 It is now time for question period. The member from Renfrew, next is September. Thank you very much, Stephen. My question is for the Premier. We've been talking a lot lately about this upcoming sale of shares in Hydro-1, but there's been very little talk of your sale of Hydro-1 Brampton. Ed Clarke's report states that the deal has already been reached with three private companies. Yet your government never publicly put Hydro-1 Brampton up for sale. You never even asked for a single competitive bid. Ontarians have no guarantee that they're getting maximum value for the sale of Hydro-1 Brampton. Premier, if you're going to sell public assets, can you at least provide some evidence that it's being done properly? The Minister of Energy is going to want to comment in the supplementaries, but I just want to be clear, Mr. Speaker, that I believe that it is very important that we work with local distribution companies in this province, Mr. Speaker. I think consolidation is something that we can agree is an important thing. The proposed merger of Enter Source Horizon, Hydro-1 Brampton and Power Stream will create the second largest distributor, Mr. Speaker, and this merged entity would be able to deliver efficiencies and economies of scale that would translate into savings, Mr. Speaker, for their respective rate pairs. That is critical, and I would just also comment, Mr. Speaker, that on the agreement that consolidation is a good thing, the P.C.'s white paper, Mr. Speaker, encouraged consolidation, and I quote, for stronger utilities and lower operations, maintenance, and administrative costs, unquote. They actually are inside of this, Mr. Speaker. I think you said the gas plant cancellation. I think you said you believed the gas plant cancellation was going to be 40 million. Premier, we're talking about alcohol sales. Premier Clark wrote, we express the view that some degree of competition is always healthy. Yet, when talking about the sale of hydro assets, he wrote, the council believes that the province should not conduct an open auction or procurement process for Hydro-1 Brampton. It's a classic liberal move. Say one thing, do another. Premier, of Ed Clark State's competition is always healthy. Why won't you allow a single competitive bid process on the sale of Hydro-1 Brampton? Minister of Energy. Mr. Speaker, after a considerable consultation and examining the market, Mr. Speaker, the council's... Order. And like yesterday, I'll jump quickly. Carry on. Mr. Speaker, the council's report emphasized, quote, this option results in a strong consolidator in the GTHA at a value that was as high as could otherwise be achieved. And they did explore the market, Mr. Speaker. This proposed merger is a unique circumstance that presented itself and the council was of the belief that its value could not be replicated to any alternative process. In considering what form of strategic sale or merger to pursue, Mr. Speaker, the council was influenced strongly by the importance of creating a strong stand-alone industry consolidator. And again, Mr. Speaker, they're past a prosperity stated. Final supplementary. Sure, we'll just trust you on this one. Likely done in the past, eh? Premier, you're asking on Carians to trust you on this deal. With your track record, that's just not good enough. That's why I wrote to the auditor general to ask her to investigate the sale of Hydro-1 Brampton before you remove her ability to do so in the coming weeks with the passing of the budget bill. Premier, we know you like to say you're open and transparent, so now's your chance to back that up. If you truly have nothing to hide, you will support my request to let the auditor general with her vast experience in the energy sector investigate the sale of Hydro-1 Brampton. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Minister. Minister. Dr. Caledon, come to order. Yes, I said that I was going to be sharp. Especially when I'm standing. Carry on. Mr. Speaker, the transaction represents eight municipalities, some of whom are already consolidated in one form or another, Mr. Speaker. The circumstances were extremely unique. Our government intends to proceed with the merger of EnterSource, Horizon, Hydro-1 Brampton, and PowerStream to ensure value for the province and to encourage local distribution company consolidation for the benefit of ratepayers. Mr. Speaker, they issued a white paper. They talked about trying to create circumstances for consolidation. They issued a white paper that asked to broaden the ownership, Mr. Speaker, of Hydro-1 and OPG, Mr. Speaker. Now they're turning against themselves, Mr. Speaker, only to be critical and have no positive options to offer in this house, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Your question. Come with me, Mr. President. My question is to the Premier. Premier, last week's auditor's report revealed the truth of the fatal impact of your decisions to sign cost-cutting substandard contracts for winter road maintenance. And yet, when asked yesterday, you tried to spin a tail suggesting standards after your cost-cutting contracts were the same as before they were signed. You even tried to blame a previous government. You know full well had nothing to do with you lowering the bar on standards. That's what she does. The auditor made it clear regarding your government's contract substituting outcome targets for previously long-held standards. Contractors were making it up as they went along. Previous requirements protecting the safety of Ontario motorists went right out the window when you introduced the new agreements. Premier, this is on you. Admit it, your cost-cutting contracts weren't the result of previous governments. They were on yours alone. You can win. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Again, as I said yesterday, I want to thank the member from Kitchener Conestoga for that question. And as I said last week, when the auditor released her report, I thank her and her team for the thorough review. That they've conducted into the Ministry of Transportation's Winter Maintenance Program. Speaker, as a result of the 2013 internal review that the ministry conducted on this program, we have brought forward over 105 pieces of additional equipment, 55 pieces mostly for Northern Ontario and 50 pieces for Northern Ontario. We brought in 20 additional area inspectors to help enhance the oversight within the program itself. Last week's 2015 Ontario budget included additional measures that if passed will help us provide more anti-icing liquid through our contractors as needed, as well as additional unique spreaders for sand and salt, both for Northern areas and congested in urban areas, Speaker. Thank you very much. Apparently you just can't handle the truth, even after the auditor spelled it out in black and white. After years of rhetoric and double-speak by an endless line of transportation