 It is now time for question period. The leader of Ramazan's use of a lot of questions. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm still here. I thought maybe you maybe talked to Patrick Brown and knew something I didn't know this morning. Questions for the Premier? Speaker, the day after this government introduced back to work legislation for members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has now announced it's ramping up its work to rule campaign. Elementary teachers will not write transition reports or participate in transition meetings for grade 8 students. They will not plan future field trips. They will not participate in professional development. This is just the next step before a full blow and strike. Premier, will you guarantee the parents of elementary school students that they won't see a province wide strike September and their second? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is making a huge leap. The fact is that there is a collective bargaining process that is underway, Mr. Speaker, and we need to let that unfold. I know that the Minister of Education will want to comment, but Mr. Speaker, I believe in the collective bargaining process. I mean that's a fundamental difference between us and the party opposite. We actually believe that it's important to have a process in place. It's important to follow that process, Mr. Speaker. And there will be times when it works better than others, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge that, but that does not negate the importance of having a process that is respectful in which everyone has a role, Mr. Speaker, and everyone understands what that role is. And that's what's in place in Ontario, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And back to the Premier. This government has failed in negotiations with Durham. It's failed in negotiations with Rainbow and Sudbury, and failed in negotiations with Peel. The Premier and the Education Minister couldn't keep students in the classroom all because of a pathetic cumbersome Bill 122-barring system. Premier, these boards are just three of the 72 boards we have in Ontario. Parents and students could see this chaos and disruption spread one board at a time across the province because of this Liberal government's dysfunctional bargaining process. Our young leader, Patrick Brown, of the P.C. Caucus, know that Bill 103 is simply a band-aid solution. Premier, Premier Halperhaus. Order, start the clock. Finish, please. Is that a creative question? You're afraid of Patrick. Well, he will be sitting right over there in 2018. Premier, how many more back-to-work bills will you have to introduce over the coming months? Well, Mr. Speaker, let me just speak to the process because I said that it's important to have a process in place that everyone understands. Now, the fact is that we worked with our partners, with the Teachers Federations, with the unions, Mr. Speaker. So Teachers Support Stop, we worked with boards to put in place a process that reflects the reality, Mr. Speaker, that the provincial government is the funder of publicly funded education in Ontario, and there are issues that have to be resolved at a provincial table. It also reflects the reality that there are local issues that need to be bargained locally. Now, Mr. Speaker, a number of years ago, when I was Minister of Education, there was an informal process that kind of reflected that reality that actually was a result of funding changes that had been made by the previous government. Those funding changes are in place, the province funds education. So that means we have to have a collective bargaining process that reflects that reality. That's what is in place, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Final supplementary. Premier, this is very... It's a cumbersome mess you have in your hands. The three boards on strike this school year are just the beginning. Your government's mismanagement and flawed two-tier system have created education chaos for parents and students. You have desert and dragged along the negotiations, meanwhile, using the students as pawn. Deputy Premier Bill 122 is definitely the problem. The boards have said so. The teachers have said so. The Education Review Commission said as much in yesterday's letter as well. Don't just bring it back to work legislation. Bring in a fix to your flawed bargaining process so we don't see this disaster happen again and again and again across this province. Thank you. Thank you. Premier, as I said, the process that is in place reflects the reality that the province is the funder of the education system and that there are local issues, nonetheless, that need to be addressed at the local level. But there is a provincial discussion that has to happen. Mr. Speaker, you know, we have built into this process a review. So when we go through this round of bargaining, if there are changes that need to be made to the process, we will look at that, Mr. Speaker. But the fact is that there has to be a process that reflects the reality. I don't believe, Mr. Speaker, that there shouldn't be a discussion at the local level because I believe in school boards. I think it's important to have school boards working with their employees, Mr. Speaker. At the same time, I don't believe that school boards should have to take the full responsibility for negotiating the financial issues that the province is actually responsible for. So if the members opposite had a suggestion that was constructive, Mr. Speaker, we'd be happy to listen to that once this round is through. Thank you. The Leader of the Manchester's Royal Opposition. Again to the Premier, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, the current Minister of Energy has held the hydro file for just over two years now. In that short amount of time, he has succeeded in having the Auditor General tell him that the government wasted $1.1 billion on the gas plants relocations. Another $2 billion on smart meters. And now the ombudsman has revealed that because of the Minister's lack of action, he has spent another $88.3 million of taxpayers' money in an attempt to correct poor billing practices at Hydro One. Added together, this almost $4 billion in wasted money is only a few million shy of what this government is claiming it will net in the sale of Hydro One. So my question to the Premier is, Premier, don't you think it's irresponsible to sell Hydro One just to make up for the mistakes of your incompetent Minister? We'll not accept interjections when I'm standing. Sir Vanity. Sir Vanity. The question is precipitated by the ombudsman's report yesterday. Mr. Speaker, we have indicated that as a result of the new IT billing system, an unacceptable number of Hydro One customers over an extended period of time received an unacceptable level of service. The CEO of Hydro One and the government have apologized for the impact, Mr. Speaker. And while we know that Hydro One has been working hard to resolve outstanding issues and Hydro One has outlined that work in detail, further work and remediation is clearly required. Mr. Speaker, I therefore ask the Chair of Hydro One, David Denison to report back to me within 40 days with the detailed action plan describing how Hydro One can further address the recommendations in the ombudsman's report. Mr. Speaker, I'll provide more details in the supplementary. Thank you. Member