announcement for Ontario hospitals is very positive news for JB. New question, the leader of the third party. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. Every three minutes, someone in Ontario ends up in a hospital or a doctor's office because their mouth hurts so badly. Last week, I met with Vanessa Giuliano, the Director of Operation Sharing. Operation Sharing helps raise money so families can see a dentist. Because for 15 years, the Liberals have ignored the fact that too many people can't see a dentist. Telling a mum or dad that they have $300 to split between medication and a visit to the dentist isn't going to fix that problem, Speaker. Organisations like Operation Sharing will still have to do their important work. The Liberal scheme will not fix the problem, Speaker. Why not? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the leader of the third party and I do not disagree that there is a challenge in terms of dental care and pharmacare in this province. I would suggest across the country, Mr. Speaker, because when Medicare was introduced in the 60s, those were two areas that were not covered. And I think if we can agree on that then we can agree that if we were building a Medicare system today, we would include pharmacare and dental care. We would find a way to do that. What we are doing here in Ontario, Mr. Speaker, is we're taking great steps forward. The OHIP Plus program, Mr. Speaker, will already is covering free prescription medication for 4,400 medications for kids from their birth until their 25th birthday. And we recognise, Mr. Speaker, that we need to expand that. So next year, seniors will have free prescription medication. And, Mr. Speaker, we recognise that everyone in between needs some support as well. And that's what the dental and pharma plan is about, Mr. Speaker. And I'll speak more about that in the supplementary. Cindy Blair and her 17-year-old son live in Cambridge. Cindy works three jobs and none of them have benefits. $50 is not going to get her son's teeth looked after, Speaker. It wouldn't pay for half a filling. The PCs don't have a plan except for over $6.1 billion in cuts. Under my plan, Cindy could look her son in the eye and say it's going to be okay. $50 is not enough for children's dental, Speaker. Why doesn't this Premier care? You know, if it's a mom and one child, we're talking about $450, Mr. Speaker. If you're talking about a family, two adults and two children, Mr. Speaker, you're talking about $700. And that $700 can be used, Mr. Speaker, to offset costs. Whether it's pharma costs or whether it's dental costs, they can be used to offset those costs. But, Mr. Speaker, if it's pharma costs and if it's a child, that child will already have their prescription medications covered, Mr. Speaker, all $4,400. According to the NDP's pharma plan, Mr. Speaker, and I know that the third party is putting forward their plan, but under the NDP's pharma plan, Mr. Speaker, people with certain allergies would have to pay for drugs. There'd be lack of choice for mental health drugs. Women would lose choice on the contraceptives they choose to take, Mr. Speaker. There would be less coverage for therapies for conditions like cystic fibrosis or Crohn's or colitis. So, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to take lessons from the leader of the third party on how to put a... Thank you. Can you see it, please? Can you see it, please? Thank you. Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, here's a lesson for the Premier. Families that can't afford dental care don't have $700 up front to pay to then get it refunded by this Premier's if touch with the families of Ontario. Her plan is completely inadequate and everybody knows it, Mr. Speaker. Here's a story about Steve. I met Steve in Oshawa. Steve is 60 years old and he is able and ready to retire. His 80-factor plan has kicked in. He's ready to go, but he can't retire. He can't retire because he needs $21,000 in diabetes medication and he doesn't have that $100,000 in his pocket that he's going to need over the next five years to pay for his diabetes medication. He needs pharmacare and he needs it today. The Premier thinks he should wait five more years, Speaker. Doug Ford probably thinks Steve shouldn't have any pharmacare whatsoever. Can the Premier explain to Steve why she doesn't care that Steve has to postpone retirement for five years now because he needs a prescription drug? Thank you. Well, I can certainly agree with the leader of the third party on what the Conservatives might think about this, but Mr. Speaker, the leader of the third party does not have the corner on caring, Mr. Speaker. The reality is that the budget that we have brought in, Mr. Speaker, is absolutely focused on providing those supports for people so that they can care for themselves and care for their families. Look, I do not disagree with the leader of the third party that we need to have a comprehensive national pharmacare plan and that everyone needs to be covered by that, Mr. Speaker. I agree with her on that, which is exactly why for years the Minister of Health in this province has been advocating at the table with the other Ministers of Health is exactly why I have been advocating with my fellow Premiers that we need a national pharmacare plan, Mr. Speaker. We need to move forward. We've made the biggest expansion of Medicare in a generation, and we're going to keep going. Thank you. Good question to the member from Lampin, Kent Middlesex. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Premier. Last fall, I called on the Premier to condemn the Federal Liberals' massively unpopular tax hikes on small business, but she refused. Well, the 2018 budget from her government shed new light on why she wouldn't stand up for Ontario's small businesses and it's because she had plans to pile on. Speaker, the Ontario government announced in their budget that they will put 20,000 employers on the hook for $100 million more in employment health tax over the next three years. Some businesses will also be phased out of the small business deduction in additional $350 million in new taxes in the same time frame. Speaker, why is this government taxing away the jobs of the hardworking people of Ontario? So let's be clear, Mr. Speaker. The member opposite is talking about tax loopholes that the federal government is trying to close, and we actually are targeting the employer health tax to benefit more businesses. Many more businesses are actually going to see benefits as a result of the measures that we've taken in this budget. But the member opposite is saying, yeah, but those companies that are big umbrellas and they're big conglomerates, they subdivide themselves into little pieces so they then skirt the ability to pay employer health tax for their employees and for the benefit of Ontarians, they say that's okay. The federal government is closing those loopholes. All provinces are closing those loopholes so they can support even further taxing and cutting of programs. That's up to them, but in the end they're going to have a huge hole to feel. We want to protect the people of Ontario. We want to protect our universal health program to ensure that's well funded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, back to the premier. These tax changes are new salt in the wound for small businesses and job creators already struggling to cope with dramatic labour reforms, energy costs and increasing pressure from international competition. Speaker, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has been clear that these changes will hurt our local businesses. Chamber President, Rocco Rossi has a message for this government and I quote, we need government to reduce the burden, not add to it. Our economy depends on small businesses. Speaker, why do the Liberals continue to punish small business in Ontario by raising taxes? Thank you, Minister. So, let's be clear, once again, many small businesses are going to benefit from the targeting of these effects. They'll be targeted to the EHD to provide greater exemptions for those small businesses. Some are taking undue advantage of that new poll. That's what's being closed. And it's not small businesses that are doing it, Mr. Speaker. It's big businesses that aren't paying their fair share. It's a matter of equity. It's a matter of being transparent. It's about being simplistic in terms of the way it's being created. That's all that's being done, Mr. Speaker. We've increased the R&D tax credits. We provided for increasing the innovation tax credits. We reduced taxes for small businesses by 22 percent. We're providing apprenticeship programs up to $17,000 for individuals in those sectors. We're allowing $2,000 for every new employee that's a youth. Mr. Speaker, they're voting against those very measures that we're providing for small businesses, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question, the member from London West. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Today is Equal Pay Day and women across Ontario are wearing red to signify how far into the next year a woman must work to earn what men earned the previous year. Speaker, in 15 years under this Liberal Government, the 30 percent gender wage gap has barely budged. Today the actions that are finally taken to close the gap are more symbolic than real. Half measures, like a child care plan that ignores the needs of women who require infant care. And at the same time, this Government is engaged in a lengthy legal battle at the Human Rights Tribunal to oppose women like midwives who are fighting for Equal Pay. Will the Premier show some leadership, do the right thing and settle these human rights cases? Can you see it, please? Can you see it, please? Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I remarked earlier in question period that it's Equal Pay Day and this is a really intractable issue that governments have been dealing with for many years, Mr. Speaker. It was a Liberal Government in 1987 that introduced pay equity legislation and we recognize that there is more that we have to do. So it is not coincidental, Mr. Speaker, that the number one recommendation of the group that we asked to give us advice on the gender wage gap, the number one recommendation was to provide child care, affordable high quality child care. The leader of the third party is warned. The Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation is warned. Premier. Mr. Speaker, the bulge of children and families who are looking for child care is at two and a half years. That is exactly why the plan that we are introducing starts at two and a half years to four years, Mr. Speaker. And you know that builds on the full day kindergarten that is already in place in this province that saves, that is wonderful for kids, gives them a great start, but also saves families $6,000 a year for child. So Mr. Speaker, we're taking a great step forward with the work that we're doing to help those kids and it is about those families and those women who want to get back into the work. Thank you. Again to the Premier. The Premier knows that frontline workers in the community and social services sector are overwhelmingly female. These workers deliver important public services to Ontarians in nursing homes, in developmental services, in other community agencies. These workers in our less than their comparators in hospitals and municipalities. These workers have been waiting decades to achieve pay equity. It didn't happen when the conservatives were in government and it certainly hasn't happened under 15 years of liberal government. Will the Premier show women the money? Will she agree to fund pay equity wages for the women who work in community and social services agencies? Mr. Speaker. Can you see the face? Can you see the face? Thank you. Premier. Mr. Speaker, as I stood in the Gym at St. Helen Catholic School with the MPP for Davenport and the Minister of the Status of Women. Well, you know, the member for Renfrew talks about a photo op. It was an unusual photo op, Mr. Speaker. It was five women standing on a stage making a very significant amount announcement about childcare and about closing the gender wage gap in this province. I'll be the first to say, Mr. Speaker, that it should have happened 25 years ago. Should have happened 30 years ago, Mr. Speaker. We should be farther along. We should have closed the way. The member from Prince Edward Hastings is warned. The member from Renfrew and Episcene Pembroke is warned. Someone else was closed. We immediately put increases into early childhood educators, developmental support workers and personal support workers, Mr. Speaker, because they were at the bottom of the wages. And we knew that that was important. We made that increase, Mr. Speaker. We're introducing a pay grid as part of the childcare changes, Mr. Speaker. I know the best time to have done this would have been 50 years ago. The second best time is today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question. The member from Berry. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Labor. Speaker, today we recognize Equal Pay Day in Ontario and across Canada. Today serves as a symbolic reminder of the extra time each year that it takes a woman, on average, to earn as much as a man. We are recognizing the pay gap that still exists between men and women and the work that still remains to close that gap. It reminds us of the work that remains to be done. It is 2018 and it should not take 15 and a half months for a woman to make the same as a man did in just 12 months. The women of our province deserve better. Minister, can you please tell us on Equal Pay Day what you have done to close the gender wage gap? Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you to the member from Berry for what is a very, very important question on Equal Pay Day. I am proud to speak about the Government's strong commitment and the work we have done on the gender wage gap, Speaker. We began this process about four years ago. We brought together representatives from equality advocacy groups, labour organisations, HR professionals, we have a few members of that committee here with us in the house today, Speaker. I would like to thank them for the positive work that they have been able to do to advance us. They went around the province, they held extensive consultations and they developed a report that gave us some great recommendations. We took immediate action on some of those recommendations. Then we brought together a similar group to talk about the implementation, Speaker. They discussed the steering on their expert advice, Speaker. We have taken some very, very concrete steps that are before the house today that need to get through this house to be put into action, Speaker. Supplementary. Thank you, Minister. When I look around the legislature, I am very proud to see so many women working hard for their communities and for all the people of Ontario. We know that while women are present in all industries and sectors, there are still barriers that remain to prevent their participation in the workforce. Most notably, women continue to earn 30% less on average than men. That gap is larger for racialized women and even larger for women with disabilities. This is unacceptable. It is time to close the gender wage gap. It is time for a comprehensive plan that recognizes women's economic empowerment isn't a quick fix and it isn't one size fits all. We know that increasing women's economic participation is the right thing to do for the sake of equality and for the good of our economy. Minister, what steps are you taking to close the gender wage gap right now? Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you again to the Member for the Supplementary Speaker. We have invested in childcare, we have invested in healthcare, we have raised the minimum wage, we bought in measures such as equal pay for work of equal value, equal pay for equal work. We know that we have introduced and I said it is in the House today the pay transparency legislation with the very first jurisdiction in all of Canada to introduce a comprehensive package of measures that are going to increase pay transparency and workforce composition aggregated data speaker. The legislation is going to be a new tool in our toolkit that is going to promote workplace equity. It is going to help put some sunlight on pay inequities and biases that already exist, Speaker. It is not clear where the official opposition stands on this issue, Speaker. Disappointing and surprising. Women's economic equality should not be a partisan issue. The best day is to date. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My questions to the Minister of Health and long-term care. Speaker, a few weeks ago it was brought to my attention that there was a lot of work going on in the clinic. The clinic was closed. The only fit physiotherapy located in St. Thomas will no longer be taking clients. When I contacted both the land and the Ministry of Health on whether they knew of the fact of this closing, I received the same set of talking points. Both were unable to confirm if the clinic was closing. Speaker, this runs contradictory to both a closed-in mobility fit or are they knowingly letting this potential gap to be created in Algin County? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We know providing patients with access to physiotherapy helps them stay healthy and stay at home longer where they want to be. So this is why across the province we do have a comprehensive program for community and primary care physiotherapy. We introduced this in our ongoing commitment to improve our health care system over the time that we've been in government. And so from time to time we know that there are changes. I believe this clinic is a private clinic and of course we expect our Linn in the southwest to be working very closely with this clinic so we can ensure that patient care is provided where it is needed and when it is needed in a timely fashion. And we'll continue to work in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, back to the minister. The closure of mobility fit physiotherapy and a complete lack of action on the part of both the ministry and the Linn is going to have devastating consequences for the people in Algin County and St. Thomas. This closure leaves only one clinic to serve a large population for my constituents. If the government continues to ignore this issue wait times will continue to climb and many will go without proper treatment. I believe this clinic will not be available to them. It's unfair for this government in the southwest Linn to expect my constituents especially those who have just undergone surgery to travel to London to search for treatment. They should not be treated as second class citizens in this province. My question to the minister what is the ministry doing today to ensure there is OHIP covered physiotherapy in my riding for all the residents of Algin St. Thomas. Mr. Speaker the Linn has informed us that there is actually no indication that this particular clinic is closing. There's rumor and innuendo apparently out there in the community obviously our Linn is going to be working closely with the clinic to look at the particular circumstances in this case. Our goal is always to ensure that people receive the appropriate healthcare that they need including physiotherapy. Clearly it's very important post-surgery that this be available and we will continue to work in this regard. Thank you Mr. Speaker. No question a member from Kitchener Waterloo. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. My question is to the premier. Premier each year thousands of people are seriously injured or killed while using our roads. One of those people is a cyclist named Anthony Smith. While Anthony was cycling in Barrie this past October the driver suddenly swerved left across his path and Anthony became trapped under the truck. Anthony's spine was fractured. He has undergone two surgeries. He has spent weeks in the hospital. He has gone to nearly 100 medical appointments. The driver of the pickup truck was only charged with hiding his license plate. He received a $125 fine. Why is it acceptable in Ontario that a driver who seriously injures a vulnerable road user a pedestrian or cyclist like Anthony only receives a $125 fine. Question. Thank you. Thank you Speaker. I'd like to thank everyone who joined the member from Kitchener Waterloo this morning for sharing the stories during the media studio. As a former trauma ER nurse I very much can relate to having to manage not only the victims who came in from accidents and collisions on the road but also the families I had to make some of those calls and sit and care for the families afterwards. So nothing's more important to me as minister of transportation than road safety. So this past fall our government announced our bold plan to keep our most vulnerable road users safe. It came as a direct response to what we heard from road safety advocates but also those who have been personally impacted by the loss of a loved