 It is now time for a question period. The leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. My question is to the Premier. Premier, in light of the gas plant scandal and the billion-won waste to save liberal seats to cancel the awful gas plant, we asked the House to sit longer to debate that. You refuse to do so. And I'm also worried that you're reneging on our deal. A month or so ago, you and I sat down in your office. We agreed to clear the decks on legislation that was not really focused on jobs and the economy in large part. So that would pave the way for you to put forward your jobs plan. You have to see that plan. You've moved from tending-bed legislation now to restaurant menus. But I've not seen anything when it comes to jobs or balancing the books and the province. I wrote you a follow-up letter and asking if we could sit down so I could see your plan. So let me ask you, Premier. Bottom line. My question? Why are you reneging on our deal? Premier? Well, Mr. Speaker, we did have that conversation. And the conversation went like this. I suggested that there were some pieces of legislation that we could move ahead with that we could find agreement on, Mr. Speaker, so that we could continue to have debates about some other things that maybe we didn't agree on, Mr. Speaker. And one of the things that we don't agree on is the path forward. Because I think what the leader of the opposition is suggesting, Mr. Speaker, is that we would adopt his plan to slash and cut public services in this province, Mr. Speaker. And that's not what we're going to do. So instead, what we're going to do is we're going to invest in people. We're going to invest in infrastructure. And we're going to invest in a business climate that is going to create jobs, Mr. Speaker. And, for example, we've committed $17.6 million to support regions and businesses in this province, Mr. Speaker. That's leveraged over $133.1 million in investments. And it's created or retained nearly 2,800 jobs, Mr. Speaker. So that's just one piece of the work that we are doing. And in fact, the leader of the opposition didn't support that strategy for regional encouragement of jobs, Mr. Speaker. And that is confusing at best. Thank you. Before we move on, just as a comment, I will not allow shouting people down anymore. Supplementary. You know, the Premier, maybe there's some confusion. I thought we had agreed we'd clear the deck so you could bring forward your job's plan. It seems like you wanted to clear the deck so you could bring forward legislation around restaurant menus as opposed to our vision, which is paving the way for more jobs and more opportunity for Ontarians. Premier, a million people began this week with no job to go to. They're losing hope in this great province. And I worry that your ideology blinds you to the challenges we face or what's necessary to turn our economy around. You know that if interest rates go up, that that will put another $500 million of debt interest, taking away our ability to hire more nurses or do more MRIs. So, Premier, clearly you ran to be Premier for some reason other than to have that office. It has been nine months of endless study, conversations and consultations. Where is the big plan? Where are the ideas? Where is the hope and opportunity? Premier, so on top of the regional development strategy which has created or has helped 2,800 jobs, I would suggest that the Leader of the Opposition talk to some of the folks who work in the Ford plant, because that's $70.9 million investment in the Ford plant that will protect more than 2,800 jobs and allow Ford to take part in global trade. I think he would want to support that. He also might want to talk to people in small businesses who understand that the Supporting Small Business Act is going to help them with their payroll, Mr. Speaker. It's going to allow them to hire more people. Those are actions that we're taking along with the local food act that will encourage and support more jobs in the agriculture sector, Mr. Speaker. The Waste Reduction Act, which will create jobs. So all of those are part of our strategy to make investments in people and in infrastructure and in a business climate that will allow the private sector to create jobs. That is happening, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we put a plan on the table to create over 300,000 jobs, good jobs and manufacturing to get energy prices under control, to lower taxes, to change the attitude of government, to get out of the way of business, to stop always standing the way of job creation and get behinds, to invest and create jobs again. And all I hear from you is more warmed over old NDP ideas that quite frankly got us into a deep ditch back in the 1990s. Let me ask you this at least. It's been a month since we agreed to clear the dachshund brought forward no plan. I wrote to you almost three weeks ago. You've not responded to my letter to meet to discuss your plan as of yet. I'm worried that you have no plan. Order. So what you said to the House today, I know the economic statement is coming shortly. Will that be a game changer for that province? Will that be a moment of truth? Will it actually, will we finally see the Kathleen vision, Kathleen Wind vision? That was a tough one. Let me rehearse that one more often. Let it try that one more often. But we actually see what your plan is because you only have two moments of budget and the economic statement every year. You waste the budget. So please, let's go to the economic statement. Thank you. Mr. President, please. Mr. President, please. I suspect that there was a reason why you fumbled over because he knows that we're not supposed to use proper names in here. And I think that's what was the problem. You stumbled over it. In my mind, all members, please, use either title or writing. Thank you when referring in the House, the Premier. Mr. Speaker, but I am not offended by the leader of the opposition calling me by my first name. Mr. Speaker, what our fall economic statement will not do is it will not adopt the Conservatives' agenda, which will fire 10,000 education workers, Mr. Speaker, fire 2,000 healthcare workers, Mr. Speaker, drive wages down with harmful rights to work legislation. The member from Chatham, Kansas, has come to order. The member from Northumberland... No, I was thinking of whether I should or shouldn't, but I will. Northumberland, 20 West. Premier. So, Mr. Speaker, we will not adopt that plan that we believe would undermine the progress of the province. Mr. Speaker would not provide for a future of well-educated workers, Mr. Speaker, would not create an environment where investment wants to come to this problem. That is what is happening now, Mr. Speaker. Jobs are being created. We're investing in a business climate that's innovative and dynamic, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question? The member from Nipissing. Speaker, my question this morning is for the Finance Minister. Minister, our party has cleared the decks so you can present your jobs plan to the legislature. Minister, we're still waiting to see it. You've been in office for nine months, held 100 conversations, created 32 panels, and yet there's still no plan to create jobs and kickstart our economy. But your jobs plan isn't the only thing that's AWOL, Minister. The Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Act, which your government passed, states, quote, within two years after each provincial election, the minister shall release a long-range assessment of Ontario's fiscal environment. Minister, you're two weeks late. When will you be releasing this assessment that you were legally required to release two weeks ago? Well, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question. I appreciate the fact that the member opposite is actually interested in knowing how to increase and promote economic growth in our great province. He recognizes that we have achieved results. He knows fully well that we've had a plan that's working, Mr. Speaker. We have 180% return of those jobs that were suffered during the recession. We are the top jurisdiction around the world exceeding our targets. We are the lowest-cost government in all of Canada and all orders of government. We have the most competitive tax regime to stimulate investment, and it is working. We have a full economic statement that's coming out shortly. We've produced first-quarter results that achieves our opportunities, and it shows the success that we had to date. And public accounts, audited public accounts show that we exceed our targets. We are coming forward with a long-term plan beyond election psychopolitics that the opposition wants to play. We're not going to, Mr. Speaker. Minister, that assessment isn't optional. You're legislated to do this, and the Act spells out the specific areas the assessment is to report on. Your predecessors actually did meet this requirement, but apparently you can't. You're running a fowl of your own government's law, but then again, we've seen the deleted gas plant's emails that breaking the law seems to be nothing new over on this side. Maybe you're working hard behind the scenes to get creative with the numbers, like you did on the gas plant, to hide your failed wage freeze, which we exposed last week. Minister, in nine months, you've put forward no plan to create jobs, no plan to stimulate the economy, and no plan to balance the budget. Do you have any plan at all to present your long-term fiscal assessment? Minister? Mr. Speaker, not only do we have a plan, we have results that are working... Minister? And the plan has been outlined a number of times which the opposition choose not to read. What we will say, and in the upcoming fall, Economic Statement will highlight some of those issues, but what the opposition must recognize is that what they talk about is actually a destructive plan. And we will not take extreme views of across-the-board cuts that will harm the sensitive recovery of our province. We have taken measures of austerity to a point that's necessary, but now we must stimulate economic growth. We will continue to invest in people. We're going to continue to invest in infrastructure and we're going to continue, Mr. Speaker, to ensure economy grows by taking up... ...the final supplementary. Let's recap the last nine months. There's no jobs planned, no plan to stimulate the economic growth, no plan to balance the budget, and no long-term assessment. It's clear that you're not up to the job on this file, Minister. It only stands to reason that Ontario's can expect another whole lot of nothing when you present your fall Economic Statement. You've shown through the gas plan scandal that your government has a lot of trouble with numbers. The least you can do is use this opportunity to finally lay out a plan to get more than 500,000 men and women who woke up this morning without a job back to work. Minister, it's obvious your fall Economic Statement won't have a real jobs plan. Will you take our plan, our 14 white papers, and use our ideas to put Ontario back to work? So, Mr. Speaker, if we recall their plan, their plan was to hide a huge deficit. Their plan was to sell assets at fire sale. Their plan was to give it away, Mr. Speaker. Their plan left a legacy of an energy problem that we're still paying for today. We have taken control, we have invested in our province, we're investing in our people, we're investing in infrastructure, and we're creating a climate of economic growth and business development with innovation. We're going to continue on that positive plan, Mr. Speaker. We are not going to fall prey to what they're proposing. Question leader of the third party. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. News reports indicate that the Premier is creating yet another panel. This time the conversation will focus on so-called open government. If the Premier is interested in openness, Speaker, will she commit today to returning to the Justice Committee to explain her role in the decision that handed over a billion dollars to a private power company? Much, Mr. Speaker. I have a question from the committee. If the member has a question, I'd be happy to answer that question, but I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I need to know what the new information is that the member is seeking because I've accepted responsibility as a member of the cabinet that made the decision, Mr. Speaker. I've apologized a number of times. I've explained my role at every step of the process. I've explained every interaction that I've had, Mr. Speaker. I've explained my understanding of my officials. I appeared at the committee on April 30th. I've answered 207 questions in the House, Mr. Speaker. I've responded to the AG report. I've responded the day that it was tabled. So I've done all of that, Mr. Speaker. I haven't received an invitation, as I say. I'd be happy to answer a question if the member has a specific question. Mr. Speaker, people learned that liberal waste is costing them $1.1 billion. And the auditor tied that cost to decisions signed off by this Premier. The Premier wants to have a conversation about open government, but people want some answers about the sky-high price of electricity that they're paying in this province. Will the Premier come to the Justice Committee and explain why she was signing a document that was helping private power companies guarantee their profits and putting families and businesses on the hook? So I have explained my role in that process, Mr. Speaker. I have explained it in this House and I have explained it at committee. And as I say, I have a number of times explained my whole interaction and my whole role in the process, Mr. Speaker. And the reality is that when I came into this office, I said that we were going to open up the process and that is exactly what we did, Mr. Speaker. So in fact, my commitment to open government is an expression of belief that I have always