from the Pee and Carlton will come to order. Premier, not only did Hydro One waste millions of dollars but their incompetent and callous actions have led to countless headaches and quite frankly unnecessary anxiety for ratepayers across this province. Ordinary residents had money incorrectly taken from their bank accounts while businesses were being overcharged millions of dollars. Deputy House Leader. Yet with all of that economic waste and lost money in the energy filed, you're telling Ontarians that Hydro One no longer needs the oversight of the officers of this legislature. You pushing through your budget bill will remove that oversight. Premier, will you reverse your decision and remove any reference to Hydro One from your budget bill? Mr. Speaker, Hydro One is transforming from a crown corporation to a TSX public company, Mr. Speaker. That will require changes, Mr. Speaker. Member from Duffer County. The legislation, Mr. Speaker, includes a provision that requires Hydro One to establish an ombudsman and embedded ombudsman. Mr. Speaker, what we have done is we have engaged and he has engaged at this time the former Auditor General of Canada, Denny Dezotel, to oversee the embedding of that ombudsman in Hydro One, Mr. Speaker to ensure and assure the public and the members of this House that the ombudsman will be accountable and will be transparent and will be meaningful going forward. Member from Hamilton, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary. Back to the Premier, maybe she'd like to answer this. Ontarians don't trust your government and they don't trust your energy minister. Without the investigations of the officers of the legislature, none of this waste, abuse and deceit would have ever seen the light of day. The public has no confidence in the best interests of the rate payers of this province without the oversight and the accountability that these legislative officers bring to bear. Premier, you need to seriously reconsider your plan to privatize Hydro One. Why won't you, why won't you remove any reference to Hydro One from your budget bill? Thank you. Minister. Thank you. The member from Hamilton East, the second time. Minister. The members know that in last year's budget 2014 we indicated we are going to study all of our enterprise assets to repurpose them, Mr. Speaker, for infrastructure purposes. What we're doing now, Mr. Speaker is taking 50% of the proceeds of sale putting it on debt, approximately 50% to invest in infrastructure. This morning, Mr. Speaker, the Premier was in Hamilton announcing a billion dollars of infrastructure for an LRT project, Mr. Speaker. That, Mr. Speaker, is going to come from proceeds of sale, Mr. Speaker, which are not coming from increased taxes, which are not coming from cutting services, Mr. Speaker, nor are they coming from new debt, Mr. Speaker. It's a responsible way to move forward, Mr. Speaker. And this morning, Mr. Speaker, the members of Invest Ottawa asked for more infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. It's a priority everywhere in this province. Slowly catching up, I wanted to make sure the member heard me. I said come to order and the member from Nipissing came to order. New question, the leader of the third party. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Negotiations with high school teachers began months ago and for months the Minister of Education has been sitting on the sidelines, Mr. Speaker. She's watched as talks stalled and instead of doing anything she was perplexed and confused. On Thursday we expect the Premier to legislate teachers back to work. But she's still going to have the same Minister, Speaker, who failed to bring people together. The same Minister who failed to get a deal. The same Minister who failed to get our kids back into the classrooms. Will the Premier fire her Minister and show that she's serious about getting a deal and making the chaos in our education system? Thank you. Be seated please. Be seated please. Premier. I know that the leader of the third party understands the collective bargaining process. I know she understands that it would be impossible for her to know exactly what the Minister has been doing. The Minister has been working extremely hard, Mr. Speaker to keep everyone at the table to keep the issues moving, Mr. Speaker and to try to get a deal. And that says it should be. Because that's where the deal has to be found, Mr. Speaker, is at the table. The point we're at right now, Mr. Speaker is that the Education Relations Commission which has been in place for many decades, Mr. Speaker, has ruled on jeopardy of the year for the students who have been out of school, Mr. Speaker. What is surprising to me, Mr. Speaker is that the leader of the third party doesn't understand that the interest of the students is at stake, Mr. Speaker right now. Part of the collective bargaining process. That process will... Wrap up sentence, please. That collective bargaining process will continue, Mr. Speaker but we must get the students back into school. I would have thought that the NDP would have... I'm not sure that anyone wants to take that chance when I'm standing. Supplementary case. On Thursday we expect the Premier to legislate teachers back to work, Speaker but the problems will not go away. The Minister has blamed teachers. She's blamed boards of education. Stop the clock. Member from Trinity Spadina, Minister of Economic Development come to order. Please finish. She's blamed teachers. She's blamed boards of education. And these days, Speaker, she's blaming the opposition. The truth is that for months this Minister has watched from the sidelines and has served the buck. She was given a job, get a deal. She hasn't done that, Speaker. If the Minister can't get the job done then it's time for a new Minister. So will the... Stop the clock. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and I just might jump to warnings. This is insulting. Please finish. If the Minister can't get the job done it's time for a new Minister. Will this Premier do the right thing, fire her Minister of Education and appoint someone who can actually do the job? Mr. Speaker, a number of weeks could be back in school today. Had the NDP worked with us. Mr. Speaker, I know that this is a difficult round of collective bargaining. I understand that. And I understand that the collective bargaining process has to go on and that the deal is going to be found at the table. And I understand that it's going to take, it's obviously going to take a bit more time. There's nothing been happening. There has been. It's going to take a bit more time. But in the interim, Mr. Speaker what's important is that we get the kids back into the classroom. That collective bargaining process can go on. But, you know, the leader of the third party really in the past has been part of a party that has supported getting workers back to work, Mr. Speaker. Howard Hampton stated in 2002 the government has done a wise thing here. Four days of debate, five days of debate, six days of debate would not have left anyone in a winning position. They voted to end the garbage strike, Mr. Speaker. Final supplementary. The solution to the chaos in the education sector is to actually bring people together. So far this minister has only been pushing people away. She's perplexed, Speaker, by the issues. She belames everyone but herself. Her job was actually to get a deal but she has failed at that spectacularly. And it's the students, the parents, the teachers that are all paying the price. The premier needs to show she's serious about a solution, Speaker. She needs to fire her minister of education and appoint a minister who can actually bring people together and get a deal done. Is the premier ready to get serious, Speaker, or is she going to stand by her perplexed, confused and ineffective? Minister of Agriculture. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, you know, I don't actually think that personal attacks get us anywhere, Mr. Speaker. I really believe students in Oshawa and in Bramley and in Nickel Belt could be in school today, Mr. Speaker. If the NDP had supported our back-to-work legislation in the first instance, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. One sentence, Raph. Just to say, Mr. Speaker, that we want those kids back in school. We want the collective bargaining process to continue. Good. Any question? The truth hurts, Speaker. My question is for the premier. She respects municipalities, but the proof is in the pudding, Speaker. Northwest Ontario Municipal Association says that northern communities are going to be hit hard by the premier's Hydro-1 sell-off. His president says, or their president says, there has been no consultation with these communities, which is in our opinion unfair. We believe that this decision to sell off Hydro-1 assets is merely short-term gain for long-term pain, end quote. Well, will the premier take Hydro-1 out of her Stephen Harper-style omnibus budget and get an opportunity for groups like NOMA, the Northern Ontario Municipal Association, allow them to have their say, Speaker, in some kind of public process. It's the least they deserve. No, Mr. Speaker. It's interesting. The very first time I had a really in-depth conversation about northern infrastructure. I was the minister of transportation. I was meeting with mayors from northwestern Ontario, and I can remember the mayor of Canora, Dave Canfield, said to me, you know, we need a consistent investment in roads and bridges. I think there are 19 bridges in Canora, Mr. Speaker, and he was asking for predictable infrastructure funding. That in 2010, Mr. Speaker, when I was the minister of transportation, that planted a seed that made it clear to me that we needed to do something that would provide infrastructure funding over the long term. That's what we're doing, Mr. Speaker. $130 billion over the next 10 years. We are making investments across this province, including in northwestern Ontario, Mr. Speaker, to make sure that communities, municipalities have what they need to thrive economically. It's not just NOMA, the Northern Ontario Municipal Association. Northern municipalities are speaking out as well, because they do not want to have to pay the price for this city of Canora. In fact, the city of Canora, Dave Canfield, had a motion at his council, and they unanimously voted to send the Premier a letter calling for her to pull the plug on selling Hydro 1. Councilor Paul Ryan said, and I quote, I think they're going ahead kind of recklessly here. These municipalities deserve to have a safe speaker. Will the Premier take Hydro 1 out of her style omnibus bill? Not even in your seat. Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, you know, I was in, I had the pleasure to be in Hamilton this morning, Mr. Speaker. What we were talking about in Hamilton, because it's directly related to this issue of having the funding to be able to invest in infrastructure, we were pleased to announce that we will provide a billion dollars for capital costs to build a new LRT in Hamilton, Mr. Speaker. It will offer service from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Queenston Circle. It will ultimately extend to Eastgate Square. The question I would ask to the leader of the third party is, which part of that project would she cancel Mr. Speaker? Final supplementary. Speaker, it's not just northwestern Ontario, the city of Hamilton, Prince Edward County, the city of Toronto, all our entertaining motions calling on this Premier to stop the sell-off of Hydro One and more are coming. They know that she's playing a game of false choices here. The Premier says she respects municipalities but respect means more than just lip service. It means actually listening to what people have to say. Now will the Premier take Hydro One out of her Stephen Harper style omnibus budget speaker and let Ontarians have a say. This is the third party again. So the LRT in Hamilton, it will ultimately extend to Eastgate Square. It'll connect directly to the new West Harbour Goal Station and that station will be ready in time for the... Member from Hamilton, East Stony Creek is warned. Member from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, second time. We're also going to extend the Goal Rail from West Harbour Station to a new Goal Station at Centennial Parkway in Eastern Hamilton. So Mr. Speaker, I would say to the leader of the third party which part of those projects... or would she cancel the whole project? Would she just say that Hamilton doesn't need that connectivity? Hamilton doesn't need that connectivity to the rest of the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area. Hamilton doesn't need that new LRT. Mr. Speaker, because if we don't have the funds we can't make that investment and that's exactly what the leader of the third party is suggesting. New question? The member from Dufferin Callaghan. Sorry a gangram was killed and stabbed when she was stabbed by her former boyfriend, Lasalas Allen. He was out on bail released with the condition that he could have no contact with her. Clearly Lasalas Allen would not follow his bail conditions and it led to the tragic death of Saria Gangram leaving three children without their mom. This tragedy could have been prevented had someone tracked Allen while he was on bail to ensure he was complying with his conditions. Mr. why aren't you tracking those who are out on bail and whether they are complying with their bail conditions? First of all Mr. Speaker when I hear such an unfortunate and you know my heart goes to the family and domestic violence is a problem in not just in Ontario but it's a real problem that we try to address as government and in my previous position as the minister of community and safety you know we did a lot of work because the majority of those in our correctional institution are there a lot of them for domestic violence. So there is a lot of work that is being done. So the bail system in Ontario is a program that has been in place for long time. So to say that you know someone is out on bail and nobody is following what they're doing that's incorrect because you know the police officer do know who are out on bail and they do follow what they are doing. Thank you very much Minister the victims aren't looking for sympathy they're looking for action. Victims must have confidence that when judges set bail conditions there is a process in place to ensure they will not be revictimized. Clearly your ministry has failed to do this. Christopher Husbands was under house arrest when he shot a child in the Eaton Centre. Lasalas Allen's bail condition included no evidence that he went to her home and killed her. I will ask you again for the victims who need to know they will be