 However, that said, it is now time for a question period. The leader of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Premier, Chrysler has now announced to be making investments in Windsor and Brampton and not going to taxpayers for $700 million. I want to celebrate that. I think that is a real test of the quality of work from the Chrysler workers and the product that they make. So this is, Premier, your reaction was one of shock. I was pleased and I wasn't surprised by that announcement because our outstanding product, 100 workers. So the problem I have, Premier, is it looked like you were going to hand out hundreds and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in a corporate giveaway when in fact it looks like it wasn't needed. So, Premier, how do you make that judgment call? How do you determine when you hand out suitcases full of cash and how do you make a determination that's a good project based on the quality of the work that Chrysler workers do? I think it's good news. Thank you, Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, all I can say to the leader of the opposition is that our position on this side of the House is that working in partnership with business in this province and competing in the global marketplace, Mr. Speaker, is what we believe is critical and will keep the auto sector here, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, the comments that were made by the leader of the opposition were reckless. They were ill-fought-out, Mr. Partnership, that we have had with the auto sector, Mr. Speaker. And what I have said, Mr. Speaker, is that our door is open. We will continue to work and negotiate with the auto sector to keep those jobs here into the long term, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, let's think of this straight. So, we're getting the investment. We're getting the jobs. We're getting the new generation minivan. And the taxpayers are saving $700 million. Isn't this a good thing? And your answer troubles me, Premier, that you and actually your colleague in the NDP, Andrew Horvath, just seen one out, a handout, two cases full of cash, even if they're not waiting. You don't seem to have any kind of judgment if the project requires provincial cash. And I worry that the Liberals have been nothing more than pushovers when it comes to these sort of corporate handouts. So I'll ask you again, Premier, since you're willing to give away hundreds of millions of dollars when it wasn't needed, how do you actually decide when you give out your $3 billion a year in corporate handouts, how do you make a judgment whether it's actually needed or not, or if the business of making investment anyway? Thank you. Well, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that we were working very closely with the federal government, Mr. Speaker, which, last time I checked, was a conservative government, Mr. Speaker, brand the opposition, Mr. Speaker. They seem to understand that it's very important that all levels of government work with business, particularly the auto sector, not just this company, Mr. Speaker, not just Chrysler, but with the auto sector in general to make sure that the conditions are in place to bring jobs to Ontario, keep the jobs that are here, Mr. Speaker, and, more importantly, secure a future footprint for the auto sector in the province. That's the piece that the leader of the opposition does not seem to understand, Mr. Speaker, to the detriment of the discussion of the auto sector in Ontario. Do you see it in place? Do you see it in place? The member from Leeds-Grandville will come to order. Final supplementary. Yeah, it's odd. The Premier seems angry, because she doesn't get to hand out $700 million in a briefcase full of cash. I don't understand. My point of view, let's actually make Ontario attractive for all investment, get taxes down, get energy under control to reduce the red tape burden. I think the fact that companies are investing because of the quality of our workers without a government handle, that's a good thing. I don't know why the Premier is angry about that. Let me ask you this, Premier. My point of view, that the fact that we've lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs is because we didn't have 300,000 more corporate giveaways. I disagree. In fact, I think the greatest threat to auto jobs, agribusiness, manufacturing jobs is a continuation of the Liberal-NDP coalition in the province of Ontario. That's the greatest threat. So I want to ask you two, you gave Kellogg's corporation $2.5 million in a corporate handout and then they closed down the London plant throwing 550 workers out of a job. Do you think that was a wise investment? Thank you. Premier. I am very pleased that Chrysler will proceed with its investments in both Windsor and Brampton, Mr. Speaker. We're pleased with that news. That's very good news. But Mr. Speaker, what the leader of the opposition needs to acknowledge and doesn't seem to understand that we need, as a province, to have a relationship with the auto sector that will be a long-term relationship, Mr. Speaker, that there will be commitments long-term and that there will be the ability to continue to partner with the auto sector. Mr. Speaker, I met with the Governor of Missouri this morning. It's very important to the economy of Missouri that we have the auto sector thriving in both our jurisdictions. There's an interdependence, Mr. Speaker, between us and states like Missouri, Mr. Speaker, that are dependent on a strong auto sector, not just today, not just to 2016, but into the future. That's the piece that the leader of the opposition seems to be missing. Thank you for your question. Leader of the opposition. Here's the difference. I believe in attracting businesses across the board through lower taxes, affordable energy. Working with the colleges are more skilled trade workers. Knocking aside the red-tape barriers by reducing the number of rules and regulations by a third. The Premier believes in raising tax energy for everybody else to hand out suitcases full of money. The problem is, Premier, that that will only last until the suitcase of money runs out and they'll come back for more. So I'll ask you again, if you believe that your corporate giveaways works, why bended Kellogg's company that you gave $1.5 million to in a big grant order and close down their factories throwing out of work 550 men and women. How is that a wise investment of taxpayers' dollars if they took the money and ran? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think the leader of the opposition knows that there are particular circumstances with every country, Mr. Speaker, company. But I think he also knows that since 2009, Mr. Speaker, we have gained 440,000 net new jobs in this province, Mr. Speaker. That if he listens to the leadership of companies like Cisco about why they are here and why they are expanding their businesses here, Mr. Speaker, he will hear, for example, Robert Lloyd, President of Development and Sales Cisco. We find a very educated and loyal workforce here. And he goes on to say we just go where the talent is and have the best environment, the predictability for us to build a workforce here in a good tax environment, Mr. Speaker. Robert Lloyd said about Ontario. That is why businesses are coming here, Mr. Speaker. That is the solid foundation that we have been built and will continue to enhance, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I agree with what Mr. Lloyd said. I think we have tremendously skilled and educated and hardworking people here in the province of Ontario. I'd put our workers against anybody else in the world. I've got faith in them. But I ask you, if that's the case you can give them $200 million in a corporate handout. They're coming here for the quality of our workers while you're giving away suitcases of cash. I think because you want to cut a red ribbon because you've lost 300,000 jobs. So you say Kellogg's is a particular circumstance. You say Cisco came here for the workers but you still give them $200 million. Let me ask you about WinTronics and Windsor. You gave WinTronics and Windsor $2.7 million in a corporate giveaway and WinTronics said they would create 200 jobs. Two years later, they're gone. The plant has been shuttered. It is empty. The lights are off. Question. Do you think that was a wise investment of money $2.7 million for zero jobs? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I really asked if the leader of the opposition is if we are competing in a global economy, Mr. Speaker, where other jurisdictions are putting on the table conditions like tax regime, like wages, Mr. Speaker, but also cash, Mr. Speaker, that actually would draw businesses in, Mr. Speaker. Does he believe that we need to compete with those other jurisdictions around the globe? Or does he believe that we can just blind ourselves, and make a decision that we are not going to play in that playing field, that we are going to make up our own rules and compete with other jurisdictions? We're going to compete with other jurisdictions. We've got a terrific workforce. We are not going to undermine it the way the leader of the opposition would, Mr. Speaker, and we are going to acknowledge that those other jurisdictions are competing with us. Final supplementary. Oh, look, Premier, we're going to compete and win against the best in the world when we get rid of a lousy and corrupt liberal government. The leader will withdraw. Tremendous faith in our workers. I think that we've got a reckless, expensive and corrupt government that's put as deep in debt as under two OPP people. You cannot withdraw, please. Okay, withdraw, Speaker. So, price or me the investment without government cash, and you wanted to give them cash from taxpayers. This was particular circumstances. I'm not sure what your excuse is for wind tronics. Minister of immigration come to us. Received $3 million in a suitcase full of cash from the Liberal government. Two grants of $1.5 million each. And you said that would create 28 new jobs. Thank you, Premier. Yesterday, they laid off 25 more workers. Please tell me that you're going to change the way you might adopt it. Thank you, Premier. So, Mr. Speaker, what we're not going to do is fire 10,000 people from the education sector. We're not going to fire 2,000 health care workers. We're not going to drive down wages, Mr. Speaker. We're not going to weaken pensions. We're not going to cancel infrastructure projects in Mississauga and York Region and Toronto and Durham, Mr. Speaker. And we're not going to cancel job-creating green energy jobs that will create clean renewable energy. We're not going to do those things, Mr. Speaker. That's what the Leader of the Opposition would have us do. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to do is to speak to the people in Ford, who are in Oakville, who are working for Ford, Mr. Speaker. The securing of 2800 jobs that we did, Mr. Speaker, by investing $70.9 million. I'd ask him to speak to the people who are working for Toyota in Cambridge, Mr. Speaker, where 400 new jobs are being created because of our partnership. We have our foods in Dunville, Mr. Speaker. 150 new jobs. I'd ask him to speak to Conestoga Meatpackers employees in Brentsville, Mr. Speaker, where 100 new jobs are being created. I'd ask him to speak to those people, ask them if they think that government partnering with businesses is a good idea because that's what's created those jobs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Premier. Yesterday, the Acting Premier continued to defend Ontario's $1 billion annual subsidy for exports. Families paying some of the highest bills in Canada have a simple question. Why is the government unable to admit that this is not working for ratepayers? Thank you, Premier. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'm quite sure that the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Energy said no such thing. What I know, Mr. Speaker, is that there are relationships and contracts with jurisdictions and that last year there was a $300 million net profit from those energy contracts, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, supplementary. Just a note to the Premier. Your ministers had to correct that word on the record previously and you may want to check at the end of this session. On average, Ontario families pay 8.5 cents a kilowatt hour to make electricity and we're selling it to the U.S. at 2.5 cents. Where do you make the profit on that? To our east and our west, provinces are getting nearly double that price for the electricity they sell. They've cut out the middlemen and the Wall Street energy traders. Why is this government so unwilling to consider the same? I know the Minister of Energy responded this in the supplementary, but I just want to say this, that when this government, when the previous government came into office in 2003, the energy sector was in a mess, Mr. Speaker. We have made investments that have made the energy sector stable, Mr. Speaker, predictable. We have invested in clean, new renewable energy, Mr. Speaker. We've shut down the coal plants. The other day, yesterday or the day before, the third party suggested that they would hand a hundred dollar check to folks across the province in the next couple of years, Mr. Speaker. That will not enhance the energy grid, Mr. Speaker. It will not improve or connect people in the north, Mr. Speaker, and there is no long-term plan in that to control energy prices. So, Mr. Speaker, it does not promote conservation. It is not a responsible plan, Mr. Speaker. It is not responsible plan. Our long-term energy plan will do all of those things, Mr. Speaker, and we're going to go forward with it. Thank you. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, thanks to 10 years of mismanagement, Ontarians feel like they're working harder than ever to support the hydro system. They don't feel the hydro system is working for them, and this is the truth. Your Minister of Energy is concerned about a claim that we're making profits on those sales. They've seen public data from Manitoba Hydro showing Ontarians are paying amongst the highest bills in this country, and they know bills are going up. Why is the Premier so determined to keep a broken status quo when people demand change to the system? Mr. Energy. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that you provided a briefing for the critic with the IESO who's responsible for this particular issue. And yes, they clarified, Mr. Speaker. I want to read what they clarified. Revenue from electricity exports reduced cost for Ontarians by $300 million in 2013. And since 2006, Mr. Speaker, the costs were reduced by $2 billion. There's a debate whether it's a profit or not, but the fact of the matter is that our export of electricity is reducing costs to rate payers in the province of Ontario. And Mr. Speaker, our IEI program is using surplus electricity to reduce electricity rates for industrial consumers in a big way, Mr. Speaker, and he doesn't even appreciate that. Thank you. New question for some attendance, James Bay. My question is to the Premier once again today, Premier, we've heard the Liberals promising to get public sector services under control. My question is this, what's your cap? What is it going to be? Minister of Government Services? You know, Mr. Speaker, we've addressed this before, Mr. Speaker. You know, the opposition likes to come up with a kind of bumper sticker slogan for all this. The fact of the matter is that the leader of the third party went out and put forward a hard cap and then had to swallow a self-hold when people started to raise elections. The fact of the matter is that public sector salaries, it's a complex issue and what this legislation will do is allow us to collect all the relevant information to do the analysis or to come up with caps for different sectors, caps that make sense based on what's happening in the private sector and other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately for our side, it doesn't fit nicely on a bumper sticker, Mr. Speaker, but it's the responsible thing to do and I'm not going to have to swallow it. I'm going to have to swallow it because it's going to be a big difference. Thank you. Supplementary. Speaking of bumper stickers, this is like a drive-by by liberals. You're going to have legislation so that we can figure out what those salaries are so we can figure out what we got to do. My God, we can do that now. You don't need legislation, so I'm going to ask you again what is going to be Mr. Speaker, I'm a little bit surprised. I guess the Honourable Member didn't watch his Leader's Press conference because she went out and proposed a hard cap and then someone brought up an exception, I believe it was a senior power executive and she said, oh well we'll have to have exceptions for it. It won't apply there. I mean the fact of the matter Mr. Speaker is that we have a range of leaders within the public service whose salaries need to be based on private sector comparators as well as comparators in other public sector agencies. As I said Mr. Speaker it's not simple it doesn't fit on a bumper sticker but it's fair and responsible Mr. Speaker to make sure that we have public sector leaders who are paid appropriately Mr. Speaker but are not paid excessively. That's what this legislation will do and I look forward to the new Democratic Party supporting it so that we can get it through the legislature and get on with this work. Thank you. Final supplementary. I think people are going to find it hard to swallow this. This is coming from the same government who has been happy to burn money for years is claiming they're going to put out the fire. So give me a break. This is not a solution. This is a crass political exercise on the part of the Liberal Party in front of what might be a spring election. So I ask you again give us a number. What is the cap that you are prepared to propose when it comes to salaries for these individuals who are extremely overpaid. Mr. Speaker we will come forward with a set of caps depending on the circumstances and I've answered that Mr. Speaker but what I was surprised is that my Honourable friend didn't stand up and talk about the rest of the legislation that we proposed to bring forward to this legislature and suggested the new Democratic Party I am hoping will support them. It encourages things Mr. Speaker such as the putting online of expenses by cabinet ministers in the Premier something that's done right now but extends it Mr. Speaker to the leaders of the opposition and their staff. The member from the Democratic Party has been a bit forgetful in doing over the past couple of years. Mr. Speaker my questions for the Premier. Premier about a month and a half ago we requested a freedom of information request on on your expenses for the year 2013 and then the letter came back February the 6th saying that if we paid $1,200 actually 1185 to be exact we could probably get the information. Now we also know and this has happened since I've arrived here that they've been the Tim Houdak in this caucus have been trying to get information on the gas plants and the cost of them and it's been like pulling teeth and it wasn't until the auditor finally showed up with the information that we had anything to go on at all. Now we know the police are involved in this. I want to know how did you finally arrive at an accountability position where you're finally going to come forward and put information and make it open and transparent. Went all along you've been hiding everything. Thank you very much and I know that the member opposite was not a member when I came into this office a year ago but what I said when I came in a year ago Mr. Speaker was that we were going to open up the process. At that point we talked specifically about opening up the committee and providing information on the on the relocation of the gas plants to which all parties had agreed but we said that we wanted to open up the process. Hundreds of thousands of documents Mr. Speaker have have been placed before the committee. There have been dozens of people who have come before the committee to answer questions. I have been there twice Mr. Speaker so we did open that process and on the issue of expenses Mr. Speaker I think the member of the member opposite would would need to know that he's just wrong about that. My expenses are online. They're up to date. Most voluntarily Mr. Speaker along with the expenses of ministers and staff and we did receive a freedom of information request and it will be released through the normal freedom of information process Mr. Speaker. Again to the premier Mr. Speaker the information on total dollars might be online but the details that are required and that should be in your your openness provision here we're not there and I just wonder why it's taken a whole year or even 10 years before this information finally comes forward. I think it's high time that this was done. You talk about your openness as far as the gas plants are concerning that it took the auditor and the police to finally get to the bottom of the matter. So whether you've been here a year or six months it doesn't matter. You weren't open. When are you going to be open. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker. And I think I think that the member opposite knows that we have complied with all of the requests that the committee has asked of us Mr. Speaker. We have provided thousands of pages of documents Mr. Speaker and as I said there was a freedom of request put in freedom of information request put in Mr. Speaker and the information will be released as part of that. There is a cost associated with those requests Mr. Speaker and in fact there was a cost paid to obtain the leader of the opposition's expense of Mr. Speaker. Request was filed and there was a cost associated with that Mr. Speaker. So I hope that this line of questioning from the member opposite implies that they will be supporting the legislation when it's introduced in the House. I fully expect that they will do that. New question. Speaker thank you my question this morning is for the Premier. Good morning Premier. First I want to thank you for the phone call last night and keep me in the loop in the situation at Chrysler. Speaker when there are jobs on the line we need to set aside our political games and grandstanding and work to make investments happen. People in Windsor and Essex County are very concerned about the long term future of our Chrysler plant and the jobs of the thousands of people who work there. What assurances can you give Premier that your government is doing everything possible to work with Chrysler to ensure its Windsor Windsor operations will remain viable. Thank you for your question. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I thank the member opposite for the question. I know that the Minister of Economic Development Trade is going to want to speak to this. But Mr. Speaker I want to just say that I want to let everyone in this House know and the public know that the member for Windsor West has been Windsor West right? Yes. The Minister of Children Youth Services has been an absolute champion on this file Mr. Speaker. She has more and working for those long term commitments Mr. Speaker were absolutely what we were doing at the table in conjunction with the federal government Mr. Speaker. So the auto sector in this province and in Windsor Mr. Speaker has a huge champion in our member and I hope Mr. Speaker that that we will be able to continue those negotiations. We have our door open. Speaker I want to assure this House that my new Democratic colleagues and I take our responsibilities seriously when it comes to securing good auto sector jobs in this province. We're calling on all parties at all levels of government to set aside their political differences and pull together on this one. Can you assure our Chrysler employees indeed our entire community that your door remains open for future dialogue with Chrysler officials about the long term viability of Windsor's assembly plant operations. Minister of Agriculture Trade and Employment Minister of Agriculture and Employment. Well thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I hope the member opposite walks over and provides a leader of the official opposition a copy of that letter right now because currently the leader of the official opposition is living in a fantasy land where he believes that his irresponsible and negative comments about the Chrysler negotiations at a particularly sensitive time in the negotiations. He is living in a fantasy land where he actually thinks that Chrysler Chrysler's decision validates his irresponsible behavior. Mr. Speaker and it's not simply our view on this side of the House is the federal minister of industry James Moore has been working very closely with myself and supportive of this deal with Chrysler has indicated that the Houdak comments have been detrimental to the negotiations. That's not just his opinion that directly from the head of Chrysler Canada Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of government services. Speaker I was pleased to be part of an announcement this morning in which you in the Premier spoke about our intention to introduce major enhancements and accountability for both our government and for members of this Legislature. Under Premier Wynne our government has committed to leading by example and being as transparent and accountable as possible. Mr. Speaker I was encouraged to hear this morning that these new proposed improvements would bring the same level high level of transparency to members of this House. Since being elected to the Legislature last fall I worked hard to bring the issue of the accountability of elected members to this House. Ontarians have a right to access in a clear way the information on how elected officials are spending their tax dollars. I was very happy to learn that the government plans to introduce new legislation question that if passed would create a new open climate a climate of open government and enhance accountability here in Ontario. Minister can you outline to this House how the government will be proposing that the important improvements that we will make in posting expenses to the country for all members. Here, here. Minister responsible for the government's services. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I really sincerely want to thank the member for Ottawa South for his advocacy on this issue. I think members are aware of the private members belt that he put forward on this. Mr. Speaker as members are aware today the Premier announced our proposed plan to introduce legislation to enhance accountability and transparency in government within that is our intention to introduce amendments which would require expense information for cabinet ministers parliamentary assistance and opposition leaders and the respective staff to be posted online for anybody to see as members may know expense information for cabinet ministers parliamentary assistance in their staff have been posted online on a voluntary basis by the government since 2010. The proposed amendments would if passed turn these voluntary practices into a mandatory requirement and extend the same requirement on certain leaders in their staff. We expect the same level of transparency from everyone in the House. Mr. Speaker. Thank you. OK. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It's very encouraging news. Through you to the minister. I'm glad to hear that under this proposal all members of this House would be required to embrace the same level of accountability as members of cabinet and parliamentary assistance. I'm especially impressed that the leaders of the opposition parties would be required if the legislation passes to be as accountable as the premier and cabinet ministers. Mr. Speaker as representatives of the people we must all hold ourselves to a higher standard. Mr. Speaker. Ontarians don't only expect transparency from their elected officials but also from the people working in the agencies funding funded with their tax dollars. Mr. Speaker in speaking to Ontarians about my private members bill on this issue they often ask why ask what is being done to enhance accountability not only for elected officials but officials working in agencies. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Since 2010 expense information for senior executives appointees and the top five claimants in 21 of the government's largest agencies and organizations are required to be posted under the government's travel meal and hospitality expense directive. Ministry senior managers are covered under this directive as well. Expense claims undergo a rigorous approval process first within each of the organizations and then by the integrity commissioner. In our announcement today we've committed to proposing new improved oversight powers of the integrity commissioner to review the expenses of all of Ontario's 197 classified agencies. If passes proposed legislation would allow the integrity commissioner to select any number of these agencies and review the expenses of their executives. Mr. Premier the Mr. Speaker the Premier has committed to making the government of Ontario the most accountable government in Canada. Measures like these would have passed go a long way to ensuring that Ontarians could access this important information. New question. Member from the team. Speaker my question is to the Premier. Hopefully I won't have to pay $1,200 for an answer. The government has found itself in the middle of a white collar crime investigation by the elite OPP anti-rackets squad for its role in the cancelled gas plants and its role in the deleted emails that attempted to suppress opposition concerns. Yesterday hard drives from government computers were seized. We know 20 liberal officials have been interviewed by the OPP. We know the Premier's own office was visited by the OPP and we know that if charges are laid those responsible could face up to 14 years in jail. Ontario Liberals have now seen their government under investigation twice by the OPP. They have broken international law. The Premier herself refuses to hand over her expenses unless you pay $1,200. And what I want to say for a while is she has no mandate from the people. The honourable thing is for her to call an election. Will she do it? Will she see the mandate from the government? Thank you, Premier. I'm an House Leader. I'm an House Leader. You know, Mr. Speaker, this question really is beneath the member. It really is, Mr. Speaker. The Ontario Provincial Police is undertaking work and I think all members of this House recognize the fact that we allow the Ontario Provincial Police to undertake their work. We don't reach conclusions on our own. We don't speculate, Mr. Speaker. But it's interesting, Mr. Speaker, because perhaps in the supplementary the honourable member can talk about our new piece of legislation because she mentioned some of the concerns around emails. Well, in fact, that legislation contains responses to the Information and Privacy Commissioner's recommendations in that regard. So I look forward to a support on it. The other thing it does, Mr. Speaker, is it makes it mandatory for the Leader of the Opposition to post his expenses. Something, Mr. Speaker, through our Access to Information Act where at request, Mr. Speaker, we found out he hasn't been doing. In fact, we found $200,000 of expenses that he forgot to put on his website, Mr. Speaker. So perhaps she wants to address that in her supplementary. Gladly addressed that. It was the Truth and Government Act put forward by the Ontario PC Caucus four years ago that would have addressed that. But I'm going to have the page take this over to the Premier. This is the $1,200 bill she sent the Ontario PC Caucus to get access to her information and her expenses. And I'll also throw in all of Tim Boudak's expenses as well just so they have it. But this fact, Mr. Speaker, they speak for themselves. Two OPP investigations. One broken international law and a government without a mandate, Speaker. The Premier appears to be clinging to the wood paneling in her office with clenched fingernails so she can't leave the office because she just wants the power. The right thing to do. The other thing to do is to call an election, get rid of the scandal, get rid of the controversy, create the jobs, reduce the taxes. First thing to do. The Ontario is won. They can't deliver it. Will they do the right thing? Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, I wish that the opposition had been as forthcoming when it came to the leaders' expenses when we had to go through the freedom of information process to get it and wait for the requisite amount of time. But what was most interesting, Mr. Speaker, and I do want to correct my record, I think I said 15,000. But in fact, Mr. Speaker, there was $13,271.30 charged to taxpayers by Mr. Hudak that is missing from his public postings, including flights and accommodations. Mr. Speaker, the point behind this legislation, and again, I listened carefully and didn't hear the honourable member express her support for it, but the point behind this legislation, Mr. Speaker, is to encourage, shall we say, force the leaders of the two opposition parties to do, Mr. Speaker, what our government has been doing voluntarily since 2010. Your new question. I'm with the Niagara Falls. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Last week, 4,000 people showed up at Job Fair for the opening of a new mall in Niagara and a lake. That's a testimony to how much our region needs jobs. Instead of helping businesses in Niagara create jobs, this government is raising the cost with skyrocketing hydro bills while subsidizing private companies in Western New York with cheaper hydro. What is the government's plan for Niagara businesses when competing against Western New York in relation to electricity prices? Thank you, Premier. Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment. Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'm pleased to take this question as well and talk about the important progress that we've made in job creation right across this province. And of course, since the bottom of the recession, Mr. Speaker, we've added nearly 450,000 jobs. But the most recent data, and I'm looking forward to the jobs data coming out tomorrow, but the most recent data show that we're making progress, not just generally in terms of bringing those jobs back. 6,000 jobs last month, for example, or rather in the month of January. We're going to hear about February tomorrow. But also importantly, 7,800 new jobs for our young people. And I can't help myself, but to reference my colleague in the back, the Minister of Training of Colleges and Universities, an important part of that progress that we're seeing on youth job creation is our youth jobs fund and under his careful stewardship, we have more than 8,000 young people across the province and now have positions, training positions in those first opportunities with employers across the province, including the Niagara region. Thank you. Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. A new report shows that one in every two residents in Niagara Falls is struggling financially. At the same time, we saw 4,000 people standing in line in hopes of finding a job. Any job, even part-time. Niagara Falls has massive amount of cheap hydro electricity in our own backyard. Yet businesses and ratepayers are paying the highest energy prices in the country, much higher than Western New York. Premier, why are ratepayers subsidizing the export of electricity to businesses in Western New York can hire while people in Niagara face the highest unemployment in the province? Minister of Energy. Sir, energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, we do have surplus energy, Mr. Speaker, and that's good. We came from a deficit situation. We invested heavily in the system. We do sell electricity, Mr. Speaker, and we reduce the cost to our system. Last year by $300 million. But we also are turning our thoughts and our direction towards using surplus electricity to support Ontario businesses. We created the industrial electricity incentive program, Mr. Speaker, and that is providing electricity to companies that want to expand or settle in Ontario by giving them electricity at about 50% reduction, Mr. Speaker, at 50% discount. We've announced about six or seven of those priorities. We are also not supporting New York companies anymore. That surplus energy is in Ontario for Ontario businesses. New question, remember from Mr. Targuys Cooksville. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Minister, a lot of parents in my writing are a little confused and concerned as to what is going on with collective bargaining in the education sector. Now, my parents understand that there is an urgency for the speedy passage of the government's proposed Bill 122, the School Board's Collective Bargaining Act, but do not understand why a legislation that was introduced back in October is still stuck in the legislative process. We've heard you say many times that this is a bill you've been working closely on with all of our partners in education when it was developed. So could the minister please explain why such a bill which is the result of such extensive consultation and collaboration has come to a standstill in the legislative process? Thank you. Minister, that's good. Yes, thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you to the member for raising such an important issue. Yeah, very important. First, this member is absolutely correct that the speedy passage of this bill is extremely important. This bill would create central tables for collective bargaining with formal roles for the province, the trustee associations, school boards, teacher federations and support staff unions. This new process would encourage discussion, promote innovative ideas and ensure every partner has a clear role to play. The proposed model speaker would help us promote constructive dialogue and maintain positive respectful relationships with our education partners in the best offer in the students who are here today. Speaker, it is important to understand that this is a made in Ontario approach to collective bargaining that was developed through extensive consultations with our education partners. It will help us to collective bargaining and we need it passed now. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary? Thank you, Minister. Listening to your response struck me that instead of the opposition holding the government to account, we're now in a situation where the government is having to hold the opposition's feet to fire to ensure our children's education is not sacrificed at the altar of petty political gamesmanship. My understanding speaker is that things have come to such a past that yesterday we had to vote in this legislature to seek permission to sit during constituency week for the committee. Now I understand that that sitting is also at risk. So could you, Minister, please tell us yet again why this legislation is at risk of the official opposition's political games? Yes, thank you, Speaker. And I'd be happy to explain what's going on here. As the member mentioned, when a similar motion passed in this house last fall, allowing the committee to sit during the winter break, the official opposition chose to boycott the process. This is the same risk we are now facing from the same party that finally yesterday decided it had an education plan. So, Speaker, I am calling on all members of this legislature to ensure that what happened in the winter break doesn't happen next week and that the committee will sit for clause by clause consideration so the legislation can move through the process. Throughout the course of the day, I've seen the chair and the subcommittee members sitting here and I call on those subcommittee members to meet immediately after a question period and get it sorted out so they can meet next week. Real question. The members from Halliburton, Cork and Lakesbrock stop at the end of the round. Stop the clock. Can you see it please? Can you see it please? The numbers always show up. It's a member from Halliburton, Cork and Lakesbrock. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Premier, Premier, I have a letter from the Trent Gervais, the manager of the Peterborough airport expressing his strong objections to the approved Sumac Ridge wind turbine project. This airport is a great source of economic development for not only my riding of Halliburton, Cork and Lakesbrock but for the city of Peterborough. It boasts the longest paved runway between Ottawa and Toronto at an astounding 7,000 feet. Millions of dollars have been invested by all three levels of government to see this airport grow. Seneca College's School of Aviation opened its doors there in January and it's expected to generate 12.32 million dollars of economic activity in the community each year and support 151 jobs. With Seneca and five other flight schools operating out of the Peterborough airport, the safety of new pilots is now at risk because of the sighting of this wind turbine project. Since the Minister of Rural Affairs won't stand up for the people in his riding of Peterborough, I'm standing here to think on behalf of his... Stop the clock please. Stop the clock please. I've made a comment about this before about talking about other people's ridings. I would caution the member not to do that again. Please finish your question. We have time for wrap up. Will you stop the Sumac Ridge project and let the Peterborough airport get back to the business of creating the most new details. Thank you. Mr. Mayorji. Mr. Mayorji. Mr. Speaker, the speaker, the member knows that fit contracts, renewable contracts, allow for termination only in cases where project developers do not meet their contractual obligations. And the OPA could be subject to legal action if it terminates fit contracts for projects which have met their obligations. Having said that Mr. Speaker, there is a process, an environmental process and an appeal to that environmental process, Mr. Speaker, to deal with issues. Mr. Speaker, the the leader of the opposition in his million jobs act has indicated that he would give the Minister of Energy authority to cancel those contracts. Order. Mr. Speaker, that would expose the provincial government. So over 20 billion member from simple gray I asked you twice. We're not prepared to do that. We are prepared to adhere to the environmental process, the appeal process, answer and I will hopefully be able to refer the supplementary to the Minister of Environment on that issue. The member from Prince Edward Hastings will come to order. Supplementary. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, to whichever minister is going to take the next question, I guess. There's lots of certainly Ministry of Environment outs for that contract. I asked the Premier on Monday to call a moratorium on wind perturbations to which he responded that liberal government has and I quote put new rules in place and that you would give communities more input on citing. In the letter for the manager of the Peter Panning General come to order. He says these wind turbines are threatening the success of this business, putting up barriers to job creation and risking the safety of flight patterns and approaches. It's kind of important. So your government clearly did not have the necessary guidelines and regulations in place before citing this project. So you claim your government has new rules in place. Why is it that you cannot listen to this community? Like you said, you would and cancel the wind turbines at the sumac ridge. Just do the right thing. Cancel the contract. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Of course there is a process which has been established to allow people to have the appropriate input on matters of this kind. The proponent has to go through a very rigorous regime to ensure that that that proponent would be in compliance with the regulations set open the Ministry of Energy and by the Ministry of the Environment. Exactly. And I am confident that all aspects of this issue will be dealt with appropriately through the process, Ministry of the Environment officials and indeed officials of other ministries which provide comments in these circumstances are always pleased to hear from those who have views to express and are respectful of those views being expressed by those individuals and gives them consideration to them. So I encourage all to participate in that process ensure that those views are put forward and I can tell you that they will be considered seriously as they always are. Thank you. New question. Member from Nickel Belt. My question is for the minister of health and long-term care aspect with the Mayor Thunder Bay and City Councilor who expressed their concern over the ongoing problem with their local health care system. After 50 long days of gridlock caused by an overwhelming numbers of patient who should not be in their hospital but have nowhere else to go the hospital is now facing a deficit. Will the minister recognize that the hospital should not be forced to cut services because of a lack of capacity in their community? Give the minister a helpful long-term care. Well, thank you Speaker and thank you to the member opposite for the question. This is an issue that I have been discussing daily with the members from Thunder Bay Superior North and Thunder Bay Atacocan. They are keeping me informed on a daily basis about the challenges in Thunder Bay. I'm very much aware of it. I know the hospital, the community care access center, the Lynn, the city. Everyone is working together to develop a plan to rectify the situation. It is unacceptable what's happening at Thunder Bay. I will be the first to admit that and I look forward Speaker to be able to speak directly with the people of Thunder Bay on how we're going to move forward. Thank you Supplementary. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Well, the minister is partly right. The hospital is working with the community care access center with the lins and with any other community-based organizations to try to accept to address the community problems but the weeks of gridlock have taken their tolls on the hospital budget. Thunder Bay Regional Hospital Health Science Center is running a deficit of about 2.4 million dollars and is looking at cutting services to balance their books like they are mandated to do by law. What is the minister going to do to address this ongoing problem in the hospital deficit that comes with it? Thank you minister. Speaker, as I said in the initial question the situation in Thunder Bay is not acceptable and that's why we are working to support the community because they have come together and offered some solution speaker. So this is very much a project that's underway. I am very much focused on finding resolution to this and as I say I look forward to being able to communicate with the people of Thunder Bay about some of the steps we can take into addition to those we have already taken to rectify the situation. Thank you. New question? The member from Scarborough Guildwood. Thank you speaker. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment. Ontario's tech sector is a vital part of our economy both across the province and locally in my constituency with thousands of tech grads from institutions in and around my riding of Scarborough Guildwood. I know firsthand the importance of a strong tech sector in Ontario. Just recently Cisco has renewed their commitment to continuing their R and D operations as a significant employer they are an integral part of Ontario's economy. Speaker, it is important that we continue to create and retain jobs across the province and ensure that we are supporting key sectors like tech. These are competitive times and Ontario has proven it can compete globally on the world stage remaining one of the highest ranking jurisdictions in North America when it comes to foreign direct investment. With Cisco's recent announcements to create an R and D hub in Toronto could the minister please update the house on what our government's recent question means for Ontario. Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from Scarborough Guildwood for this important question. I have to say I'm very excited and proud of this announcement yesterday by Simcoe I have the honour of attending along with the Deputy Mayor of the City of Toronto and other business leaders and dignitaries where Cisco announced it's quite remarkable a hundred million dollar investment in this city to create what they're calling the Internet of Everything Innovation Centre and this is a centre which is going to be available to support start-ups Mr. Speaker to work on business to business relationships and really to significantly grow the economy and grow the IT sector in Ontario and I should mention that this is only the fourth of Cisco's innovation centres in the entire world so we're following they have one in South Korea, one in Brazil one in Germany and we are the only innovation centre for Cisco in all of North America so this really was an important announcement and of course it comes on the heels of our important and positive announcement in December with Cisco where they're investing four billion dollars over the next 10 years to create as many as 3700 jobs Mr. Speaker Thank you supplementary Thank you Speaker and thank you Minister for the update while the tech industry in my riding and across the province will continue to see the strong commitment our government is making in the industry there are still some concerns from my constituents about the overall growth of the tech sector we know Ontario has fared better than many other jurisdictions in North America and that our economy is back on track having recovered all the jobs lost during the global recession we know having a good job to wake up to every day is what keeps Ontario strong Speaker through you back to the Minister of Economic Development Trade and Employment what is the government doing to support the continued growth by helping to create good meaningful jobs in Ontario's tech sector Thank you Minister Well thank you again for the question and although I know that the PC party does not support our partnership with Cisco they didn't support the investment that we made to secure that four billion dollar investment the creation of 3700 jobs but this partnership Mr Speaker is the largest job creating investment in the history of Ontario's and Canada's tech sector really is unprecedented and it will certainly enhance Ontario's reputation as a leader in research and innovation it's also a great example of how the government of the day can work together with the private sector to make to realize these important investments Mr Speaker we have more than a quarter of a million people working in the high tech sector in Ontario last year we were third in North America after California in Texas well I'm happy to say that we've taken that second place spot away from Texas absolutely number two in all of the investments Your question the member from Perth Wellington My questions for the Premier Premier your government's 2012 budget devastated the horse racing industry and as we all know the NDP allowed that budget to pass putting thousands of people out of work you set up an expensive transition panel you set up another new bureaucracy and a funding program with no details you race to the rescue of four airy just days before a by-election but race tracks across Ontario are still waiting for the race dates some are waiting to see if they'll even have a season I asked the Premier how many contracts have you signed Good question Good question Mr. Speaker and I think the I think the member opposite knows that the plan that we have put in place is a stable plan that will allow the stable it's a stable plan that will allow the horse racing industry to stay on track Mr. Speaker into the future the slots at race tracks plan Mr. Speaker was not transparent it was not sustainable and Mr. Speaker it had to be changed order have made that change John Snowlin from here on Bruce John Wilkinson Mr. Speaker worked to make sure that the $400 million that we we put in place will establish that framework going forward Mr. Speaker so I hope that the I hope that the member opposite understands that the the Ontario Racing Commission announced the details of the 2014 component service improvement program Mr. Speaker we are working with breeders we are working with the tracks to make sure that those dates are in place Mr. Speaker Thank you supplementary Thank you Speaker again to the Premier Premier if this is a stable plan it should be in the stable Well Speaker I've spoken to the horse racing industry leaders and they are fed up with this government's delays they are tired of excuses they are frustrated because they can't plan this year's season which may or may not even exist it's my understanding the contracts are due to be in place by April the 1st it is now March the 6th and I'm told that race tracks are still waiting to hear if their race dates have even been approved when can race tracks expect to hear from you so that they can begin planning their upcoming season when will you pick up the phone and when will you finalize race dates Yeah Thank you Thank you very much we've seen negotiations are ongoing and I'm sure that the the member opposite knows that he knows that it was important that we have those individual that there be those individual conversations with each track because each track is different and the fact is Mr. Speaker the Fort Erie situation is different from the other the other tracks Mr. Speaker and those negotiations are ongoing my intention is that we have a stable industry Mr. Speaker that is transparent that that works for all sectors of the the horse racing industry Mr. Speaker I made that commitment when I came into this office we put the the panel had been put in place by my predecessor and we have now got a a plan that is sustainable and we will be working with the tracks to make sure that they have those dates for 2014 Mr. Speaker thank you new question the member from Parkdale High Park thank you Mr. Speaker my question is the Attorney General partner assault response programs play a vital role in holding abusive men accountable for violence against women and keeping women safe each year about 14,000 men participate in a partner assault response program most of them through court order yet the province only provides funding for about 9,000 of these offenders Minister why did your government arbitrarily decide to reduce the length of the PAR program from 16 to 12 weeks just to cut costs without any research and how this change will affect family safety thank you Attorney General well thank you very much for the question and she's quite correct that the partner assault response program is a very important component of our coordinated response to domestic violence and she's also correct that we have changed the number of weeks that a member an individual can be part of this program from 16 to 12 weeks but one of the reasons why we did that is that there are many more people now that need that kind of service the funding has not been cut it's still exactly the same amount as it was last year at 10.6 million dollars we found speaker that there was simply too long a delay for new individuals that needed the service to get into the program so what we have done is we have slightly reduced the number of weeks that each participant will be involved in the program so that the individuals that need the service can be dealt with a lot quicker because if it's from from something like 11,000 individuals two or three years ago to 14,000 today people shouldn't have to wait for four to six months to get into the program huge supplementary thank you Mr. Speaker again to the Attorney General this government by the way has allowed 15,000 women to be turned away from emergency shelters due to lack of funding potentially back into the hands of those abusers partner assault response programs are an essential component of a coordinated community response to women giving offenders the opportunity to examine their beliefs and attitudes toward domestic abuse and to learn non-abusive ways of resolving conflict the ministry's own provincial advisory committee has recommended against this change why is this government ignoring the advice of its own experts and pushing through a change that is putting women's lives at risk Attorney General well Speaker as I mentioned before the number of people that are in the program has gone up from 11,000 to about 14,000 in the last two to three years we want to make sure that these individuals that need this much needed service so that we can reduce domestic violence can be treated as quickly as possible there has been no evidence at all that a 12 week program isn't just as efficient and good for the individuals involved as a 16 week program the funding has not been cut the organizations are aware of that there has been an awful lot of consultation with all of these good groups in our province that are doing this kind of work and I think that it's very important it's very important that people get access to the program as quickly as possible because they are in the greatest need immediately after their first chart it's a good program we're continuing the program thank you you know I know what the first thought sorry the member from Windsor to come see on a point of order Order Speaker yes I want to commend you for hosting your annual Speaker's Book Awards last night honoring Ontario's authors and publishers and it was great to see Charlie Angus the federal MP from Timmins James Bay win in the competition last night and also the father of the member from Haldeman North Fork who was there and was one of the finalists as well we did a great job last night Speaker I hope you continue honoring Ontario's authors and publishers thank you I appreciate the members comments and all of our authors were very thrilled and our publishers were of the same opinion so we want to celebrate literacy in Ontario the uh there are write a paragraph write a paragraph write a paragraph there are no deferred votes this House stands recess until 1 p.m. this afternoon