ministers from Jim Bradley to Kathleen Winn to Bob Shirelli to Glenn Murray, the report details a road management scheme that you passed around like a hot potato. All the while jeopardizing Ontario motorists, four separate ministers, and now a rookie fifth are willing to turn their heads while contracts you signed ensured substandard maintenance on winter roads, leading to injuries and even death. You all signed these contracts. People have lost loved ones as a result. You are all implicated, and yet you keep talking about a too little, too late review that's not even public yet. Premier quit the game playing the finger-pointing and own up to the truce the auditor has revealed. This will be my last reminder about this today, and that is you use members' writings or their titles, and that's it. Thanks very much, Speaker, and I thank the member for that question. I also mentioned last week both in response directly to the auditor's report but also in response to questions that occurred here in the Legislature, Speaker, amongst all of the eight recommendations and all of the background information that the auditor provided. And by the way, Speaker, the Ministry of Transportation and I as Minister of Transportation accept all eight of the auditor's recommendations and we'll be moving forward to make sure that we continue to provide the service that's required. Amongst all of those recommendations, the auditor did acknowledge that the province of Ontario, for the last 13 years, has consistently ranked first or second in North America when it comes to highway safety. And in fact... Member from Renfrew, Memphis and Canberra. And in fact, Speaker, specifically in 2012, the only other jurisdiction in North America that had a better record than Ontario was in fact, Speaker, the District of Columbia. So, Speaker, it doesn't mean that our work is done. Member from Renfrew, Memphis and Canberra. Second time. One wrap-up sentence, please, sir. It doesn't mean that the work is done. It's why I said very clearly last week I accept full responsibility for going forward. I will work with our area maintenance contractors and we will make sure the program continues to provide the service that the people of Ontario deserve. Thank you very much. Tara. The 2013 report shortly. Premier, the fact is that the auditor report only paints part of the picture. That picture becomes darker still when you consider the fatalities that continue to mark on Ontario highways while government turns the other way. Carol Milokovic wonders if her husband Robert and her son Daniel would still be alive today following a fatal collision with a transport truck on February 3rd on a stretch of highway near Cornwall, many considered a winter trouble spot. Premier, we have a growing death toll. Lawsuits, a damning auditor's report and instead of apologies and action, these families get platitudes to future fixes. Premier, quit saving money on the backs of Ontario motorists. Apologize and make damn sure you win our maintenance decisions. Don't jeopardize the last one. Member, we're withdrawing. Thank you, Speaker. When I spoke last week in response to what was said today, and I'll repeat it here this afternoon. Speaker, every single day of the week I use Ontario's highways, as does my wife and very often both of our young daughters are in the car with us. And I know that many on all sides of this house do the exact same thing. So, Speaker, I feel profoundly a sense of responsibility with respect to making sure that going forward we continue to bring the improvements that are required to the winter maintenance program to provide, as I said earlier, I should also say that I have specifically written to the auditor with respect to asking her to come back in at the end of next winter season. So at the end of winter 2015-2016 to provide the Ministry of Transportation and the media and the public at large with an update with respect to our progress, Speaker. That's real accountability. We're going to keep working on this program and we'll have that report next year. Thanks very much. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. The Premier is selling off Hydro One without even asking Ontarians what they think. And instead of hearing from them as part of the budget process she's keeping everything on lockdown here in Toronto. Why isn't the Premier interested, Speaker, in hearing from people across Ontario about her decision to sell off their Hydro One? Thank you, Premier. Well, Mr. Speaker, as I remarked yesterday we are having more hearings on our budget, Mr. Speaker, than the history of the other two parties would demonstrate, Mr. Speaker. We've increased the number of days of hearings and I think the member opposite knows that people from around the province can delegate to the Budget Committee, Mr. Speaker. They can provide information. They can either written or in person, in written form or in person they can provide information. So, Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite of what the member opposite is suggesting we are interested in hearing from people on the plan that we have put forward in the budget, Mr. Speaker. A plan I might say we ran on, Mr. Speaker, and we have put into our budget. We ran on reviewing our assets. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, well, the Premier will tell Ontarians we know she will listen to high-priced consultants about what they think about selling Hydro One and while she's paid nearly $7 million to high-priced consultants she won't tell Ontarians what they gave her in terms of advice. Now, I think there are some other people she should be consulting with, Speaker, the people who actually own Hydro One and the people who pay the bill, Speaker. But Hydro One doesn't belong to the Liberal Party it belongs to Ontarians. Now, can the Premier pay $7 million to get advice from Bay Street consulting firms but she won't consult with the people of Ontario about the sale of their Hydro One? Thank you. Well, Mr. Speaker, once again, let me just challenge the leader of the third party by reminding her that there has been a proposal presented to both opposition house leaders that would increase the standard for committee consideration to six days and let's remember what when their party was in office in 91 to 92 there was one day of committee hearing, Mr. Speaker under the PCs from 1996 to 2002, Mr. Speaker. Remember from Simcoe North will come to order second time. 96, Mr. Speaker, two days of committee hearings, 1997, two days, 2002, zero days of committee hearings, Mr. Speaker. So the fact is that we are going to be hearing from the people of Ontario. But Mr. Speaker, to the point about having experts give us advice it was a complicated process, Mr. Speaker and we did have experts. Thank you. This is not enough time for Ontarians to have their say on one of the biggest public elections that has