protected if they report a crime. For the families trying to protect their children from further victimization. For the public who expect bail conditions to be respected and offenders punished when they are ignored when will you start tracking offenders released from jail to ensure they comply with their bail conditions. This is a tragic incident. I cannot believe a family who is faced with such a tragic incident and I will say that my ministry and the ministry of community and social services the women's director we work together and we do everything to make sure that this does not happen. Again I will say that again these people when they are out on bail there is a follow up done by the police and when someone is found to have violated their bail condition they are back into the jail. Again my heart goes to the family and my ministry and this government will do everything we can to prevent this to happen. Thank you. My questions to the premier. Our schools have been thrown into chaos due to more than a decade of chronic underfunding of education in the province. Instead of ensuring that all students with special needs have the services they need the premier and her government have cut $6 million from Toronto and the government has cut $2 million from the government. This government has cut $250 million from the government. This government chose to cut $250 million over 2014 2015. Then the premier and her minister say they are perplexed about the ongoing unrest in the education sector. The liberal government made this decision to recognize the failure of your minister of education to get a deal from teachers and fire her immediately. Congratulations. Yes, thank you. I really think what we all need to focus on today is the fact that we have heard from the Education Relations Commission that the school year is in jeopardy for 72,000 children, for 72,000 children. And what we really need to focus on is how do we get those kids back in the classroom and get them there right away. Now if we had the cooperation of the NDP yesterday we could have had those kids back in the schools today. Every day we don't get cooperation on speedy passage of the bill is another day that students are out of school. In 2008 where there was a TTC strike and the NDP and the conservatives and the liberals all work together to pass back to our legislation in one day. We could do that for the 72,000 students that are out of class. We could do that but we need to work together. So the priority now is to get the kids back in class. Thank you, what the minister should be focusing on is actually trying to negotiate a deal not legislation. I think the premier and her minister have had months to get a deal with teachers that would put students first and this doesn't need to keep class sizes manageable and it doesn't mean a further reduction of services in schools. It's obvious that the minister has failed students and families by not really trying to get a deal with teachers. Will the premier force her minister to take responsibility for making students pay the price of her failings by firing her immediately? Yes, thank you. Actually there are negotiations going on this week. Negotiations do continue but sometimes that doesn't work. Sometimes there's a strike and I think the party opposite needs to remember that when they were the government they actually asked the ERC for advice three times. The ERC gave jeopardy rulings when they were government. In the first case the parties agreed voluntarily to go back to work and have binding arbitration which is actually what's in the bill but in the other two cases the parties didn't agree to go back to work when there was a jeopardy ruling and the NDP government tabled back to work legislation and every hassle. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister of economic development, employment and infrastructure. Since the global downturn Ontario's economy has not only recovered but is projected to lead the country in economic growth. Since the recession Ontario has created more than 500,000 jobs to be exact 510,200 jobs nearly 98% of the recovered jobs since the recession are full-time industries. In fact our job recovery rate since the recession is 187% while outpacing the United States at 134%. However Mr. Speaker youth unemployment rate remains too high and our government recognizes that. Through you to the minister could you please explain to this house what is being done to tackle youth unemployment. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker. While Ontario's economy remains pleased to lead the country in growth this year and probably next year as well the fact is youth unemployment remains far too high and that's why in 2013 we announced the youth job strategy that's investing $295 million over two years to help 30,000 young people from across the province gain necessary job experience. Since the fall of 2013 more than 6,000 young people have seen opportunities and work experience that they've been able to obtain through this program. However Mr. Speaker there's still more work to do and that's why in this year's budget we're renewing the youth job strategy by providing an additional $250 million. This will bring our total investment in youth employment programming to more than $565 million. Through these investments we're helping our provinces succeed and get good job experiences. Speaker and I would like to thank the minister for that answer. I appreciate being part of the government that is making smart strategic investments to tackle the province's youth unemployment rate. In fact Mr. Speaker last week I announced how our government's investment are benefiting some of the youth in my writing of York Southwestern through the youth connection skills program about $25,000 are being invested so that youth from the western mountainous area will be able to gain relevant job experience. These young constituents will gain critical benefits that will allow them to transition into Ontario's job market. Speaker can the minister please explain how the youth skills connection is helping youth across the province to gain the experience to succeed. Thank you. Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for the work she's doing in her own community when it comes to some of these youth employment programs and working with some of her local groups to ensure that her young people in her community get access to these very important programs. And the youth skills connections program promotes partnerships among business, labour, educators not for profits in youth to identify and solve skills issues. In the first intake the youth skills connections program invested more than $13 million to support 51 programs across the country 3400 young people have already received employment training through this program. Currently the province is investing over $11 million to launch the second intake of the youth skills connections. The second intake will involve 45 programs that will be selected to help young people get the skills to succeed. Mr. Speaker rather than heckling on our efforts to provide youth employment opportunities the opposition should be supporting our budget. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is the minister of education Minister as a result of 12 years of mismanagement and waste by your government people are suffering. Special education is in need of adequate levels of investment vulnerable children are in need of educational assistance so they have proper support and access to the classroom. This is why no parent and no student in Blue Water District School Board can accept that you are sitting on your hands as 50 special education EAs are removed from the classroom. Wow. Making vulnerable kids paid for the price for your mismanagement waste is wrong and frankly it's unproncionable. Minister I ask you how do you justify cutting 50 educational assistance at Blue Water District School Board under your watch as Minister of Education when the number of needy children has not decreased. Thank you. Thank you very much and obviously special education is very important to us it might interest the minister or the member opposite to know that when I was a trustee I served for years on my board special education advisory committee so this is actually an area that I feel quite strongly about is special education and because we feel very strongly about it both my predecessor the premier and myself our special education funding has actually gone up over $1.1 billion by 68% since 2023. So we're actually spending $2.72 billion on special education that's not an reduced number it's actually the special education funding remains steady just like all the other areas of the funding model. Thank you. Back to Minister of Education here's the truth Kathy Carter's seven-year-old daughter is bearing the brunt of your cuts she has retinal dystrophy and is legally blind with her EA gone there will be no one to braille her books Candice Huber's eight-year-old son has type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemic episodes with his EA gone to watch and help keep him safe Kathy, Candice and many other parents with children with learning, mental, physical and a myriad of health issues have lost faith in you, your premier and your government. You're sitting on your hands while blind, autistic and diabetic students are losing the critical school support they need these students are frustrated their parents are stressed out and your only answer to them is not true Minister how can you put the Liberal Party's political fortunes ahead of Ontario's vulnerable children Minister and as I said before the fortunes of our special needs children are very important to us in fact one of the things that we've been doing through the recent labour disruptions is making sure that the most vulnerable children still continue to receive community services but to go directly to your question one of the things that has happened in blue water in the board that is in your area is that the number of children in blue water has dramatically increased despite the fact that the enrollment has gone down over the last 10 years the funding has actually gone up by 40% so think about this the funding has gone up 40% the number of children in blue water has gone down so the amount of special needs funding in blue water thank you thank you speaker my question to the premier the government insists that the Ontario energy board will protect Ontarians from higher hydro rates when the premier sells off hydro one doesn't make any sense and now the government is stacking the OEB with people from the energy sector the government just appointed Paul Pastrick a former senior VP of ACON to the Ontario energy board ACON shares the mega contract to refurbish the Darlington nuclear plant with SNC lavaland the premier is putting the fox in charge of the henhouse is the premier ready to admit that the OEB isn't going to stand up to a privatized hydro one minister of energy Mr. Speaker the Ontario energy board and all of the crown corporations and agencies have very strict conflict of interest regulations Mr. Speaker without those provisions there Mr. Speaker there are tremendous number of people out there with experience who can contribute Mr. Speaker and because they are engaged in the community Mr. Speaker should not disentitle them to serve Mr. Speaker there are people in this room Mr. Speaker who declare interest Mr. Speaker on particular issues that come before this house it's part of doing business it's part of government Mr. Speaker the appointments are tremendous appointments and we recognize the quality and experience of those people the speaker again to the premier the government also named Victoria Christie to the OEB she spent 10 years as an electricity industry lobbyist they've appointed Susan Frank who spent her career lobbying for higher rates on behalf of hydro one the OEB is being turned into a rubber stamp for industry it's called regulatory capture it means the regulator gets filled with industry people who are more interested in the industry than in the rate payers and it means that if the premier sells off hydro one the OEB won't even be a speed bump in the way of higher rates is the premier ready to admit that selling hydro one is going to mean higher hydro bills and that this new OEB won't do anything to stop that you see it please you see it please thank you minister Mr. Speaker we know there's a lot of drama in the question that's been asked the answer is quite simple Mr. Speaker the board has conflict of interest guidelines that the appointees would be required to adhere to and I repeat everything I said in my question Mr. Speaker regarding the oversight Mr. Speaker the Ontario energy board is an independent regulator with a mandate to protect the interests of Ontario rate payers Mr. Speaker they've reviewed applications for example in 2010 hydro one asked for a rate increase for distribution received a 9% reduction for its capital request 2012 hydro one asked for a rate increase for transmission received a 3% reduction for its capital request Mr. Speaker the chair the CEO of the Ontario energy board was before committee last week she made a strong case for its independence and for the tremendous improvements legislation that will be forthcoming Mr. Speaker to protect the rate payers in Ontario Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Minister we're all affected by regulations every day whether it's a farmer applying for a municipal water access or a renovation permit for a local downtown store every industry is governed in part by regulations Ontario's stringent and internationally respected regulatory systems result in standards that are world-class and products that are recognized as safe effective and top quality at the same time the agri-food sector faces regulatory related challenges to the timely introduction of new food products processes and technologies that keep pace with scientific advancements and the global business environment my constituents and people across Ontario recognize a need to develop a regulatory environment Mr. Speaker can the Minister please inform the House on what our government is doing going to do to eliminate excessive regulations that make running agri-food business thank you Mr. Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs well thanks very much Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member for Barry for that question this morning she's a great champion of agriculture in the berry area as Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs I committed to building a business climate that encourages the next generation to pursue opportunities in the agri-food sector that allows producers to enter a living, raise a family and indeed contribute to Ontario's economy just recently I hosted an open for business forum with leaders of Ontario's agriculture organizations representing the entire value chain this was the 8th forum hosted by my ministry and the second since I was named Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs open for business forums are an excellent opportunity to learn what is working for the industry where we can collaborate in areas that may need improvement since 2008 Mr. Speaker an important statistic Ontario's eliminated 17% of all the regulatory requirements over 80,000 regulatory burdens but we also know there's more to do so by working together we'll reduce the regulatory burden for agriculture in Ontario Mr. Speaker supplementary thank you Speaker and thanks to the minister for his answer it's great to hear that progress is being made by working together with the agri-food sector reducing red red tape for farmers and the ag food sector creates a more competitive environment for businesses while supporting Ontario farm families and that's good for business I know that by bringing together multiple ministries in a wide range of agriculture industry leaders we can create significant opportunities for improving the productivity and economic impact of our agri-food sector that's why the government we must continue advocating for our family farmers to ensure that policy is sensitive to their needs Mr. Speaker can the minister update this house on some of the tangible policy outcomes that have been achieved through open business so far Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member from Barrie for a supplementary I know she's a regular visitor to farmers markets in the Barrie area acquiring that local great food that's growing in the Barrie area in a short time we've achieved several successes because we work we've done together including providing grain who's operators with more options to deal effectively with wastewater streamlining approvals for the on farm and aerobic digester operators meet regulation amendments that create a more flexible approach to compliance clarify regulatory requirements and promoting competitiveness and innovation for industry without compromising food safety application for great elevators that is estimate to a safe elevate orders three million dollars based on projected 2016 tax rates and again Mr. Speaker at the request of the industry we delink the requirement to roll an agris stability and participate in Ontario's risk management program Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question this morning is for the Premier Premier on the Friday before the Victoria Day long weekend your government announced an extremely successful program that assists and creates jobs in new businesses in Ontario the self-employment benefit has existed for 23 years and has outstanding results in Prince Edward and Hastings counties across the province over 400 new businesses have been created in Prince Edward and Hastings counties in the last five years as a result of this program. Premier can you explain why your government would kill one of the only tools that it has in its disposal to create jobs in rural Ontario. I want to hear this those who are training colleges and university. Thank you Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for that question Mr. Speaker Ontario's workforce is our greatest asset as Premier keeps saying that you know our people are our greatest assets that's why we have been investing heavily in our people in Ontario Mr. Speaker Ontario invests $1.2 billion annually in employment Ontario various programs for that program we serve 1 million Ontarians every year Mr. Speaker just to make sure that they get the right training so that they can find jobs they can contribute to our economy Mr. Speaker we remain committed to investing in a range of programs high quality programs through employment Ontario services to various people across our province of Ontario Mr. Speaker in order to deliver the best quality the highest quality training programs we wanted to streamline the Ontario Ontario self-employment benefit that's what's been working on it to make sure that Ontarians get the best quality service from the government. I'm not sure I got an answer there Mr. Speaker I can smell a late shield coming Premier in the last five years the OSEB has created 424 businesses in my riding alone hundreds more in North Humberland County hundreds more in very right across the province in my area there's a completion rate alone of 90% this is a program that was working local economic development officials tell me that roughly 70% of the businesses stay in business well after completing this program is hydro rates and new payroll taxes place additional burdens on small businesses you're making it harder to even become self-employed in Ontario Premier why are you killing a program that's clearly an economic success when it's used well instead of reforming it so that self-employed people across Ontario can have the same success that people in my riding have had why are you throwing the baby out with the backwater of this program Mr. Speaker I want to thank again the member for that question Mr. Speaker our government is committed to the Ontario's tax dollars are spending in a more responsible way the reality is that Mr. Speaker that the program the Ontario self-employment benefit program is a very costly program and the only half of the clients they get they complete the program so that's why we are diverting part of the funding from that program to the Minister of Economic Development and Infrastructure so that they can invest more on small business enterprise centers small enterprise centers across the province of Ontario through these centers Mr. Speaker the small businesses they receive the best advice in order to improve their businesses Mr. Speaker the winding down of this program is the right and responsible way to do thank you thank you thank you Mr. Speaker my questions are the Premier this morning we learned two things first we learned that at long last the government actually knows how to spell LRT when it comes to Hamilton but we also learned that neighbourhoods near Eastgate Square have been shut out of the government's LRT plans neighbourhoods around Eastgate Square have been cut out of the government's plans these are the same areas that would have benefited greatly from the economic uplift that the LRT would bring but instead of connecting to these neighbourhoods the LRT will connect the traffic circle why did the government break its promise to connect the LRT in Hamilton to Eastgate Square so Mr. Speaker I know the Minister of Transportation is going to want to comment in the supplementary but I just want to draw attention to what's happening right now in the early part of question period the leader of the third party had nothing to say about funding transit only wanted to undermine the plan that we have in order to put funding into transit Mr. Speaker because she wants to she wants more Mr. Speaker she wants to fund more transit Mr. Speaker she now has a question about the efficacy the particular route is you can't have it both ways you've either got to have a way to fund transit or you can't fund it Mr. Speaker we have a plan we're putting that plan in place and because of that Mr. Speaker Hamilton is getting an LRT Mr. Speaker it's really too bad that this generation of Ontarians and all generations going forward have a premier the only premier in the history of Ontario who hasn't figured out how to keep hydro public and build infrastructure he isn't even being constructed until through 2019 even though it was promised back in 2007 and yet back then this premier was the Minister of Transportation and she took four billion dollars as a funding speaker minister of education all kinds of projects some were cancelled minister of education will come to order minister of energy come to order second time please finish these cuts other LRT projects as I mentioned in the GTAJ were either cancelled, deferred, shortened or had their funding cut so what guarantee can this premier offer Hamiltonians that this now very short will actually begin construction for long years from now for transportation for transportation thanks very much Speaker I was delighted to join with the premier and the minister of municipal affairs and housing earlier today and the leader of that party's own hometown speaker to announce the landmark historic commitment that our government has made to build an LRT for that community up from Essex is worn carry on once we'll cover 100% of the capital costs of building this LRT in Hamilton Speaker which will help grow the economy reduce travel times, connect people and Speaker this LRT will offer speedy service from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Queenston Circle and will connect directly to the new West Harbour Go Station that this government is currently building which will be open in time for the Pan Am Parapan Game Speaker the LRT Speaker will ultimately extend to East Gate Square Speaker this is a clear Thank you Minister of Transportation has learned when I stand you sit and if it happens again you'll be named new question the member for Kitchener Center Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister I've heard you say many times here in the legislature that you are committed to the transformation of corrections in our province at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre such as capacity issues violence and contraband in this environment it could be difficult to rehabilitate inmates and to reduce rates of reoffending Ontarians need to see concrete action from you to tackle these very important challenges Recently you announced the construction of a regional Intermittent Centre at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre and this is designed to house Intermittent offenders and this is very important in a step in your goal to building safer communities in Ontario Mr. Speaker could the Minister please explain to this house how the construction of a regional Intermittent Centre is going to address the problems that I've mentioned here Mr. Correctional Services Thank you very much Speaker I want to thank the member from Kitchener Centre for asking a very important question speaker about the safety and security of all our correctional staff and inmates at our facilities Recently we began construction on a 112 bed regional Intermittent Centre on the grounds of the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre in London Ontario This new centre speaker builds on the success of the Toronto Intermittent Centre and is the next step in our strategy for Intermittent Defenders These are inmates who are serving 90 day sentences typically on weekends Housing Intermittent Defenders in their own facility will help to alleviate many of the concerns that we are seeing at EMDC For example, it's an efficient and dedicated way to address capacity pressure by increasing the number of available beds cutting down on overcrowding and reducing violence It also means speaker that inmates at EMDC will no longer need to be regularly moved around to accommodate the influx of those serving weekend sentences Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services for that answer I know that Ontarians and specifically those who are in southern Ontario are going to be very happy to hear about this new facility being built at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre as part of a larger strategy for Intermittent Offenders But Mr. Speaker, when we hear about the issues at the EMDC it's hard to believe that just building a new facility is the answer The Minister talks about a transformation of corrections and his pledge to build stronger and safer communities But I'd like to hear more about how this new centre is going to serve the people of southern Ontario and the role that it's going to play in the transformation of corrections So Mr. Speaker could the Minister please speak further on how the new regional Intermittent Centre is going to help ease tensions and transform corrections to build stronger and safer communities in Ontario First of all I also want to note that building a separate facility will also prevent contraband from being introduced into the main facility by Intermittent Offenders that return to their communities during the week and that's an important step to keep our detention centre safe and particularly our correctional staff and other inmates The member from Kitchener Centre is absolutely right simply building a new facility to fix the correctional system in Ontario and this alone cannot build strong and safer communities But right now Speaker we are seeing a revolving door in the correctional system that is why it is important that we take steps to rehabilitate and reintegrate those in our system so we can stop the cycle of re-offence Part of that Speaker is aided by separating low risk offenders from more serious offenders which is exactly what centres like this one So Speaker we firmly believe that this new centre will help to alleviate pressures and issues at EMDC and have made repetitions Thank you, a new question A question to the Minister of Natural Resources Minister Landing's Turtle is a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act where it exists in Ontario lives in shallow waterways and wetlands including the Narraga Peninsula It is uniquely vulnerable to extinction because it takes 20 years before females start to reproduce The Ontario courts made a decision recently this is a precedent when choosing between industrial wind turbines and its threatened species they sided with the turtle tossing out a wind farm application It was the right decision It was the right thing to do My question simply is if it is right in Prince Edward County and everywhere in the province of Ontario Minister of Natural Resources in Forestry I want to thank the member for the question Before he concluded I was gathering my thoughts as well and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change who I know would love to weigh in on this as well was having a similar thought and lobbed it over to me that he found that I think as I did very interesting that the party in this regard the member posed the question he seems to be supportive of what has happened in this case I would assume in the supplementary he's going to come forward with some information that suggests in another instance the Blanning Turtle did not carry the day I would assume that's the point of the question here that's coming forward I'll look forward to hearing exactly what he has to say I'm happy to hear that in this position or in the first question he was happy that the endangered species I'm happy to hear that you're pleased with the