held and that has been manifested by the fact that I have attended the committee that I have opened up the process. We broaden the scope of the committee and we've provided thousands of documents, Mr. Speaker, in answering the questions that have been asked by committee. So the questions that the leader of the third party are asking are questions that have been asked over and over and over again, Mr. Speaker. And they have been answered over and over and over again. If there is a new question, if there is new information that's being sought, I would like to hear that, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, the Premier has claimed that she doesn't want to have this kind of thing happen again in Ontario and I can tell her neither do Ontarians, Speaker. They're tired of watching their bills go up and up and up and they want to know why, Speaker. People want to understand. They want to understand why the Premier was signing off on decisions that the auditor said that she favored private power companies. Will the Premier be coming to the committee to explain why she did it? Mr. Speaker, I have answered that question. I've talked about my role in the cabinet walk around that happened, Mr. Speaker, and I have taken responsibility for being part of a government that was in a process and was trying to avoid litigation, Mr. Speaker. We've talked. I'm probably going to ask the member from Hamilton, East Stony Creek the same question I would ask him if he was in his seat and that is to come to order, please. Thank you. And Mr. Speaker, I spoke week before last about the advice that we were given that officials advised us that waiting to relocate the plant could have been more expensive and that renegotiating was more prudent than ripping up the agreement, Mr. Speaker. And so we were engaged in that process. But the point is I have taken the member of cabinet for that decision, Mr. Speaker. I have articulated my role and that will get you thrown out. If you want to start doing that, I'll start throwing. Finish, please. 10 seconds. Mr. Speaker, and just to say that we have provided 175,000 pages of documents and answers to all of the questions that have been asked. Thank you. New question later in the third party. Well, thank you, Speaker. My next question is for the Premier. The Premier loves conversation and she has the tools to prove it, Speaker. Now there are 30 groups looking at everything from new tools and taxes to undoing the damage to the rural racing industry. Now the Premier is saying she wants a panel on openness. Will she show commitment to openness, Speaker, by coming to the Justice Committee and explaining why she signed off on this decision that clearly favored a private power company? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I, apart from the question, I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I think it's very, very important that government pay attention to people's opinions, that we engage with people, Mr. Speaker, that we get feedback from people outside of government. And so that is how I have operated as a politician. That is how I will have people with expertise give us advice. We do believe it's important, Mr. Speaker. We think that it's a very good thing to have people who understand a particular sector or a particular issue. As for an example, the government process, I think it's a good thing for them to give us advice on engagement with the public. And I look forward to that process, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Well, G. Speaker, maybe the Premier and the Liberals should have been listening to the Council in Oakville back in March of 2009 when they passed a resolution for trying to be looking for some real answers about their sky-high hydro bills, not conversation after conversation after conversation. Ontario's premier was part of in her report on the Oakville gas plant. This government has created such a massive energy planning that the premier was signing documents that gave private power companies huge advantages instead of protecting families who pay the bills. Will the premier be returning to the Justice Committee to explain why she was a part of a decision? They gave private power companies the upper hand, or is her new openness panel just another question. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say to the leader of the third party that, you know, I agree with her, and I have said many, many times that had we paid better attention, had we had a better upfront process in the location of those gas plants, Mr. Speaker, then we would not have made the mistakes that were made. And I've said that quite openly that having a better community process is part of what needed to happen in the future, Mr. Speaker. As for the Justice Committee, I haven't received an invitation, Mr. Speaker, but I have been to the Justice Committee, I have answered many, many questions in the house and at committee I have explained my role, Mr. Speaker, and if there is new information that's sought, I would be happy to answer that question, Mr. Speaker, but I have been there and I have not yet received another invitation. Thank you. Final supplementary. I would like to thank the President for their own self interest ahead of the interests of Ontarians. That's what Liberals do all the time. Last week, Ontarians found out that they had seen their electricity bills, going to see their electricity bills rather keep growing faster than the rate of inflation in this province. It's getting harder for them to pay the bills already, and they deserve the answer, Speaker. They deserve to know why the House of Representatives and will the Premier come to the gas plants committee and explain her decision to protect the interests of private power companies instead of the interests of people and businesses who are stuck paying the highest hydro bills in this country. I have been to the committee and I have answered many, many questions and I have not received an invitation from the committee at this point, but it has been left in disarray. There were huge investments needed in distribution, Mr. Speaker. The capacity and the generation capacity was not what it needed to be, Mr. Speaker. We have made huge improvements, Mr. Speaker. The member from Glengary, Prescott Russell will receive the same advice or the question that I asked the member from Hamilton East Stony Creek. If you were in your seat, I would tell Mr. Speaker. So Mr. Speaker, the investments that we have made in the energy system have made it more stable, Mr. Speaker, and it's work that absolutely had to be done. As far as our commitment to green energy, Mr. Speaker, that we are leaders in terms of the North American continent and making sure that we have clean renewable energy going forward, Mr. Speaker. So I'm proud of our record. I have said clearly that there were mistakes that were made and contrary to what we have done, Mr. Speaker. And that actually produces a better outcome, Mr. Speaker. That's why we're putting one in. Thank you very much. You sat at the cabinet table and signed the document which authorized your Liberal government to waste over $1 billion of taxpayer money to cancel two power plants. Over the past eight months, you have stated that your government reacted out of respect for the local community's opposition to the North American continent. 73 municipalities in Ontario have declared themselves unwilling hosts. Projects continue to be approved for communities who do not want them. Since when did a person's postal code determine whether they receive respect or contempt from your government? Tractors, excuse me. I was out in the rain with these folks on the weekend. About 200 trucks and trucks and 1 km stretch of Highway 402 to get your attention. Premier, will you recognize that awesome? Thank you. Well, I think the member opposite absolutely makes the point that I was making in response to the leader of the third party, which is that it is very important to have a good community process. And the process that the minister of energy is putting in place which identifies willing hosts and gives communities more input into the process up front, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly what needs to happen. And I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the work that we did on green energy has been very, very positive and take communities. If it's a test, I'll pass it. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Premier. You know what they say, those who can do, those who can't consult and have conversations. Enough intellectual jobs because of your botched green energy policies. The audacity to announce first, last Friday, I have to tell you, Premier, my constituency assistant helped a family of seven. Their electricity had been cut off because they could not afford to pay their hydro bill. The mother called my office frantic because she had five small children and we had the threat of snow this past weekend in my riding. Thankfully, on a Friday afternoon, we were able to arrange to get the hydro back on. But for how long? Premier, where are you taking this province? Truthfully, I am dreading this winter in fear of all the people who cannot afford their hydro bills. Premier, is this what you envisioned for Ontario when you took over this role and are we to expect families not to receive the basic... Thank you. Let's not get wound up before I even get a chance to have her stand. Premier? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, let me just say that we have rebuilt over 80% of our electricity system because... Remember from Noura Fumblin, Quinty West is worn. Carry on. Not rebuild of 80% of the electricity system had to happen, Mr. Speaker, because when we came into office, it was not reliable. It had been neglected and that work needed to be done. On top of that, Mr. Speaker, our plan for green energy has eliminated dirty coal, Mr. Speaker. It's created more than 34,000, 31,000 jobs. Remember from Sonia Lantan is worn. Carry on. And it's generated $24 billion in investments, Mr. Speaker. So I absolutely take to heart and I'm glad that the member opposite was able to work with her constituent to make sure that her constituent had power. But that power is available, Mr. Speaker. We've reworked the energy system and we have... Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, this government dealt a death blow to the horse racing industry under the pretext of OLG modernization. OLG modernization is simply a liberal code for more casinos. But Ontarians have been very clear that they don't want casinos in their communities. Last week, the City of Vaughan voted to reject being a host site for a casino and now the doors are quickly shutting to the possibility of a casino anywhere in the GTA. Will the Premier listen to the communities and the people of Ontario and admit that OLG modernization is a giant total abysmal failure? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the question and I appreciate the premise of the question recognizing some of the concerns that exist going forward with regards to the transformation of the OLG in our gaming. We recognize how important to be supposedly responsible. We recognize also the great degree of dividend and support that the OLG provides for schools and hospitals and investments in our communities. We also appreciate and respect municipal decisions and that's what we've done all along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Back to the Premier. The slots and racetrack program brought in $1.1 billion a year in government revenue by cancelling the SARP this government has destroyed an entire industry in southern and rural Ontario for the profit of big casino conglomerates but Ontarians don't want casinos in their communities. They want racetracks. Time to admit you made a mistake reinstate the slots at racetrack program until you figure out a fair and transparent plan for horse racing and casinos in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Вагракulture Thank you very much Mr Speaker. In fact, the plan that we have put in place is an accountable and transparent plan to the former members John Swinoblin and Elmore Liu Cannon and John Wilkinson they have worked with the industry to put in place a plan that will allow for a sustainable industry. The SARP program was neither transparent nor was it accountable so it would be for us to move back there. But, Mr. Speaker, what we want is a sustainable industry across the province and all of the tracks in the province, whether they're part of the core or whether they're part of the grassroots, we'll have an opportunity to present a business plan, work with OLG and have a sustainable future. That was our goal, Mr. Speaker, and that's what we've put in place. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Mr. Transportation and Infrastructure. The Friday before Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to join Mayor Watson, Members of Council and a number of colleagues from Queens Park at an event to mark the start of Boring the Tunnel for Ottawa's Late Rail project. It was truly an exciting day for Ottawa. Mr. Speaker, even with this exciting news in Ottawa, there's a lot of interest in the transit debate that's happening here in Toronto. In fact, many Ontarians want to know how the government is helping to build the future of transportation infrastructure in the province's largest city. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, residents of Ottawa South want to know how this government is going to help Ottawa move forward. Recently, Mayor Watson called for a massive transit plan to get cars off the street and citizens to the places they need to be in an efficient manner. Question, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister, what have we done to get Ottawa moving? Thank you. Mr. Transportation and Infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are investing and have invested since we've come to government $1.8 billion in the city of Ottawa. I believe that is an unprecedented investment in that community, Mr. Speaker, and I think that's due to the very hard work of a number of liberal MPPs from that constituency, Mr. Speaker, who are delivering for the community. The confederation line, which the member from Ottawa South has been a big champion of, Mr. Speaker, is moving forward. It's a very significant contribution, Mr. Speaker. It is part of over a billion dollars of investment in rapid transit alone, Mr. Speaker, and $600 million just to the bus rapid transit system. Mr. Speaker, we often get asked what the jobs policy is. There's investment, Mr. Speaker, creating 20,000 person years of work in Ottawa and creating the foundation for major private sector job creation, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's very good news to hear that transportation funding is a priority and that projects are underway in Ottawa. Residents of Ottawa South will be glad to know that this government is helping municipalities like Ottawa to build the transit we need. There are many small to mid-sized cities that need a steady flow of funding to finance transit infrastructure. I know that we are committed to assisting all regions and all cities to get every single Ontarian to work and home as fast as possible. Mr. Speaker, it is important to my constituents and to all Ontarians and small to mid-sized cities to know that they can count on funding to support their demands for their public transportation system. Can the minister tell us what we're going to do to the government to ensure there is steady funding to help municipalities outside the DTHA? Thank you, minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If you understand the importance of infrastructure, you just have to look out the windows of the legislature. The biggest commercial boom in construction is going on in the history of the city. It is estimated, Mr. Speaker, that half of all the construction cranes in North America are at work right now in the DTHA alone. That is a remarkable record, Mr. Speaker. But it extends beyond Toronto and I mentioned the huge investments in Ottawa. Mr. Speaker, a small community like Ignace in Northwestern Ontario has clean water because of this government rebuilt its water treatment plant, Mr. Speaker. In communities as small as Burpee and Mills Township, Mr. Speaker, there is $178,000 going to build a critical road in that community that will help revitalize that community, Mr. Speaker. Answer. In Colbalt, almost $2 million is being invested right now in basic road infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. We are building jobs and opportunities across the Ontario, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. No questions from the members of my team. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for the Premier. As you know, Premier, my Bill 74 takes a firm stand in support of Ontario workers and in support of an Ontario company. Premier, on September the 9th, you spoke in support saying, and I quote, it's about a level playing field and it's a very good example of the kind of thing where we can find agreement and we should be able to move forward, unquote. Premier, you are all in. But on October the 2nd, you stated, and I quote, I will not be supporting it, assuming that the decision is not appealed, so that's the decision, unquote. Well, Premier, you have both flipped and flopped. But the time for clarity is now and thousands of workers at Elaston are eager for your word. With the decision being officially appealed, Premier, will you assume your support of my important bill or will you resign on your word in favour of foreign corporations over Ontario workers? Thank you, guys. The divisional court has made a ruling that quashed the decision of the LRB, Mr. Speaker, so the company can continue to operate as it did prior to the LRB case, Mr. Speaker. So from my perspective, and I have said this because circumstances have changed, the urgency that was created by that Labor Board decision, Mr. Speaker, have been removed by the divisional court decision, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, supplementary. Well, Premier, just to reiterate your quote, you said it will not be supporting it, assuming that the decision is not appealed. That was your word, Premier. Your lack of leadership and lack of decisiveness has risked an Ontario success story and thousands of Ontario construction jobs. My bill 74 will maintain the status quo for Elaston and will settle this issue once and for all. Premier, you stated that you would not be supporting my bill. Assume... Attorney General will come to order. Second time. Premier, again you stated that you would not be supporting my bill, assuming it was not appealed. However, despite the appeal, you have chosen to stand with foreign construction companies instead of Ontario workers. Based on your past statements, it is obvious that your government expects the divisional court ruling to hold. Premier, when did you tell the sheet metal workers and the election workers that you expect their appeal to fail, and why do you refuse to stand up for Elaston and their thousands of employees all across Ontario? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I think the member opposite knows full well that there has been no appeal granted at this point. There's a leave to appeal before the court. I believe that the circumstances have changed. The divisional court has quashed the ruling by the OLRB, Mr. Speaker. And because of that, I believe that the urgency that was in place because of that OLRB decision is no longer in place, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Good question. Member from Essex. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, last spring, well-connected insiders hired by Elaston had legislation crafted so they could escape a contract they had with their employees. The Conservatives proposed it, but the Liberals enthusiastically supported it. And the Premier agreed to speed it through this very house. Now she's scrambling to distance herself from the varied bill that she championed. Can the Premier tell us what today's position is on the Elaston bill? I think I just answered this question, Mr. Speaker, but I'm happy to answer it again. As the member opposite knows, the divisional court quashed the ruling of the Labor Relations Board, Mr. Speaker. The fact that the company can now continue to operate as it did before the OLRB ruling, Mr. Speaker. I believe changed the circumstances and we believe that the bill is no longer needed and that the urgency that was in place because of the OLRB decision is no longer there. Thank you, Speaker. The Premier's position on this has more loops and turns than a roller coaster. What's more and more clear is that the Premier will say and do anything to help the Liberal Party. First, she championed the bill, passed it unanimously and put it on the fast track. Then she tried to convince the unions to abandon their right to appeal. Then when they called her bluff, she zigzagged again and now she claims she's going to oppose it. What assurances do people have that the Premier won't flip flop yet again when the lobbyist from Alice Donne come knocking? Well, Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that if one takes a position under a certain set of circumstances and then those circumstances changed, then the intelligent response to the position. The circumstances changed. The urgency that was in place is no longer in place and so, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the piece of legislation is no longer required. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program known as the PNP is a valuable immigrant selection program that allows Ontario to nominate economic immigrants. Member from Renfrew, that'll do. Newcomers are nominated. Oh, really? That'll do. If I have to get louder just because the member refuses to hear what I'm asking, then I will get specific. I've asked them to refrain. The member from Renfrew choosing to ignore me? Good. Please finish. Very much, Mr. Speaker. I just recently learned that the federal government has capped Ontario's yearly nomination at only 1,300 nominees. I was also surprised to learn that no new PNP applications have been accepted since August. Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister, how is our government ensuring that we select the best and brightest economic immigrants to fill the skilled labor gaps that exist in Ontario? Good question. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. The federal government has capped our provincial nominee program here in our province in 1,300. The federal government could do better. Ontario deserves more. Ontario has little say from the federal government on economic immigrants who are selected to enter our province. Of the 99,000 people who were immigrated to Ontario in 2012, we had a selection of less than 1.5%. And that's not great because if you consider what's happening in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan last year, the Alberta government had 11% selection. Immigrant selection in Manitoba was 28% and Saskatchewan was 34%. The Ontario immigration strategy spells out the need for Ontario to have greater say in selecting skilled immigrants here in our province. By selecting highly skilled immigrants to fill positions in our labor force, Ontario will be able to grow its workforce to create more jobs in Ontario. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Many Ontarians do not know that our province is not being given its fair share of PNP spaces. I understand the minister has written to his federal counterpart to request additional PNP spots. Many employers and investors are looking to come to Ontario and will be glad that our government is advocating for more selection through the PNP program. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, could you please address the misconception that our government is committed to Ontario negatively contributes to our economy and to more unemployed Ontarians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member from Grampton Lester for his great question. Our government is committed to the economic growth and believes that an educated, skilled and diverse workforce in Ontario is one of our greatest strengths. A diverse economy in our province . Since 2010, Ontario has nominated more than 2,000 international PhD and master students for permanent residency through our provincial nominee program. 25 Ontario hospitals and health centres have used this program to retain specialist doctors and nurses to better provide health services here in our provinces and half of Ontario's universities have used the program to retain world class health services in our province. Mr. Speaker, our government believes that the time has come for Ontario to redefine its shared immigration relationship with Ottawa so we can best position this province for success. Thank you. This week and this month, we are celebrating Small Business Week in Ontario. Small businesses, the heart and soul of job creation are struggling to make ends meet in Ontario. You have already taxed hard-working tradespeople by slapping a new 576% trade tax courtesy of your base street bureaucracy of the College of Trades. Section 7, Minister of the College of Trades Act allows your college of trades to tax employers for membership. Will you stand in the house today and promise employers that they will never have to pay the trade tax by the College of Trades? Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to respond to that question. In fact, we are very, very clear, Mr. Speaker, some time ago when we waived that provision for employers so that employers are not paying membership. But I don't know why the member would want to confuse them today in almost making them believe that they are. Employers are currently exempt, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to membership for the College of Trades. We did the College of Trades up and running. And Mr. Speaker, they have, indeed, reduced ratios for apprenticeships more than any every government in this legislature on all sides of the house combined over the last 20 years. So, Mr. Speaker, they have made some great progress today. We are confident that they will continue to do that. And we are confident that they will continue to listen very carefully to the business comments. Well, thank you, Minister, and you waived it for one year, 2013. Now, we don't know what's happening after that. Only in Premier Wins, Ontario, which slapping the new trades tax on employers be the best way to celebrate Small Business Week. Meridian Credit Union, Ontario's largest credit union, recently conducted a small business survey with Harris Decima. The survey you found, 75% of your trade tax on employers will further punish these small businesses. The difference is clear. The Ontario PCs on this side of the house stand up for Small Business in Ontario's Main Street. The Liberals on that side of the house stand up for their multi-million-dollar college of trades bureaucracy on Bay Street. Small Business Week is your golden opportunity, once and for all, to confirm that employers will never pay your trades tax. We have to pay your Bay Street trades tax. Thank you. Minister? Rhetoric and fear-mongering aside, we very deliberately did not proclaim Section 7, and the member knows that. We have no intentions of doing so, Mr. Speaker. So we've been clear about that. We've indicated that, and I think that's important. But I suggest the member from time to time, and I think he's already been able to contact the new chair of the College of Trades, David Tabucci, an esteemed former colleague in this house and esteemed former cabinet minister of his party. Mr. Speaker, I'm very confident that Mr. Tabucci is going to do a fantastic job as our chair. I would hope that the member opposite would share that confidence in this fine gentleman, a former colleague of his, who we think is going to do a tremendous job for the trades in the province of Ontario. We're very proud of how far the College of Trades has gone. So far, a lot more work to be done, and we think Mr. Tabucci is just the fella to lead us there. Question? Thank you, Speaker. My questions for the Premier. Last Tuesday I was invited out to the horse races in Fort Erie. It was a bittersweet day for the community, because in spite of the proud Niagara Racing tradition, this Liberal government has decided that the Fort Erie race track doesn't deserve a 117th racing season. What does the Premier have to say to horse people, track workers and the community members about what her government plans to do to shut down horse racing at the Fort Erie race track? Let me say, Mr. Speaker, categorically that that is not true, that I have every confidence that if Fort Erie race track wants to develop a business plan to work with the OLG, they can have a future, Mr. Speaker, but it will be a different future than the present situation. That is the reality. We have said all along that the horse racing industry needed to change, that the slots at race track program was not accountable, was not sustainable. Let me just read what some of the people who are in the horse racing industry have said about our plan, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Ted Clark from Grand River Raceway, it's remarkably better than what our outlook is. We essentially went from a place of having no relationship with government and no support to a place where we now have a spot to make a plan. This provides a new set of building blocks to move forward. We've been given some tools with which to work and hopefully we can put them to good work. Mr. Speaker, the people in the industry see a way forward and we are looking forward to working with them. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, nobody in Fort Erie can understand why the Liberal Party doesn't deserve a viable future in horse racing. Not track CEO Jim T-Bear or Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin, not the Jockeys or the concession stand workers, not the kitchen staff, the stable workers, maintenance security, the mutual desk operators or the suppliers, not the horse owners, the fans or the bugler who calls out the post time and not the veteran groomer of 36 seasons who pulled me aside and asked me to deliver a simple message to the premier. Will the government see the light and save horse racing at the historic Fort Erie race track? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. The panel who did an in-depth look at how we could put a sustainable plan in place noted that they urged the government to work with Fort Erie to develop an alternative and sustainable plan. So there is nothing written in stone that says that Fort Erie doesn't have a future Mr. Speaker. I understand the politics of what the leader of the third party is doing right now but it is not responsible of us to suggest that something that has not been accountable has not been transparent which was the slots at race track program should continue. We have got a plan in place and Mr. Speaker I have a copy of the plan here. I can send it over to the leader of the third party because the plan that was in place, the program that was in place was not sustainable. We've put a sustainable plan in place. We look forward to working with Fort Erie so that they can put a new plan in place Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My questions for the minister of dementia. In my recent visit at the long-term care facility, both the caregivers and the family expressed concern about dementia. As the minister well aware, statistics shows that three of five people with dementia will go missing some point to time. Sadly statistics also shows that 50% of those who go missing for 24 hours, serious risk of death or injury from exposure of dementia. Can he please explain to the legislature what the government is doing to address this growing concern. Mr. responsible for the seniors. Thank you very much Speaker Maya. My thanks to the member from Scarborough for a very deep understanding and compassion with respect to this very serious issue. Speaker in March of this year, we in partnership with the health and safety awareness program named Finding Your Way Wandering Prevention Program aimed at people with dementia who may go wandering and go missing. As part of this program Speaker, the old time society will distribute kids that include tips and resources to families and caregivers preventing wandering incidents and act quickly in cases of missing seniors. Our mission is to help people with dementia who may go missing and go wandering and go missing. As part of this program, we in partnership with the health and safety awareness program named Finding Your Way Wandering Prevention Program aimed at people with dementia who may go missing and go missing. As part of this program, we in partnership with the health and safety awareness initiative such as the one the minister talked about finding your way wandering prevention program. However, many family members and caregivers are unaware exactly what is in the kit, the finding your way kits assistant preventing wandering enhancement community response when the senior goes missing. Mr Speaker, through you to the minister, can he please elaborate on the content of the program? Mr Speaker, we will have family and caregivers established a plan to ensure the safety independence and dignity of an individual. The kids, by the way, they are available in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi and they include a personal ID page that can be shared with police in an emergency, instructions on what to do when a person with danger can go missing. As well, a list of important tips on what to do when they are reuniting, when reunited after a missing incident. Mr Speaker, on there you can conduct the old summer society, one of the 38 society across our province, two on there, two on one to obtain a kit and as well it's available from downloading it. Mr Speaker, thank you. My question is to the Premier around jobs and the economy and Premier, as you know, the 40 year racetrack is 116 years old. It survived two world wars, it survived the Great Depression but it's not going to survive the McGinty win Liberal government. Premier, I look at everything that's going on, you seem to want to close down the tracks and toss people out of work. Let me be absolutely clear about this. I fought for that track. I fought to keep it open. We gave it a 10 year lease on life and I plan to do it again. I hope we are on the same page on this but let me test that out. Folks in Fort Erie reject this notion of a festival meet, a notion of a small town rural fair is not good enough for me. It's not good in our industry. It's not good enough people of Niagara. Will you commit to a full racing season next year to give some like to this community? Thank you. Premier. So the starting point for this discussion is that the slots at racetrack program was not sustainable. It was not accountable. It's a plan that was put together by the government. It's not an option that was put forward, Mr. Speaker. What I have said is that the government, the Fort Erie needs to work with OLG to come up with an alternative business plan, Mr. Speaker, but to pretend that somehow what was in place was accountable and was sustainable over the long term is just not the case. Hold on a second. That's where I was born and this issue. They signed the deal. Half the job losses are on your back. Thank you. Please finish. I fought for the track. I kept it open. I'm proud of that. I'm going to do it again. We got a plan to do so. I appointed Randy Pettipis as our lead on this issue. He's got a plan. This is the track reporting your own Sidinsky report with the second highest wagering in Ontario and at the same time, your plan is going to road to closure. So let me ask you this. You're the Minister of Agriculture as well as a premier will agree to sit down with ready Pettipis and I to actually give life to that track moving forward and ensure our sustainability. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and I have fought to get horse racing on a sustainable footing. Mr. Speaker, I have made. Oh, Mr. Speaker. It's been as almost like a drive by heckling. It's not helpful when I'm trying to get control, but also I will. I know your voices by now and I know who to come to. So I'm asking that it stop and the member from the PN Carlton, please don't shout the Premier down. Thank you. Subject of festival meets Mr. Speaker. I would just remind the leader of the opposition that the Kentucky Derby is a festival meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister of Health and Long Term Care. Last week, my constituent West Bland was in news across Ontario because of the road blocks he faced in accessing a doctor ordered pet scan. Mr. Bland was forced to make the long six hour drive to Thunder Bay instead of a much shorter trip to Winnipeg. My office has been in a regular touch with the minister. Can the minister please explain why her office didn't take steps to ensure that Mr. Bland could access the care he needed quickly and close to home despite the minister's knowledge that he was being denied this care. Thank you, Speaker and thank you to the member for the question. I must say I'm a bit surprised at this question because she and I had a very good conversation I thought last week about what the minister was going to say about the care he needed. He was directed to the wrong place for the scan that he needed. Unfortunately, the Winnipeg regional health authority has sent out information to physicians in Manitoba that was not accurate. We've identified the problem and we've corrected that problem. I am absolutely committed as I told you. If the minister is available in Manitoba, then we cover that care speaker. If they can get the care here in Ontario, they will get it in Manitoba. We're taking the appropriate steps to ensure this does not happen again. Thank you, supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. The problem is this. First of all, I need to say I appreciate that the minister did say correct it. Manitoba health continues to insist that Ontario patients will still have to seek prior approval for out-of-province procedures such as PET scans as stated in their memo. The minister has said that she has fixed the problem, but has she really fixed the problem when people will continue to wait weeks for approval for out-of- province PET scans or when they're actually forced to go back? Well, Speaker, I do my best to do my job in the province of Ontario. The best I know my responsibility does not extend to the province of Manitoba. They have set up this rule in Manitoba, Speaker. It is their rule, not our rule. I am committed, as I told the member last week, to do what needs to be done at a ministry to ministry level to provide that system for the patients of northeastern Ontario. As I said earlier, north-western Ontario, they deserve to get the care that someone in Ontario is entitled to, Speaker, and if Manitoba is closer, that's where they get it. So we'll continue to work with the government of Manitoba and the authorities there, Speaker, to make sure that the people in north-western Ontario get the care they need. The second question is for the Minister of Research and Innovation. Ontario's capacity to compete in the global knowledge-based economy depends on our ability to harness our research strengths, encourage innovation and provide support to entrepreneurs. Local business leaders I've met with in Scarborough tell me that Ontario needs to remain a leader in the entrepreneurship to keep our economies strong, and given the challenges in the global economy, it is more important than ever that we take action that helps turn great ideas into thriving companies and new jobs. Speaker, can the minister tell us what action the government is taking to ensure that entrepreneurs are getting the support they need and that programs are easily accessible to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member for that important question. Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurship and innovation are at the heart of our government's jobs and economy strategy. One of our initiatives is the Ontario network of entrepreneurs made up three networks. First is our 57 small business enterprise centres that are located in municipalities and they help small businesses at the local level. The second one is our network of regional innovation centres which serves to coordinate the work of all actors at the regional level and the third and last one is the business advisory service which provides consultation and mentorship to growth businesses. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of our government's investments in which supports entrepreneurs and innovators across our province of Ontario. Thank you. Don't the member from Bruce Gray, Owen Sound, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, just a reminder that the Ontario dental association will be hosting a sports mouth guard fitting clinic in room 340 from 12 to 5 today. It's opened all MPPs and staff and a further reminder that the legislators play their first game of the season this Thursday at 5 p.m. against the firefighters at the Rico Coliseum. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the member from Bruce Gray, Owen Sound, on a point of order. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome Amanda to the program and it's great to have her working in here in Bruce. Thank you. Then I'll do my reminder don't forget the wine tasting is this evening at 5 p.m. Can't forget that. There are no deferred votes. This house stands adjourned until 1 p.m. this afternoon. I think that's the purpose of what we're doing.