come through this chamber in a decade or more. It is not right for Hydro One like it was a done deal. That's what the point of privilege was about this morning. To those of you in the back benches you just have to remember this it is you that is going to have to go to your constituents and explain why your premier is putting this through the legislature without talking. The Minister of Economic Development not now from the member from Kent Middle Sex as part of the convention if comments and questions are put to the speaker we tend not to have this. Please finish. It's not just me saying this almost 25,000 Ontarians have sent the message to the premier through our website even liberal riding activists are launching campaigns to stop their very own premier from this wrong-headed decision that she will not take the time to listen to them and give them the respect they deserve. I will say to the leader of the third party we are very interested in their comments Mr. Speaker I am very interested in hearing from them as we did in pre-budget hearings around the province Mr. Speaker I am very interested in hearing their responses on the budget which is why we have increased the number of days that we would like to have post budget hearings Mr. Speaker but Mr. Speaker the things that the leader of the third party has said are very indicative of what she is trying to do at this moment the fact is Mr. Speaker on this side of the house we have had very clear discussions in the lead up to the budget about what was in that budget we are a team that has taken this budget to the people of the province Mr. Speaker it may be that the way the third party works Mr. Speaker it's a one woman show Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker New question the leader of the third party The Premier says that selling hydro one is the only way to pay for transit and infrastructure but she has just given away the very first shares in hydro one and it won't put a nickel into infrastructure or transit The Premier says selling out hydro one is the only she does have other options but she refuses to look at them things like corporate taxes Speaker she is proposing HST loopholes for keeping the billions of dollars Stop the clock please the Minister of Energy come to order the Minister of Economic Development the member from Trinity Spadina I am catching up you can laugh all you want I do know who is Please finish Speaker keeping the billions of dollars in long term stable revenue all of our services here in this province The Premier says selling hydro one is the only choice but she is glossing over the fact that it will pay for only 3% of $130 billion in promises Will the Premier explain why it is she is ramming through a plan to sell hydro one a plan that isn't needed for transit and infrastructure but does leave families paying the price Thank you very much Mr. Speaker So let's just be clear what the third party wants to do now is once again block the implementation of a budget Mr. Speaker that would build new transit that would continue to reduce auto rates Mr. Speaker that would continue to implement an Ontario retirement pension plan she is not interested in doing any of those things Mr. Speaker and she is not putting a plan forward for how she would make the investments in infrastructure $130 billion Mr. Speaker over 10 years she knows perfectly well then in order to make that investment there are a number of things that we have to do she knows perfectly well Mr. Speaker that we have allocated HST and gas tax Mr. Speaker to put towards those investments she knows perfectly well Mr. Speaker that the opening of ownership of hydro one is only one part of that plan Mr. Speaker and it is a plan to make investments that she apparently is not interested in making the premier does not have a mandate to sell hydro one and that is the bottom line she does not make consultants base street bankers and liberal insiders very very rich speaker but it will leave families paying higher bills for generations to come the premier didn't give people a say on this during the election because no matter how hard she protests she didn't run on it and everybody knows it there is some back and forth going on while the question is being put by members of that side and our members while the answer is being put trying to egg each other on I get it I hope you get it that it is not supposed to happen did you wrap up please matter how hard she protests speaker she knows darn well she did not run on this plan and everybody knows it why is the premier running through a plan that's bad for Ontarians without even asking them what they think what is it about making investments in this province to the tune of 130 billion dollars for the next 10 years that investing in transit infrastructure and by that I mean roads and bridges across this province why is it that she does not see that that is necessary to the public health and well-being of this province we ran on this we said we were going to make those investments and we said that part of our plan was to review the assets that were owned by the people of Ontario and make sure that we could leverage them to have the ability to invest in the infrastructure and the assets that are needed for the 21st century we ran on that we are implementing the plan I don't suffer ventures Speaker what is it about actually getting a mandate from the people in a democracy that this premier does not understand there are a few people that are on too please finish now that she has an opportunity to get input through the committee process instead she's going to ram it through the house she is not interested in what people have to say instead she's pushing the legislation agenda that is worse than that of what we saw with Ernie Eves and Mike Harris please finish stop listening to bankers stop listening to high pay consultants stop listening to liberal insiders and start listening to the people of Ontario and give them a chance to have their say let me just remind the leader of the third party of the text of our 2014 budget and I quote the government will look at maximizing and unlocking value from assets it currently holds including real estate holdings as well as crime corporations such as Ontario Power Generation leader of the third party come to order and Mr. Speaker we said in our 2014 platform and I quote our moving Ontario forward plan includes a balanced and responsible approach to paying for these investments the funds will be dedicated from sources of revenue $10.15 billion at 10.9% Mr. Speaker that's what we ran on but underlying that Mr. Speaker was a plan to make the investments that we are needed in this province that will allow this economy to grow she doesn't want to talk to experts the leader of the third party is not interested in making thank you thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of community safety