legislation although I don't think it's legislation that you supported when it was originally introduced into the House Thank you For anticipating my question I just hope to get a single answer for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the province Now, so you got it exactly right the courts have determined in the decision between steel turbines 500 meters tall cemented in 40 truckloads of concrete in a wetland should lose out to a threatened species in the Blanning Turtle I agree with that decision I'm sure you agree with that decision as well my point Minister is why was it that it was the courts who had to force your hand where were you you're the Minister you need to know your role and play it you do have the lead on the Endangered Species Act in the province of Ontario so instead of waiting for the courts to intervene will you do the right thing your choice between the turtle or more steel what should be the wetland Endangered Species or Turtle Minister Speaker with the legislation in place there is a committee called Cicero the committee on the never too late Speaker under the legislation that I don't think the official opposition supported and they seem to be loving now Cicero is stands for the committee on the status of species at risk in Ontario they make a decision on when a species is listed once it's listed it receives protection and the habitat for the species also receives protection through that Member from Niagara West I'm standing you should know that finish please Speaker through that process once the species is listed and the habitat is protected and a project is overlaid on that particular species and its habitat there is a process in place called overall benefit or if the contractor or the proponent can come forward provide a way to accommodate the species Thank you Minister of Children and Youth Services on a point of order Thank you, later introduction Good friend and mentor Mark Holland is here from Heart and Stroke and he's been my EDH chair for two elections and he is a Federal Liberal candidate in Ajax Welcome Just a quick introduction also Michael Perley from the Canadian Cancer Society as well as all of the other ladies joined in our dose from the Cancer Society here they have been pushing for a ban on flavored tobacco for a very long time Question of third reading for Bill 57 an act to create a framework for pooled registered pension plans and to make consequential amendments to other acts calling the members this will be a five minute bell All members please take their seats Please take your seats On May 25th Mr. Sousa moved third reading of Bill 57 All those in favour please rise one at a time be recognized by the clerk Mr. Sousa Mr. Nathby Mr. Brass Ms. Wynn Ms. Matthews Mr. Hoskins Ms. Sandals Mr. Dugard Mr. McCharles Mr. Quinter Mr. Tukar Mr. Brardinetti Mr. Dillon Mr. Orzetti Mr. Grovel Mr. McMeekin Mr. Murray Mr. Zimmer Mr. Delaney Mr. Dixon Mr. Craft Ms. Wong Ms. Hunter Mr. Sergio Mr. Morrill Ms. Jackson Mr. Del Duca Ms. Darmela Mr. Fraser Mr. Anderson Mr. Baker Ms. Mollie Ms. McGarry Ms. McMann Mr. Milch Mr. Pops Mr. Rinaldi Ms. Braneel Mr. Tebow Ms. Monroe Mr. Arnaud Mr. Harden Mr. Wilson Mr. Fidelli Mr. Yacobusky Mr. Harry Samascoca Mr. Dunlop Mr. McNaughton Mr. Jones Mr. Thompson Mr. Eurek Mr. Bailey Mr. Hillier Mr. Walker Mr. Smith Mr. Harris Mr. Nichols Mr. Marteau Mr. McDonnell Mr. Horvath Mr. Bisson Mr. Vantos Mr. Novo Mr. Taft Mr. Miller Mr. Taylor Mr. Natschak Ms. Armstrong Ms. Bice Ms. Forster Mr. Hatfield Ms. Gretzky Mr. Gates Mr. Pearce Mr. Johnson Mr. Vance Mr. Varg Mr. Baker has moved that the question be now put. All those in favor of Mr. Baker's motion, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker. Mr. Nackley. Mr. Nackley. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Bradley. Mr. Shirelli. Mr. Shirelli. Madam Mayor. Madam Mayor. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Sousa. Ms. Winn. Ms. Nackley. Ms. Matthews. Ms. Matthews. Mr. Hoskins. Mr. Hoskins. Ms. Sandals. Ms. Sandals. Mr. Dugard. Mr. Dugard. Ms. McCharles. Ms. McCharles. Mr. Winter. Mr. Cochar. Mr.ächstard. Mr. Barnett. Mr. Barnett. Mr. Dylan. Mr. Dylan. Mr. Cardlin. Mr. Caudry. Mr. Orkedry. Mr.élior. Mr. Gro bash. Mr. Grovel. Mr. Mcspeaking. Mr. Mcmaking. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murie. Mr. Chen. Mr. Chan. Mr. Murray. Mr. Murie. Mr. PETH. Mr. Couto. Mr. Lille. Mr Flynn. Mr. D taman. Mr. Delaney. Mr. deanie. Mr. Wal dataset. Ann salmon is next לכal volta. Mr.ат вкус. All those opposed, please rise one at a time, be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark. Mr. Arnott. Mr. Arnott. Mr. Huda. Mr. Huda. Mr. Harden. Mr. Harden. Mrs. McLeod. Mrs. McLeod. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Fidele. Mr. Fidele. Mr. Yacobuski. Mr. Yacobuski. Mr. Miller. Perry Sound. Mr. Miller. Perry Sound. Mr. Brown. Mr. Dunlop. Mr. Dunlop. Mr. McDonald. Mr. McDonald. Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith. Mr. Herras. Mr. Niffle. Mr. Niffle. Ms. Martau. Ms. Martau. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. McLaren. Mr. McLaren. Mr. Pettipi. Mr. Pettipies. Ms.obisone. Mr. Segar. Mr. Singh. Ms. Horvath. Ms. Horvath. Mr. Vanthoff. Ms. De novo. Ms. De novo. Mr. Tabbin. Mr. Tabbins. Mr. Miller. Hamilte, Stoney Creek. Mr. Miller, Hamilton, Stoney Creek. Ms. Soutler. Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor. Madam Jelena, Ms. Fie, Ms. Forster, Mr. Manta, Mr. Hatfield, Ms. Gretzky, Mr. Gates, Ms. French. Mr. 56, the nays are 44. The ayes being 56 and the nays being 44. I declare the motion carried. Ms. Darmala has moved third reading of Bill 45, an act to enhance public health by enacting the Healthy Menu Choices Act 2014 and the Electronic Cigarettes Act 2014 and by enacting the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Is it the pleasure of house the motion carried? No. I heard a no. All those in favour say aye. Aye. All those opposed say nay. Nay. In my opinion, the ayes have it. Call on the members. This will be a five-minute bell. Ms. Darmala has moved third reading of Bill 45. All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the court. Mr. Sousa. Mr. Sousa. Ms. Wynne. Ms. Matthews. Ms. Matthews. Mr. Hoskins. Ms. Sandals. Mr. Dugard. Ms. Mac-Charles. Ms. Mac-Charles. Mr. Quinter. Mr. Quinter. Mr. Thecar Vivar. Mr. Thecar. Mr. Bardonnone. Mr. Bardonnitis. Mr. DeL HORIN. Mr. DeL Dubin. Mr. Cardridge. Mr. Caud Sus kidding. Mr.孔 Rivers. Mr. Steven Bartholme. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Smith. Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris. Mr. Nichols. Mr. Nichols. Mrs. Martaud. Mr. McDonald. Mr. McDonnell. Mr. McClaren. Mr. Petipis. Mr. Pettipis. Mr. Bissone. Mr. Vanteaut. Mr. DeNovo. Mr. Tabin. Mr. Tabin. Mr. Miller Hamilton-East Stoney Creek. Mr. Miller Hamilton-East Stoney Creek. Ms. Sattler. Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor. Mr. Nomura. Ms. Watt. Ms. Armstrong. Ms. Armstrong. Ms. Whitefifth. Mr. Mantha. Mr. Hatfield. Mr. Hatfield. Ms. Gretzky. Ms. Gretzky. Mr. Gates. Mr. Gates. Ms. French. Ms. French. All those opposed please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk. Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley. The nays are one. The ayes being 99 and the nays being one I declare the motion carried. Further deferred votes this House stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon.