 It is now time for a question period. The Leader of the Majesty is very welcome. Thank you, Speaker. My question to the Premier, a very simple question of basic economics. Does the Premier believe that there is a direct causal relationship between rapidly increasing energy prices in Ontario and the hollowing out of our manufacturing sector, the tune of 324,000 lost manufacturing jobs? Premier? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. What I know is that there are companies that are coming to Ontario, Mr. Speaker. There are jobs being created in Ontario, Mr. Speaker. So, you know, the reality is that our energy prices are competitive with our neighbouring... The members from North Sambaland and the members from Bradford come to order. We've put in place programs to deal with particular sectors, Mr. Speaker, like Northern Industrial. And as I said, we believe that the plan that we have in place, which is investing in people and an infrastructure that's needed by communities and creating that business environment that is competitive, is working, Mr. Speaker, which is why businesses are coming to the province. Is there more that needs to be done? Absolutely. And we are going to continue to play to our strengths and put those conditions in place, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, supplementary. It's almost like the Premier is inferring that higher energy prices are attracting jobs to the province of Ontario. It's entirely bizarre. I mean, that fails a basic test of economics. Premier, I can't believe that you actually believe that. I can't believe that you've been so insulated from what's happening in towns across our province and cities. I can't believe that out of touch. When you double hydra rates in the province of Ontario, when Ontario's gone from having the most competitive hydra rates to among the most expensive for business in the province, there's a cost for that. And sadly, the cost is that bills are going up by about $500 for an average family in our province. And they're driving manufacturing jobs out of the province of Ontario. So let me ask a very simple question to Premier again, because I think she gave me the option. What's the basic rule of economics? Does the Premier believe there is a direct causal relationship between skyrocketing hydra rates and the hollowing out of her middle class the loss of manufacturing jobs in Ontario? Yes or no? Thank you, Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I would reply to the leader of the opposition. Does he believe, simplistically, that there is only one condition that creates opportunity for business, Mr. Speaker? Does the leader of the opposition believe that it was not necessary to invest in transmission, to invest in the upgrade of our grid, to invest in generating capacity when the fact is, when we came into office, Mr. Speaker, there was not a stable supply of electricity in this province. There was not a predictability that businesses account on. So we made those investments, Mr. Speaker. And the reality is that there is a full range of conditions that need to be in place, including making sure people have the right skills so that they can fill the jobs that are necessary, Mr. Speaker. Making sure that there are roads and bridges and traveling in place, Mr. Speaker. That infrastructure is so necessary. So, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the leader of the opposition. Does he believe that those things are important, because those are the things that we have been putting in place, Mr. Speaker? Thank you. Follow us up on that, please. I believe one thing is most important, above all else. That's the creation of good, steady jobs. You can survive on it. I think energy is the only cause. Well, no. It's the increase of taxes in the province of Ontario. It's a growing, growing red tape. It's a record deficit. It's a record debt in our province. It's a giveaway to the public sector unions. It's a government that has no clue about economics. Is there one rule for this? No. There's plenty, Premier. I can go on and on if you want me to. The bottom line, though, is when you're in a hole, you stop digging. Your rule is you dig a little slower and get the hole deeper. Why in the world do you want to continue with Dalton McGinty's failed green energy subsidies putting wind turbines across the province, but giant pins on a pincushion? It's economic madness. It's costing us jobs. Why in the world are you continuing down? Don't begin to fail past and cost any value. Thank you. Premier? Yes, Premier. Take a little here for some other voices. I'm going to talk about Canadian manufacturers and exporters of Ontario. The LTAP, the plan, review response to a key priority for the Canadian manufacturers and exporters of Ontario by providing greater clarity and certainty for manufacturers with respect to electricity rates going forward. The CME supports new initiatives to enable manufacturers to better manage their energy and associated costs. Importantly, the plan will reduce overall system costs which ultimately translates into more competitive forward rates for business. Mr. Speaker, there are some other voices that I will bring later on in subsequent questions. New question. Leader of the opposition. Again, I do hope the Premier responds to these questions. Premier, let me be very plain about this. You can substitute in Bob Shirelli when you're before the committee today of the Justice Committee to answer questions by Lisa McLeod. Stop the clock, please. Two things. First, I need it directed to the person you just carried on a conversation, direct your new question, and we use only titles, and we only use writings, please. Premier, question to the Premier Speaker. Premier, respecting the environment. Substitute in the Energy Minister when you're before the Justice Committee today to answer basic questions about why you're in this assembly and mislead MPPs with what you knew about the gas plan scandal when you knew it. No substitutions, no time-outs. This afternoon, you're going to have to tell the truth. Let me ask you a basic question here, too. Very basic question. Yesterday in the legislature, you said that Ontario's energy rates for business were lower than bordering states and provinces. Premier, you know that is not a fact. Can you please tell me the source where Ontario's energy bills are lower for businesses than competing states and provinces? Thank you. Can you see it, please? Premier? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I've been clear that we are competitive, Mr. Speaker, with neighbouring jurisdictions, and I also acknowledge that where there is inexpensive hydro back in Manitoba, those costs are less, Mr. Speaker. I've been clear about that. But, Mr. Speaker, the leader of the opposition is part of a party that neglected the electricity system. When we came into office, we needed to make those investments, Mr. Speaker. We have made those investments. And what the leader of the opposition would like to do now, Mr. Speaker, what stands for a plan from his side, Mr. Speaker, is he wants to invest in a nuclear that has been determined is not necessary, Mr. Speaker. So that $15 billion cost that is not necessary, he would like to go forward and make those investments. Mr. Speaker, that there are a number of conditions that need to be in place in order for business to thrive. Investment in people, infrastructure and a business climate. Thank you. Supplementary. The premier's reliance on 10-year-old briefing notes blew the dust off when it's the biggest issue of our times and a loss of jobs in our province is truly frightening. And I want to say to you, the key grip of this government on basic economics, the fact that higher hydro prices cost us jobs is truly frightening. We consider that's going to cause more damage to the province of Ontario. And I have no understanding why you think the right decision when we're hemorrhaging jobs, 3,000 manufacturing jobs a month premier on your leadership alone, why you would double down adult McGinty's failed policies of subsidizing and they can create jobs in Ontario or the state of Texas. They have plans in both places. They're an Ontario company. But they say Tim, when hydro rates are 70% cheaper in Texas for the business, the province of Ontario, where he can put the jobs. Premier, how can you answer that question when you're very policy- Thank you. Thank you. Premier, you've got to get up. I know that previously, in some kind of a white paper, the leader of the opposition said that he was going to eliminate renewables from the system and use that to subsidize the industrial rates. Well, Mr. Speaker, the wind and solar represents roughly less than 4% of the total generation, Mr. Speaker. His numbers don't have he couldn't come close to subsidizing industries. He's going to get rid of them out of the energy mix and he's going to use the money saved to subsidize industrial prices, Mr. Speaker. We've done the calculations. We've looked at it and it doesn't work. It doesn't add up. It's like your budget and everything else you're talking about. The numbers just don't add up. The numbers don't add up. The numbers don't add up. The numbers don't add up. Final supplementary. You know, I want to just express my sincere disappointment that on basic questions around the biggest issue in our province, jobs and the economy, that you shoved them off and had them off to a minister. I worry that it's either weak leadership or you don't understand the basic economics that are at stake here. You have made deliberate decisions over ten years to drive up our hydro rates. Our hydro rates have more than double. yesterday what was nothing more than a short-term plan for liberal re-election interests. The problem is it is a long-term lasting impact on our competitiveness and jobs for families across the province of Ontario. Premier your plan has been an abject failure. Poverty rates are going through the roof. It's costing us jobs on a daily basis. You are eroding the middle class. You're taking away hope from those who actually want to work in the province of Ontario and create jobs. We have a plan to make energy affordable to lower taxes, to cut the red tape, to make Ontario rise again, to make us a beacon for investment in job creation. If you can handle this job, step aside, we will. Premier. Mr. Speaker, the same graphs that he was looking at in the long-term energy plan will disclose the following. For an industrial consumer with a demand of 5 megawatts per month our 2010 plan had projected that in 2014 next year there would be paying $109 per megawatt hour. Under this plan and the graphs that are in the plan the 2013 long-term energy plan projects that would only be $87 per megawatt hour. This is an unbelievable improvement for the industrial sector Mr. Speaker. He is only reading part of the plan. He's not reading the whole plan. He should be properly briefed himself. I want to give the member an opportunity to put her question properly. Order please. Leader of the third party. Thank you very much, Speaker. The question is to the Premier. Ontario families and businesses are already paying the highest electricity rates in Canada and yesterday the government confirmed their plan to send them even higher. Ontarians expect or at least hope that the people that they elect to represent them will actually protect their interests when it comes to electricity rates. As a member of cabinet the Premier signed off on a plan. Minister of Education, come to order. To the government's private power deal in Oakville. Why did she do that, Speaker? Thank you. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And as the leader of the third party knows I have agreed to appear before the committee again today to answer the questions that will be asked of me and to repeat the information that I have given to this House and to the committee previously. And I'm happy to continue to answer those questions, Mr. Speaker. But what the leader of the third party also knows is that we have put a plan for energy in place, Mr. Speaker. The answer is being provided by your Premier. I have no idea what the plan of the third party is, Mr. Speaker. They do not agree with us on green energy. They don't agree with us on nuclear refurbishment, Mr. Speaker. They don't agree on any of the investments that we have made. So I don't know what their plan is, Mr. Speaker. But what I do know is that we have to have a long-term stable plan. That's what we have. We've put that in place. And that will give some predictability to industry and residents in the province. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, Speaker, the auditor made it clear that the agreement the Premier signed was part of a political strategy to ensure that the public didn't hear about the cancellation as the province was heading into an election. In her testimony at hearings into the gas plant scandal, the Premier claimed that she simply signed off on a plan that was put in front of her and didn't ask any questions as to how it might affect the people stuck with the bill. Is that the Premier's defence for this decision, Speaker, that she was just being a team player for the Liberal campaign? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And again, we've been over this ground many times, and I will go over it again in answer to questions in the committee this afternoon. But, Mr. Speaker, the leader of the third party knows that there was a decision that was made to cancel and relocate gas plants. That was a decision that was agreed by all the parties was the right thing to do, Mr. Speaker. I was part of a cabinet that made that decision. There was a negotiation process that was being engaged, Mr. Speaker. And I did not have the details of what was going to happen at that table. So I've been over that ground. I will go over it again at committee, Mr. Speaker. But I think the leader of the third party knows that the decision that was made is one that was supported by everyone. Good final supplementary. Well, Speaker, one thing I think the Premier needs to know is that people of Ontario know that just because the Liberals say it doesn't mean it's true. Speaker, the Premier heard about her party's commitment to cancel a gas plant in Mississauga and given her role in the Oakville negotiations, she must have been pretty aware that this too would hit ratepayers hard. Did she place any calls or raise any concerns with the campaign team or did she decide once again to make her priority helping the Liberal campaign? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The member from Toronto Danforth, a member of this leader's caucus understands and what he said on April 11th, I don't see it as a smoking gun. We knew the Cabinet was approving this process, so this does not surprise me. Mr. Speaker, it was part of a process. It's a process that I have outlined many times and will no doubt have a chance to outline again this afternoon at committee. The reality is that I have taken responsibility. I have said that there were decisions made that should have been made in a better way, Mr. Speaker. What is very important is that we have a place to process this will mean that this will not happen again, that the community will be engaged in a different way, Mr. Speaker, so that this kind of decision will not be made again. And the leader of the third party knows that I've taken responsibility for that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. New question, leader of the third party. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is also to the Premier. People hear the Premier talking about doing things differently, but all they see is the same cynical approaches and tired ideas that got us where we are. People feel like they've been abandoned, Speaker. Karen wrote us to say this, and I quote, My last hydro bill, I had to ask my daughter to cover me for me, and she could barely help as she has major student loans to pay back. I'm tired of working and not getting ahead. When will this end? What does the Premier have to say to women like Karen, Speaker, who expect their Premier to have their back when it comes to their electricity bills? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And again, I sympathize with people who are struggling, Mr. Speaker. It's why we have put a number of supports in place, Mr. Speaker, whether it's a tuition rebate, Mr. Speaker, whether it's support for young families with children, the Ontario Child Benefit, whether it's, Mr. Speaker, whether it's the reduction on the electricity bills, the clean energy benefit, Mr. Speaker. We have put those in place. But, Mr. Speaker, Karen and all of the residents of Ontario need to have a reliable energy source, Mr. Speaker. They need to know that when they turn the lights, when they go to turn the lights on, that the lights are going to come on, Mr. Speaker. And in order for that to be the case, the government must have a plan. The leader of the third party does not have a plan. No one knows how she would keep the lights on in this province, Mr. Speaker. Everyone knows that we have a predictable and stable plan, and that plan was released yesterday, and I would have thought that she would... Be seated, please. Be seated, please. New question? Sorry, supplementary. Mr. Speaker, the Premier's sympathy is not going to help Karen pay her hydro bill. The scandal with the gas plants, unfortunately, is not an isolated... Stop the work. Order. Order. Leader. The scandal with the gas plants is not an isolated incident, unfortunately. Too many people, it's become a symbol of the government's absolute indifference to people struggling to make ends meet and to hold on to good jobs. Wayne works with a large manufacturer, and he writes, and I quote, Our jobs may be on the line due to rising hydro rates. Too many middle class... Oh, right, sorry. To have a middle class, you must have manufacturing. That's a fact the world over. But maybe those in charge don't want a middle class, I quote. What does the Premier have to say to Wayne, Speaker, and thousands like him who thinks the government's hydro policy may cost them their job? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I would want to make sure that people who are concerned about industrial rates understand that we have put programs in place because we acknowledge that there are concerns. The industrial electricity incentive, Mr. Speaker, as of 2013, eligible companies qualify for electricity rates that are among the lowest in North America, Mr. Speaker, in exchange for creating new jobs. So we've made that connection. The Industrial Conservation Initiative helps large consumers save on costs by incenting them to shift their hours of use, Mr. Speaker. And the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program puts in place a reduction for northern industrial consumers and reduces their cost by 25%, Mr. Speaker. So it's very important that people understand that we do acknowledge that there are concerns in the industrial sector. The Minister of Energy has just noted some quotes from yesterday that manufacturers and industries understand that the predictability is important and that we have these programs in place. So I would hope that they understand that that's the case, Mr. Speaker. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, people worried about keeping good jobs and making ends meet feel that this government simply doesn't care about their challenges. And the mess in the electricity system proves it. People are tired of paying the price for the government that just doesn't seem to get it. Instead of offering real change, we see the government scrambling to hide the damage that they've done. Does the Premier have anything to offer people who are feeling the squeeze like never before? Or does she agree with her Minister that the mess this government's made in our electricity system is simply a fact of life? Good for you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Actually, what we have done since we came into office is we've been cleaning up a mess, Mr. Speaker, that was left by the previous two great energy energy members working on building that infrastructure that they will have the energy supply that's necessary, Mr. Speaker. We recognize that cleaning the air, that cleaning the opposition parties, which is surprising, actually, Mr. Speaker, because I would have thought that green energy, at least for the NDP, would have been applied. Good question. Member from Nippie and Carleton. This is also to the Premier. Your energy plan will cost Ontario families anywhere between 30% to 50% more. That's on average $400 per family. Your energy policy is also going to lower the standard of living in Ontario. As Ontario families decide they need to lower their energy bills, they're going to have to shut off the lights, shut off the heat, shut off their appliances. I think you owe it to the citizens across this province to tell them exactly how much this rate increase is due to their catacombs and the energy policy as well as to those council gas plants. We'd really like to know, because the only party with a plan at the present moment to make those more affordable is our plan under PC Leader. Your question? Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the member should know by now that the cost of relocating those gas plants is not even in the system yet. It won't be three or four years, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've taken $20 billion out of the cost base, including $15 billion for new nuclear. That is going to push rates down as we move forward, Mr. Speaker. The average of 2.8% will be an average of 2.8%. Mr. Speaker, again, they look at the graphs in the plan and they will pick out a couple of years where there's excessive pressure on prices. They will not look at the overall plan. They will show that the reduction over 20 years is 3.8% per year. Mr. Speaker, there's no way to avoid electricity cost increases. Leader, leader on the other side has given a commitment to relocate. I'm astonished. His short-term energy plan in the long run is going to cost at least $1 billion more. That actually confirms our suspicion that you released that report yesterday solely to distract the public from the Premier Attab's issue. It's not only families and seniors who are suffering as a result of these rate hikes. We have lost 300,000 manufacturing drugs across the province. She is making Bob Ray blush by sending so many jobs south. We are now the only jurisdiction in the world who relies on losing jobs as a conservation plan, Speaker. We have received letters from a number of organizations, including businesses, to tell us that the average industrial electricity price in Ontario is double the average of Manitoba, New York, and Michigan. It's not just homeowners who are suffering. It is the business community. Why are you sending our jobs? A member from Oxford come to order. The minister of the environment come to order. The member from the P.N. Carlton come to order. A member from Anglington Lawrence come to order. Thank you, Minister of Energy. I'll be happy to speak for the minister of finance on jobs, Mr. Speaker. The minister and the Premier have stood up on a regular basis, Mr. Speaker. And indicated throughout the recession period and coming... A member from Bruce Gray, Owen Sound, will come to order. That's the second time. A member from Durham come to order. Finish, please. Created more than 416 net new jobs coming out of the recession between the recession and now... A member from Lampton came to order. I will say that 31,000 of those jobs are in the clean energy sector. So if you... In wind and solar and biomass, Mr. Speaker, there is a huge industry here in Ontario which we've created and part of those 460 jobs are coming right out of the energy sector. And they need to look the people in the eye who are creating those jobs, creating those new companies and telling that they're going to make it stop, Mr. Speaker. Exactly, Bob. Your question, the member from Wellington. I have a deal breaker in my questions to the Premier. The Canadian manufacturers and exporters have said that electricity costs can be a deal breaker. But the energy minister has called skyrocketing costs a fact of life. 10 years of Liberal government has put the unemployment rate in Ontario higher than the national average. It's time to get our hydro bills under control so that we can grow and create jobs. Why is the Liberal government more interested in our political fortunes than in getting hydro rates under control so we can create jobs? Minister of economic development and trade and employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm happy to talk about jobs in this province. I want to talk about Roger Martin's prosperity tax force that was his report was released last weekend. He says one of the things and this is a quotation from their report few comparable regions outside of North America have an economy as competitive and prosperous as Ontario's. Ontario's GDP per capita is higher than the median of the 12 international peer regions identified by the tax force thanks in part to a highly skilled workforce, stable economy and diverse mix productive industries. He goes on to say the Ontario government's 2013 fall economic statement is commendable for its focus on infrastructure and possible tax reforms and investments in human capital and he says that Ontario's tax system is now one of the most business friendly in the OECD, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Well, Speaker, business leaders in Niagara have identified lower hydro rates as being one of their top priorities when it comes to attracting manufacturing investment and creating jobs. Alternatively high hydro prices are the biggest issue facing new development and expansions as Mayor Bradley of CERNIA has said about NOVA chemicals expansion plans. Companies that are already seeing costs as deal breakers can expect a 40% increase over the next five years. Is the premier going to get hydro rates under control so business can grow and create jobs or is high unemployment just like skyrocketing hydro costs just another liberal fact of life? Thank you again Mr. Speaker and I want to say of course electricity prices are a factor in business decisions and investment decisions in this province but I think it's important that all of us pause for a moment and recognize just the opposition parties I think are getting close to a line because if investors from other countries are looking at us today and at this moment and they hear talking down manufacturing and say don't come here because it's too expensive and now we have this party as well talking down our manufacturers and the hard efforts of our employers and the importance of investing here I think we all have a responsibility Mr. Speaker 40% of the manufacturing in this country is located here in this province nearly a million people are employed in this sector we work hard for them every day we've created nearly 500,000 jobs since the bottom of the recession we've created the economic development fund in southwestern Ontario we're going to continue to work hard for our manufacturers and for all of our employers and businesses in this province. Thank you Mr. Speaker my questions for the Minister of Energy yesterday the minister introduced Ontario's new long-term energy plan the plan set out the province priorities and initiatives for meeting the energy needs of Ontarians for the next 20 years we all know the energy policy has been a topic of discussion in Ontario these days and for good reasons Mr. Speaker it is an issue that affects every Ontarian directly in my writing of Scarborough Asian Court I frequently hear concerns from the constituents wondering how they can lower the electricity bills given that electricity is important issues for Ontarians the release of this plan is very timely Mr. Speaker through you to the minister can you please tell the House what are some of the highlights of this plan Mr. Speaker I thank the member from Scarborough Asian Court for her question the new plan is a balanced approach to meeting energy needs today and for generations to come the plan is based on what we've heard from First Nations and Métis communities stakeholders municipalities and consumers from across Ontario this plan is built around five key principles cost effectiveness reliability clean energy management and putting conservation first the members constituents will be happy to know that we have taken several very significant steps to reduce the rate of increases to their hydro bills compared to the previous long-term energy plan an average consumer can expect to pay about $520 less over the next five years and about $3,800 less to 2030 Mr. Speaker thank you supplementary thank you speaker and thank you minister for that response it is certainly significant amount of real savings for families and small businesses one element of the new plan that I find particularly interesting is the introduction of the new financing tools for home energy renovations I know that conservation is the best way for families to lower the energy bills I also understand that the new long-term energy plan includes a commitment to foster cultural conservation in Ontario by encouraging and empowering consumers to reduce the consumptions minister you also spoke about energy literacy as one way that we as educating and empowering consumers to make choices how to reduce the consumption it sounds like the online financing has a potential for another powerful tools for consumers to look at for lowering their energy bills Mr. Speaker can you please inform the House about the details on the on-bill financing and clarify and reduce the cost for consumers this program on-bill financing for home energy retrofits is another step towards empowering consumers to control their electricity consumption specifically it helps consumers finance energy efficient projects in their home and business which will save them money in the long run Mr. Speaker similar programs in neighboring jurisdictions like Manitoba and New York have been very successful in allowing people to make upgrades to their homes with no upfront cost and a convenient low interest repayment model over the long run savings on energy bills can surpass the cost of the renovations achieving a net savings for consumers while helping to protect the environment and lower system costs to the province on-bill financing is one more way the new long-term energy plan is empowering consumers to lowering their energy bills thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Premier Speaker yesterday the Minister of Health explained why she could claim ignorance about the latest revelations about Chris Mazza's multi-million dollar salaries she confirmed that she received a forensic audit report that was conducted by the government in December of 2011 that gave the details of those salaries but she confirmed for us that neither she nor her deputy bothered to even open the envelope it was sent directly to the OPP she said Speaker this was a forensic audit of the operations and financial dealings of an organization embroiled in scandal under her watch and this Minister tells us that she didn't even bother to open the envelope I answer the question after displaying such gross incompetency why is this Minister still in your cabinet thank you thank you very much Mr. Speaker because she's an excellent health minister and she has specifics of this question in the supplementary but I want the member opposite to remember that this is the Minister of Health who ordered the forensic audit in the first place Mr. Speaker this is the Minister of Health based on the findings of the report brought in the OPP to investigate this Minister of Health has made sure that her reactions to the situation were immediate Mr. Speaker and were appropriate and I know Mr. Speaker that the member opposite actually knows that and he also knows that if we don't transform the health care system in the ways that the Minister is doing it it will not be sustainable over time that's why she is doing the job and she's doing it in a very good way Mr. Speaker the best way to transform the health care system is to get rid of this Minister there are two issues there are two issues one is that the Minister ordered a forensic audit and then didn't bother to look at it to see exactly what the details were the second is that the Minister was in contempt of Parliament because she knows full well that the standing committee on public accounts asked for every piece of correspondence and information that related to the financials of Orange and especially all of the payments made to MASA be tabled with that committee she had the information she may not have looked at it she knew it was there the committee on public accounts was denied that information I say to the Premier this her excellent Minister of Health failed the people of this province she held the committee in contempt I ask her once again why does she continue to hold the portfolio that she does thank you thank you Premier Mr. of Health well thank you Speaker and you know I think the member opposite needs to do his homework because member from wealth asked Orange at committee all payments made to Dr. MASA from all Orange entities that information was tabled with committee a year ago it was publicly released Speaker in January of this year all but that personal information that could not be released that information has been at committee for a year to suggest that we're hiding anything is absolutely bogus when it is absolutely true it is tabled and released publicly Speaker thank you very much Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question is to Minister of Health and long-term care so Minister Mr. Speaker the Minister of Health ordered a forensic audit of Orange when she realized that there were some serious problems going on but when the audit team delivered their report their findings the minister did not bother to read the report did not bother to read the findings at the same time despite the fact that we were studying this issue in a legislative committee despite the fact that there was ongoing investigations and despite the fact that there was legislation tabled in this house can the minister explain to Ontarians why she was not interested I appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarity there was a request from a member of the government side to release all payments made to MAZA that information was released a year ago to standing committee on public accounts in addition separate issue I ordered a forensic audit the forensic investigation team from the Ministry of Finance went in did that forensic audit they reported I got received an interim report in February there was enough in that interim report for me to refer the matter to the Ontario provincial police they are doing that investigation the interim report concerned me enough I referred it to the OPP when in July of 2012 the final report came in it was provided to the deputy he returned the envelope unopened with the following explanation for clarity as the report is being provided to the OPP I have not read, copied or otherwise accessed the report that FIT provided to my office so as not to inadvertently thank you supplementary thank you very much Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the Minister of Health has indicated that she was far too trusting of Dr. MAZA once again the Minister of Health has missed the point the Minister of Health of the province of Ontario it's not her job to be trusting it's her job to provide oversight of all the services provided and this government has failed in its oversight of Orange it was this government that was fully aware of questions asked by the NDP long before Orange made headlines in the newspapers it was this government that failed to address whistleblowers who raised issues and concerns about Orange it was this government that allowed Orange to fall off of the Sunshine list it was this government that failed to provide oversight will this Minister admit that she did not do her job Minister of Health Mr. Speaker let me repeat in December 22nd 2011 I ordered a forensic audit the audit team was there the next day Speaker by February they issued an interim report I read that interim report the interim report was troubling enough that I referred the matter to the OPP we on this side let the police do the job of policing when the final report was delivered in July the Deputy Minister and I'm going to take the opportunity to finish this for clarity as the report is being provided to the OPP I have not read, copied or otherwise accessed the report provided to my office so as not to inadvertently impact the ongoing OPP investigation and in the interest of transparency I am returning the single hard copy of the report that was received this is appropriate protocol followed appropriately New question, the member from the TOCACO Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Social Services Mr. Ted McNichon Situancy work are inspired by individuals who are of course looking out for their families striving to put bread on the table and enter Ontario's labour market this struggle to integrate or to reintegrate into the workforce is especially telling and poignant in persons with disabilities though Ontario has led the country in job creation since the recession with numbers cited during this question period persons with disabilities can of course find this quite challenging Speaker can the Minister please inform this chamber what is our government doing on route to creating a more just and prosperous society to help people with a disability enter or re-enter the job market Thank you Minister Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for his question and his commitment as a government we're focused more on people's abilities than the alleged disability and that's in a large part why the budget spoke about the partnership table that we're creating to in fact work with employers to employ folks with developmental challenges we're interested in creating jobs for everyone regardless of their age their ability their sexual orientation ethnicity and we're done a pretty good job of that to be frank Mr. Speaker the employment supports component of the ODSP provides employment assistance for people with disabilities who are interested in preparing for employment in fact this program has had 4537 clients enter the program receiving supports and some 2264 have actually found employment Mr. Speaker now I want to compliment the federal government here they've been helpful in terms of providing funding the contract is winding up we hope it can be renegotiated thank you Speaker and thank you Minister for the update on the ODSP and Libre Issues I know of course firsthand that folks with disabilities in my own riding are having some measure of success through these funding opportunities I think they would also be encouraged to learn that negotiations between the governments of Canada and Ontario are proceeding I understand in a positive collaborative and salutary direction of course will affect many residents in my own riding of Etobicoke North and I think it's important that we build on the past successes I believe it's part of the mandate and responsibility of all governments to stand up for these people to ensure that they get the supports that they need and deserve what might be the impacts of a reconfigured labour market agreement Minister Mr. Speaker to the Minister of Training of the University thank you Mr. Speaker the labour market agreement for persons with disabilities serves a very important role in providing support for persons with disabilities trying to break down the barriers to employment the federal government has announced its intentions to introduce a new generation this agreement but has not yet put a proposal on the table it is so critical that these changes build on the success of the existing agreement and the programs currently supported it's my hope that the federal government will consider the successes of this agreement when they make these changes unfortunately their approach to the labour market agreement which funds our most vulnerable workers which suggests otherwise Mr. Speaker that approach has us right now as the federal government cutting 60% of funding for those very important programs that serve the most vulnerable population we hope Mr. Speaker they take a different approach with this new agreement that serves our people with disabilities in this province Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Finance Minister I've asked you this question before and you didn't give me an answer so I'm going to ask you again with your 15% auto insurance reduction effort all of the province's non-standard auto insurance companies have been called in by FISCO and directed to reduce their rates of course non-standard companies ensure the worst drivers on the road driving records have multiple speeding tickets and worst of all those with drunk driving offences are you pleased with rewarding Ontario's worst drivers? Mr. Finance Thank you Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question the member opposite makes reference to the non-standard auto insurance that in fact do provide sort of a system of last resort for those individuals with bad driving records the fact of the matter is they represent about 1.5 to 3% of the market and they are not the ones that we're targeting we're targeting safe drivers we're targeting and protecting consumers and the member opposites to be supporting our initiatives to lower premiums for all the consumers in this province who are suffering because of high cost of claims and auto fraud task force that's been commissioned by our government over the last number of years is helping us reduce those cost of claims and that is what we're doing to try to protect consumers in our marketplace Minister you've missed the target and you've hit the Ontario's worst drivers with rate reduction Minister this morning mothers against drunk driving issued a press release drawing attention to your irresponsible policy they rightfully say that the biggest benefits in terms of dollars will go to the most dangerous drivers on the roads Minister in your rush to appease the NDP and cling desperately to power you've implemented a policy clearly without thinking about the consequences it seems the message you want to send is don't worry about your high premiums if we need to pander to the NDP's demands to stay in power you'll be first in line to get your lower rates now that mad has come out and exposed the dangers of your price fixing scheme will you finally admit that you have not thought through the policy correct your mistake and implement our four-point plan to reduce driving for good drivers in this province Minister please Minister please thank you thank you thank you Mr. Speaker the member opposite talks about a plan that they don't have and they've just sort of done on the fly we've been at this for a number of years to try to support the nine million consumers the member from Algin Middle Sex London will withdraw withdraw Mr. Speaker our commitment that we've been doing on this side of the house is to bring down those nine million drivers the member opposite is spinning talking about drunk drivers and those that have bad records they're not the ones that are going to benefit from these initiatives because they are the worst drivers and there's going to always have to be a last insurer of last resort to accommodate them but they're not benefiting from this Mr. Speaker the ones that are going to benefit are safe drivers the ones that institute a number of initiatives to bring down their rates to bring those rates down for consumers the member opposite should stand with us on this and they should support consumers in our province thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of transportation minister last Friday in Sudbury quite unfortunate we had a number of fatalities as a result of accidents on highways in around Sudbury we had two people that died as a result of a three vehicle crash on highway 17 west of Webwood and then we had another person die as a result of an accident single vehicle on highway six just between little current and Espinola considering that you reported to this house and you reported to myself and other northern members that you've increased the number of equipment that are on highways why is it that highways are still being closed in northern Ontario where we never used to see that in the past thank you the minister of transportation Mr. Speaker first of all my heart and I know that of my colleagues here in the house goes out to the people who have lost loved ones in a very tragic accident I think Mr. Speaker for all of us who live in northern climates with icy winter roads and who have lived in parts of this country where it gets very cold this is a reality that is all too often and all too tragically part of life so my prayers and heartfelt thanks go to the family Mr. Speaker we as a government have added 50 different crews in northeast and northwestern Ontario it is the largest expansion in the history of Ontario in snow removal and winter maintenance we have also required now that those companies have to replace all of their equipment at the rate of 10% per year so over every decade all equipment will be new MTO staff are working on stronger reviews and working with municipal leaders we have the safest roads and highways in North America with the local rates Mr. Speaker these investments will over this winter reduce those accident rates and I have worked with a member opposite and will continue to identify these obstacles and solve them Minister I am shocked that you would say it is a reality that people have to die while driving on roads in northern Ontario that quite frankly is not acceptable as an answer but I am going to ask you again we in northern Ontario want to let you into a secret it has been sowing for centuries and for millennia and for years when we had MTO take care of our highways we never had conditions of roads as we see them today last Friday we had three fatalities just in the Sudbury area there was another fatality on highway 69 and the question is why is it that we are having the amount of road closures and the amount of accidents as compared to before so I ask you again despite the increase of equipment that you announced about a few weeks ago why is it that we are still having some of the worst road conditions as a result of your highway maintenance Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker what I said is that I see roads in driving conditions in a northern climate or the reality I have lost friends in traffic fatalities it is I think if you and I read every single police report and I look at the names of everyone who has lost and I as a minister will tell you that safety for me and for the Premier and for this government is our single biggest priority we have fewer fatalities and accidents in the safest roads in North America better than dry warm places like Kansas and California which is quite remarkable but we take every fatality which means we have maintained the same standards Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I think this is serious I did not interrupt the member office we are talking about people's lives here and this government takes this quite seriously for us it is not politics so I will be monitoring how those 50 new crews are deployed I will continue to work with Minister Mayer to monitor the policing and enforcement and we will continue to look at every cause and solve every obstacle there is to public safety Glen Gary Prescott Russell Thank you Speaker my question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the Minister was recently in Ottawa holding a land use planning workshop at Carleton University with environmental groups developers and municipalities including Ottawa, North Dundas Renfrew, South Glen Gary and Russell for my own writing of Glen Gary Prescott Russell like many Ontarians ask questions about how the land use planning and appeal system works and the role of the Ontario Municipal Board some find the current process complicated difficult to navigate and even harder to understand Speaker our government needs to ensure that our planning system works well for municipalities community groups and for developers while remaining responsive to the challenging needs of our community Speaker through you Minister can the Minister explain to my constituents and all of Ontarians about how they can get involved in this important review Thank you Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Thank you Speaker, thank you to the member for the question I was happy last Thursday November 21st to join the member from Ottawa Sander as he held and initiated a consultation in Carleton University to discuss our review of the land use planning process and this system gives municipalities both so that we can all build cities and towns that we want to live in to work and to raise our families but we've heard from municipal leaders from across the province and from planners and developers and the public that the rules are sometimes complex and a little bit the delays and the appeals are frustrating so that's why our government has held regional workshops in Kitchener Waterloo in Ottawa as I said in Sault Ste. Marie in Thunder Bay we're also going to hold one in my house we're going to shortly hear from everyday Ontarians and how we can make the system more responsive to Ontarians changing needs and for those that can't make it in person you can go to the website we have a full consultation guidebook that will give everybody a chance to give their suggestions Thank you Speaker Thank you very much Speaker and thank you Minister it's great to hear that our government is focused on giving municipalities the tools they need to be able to plot their own destiny that works for their residents but despite that speaker development whether it's in Ottawa or Sudbury, Niagara Falls or Windsor or even in my riding or Rockland in my riding in Plengarie Prescott Russell it can still be contentious Mr Speaker though many communities are happy to welcome new residents many are worried that the increased density will mean that strains on schools infrastructure and highways and our waste and storm water systems will be pushed to capacity and they're concerned that these new houses apartments or stores that are being built that the current taxpayer will be on the hook for the necessary Speaker through you to the minister could the minister explain to my constituents how this review of development charges could help my community prepare for a potential role Minister I'd like to thank the member for the question communities across Ontario and a lot of changes the member speaks about that are happening in Ottawa in the surrounding region and our government has been working with Minas Vice to ensure that the development doesn't mean that existing taxpayers are on the hook for costs required for new development however we've heard that municipal leaders feel that the current system limits their ability to recover all of the capital costs for some of their services and their ability to pay for those vital infrastructure projects we also heard from developers that they want accountability and transparency at the end of the day I've heard from both groups that they want clarity accountability and transparency at the end of the day we believe it's time for a refresh and it's time to make sure the development charges system still answers all of the community's needs across Ontario so I want to encourage all Ontarians to have their say I want to hear solid ideas that help us deal with the roots of our challenges and we want all Ontarians to have the tools and plan for their future thank you Minister to the Minister of Health Minister the day you determined that Ontario's health care system doesn't include Kim Fletcher, the people of Ontario responded with their characteristic generosity and voted with their donations to help fund Kim's prescribed medication of Aston which your committee to evaluate drugs refuse to list for OHIP coverage I'm happy to say that despite your committee's obvious ill-advised conclusions Kim Fletcher's condition is responding to the drug and a recent MRI shows that her tumor has stopped growing Minister do you feel any remorse over your inaction on Kim Fletcher's case in that the people of Ontario have taken upon themselves to do your job question? City please thank you Minister well speaker first let me say that I am delighted that Ms. Fletcher is seen improvement that is wonderful and I am very very pleased with that the second thing I want to say is there are cases where government does not fund certain drugs for lack of evidence and the community does come together because they collectively do want to support that even though it would not be prudent for government to fund it for lack of evidence so speaker I do congratulate the people of Milton and other people in this province who do come together to give people the hope they need access to a drug that may be yet not proven but still important to the family so I know many people on all sides of this house have in fact participated in fundraisers for members in their community where government simply is not in a position to fund that particular procedure Mr. Fletcher Minister you speak of Ontario I am not familiar with Kim is not a one off Jay is a young teenager who needs an eye operation coverage for which he has been denied even though the operation will save his sight Norma has IBF ideopatric pulmonary fibrosis and needs a drug aspirat for her to have the quality of life she has also been denied Minister when will you stop letting your committee to evaluate drugs classify you as missing in action when it comes to assisting Kim Jay and Norma who have become victims of your irresponsible hands off approach to healthcare in Ontario when are you going to remedy the situation that they their families are facing and indeed all Ontarians may one day face when minister when will you have seated please be seated please thank you Mr. Fletcher well speaker my question to the member opposite is when will we have a little intellectual honesty when it comes to the petition he reads from the committee to evaluate drugs but he fails to say however the committee noted that using historical estimates of survival as the basis for comparison is not reliable because treatment standards have evolved and historical rates are derived from studies that use older effective treatments speaker I think the member opposite owes it to the people he purports to represent to tell the truth and the whole truth thank you we have a deferred vote on the motion second reading of bill 122 an act respecting collective bargaining on Ontario school system calling the members this will be a five minute bill the members take their seats please all members take their seats please all members take your seats please on october 30th 2013 miss sandals moved second reading of bill 122 all those in favor please rise one at a time be recognized by the clerk miss sandals mr. garrison mr. garrison mr. Jeffery sirsway miss matthews mr. huskens mr. charles mr. quinter mr. barilucci mr. coll mr. dilla mr. doger mr. Mcmeakin mr. chan mr. schurelli mr. leal mr. delaney Mr. DeNovo Mr. Marquesi Mr. Marquesi Mr. Dan Jelina Mr. Prueb Mr. Taylor Mr. Natashac Mr. Natashac Mr. Seng Mr. Singh Mr. Seng Mr. Fight Mr. Fight Mr. Forester Mr. Forester Mr. Vanthoff Mr. Vanthoff Mr. Shine Mr. Shine Mr. Armstrong Mr. Mantha Mr. Mantha Mr. Miller Hamilton Mr. Estoney Mr. Miller Hamilton Mr. Estoney Mr. Stony Mr. Sattler Mr. Sattler Mr. Hardeman, Mr. Fidelli, Mr. Hudak, Mr. Yacobusky, Mr. Miller, Perry Sound, Mascoka, Mr. Barrett, Mr. McNaughton, Mr. Hulladay, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Monroe, Mr. Chudley, Mr. Clark, Mr. Toul, Mr. Wallett, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Yurek, Mr. Yurek, Ms. Scott, Ms. Scott, Mrs. McKenna, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Hillyard, Mr. Padapies, Mr. Milligan, Mr. McClaren, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Nichols. The ayes are 65, the nays are 31. One abstention. The ayes being 65 and the nays being 31, I declare the motion carried. If the bill does you next year, close it alive. Shall the bill be ordered for a third reading of the Minister of Education? The bill be referred to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly. So ordered. The Minister of Energy on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to correct the record on my response to the member from the Pean Carlton. The rake-based costs of the relocated gas plants are included in the long-term energy plan to commence when the plants are commissioned. Thank you. The minister is correct. All members have an opportunity to correct the record and he is at the point of order. The member from the Pean Carlton. Members of the Ontario Progressive Concert of Caucus that they were not given a copy of the Liberals long-term energy plan, I would wonder if the minister could provide that to the members of this House. That's not a point of order. There are no further deferred votes. This House stands recess until 3 p.m. this afternoon.