and correctional services for over a year that your ministry has been gearing up for strike you started building strike accommodations 10 months before the corrections contracts had even ended a clear sign that you aren't planning to bargain in good faith this past week we learned those buildings cost $5 million for a government that is selling everything they can to pay their debts that money could have gone a long ways minister almost every ministry is slashing front line services minister bargaining good faith wouldn't that $5.8 million have been better spent on correctional front line services thank you Mr. Speaker thank you very much speaker and I thank the member opposite for asking question I am sure a speaker also the member opposite knows that when it comes to matters dealing with collective bargaining it would be highly inappropriate for anybody in this house to speak to that I think speaker we at this side of the house firmly believe that the best place for bargaining to take place is at the table between our labour partners and the management and I really urge the member that we should not interfere in that bargaining process I have utmost respect for the process I know speaker that negotiations are ongoing and I will not interfere in those negotiations thank you well minister not so certain that I really got an answer to this those $5.8 million was spent 10 months before contracts even ended meanwhile you allowed new super jails in Toronto and Windsor to operate for a year without infirmaries well facilities like the Elgin Middle Sex Detention Center are overcrowded and understaffed this is inexcusable yet you would rather I would ask that the the crowd not engage in any activities that are disruptive to the house sergeant at arms thank you thank you speaker so we were talking about operating a year without infirmaries well facilities and Elgin Middle Sex Detention Center are overcrowded and understaffed it's inexcusable yet you would rather pour millions into preparing for a strike that may not happen maybe you had the foresight the foresight that students across the province would be out of classroom because your colleague refuses to negotiate the foresight that correctional institutions would strike next clearly minister you have no hope of getting a deal done minister is that $5.8 million part of your next zero deal thank you time speaker again I would restate that we respect the collective bargaining process and we let the bargaining to take place at the table between our labor partners and between the management I think it's not appropriate for any member to engage in that process here in the house so also speaker I want to note the fact that our number one priority is the health and safety of our correctional staff which includes our correctional officers and that of the inmate when you are engaged in the collective bargaining and dealing with places like our correctional institution speaker will be highly irresponsible for any government to not engage in some planning ahead of time to ensure that the health and safety of all correctional staff is protected in all times new question thank you speaker my question to the premier the premier hasn't even passed her budget bill yet but she's already handing away shares of hydro one worth tens of millions of dollars a year and hundreds of millions of dollars over the lifetime of that deal all without ever asking Ontarians the premier promised all the money from hydro one would go to transit and infrastructure but those hundreds of millions of dollars that the premier is giving away won't build any bridges won't pave any roads won't dig any subway tunnels and she's doing it all before her budget has even been passed does the premier think that her decisions trump the will of the legislature thank you Mr. Vanagin Mr. Speaker our critic for the NDP knows in fact that there's a tentative agreement and that we cannot discuss or disclose those details Mr. Speaker until there's been a ratification vote but Mr. Speaker it's time Mr. Speaker the GTA has the worst congestion of any municipal area in the world Mr. Speaker the city of Hamilton needs funding Mr. Speaker the city of Hamilton needs funding for its rapid transit Mr. Speaker rural communities have been asking for natural gas Mr. Speaker the proceeds of sale proceeds of the sharing ownership of hydro one Mr. Speaker will be invested in infrastructure Mr. Speaker and in that process we're respecting the interest of the rate payers Mr. Speaker they have no plan of any nature of kind other than they admitted today they're going to tax to pay for infrastructure Mr. Speaker we'll tell the province that they're going to tax for infrastructure we are going to repurpose our assets thank you quite a performance selling hydro one is the wrong decision it means that bills will go up and that families will pay the price handing away shares will cost hundreds of millions of dollars over the lifetime of the premier scheme that's hundreds of millions of dollars not going to transit or infrastructure that the minister just spoke about the premier is handing away hundreds of millions of dollars in hydro one shares before the budget has even been passed can the premier explain why she doesn't seem to care about what people have to say or even waiting until the budget has been get into committee let alone passed Mr. Speaker the opposition continues to say that the rate payer will pay we just heard that again Mr. Speaker the member knows that the Ontario energy board approves all prices that consumers will pay Mr. Speaker in fact there is a record before us over the last six or seven years Mr. Speaker where the Ontario energy board has in fact reduced requests from the existing hydro one from Ontario power generation reduced them or in fact given them less than they've asked for Mr. Speaker it is a process that was established that was used by all previous governments they'll continue to be in place for this hydro one and the next hydro one and OPG and everybody else who applies for rate increases Mr. Speaker they refuse to accept that they continue to say that it's going to raise prices for the rate payers Mr. Speaker it's not true Mr. Speaker it's bold Thank you New question the member from the Tobacco Center Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of health and long-term care minister yesterday my sister Milena gave birth to a daughter and my brother-in-law Joel and my parents Dawn and Mira Slava are thrilled to be grandparents having seen what my sister has gone through over the past nine months I know how important it is that women have the support that they need to ensure that they and their children are healthy very appropriately to day marks international day of the midwife it's a day to celebrate midwifery and to reflect on the importance of midwives work to the health and support to the health of women and babies around the world here in Ontario women and families embraced midwifery since it was regulated in 1994 and the profession is growing in response to that demand Mr. Speaker in this spring we will see the largest ever class of graduates midwifery education program there are about 760 registered midwives and 30 aboriginal midwives Mr. Speaker minister what is our government doing to support the important work being done by midwives across Ontario Mr. Speaker today is international day of the midwife and I want to take this opportunity to thank Ontario's more than 700 midwives practicing in 100 clinics throughout the province for the incredible work that you do as a vital part of Ontario's health care team but today Mr. Speaker I want to specifically thank Katrina Kilroy Sarah Knox and Tiffany Hayden the three midwives from the midwives collective of Toronto who were responsible for bringing my son Reese who will be 10 in a week's time into this world Mr. Speaker you see my wife Sam and I both of us being medical doctors we decided to have a home birth one of the truly best decisions we have ever made and of course with two midwives attending our son's birth I was relegated to the role of coach and water bearer and calming the family dog who was quite upset at the whole commotion the sheer joy of being able to deliver a familiar environment and bring him into this world guided by the professionalism and compassion of talented midwives is something that we will never forget thank you thank you minister and I'm happy to hear both the great investments our government is making in midwifery in Ontario I know that midwifery services are offered at 71 hospitals in Ontario and birthing centres were launched in both Toronto and Ottawa recently our government has taken great steps in advancing midwifery in Ontario and the work to be done our government continues to transform our healthcare system in the province and I know this transformation is a key element of the 2015 budget minister could you talk about the 2015 budget commitments and the future investment in midwives in Ontario thank you minister minister speaker Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to regulate midwifery and since that time Ontario's midwives have attended more than 180,000 births and 35,000 home births and since our government came into office in 2003 funding for the midwifery program has increased more than 5 fold from $21 million to $134 million in the last fiscal year and these investments have led to the doubling of the number of midwives in the province now Canada rather Ontario has the majority of registered midwives in all of Canada but the member from Etobicoke centre is right there is more work to be done working with the association of Ontario midwives our government will be expanding our support to grow the number of aboriginal midwives in Ontario we're serious about this commitment we referenced it in the budget and we look forward to launching this important program in the coming months I'd like to once again thank our midwives for all of their hard work and dedication to our Ontario families thank you very much minister speaker my question today is for the minister of education minister you have 72,000 secondary school students out of the classroom right this minute your two tiered train wreck bill 122 bargaining is simply not working we have chatted with both sides and they say there is simply nothing to bargain with minister it is really time for you to get serious you have a responsibility to the students and to their parents you have to show leadership and make sure those students who get to attend their proms, their field trips competitions and above all their graduation ceremonies minister time is running out what are your plans to get serious about this mess, a mess that has been created by 12 years of liberal mismanagement congratulations yes and I just want to repeat that of course we know that we need to reach a negotiated settlement and we remain quite willing to be at the table and to do just that and ask some question about what are we doing to support the students whose teachers are on strike and in fact one of the concerns that we had was around the very highest needs very vulnerable special education the children so the kids who would have supports in place from agencies on march break and summer holidays and members are different in second time with MCYS with minister and the agencies that support her in each of the three areas to make sure that the highest needs most vulnerable students have that support in place during the strike that's your sponsor remember from Leeds Grenville we'll come to order supplementary I asked you to get serious minister next Monday Halton, Lakehead, Ottawa and Waterloo boards will likely all be out as well that's another 51,000 students who will not be in the classroom because of your bill 122 and we call it the two tiered train rack of a bargaining system on top of that we know that it's highly unlikely that 817,000 elementary students will be impacted negatively beginning next Monday this is a total of 950,000 students the system is in turmoil and it's broken your ministry has no one to blame except yourself for this mess when minister are you going to step up show leadership and make sure our students are receiving the education they paid for and that they deserve back to what are we doing to support students because that was the original question my ministry has been working very carefully with minister merides ministry with TCU university and college application centers all the boards where kids are out because of a strike before the strike the interim marks were submitted the application process is going on of course we want our kids back in school and we will work very hard at the bargaining table to make that happen but I'm not taking any lessons from the people who said they would get rid of that thank you thank you my questions to the premier secondary educators in peel rainbow and Durham school districts are now on strike the elementary teachers federation of Ontario members are poised to begin their job action on Monday meanwhile the premier and the minister of education have flip flopped on their commitment to cap class sizes I don't understand why the minister of education is perplexed about why job action is happening will the premier admit that this government's reckless cuts are making a mess of our education system thank you thank you and I think we need a little bit of clarity here the the caps that she's talking about the class size caps are in fact contained in the local collective agreements that isn't what we would necessarily be talking about at the central table the issue is around the local caps that are in local collective agreements and I must say that as somebody who is a trustee for years and years and years and who actually have sat on a staffing allocation committee at secondary the caps often apply in the case of tech classes they often apply in the cases of other courses where there's health and safety where there's an issue in a science lab around the maximum number of seats in a lab so there's lots of caps that are very very helpful and I support those what isn't very helpful thank you the fact is that you're actually increasing those caps we know that central talks have broken down with secondary teachers forcing tens of thousands of students out of schools the minister has repeated over and over that these are local issues we've also heard that she admits that she bears the responsibility of the central negotiating table 73,000 elementary teachers will be in a legal strike position on Monday affecting over 800,000 students across the province who are worried that they're going to lose their school year it's clear it's not just a local issue minister will the premier stop dodging the responsibility and admit liberals are throwing schools into chaos forcing students, teachers and parents to pay the price minister yes I'm always fascinated to learn from the opposition what apparently it is that I'm trying to negotiate it's really quite it's quite interesting to find out what it is that I am or am not doing but what I do want to say is obviously we are quite concerned about the situation with the elementary teachers once again we need to get back to the bargaining table we need to we need to negotiate a settlement because we too want to avoid strikes thank you thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of labour Mr. Speaker this week marks North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and it also happens to be the time of year where many young Ontarians go out and get their first job and work over the summer in my writing of Etobicoke Lakeshore hundreds of Humber College students are completing their semester and they're eager to go and start their summer job working in retail and restaurants on construction sites wherever they found employment and get that first paycheck Mr. Speaker these new and young workers are often inexperienced and they're very eager to please their employers and get that paycheck in their hands however Mr. Speaker it's troubling that statistics show that young people are three times more likely to be injured in the first three months on the job than their more experienced colleagues through you to the minister what can we do to ensure that our youngest and least experienced Ontarians are safe at work thank you Mr. Speaker thank you to the member from Etobicoke Lakeshore for what I think is an excellent question we're always saddened in this house when we hear about workplace injuries fatalities or sincere condolences go out to those families that have been affected in this way most often the sad part is these incidents that lead to the injury and death are preventable or avoidable it's something we need to do something about we launched our annual new and young worker health and safety blitz earlier this month to ensure that employers in this province and new employees alike understand the rights they have and the obligations they have under the law but Speaker today what I'm appealing to members of this house is as parents and grandparents as well as elected officials please talk to the young people that you have an impact on I want everyone to play a role in keeping workplaces in Ontario safe and make sure that these people make safety a habit throughout their entire career thank you I want to thank the minister for that answer Mr. Speaker it's encouraging to know that ministry staff are proactively inspecting workplaces that employ new and young workers during their annual safety blitz I think it's important to show our young people that this government cares about their well-being but Mr. Speaker it's just not feasible to expect ministry staff to make it out to each and every workplace Mr. Speaker the tagline for North American occupational safety and health week is make safety a habit throughout your career Speaker through you to the minister what is the government doing to ensure that all new and young workers have an understanding of their basic health and safety rights so they can begin to forge those safety habits earlier in their working life Thank you Thank you again Speaker and thank you for the supplementary I want to reiterate that this government takes work of health and safety very very seriously it's a top priority it's important that new and young workers in this province understand the fact that under the law if they're asked to do something that they feel unsafe they have the right to refuse to do that until they get more information until they get more experience until they learn about what they're being asked to do they need to know that they have that right as an Ontario without any fear of reprisal if they're feeling like they're being put in an unsafe situation we bought in a new regulation speaker that requires all workers and supervisors in Ontario to complete basic entry level health and safety what it does is it outlines the duties they have the responsibilities they have because we know that there's a shared responsibility for workplace safety on completion of the training these workers have a basic understanding that I think is going to serve them well in their career thank you speaker no question the leader of Her Majesty's law opposition my question is for the minister of health and long term care minister my constituent Mr Jim Lees is waiting for a long term care bed while he waits the community care access center moved Mr Lees from the hospital to a retirement home that even the CCAC has noted is not the right facility for him not to mention the family has paid over $14,000 for six weeks of care so far in that facility on Friday the CCAC finally agreed to provide personal support care until a nursing home is found but that still doesn't solve the problem and it leaves the family paying thousands of dollars more a month than they would if Mr Lees was in a nursing home Mr Lees is not alone this is a problem right across Ontario and yet your government continues to do nothing about it question will you help Mr Lees or is this yet another example of the health care system we can expect from this government welcome to the associate minister of health associate minister of health thank you Mr Speaker and I want to begin by thanking the member opposite for bringing his constituents concern to my attention I also want to offer my sympathies to the family I also want to say to the minister that as he knows I cannot speak to the specifics of any individual case but I'm happy to talk with you outside an after question period about the issue I also know that my staff has been in touch and as you mentioned CCAC is providing some of the care that the constituent is looking for but what I can do is reassure the member that in every circumstance where an Ontarian needs urgent care or placement in a long term care home where individuals are placed in the highest priority category for that placement and the member knows that we're investing strongly in the long term care sector in fact Mr Speaker in this year's budget funding for resident care needs increased by an additional 2% this builds on substantial funding increases our government has made in long term funding for long term care I'll address that thank you supplementary Mr Speaker back to the minister the problem is and you're not addressed in your response you haven't built a new nursing home bed long term care bed in the last 12 years we built 20,000 during the 8 years that we were in office you haven't put out one new license for one new bed it's a crisis out there not everyone can stay at home in this case Mr. Lees kicked out of the hospital and put into retirement home they can't look after him they can't lead his needs so you're not doing anything weeks and weeks now and I've written four letters on this he'll spend another $4,000 that the family can't afford just in the next month alone when are you going to build some new beds alleviate the problem out there right across the province Mr. Lees is just one you're going to bankrupt this family you're killing them emotionally this is a seniors couple that grew up in Canada expecting the care that they should get in Canada thank you associate minister Mr. Speaker again I'd like to remind the member that I can't speak to the specifics of this case but I want to reassure him that in every case where urgent placement is required for long-term care residents that does take place in CCAC works very hard I also want to point out Mr. Speaker that wait times for long-term care homes has actually decreased from 190 days in 2008-2009 down to 116 days in 2013-14 and Mr. Speaker my goal and this government's goal is to continue to drive investments into long-term care homes and Mr. Speaker as wrap up please thank you Mr. Speaker as I was saying we continue to invest in long-term care homes but we also continue to invest in the continuum of care as shown by the 5% increase in community care and I look forward to working with the member opposite and I'm committed to making sure that as soon as we receive long-term care we'll question the member from Parkdale High Park. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Premier Speaker members of QP Paramedics are here today to once again draw attention in fact to seek help from the lawmakers in this chamber for the post-traumatic stress disorders their members experience on the job we're only too happy to acknowledge the work they do just not the toll that work can take on them for 8 years we've asked and again last week for First Responders Day for this government to take action so speaker once again I ask the Premier will you make PTSD a presumed workplace injury for first responders experiencing PTSD Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member from Parkdale High Park for the courtesy she's extended me on this very important issue the interest she's shown and the advocacy that she brings to this issue I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank QP and the Paramedics who are here with us today for the excellent breakfast this morning and they gave a very very clear presentation on the importance of PTSD on the importance of moving ahead on this issue I'm pleased to report that there are a number of people in Ontario that are weighing into this debate and weighing into this issue asking this government to do more than it's doing asking the WSIB to do more than it's doing I'm extremely interested in this issue extremely interested in working with the member from Parkdale High Park I think this is an issue that all Ontarians think we owe the people that put their lives on the line every day we owe them better on the PTSD Supplementary Thank you Mr. Speaker again to the Premier it's not hard to figure out what needs to be done for eight years I emphasise that Mr. Speaker there's been legislation introduced that would recognise PTSD as a workplace injury for first responders in WSIB coverage that's what our first responders are asking for the bill for the breakfast is due when we call 9-1-1 we expect first responders to be at our door in minutes yet when they need help we wait years to answer their call while this government has dithered 17 first responders have killed themselves how many more have to die Speaker again the answer to the question is a simple one Will the Minister act today to have PTSD recognised in WSIB legislation for first responders Thank you Minister of Labour Thank you to the member from Parkdale High Park for the supplementary Today the current situation is that the WSIB provides compensation for people who suffer traumatic mental stress with a clear link between one acute incident or a series of acute incidents at work injury or illness what the member is asking for is an improvement to that system it's one we take very very seriously what people have told us including QP and the paramedics and the first responders is that things are done differently in British Columbia things are done differently in Alberta what we have done is sent people out to those provinces we've taken a very good examination of how it's done in the other provinces to see if that should apply to the province of Ontario we're very close to I think the end of that research speaker where I will be able to bring some information back to my colleagues in the house but once again we're committed to this issue we believe we can do better I think all members of this house would agree with that as well Thank you Thank you Mr Speaker My question is for the minister responsible for women's issues Every May people in Ontario recognise sexual assault prevention month it's a way of bringing awareness to the devastating effects of sexual violence around the world we are seeing societies acting on the momentum for change and the need for the violence to end people want to see action to stop sexual violence and we need to support the survivors they want this issue brought out of the shadows so that the old attitudes and stereotypes are eliminated Mr Speaker for sexual assault prevention month Minister, please inform this house what Ontario is doing to stop sexual violence Do you have the minister responsible for women's issues? Thank you First I'd like to acknowledge the hard work of the member from Kitchener Centre as the chair of the select committee on sexual violence and harassment and all the members and as the member said it is sexual assault prevention month and this gives a tremendous opportunity to teachers, nurses and doctors sexual assault centres and women shelters all advocates and many more to inform others of services for victims and they dispel miss speaker, miss surrounding sexual assault and bring a focus on how important it is to end sexual violence and harassment and I'm very proud that this year our government is joining with them and our bold action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment is called it's never okay and our provocative new ad asking everyday bystanders it's called who will you help challenges the myth that sexual assault is not your business it is absolutely everybody's business Thank you Supplementary I would like to thank the minister for her answer it's so important to see that we are recognizing such a very pervasive problem in our society and we're addressing it head on and that is leadership that people in Ontario can count on Mr. Speaker I'm also glad to hear that there will be additional investments in sexual assault centres across the province and as the minister mentioned as the chair of the select committee on sexual violence and harassment we're certainly hearing that from the presenters who are appearing before us supporting those who are on the front lines helping both female and male victims of sexual violence is going to mean that survivors can get the care and the attention that they need and that is what they are telling us they need and want Mr. Speaker could the minister please highlight are there ways that our government is confronting sexual violence with its action plan Thank you minister Thank you speaker we have over 42 sexual assault centres across this work and I'm very proud that our premier and minister Jeff Leo marked the start of sexual assault prevention just last week at the North of Lake sexual assault centre and speaker we know that sexual violence is a societal issue that's been with us far too long and if we only focus on deterrent speaker we won't see the generational change that's needed to end sexual violence in Ontario that's why under our 41 million dollar action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment we focus on teaching our next generation about consent and healthy relationships Thank you very forward looking effort speaker that will teach respectful behaviours and we hope will have a lasting effect on the safety and security of all of our citizens Thank you very much Thank you A question to the premier I've received an urgent call from a plant manager in my riding he has to compete with US industry paying 3 cents a kilowatt hour and he predicts that nothing changes his plan will close in two years he also tells me if nothing changes other businesses will head south these are examples from just one town in my riding one of the basic principles of business is to make a profit but Ontario now has the highest electricity rates in North America businesses cannot afford these rates why will you not change your policy to encourage not only this small company but other companies to remain in the province Minister of energy Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question and the first part of my response is to indicate to the member I'll be happy to meet or have my staff meet with this particular business person and as you may be aware I've arranged meetings with other members of your caucus and we've been able to introduce business people to the programs that we do have which can be very helpful they range from the industrial electricity incentive program Mr. Speaker for those who are new or expanding the ICI program Mr. Speaker can reduce up to 25% and Mr. Speaker all of the LDCs across the province have conservation programs which enable very very significant savings and there are programs to help fund those initiatives we have Home Depot Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa Tim Hortons Mr. Speaker across the province Thank you Supplementary It's not helping down my way in Haldeman, Caledonia over nine years this government has destroyed our home building economy in Norfolk much of our legal tobacco industry you've destroyed OPG and Nanticoke and you've tripled the top in cost of electricity 16 cents a kilowatt hour when we were in government it was 4.3 my local companies they're being lured by North Carolina they're being induced by Michigan, Ohio, New York State all these inducements are on the table they come and visit I've heard this from a number of companies even before the latest electricity hike now it's accelerated and again, all of this just in my writing Premier why will you not consider a dramatic reversal of your disastrous electricity policies Mr. Speaker please Thank you Minister of Energy Mr. Speaker I wanted to help out here by giving the member an idea of how we can help businesses like that particular business and businesses right across this province what that member can do is support our budget Mr. Speaker our budget that for businesses like that are extended for 10 years the number one program that our business community asked and that's to provide them with incentives to invest in capital to invest in upgrading their machinery invest in their buildings he could support our budget Mr. Speaker that's providing $130 billion over the next it is never too late to have somebody named finish please Mr. Speaker the member could support our budget that's going to be investing $130 billion over the next 10 years supporting 110 to 150,000 jobs every year and maybe he can go back on this he should have supported the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund that's creating tens of thousands of jobs in Southwestern Ontario in the East Members Gallery from the riding of Hella Burton, Cortholex Brock in the 39th Parliament we have Mr. Rick Johnson visiting the member from Cinco North on a point of order thank you very much Mr. Speaker I want to correction what I might have said to the Minister of Education earlier I believe I said it is highly unlikely that 870 elementary students I should have said it's highly likely that's what I meant Mr. Speaker I have an important constituent who just recently arrived in this house please welcome to the legislature my youngest daughter Jessica who is in the members gallery welcome to his house Mr. Speaker I'd like to introduce I'd like to welcome Fraser Davidson Karthik Ramanathan and Pratyusha Mohan who are visiting us from the United Kingdom today I would also like to welcome the mother and father of my page Mr. and Mrs. Tiwari Thank you Ottawa Orlean Welcome to the legislature two of my constituents of Ottawa Orleans we are here today with the Paramedic Association and I would like to welcome Andrew Phillips and Norm Robillard welcome Thank you Mr. Mayor Thanks very much Mr. Speaker in the members east gallery today I'd like to introduce my intern a native from Bacoburg, Ontario Dan Gassato who will be working with me over the next months ahead Thank you There are no deferred votes this house stands recessed until 3pm this afternoon