one or friend on our roads. In particular I want to reference the president of the Treasury Board who's been one of the strongest advocates for changing our laws for careless driving. So the new charge of careless driving causing death or bodily harm comes up to 50,000. Thank you. Thank you to the premier. Thousands of vulnerable road users like Anthony or Heather or Meredith or Margaret or Jessica or Albert are put in danger every year because Ontario's laws do not hold drivers accountable when they seriously injure or kill. A driver can kill or seriously injure a cyclist or pedestrian and most of the time the driver will likely just receive a fine of maybe a few hundred dollars. They do not lose their license required to take driver training and they do not even need to attend court to hear the victim impact statement and face the consequences of their actions. Does the premier agree that drivers should face meaningful consequences when they seriously injure or kill and if she does believe this why hasn't her government passed a vulnerable road user law like the one called in October? I stand you sit. Thank you. Minister of Transportation. In direct answer we passed it last spring. It's a huge charge. It comes up with a 50,000 penalty and up to two years imprisonment and a license suspension for up to five years making this the toughest penalty in this highway traffic act. It's amongst some of the toughest penalties in Canada. It has yet to be enacted. They're continuing to do the work to do that. But we passed that law last spring. So we continue to ensure that the new charge provides the law enforcement. Wrap up sentence please. Thank you. Let me be clear. It's a penalty that was not previously available to our enforcement officers who have been asking for this. This new charge is a penalty that was not previously available to our enforcement officers. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I was trying to hear your opinion about this currently operating on جان جان project. In Kentucky we have a written plan and are it many details too long and two elaborate to fit on a bumper sticker or a label. Speaker we know that climate changes are the most serious problems we face today both globally and here in Ontario. for Ontario businesses and residents. Speaker, can the minister please explain to the House how this government is continuing to take action on climate change by putting a price on carbon? Thank you, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Well, thank you, Speaker. Thank you to the member from Etobicoke North for a very important question. And yes, I can assure him that Ontario has a very comprehensive plan to fight greenhouse gas emissions. Our climate change action plan has some 90-plus points. I'm sorry that we can't fit it on a bumper sticker, Mr. Speaker, but it is exceptionally detailed. I want to say that we are proud here in Ontario to be recognized as a leader in the global fight against climate change. And the medical doctor from Etobicoke North knows this. He knows as well, Speaker, that a report released yesterday by the Clean Economy Alliance said, and let me quote, Ontario is a leading jurisdiction when it comes to efforts to fight climate change. That report, Speaker, that report also noted that since 2005, carbon emissions in Ontario are down by 20 percent. We've done things, Premier. We've taken real leadership. We've done things like shutting down dirty coal-fired plants. We've introduced our cap on pollution. Thank you. And we've achieved... Thank you, Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's reassurance of having a full and detailed elaborate climate change plan, unlike the party opposite, which to my mind, Speaker, is running on empty. Speaker, no plan, no juice, just pitches and one-liners. Speaker, while the opposition seems to be supporting the current U.S. President and looking forward to trumping Ontario, we, of course, welcomed former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, just very recently. And, Speaker, do you know what he said about Ontario? He said that when he travels to other parts of the world, he points to our province and our Premier when he talks about climate leadership and action. When leaders of governments across the world ask him where to look for models, responsible leadership and action, he says, I always point to Ontario. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, first of all, will he answer this question and will he also present himself for questioning and scrutiny, or will he prefer to hide from the press and not come out of the basement? Thank you, Minister. Well, Speaker, I'm delighted that the member from Etobicoke North talked about basements because I can tell you that here in Ontario, one of these serious repercussions of climate change is flooding. Flooding in our basements, you have to look to Windsor, you have to look to Burlington, you have to look to Toronto. Multiple basements across the province where people see Ontario and see firsthand the price they're paying for climate change, the average $45,000 to $50,000 per cleanup in those basements, Mr. Speaker. So I am delighted to be transparent and open and talk about what this province is doing when it comes to climate change. And I will say right now that protecting Ontario's basements by fighting climate change is at the top of what we're doing. You know, I... I'll let the first one go, not this time. The member from Lanark Front and Athletics in Addington is warned. Drop up sentence, please. You know, Speaker, we're appalled to see that the PCs are refusing to take any action on climate change, and I know Ontarians will hold them accountable. Good question. The member from Perry Sound, Muscoca. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The minister is aware that Muscoca-Gonkwin Health Care is considering the futures of the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and South Muscoca Memorial Hospital. Just last week, MHC's Task Force released descriptions of the three models they are considering saying they will be making a recommendation this spring. The three options they are considering are to acute sites, maintaining the existing hospitals and services. One inpatient and one outpatient site, and a one-site model. Speaker, the people of Muscoca and Omegwin have been very clear. They want their two hospitals maintained. Will the Minister encourage MHC and the Task Force to listen to the people who rely upon these hospitals and recommend maintaining two hospitals? Thank you. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And the member opposite is obviously a well-known advocate for his community. And we've heard from the Muscoca-Algonquin CEO on a number of issues in relation to plans for the future. I really do want to commend the way the Ontario Hospital Association has stepped up to the plate in assisting us at looking how we move forward with looking at efficiencies, centres of excellence, and yet providing care as close to home as possible. All these pieces are very much in the mix. And it's really quite remarkable how our advisory council, chaired by the Ontario Hospital Association President, has looked at the whole spectrum of hospitals in this province, from academic health science centres, psychiatric hospitals, rehab hospitals, all the services that are provided through small hospitals, large hospitals, et cetera. And I'll have more to say in the supplement. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, to the Minister of Health, one of the challenges facing Muscoca-Algonquin healthcare and other small and medium-sized hospitals is that their funding has not kept up with their costs. Many of these costs are not things the hospitals can control. And in fact, some like hydro costs and collective bargaining agreements are things the province controls. So the province has increased hospital costs without increasing funding to cover these costs. As a result, some hospitals have run deficits for many years. In the lead-up to the June election, the government has been touting the 4.6% increase they are supposedly giving to Ontario's hospitals. But MHAC received only 1.4% and West Perry Sound Health Centre has been told they will receive approximately 1%. Speaker, will the Minister explain why these hospitals in my writing are not receiving the full 4.6% increase in funding? Well, Mr. Speaker, we made it very clear that our increase, the $822 million this year, would provide an average of 4.6% overall increase to hospitals in this province. Clearly in some communities, high-growth communities such as ones that I represent, the need, the increase in population, the increase in acuity is greater than in some other areas of the province. This is precisely why we consult with the Ontario Hospital Association as well as the local health integration network. As to the distribution of these funds, it's based on evidence, it's based on need. In particular, in this situation, I know that my predecessor, the former Minister of Health, met with the City Council and asked them to come back with a unified plan for the hospitals in the members' writing. And so we look forward to that. We're awaiting that kind of community decision to inform us, and we'll move forward in that regard. Thank you. I have a question for the members from Welland. Well, thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, 3,000, and yes, I said 3,000 York University contract faculty, teaching assistants, and other part-time academic workers are still on the picket line this morning. They're continuing to take a stand against insecure academic jobs that have become pervasive throughout the sector. The underfunding of post-secondary education that caused this will be one of the legacies of the Liberal government. The recent changes to labour laws under Bill 148 did nothing to change that fact. These workers want to get back to the important work that they do, supporting students. The member from London West already and recently has raised these issues with the Premier in the House, as have many of my colleagues. Will the Premier show some leadership today, ask the publicly funded administration of York University to quit stalling and get back to the bargaining table? Thank you. Very good. Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development. Minister of Advanced Education. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for the question. On this side of the House, we want to see our students back in the classroom as soon as possible. And we're urging the best path to that resolution is at the bargaining table. So we are urging both sides, Speaker, to get back to the bargaining table. There might require some compromise on both sides in order to do that. But we have to keep the interests of the students first in this situation, Speaker. And I know that there has been support from the Ministry of Labour all the way through this process. And we're strongly urging both sides to do that right thing, get back to the bargaining table, start talking to each other. And yes, it might require compromise on both sides, but this is all about the best interests of our students. And we want to see them getting back to the classroom so that they can resume their studies without interruption as quickly as possible, Speaker. Well, Speaker, this is not unique, actually, to York University. We know that recently Carlton was out on strike. So for 10 years, since 2008, 2009, Ontario has had the lowest of all provinces of university funding per student. This downloads the costs onto the students, onto their families, creating record student debt, and led to the explosion of precarious contract work. Students know what the problem is. The contract part-time precarious faculty know what the problem is. New Democrats know what the problem is. My question, Speaker, does the Premier. So, Speaker, I want to say that the situation at Carlton has been successfully resolved. There was a settlement at the table that was voted on and ratified by the members. That is the collective bargaining process, and we can see where it has worked. That is what we want to see with respect to the situation at York. We want both sides to come together with a focus on a resolution so that we can prioritize the needs of students and they can resume their studies. You know, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite talked about funding for post-secondary education. And I want to say no government in the history of this province under the leadership of this Premier has funded post-secondary education for students as it relates to the new OSAP program. 235,000 students are now attending post-secondary education for free tuition paid because of this program. Thank you. New question, the member from Davenport. Mr. Speaker, as you know, today is Equal Pay Day, and it was my pleasure to welcome the Premier, Minister Mallie, to my riding of Davenport this morning to mark this day. My question is for the Minister of Status. That comes first. Today is a day to reflect on the value of Equal Pay for all workers in our province. It is a day where we measure just how much more men are paid for the same work as women. In Ontario, we know that the gender wage gap sits at about 30 percent. And we know that this pay gap is even greater for racialized indigenous LGBTQ-plus women, women living with disabilities, and newcomer women. Equal Pay Day acknowledges the work we still have to do, work that will create a better future for young women and girls. Women in Ontario continue to face challenges and barriers to achieve full economic participation. Can the Minister please tell this House how the government is helping to close the gender wage gap and ensure women are given equal opportunity for access? Thank you. Minister Statham. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member for the question, and I'm very pleased to rise today in the legislature to recognize April 10th as Equal Pay Day in Ontario. Speaker, the gender wage gap is real, and for far too many women in this province are being held back in the workplace, passed up for leadership roles and are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. But we are all working to change that. Last summer, my ministry consulted province-wide to create, then now next, Ontario's strategy for women's economic empowerment. Working with my colleague, the Minister of Labor, we have introduced historic pay transparency legislation because women deserve the tools to negotiate for a fair wage. We're leveraging the government's buying power to encourage large firms to meet a 30% target of women on their boards, and it is clear that child care remains a significant area to women's full economic participation. In fact, our gender wage gap steering committee's top recommendation was to invest in child care, and we have 100,000 new child care spaces. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and again to the minister's status of women. The government plans to increasing pay transparency and empower women to bargain for a fair wage. And we are introducing historic legislation that would require employers to disclose pay rates and pay scales for publicly posted positions. But, Speaker, the reality is 58% of minimum wage earners are women. Many women find it difficult to find meaningful, well-paying jobs. We must support women who are entering the workforce for the first time or returning after an absence. Speaker, my question is, what are we doing for those women? Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you again for the question. Then now next, Ontario's strategy of women's economic empowerment is a multi-ministry strategy that will ensure that every woman in Ontario can access their full potential in the economy at all income levels. Our government is empowering women, workers and leaders, by expanding women's centres so that they can provide much needed support to women rebuilding their lives, including those living with violence, and enforcing get-on-board Ontario's implementation plan to promote women in corporate leadership because increasing the number of women on private and public boards is a step in the right direction. We are removing barriers to Indigenous women's leadership through targeted programming and developed with our Indigenous partners. And we're investing in mentorship and networking for women who face higher barriers like racialized women. We are also establishing an Ontario's Women Entrepreneurship Association to increase women's access to our opportunity and to scale up and expand ventures. Women deserve action and we are delivering a goal of government approach. Your question to the member from Prince Edward Easton. Thanks, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Energy. Construction of the WPD Wind Project on the south shore of Prince Edward County is creating havoc for local residents. Road issues, noise issues and other problems are a daily occurrence as construction is underway in spite of the fact that the municipality wants no part of this wind project. Your government insists though on pushing ahead with a project that's actually going to cost electricity customers over a hundred million dollars in the future on their bills. So, Speaker, how much of Prince Edward County is this government willing to tear up to accommodate this unnecessary wind project? Thank you, Minister of Energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to thank the member for the question and I know he's actively involved in this project and he and I talk about it often. The one thing that we try to do, Mr. Speaker and the last procurement through our LRP process, we really worked hard, Mr. Speaker, at trying to strike that right balance between early community engagement and achieving value for ratepayers by putting an emphasis on the cost, Mr. Speaker. And now it also is important to note that all LRP projects, Mr. Speaker, are administered by the independent electricity system operator and it's overseen, Mr. Speaker, through that process by an external fairness advisor and when that contract is offered, Mr. Speaker, the project we need to make sure that they know, Mr. Speaker, that the project isn't over. Project developers then must obtain all required licenses and approvals such as renewable energy approved. Supplementary. Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker, I just want to remind the minister that this has been a very controversial project in Prince Edward County. It started off as a 29-wind turbine project and by the government's own environmental review tribunal was reduced down to nine turbines. How in the world is this even economically viable given the fact that the environmental review tribunal for environmental reasons has decided that 20 of these turbines need to be eliminated? The latest update on the active contract generation page for the independent electricity system operator shows that the WPD project hasn't been given notice to proceed, Speaker. But the latest update was three months ago. Is the government trying to get this expensive, unneeded wind project? And I know the minister knows that. Question. Are they trying to get this completed before the election? And have they given notice to proceed to WPD? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I know the Honourable Member is very, very active in this file. So he should know, Mr. Speaker, that it is the ISO and this external fairness advisor. That are the ones that are administering this contract, Mr. Speaker. So if he wants the clarification on that, Mr. Speaker, he can easily contact the ISO and talk to them about it as well, Mr. Speaker. But when we're looking at what we're doing on this side of the House, making sure that we're investing in renewable energy, investing in sustainable energy, Mr. Speaker, it is this government that is creating jobs and creating an affordable electricity and clean electricity system right across the province, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. President and Treasury Board on a point of order. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm proud to welcome to the Legislative Assembly today staff from the great city of Burlington joining us in the public gallery. Jennifer Knight, Colleen Black, Janet Bogasklowski, Muriel Browers, Anne-Marie Cumber, Wendy Garside, Debbie Hordek, Carmela Marchesen, Tracy O'Neill, Amanda Ridgway, Patty Sullivan, Tara Thorpe, Quab, Koa J, and Helen Wallahura. Welcome to Queen's Park. Thank you. Minister of Transportation on a point of order. Thank you. I'd like to correct my record speaker. I said that the legislation that contains the new charge of careless driving, causing death or bodily harm, was passed last spring. It was in fact passed December 12, 2017. Thank you. Thank you. All members have a right to correct their record. I thank you for that. The member from Windsor to come see is warned. Oh, sorry. Just thought it out for you that no. Hanser do not record that. There are no deferred votes. This house stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon.